I wanted to send prayers and love to all the people and their loved ones who have experienced the destruction from Hurricane Sandy.
The things we lose are an opportunity for detachment, not that it is not hard to go through that loss but there is a possibility to find inner harmony through the experience.
My wish for all beings is to feel, heal and see the light in no matter the situation.
An old Sufi tradition advises us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through four gates. At the first gate, we ask ourselves, “Are these words true?” If so, we let
them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate we ask; “Are they necessary?” At the third gate we ask; “Are they beneficial?” and at the fourth gate, we ask, “Are they kind?” If the answer to any of these is no, then what you are about to say should be left unsaid.
Om Namo Bhagavate = Om and salutations to the Indwelling One, substance of the Divine.
This chant has been a part of my daily prayers for the last year. Like many of the chants I use, I experience them way before I know what the translation is. From the beginning, chanting has been a vital part of my Yoga practice. Chanting brings us closer to the higher consciousness, the creator, god, hp . . .fill in your liking.
One of the most important things I have learned in Yoga is that all I need is within me. This mantra has encouraged and created more brevity to create the life I want from the inside out and to let go of the material worlds desires that hold me back from being the spiritual being that I am; That we ALL are. It is a daily practice. finding balance between the spiritual and the material worlds that I live in but all is possible with prayer.
-All you need is within you-
Join Krishna Das this Saturday 7pm on the Upper West Side for an evening Kirtan (call and response chanting), you will leave feeling blissed out, not bad for a Saturday night in NYC 
Below is the link for advanced tickets, tickets also available at the door.
Click HERE for Krishna Das singing his magick
Tonight’s new moon 
is all about action. Anything you have intended/planned but have not yet taken that baby step, NOW is the time. Show the universe that you are inviting this plan and willing to take the action.
We can speak the words or put them down on paper yet if we do not take the action ie: the owed phone call, the blog post 
, the paper, healthier lifestyle, Yoga class, completing the task list, letting go of the old to create space for the new, doing what evokes your passion . . etc. Anything from the small to the big to the most challenging, we are accountable.
I continually learn that all that we need is within us. So for me, sitting quietly, shutting my phone down, asking for the next intuitive thought or action allows me to focus in the moment without all of the everyday distractions.
We “say” we want things but truly do we? I know from experience that some things manifest quickly and others take time but in that time there is a cultivation that is in constant flow. When that flow is blocked or stuck so is the vision.
It is a daily exploration and being rigorously honest on what we want or what we don’t want because it is us who manifests everything. Be careful what yo wish for, it will come true so be specific, lead with your heart, be diligent and surround yourself with as much love and support as possible.
Don’t give up what you are born to do, take what you do and use it in a spiritual way. 
We all have gifts to give so make time to give your spirit some attention, find stillness (as best you can) and listen to what the universe has to say.
If I listened to the demon of doubt Naked Spirit Yoga would not be expanding. Stay tuned for the full 4 1 1 on our new space and classes.
Book II Sutra 46 STHIRA SUKHAM ASANAM steady comfortable posture Asana is a steady, comfortable posture
In this past week I am experimenting with taking that “extra” sugar out of my diet and to see what changes occur from my physical, mental, energetic and emotional bodies. I have been experiencing some detox from the sugar, so I turned to my asana practice. Finding more steadiness in the physical because and less mental tension. It reminded me of a Yoga Sutras and intuitively knew which one I was presently connected with. Here is why:
“Unless the body is perfectly healthy and free from all toxins and tensions, a comfortable pose in not easily obtained. Physical and mental toxins create stiffness and tension. Anything that makes us stiff can also break us. Only if we are supple will we never break”.
“A conversation between a weed and a big tree: Both grew on the bank of a swiftly running jungle river. One day the tree looked down at the tiny weed and said, “Hey, you puny little creature, why do you stand near me? Aren’t you ashamed to be by my side? See how great, how big, how tall I am? How sturdy and strong? Even an elephant cannot move me. But look at you. Hah! You shouldn’t have come here. People will see the difference and laugh at you. Why don’t you move somewhere else?” The weed bent her head. ”Sir,” she said, “what can I do? I didn’t come here purposely. I just happen to be here. I know I’m not strong and stiff as you. But please pardon my presence.” ”All right,” boomed the big tree, “but just remember your place!” This conversation happened during the rainy season. The very next day a heavy rain came, inundating the jungle and causing a terrible flood. When a river floods, it erodes the banks and pulls down anything in its way. Coming in such force, the water pulled down the big tree instantly. But the weed bent down, flattened herself completely and let the water run over her. When the flood passed, she rose up agaian. Looking this way and that, she wondered, “What happened to the great tree? I don’t see it.” From far away she heard the tree’s reply. ”I’m being pulled down by the water. I should have been humble and simple and supple like you. Now I’m being destroyed.”
Where are you stiff, not supple enough yet?
Experiment, Play and Witness the Possibilities Within You!
All quoted from the book: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda
If you didn’t know, you know now;
You are enough . . .exactly the way you are!
Surround yourself with love, goodness and spirited people. Friends and family that support and do not judge. Pray and meditate everyday to improve your conscious contact.
Peace to your heart
”My soul, bless me, be with me. Energize me so I can face the world with the strength of the spirit. Save me from duality, give me the reality and royalty so I can face my world in peace and tranquility. May this journey of life be completed with love and affection, kindness and compassion for all living things.”
~ Yogi Bhajan
P.U.S.H. = Pray Until Something Happens!
When everything seems to go wrong, just P.U.S.H.
When the job gets you down, P.U.S.H.
When people don’t react the way you think they should, P.U.S.H.
When your money looks funny and the bills are due, P.U.S.H.
When people just don’t understand you, just P.U.S.H.!!!
One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’
The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’
This is such a lovely story: so simple and yet so true. I think each and every one of us has these two wolves running around inside us. The Evil wolf or the Good Wolf is fed daily by the choices we make with our thoughts. What you think about and dwell upon will in a sense appear in your life and influence your behavior.
We have a choice, feed the Good Wolf and it will show up in our character, habits and behavior positively. Or feed the Evil Wolf and our whole world will turn negative: like poison, this will slowly eat away at our soul.
The crucial question is “Which are you feeding today”?
