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As Iyengar's yoga teaching began to gain popularity in Europe, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium asked to meet him. Impressed by the yogi, Queen Elisabeth said she wanted him to teach her how to do a headstand. She was 86 at the time. Iyengar taught her sirsasana (headstand) citing her as an example that yoga can be taken up as a practice at any age. "The Queen of Belgium started doing headstand at the age of 86. Nothing happened to her," he writes in his book The Tree of Yoga. Here is other wisdom about aging from BKS Iyengar -
1. One is never too old to do yoga. "If it were, then I should have stopped my practice long ago," he said.
2. Yoga is especially important as one ages. "The body does decay...By performing asanas we allow the blood to nourish the extremities and depths of the body, so that the cells remain healthy. But if you say, 'No, I am old,' naturally the blood circulation recedes."
3. The risk of yoga injury and aging is minimal. "Much has been said by certain people about the dangers of yoga and the risk of injury. But if you walk in the street carelessly, you can have an accident. So do you advise people not to walk? People die when they are bed. So is it dangerous to sleep on a bed?" The key to injury free yoga is to be careful and mindful.
The Queen of Belgium was so pleased with her yoga instruction about headstand that she later presented Iyengar with a bust of his head which she herself sculpted. Then, when Queen Elisabeth suffered a stroke in 1965 she asked Iyengar to visit and help her regain some control over her body.
1. One is never too old to do yoga. "If it were, then I should have stopped my practice long ago," he said.
2. Yoga is especially important as one ages. "The body does decay...By performing asanas we allow the blood to nourish the extremities and depths of the body, so that the cells remain healthy. But if you say, 'No, I am old,' naturally the blood circulation recedes."
3. The risk of yoga injury and aging is minimal. "Much has been said by certain people about the dangers of yoga and the risk of injury. But if you walk in the street carelessly, you can have an accident. So do you advise people not to walk? People die when they are bed. So is it dangerous to sleep on a bed?" The key to injury free yoga is to be careful and mindful.
The Queen of Belgium was so pleased with her yoga instruction about headstand that she later presented Iyengar with a bust of his head which she herself sculpted. Then, when Queen Elisabeth suffered a stroke in 1965 she asked Iyengar to visit and help her regain some control over her body.
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Recite this mantra to live fully in the present moment:
I won’t rehearse tragedies and I won’t borrow trouble.
- Victor M. Parachin
I won’t rehearse tragedies and I won’t borrow trouble.
- Victor M. Parachin
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This month is the 155th birth date of Swami Vivekananda who first brought Yoga to the west in 1893. My biography of him (pictured above) was published on the occasion of his 150th birthday in 2012. Here are four quotes of wisdom from this remarkable human:
1. Animals must be respected and honored.
It is diabolical to say that all animals are created for men to be killed and used in any way man likes. It is the devil's gospel, not God's.
2. American women are the "most advanced" in the world.
Swami Vivekandanda was hosted for nearly three years by patrons in America. Here's what he said about this kindness: Many of the handsomest houses in this city are open to . All the time I am living as a guest of somebody or other. There is curiosity in this nation, such as you meet with nowehere else. They want to know everything and their women - thay are the most advanced in the world.
3. On Karma.
What we are now is the result of our past practice. Again, practice makes us what we shall be. So practice the other way; one sort of turn round has brought us this way, turn the other way and get out of it as soon as you can.
4. On reverence for the Buddha.
I wish I had one infinitesimal part of Buddha's heart. Buddha may or may not have believed in God; that does not matter to me. He reached the same state of perfection to which others come by love of God.
(Feel free to repost or link to your social media)
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Though Buddhism is non-theistic, meaning Buddhists don't believe in God(s), the Buddha is highly venerated almost appearing as a God-like figure. Here are five reasons why he is so highly regarded and why images of him are found all over the world.
1. He said he was a human being, not a God, and the path he discovered could be found by any of us.
2. His life and accomplishments are living proof that enlightenment is possible for any one.
3. He reveals that it is possible to know and tap into our own inner 'Buddha nature' .
4. Perfection of our Buddha nature is the true purpose of our life and this can be done just as he did it.
5. The Buddha is an archetype, mentor or role model for those who seek spiritual evolution and growth.
For these reasons (and many more) Buddha statues are found in temples, monasteries and homes world wide. Reflecting on the Buddha's life and example provides us with motivation and enthusiasm to walk the same path.
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You may have recognized your nature,
But unless you are thoroughly familiar with it,
You will be like an infant on a battlefield:
The enemy ‘thinking’ will run all over you.”
- Longchenpa
But unless you are thoroughly familiar with it,
You will be like an infant on a battlefield:
The enemy ‘thinking’ will run all over you.”
- Longchenpa
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"My grandpa Max, the junkman would say in Yiddish' The wheel is always turning.' What he meant was how to behave toward people. The person on the bottom of the wheel, you'd better be nice to because at some point you're going to be on the bottom. - Mandy Patinkin
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There is an eastern Tibetan saying: 'Words are the wellspring of all strife.' The voice is the instigator of quarrels. The tongue, being as nasty as it is,does not want to stay silent, and so begin all kinds of quarrels. - Tulku Urgyen
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To cultivate a more serene mind and greater inner calm, try this meditation practice for a mere five minutes.
1. Sit quietly (floor or chair) and place a hand on your stomach area.
2. Breath normally.
3. Pay close attention to the abdomen rising as you inhale.
4. Pay close attention to the abdomen falling.
5. Continue paying close attention as you silently say "rising" on the inhale and "falling" on the exhale.
6. Finally, drop using "rising" and "falling" but simply focus on the upward and downward body sensation.
Do this for five minutes. More if you have the time and inclination.
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Although I have plowed more than harvested, I am satisfied. - Hsing Yun
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With apologies to all my massage therapist friends, here's what Mr. Iyengar says about massage:
"You should not mis massage with yoga. If you do some good yoga, then take a massage, just see what will happen to you the next day. You will be half dead! Massage is relaxing but it is forced relaxation, coming from an external manipulation. Yoga is extension - extensions giving freedom for the body to relax by itself. This is natural relaxation."
Source: The Tree of Yoga
"You should not mis massage with yoga. If you do some good yoga, then take a massage, just see what will happen to you the next day. You will be half dead! Massage is relaxing but it is forced relaxation, coming from an external manipulation. Yoga is extension - extensions giving freedom for the body to relax by itself. This is natural relaxation."
Source: The Tree of Yoga