Day 14 - Ayurvedic Journey
“When you are content to be simply yourself,
And don’t compete or contend,
You will gain true respect.”
Gratitude for our teachings
All we share with you has come from our teachers, the ancient texts, divine inspiration and other guru’s.
The term guru means spiritual teacher and guide and derives from the sanskrit word ‘gu’ meaning ‘darkness’ and ‘ru’ means ‘light.’ Guru is someone who offers you a torch in the darkness.
Lisa Bermudez, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Ayurvedic Wellness Coach
Dinacharya - Day 1 of self-care with Lisa Bermudez - Full Reading HERE
I’m so excited to be taking you on a journey through self care for the next few days! We live in a culture where self care is often defined as staying in bed or on the coach all day, binge watching TV, drinking wine, and indulging. Our culture rewards overworking with overindulgence, putting our entire being into a very extreme swing where we can’t always find balance. When we do find balance, but stick to the same routine without checking back in with ourselves, we will fall out of balance once again. Think about an asana like Vrikshasana (Tree Pose).
It feels different in our bodies depending on the day, the time of day, and what we have going on in our minds, bodies, and hearts. We have to constantly make minor adjustments. Self care is similar. We don’t always wake up feeling the same every day. We need to check in and be honest with ourselves.
“Ayurveda also takes into account our human nature and the role our minds, emotions, and energies play in our health. There is a subtle reality inside of us that can’t be seen or measured but certainly has its effects. Ayurvedic science teaches us the art of daily living, of being an integrated, whole person among the needs of a job, family, home, and the spiritual heart. It’s absolutely possible for anyone to cultivate higher states of health and happiness through the Ayurvedic lifestyle.”
Liz Glover Wilson, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Ayurvedic Wellness Coach
Sadhana - Day 1 of Spiritual Readings with Liz Glover Wilson - Full Reading HERE
You are on the right path
I am honored to share some of my spiritual practice with you. I believe that if you practice opening your heart each day; pure consciousness, divine power and Gods love will be revealed in your life.
Day 1 - Sadhana - ROOT CHAKRA
This is a daily practice that is unique to you. A sacred time (and space) that allows you time to sit quietly, and reflect, to read inspirations and scriptures.
As a Christ follower, an Earth Yogi, an Ayurvedic Coach and a daughter of the Divine, I invite you with open arms to find your connection to a liberated life through the contemplative practice.
Contemplative Practice: When Ralph Waldo Emerson - the American philosopher and poet, saw the expanding industrial and technological advancements, he could see the possible consequences. He believed these things would separate us from the inspiration that the world of nature inspires. Read full article HERE
“The true contemplative is not one who prepares his mind for a particular message that he wants or expects to hear, but is one who remains empty because he knows that he can never expect to anticipate the words that will transform his darkness into light. He does not even anticipate a special kind of transformation. He does not demand light instead of darkness. He waits on the Word of God in silence, and, when he is answered it is not so much by a word that bursts into his silence. It is by his silence itself, suddenly, inexplicably revealing itself to him as a word of great power, full of the voice of God.”
Erik Phillips-Nania, RYT 200, Author - Climate Change Yoga
Seva - Day 1 of Planet Care with Erik Phillips-Nania - Full Reading HERE
Introduction & Background for Environmental Meditations
As you read this, sit comfortably with a straight spine. Start sitali (cooling) pranayama, breathing in through the mouth, with a curled tongue or pursed lips like you were sipping through a straw. (Full instructions are HERE)… Begin your meditation by visualizing your cooling breath cooling your Earth-Body.
The cooling/healing of oneself is inherently the cooling/healing of the Earth. We are all in an energetic entanglement (and oneness) with the Forces of Nature (and Everything!). Every “individual” neurosis is an ecological crisis and every sattvic meditation is an Earth Healing. Every sattvic meditation increases your vibrations and the vibrations in the Field of Consciousness (Purusha). With focused intention, these vibrations can have powerful, measurable effects, like purifying the atmosphere, purifying water, accelerating photosynthesis, and calming the weather.
Everyone has the innate, latent ability to help Heal the Earth. (However, not everyone has the knowledge or willpower.) Like any skill, it takes dedication and regular practice. It takes time, study, and effort to have this ability and this direct experience. When we develop this ability, our power and effectiveness of our service/seva can be amplified.
Control the Mind. (And you can “control” the weather.) How? This is the science of the Yoga Sutras, the science of consciousness and meditation. The 8-Fold Path (Ashtanga) leads not only to Samadhi, but extraordinary powers of consciousness called “siddhis”. (Check out this summary of the Yoga Sutras’s Siddhis, HERE).
Let’s apply the fundamental principles of Ayurveda: Everything is understood in light of the Gunas. All diseases and all treatments are based on understanding the gunas. Of the 20 Gunas, Hot and Cold (Agni/Soma) are “the most important.” (Ashtanga Hrydam, 1.18 Commentary). So, if someone or some environment is too hot, then we should apply cold, to create balance, harmony, and healing.
The image to the right is a heat map of the United States from July 13th, 2021, showing the ongoing heatwave. (The fully video and story is HERE).
Visualization: Focus on sending coolness to the US Southwest…
Nadi Shodhana
Take time to work on this powerful breath for 4 minutes. When complete, sit quietly and notice your sensations. See what comes up for you. What emotion? What is your heart saying? Write it down.
The instructions for this can be found on Day 13 HERE.