The Nesting Doll

This week in classes we begin the 6 week map of the koshas. Koshas are our different sheaths that protect and conceal our true nature of pure consciousness and light. We are like little nesting dolls that when you open each layer of doll you get more and more subtle until you find a beautiful pearl in the center. We are that pearl. The pearl can never get dirty or lost because it is concealed by the subtle and gross layers of embodiment. However it can be forgotten. When our sheaths are out of balance, (which most are) they are so dim that we forget our true nature and what is of lasting importance in life. We have a case of mistaken identity being overtaken by fear, anger, depression etc. We forget that we are divine love, light, peace and balance. We forget our connection with ourselves, people and nature.

The analogy I like best to describe the koshas are lampshades. Our true nature is that of love and light and each subtle layer of embodiment covers that light like a lampshade... our mind, emotions, etc. These lampshades go from subtle to gross, the outmost lampshade being the physical body. This is the sheath we are exploring this week, the Annamaya Kosha. When a lampshade is dirty, dingy, and dusty it makes the light very dim. We can hardly see the bright light bulb underneath it all. Our work as yoginis is to clean each lampshade through our practice so our light shines through in all it's glory. When the physical body is inert, toxic, and diseased it is darkened and therefor the mind is darkened. When the mind is out of wack the emotions follow it's lead. When the physical body is strong, healthy, and vibrant from regular yoga practice, then our outermost lampshade is clean and clear so our light can shine a little brighter illuminating the heart and mind. How can we quiet the mind if the body has not already been addressed? It would be quite difficult. In yoga nothing lacks attention. Every layer of our being is given attention, cleaned and used to it's full potential. This week we discover the potential and capabilities of the physical body. We are practicing strong this week focusing on the Annamaya Kosha, bringing health and balance to the body and all of it's systems and functions.

I have a helper this week as well! Thanks to Doug, a little nesting doll is in the studio to give us a visual and help us understand the map of the koshas. We will see what the nesting doll will reveal next week....

"The word yoga signifies the means to realization of one's true nature" ~ Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

New Life

Did my water break or did I just pee myself?....

Two weeks early a being of light, Adrien Deva was ready to take birth again and grace our family with Divine new life. My water broke and we had not made any preparations for the birth. No supplies, no birth kit for the midwife, no clothes for the baby-nothing. Ken dashed to the store for supplies. I wasn't having contractions so I went to teach my class.

Having a home birth, I had high hopes of the labor and birth process. I had expected to meditate up until active labor when it got really intense. That didn't happen. I also expected to practice japa (mantra repetition with prayer beads) while in labor, but that didn't happen either. The force that took over during labor and birth was like no other. Every now and again I would mentally repeat a Ganesh and Durga mantra, but I realized afterward that I wasn't repeating mantras because I completely merged into that energy. I didn't need to call on any external energy/deity for strength and protection at the time because it automatically took over. During those 5 hours of labor I wasn't calling on Durga like I had anticipated, because at that time I WAS Durga.

I did not take any birth classes or preparation of any kind except for a regular yoga practice consisting of asana, pranayama, meditation and chanting. Just having a regular yoga practice made all the difference. I was so plugged in mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually that the energy could move through me and be expressed in just the right way to facilitate the birth of this being. I found out from my midwife afterward that each sound I made and each movement was intuitive. While many women have to be coached through labor, I was receptive, payed attention to my physical and pranic body and became a vehicle for divine birth. I have never experienced Kundalini Shakti quite like that before. Because of my yoga practice, the entire process was very graceful.

A regular yoga practice has an amazing effect on our day to day life. It has the power to turn moments of pain into opportunities to grow and change. Yogis may feel pain, but the attachment and reaction to it lesson. Yogis can experience pain as energy. Energy will never go away, but it can be changed.

After the intensity of birth the energy changed. I all of a sudden sensed the strong presence of Lakshmi, the energy of abundance. I had a new baby in my arms, milk flowing in abundance and I was surrounded by flowers and friends. The strong, protective warrior energy of Durga morphed into the soft, cool abundance of Lakshmi. I experienced the energy change within and around me. I am so blessed and so grateful!

This miracle of life I know
Has been placed in our hands....
Destiny we're fulfilling.
Look what jah jah gave me
New life,
a brand new little baby. -Midnite