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JANUARY 10^TH, 2009: The way that yoga has changed my life the most is that I’ve found that practicing each pose with lovingkindness (the Pali word for this is Metta) my whole life got a lot better.  The more I could purposely practice unconditional love on the mat the greater access I had to it throughout my life (even when I found myself in situations I wish were different).  It really for me came about as I allowed myself to be more AUTHENTIC (and we get opportunities every day all day long).  There was a shift, I relaxed more, I opened up more.  It helped me shift my focus from getting love to creating it. I no longer wanted to do battle with life but I embraced it lovingly, like a hug.  And as a result my relationships became more real, my connections with others more intense in a good way. 

A great teacher I’ve studied with, Sianna Sherman put it like this:  “Through yoga, I learned to step into a world of love and energy,” she says. “It gave me hope of being connected to another person in a meaningful way, and it gave me the courage to try.”

In the Yoga Sutra’s Pantanjali gives us a four part process to help us clear our hearts of any negative energies as a means for quieting our minds and reconnecting to the deepest reservoirs of unconditional love.  The sutras advise we:

1.       cultivate maitri (friendliness) toward pleasure and friends;

So simple. The practice however requires a great deal of inner strength so we included today the Lotus Flower Meditation from my teacher Shiva Rea and my own version of the Metta Lovingkindness Meditation too.  So this year risk it all to dive into the treasure chest of your heart which is always the source of unconditional love!  And be open to receiving the unconditional love offered by your children, your friends, your parents and from grace herself.  The world sees the best in you, let you see this too.  I wish you love in abundance!  Silvia

*May we be happy. May we be healthy.  May we be joyful.  May we be loved.