Author Archives: sandra

Meditation is Mediation

dalai_lama

Dalai Lama

To Meditate is to Mediate.  MEDIATING between ALL the DIFFERENT sides of ourselves—the good, the bad and the ugly—promotes CLARITY, especially about our dark side.

This is why Meditation needs to include, as the Dalai Lama calls it, INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY.  He says, “Meditation without intellectual inquiry is a pacifier.”


Meditation with INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY leads to DEEP Positive Changes in our lives and ourselves. Challenging our very way of being in the world helps to set our thinking straight. After all, crooked thinking leads to crooked actions.

Straight thinking, according to the Yoga Sutras (wisdom literature of Yoga) makes our ‘rascal’ mind quiet. Then we are naturally pulled into the stillness of  Samadhi.

“Samadhi” translates as sam, “to bring it all together” and dhi, “in our own way.” 

Understanding why things happened to us, in the way they did, we become more AUTHENTIC.

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What Now for Arthur?

Please don’t get me wrong, I really LOVE Diamond Dallas Page, an amazing Yogi. After viewing his website and twitter account, I stand in awe of what he is doing to lift himself and his clients up.  And, I like his attitude.  He appears authentic and real.  He is one of my heroes!

He lifts people, such as Arthur Boorman, up and out of their pain and overweight bodies into Yoga bodies that are flexible and strong.  After viewing the video of Arthur, I was in awe.

See video of Arthur right here! 

After 40 years of Yoga I know its’ power.  I know what Yoga did for me.  Within a few months of practicing asana, I went from nervous wreck to strong and capable.  And, 40 years later, at 71, I am still full of energy and dreams.

I have seen many Yoga students heal their broken bodies and hearts and move forward with their lives too. 

But; something worries me about Arthur.  Let me explain it to you.

Arthur now has a strong and flexible body. But, what comes next?

Arthur’s body is more refined, therefore he needs a subtler form of asana. Plus, expanded breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation will assist him in getting in touch with his deeper feeling states and protect him from physical injuries.

To understand the latter, see William Broads’ book, “The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards”. Although I don’t agree with everything Broad says (see previous blog); he is right about injuries, if asanas are not adjusted for a more refined body.

Muscles that are bulky and defined pull on bones, mis-aligning and compressing joints, blocking prana, the energy medicine of  Yoga. Yoga is an energy-based healing system, like Reiki, Touch for Health, Acupuncture and Acupressure. As such, it relies on energy flowing through channels to balance and heal the body.  In Yoga the channels are called nadis. In Chinese medicine they are known as meridians.

At the physical level, subtler asanas strengthen muscles that are closer to the core of the body. Then the muscles on the outside become smooth and elongated. They are more balanced and they slide over each other. This is the ultimate in core strength!
A refined body runs prana more easily. Graceful bodies support a sensitivity that is quick, intelligent and aware.  One that is responsive to the in-depth subtleties and layers of life.

Prana also dissolves emotions, unconsciously held in the body, releasing deep stress that is associated with post traumatic stress. Streaming prana feels good. It reminds the individual of what she/he felt like before the trauma occurred.

When prana feeds the body, the Yogi is more insightful, intuitive and inspirational.  He/she discovers their own creativity!  Free from the dogmas of others (even the dogmas of Yoga!), he/she finds their true self.

This is my wish for Arthur.

(Read and experience more in my soon to be released book,  “Yoga Beyond The Forms.  De-bunking Yoga  Myths”)

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Yoga Surrounds the Earth with Healing

Thirty years ago, when yoga was weird, and aerobics was popular, I remember standing on a chair in the midst of my yoga class (we were the weirdoes!) to declare that one day yoga would be really popular because it is the vehicle that we need to heal planet earth.

And, that day has come. Yoga has been, and is, a major vehicle of transformation, opening peoples hearts and minds, so they walk this earth with a gentler and kinder step.

Our heart heals first and as tears of pain flow from our original wounds, and we rise up from the ashes to embrace a life of meaning, our minds are more caring and compassionate. This is why yoga is so important and has become so popular in our communities.

Yoga helps each of us to find our way to the place where we can take care of our piece of the earth.  Some make sure the animals are cared for, while others, like those in Yoga Outreach, offer yoga to those without access and still other individuals care about the plants, the animals, the oceans, the air and our place in the cosmos.

Yoga seeps into every corner of our world bringing with it the healing of our hearts and minds.  And then the life-affirming actions that arise out of our yoga practice reach out and into to the hearts and minds of our families, communities and into the world at large.

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Yoga Sutra Class May/13 (Pranayama & Toning)

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To listen to these audio files all you need to do is:
1. Bring up www.sammartinoyoga.com

    on either your Smart Phone, Ipad or Computer.
2. Go to the audio file you wish to listen to and
3. Press  “Play”.   (Attach ear phones to  listen privately.)
It is that simple.  Enjoy.  Let me know if you have any problems, questions or concerns.

Pranayama and Toning from Yoga Sutra class.  Lovely to breathe with.  Takes away the cares of the day.

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Sylvan Lake Yoga Retreat – Samyama (Getting your thinking straight..)

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Recorded at the Yoga Retreat at the Ba’hai Centre on the edge of Sylvan Lake near Edmonton Alberta, March, 2013

Samyama is a valued Yoga technique that allows us to find out what we need to know about our issues.

  • Please play the tape and follow along to inquire about what ever you need to know about your relationships, jobs, problems and so on.

If you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below.

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Yoga Nidra—Yoga Sleep

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Recorded at the Yoga Retreat at the Ba’hai Centre on the edge of Sylvan Lake near Edmonton Alberta, March, 2013

A Yoga Nidra (sleep) that wakes up our back bodies to:

  • Quiet our habitual thinking mind (it knows the least!)
  • Sink into our back brains (they know more!) for deep relaxation that leads to
  • Deeper insights and intuitive awareness
  • Sweeping the Back of Your Body
  • Sinking into your back brain for intuitive awareness

It must be experienced to be believed.  Just try this once and you will be convinced.
Practice until you are completely aware of your back body and then activate it on the go, whenever you need it.

Heads Up for those new to my work:

  • You can lay down on your back or side or sit up, if you wish
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Dissolving Knots at Heart Chakra

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Recorded at the Yoga Retreat at the Ba’hai Centre on the edge of Sylvan Lake near Edmonton Alberta, March, 2013.

For deep transformational awareness.

There are three knots at the Heart Chakra:

  • One knot contains the blessings and wounds of our ancestors and how they have affected our present lives
  • The second knot highlights creative volition (creative will) in our day-to-day realities
  • The third knot enhances unconditional love, which guides us towards wisdom and true knowledge

In this Creative Meditation we deal with two of the knots….ancestral relationships and unconditional love.

Heads Up for those new to my work:

  • In the beginning, lie on your back by resting on your elbows and then follow my description for extending your spine in the Podcast. You are free to lay down on your back or side or even sit in a chair, if you wish.
  • “Mini-me” refers to that part of us that is constantly growing and evolving.

If you have any questions or comments please post below.

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