Shakti: Most simply, shakti is the primordial cosmic energy that “represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe” (Wikipedia). The feminine principle in Hindu cosmology, shakti is the underlying energy of potential itself. It is intangible, but without it there is no form, no movement, no creation, no destruction. Shakti is pure nascence; the spark at the heart of empowerment.
There is no better place to feel shakti than the ocean. It’s in the WILD ROAR of the waves and the pull of the tide, evidence of our connection with other celestial bodies. Here are 3 minutes to take you away from whatever your mind is racing over today. Enjoy.
Most yoga classes aim to offer a variety of poses—standing poses, seated poses, balancing poses, twists, backbends, arm balances, inversions… A “full spectrum” class will provide you the opportunity to bend in many directions and use different muscles all over your body. So, it’s hard sometimes to see how your body is being changed. You might not revisit the same pose in a class for weeks!
In our meditation this week, we will work on cultivating some new seeds. The meditation is adapted from the book, Just One Thing, by Rick Hanson, PhD. Using the latest research on experience-dependent neuroplasticity, Hanson describes practices for “using the mind to change the brain.” Research increasingly shows that our brains—the actual connections between neurons that constitute what we think, how we react and how we feel—are shaped by our lived experiences. And, as it turns out, what we think counts as part of our lived experience. Hanson’s exercises provide opportunities to practice new ways of thinking, to reshape your brain, and provide newly fertile ground for the kind of life you want to live.
Yoga with Lesley 