October

1)               Bhujangasana II                    (Sphinx)

Lie on your stomach extend both arms along the floor in front of you palms down, spreading the fingers wide. Have your legs extend out, with your inner thighs, knees, and ankles drawn down to the floor. On the inhale begin to lift your head and chest, drawing the arms back towards the body, until the elbows are directly underneath the shoulders. Begin to roll the shoulders back and draw them down towards the floor as your lower back begins to lengthen. Now, begin to press the forearms and palms into the floor, lengthening from the elbows to the armpits. Open the chest forward towards your hands. Allow the backbend to spread evenly through the back, so the curve of the middle and upper back as more of an effective curve.

Slowly release yourself to the floor as you exhale, and relax for a few breaths.

2)         Purvottanasana         (Incline Plank)

Sit in a seated staff posture, placing the hands behind the back, about shoulder distance apart, with palms down and fingers towards your feet. Inhale and press the palms down and begin to lift the buttocks, distributing the weight evenly in the hands and feet. Begin to straighten the arms and lift through the hips evenly and as high as possible, without tightening the buttocks. Extending the legs and draw the toes down towards the floor. Keeping the heels together while rotating the thighs inwards. Your arms should be vertical by nature from the floor and pressing through the palms while lifting yourself from the floor, while the torso is arching upwards, keep the neck relaxed, with the exhale slowly draw the buttocks down and return back to your seated staff.

October

Chakras

“Solar Plexus Chakra”

Sanskrit:                               Swadhisthana                                                                                                                                                      

Element:                                Fire                                                                                                                                                                        

Color:                     Yellow  / Gold                                                                                                                                       

Music:                    Ambient, Nature Base                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Symbol:                 Inverted Triangle                                                                                                                                                                                                

Herbs:                    Celery, caraway, club moss, cinnamon, eyebright, gentian, ginger, horehound, lily of the valley, mastic, roots, rosemary, rowan, rue, saffron, and thyme.

Flower:                   Lotus with 10 petals            

Deities:                  Rudra (god of storms), Lakini (astral planes awareness), Vahini (nature god), Apollo, Agni, Amon-Ra, Brigit, Athene, Oya, Shango, Kali
 

Solar Plexus Chakra:
Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition
This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in the solar plexus. It rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.

Developmental Stage:      18 months – 3 years

Yoga Postures:                Incline plank, Bridge, Wheel, Warrior, Sun Salutations

October

Mantra/Prayer

My grandfather is the fire
My grandmother is the wind
The Earth is my mother
The Great Spirit is my father
The World stopped at my birth
and laid itself at my feet
And I shall swallow the Earth whole
when I die

and the Earth and I will be one
Hail The Great Spirit, my father
without him no one could exist
because there would be no will to live
Hail The Earth, my mother
without which no food could be grown
and so cause the will to live to starve
Hail the wind, my grandmother
for she brings loving, life giving rain
nourishing us as she nourishes our crops
Hail the fire, my grandfather
for the light, the warmth, the comfort he brings
without which we be animals, not men
Hail my parent and grandparents
without which
not I
nor you

nor anyone else
could have existed
Life gives life
which gives unto itself
a promise of new life
Hail the Great Spirit, The Earth, the wind, the fire
praise my parents loudly
for they are your parents, too
Oh, Great Spirit, giver of my life
please accept this humble offering of prayer
this offering of praise
this honest reverence of my love for you.

Lord most giving and resourceful, I implore you;
make it your will that this people enjoy the goods and riches you naturally give,
that naturally issue from you,
that are pleasing and savory,
that delight and comfort,
though lasting but briefly, passing away as if in a dream.

                                                                                                                        Aztec prayer

October

Animal Guide

Bee: Beach    Pronunciation:  Be-ach

            The bee symbolizes the pure enjoyment and celebration for just being in the here and now.

            We need to enjoy ourselves to be able to come together as a community either with family, friends or even as strangers.