What’s on your mind when you start your day? When is the start of your day? Is it when you are all dressed for the day, or on your way out the door? Is it when you sit to have breakfast, or after you’ve had breakfast? Is it when you get out of bed? Is it when you open your eyes, or is it before you open your eyes?

Yoga suggests ways to deepen, maintain, or create that inner connection with ourselves right at the start of the day.  Here are some ideas to “be” more at that time your “day starts”.

All Dressed And Ready to Go

Intention: What intention could I create that keeps me aligned with my highest ideals?

Breakfast

Gratitude: How many lives are connected to my life through this meal? What does the orange juice taste like today?

Feet to the Floor

Reverence: Am I aware that I am about to step on Mother Earth? How can I bring sacredness into that first step?

Eyes Open

Honoring the Body: How and with what attitude will I acknowledge those senses that are functioning; that allow me to communicate with others and my environment?

Eyes Still Closed

Connection and Continuity: As I transition from there to here, where did I just come from?

Yoga discipline include an early start to the day. Some practices include yoga exercises and practices to keep the body healthy, as well as daily meditation to help us “be” more.

When I started my morning, I was feeling fine. By the end of my morning yoga practice, I felt enthusiasm touched by gratitude, was overflowing with optimism, and clarity filled my mind. There was a spring in my step, and I felt ready to greet the world. How come such a boost?

Today’s yoga practice started with a warm shower to freshen the body (I hope to get back to cold ones when the temperature rises). A reading on personality types inspired me and freshened up the mind. This was followed by a practice on the mat that began with a centering chant.

The warm-up was core strengthening. I kept awareness of my breath in order to synchronize it with the movement, and this increased mental focus. The rhythmic chant playing in the background was an encouragement for me to keep up… and I needed that towards the end.

I rested after the warm up to allow my heart beat and breathing to slow down a bit. And I remained aware of what was happening in my body and the thoughts in my mind. Some body parts pulled my attention.

This is day 2 of the Kundalini Yoga Sat Kriya workout – a series that helps digestion and elimination, and any sexual ailments. It is very strengthening and builds endurance. I enjoyed the kriya workout and the short rest periods during the series. Day 2 was easier than Day 1. The longer relaxation at the end was soothing for my body and soul. I floated away with the healing chant that also doubled as a 10-minute timer.

I had time to include the special 1000-day meditation chant at the morning practice today. The practice ended with me heartily singing the Kundalini closing prayer:

May the long time sun
Shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light
Within you
Guide your way on

Yes, courage came with a good workout and a song in the heart. Let’s keep the faith.

“People get ready, there’s a new age coming, you don’t need no baggage you just get on board.“

What 3 mistakes prevent you from dropping mental or emotional baggage? How can yoga exercise and daily meditation practice help you drop baggage and march to a new age?

What 3 mistakes prevent us from dropping baggage and moving forward to a new age easily and with courage? How can a daily practice of yoga exercise and meditation bring courage?

Mistake #1 – Pointing Fingers – Whenever you are uncomfortable, unhappy or upset you point fingers and blame other people.  Whenever you blame someone for your troubles, your troubles instantly become heavier than they actually are.

Solution: Take personal responsibility for your response to what is happening.  “I take full responsibility for my response to this situation.”
Yoga Exercise: Breathe deeply for as long as it takes to begin to accept this thought, or totally accept it. Assume correct posture to increase breathing capacity as well as gain a courageous feeling. Start a daily meditation practice of at least 3 minutes of breath awareness.

Mistake #2 – Constantly Making Comparisons – You keep comparing yourself to other people and feel you are less than others. You don’t know your own strengths, or you forget to recall them. Instead you keep focusing on your weaknesses. Or on the other hand, you feel you are better than others. You keep seeing others weaknesses, as you take pride in your strengths. You create so many extra thoughts. Baggage!

Solution: Consider that each individual has a special place in the universe, a unique part to play, and gifts and talents to play the part.
Yoga Exercise: Practice 3 fundamental principles of yoga (self discipline, self-study, and surrender to the divine) to see reality. Be firm about your daily meditation practice, and read an inspirational book daily.

Mistake #3 – Thinking Your Thoughts Are Okay – You think that because no-one can know your thoughts, it is okay to think whatever you want. You think your criticisms affect no-one, and therefore it is alright.

Solution: Put a full stop to your thoughts, and practicing calming the mind.
Yoga Exercise: A daily meditation practice that controls all senses.

And now I invite you to a free instant download of a special daily meditation practice for a courageous spirit. You can practice this meditation right into the new age.

Share with me your thoughts on these points; I’d really like to know.  Simply use the comments section below.

I’m excited about this special yoga exercise, a daily meditation practice for a courageous spirit. Here’s my first day experience and 7 reasons I’ve got excitement.

1.    The march rhythm of this meditation music gave me an instant boost. It put a smile on my face. I look forward to 999 more unique experiences of the march music.
2.    It’s amazing how the eyes can wonder off the words on the page. As I sat holding the sheet focusing on the words of the chant, I noticed that sometimes my eyes roamed away from the words. I look forward to fewer journeys via imagination.
3.    I instantly recognize the importance of focusing the eyes in order to stay in the present. I see how people with overactive minds would benefit from this daily meditation.
4.    The mental focus of being aware of the movement of the tongue and the sensation of the sound helped me to enunciate the chant better, and to stay in the present.
5.    After the 7 -minute mark, I pressed my hands on the heart hard and chanted the mantra 8 times. I could feel the sound vibrating in my chest, and I felt strong.
6.    For the next minute I whispered powerfully. Strange how I listened quite intensely with the whispering.
7.    Then the last 30 seconds I chanted the mantra twice without music, enjoying my own slightly varied version of the tune.

I invite you to join in on this 1000-day meditation practice at any time. This yoga exercise will march us courageously through these times to the Aquarian Age, November 11, 2011, and perhaps with excitement.  You can download the PDF file with your copy of the meditation instructions and the words of the chant itself.

meditation-1000-day-spiritual

You can also listen to the pronunciation of the chant and download the music free from www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org