Yesterday, Saturday February 10th, we started a new Lunar year. So Happy Lunar New Year to you all!!!  The Chinese tradition which follows the lunar calendar establishes that this year is the year of the wooden Dragon. Everything that I am reading regarding the symbolism related to this year is about growth, strength, prosperity, good luck, and taking care of each other.

Mantra

We are very familiar with this Sanskrit word, mantra. We think of it as something we repeat to ourselves intentionally or not. Traditionally mantra is a phrase or word that is used as a tool or device to focus, clear, and befriend the mind. It can take us back to a pure state of Being. A mantra can be repeated during meditation or when performing …

Since I started practicing yoga I have been adept to reading as a way to obtain understanding about meditation, philosophy, and the yoga poses. I read many of my teacher's books and talks that she gave as well as other teachers within my tradition. I had read other philosophy books before but I could not grasp what they were trying to elucidate. It felt like trying to hold water with my hand. It did not matter how much I tried, it felt like I could only get my hands wet at best but could not get enough to drink. Reading and studying my teacher's books somehow opened up my eyes and mind so I could embark in the process of discovering what is contained in the yoga books.

On January 21st 1996 I attended a weekend meditation retreat entitled "The Music of Consciousness". Little did I know that person at the end of that weekend was going to be different from that day on. It was a new beginning like no other. My mind could not completely grasp that weekend but my heart could feel the changes so palpably. I am so happy that I attended that retreat and immensely grateful for what I received that weekend. That day I set myself on a yoga path that I am still walking to this day, 28 years later

In the yoga tradition that I follow we celebrate the return of the sun to the northern hemisphere with a holiday called Makara Sankranti. It is a celebration of the return of the light since the days will start to get longer. On average we will get 2 more minutes of daylight in January each day. 

I find that around this time every year my schedule changes because of the holiday season. Sometimes I'm struggling to find some time to workout, or do yoga, or meditate. I always seem to manage to do it even if that means that I do those things close to midnight. (don't judge me).