Monthly Archives: January 2011

You are Light seeing through 5 Veils.

You are Light seeing through 5 Veils.

Did you know you are a soul living in a body?

Did you know your soul, (Atman in Sanskrit) is veiled by 5 sheaths?

Did you know your soul is currently having a human experience?

That is quite different to trying to live a life that is more spiritual. We already are Spirit, yet often we forget.

This forgetting, say the ancient yogis,  is the cause of a lot of trouble for us in life.

Simply put, let’s  try to remember this:

You are Light, Soul, Consciousness, Spirit, Self, Atman, Brahman.

Your light shines through 5 veils or koshas.

Anamayakosha is the Food Body, Pranamayakosha is the Energy Body, Manomayakosha is the Mental/emotional body,  Vijnanamayakosha is consciousness and Anandamayakosha is the Bliss body.  All of them need to be tended to live a whole and integrated life, and to evolve our consciousness back to recognizing who we truly are. We are the Light.

Sanskrit breakdown:  Each of the 5 layers include the words maya(veil) and kosha(sheath).

Ana – food  maya – veil – kosha – sheath

Prana – energy – maya – veil – kosha –sheath

Mano – mind/emotional – maya – veil – kosha –sheath

Vijnana – knowledge/consciousness – – maya – veil – kosha –sheath

Ananda – Bliss – maya – veil – kosha –sheath

To follow: How to tend all the layers of our Being.

One Giant Leap in Ubud

One Giant Leap in Ubud

It is unbearably hot and noisy in Ubud.  We trudge the uneven pavements, impeded by parked cars.  This charming cultural center of Bali, was not built for traffic.  I could tell my husband Chris has had enough, as we plop down on shady steps of the Arma Museum Gardens.  Finally we are rid of the pesky unsolicited Balinese guide, who insisted we should hire his friend as driver tomorrow, and that his father was responsible for the one painting I was really enthusiastic about.  Finally a cool breeze kisses our sweaty brows. No more fumes and noise.  Little stream, garden, statues, modern art.

“All I want is a day off” grumbles my husband.

“Hmm” I wonder to myself, “what do you call this then?”

I love all of our experiences in Ubud: rice fields, interesting shops, temples with offerings, tropical fruit and jaffle for breakfast at our guesthouse, the Yoga Barn situated right on a rice field, coffee and FaceBooking from our laptop at Pundi-Pundi, and exploring the gorgeous silks at The Silk Barn.  Admittedly walking the crowded streets, getting from placed to place is very uncomfortable.

“What will cheer him up?” I ponder.

He gives me a clue:

“Did you notice those scooters are four-stroke? Much less noise and pollution than the old 2-stroke!”

No, I had not noticed.

“We should get one to get around”, he says.

My stomach contracts.  Now I feel some fear. I remember riding a motor bike in Bali 35 years ago.  A small slip, exhaust burn on my inner leg, which became infected with a tropical bug which took months to heal.  I still have a faint scar!

“Yes, darling, let’s research that. Tomorrow.”  I bite my bottom lip and agonize at the thought of hanging on the back of a tiny two-wheeler. Balinese are typically much smaller than the two of us.

We leave the serene museum grounds and almost get killed crossing the road.  Traffic comes from everywhere, especially at the most inauspicious place we choose.

Right next door to Buddha’s and Silks, my destination, we see the fateful signs “Money Change and Bike Rental”.  I escape into the opulent silk store avoiding the glint in my husband’s eye.

I return without any purchases.

“Would you be comfortable on the back of one of these with me?” my very considerate husband asks. He is sitting astride the tiny bike, his long legs in straddle pose.

Now what, tell the truth or fake it?   30 years of marriage feels at stake.  That is why we are in Bali in the first place, to celebrate our longevity as a couple. I look away and watch a foreigner teeter on her bicycle on the other side of the crazily busy road.  There is a screaming in my head.

My voice tentative and small:  “Sure . That might be fun darling, let’s try it”

His face lights up. Soon we have negotiated an excellent deal $5 a day .  A quick lesson on where everything is, simply handing over the passport number, no need for license, no need for helmets, I take a photo of my very tall husband on a very small scooter.  Hilarious.

I hang on,on the back.  Soon we are in the river of traffic, dodging, yielding and flowing.

Oh, this is fun. We are both happy!   He is an excellent driver. I am comfortable enough to pull out the little camera and capture the terrain as it races by. The friendly Balinese are smiling at us.

“Darling, I whisper in his ear “It is not only because we are so big – we are also so old!”

It is a giant leap: from Fear to Fun.

Yoga Shakti in Bali

Yoga Shakti in Bali

Yoga Shakti in Bali

Click the link above to view what happened:

In Ubud Bali, at the Elephant Cave Temple, is a Chinese man with his pet python.

Always one to try something new and kinda scary, I took the python from him.

Chris filmed in in slo-mo, serendipitously.

The four us, serpent, Chinaman, me and camera, form a trancey dance.

Thanks also to the lovely soundtrack: Close to Silence by Thomas Otto.

I love his exalted  contralto!

Welcome to Ease Into Yoga

Welcome to Ease Into Yoga

May you be at ease in your body and your mind!

Like our lives, this website in a work in progress.

I invite you to browse and journey through the postings on this side.

For regular classes and upcoming events and yoga travel, please use the links on the right.
The pretty fractal image at the top your link to return home.

May you be filled with Loving Kindness.
May you be safe from inner and outer dangers.
May you be at ease in your body and your mind.
May you be at peace and happy!

Namaste