ONE SPIRIT COMMUNITY

By Erika Faith

Yamas – Restraints (Written as Affirmations)

Yamas are about our actions toward people and things:

a) I am kind and loving to all living things, including myself. (Ahimsa – non-violence)

b) I am truthful in thought, word, and deed. (Satya – dedication to Truth)

c) I am self-reliant and have boundless energy to create wealth. (Asteya – non-stealing)

d) I honor my sexuality as a sacred part of me. (Brahmacharya – sexual consciousness)

e) I am free from attachments and expectations. (Aparigraha – non attachment)

Niyamas – Observances (Written as Affirmations)

Niyamas are about nurturing yourself:

a) I keep myself and my environment pure. (Shauca – purity)

b) I am content, accepting and learning from events in my life. (Santosha – contentment)

c) I live simply, free from unnecessary distractions. (Tapas – focused enthusiasm)

d) I study my Self with inquisition and non-judgement. (Svadhyaya – self inquiry)

e) I unite myself with God and God merges with me. (Ishvara-Pranidhana – oneness with Spirit)

Asana

“The spinal column must be held straight and the body firm, in a comfortable position for meditation.” Patanjali doesn’t happen to mention the thousands of other asanas we have been learning in Hatha Yoga Classes. Yoga, as you have probably assumed by now, is not just the asanas and physical movements we have focused on practicing here in the West. But, steady poses help us to concentrate, become ultra aware of our physical body and move us into a meditative state.

Pranayama

Pranayama means breath control. In yoga practice, this is our intimate relationship with our life force (prana). The breath carries vital energy through our system and gives every cell oxygen. Breathing exercises and breath focus have a great purpose in Hatha Yoga practice: It helps us pay close attention to our body and ourselves, it brings relaxation by creating mental serenity, it builds physical heat within the body allowing us to stretch deeply without injury, and it rejuvenates through the releasing of dormant energy. Without proper breathing, yoga postures are incomplete and benefits won’t be attained.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara means “withdrawal of the senses”. To relax deeply and have a clear head, we sometimes need to detach ourselves from the external world. This doesn’t mean that we completely lose contact with outer reality, we just don’t let ourselves be disturbed by it. It is the feeling of hearing a sound, but it being far enough from us that it doesn’t cause us to react. The practice of pratyahara can be done in relaxation poses such as Savasana (the corpse pose), in asana practice, and even in daily life situations. Pratyahara teaches us that we have the power to choose how we respond to the external world.

Dharana

Dharana is the act of focusing our attention on a single thing. The goal is to become aware of nothing but the object in which you are concentrating. This is often done by fixating on a divine form (such as a picture of a spiritual master). As we hold our mind within a center of spiritual consciousness, we are connecting to the Truth within us. Other focal points are: a candle’s flame, the nose (which is also cleansing for the eyes), the “third eye” chakra, a mantra, and the breath. The practice of Dharana trains the mind to eliminate any excess thought or junk from our consciousness.

Dhyana

Dhyana is the state of meditation. It is the state in which uncluttered mind and heightened awareness lead to complete stillness. The focus is clear and vast – awareness resting on the All in the moment – without preferences. Meditation can be achieved through practice of Dharana and Pratyahara, Pranayama, and even Asana.

Samadhi

Samadhi means “to merge”. It is the ultimate goal of yoga. It is defined as a state of super consciousness where one has achieved, for any amount of time, oneness with the universe. This integration, or union of the All, is wonderfully blissful and is believed to be the true expression of our Eternal Self.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.

May all beings be free.

Erika Faith is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.  Her school, Cloud Nine Yoga, prides itself in being a community based, non dogmatic Yoga Education entity with a history of facilitating the awakening of many hearts and teaching freedom of the mind and body.  For more information about Erika please visit http://www.cloudnineyoga.com/

By Erika Faith

Yoga is Creativity.

Creativity is a divine gift from God to humanity which anyone can access. Whether it is painting, ritual, music or movement we can all receive some type of benefit from creative expression. My on-going creative project is Yoga. How? Well…the simplest way for me to put it is: There are over 14,000 different postures (Asanas) and 50 different styles (Disciplines). A person can put together any routine for their own schedule or liking. Most styles involve some sort of relaxation. Whether a person is moving, breathing, or meditating, eventually there comes a time when the mind opens up and thoughts quiet down. This is where real insight and creativity happens. I don’t know HOW it happens. It just does. An exquisite mystery.

Yoga is Healing.

The ultimate goal of yoga is union with the All; it is to become completely aware of the Self or soul. The natural progression of practicing yoga leads one to: peace of mind and heart; power of will, love, and intellect; direct influence of the mind upon the body and the world outside the body; psychic abilities of various kinds; control of mind and better concentration; control of the emotions (removal of worry, pride, anger, fear, lust, and greed); bodily health, suppleness, beauty and longevity; and the prevention and removal of psychosomatic dangers and troubles. The Yoga Sutra’s Yamas (things to avoid) and Niyamas (things to do) are guidelines for living a life of integrity and truth. It is not necessary to obey these rules because these are just suggestions to live a happier, more fulfilled life. Yoga heals by allowing us to experience life in the continuous unfolding moment.

Yoga is Community.

Together, when people do yoga, something magical happens. There’s a wonderful feeling of togetherness, love, and camaraderie. This may manifest because each person starts to take responsibility for their life, beliefs, and experience. Yoga teaches that when the flow of the universe treats you kindly or harshly, you have control of your own attitude and outlook.The community of people studying and practicing yoga quickly becomes tight. I believe yoga brings people together in a magnetic sense; we want to share the bounty of its blessings with one another. A big group, focusing on transcending themselves, is a pretty incredible force of energy! As a teacher, I am excited to be able to share some of yoga’s power with my community.

Yoga is Committment.

Practice meditation (Dyana), breathing techniques (Pranayama), yoga postures (Asanas), and a deep relaxation (Savasana) at least three times a week. To really feel the essence of yoga, it is important to declare that yoga become part of your daily life. This is a committment that is only bound by your own will. Once you see the magic that yoga creates in your life, you will only want to continue with it.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.

May all beings be free.

~ Metta Prayer

Erika Faith is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.  Her school, Cloud Nine Yoga, prides itself in being a community based, non dogmatic Yoga Education entity with a history of facilitating the awakening of many hearts and teaching freedom of the mind and body.  For more information about Erika please visit http://www.cloudnineyoga.com/

By Samantha Sweetwater

Creation Dances. The universe dances. When existence was born out of the great, undifferentiated field of the One, the dance was born. Since the beginning of time and the beginning of existence, being has been dancing with essence. Our souls are dancing the space where our spirit and our bodies meet.

The dance is the great unifier. Dance invites us into union with the masculine and feminine, seen and unseen, being and doing, spiritual and physical aspects of ourselves. Gently, fiercely moving us in the tides of our own bodies and emotions, it brings us right to the center of soul. To dance is to celebrate being human – being a spirit in the body living on this miraculous planet called Gaia.

Dancing Freedom is my spiritual practice. It is not a religion. It has no dogmas, no boundaries. It welcomes all bodies, all gestures, all gods. It invites diversity, and through embrace of the wild multiplicity of expression, teaches the truths of Unity. Dancing is spiritual because it is a way of joy. Joy means saying a divine yes to life – to the movement that IS life – all of IT – and, to our divine creatorship. When we move and just keep moving, we become one with all parts of ourselves and with the great cosmic dance.

I believe the dance can set us free. Freedom means that we are at home in our bodies and in our spirits. It means that we have fluidity between our inner connectivity and outer expressivity. When these two parts of ourselves are in dynamic flow, we live with soul. WE dance in the fire of love that is at the center of hearts. Freedom means embracing that fire – being ok with the full spectrum of our experience, at home in all of our stuff AND in our exaltation. I call this divine OK-ness. It is a place where there is no separation between the sacred and the mundane – a place where we KNOW that THIS is the true essence of sacredness. When we live here, we are free. Incredible magic happens. The world opens before us as a place of wonder, color, authenticity and beauty. Our instinctive, intuitive and worldly aspects reconnect. We stop going through the motions of life, and instead really feel the vibrancy and joy of existence pulsing through us.

No true freedom can emerge from resistance. What we resist persists. We are learning how to really love what is, how to embrace. The path of liberation asks us to surrender everything while we simultaneously hold the mother wisdom of creating safe space. What does this look like in the dance? It looks like working within a clear container of practice where we can really let go to explore. It means developing the clarity of our own sense of yes and no. It means exploring how our physical and emotional experiences are holographic reflections of all dimensions of our experience. Our skin is a sacred boundary. Our hearts have boundaries and borders that can be contained, entered, held, opened, surrendered, tuned. It is through naked dialogue with the bounded aspect of experience that we come to the blissful experience of boundlessness. It is through the existence of a contained self and a distinct other that we give and receive. When the flow is open in both directions, we can open to the infinity loop of creation.  Now, we are one with the universe dancing.  Now, we are Dancing Freedom.

Samantha Sweetwater, founder of Dancing Freedom, soul coach and priestess, empowers embodied leaders in seminars and trainings internationally.  Learn more: http://www.dancingfreedom.com or http://samanthasweetwater.wordpress.com.  Samantha is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.

By Kerrie Dancing Butterfly

Here are some of my favorite inspirational quotes from David Wolfe’s Best-selling Book, The Sunfood Diet Success System.

“If you are not working to achieve your own goals, you are always working to achieve another’s goals. What you may want to ask yourself is: Are these my goals? And, Are they worthwhile goals?”

“By fulfilling our natural diet of raw food plant, and by allowing only positive thoughts to govern our minds, only glorious vibrations will emanate from us and all earthly conditions will begin to sway positively in our direction.”

“Strong faith creates a positive attitude. Success seems to be connected with attitude.  If your attitude is strong, powerful, attractive, and graceful, you can achieve any success you desire!”

“The greatest seed of all–your limitless potential—is with you at all times.”

“Negative thoughts alone can create havoc throughout the entire nervous system.  However, strong, pure, and happy thoughts build fortitude and beauty.”

“Set goals that challenge your brain to think in new directions.”

“Use the trial and success method: Learn from your past mistakes and adjust your behavior accordingly to achieve your goals—treat your past as a school, a vast resource to learn from to better yourself.”

“Faith is the ability to have trust in powers greater than yourself, to confidently stride into the unknown and to believe in your own abilities—no matter what.”

“Improve your food choices and you dramatically improve the foundation upon which your body is built.”

By Puma St. Angel

The word vegetarian has only recently become more of a mainstream word. Vegetarian food is just beginning to be offered in restaurants as main entrees and now you can even find a few vegetarian restaurants in a city.  Then, the word and concept of veganism started circulating; and now Raw Foods. What happened to the traditional meat & potatoes diet? When I told people that I was a Raw Food Vegan it was a far off concept for people to grasp but one that is so cutting edge people couldn’t help but to be very curious about it.

The Raw Food movement has exploded in the last 10 years drawing hundreds of thousands of people all over the world into its magic. Have you noticed that everything seems to be moving at a much faster pace? Well with this faster pace, we need the fuel to help us move faster to keep up with everything that’s happening! The meat & potatoes diet just isn’t going to make the final cut for the Super Hero diet. Have you ever noticed that when we need new tools to continue our evolutionary process, they seem to appear; like the computer and internet? It’s no coincidence that Super Foods are hitting the market now, to fuel us to handle the fast paced transformational times we are currently experiencing.

Thank you David Wolfe for bringing the concept of Super Foods to mainstream America!

Super foods are those “foods that have a dozen or more unique properties, not just one or two. For example, the Goji berry is a source of complete protein, immune-stimulating polysaccharides, liver-cleansing betaine, anti-aging sesquiterpenes, antioxidants, over twenty trace minerals, and much, much more.” David Wolfe, Superfoods

Today with all our technology, we have the ability to have access to the world’s best foods. Wouldn’t it make sense to make a smoothie everyday that contains 2 or more superfoods in it? Considering the fact that one superfood smoothie would probably contain more nutrients and minerals in it than 2 days worth of the standard American meal, isn’t it a no-brainer! For us here at One Spirit Weekend headquarters it is a daily regimen.

We are living in a time when we need all the ammo we can get, in the smallest package possible, to fuel us to be the Super Hero Leaders that we are. Here is a basic recipe for a superfood smoothie. From this recipe you can add more fruit or nut butters such as raw almond, cashew or pecan butter.

Protein Power Punched Superfood Smoothie

2 cups water or coconut water + meat

2 Tbsp. coconut butter

¼ cup hemp seeds

2 Tbsp. cacao powder

1 Tbsp. Maca

1 Tbsp. Spirulina

3 Tbsp. Aloe Vera Juice

3 Tbsp. Raw Honey, Yacon or Jerusalem Artichoke syrup.

¼ c. goji berries or ½ c. Blueberries or any other kind of berry.

Pinch of Pink Himalayan Salt

Place all the ingredients in a blender. Taste and drink!

By Puma St. Angel

Congratulations on embarking on becoming a leader in your own self care program. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just starting out by reading this article you are on your way to becoming a Leader in your own life. Now the fun begins!

As we embark on a healthier path we become bombarded with information and a lot of times it contradicts other health advice we are taught. It can become very confusing. It seems everyone has their “science based” opinion about the do’s and don’ts of what to eat, how to exercise, what mind set to have, what spiritual practice is the best, what healing modality will heal certain ailments, what gadget is the best etc.

There is a lot of information to decipher to find what is right for you. This process can be daunting when all you want to do is “know” what is right for you and then focus your time, energy and money on executing the best self- care plan possible for you. Sometimes it is easier for someone else to tell you what to do, which has been occurring for a long time in the health care industry but not the most effective.

Every person is an individual. Yes, we are born with the same parts; heart, liver, hands, feet etc. but due to our belief systems, ancestry, genes and other factors we operate very differently from one another.  So it is very difficult and many times unsuccessful to treat an individual’s health problems the same way as another’s with similar symptoms.

The key to helping self-decipher all the information and advice, is to develop ones’ intuition. When you are guided by your intuition it can become easier to feel, sense and know what is right and wrong for you. Your internal guidance system will direct you into your highest potential and the best self-care program.

There are various ways to strengthen your intuition; your internal guidance system. The three main areas to begin with are the physical, mental and spiritual bodies.  Here are the basics to begin the strengthening process of your intuition. Please note that even though these three areas are separated, they exist together as a whole, they work together to create One Spirit, and therefore the tools & techniques for each area overlap and help with all the bodies.

Physical body: Cleansing the body of toxins and excess waste will help you become a better listener to it’s messages. Toxins in the body can prevent someone from being able to clearly hear their internal guidance system.

Mental body: Learning tools and techniques to quite the mind of chitter chatter will help you to hear or visualize the REAL messages that are meant for you.  Meditation, breathing exercises & yoga are just a few of the many powerful ways to access the minds intuitive nature.

Spiritual body: All the techniques for the physical and mental body will naturally guide you on your spiritual path. When you have physically detoxed, are practicing yoga and meditation, your internal guidance system will naturally lead you on a spiritual path that reflects your true nature.  When your heart and mind process spiritual and religious ideas and concepts you will receive clearer guidance on what the truth is for you.

Your self-care program based on your internal guidance system will provide a strong foundation for you being a leader in your life, a path to Independence!