at RoseWoods

bringing balance and harmony to your life
body – mind – spirit

bainbridge yoga center

MContinually rushing from one activity to the next conditions us to being hurried and inpatient; so much so that it's almost impossible to relax. The result – debilitating stress.

If this is true for you, ask yourself, “Am I rushing because I'm under stress or am I under stress because I'm rushing?” It’s a good question and one I hope you’ll ponder. Put it on your dashboard and see if the words and your thoughts begin to change your life. It’s one small step toward running your life at a slower pace, one day at a time.

Om Shanti

Om: focus the mind

The sound of Om is the sound of the universe at peace. It is the feeling of euphoria, joy, peace, and stillness. It celebrates life and the world of nature and people. It brings you into the present. It's also soothing for the use the sound Om to get into a frame of focus in their practice. It can be used at any beginning of practice, at the end, or smack middle. Whenever your class does a chant, try. It might seem a little weird at first, but it's cool part of the yoga experience.

Chanting Om several times at the beginning or end of your practice should be calming; it sets for class. You'll begin by taking a big chanting the sound of Om, which breaks down into three sounds: A-O-M. You start to exhale, make the ah followed by the oh and ending with mmmm.

Take a short break before inhaling again and repeating the same pattern three times: ah, oh, mmmm. Try it softly chanting feels awkward at first. As you become more comfortable in class, it will easier and become effortless. remember that Om is considered a sacred sound, so try not to laugh. It's also a chance for you to feel connected with other in the group. So open up and let your practice begin!

"Om! This syllable is the whole world. The past, the present, future-everything is just the word Om.”

- Swami Krishnanandaj from Mandukya Upanishad

Most of us are judged in life by how quickly we can get things done. Because of this, it's hard to develop the opposite mindset – one of slowing down, getting centered, and relaxing.

My yoga classes start with a transitional period between public life and the privacy of the studio. In this period, students can relax and build awareness of their own breath in order to prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually for practice.

For some students this process of slowing down is extremely difficult. I see it in their movement; hear it in their breath.

Judith's Words of Wisdom