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1. The f O EUS Bulletin The Bulletin of The Lotus Center for NVE www thelotuscenter org Issue 4 April 2010 info thelotuscenter org Spring is in the air As the rhyme goes April showers bring May flowers New life and new possibilities are at hand The cycle of death and birth mirrors the potential that each day carries for endings and new beginnings In some places around the world spring cleaning is a common practice that is done in this season because it symbolizes a fresh start This household practice consists of cleaning organizing and getting rid of items that are no longer useful and just taking up space What an interesting thought How valuable would it be if we took the arrival of this beautiful time to reevaluate our inner clutter Then we could review our inventory and maybe come to realize that we are holding on to things that are no longer useful and just taking up space What is in the closet of your heart How many unresolved issues have you swept under the rug Is there regret resentment and pain This brings us to one of the most magical words in the English language Forgiveness When it is darkest men see the Forgiveness is a key that has the power to unlock stars the doors to action and freedom That is where the Ralph Waldo Emerson magic lies Forgive yourself Forgive others Be kind to your heart Letting go of the unfulfilling thoughts and emotions will liberate you and allow you to move forw2. class given by Mr Radwan Hindi under the breath taking pine trees in the midst of nature clean air and serene sounds The class gave the participants the chance to reconnect with mother earth and their surrounding Every asana was a full workout on all level As a continuation to the re energizing work a workshop on Energy centers also known as ie 1 a mail info the soulspa com Chakras was presented by Mrs Ginni Ghaziri In the workshop careful detailed information on how these centers work and how they affect our physical health and how to balance them was explained to the participants who in turn had the chance to express and share their thoughts and experiences This successful retreat included also an appetizing and healthy lunch and concluded the Nature connection journey with a wonderful hike in the beautiful nature We invite you to join us in our next retreat and be sure you will end your day with a peaceful yet energizing experience Soul Spa is a unique place that offers a wide range of products and services to cater for all your wellbeing needs m Website http www the soulspa com AIN Office Beirut Lebanon SOL Sa Location Verdun Iwan Maktabi Building 6th floor A Special SATSANG with Jackmamian Family When ink joins with a pen then the blank paper can say something and when the Lotus Family gathers under the same roof energy boosts and everyone gets high On S
3. discipline be gentle with yourself You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here And whether or not it is clear to you no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should Therefore be at peace with God whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul Karma Yoga By Aaed Ghanem It 1s said that life is a transition to eternal vitality and bliss The practice of Karma Yoga 1s one such path of life Through this path many have been able to achieve higher levels of consciousness and understanding In previous issues this topic has been discussed briefly Let us expand on what we already know and gain a deeper appreciation for this type of yoga The word karma basically means and embodies action Each person s actions from the day he is born until departing from this physical existence have their unavoidable impacts The law and order of the universe tends to the Perform action being is required Acceptance of all success and failure without judgment is another important characteristic Giving can be done in any form The intention of the heart is what really matters Look inside balance of cause and steadfast in Yoga yourself and ask effect of all actions abandoning attachment What can I give One has to grasp this and balanced in success here How can I concept in order to fully ab
4. aith and a simple life with no intentional harm inflicted on anyone or anything They also have the incredible ability to bear insult and bear injury as Swami Sivananda taught The practice of Karma Yoga brings many benefits It instills humility pure love and a sense of oneness and connection with all It also prepares the Yogi for knowledge of the Self Love joy and peace begin to radiate from the very core of your being You rejoice in the wellbeing of others The universe IS generous and supportive of you as it reflects back to you L Karma Yoga is a life style that can be attained through seva the selfless involvement in all activities as per teachings of Swami Satyananda alaleddineE I R umi your own generosity and supportiveness And mostly you approach unity through your devotion to the ultimate and service to all Light falls upon your thoughts transforming them into an everlasting stream of bliss and happiness igniting your existence with Love and Peace Feeling Separation Don t let your throat tighten with fear Take sips of breath all day and night before death closes your mouth Pale sunlight pale the wall Love moves away The light changes I need more grace than I thought Art as Flirtation and Surrender In your light I learn how to love In your beauty how to make poems You dance inside my chest where no one sees you but sometimes I do a
5. ard By doing so you will create space within yourself for new experiences new life and you will release others from this cage as well Alexander Pope once said To err is human to forgive is divine To know that you do not know is the best To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease Lao Tzu Spring Detox Retreat A Human Thought is an actual Cyet read y For summer existence and a Force and Power capable of acting upon and controlling matter as well as mind Find refuge from routine Join us on May 7 8 amp 9 for springs purification program Restore and balance all levels of your being physical emothonal and spiritual Albert Pike A Path to Choose By Rima Hamade Allow me to introduce myself I am the soft whisper that calls out to you as you go about your day I am that feeling that touches you ever so subtly I am the message in the events that take place around you I am your reflection I am The Path There is an art to doing just about anything And what an art form it 1s to be able to achieve mastery in Life Your life is incredibly helpful in this regard because it provides you with a mirror of how you are doing This is what is meant by your reflection By increasing your awareness whether it is in situations or in your relationships with other people you will have a clearer picture of what is going on inside of you It is a very interesting phenomenon Life
6. aturday 10th of April The Lotus Family gathered in Dbayih in a cozy atmosphere and enjoyed one of the most memorable evenings Thanks to Adroshan Jackmamian and his wonderful wife for their hospitality and Love They made every one of the group feel as if in his own home The gathering was one of the best yogis meetings where the sharing of knowledge and mutual communication brought delight and joy to the hearts of all The Lotus Bulletin www thelotuscenter org Contributers Mona Nasreddine Rima Hamade Zeina Gabriel Editors Olga Pavlova Aaed Ghanem Dr Hisham Nasr For more information contact info thelotuscenter org
7. ature walk two gentle yoga classes workshops sunset meditation and satsang are in our daily program Our goal is to provide you with a balanced structure for ongoing personal practice at home During our workshops You are going to learn simple yogic purification techniques which are significant help for your Join us for the Detox retreat in a beautiful green fresh place in Ramlieh surrounded by pines and cedars where you will truly experience the restorative wellness of Nature yoga practice especially bene respiratory and digestive positively affecting your wellb health in general You are also invited to our to put your hands on to learn the secrets of juice rag prepare light vegetarian m will know prepare yours fasting how and how to your fast ne for your max benefits You have also opportunity to your own cedar tree are staying in a a nurser Next issue we are going to what happens with our bodies w fast and what yogic purif techniques can be used to hel detox process Happy Birthday Soul Spa Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life there is now a breathing space for you to unwind and replenish your energy It is Soul Spa that celebrated its first anniversary on March 26 and organized an outdoor retreat in Dmit Al Shouf on march 27 2010 The retreat was designed to detox the body and de stress the mind The onset of the program was an outdoor yoga
8. il 2 1840 Emil Zola French writer April 8 563 BC Buddha SiddharthaGautama April 10 1931 Gibran K Gibran died in New York City April 12 1961 1st man in outer space Gagarin April 16 509 B C Sri Adi Shankaracharya born at Kaladi village in Kerala April 16 1889 Charlie Chaplin comic actor filmmaker April 15 1452 Leonardo da Vinci April 20 1920 Al Rabitah al Qalamiyah established Body Talks Anatomy and Physiology of Hatha Yoga 6 articie Dr Hisham Nasr When you practice yoga especially Hatha Yoga you find yourself dealing with that same object which you met first when you were born and will leave last at the moment of departure While practicing yoga process you learn to master this object and use it and transcend it but first of all you have to know it In Hatha Yoga you deal with the most familiar and yet most mysterious of all objects you deal with your own body If ordinary people need only the body user s manual yogis need a much more detailed one a kind of developer s manual In this series of articles we ll try to shed a light on these sides of our bodies anatomy and physiology that we need to know as yogis to enhance our practice In The last issue we were discussing reflexes 1 Myotatic stretch reflex 2 Clasp knife reflex 3 Flexion reflexes and we talked about the first tow and we said that we can deal with them in such a way to get maximum benefits for our practice did yo
9. ile holding that your forward bend is much better any asana now Synchronize stretching towards the Read more about breathing and breath control in next toes with inhalations and bending eres forward with exhalations Always use A g Ekadashi Er t Saturday April 1 Oth and April 24th ihi Full Moon Wednesday April 28th i Yo 7is EA irt da g gt Bassam El Khoury April 2 Duna Abou Jaoudeh April 6 Mike Atalla April 11 Nadeen Mahfooz April 18 Happy Birthday j odiac Haircut In April the best time to use influence of the Moon empowered by its Zodiac position will be on Wednesday 21 amp Thursday 22 the Moon waxes amp these two days enters constellation of Leo Detoxify By Olga Pavlova As summer is knocking our doors we all want to feel light beautifully fresh and energized We ve talked a lot about organizing a Detox Retreat Now the dates and location are finalized We ve chosen an auspicious Ekadashi weekend of May 7 8 and 9 in a beautiful green fresh place in Ramlieh surrounded by pines and cedars where you will truly experience the restorative wellness of Nature You don t need to be an expert or an advanced yogi to join us No prerequisites are required We ll provide you with all necessary information and equipment All together we are going to learn share the knowledge we have and feel supported by the group Sun rising above the pine trees morning n
10. llowing Relax and Enjoy the Ride Relaxation is one of the main points of yoga practice Scanning the body parts with awareness to relax them one by one is the main aim of relaxation postures This rejuvenates the nervous system and helps in attaining a deep sense of inner peace During relaxation postures the mind is for a deeper inhalation and a slower longer exhalation given the rest it needs from daily worries judgments and frustrations Excerpt from THE BOOK OF MIRDAD By MIKHAIL NAIMY As you feed on men and things so they feed on you Be wholesome food to others if you would not be poisoned When in doubt about the next step stand still What you dislike dislikes you like it and let it be thus removing an obstacle from your path The most unendurable nuisance is to consider anything a nuisance Take your choice either to won all things or nothing at all No middle course is possible Every stumbling block is a warning Read the warning well and the stumbling block shall become a beacon The straight is the brother of the crooked The one is a short cut and the other a roundabout way Have patience with the crooked Patience is health when leaning upon Faith When unaccompanied by Faith it is paralysis To be to feel to think to imagine to know behold the order of the main stages in the circuit of human life otus Calendar Anniversaries April 2 1805 Hans Christian Anderson Danish children s author Apr
11. nd that sight becomes this art Recognizing Elegance A craftsman pulled a reed from the reedbed cut holes in it and called it a human being Since then it s been wailing a tender agony of parting never mentioning the skill that gave it life as a flute The Turn Dance when you re broken open Dance if you ve torn the bandage off Dance in the middle of the fighting Dance in your blood Dance when you re perfectly free Yoga A Cure for Modern Day Stress By Mona Nasreddine Since most if not all of us live a fast paced lifestyle and are constantly being bombarded with all kinds of stressful life events or external stimuli we have gradually built up a fight or flight syndrome in our system When stressful situations arise we become tenses up and even when the situation passes we continue to carry within us the stress and tension This scenario has a tremendous cumulative effect over time Since most if not all of us live a fast paced lifestyle and are constantly being bombarded with all kinds of stressful life events or external stimuli we have gradually built up a fight or flight syndrome in our system When stressful situations arise we become tenses up and even when the situation passes we continue to carry within us the stress and tension This scenario has a tremendous cumulative effect over time Stress is defined as the m lange of emotional and physical strain or tension caused b
12. nk as the water flows through the nasal passages the dead end sinus passages are flushed in a manner combining the force of gravity with the venturi effect A subtle vacuum is created which extracts the mucus and the toxins from the sinus passages into the flowing water Jala Neti is a very ancient yogic technique which has been passed on for thousands of years by the Yogis for both physical as well as deeper spiritual Jala Neti is the most powerful tool to your energy benefits Nowadays it has been scientifically proven that nasal cleansing using warm salty water can be very effective and in some cases it is the best remedy on the long run for getting rid of the toxins in the sinus cavities prepare you for proper breathing that will enhance and boost Here are some of the benefits using Jala Neti nasal cleansing It removes all the dirt and bacteria filled mucus from within the nose It also helps to drain sinus cavities This in turn will help to reprogram the body s natural mechanisms against nasal infections allergies sinusitis and other upper respiratory complaints like sore throats and coughs post nasal drip inflammation of tonsils and adenoids It reduces the tendency for mouth breathing by freeing the nostrils from mucus so it is beneficial for illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis and helpful for those trying to give up smoking It has a cooling effect on the brain by d
13. rawing out excessive heat and is therefore beneficial for headaches migraine and general mental tension It is of great benefit for problems associated with the eyes certain types of ear disorders it improves sense of smell and taste It has subtle effects on the pineal and pituitary glands which control the hormonal system This has the harmonizing effect on emotional behavior It helps to stimulate better powers of visualization and concentration and gives feeling of lightness and clarity to the mind It reduces snoring particularly among people whose nasal passages are obstructed that make mouth breathing necessary Moreover if you are a yoga practitioner Jala Neti is the most powerful tool to prepare you for Pranayama and enhance its energizing and balancing effect Next month we are going to explain what happens with our bodies when we fast and what yogic purification techniques can be used to help the detox process DESIDERATA Found in Old Saint Paul s Church Baltimore Dated 1692 Be yourself Especially do not feign affection Neither be cynical about love for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it 1s perennial as the grass Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune But do not distress yourself with imaginings Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness Beyond a wholesome
14. reflects back to you what you give out to life Or to put it in a sort of formula outflow inflow If you look around and notice that there is not enough kindness in your life go out into the world and shower everyone you see with kindness It will come back to you tenfold If you feel that there is a lack somewhere in you go out and spread the opposite of that lack at every corner Your reality will shift to match you If you feel that your partner isn t listening to you or validating your emotions listen to them and validate them The changes will amaze you On a more profound level you have the ability to give YOURSELF what you want and need This is very powerful because of the simple fact that it means you are not dependent on anyone in order to change the things that make you unhappy If you feel that at work you are not appreciated by others learn to appreciate yourself and give yourself that acceptance Can you guess what will start to happen This feeling of wnappreciation is a signal from your higher self to you that matter when the deeper essence 1s missing you do not value and appreciate yourself and you need to be Shallow things only aware of that and do something about it Keep in mind that the shallow things in this existence only matter when the deeper essence is missing Once you are connected to that deeper essence you can enjoy all that abounds without being attached to it The fear of lo
15. sorb the power of Karma Yoga Bhagavad Gita 2 48 Two main aspects include the surrender of the ego and selfless service towards human kind and all living beings including Earth and all that It contains The act of selfless service and having the intention to always do what 1s right will purify the mind and enhance clarity Karma Yogis do not seek compensation or reward for their deeds A life of service and action without expecting anything in return is liberating They feel that the law of nature is working through them as an instrument of joy There is no heavy load or burden There is only fluidity and simplicity in which they move through life giving in any way they can as each opportunity presents itself With the practice of nonattachment fear and sorrow dissolve and all that is left is to do what and failure Evenness of mind is called Yoga help Where can I alleviate suffering Who is in need of what I have to offer And it is important to note that your energy and resources will not be depleted This is because the more you give the more you will receive and be in tune with universal energy A Karma Yogi is one who is free from lust greed anger egoism hatred jealousy and harshness Instead they acquire such traits as gentle words fearlessness big hearts a loving social nature acceptance and tolerance of everyone with no exclusion adaptability divine love a balanced mind unshakable f
16. ss 1s gone And once fear dissolves the heart opens and love comes rushing in For you see love and fear cannot exist within you at the same time Choose May the reflections that surround you guide you on your journey towards self fulfillment Excerpts from A Course in Miracles I am responsible for what I see I choose the feelings I experience and I decide upon the goal I would achieve And everything that seems to happen to me I ask for and receive as I have asked All other beings whom you perceive as separate from yourself Are in truth but aspects or facets of that Oneness Which is indeed but your Self You are in fact invulnerable There is nothing outside yourself That can have any effect of any kind Upon you or your experience Or your awareness Breathe Neat with a Jala Neti By Olga Pavlova Just before we take off let me introduce to you a very close friend of all yoga practitioners Extremely practical cute small light Jala Neti Pot is the nasal cleansing device very useful for beginners and perfect for travelers Even more You don t need to be a yogi to get all benefits the practice 1s easy to learn and it can be done in about 2 minutes easily integrated into ones daily routine just like showering or brushing the teeth But when you start using it life will simply smell different What magic is in it and why it works so well When you will be leaning over the si
17. to open the hips or split lie down on your back with your hips seated against a wall and legs stretched up by the wall Split the legs apart to your maximum Then fix your heals firmly to the wall and try to contract the muscles on the inner side of the thigh adductor muscles as if trying to bring the feet together but allowing the heels to restrain the movement At the same time massage the tendons of these tensed muscles near the pelvis This will give your body an impression that the muscles are contracted more and more After that relax and allow the legs to go apart and you will notice that the angle between the legs has increased Paschimottanasana the sitting forward bend first try to go into the forward bend as u usually do Remember the limit you reached Then sit on your sitting bones once more with your spine straight and legs stretched in front of you feet perpendicular to the floor and toes pointing to the ceiling Inhale stretch your body up and as you exhale stretch bend forward stretching the arms towards the toes and before you reach the maximum bend contract your hamstrings for about 10 seconds as if you were trying to penetrate with your heels through the floor Then relax the hamstrings stop pressing with the heels down and stretch more forward and bend as if trying to reach with your your breath to enhance your stretch and abdomen to the thighs You will notice feel more comfortable wh
18. tract and shorten and makes it harder to stretch them afterwards Go gently and slowly into the stretch and never push Remember that muscles are smart beings that use reflexes to protect themselves so don t go against their nature 2 Hold the stretch longer moving into different variations of an asana quickly and not holding them enough time cultivates the habit of tossing jumping and bouncing during yoga practice 3 Shortcuts Yoga practice is dancing with the rhythm of Life In nature any breakthrough comes only after the accumulation of a long series of slight changes and preparations The same thing happens in yoga Sometimes you can experience a breakthrough a successful headstand for example but understand that this achievement is not a result of a leap It is the result of practice and step by step accumulation of experience Pearls for practice Perfect asanas can never be achieved by forcing and pushing In your practice always move gently and consciously Using the Clasp Knife Reflex As you remember this reflex works in such a way that allows muscles to relax after intense contracting So you can use this reflex to allow the hamstrings to relax and enjoy your levels best split or forward bend From anti split to _ split stretching the muscles of the inner thigh is always a hard mission especially when trying to go into a split or trying to sit in lotus padmasana In order to make it easier
19. u think about examples Well let us take a look first at the third reflex and then go to practical hints about using physiology in our yoga practice Flexion Reflexes These reflexes are a whole group of reflexes that protect our body when we cause to ourselves physical pain When we touch a hot glass of tea our hand withdraws back without us being conscious about the movement This is because the pain alarm in the body calls for help and the flexor muscles come to rescues so they contract to bend the arm away from the offending object In Hatha Yoga we always differentiate between discomfort and pain The feeling of discomfort is 66 Muscles are smart beings that use reflexes to 99 protect themselves useful as it is a part of the training process It shows the level of stretch we are working on in the moment and tells us that we are somewhere near our stretch limit Pain is totally different It is the voice of the body telling us we have exceeded the limit Thus we should listen to the body and try not to reach a point where this reflex is elicited Minimizing the Effects of Myotatic Reflex and Flexion Reflexes 1 Avoid Bouncing whether you are bending forward or lifting your leg straight or going to any stretch avoid bouncing Some people think that falling into the forward bend in Suryanamaskar helps them warm up better Indeed this brings more harm than benefits It causes the muscles to con
20. y our response to pressure from the outside world from reality Stress has become a friend of the physical system it has found home within our body and mind Stress affects all body organs and functions It weakens our immunity and opens the door for different types of headaches fatigue ulcers skin problems muscle pain anger nervousness despair and depression Practicing Yoga is one of the ways to reduce and eliminate stress from our bodies and thoughts Yoga enhances the body s natural defense functions The regular practice of yoga Asanas Practicing Yoga 1s one of the ways to reduce and eliminate stress from our and lymph circulation bodies and thoughts has been proved to promote the secretion of anabolic hormones work to straighten the spine and improve the flow of fluids in it stimulate the glands throughout the body Stretch out all Stress Yoga stretching exercises help to unlock and release the tensions in the muscles before they can accumulate over time and become chronic physical conditions Yoga increases mind body coordination which leads to better management of stress and cultivates an overall feeling of well being Breathe out all Stress In everyday life our breathing patterns tend to be shallow and irregular This affects the exhalation process and builds up toxins inside the lungs Yogic breathing exercises have shown to open up the airway passages and empower the diaphragm a
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