The ujjayi breath taught in the above short meditation is the breath traditionally practiced through out a yoga asana practice.  The ujjayi breath can also be used as a meditation in itself.  I use the ujjayi breath when I bike or jog  and I find it helps keep my heart rate down.  I have also used it during parts of labor, after being stung by a jellyfish, and when doing energy work.


If you are not confident with your ujjayi breath after this short lesson and meditation please let me know and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.


Some of the BENEFITS of the ujjayi breath are:  it lowers blood pressure, slows the heart rate, is calming to the nervous system, helps with insomnia when done before bed, it is relaxing on the psychic level, and it helps alleviate fluid retention in the body. 
 
 
Yea!  I messed with the sound and got it louder!!  I'm very excited!  Please let me know if you all can here it now and how the meditation goes for you!
This is the first of many guided meditations.  There will definitely be a learning curve here for me.  Turns out the mic when I was recording wasn't turned up very far so the whole thing is very quiet.  Oops!  So when you listen make sure you turn the volume on the player and on your speakers all the way up.  The next meditation will hopefully have much better sound! :)

This meditation is 21 minutes long and is a loving, healing meditation.  Please enjoy!

Heal, Strengthen, Renew!
Namaste!
 
 
For those of you who are not familiar with mantra meditations let me explain.  A mantra is a word or phrase that is used to repeat internally or out loud in meditation.  This word or phrase is one that will have an edifying, consciousness raising effect.  "Om" is a commonly used mantra and a Christian mantra could be, "Be still and know that I am God."


Today's mantra meditation is "love."  Chant love internally each time you inhale, and each time you exhale.  As you inhale, receive love freely and fully.  Feel it coming in from all around you, from everyone you come into contact with, from yourself, and from God.  As you exhale, give love freely.  Let it seep from your pours to every person, every creature, to yourself, and to God.  As your mind is occupied with the word love, you will FEEL it moving in and out without narrating this process with other thoughts.  Inspiration may come to you in the form of thoughts as you practice this meditation.  If it does, accept it, soak it in, and come back to the word LOVE.

Remember God is love and you are a part of God. 
Namaste!
 
 
There is a wonderful meditation that feels SO good and can be done at any time you need a spiritual pick me up, literally.


In a comfortable seated position, move your attention to your breath. Feel your breath in your body moving in and out, up and down.  Allow your mind to rest on the sound and feeling of your breath.  Your breath is a wonderful tool to bring you into the present moment.  


When you feel ready, bring your awareness into the base of your spine.  Imagine a light there.  I always imagine a white light but if you feel inclined to make the light any other color, go with it.  That color will be balancing to your system that day if you are attracted to it.  If it helps you to sense this light more you can imagine it carries warmth with it as well.  As you inhale, let this light move all the way up your spine.  On the exhale, imagine this light coming out, like a head lamp, from your third eye center.  Continue as long as desired, ideally at least until you can really feel the light.


This meditation will activate your intuitive center and help you have more spiritual clarity.  If you need grounding at the end of your meditation you can let the light come back down your spine on your last exhale, and imagine it going all the way down connecting you to the center of the Earth.


If you have any questions feel free to post a comment!  Many blessings!

 
 

"Do not contract your brain when you stretch your body."
                                                 -B.K.S. Iyengar

I read this quote last night and it struck me as really funny and of course really wise.  Yoga has this tremendous power to teach your mind HOW to disengage, HOW to "not contract," HOW to let go, and just be open and aware.  It happens in a sort of amazing, thoughtless, spontaneous way.  One day you find yourself moving through your asanas with your breath not thinking, next thing you know, you catch yourself periodically through out your day not thinking, just aware and relaxed. 

Yoga teaches you how to meditate so that if and when you decide to take a seat with yourself for five minutes or half an hour, you have more of an ability to quiet the fluctuations of your mind and just be.  Let your asana practice teach you how to relax your mind and just experience where you are.  "Do not contract your brain when you stretch your body."
 
 

A few weeks ago we held our first meditation workshop with Phillip McLemore.  Phillip studied meditation with the last living disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. I LOVE that book and was completely blown away with a lot of the things it said, so I was very excited to absorb some of his knowledge and experience.

Phillip's presence was very clear and grounding and he was a very dynamic teacher.  He has developed a meditation called, The Abba Om Meditation.  He taught this meditation at this workshop and each time I inhaled, I felt chills rush up my spine.  I have since practiced his Abba Om Meditation at home several times and on the days that I have, it has deepened my awareness, and my ability to stay centered through out the day.  If my two year old were old enough to understand how I am gaining more patience, he too would be very grateful to Phillip for what he has taught me. 

Now it's up to me to meditate EVERY DAY!!  I'm excited to bring Phillip back to start a regular meditation group.  I know our community will be blessed for it.

 
    About Me
    Amber Gurr

     I was first introduced to yoga in 2001 and quickly fell in love.  In 2004, I completed my 500 hour teacher training with D'ana Baptiste and have done annual trainings since that time with notable teachers such as Mark Whitwell, David Williams, Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates.  I love teaching and I love seeing yoga bless both the physical and spiritual aspects of people's lives.

    I have a husband and 4 little boys, ages 9, 3, 2 and 0 that keep me busy and playing.  I decided that now is the time for me to be home with my family so now I just sub a yoga class here and there.    I also am a nutritional herbalist, herbalist, doula, have an Associates degree in music,  teach piano and do some energy readings and healing here and there. 

    I am excited to share some of the tid bits of truth that I have come across that have shaped my life thus far and hope that this sharing  will assist many others in their journey.

    Namaste!
heal strengthen renew