Benefits of Chanting: October 2009 News from Wisdom from Within

As fall returns and colder days approach, many of us take this time to prepare ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically for the long winter ahead.  This is a time for "housecleaning" our subconscious as we may begin to face issues we have been vacationing from over the summer.  Many are inspired to embark on a new program of change and transformation, whether it be through personal therapy, reading self-help books, starting and maintaining a group or personal yoga or exercise practice, and eating nutritiously to build our reserves for the months ahead.
 
Joyful Living:
To this end, I am pleased to be offering the Chakra Yoga for Joyful Living program again this fall.  It will be held on four Saturdays starting November 7th.  Past students have found this course to be truly transformational, as they learn to apply yoga and meditation techniques to set and achieve goals for all levels of their being.
 
Why chant?:
I’ve also included an article below on the benefits of using mantra and chanting in order to demystify the reasons behind this conciousness awakening and transformational practice.
 
Your choice:
Weekly yoga classes continue to run on Tuesdays from 9:00-10:30 am and Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 pm.  A book or CD of your choice or a pound of bulk yogi tea is now included with the purchase of a ten class pass. I look forward to seeing you out for classes and hope that you consider embarking on a systematic program of personal awareness, healing, and transformation with the chakra yoga course.

 
Save 10%:
Need to quit smoking or other addictive habits, chose healthy lifestyle options, de-stress, or eliminate anxiety and/or depresssion? Book a package of six individual sessions for $540 (regularly $600) when you pay for these sessions upfront.
 
Give the gift of health:
For those of you planning ahead for the holiday season, give the gift of health to a special someone with a gift package of six individual sessions; or chose a gift package that includes 10 yoga sessions, a book or CD, and a box of yogi tea.  
 
Chakra Yoga for Joyful Living starts November 7
 November 7, 14, 28, and December 12
 
Join us on Saturdays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Learn about the seven major chakras, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects
Balance your chakras through Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, Visualization, Sound, Scent, Colour, Crystals, and Spoken Affirmations
Develop goals related to each chakra and manifest them 
Create a vision board to support the manifestation of your goals and dreams
Develop increased strength and flexibility through your yoga practice
Course Includes:

24 hours of instruction, 6 hours/day including
3 hours of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation/day
Full Colour Course Handbook
Course Texts: The Kundalini Yoga Experience, The Eight Human Talents
Set of Chakra Crystals
Chakra Awakening and Balancing CD
When your chakras are open and balanced you have better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and can live with joy.

Cost: $580
Discounted pre-registration $540 (until October 19)
Register early as space is limited.
                   
Benefits of Chanting Mantras
Perhaps one of the strangest aspects of Kundalini Yoga to those who are new to it is chanting the mantras that open and close all classes.  There is also chanting in many of the kriyas (exercise sets) and meditations.  One of the most common questions that I get asked is why do we use mantras to chant in class?
 
Chanting mantras, either silently or out loud, is a conscious method of controlling and directing the mind.  Gurmukhi (the language of Kundalini Yoga Mantras) was developed specifically for the purpose of transforming our habitual thought patterns and elevating our consciousness.
 
Mantras or "mind tools" work with the movement of the tongue striking the 84 meridian points on the upper palate in a systematic and repetitive way.  The points are like a keyboard input to a computer which is located in the hypothalamus of the brain.  The hypothalamus is known to regulate functions such as hunger, drinking, body temperature, sleep, moods, emotions, and sexuality.  The inputs of mantra change the chemical composition of the brain and body, including balancing the endocrine system and metabolism, and strengthening the immune system.
 
Mantras such as "Sat Nam" (truth is my identity) "Wahe Guru" (wow, the process of enlightenment), can conquer depression, enhance intelligence and develop intuition, and open the heart centre in a rapid and powerful way.
 
There is a Gurmukhi mantra for every state that a human could wish to achieve, including changing one’s destiny (The Mul Mantra), protection (The Mangala Charan Mantra), relasing fear (Chattr Chakra Vartee), miracles of healing (Guru Ram Das mantras), reversing negativity (Siri Mantra), and relating the ego to a bigger reality (Humee Hum Brahm Hum).  These mantras (and many more) all come in several beautiful musical versions which can be sampled and downloaded at www.spiritvoyage.com.  They can also be purchased in CD format in the yoga room of Wisdom from Within Healing Centre.
 
After awhile, the chanting of mantra becomes an anticipated and habitual practice integrated into daily life.  It transforms the consciousness and lifts the spirit throughout the day while performing activities such driving, cooking, or relaxing.  Old, unwanted, patterns dissolve and our true wisdom is uncovered and  manifested.
 
"Vibrate the Cosmos, the Cosmos shall clear the path"
                                               -Yogi Bhajan
                                               from 5 Sutras for the Aquarian Age
 
 
 
 
 
Best wishes for the coming month.
 
Sincerely,
  

Lisa Clendening, CYT, MSW, RSW
Wisdom From Within Healing Centre 
 
 
 
Save 10%  Need to quit smoking or other addictive habits, choose healthy lifestyle options, de-stress, or eliminate anxiety or depression? Book a package of six individual sessions for $540 (regularly $600) when you pay for these session upfront.  Please feel free to share this offer with friends and family.