The state that we call “balanced” is, in Sanskrit, called “Sattwa.” Something or someone in this state of balance is called “sattwic.” When we’re peaceful and everything is going well, we’re in a state of balance. We’re humming, feeling good; nothing affects us greatly. If a tiger chases us, we feel fear, we run; and, when we elude the tiger, we are back once again to our balanced state. We don’t relive it every night in our dreams—we let it go. Such is a person who has a predominant sattwic guna.

The next guna is “Rajas.” Rajas is a state of “over-activity.” People who are rajasic have to do something all the time. They just can’t be still. They are literally spinning their wheels (chakras) and getting nowhere. It’s like getting stuck in the mud with a car. The accelerator is down to the floor, but you’re not moving.

On the other end of the scale from Sattwa and moving through Rajas we have “Tamas.” This relates to those qualities that are still latent or hidden or inert. In a tamasic state, there is not much energy moving, and it can feel like being in quicksand. At its worst, even the struggle to stay awake takes too much energy. Tamas can have a useful purpose, though, for times of sleep or healing when we need to draw inward.

The three Gunas are like a seesaw. If you put too much on one side, the other side comes up. What we’re looking for is that perfect balance (both people on the seesaw at an equal place). It’s also like a weighing scale.

As we become more aware of the Gunas, we can observe their effect on our lives. The more we recognize them, the better we can adjust our diets, our schedules, whatever we need in order to enjoy life in a state of balance and joy.

Namaste.

Maya Koshas, The Chakras and Esoteric Anatomy – Upcoming Program with Nischala Joy Devi

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Our words and verbal expressions are powerful imagery. Affirmations have become a well-known way to inspire us to positive imagery. There is an ancient yogic technique called Pratipaksha Bhavana that simply means, “to cultivate the opposite.” If you are fearful and want not to feel that fear, cultivate courage. If normally critical, cultivate understanding. When we begin carefully to choose words and phrases that help to promote the positive, the negative automatically lessons.

For instance, you could say something like, “I am feeling strong and courageous about the meeting today.” Your knees may be knocking, but your conviction is strong. After a time, the positive words and thoughts will affect knees that are even shakier!

When forming a positive affirmation, it is important to leave out any negative influences. People often use phrases like: “I am not going to eat any junk food today.” When interpreting this, the mind can easily negate the “not.” In a flash, the positive is turned into a negative: “I am going to eat junk food today.” It’s better to state it in a positive way: “All the food I eat today will be healthy and nutritious.” Do you see the difference? How much better and stronger the second version feels!

The softness or harshness of your speech reflects on you as well as others. It is not only what we say, but also how we say it that is important. The ancient yogic scripture the Bhagavad Gita tells us how we can keep the mind calm by having four qualities to our speech.

In speaking or using imagery, question yourself. Do your words have these qualities?

They should be:

Tranquil: Tranquil in tone and volume, without urgency or panic, having a soothing effect on others.

Truthful: True so the heart is not blocked by confusing contradictions. If it’s truthful you will say and mean the same thing.

Pleasant: The words uplift with an optimistic flow. You may even know some people who can say almost anything, even unpleasant things, and it is never taken as hurtful.

Beneficial: Allow the words to have some positive effect. This could be as simple as wishing someone “good morning.”

So filter your words to others and to yourself this way. Then your affirmations will have a dynamic, positive effect.

Namaste.

Article: The Power of Imagery

Sojourn to Healing: How to understand and use affirmations & imagery. CD or Digital Download

Imagery, our inner guidance, allows us to create and experience. It is the language of the mind. The mind speaks in images and then translates those images into words. When we listen to words or concepts, we interpret them in ways we are familiar with or that we can understand.

We can practice positive imagery as a means to allow the mind and body to mobilize all available resources that assist in the healing process, creating an intention that brings about positive physiological and psychological responses, such as lowering of blood pressure, boosting of immune function, clarity of mind, calming of brain waves, decreased heart rate, production of a feeling of well-being.

Through positive mental imagery, signals are sent to the body to help repair and sustain energy.

Imagery relates to us in action, words, or thoughts. When we set an intention, it places a positive or negative energy charge on each thought or action. Imagery can be as simple as making plans, preparing to-do lists, setting goals. Any of these actions can be positive or negative.

When I ask a group of people if they do imagery, usually about one third will raise their hands. When I ask how many worry, there is laughter and all the hands fly into the air. How many of us realize that we are constantly doing imagery?

Worry and anxiety are examples of very powerful negative imagery that can cause great problems. When we worry, we are imagining something that could happen. Many of us do this type of imagery all too frequently and all too well. Sometimes the results come just as we imagined, but mostly they don’t happen at all.

Even if the event does not occur, our bodies still produce the same physiological responses as if it did: increase of blood pressure, agitation of brain waves, secretion of adrenaline, platelets, and bile, increased heart rate, lowered immune function. Our bodies react as if the event actually happened. We could say just thinking makes it so.

Positive imagery allows us to accomplish goals that aid in making our lives more meaningful and productive. But a worrying thought consumes us and overpowers any positive thoughts that try to come in. How powerful negative imagery can be! Turn that same power into positive imagery and watch your life improve.

Namaste.

Article: Keep Your Mind Calm, Your Heart Open

Creative Imagery and Visualization CD by Nischala Joy Devi

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So, when we talk about someone being a spiritual being, please don’t think it is just one or two or ten people on this earth. We’re all spiritual beings. But we limit ourselves by thinking that we’re not spiritual beings. If you walk around focusing on your crown chakra or your heart chakra, you experience this incredible expansion. If you experience it day in and day out you don’t think about it anymore because you’re just in it. But, then, when you start to drive on the freeway you have to move the focus and change to another chakra; because it’s really hard to drive on the freeway with your heart chakra still open. That’s when we go back to the muladhara, the base chakra. At such times we need to be grounded.

I don’t know how many of you have experienced going from a yoga class or a meditation and having to get back in your car and have to think through the practical steps, such as “The key goes in here.” You really have to work at it sometimes because you’ve expanded from that down-to-earth space. Both states of being are important.

When Swami Satchidananda walked into a room and everyone sent him that love, he entered the room with an already expanded heart chakra. So, he felt the love; but it was not such an extreme change for him. But, even a great master cannot walk around like that all the time. He or she must also operate on a very human level. There are still things that have to be done on a human level as long as we’re in these bodies–eating, bathing, taking care of so many aspects of daily life.

Yes, the heart chakra is so wonderful, but there are times when we must bring that energy downward to do another job. We can’t digest our food properly if our focus while eating is all in the heart chakra. Heart chakras don’t digest food. It’s the same with all of us. You may have a heart chakra experience, but then you need to get the energy for other events by focusing in a different place.

It’s not just the prana; it’s the apana. The earth movement has to happen. When our focus can move among the chakras this way, that’s what we call a balanced person.

Namaste.

Article: Colors of the Chakras

Healing with the Chakras Meditation with Nischala Joy Devi

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One of the sweetest yoga practices is Bhakti Yoga—the yoga of devotion, the yoga of love. Unlike many of the practices that tend toward precise instructions, there is no right or wrong way to love. Each one of us, in our own way, can express our wholehearted love of the Divine and of creation.

Often, as we tread lightly on the glorious path of Bhakti Yoga, the heart embraces the Divine in external form. It is always interesting for me to speak to individuals who are both of the same faith about their personal relationship with the Divine and to notice how differently each experiences it—as mother, father, friend, or something else entirely. Some identify the Divine with the name and form; yet, for others it is nameless and formless. Many imagine cosmic consciousness somewhere far away; for others it takes on a more accessible human form.

Often the Divine speaks through a person or holy book. Within the same holy book, the Divine is described as wrathful, loving, spiteful, compassionate. Which one is accurate? Could it be that we are projecting our own human traits and personalities onto the Divine? Could the Divine embody all of these qualities? Choose carefully which aspect you want to embrace, for “as you think, so you become.” Whatever way you decide to show your devotion, bhakti is one of the most natural ways for us to locate the ever-present Divine.

From our outward devotion we discover that the Divine also dwells within. At first it may appear as a small part of us, usually through some altruistic act. On performing an act of kindness, we may give credit to that glimmer of the indwelling Divine. “It is not me,” we say, gesturing toward the sky. What happens when we are blamed? Hanging our heads, we refer to the dominant “human” perception of who we are and proclaim, “It’s all my fault. I am not good enough.”

Eventually, and perhaps after much discomfort, we arrive at the next stage of spiritual evolution, recognizing that, in good deeds and in bad, we are one with the Divine. Then, we begin to honor that Divine in our own hearts.

The greatest challenge awaits us: to accept that the same Divine dwells in everyone!

Namaste.

Listen to more about Bhakti Yoga in an Interview with Nischala Devi

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Portions of this article from The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras

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The word “compassion” is such a beautiful word; soft and gentle, it is comprised of two parts: com, meaning “with,” and passion, meaning “any intense emotion, either pleasurable or painful.” Many times it is difficult to know which aspect of passion we are feeling, and sometimes we clearly encounter both at the same time.

Compassion is a form of infinite love, in that nothing can affect or limit it. It is extolled as a virtue for the very few, but is it? Women seem to have a natural gift for radiating love and compassion. Our heartfelt compassion often embraces people in unfortunate circumstances beyond their control.

What, then, could prevail that would obscure this natural quality? In certain circumstances a hesitation on our part may occur when someone is unhappy and needs our compassionate balm. Could our own worry and stress place compassion on the back burner?

Running late might be reason enough to create anxiety and prompt us to neglect our compassionate nature. If you feel rushed, a simple delay accelerates your anxiety. I think everyone has had an experience like this: You’re waiting at a red light. Immediately, as it changes to green, your foot comes off the brake, hovering above the gas pedal—you’re ready to go! But traffic is not moving! Irritation mounts. You strain to look out the window, even give a toot on the horn. “Why aren’t they moving? The light is not going to get any greener! Probably someone’s daydreaming or talking on her cell phone. I don’t have all day! Let’s go!” You’re now in a fully adrenaline-charged state.

Imagine that, when accelerating forcefully as the light turns from yellow to red, you notice out of the corner of your eye a blind person and her guide dog safely finishing traversing the street. That was the cause of the delay—the very delay that caused you to be so irritated, anxious, and even angry. Observing the woman and her dog, your heart is again able to open and expand. The anger and annoyance dissipate, replaced by compassion.

The next time you’re in a similar situation, recall this story and give the benefit of the doubt, allowing compassion to take over the driver’s seat.

The way we treat others often reflects on how we treat ourselves. When you are compassionate to those around you, it becomes easier to replicate that compassion when you are the one who caused a problem.

Did you ever press the wrong button on the computer and delete hours of work? Or perhaps you thought you set the oven to go off at a certain time, but your dinner guests arrive to find dinner uncooked? At times like this, and in even more serious situations, having compassion for yourself is most important. Instead of calling yourself unkind names, take a moment to speak sweetly as if to a child. “It’s okay, sweetie, we can always call for takeout.” At times like these, you need all the love and compassion you can soak up.

For many of us, compassion is a one-way street going out of ourselves. Let it circle back around; use compassion as a soothing salve to treat everyone, starting with yourself!

Namaste.

Compassion is Yoga- an article by Nischala Joy Devi

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I was talking with a friend about the thought waves in her mind, explaining that all these little waves do not allow clear reflection; so whatever we see becomes distorted. She chuckled and said, “Come with me.”

We drove to the ocean. The sea was stormy. She pointed and said, “That is my mind–not a lake with ripples, but an ocean in storm. I feel like I have no control over my mind or my life.” Trying to transcend or master the thoughts of the mind is, for many of us, more like trying to control the waves of an ocean in storm rather than like a relatively calm lake. It’s the nature of thoughts in the mind to move and toss about.

Don’t allow your meditation practice to become a struggle with your mind. Make the mind a friend, not an enemy. Remember, you and your mind are on the same side—the side of wanting to be calm and peaceful. If the mind becomes your enemy, you will never have peace; it will always find a way to agitate you. As a friend, it will find ways to help you find peace.

Instead of fighting to control the thoughts in the mind, rise above them as if in an airplane. Get distance from them and look down and see how small and undifferentiated everything looks. Or, if you wish, dive down deep. Like a scuba diver, go below the waves and turbulence to the silence, calmness and beauty. When the mind becomes still, we have a clear reflection of what is around us. Go deep within.

Meditation, while much more than a stress management technique, can be used wonderfully to relieve and moderate stress. But to use meditation for only that purpose is like using a high-powered laser beam to cut bread.

Meditation is a tool for total transformation. It opens us up to that all pervasive feeling of peace, which we may experience as a dynamic stillness.

Namaste.

from The Healing Path of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi

A Guided Meditation: Calm Your Mind, Open Your Heart

Dynamic Stillness Meditation

Photo Credit: Bhaskar Deva ©Abundant WellBeing

Our own breath provides a beautiful meditation. When we observe the breath, we begin to join the outer world with the inner world. As the waves gently come onto the earth and return to the sea, so our breath enters the body and then returns to the world.

Our breath naturally flows in and out about 16 times a minute—back and forth, in and out, gently and evenly. We often use the word “inspiration” to mean something that comes to us from a higher place. To inspire is also to breathe in. To expire is to leave the body, to let go and to exhale.

The rhythm of the breath is a wonderful and relaxing way to engage the mind. Many of us have sat for hours listening and watching the waves crash on the shore. Every day we have the opportunity to observe the body’s tide—the breath, which affirms life as it comes in and encourages us to let go and trust as it leaves. We can observe the coolness of the breath as it comes into the body and the warmth as it goes out again. We can experience the expansion and contraction, how the entire body seems to move in unison with breath. We draw in from the world with the inhalation; and, on the exhalation, we return a little bit of ourselves to the world.

As we sit quietly observing the breath we feel oneness with the entire creation. We breathe the breath of every living thing. Rich or poor, good or bad, the breath comes in and out. You may find that judgment begins to fade and is replaced by openness and acceptance of the perfection of life’s flow. This connects you with the rhythm of your own heart, a flow with the ocean of life continue to focus on the rhythm of the breath

A nice addition to the breath meditation is to observe the sound the breath makes on its inward and outward journey as you observe the breath. Listen can you hear the sound as the air comes into the nostrils? Listen closely to the sound as you exhale. Do they sound different? You may hear a slight hiss or even the sound “So”as the breath enters and a slight humming sound, “Hum”, as it leaves. Listen to the sounds as the breath enters and leaves. Observe the feeling of the breath as you hear the sound.

This simple and subtle meditation practice can bring a profound sense of calm and peace with the world.

Namaste.

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Of the many books and theories of chakras, very few agree on the chakras’ characteristics. While most agree that they do exist in the subtle, it’s from each individual’s own vibrational field and from where we perceive that we define them.


One of the confusing points for many is: What are the colors? Some say there is an internal and, also, an external color. It depends on how they are perceived with the physical eye and how they are perceived with the inner eye. Also, the more balanced someone’s chakras are the more easily the true colors show.

In essence, the chakras themselves do not have a definite color. Instead, we could say that each of the chakras vibrates at a certain frequency and emits a unique color.

The first chakra is the most earth-bound; it therefore vibrates at a certain rate that produces the hue of the strongest color wavelength: Red. When we get all the way to the ajna—the eyebrow point—we see shorter, thinner vibratory rays that correspond to the vibrations emitting the color violet—the opposite end of the spectrum.

We can tell the health and balance of a chakra according to the intensity of color. If the color is muddy it is not as healthy as when the color is clear and vibrant.

When we do imagery with each of the chakras, I suggest using an image of something with a very clear color, never something muddy or dull. This kind of imagery helps clarify and balance the chakras. That balance brings the body, mind, emotions and heart into harmony.

Don’t get stuck in trying to identify colors and shapes of the chakras. Focus on the meditation, imagery and other practices that bring you more into a place of calm, peacefulness and vibrant health. The chakras will all shine nicely then.

When all the chakras are aligned in equanimity that is what we call yoga—perfect balance.

Namaste.

Article: Heaven & Earth Chakras

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There is a wonderful practice in yoga that is a simple and direct way to keep our minds calm and our hearts open. It is called pratipaksha bhavana. It means to make an unpleasant or unwanted thought or attitude into the opposite. With that yogic mental tool, we can take thoughts that prey on our minds and turn them in a different direction, a positive direction.

How often during the day do unwanted thoughts or feelings pop up to disturb your calm? Some days there might be too many to count!

When we are aware of these unfavorable attitudes before they manifest as word or action, we retain the power to reverse them.

Do you feel fear? Cultivate courage. Anger? Cultivate love. Try substituting not just a word but the whole scene or action in a mental movie. Imagine you are in the midst of a heated discussion with your spouse when, from another room, you hear your sweet baby cooing. Chances are, as soon as you hear the first sound from the baby, your mind and heart will leave the disagreement; and your anger will melt away as your heart opens to your child. Remember this and put the memory to use. The next time you feel annoyed with anyone, invoke an image like the face of a sweet baby–or, perhaps, a budding flower or brilliant sun or any image that you love. The person you thought worthy of your discontent may suddenly appear more vulnerable, more worthy of love instead of anger as you feel more loving. The best part is that you both reap the benefits.

A Meditation to Change Your Attitude

Sit comfortably.

Think of the quality that you would like to invite into your life. A simple one or two word phrase is best. It could be “peace,” “joy,” “cooperation,” “adaptability,” or anything positive you want to bring into your life.

Bring forth an aspect of yourself that no longer fosters the person you want to be. Can you tell where in your body it is stored? If possible, put a name to it: “self-righteousness,” “stubbornness,” “anger,” etc.

Now choose a quality that you would like to send out to the world. It could be the same as or a different one than you chose to bring into your life. Begin to take in and release deep, full breaths.

As you breathe in, allow the mind and heart to integrate the positive quality into your being. Feel it infusing each cell and circling the place where you were holding the negative. Allow the unwanted feeling to dissipate. (Just imagine it dissipating; don’t “breathe it out.”) As you breathe out, let that positive quality transform every disturbance into something positive (like peace) and send it as your wish for the world.

It is fun to watch the unwanted qualities or thoughts dissolve and transform into positive! It’s healing for the world, for those around you, and, even more, for yourself.

Namaste.

Photo Credit: Anita Patterson at morguefile.com

Another Guided Meditation: Light Up the World

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Our story as women is filled with seers, healers, and visionaries who formed an integral part of society. But most of them were not scholars or intellectuals; they were mostly unassuming people, living ordinary lives while exhibiting extraordinary powers. Their wisdom was derived from their very humility and open mindedness. Very often, these women were tapping into their intuitive powers to heal or make awe-inspiring prophecies. Simple women reached into other dimensions as easily as stirring the soup or rocking the cradle; and, in doing so, they helped heal the sick and avert calamities.

Having this gift, this access to a higher order was considered special but not unusual. These powers were once touted as “natural,” something that all women could tap into. When viewed with an elevated consciousness, intuition was honored, not feared.

Tragically, this great and benevolent gift came to inspire fear. Women’s intuition came to be regarded as “irrational,” and women became second-class citizens. And, in the darkest times, many of the women exhibiting their intuitive powers suffered greatly at the hands of the ignorant.

Thankfully, most women in modern society are not treated as harshly as we once were, but prejudice still remains. We are tempted to hide our gifts for fear of physical, mental, or spiritual persecution. But the great stories of women tell us that concealing our power is detrimental to future generations. Truly and joyfully embracing our power honors the blessed gift it was meant to be.

In my life and my teaching, I’ve sought to help other women and, openhearted men, rediscover that beautiful and powerful heart perspective and bring it forth to shine in their lives.

Finding the Heart in the Yoga Sutras

For many years I’ve been a student of the Yoga Sutras. At first, I sought to understand them from a “rational” view. This striving relaxed as the natural feminine “heart perspective” invited itself into my study. Embracing the spirit of the sutras, rather than their literal meaning, allowed me to integrate the sacred teachings at a much deeper level.

In my book The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras the negative words that are found in the English language in abundance have been excluded where possible in order to bring a more positive vision to this sacred text.

This was a difficult task considering that the English language has the habit of taking a negative word and adding “not” or “on” to it, expecting the opposite meaning to emerge. Actually, the mind continues to relate to the root word, and we miss the important concept.

For instance, the great virtue of Asteya in the Yoga Sutras is typically translated as “non-stealing.” Upon hearing this, the mind cannot help but focus on “stealing”—exactly what we’ve been told not to do!

For an opposite effect to take place, the word or words must be reinterpreted from what not to do into what to do. Asteya then could easily be understood in positive terms such as honesty, generosity, or integrity. So, rather than implying that people steal and proposing they refrain from this action, my text proposes that they be generous and honest and live in integrity.

Similarly, the Sutra on Aparigraha, is generally translated as non-greed or greedlessness. Telling someone not to be greedy is like telling her not to think of chocolate. Once the notion of chocolate is planted in the mind, it’s very hard to dislodge. A more positive approach goes to the heart of Aparigraha and unveils the positive perspective as “awareness of abundance,” so that sharing what you have and taking only what you need follow naturally.

Using heart-centered language rather than language that admonishes us (even when we don’t deserve it!) brings out our real joy and the strength to leap tall obstacles in a single bound!

Namaste.

Remembering the Joy: A Women’s Retreat with Nischala Devi May, 2013

More about The Secret Power of Yoga, an Interview with Nischala Joy Devi

Can we really survive if our energy source is cut off? It seems unlikely. Yet many people talk about a chakra being closed. Usually this means that the energy from that whirling vortex is in a tamasic (dull, lazy) state and moving very slowly, almost to the point of not moving at all. When that happens, we are not accessing the information that is being given to us. When the chakra begins to spin at a higher vibration, the energy moves more freely; and we are, then, able to access that precious information.

A major reason for a chakra seeming to slow down is that physical or mental tension becomes the chakra’s main output of energy. The other thing that occludes the chakras is negative emotion—especially fear, which constricts the base chakra and, therefore, does not allow the energy to move upward.

When we free the body, the mind, and the emotions from fear, there’s no need to consciously open the chakras. It will happen naturally. If a flower has water and sun it will open. It is the same with chakras, but their nourishment comes from elsewhere. Asana (yoga poses), breathing practices, imagery, selfless service, meditation—these all help balance and expand the chakras.

This happens with animals, too; and they access their chakra energy with an ease we might envy. If your cat or dog gets pregnant and then has a litter, who tells her what to do? No one! Why? How does she know? We say it’s instinct. What is instinct? It’s memory that has been stored somewhere, in the chakra—in this case, the first and second chakra. So, the mother animal has the information. No one says to her, “You seem to be pregnant, why don’t you go to a doctor?” She knows something special is happening in her body, and her body prepares for it, just as a human woman’s body prepares.

But we humans seem to have lost touch with our instinct memory. We need extra help to know what to do. So we have to go to natural childbirth classes and be taught how to do a basic, natural function. The animals are very much in touch with their instincts and don’t need to do that.

Through the yoga practices, our chakras naturally expand. Our own awareness expands, and we become more in tune with all the information we carry within.

Namaste.

Nischala Devi’s upcoming programs related to Healing with the Chakras

Photo Credit: Andreas Krappweis

When people refer to the seven chakras, they usually start from the base chakra (Muladhara) and move up. The Muladhara is typically called the first chakra. This way of approaching the chakras is based on the premise that we are earth beings, human beings, who are put here to strive to become the divine beings that we are told only a very few are able to become. So, we therefore descend to the bottom; and, from there, we struggle to claim our divinity. That is more or less a typical way of looking at our incarnation from a Western standpoint.

From a more Eastern standpoint, we are already born divine and have come to earth to mix that divinity with humanity; therefore, our purpose is to become more human. We do not have to work at divinity; it is our birthright.

We began as energy and developed on different energetic levels. This energy condensed to manifest as the “crown chakra” or the highest energy. The undifferentiated and expanded energy is that Cosmic Consciousness, Self, God—whatever you want to call it. It is the expanded part of us, the oneness with all.

When we begin to manifest the physical, the patterns from the chakras and energy formations form our physical DNA, and our different characteristics come about: How will we look? Where exactly will a birthmark appear? What kind of disposition? Intelligent? Intuitive? A tendency to get allergies? Colds? Cancer?

When the energy reaches our Muladhara or base chakra, we are ready to be born into this world. The chakras will allow us to function and give us the clues to climb back up to the infinite. There is a tremendous amount of information in the chakras that most of us have not begun to tap.

At the crown chakra is our constant connection with the heavens and cosmos. Often described as an upside down tree, we are rooted directly into the heavens while our branches reach out toward the earth. Here, there is no awareness of separation from our spirit and true nature.

Immediately below the crown chakra a distinction begins to manifest between above and below. We become aware that we are beginning to manifest, and we also have another division between left and right. From here, we are aware of three heavenly chakras: Ajna (brow point), Vishuddha (throat) and Anahatha (heart). The top three chakras are considered heaven chakras. After the Anahata (heart) there are three more chakras, which are our earth chakras. Mani Pura (solar plexus), Swatistana (sacral plexus) and Muladhara (base or coccygeal plexus) anchor us to the earth.

There is a link and correspondence between the bottom and the top chakras. And this is something that, again in our quest for knowledge, we forget to balance. When the chakras are in harmonious pairs—heaven and earth—they allow us to live a balanced and healthy life.

Healing With the Chakras Meditation

For growing numbers of harried Americans, a single step into a yoga class begins a transformative journey into the vast world that unites body, mind, and spirit. The physical part of yoga practice has become a gateway to the true ancient spiritual discipline.

It’s not unusual for someone to enter yoga class just to try some good stretching but soon find herself wanting to go deeper into exploration of that profound peace that touches her consciousness, even in a simple yoga asana class. Once we cross that threshold, we open ourselves to limitless possibilities and to realms many of us have yet to dream of. When we let go and look within, the power we experience can transform our lives.

The Yoga Sutras offer us a great spiritual text and guide. The study of these Sutras embodies the purity of this dharma, the righteous path of yoga. The Sutras weave together a beautiful tapestry of essential wisdom and insights that allow us to know our Divine Nature. The Yoga Sutras use the insights of the ancient scriptures to depict the nature of consciousness and the path to liberation.

There is some uncertainty surrounding the origins of the 196 aphorisms in the text of the Yoga Sutras. Historians have deduced that the Sutras were originally compiled and codified by the great sage Sri Patanjali. It is thought that he lived at least 2,500 years ago.

Much of the wisdom we find in the Sutras is distilled and simplified from earlier sacred texts, such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita. Patanjali wanted to restate these great teachings in a way that made them relevant to the people of his time. He also realized that, if more people learned these great gems of wisdom, there was a greater likelihood that the essence of the teachings would be preserved and would flourish. He was right! It turned out that those Sutras remained relevant through the centuries. Today, they can guide our lives and our journey within just as surely as they did more than 2,000 years ago.

The Sutras themselves are short statements, each worthy of contemplation. Every book about the Yoga Sutras (the study of which is called Raja Yoga, the Royal Path) contains the Sutras, along with the author’s unique commentary. My own book of the Yoga Sutras is called The Secret Power of Yoga.

The Secret Power of Yoga is the knowledge that lies on the other side of the threshold, the knowledge that we are not just our bodies, our minds, or our emotions. The secret that brings endless power is knowing that we are Divine beings. This knowledge can permeate our entire lives, ultimately bringing us to a permanent state of peace, joy, and love.

Upcoming Programs with Nischala Devi on The Secret Power of Yoga

Have you ever seen your own chakras?

Most of us, at least in our everyday lives, are not aware that we are seeing chakras, seeing energies. We give them unusual names because we think they are extraordinary things to see. In actuality, we just don’t have the focus of vision to see them properly. It’s not that they are so extraordinary; it’s just we tend to keep our focus on other areas.

Imagine this scene: Walking along the street, you are focused on looking down at the beautiful flowers. Because your gaze is elsewhere, you don’t experience the colorful hot-air balloon above. Your friend, walking with you, glances up, sees the hot-air balloon go by and tells you about it. You might say, “I didn’t see it,” or, you might even try to deny its existence. Many of us think that if we do not perceive something with our external senses it is not real. The same can be said about the energy centers or chakras. Once we become aware and then attune to them, we are able to see them with the inner eye, sense them or even feel energy in particular areas of our bodies, our minds and the workings of our lives.

The Sanskrit word “chakra” means “wheel.” The early seers, in their deep meditation, recognized chakras as energy centers and, when brought back to the conscious level, described them as wheels. In essence, they are much more than wheels and more than disks. Imagine them as whirling vortexes of energy—similar to our sun. When we see a picture or photograph of the sun, it looks like a disk. Yet, when we are able to see a close-up of the sun through a telescope, we can see that it is constantly erupting with pulsating energy whirling all around it. In that way, a chakra is or appears to be similar to the sun.

In our quest for life on earth we must first have a custom made physical body. We begin as two cells coming together. One, the largest cell in the female body; and the other, the smallest cell in the male body. When the cells touch and begin their dance of life the early cells are undifferentiated. As they begin to differentiate, the physical, emotional and intellectual aspects of us need to be fed information by our chakras. The chakras contain all the information that we have gathered throughout our existence in time, all the memories. In a way, it’s like a computer disk. When you look at a computer disk, it doesn’t look like much, just a piece of plastic. When put in its proper place in the computer, like magic, information is revealed. When we know how to decode the disk, we uncover all the information. Our chakras act like the disks for building our bodies, minds, emotions and life.

» Healing With the Chakras – Upcoming Programs with Nischala Devi

» Healing with the Chakras Meditation

A worn and abandoned violin lay on the table at a local auction. The humiliation of being given the price tag of $50.00 seemed to make it even less attractive. The auctioneer tried to encourage the bidding to start. “Who will buy this wonderful violin? Surely, someone could take it home and fix it up.” Still, the room was silent.

From the back of the room came a man who seemed to match the condition of the violin—tattered and shabby in appearance, strong in determination. He gestured to the auctioneer that he would like to play the violin. Not seeing that anymore harm could be done, with a nod the auctioneer gave permission.

The squeaks and sounds of tuning were quickly replaced with glorious sounds and harmonies. Silence fell on the previously skeptical audience. Suddenly, one man sprang to his feet. “I’ll give $100 for the violin.” “I’ll take it for $200,” said another. And one person after another popped up to make a bid. When the gavel finally struck, the sum of $10,000 dollars had won. What was the change? An ordinary violin became a master instrument with the touch of the master’s hand.

The Cosmic Flute
Take a long empty hollow tube made of bamboo, wood, metal or even flesh and bone. Place some openings at various strategic places. All in all it is still not much more than a hollow, empty tube. The simple shape allows for the passage of air or vital life force to flow through it. At a prescribed time, with divine orchestration, energy starts to move through a particular instrument. When energy is breathed through the simple tube, it becomes a musical instrument.

The energy is being blown into the flute. If you just hold it, it doesn’t make a sound. That happens only when you start to play it. Put a little pressure on one spot, let up on the other, you start to get a melody. And the people who get the most beautiful melody are the people who have awareness of how to play it properly. This is what the chakras are about—playing the melody, keeping it clean. You have to clean a flute constantly; you don’t want it to get mucked up. Because, if it does, you can’t get a beautiful sound from it.

As the energy flows in, it is played by a maestro called Life. Sometimes one note will be played and sometimes another. And, so, the symphony has begun.

We are all flutes in that same way. The openings to allow the different notes and various energies to flow are our energy centers or chakras.

» Healing with the Chakras CD/Digital Download

by Nischala Joy Devi
Buy Now: Physical CD $12.00 | Digital Download $9.95

In the Healing with the Chakras Meditation, Nischala Joy Devi guides the listener to the heart and experience of understanding the chakras.

Woven through this meditation, we experience imagery, color and the five senses, plus awareness of the organs and glandular systems, which the chakras govern. Healing with the Chakras Meditation allow us the experience of deep rejuvenation.

Enhanced by the use of Bija (seed) Mantras and Mudras, Healing with the Chakras Meditation leads us within, to transformation from imbalance to dynamic vitality.

Nischala Joy Devi is a masterful and compassionate teacher. Known for many years as a highly respected international advocate, her innovative way of expressing yoga and its subtle uses for spiritual growth and complete healing continues to touch seekers around the world.

Running time: 30 minutes

This comprehensive program is a certification course offered for Yoga Teachers and Health Professionals teaching the general population who would like to share Yoga with people living with heart disease, cancer and other debilitating diseases. It is also useful for people with family histories and/or risk factors.

Learn more about the full program here.

A Woman’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras! In The Secret Power of Yoga, Nischala Joy Devi guides the listener to the heart and spirit of Yoga by offering a commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras that emanates from an intuitive, feminine, heart-centered approach. Unlocking the secrets of this sacred text, The Secret Power of Yoga views consciousness as residing not only in the mind, but re-establishes the ancient wisdom that recognizes the essential role of the heart.

Woven throughout this 6 CD, abridged audiobook are 7 hours of commentary, stories and guided experiences focusing on Asthaanga Yoga, the Eight-Faceted Path. Featuring new stories exclusive to this audiobook edition, Nischala’s clear, warm-hearted perspective breathes new life into the Yoga Sutras, and helps the listener to integrate the sacred jewels of these ancient teachings.

Here’s some sample audio clips from The Secret Power of Yoga Audiobook.

Samples from the 6-CD set

1. Story: Wise Woman’s Stone
2. Yoga Sutras 1-2, 1-3
3. Sutra 2-33: Pratipaksha Bhavana
4. Guided Experience: Joy

Listen to Drishti Point’s first interview in our Yoga Sutras Series with renowed yoga expert Nischala Joy Devi. In this first interview, Nischala Devi speaks about writing her book The Secret Power of Yoga: A Women’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras, and the path of Bhakti Yoga. In this beautiful interview, Nischala Devi answers questions about devotion, kirtan, prayer, and how to open the heart.

Click here to listen.

This is the second of our Drishti Point Series on the the Yoga Sutras with renowed yoga expert- Nischala Joy Devi. In this second interview, Nischala Devi speaks about Karma and Karma Yoga. She explains what is karma, how it works, and the various types of karma- agami, parabda, and sangita. In this wonderful interview, Nischala Devi uses everyday examples that will help listeners to understand karma, and use this understand to enhance how we interact with the world in our everyday lives

Click here to listen.

This is the third of our Drishti Point Series on the the Yoga Sutras with renowed Yoga Expert- Nischala Joy Devi. In this third interview, Nischala Devi speaks about Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of Intuitive Wisdom. With grace and eloquence, Nischala Devi weaves stories and insights from common everyday experiences to express the timeless wisdom of Jnana Yoga.

Click here to listen.

Listen to a wonderfully inspiring interview with Nischala Joy Devi. This is the fourth (and last) interview in the Drishti Point Series on the Yoga Sutras . In this interview on Hatha Yoga, Nischala Joy Devi speaks about the importance of the yamas and niyamas (ethics and morality), prana and pranayam, pratyahara (withdrawl of the senses), finding sukha (happiness), and the importance of Satsang.

Click here to listen.

As yoga students and teachers, compassion blossoms as our inner guidance. It constantly reminds us that it is not the exactness of a technique that gives students the experience of Yoga, but the ability to access our own sacred energy.

Compassion is fostered by our personal experience through hardships, physical, mental or emotional or by perceiving with an open heart, others suffering.

The next time you have a slight injury or pain, allow the awareness of that discomfort to expand, embracing the many that live with chronic suffering on a permanent basis. This consciousness greatly aids in the development of our compassion.

The great privilege of learning compassion in my life came through both of the ways described. As a child and young adult I had multiple infirmities. Yet, my greatest gift of compassion came when I was able to share the great teachings of yoga with people who’s lives are intimately infused with pain and the fear that often accompanies it.

All the formulas and structures accrued dissolve as we embrace a person in their deepest suffering. A prayer that the person is able to stand or bend without discomfort replaces the alignment once thought to be so important in asana.

Compassion is the catalyst that allows the great teachings to guide them in realizing that the physical body is the temple housing the Divine Self.

According to yoga philosophy disease manifests not from the physical, but from the disconnection with our source or spirit. When we are able to remember who we are the healing is accelerated.

When we look to and study the reasons for this separation, the Kleshas Sutra II-3, Avidya Innocence of our true nature, is the prime cause of forgetting. As compassionate beings our ability to help others is directly affected by our own belief in this most basic of concepts.

On a practical basis when teaching yoga to people with life threatening diseases, I use practices that embrace the totality of who we are physical, mental, emotion and spiritual being.

My initial entry into working with this population blossomed as I became more and more disillusioned with the western style of medicine. In their need to specialize, the whole was often missed. The separate parts became more important. From this narrowed view, the Divine within was forgotten.

Weaving the understanding of the miracle of the human body with the elegance of the spirit, allowed me to help create a new way of looking toward the whole person.

This incident early on guided my view inward to the wholeness we long for.

“Don’t tell me you have been in with a patient all this time, simply listening to her talk and comforting her when she cried. That is a waste of time. Keep that up and I will have to dismiss you from this Physican’s Assistant training program.”

This was the response from the department head after I was summoned, failing to report exactly on time after performing a procedure in a patient’s room.

It was a moment of truth for me. It happened on my normal rounds one morning, walking into the hospital room of a woman with end stage cancer. She was six months pregnant had three other children and was very frightened and feeling alone. I was there to do some procedure; I can’t even remember what it was. As I started to take out the instruments, I glace up and our eyes met. At that moment, something happened. I could feel as shift in the room and in my heart. Placing the instruments on the bedside table, I then enacted what my heart dictated. I got into bed with her and embraced her. We held each other, and wept.

Now many years later after completing my training in as a physician’s assistant, being involved in Medical research, studying and teaching Yoga, I have learned that certain methods, practices, diets and procedures work-much of the time. When they do we are so happy. But there are times, all our protocols, ideas and hypothesis’s just don’t get to the essence, the root. What do we do then?

After so many years of reflection I now realize that during the time I was accused of wasting time with the sweet young mother with cancer, was indeed Yoga. The aspect of Yoga that is the depth of healing, that sooths as it heals, not only the patient, but the therapist, and ultimately the world.

The practices and philosophy of yoga blending the both physical and spiritual conjol them to unite. Healing then happens. This blend was put forth to develop the research protocol and study, Dr. Dean Ornish’s Lifestyle Heart Trial and the Award winning Commonweal Cancer program. Both programs gave me a feeling of gratitude and a sense of contributing to bringing light into western medicine.

The constant refinement and rediscovering of the yogic practices allows each person to gain the benefit of healing. Often the healing was not a total physical cure, but a rebalancing of the energies that flows through the body, mind and emotions touching the spirit. It affords everyone a sense of peace and clarity making decisions and changes based on their highest level of healing.

Yoga is the creation of a balance of energies that allows the natural intelligence of the body to right itself. It is for this reason that most of the gentle practices can positively affect any disease or imbalance. It facilitates the alchemy by connecting hearts and souls, remembering that we are all ONE.

Learn more about the full program here.

With the stresses of everyday life, the energetic flow is often hindered. The result is lethargy, anxiety, depression or even disease. By observing the adjusting images of ourselves, we are able to release old paradigms from the subtle bodies and gain control of our very life force. As these pathway are unlocked, the pent-up energy effortlessly flows and we are able to heal everything, from simple ailments to life-threatening diseases.

On-Line course coming soon!

Learn more about the full program here.

Deepen your connection to the earth and find new ways to care for her.

I have a fond memory from some years ago of accompanying my teacher Sri Swami Satchidananda, one of the 20th century’s great yoga masters, on a walk in the park. I was one of three people walking behind him and I was enjoying the beauty of the day and the feel of the soft, slightly damp grass under my feet. Realizing that many creatures were living in the earth beneath my feet, I was aware that my actions could be causing harm to them. As I was thinking about this, I noticed that as Swamiji lifted his foot before taking the next step, the grass perked back up. Looking back at the grass I had just stepped on, it was flat. Curious to see if it was the same for my companions, I glanced over at the others, who were also flattening the grass as they walked across it.

Perplexed, the three of us approached Swamiji “Why is it,” we asked, “that when you walk on the grass it stands back up when you lift your foot, while the grass under our feet stays pressed to the earth?” A sweet, reverent expression came to his face, and he put his hand on his heart. “I have reverence for the earth and she knows it,” he said. “When I walk on her I feel I am walking on my mother’s bosom.”

I don’t know if I’ll ever fully understand what happened that day, but the incident illuminated for me how deeply you can alter your consciousness to love and respect the earth. Even now as I walk through the park or on the grass, I am conscious that the earth is my Mother.

Today, it seems almost everyone is aware of how human activity is harming our planet. You’re probably already doing many practical things to try to reduce your impact: recycling, driving less, buying “green” products, and so forth. If you want to go deeper, you can begin a practice of cultivating gratitude and reverence for the earth. As that moment with Swamiji suggested, when your actions are fueled by an inner heart-centered consciousness, you can affect the larger world in innumerable positive ways.

Feel the connection
Too often, the habits of our everyday lives tend to cut us off from the earth. Yet the reality is that we are intimately joined to her. We are not just living on the earth, we are the earth—our bodies, after all, are made up of 70%TK water!

Focusing your attention on the everyday gifts that nature gives you can help you cultivate reverence. In my own life, just placing my feet on the floor to connect with the earth first thing in the morning fills me with gratitude. Splashing warm water on my face connects me to the water that flows all over the planet. Drawing air deeply into my lungs as I glimpse the first rays of the sun brings a sense of joy, because fire, air, and prana have united in me. In those first moments of waking I feel a deep connection and gratitude to the Earth. When we remember these connections with gratitude we can experience groundedness, a sense of belonging, and a feeling of abundant well being.

There are other connections, as well. The yogic tradition views the world as consisting of five elements: earth, air, water, fire, and ether. Five of the chakras—whirling vortexes of energy in our subtle bodies—are considered to be direct reflections of those elements. One way to create a deeper sense of oneness with Mother Earth is by consciously choosing to take in energy from the elements of nature, while focusing on the chakras that correspond to the physical elements of the larger world.

When you do this, you draw the subtle energy of the element—be it (KEEP THE ORDER THE SAME-earth, water, fire, air, or ether—into the corresponding chakra within yourself. As you do this, you are strengthening and enhancing your own chakras, as well as teaching yourself to experience more deeply that there is no separation between us and the planet; we are all truly one. As the Chandogya Upanishad says, “The essence of all beings is earth.”
Elemental truths
Muladhara Chakra corresponds to the Earth Element, which motivates you to attend to the basics of survival: food, clothing, shelter. When connected with earth, you feel grounded, confident. When disconnected you may experience fear or depression. To connect, stand on the earth without shoes and imagine roots coming out of the bottom of your feet going deep into the earth, drawing energy into your whole body. This will help you feel that you are part of the earth and she is part of you.

Swadhisthana Chakra relates to the Water Element, which directs the flow of emotions, passions, and creativity that bring harmony or disharmony with yourself and others. Tap into this energy by soaking in a natural hot spring or enjoying healing water in your own personal bathtub or shower. Let the water purify your body, mind, and emotions.

Manipura Chakara mirrors the Fire Element. Your power, intellect, and vitality, which relate to your place in the world and your sense of self-esteem, are fed by fire. Like a tree, you absorb the sun’s heat and transform it, using it to warm your body and ignite your intellect. Standing on the earth, stretch your arms and head upward and absorb the fire element; let it illuminate your entire being with happiness. Connecting to the fire element you are enhancing your power, intellect, and vitality.

Anahatha Chakra reflects the Air element. The air that you breathe inspires compassion, intuition and love. The plants of the earth take in your carbon dioxide and give you pure oxygen. Preserving them means they preserve you. Standing on a hilltop, allow the power of the wind to embrace you. Breathe deeply as you feel life throbbing through you, empowering the heart to flow with intuition, compassion and love.

Vishuddha chakra consists of the Ether Element. The essence of your being, is ether or prana, or life force. Deep breathing unites earth and heaven within you, bringing you a feeling of freedom. Through breath and an openhearted reverence, prana and the spirit unite in gratitude and love for all.

Getting in touch with the earth in these ways can also remind you of the enduring strength of the natural world. When the reality of pollution and destruction seems overwhelming, this perspective can give you hope.

After a time, the communion of your body, mind, and emotions with the earth will bring a shift in your inner and outer worlds. It will help each of us find ways to heal Mother Earth. And with the healing of Mother earth, we, her children are healed. As William Wordsworth said, “Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher.”

NISCHALA JOY DEVI is the author of The Healing Path of Yoga and The Secret Power of Yoga. To learn more about her teachings, go to www.abundantwellbeing.com

Light up the world

Sit quietly as you take in a few deep inhalations and let them out very slowly.

N.J.D.

Keeping compassion and Yoga in Yoga and as Yoga Therapy Develops

According to yoga philosophy disease manifests not from the physical, but from the disconnection with our source or spirit. When we are able to remember who we are the healing is accelerated.

Yoga is not an allopathic remedy that is used to fight disease, it the creation of a balance of energies that allows the natural intelligence of the body to right itself. It is for this reason that most of the gentle practices can positively affect any disease or imbalance.

The constant refinement and rediscovering of the yogic practices allows each person to gain the benefit of healing. Often the healing was not a total physical cure, but a rebalancing of the energies that flows through the body, mind and emotions. It affords everyone a sense of peace and clarity making decisions and changes based on their highest level of healing.

All the formulas and structures accrued dissolve as we embrace a person in their deepest suffering. A prayer that the person is able to stand or bend without discomfort replaces the alignment once thought to be so important in asana.

Weaving the understanding of the miracle of the human body with the elegance of the spirit, allowed me to help create a new way of looking toward the whole person.

My initial entry into working with this population blossomed as I became more and more disillusioned with the western style of medicine. In their need to specialize, the whole was often missed. The separate parts became more important. From this narrowed view, the Divine within was forgotten.

On a practical basis when teaching yoga to people with life threatening diseases, I use practices that embrace the totality of who we are physical, mental, emotion and spiritual being.

The next time you have a slight injury or pain, allow the awareness of that discomfort to expand embracing the many that live with chronic suffering on a permanent basis. This consciousness greatly aids in the development of our compassion.

Compassion is the sacred energy that flows through the heart chakra to each and every living thing in the universe. When accessed it allows us to feel a sense of oneness with all.
As yoga students and teachers, compassion blossoms as our inner guidance. It constantly reminds us that it is not the exactness of a technique that gives students the experience of yoga, but the ability to access our own sacred energy.

Compassion is fostered by our personal experience through hardships, physical, mental or emotional or by perceiving with an open heart, others suffering.

Compassion is the catalyst that allows the great teachings to guide them in realizing that the physical body is the temple housing the Divine Self.

The practices and philosophy of yoga blended the both physical and spirit coaxing them to unite. Healing then happens. The work developed into a research study, Dr. Dean Ornish’s Lifestyle Heart Trial and the Award winning Commonweal Cancer program. Both programs gave me a feeling of gratitude and a sense of contributing to bringing light into western medicine.

It scares me. I overheard someone in the elevator at the yoga therapy conference say that some people are saying that you should have a bachelor’s degree before you can be a yoga therapist. I’m thinking that’s not to me what a yoga therapist is.

It’s becoming more and more academic, and if that’s what people think is yoga therapy, then who am I to say it’s not? I just know that when I sit with someone, they don’t care what kind of degree I have; they don’t care what kind of study I did, they just care if I’m present with them, if I’m peaceful and if I love them.
But it’s the American way, what’s happening here and with yoga in this country. To a certain extent I’m part of it, and to a certain extent I refuse to be part of it.

Yoga of the Heart came from my research and work of many years with the Dean Ornish Program for people with heart disease and also as co founder of the Commonweal Cancer Program. Yoga of the Heart, was designed to teach Yoga Teachers and Health Professionals how to safely adapt Yoga for people who have life threatening diseases, especially Heart disease and Cancer. It seems that with all the education Yoga teachers are now getting and the extensive anatomy and Physiology courses there knowledge bases is mainly with the Muscular Skeletal systems. Since statically one out of every two people in the US will die from Heart Disease it seems to me a very important aspect for Yoga teachers to learn about Cardiac Health. So many students come to regular classes, with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history unknown to the teachers. I feel it is essential for all Yoga teachers to know how to safely teach these people and prevent problem in the classroom and at home. On the most positive side, Yoga has been proven to reverse and prevent Cardio-Vascular Disease wouldn’t it be great if we could make a difference in helping these people heal their disease and life?
The heart is truly the center of our being. When it is revered all life is joy. When we have joy in our life a deep feeling of peace is reflected on everything we are and do.

In English the work for heart is physical, emotional and spiritual, implying that one is interdependent on the other. When we are connected to our spiritual heart it feed the other hearts. This is the definition of true health.