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What’s Love Got to Do with Meditation?

March 10, 2012 by Peter Fernando 4 Comments

Living with an open heart

by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness In many traditions, the practice of kindness and love is an integral part of the meditative journey. You may wonder, 'why?' Sometimes the way that the concept of  'mindfulness' is presented can make it seem like a utilitarian technique to become more efficient, or more functional in the world. This is certainly a part of it, of course. But then there's the love thing. You can't go too far into any authentic contemplative tradition … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation Practices, Practices Tagged With: depression, happiness, kindness, loving-kindness, meditation, metta, mindfulness, The Heart, well-being

Pranayama in Pyjamas

March 1, 2012 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Pranayama in Pajamas

by new columnist Gabrielle Harris, The Suburban Yogini It’s 5.30 am, I’m up to do some serious breathing. It feels virtuous and good to be up at this time, just like a real yogi, however I do note that not even the birds seem to be breathing at this hour. But I’m a yogini and I’m on a mission - to find out more about Pranayama and its reported effects. I read somewhere that you should aim for at least 5 minutes breathing, 10 minutes meditation and 20 minutes asana in your morning … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Practices Tagged With: beginner, breath, practice, pranayama

The joy hidden within chaos

February 7, 2012 by Peter Fernando Leave a Comment

by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness On the surface of things, spirituality can seem to be about control, right? 'Mind Control' perhaps. Or 'Body Control'? On the far end of the spectrum you even get teachings suggesting that the point of life is to have ultimate control over the universe. Sounds good, doesn't it? But is that what 'spirituality', or more accurately, freedom is about? I personally wonder if it is. What could be more gratifying to our ego than … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation Practices, Practices Tagged With: chaos, control, joy, letting go, meditation, mindfulness, peace, suffering, surrender

Why ‘Letting Go’ and ‘Detachment’ Can be Pitfalls on the Spiritual Path

January 12, 2012 by Peter Fernando 3 Comments

by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness I received this honest and moving question a few weeks back: If you have never bonded with your mother and so have never experienced secure attachment in a primary relationship, how can you work with non-attachment? And letting go? When you have never really experienced having anything to hold onto? The first thing I should say is this: I am no expert in this field, so please don't take my word as gospel. I can only reflect from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation Practices, Practices Tagged With: attachment, awakening, heart-pain, letting go, meditation, mindfulness, psychology, self, The Heart, vulnerability

From Rock ‘n Roll to mind control, a tale of meditation sound creation

January 3, 2012 by Guest Author 1 Comment

Dave Marrett

by guest author Jen Hall, of Venture Beyond Ever wondered who the musicians are behind those soothing and relaxing Healing Sounds CDs? Here's the tale of one such musician, a Kiwi boy no less, born and bred in Wellington, one Dave Marrett. Back in 1975, Dave boarded the ‘Oriana’ and set sail for Sydney, chasing a dream ofcombing his natural flair for electronics with his love of music. He'd already done the hard yards, spending years cycling 10km to violin lessons in Upper Hutt. All … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: binaural beat technology, cd, dave marrett, healingsounds, meditation sounds, venture beyond

How to answer: what exactly is the energy body?

December 15, 2011 by Elissa Jordan Leave a Comment

by guest author Elissa Jordan It started with a story about a mouse in a toaster. Our second weekend in Nelson, as part of the Advanced Yoga Teacher Training with Jenifer Parker of Wellington’s Healium, focused on the energy body. Looking back over my notes from the weekend I see the conversation ebb and flow as only appropriate for a weekend focusing on energy. The movement of stories rode one energetic wave after the next - starting with that mouse in a toaster, and moving to a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energetic Practices, Practices, Teacher Training Tagged With: bad energy, energy, energy body, healium, jenifer parker, teaching yoga, warrior I, warrior ii, yoga teacher training

Starting a Home Meditation Practice

November 18, 2011 by Peter Fernando 4 Comments

by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness Are you wanting to start your own home meditation practice? The number one piece of advice I have for you is: Just do it! Having said that, a recent question that came in asked for more details, so in response to that reader, here's... Six Useful Home Meditation Tips 1) Don't meditate in front of the TV (even when it's off), or in front of the computer. If you take some time to create a meditation-only space in your home, it's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation Practices, Practices Tagged With: awareness, beginning meditation, breath, breathing, buddha, calm, home practice, insight, intention, meditation, peace, relaxation

Who knew? There isn’t just one right way to do things. Even in Yoga.

October 30, 2011 by Elissa Jordan 3 Comments

by regular columnist Elissa Jordan, Adventures in Teaching One of my Dad’s favourite stories to tell about me as a little girl is the one about my favourite word: why? I carried the word with me everywhere until it was a scraggly, worn-out dirt-encrusted version of itself. There’s some discrepancy as to whether or not this was, in fact, my first word. Dad says yes. Mom thinks it was second, after no. Either way, right from the start I’ve wanted to know the why behind things. Not one to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Physical Practices, Practices Tagged With: adjust, advanced training, alignment, healium, intention, jenifer parker, value, wellington, yoga teacher training

Why Do I Meditate?

October 14, 2011 by Peter Fernando Leave a Comment

by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness I've got to be honest with you. The desire to be a well adjusted person wasn't really what motivated me to commit to meditation practice. I remember once, when I was about thirteen, riding my bike home from school down the main street of Whanganui. It was a normal day, nothing spectacular going on. The usual concerns going around in my mind; 'I wonder if such-and-such a girl likes me...' 'Maybe I will become a rock star … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation Practices, Practices Tagged With: buddha, Buddhism, buddhist

A curious approach to sitting and back-bending

September 30, 2011 by Guest Author 1 Comment

By guest author Oli Wiles, Free to Move Find sthira sukham at your desk and on the mat A friend recently posted a pic on Facebook of his 3-month-old boy sitting propped up on a sofa. The caption read: "Propped up at 3 months, eventually he toppled." It got me thinking about sitting and back-bending … Now, as you sit at your desk, it is likely that the muscles of your back are stopping you from toppling into the keyboard. In playing this important role, however, parts of your back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Physical Practices, Practices Tagged With: back bends, backbending, feldenkrais, oli wiles, video, wellington, workshops, Yoga Unlimited

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