Pause and reflect

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Today I thought I’d share a bit of my personal story and why the Gayatri mantra and mantra practice means so much to me. 

If you’ve read my bio or known me for any length of time you may know that 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a spinal tumor in my neck. The tumor was discovered completely accidentally (although I’ve come to believe that there are no accidents, only grace). I was under the care of a chiropractor for low back pain who decided it was time to get an MRI. I still have no idea to this day why he ordered low back AND neck films but that decision was what lead to the discovery. 

I remember walking into his office for my next appointment, medical books strewn around the room while he gave me the news. I was prepared to hear something about my bones or discs, nothing like this. I still remember asking with disbelief as the news sunk in, “Are you telling me I have cancer?!” And his reply being less than sure. 

After seeing a surgical specialist two days later I learned my tumor was rare. They’re usually found in the brain, not the spinal column. My tumor was still quite small, only 1cm x 1cm and while I was completely asymptomatic (hence a great deal of the surprise I think), the films showed the the position of my spinal cord was already being affected.  

The tumor was positioned between my 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. It was inside the sac around the spinal cord that holds the spinal fluid. To remove it, the back of those two vertebrae would need to be removed and the sac opened. The sac would then be closed with a “biological glue” as it was explained to me, but the bones would not be replaced. 

Surgery was necessary, unavoidable and would certainly be delicate.

I eventually made my way to the spine center at Columbia Presbyterian hospital in NYC where I met with a doctor who had done hundreds of these procedures and turned out to be the number two surgeon in the country for my condition. A surgery date was set and all that was left to do was pre-op paperwork and exams and a lot of waiting. 

To say I was terrified would be the understatement of the century. I did feel I was in good hands with my surgical team, but this was unlike anything I had ever imagined. 

Let me tell you about the other coincidences along the way. 

I happened to find a yoga studio to call home a month before my diagnosis. It was the studio where I would eventually do my first yoga teacher training. 

The surgeon I eventually had do the surgery started taking my insurance just 6 weeks before I saw him for the first time. 

No accidents, only grace.

The nurse that coordinated my intake and all the things that needed to happen before the surgery was amazing. I asked her one day if there was someone I could talk to who had been through something like this. She found someone who I did eventually speak to who put some of my fears at ease. Her case had been far more severe and she was living a normal life. I had good hope that my result should be no different. 

The waiting was the worst. I’m not the most patient person. I certainly wasn’t then. I really needed to DO something. My doctor had said the condition I was in when I went into surgery would be the condition I would be in after my recovery.

I started going to more yoga classes. And my teacher introduced me to mantra and chanting and the idea of a daily mantra practice. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Something I could do each day to calm my mind and my fears. Something to make me feel better while I bounced between wanting it all to be over and not wanting it to happen at all.

So I got a mala and started a practice. Somewhere along the way, the idea of the 40 day sadhana crossed my path. That also seemed like a good idea. So I went to a calendar and started counting out 40 days from the day I had started.

The 40th day just happened to be the day before my surgery. 

No accidents, only grace.

The mantra I chose was the short form of the Gayatri mantra, the mantra we are practicing in classes all this month. I didn’t know at the time, but that mantra is said to be a “master mantra” and to bring in spiritual light. I firmly believe it helped save my life.

My “street cred” as I like to call it.

My “street cred” as I like to call it.

The day of the surgery eventually came. My mother and fiancé (now husband) went to the hospital with me. I still believe on that day they had the hardest job; waiting for me to be done. I was in surgery for over 4 hours, ICU/recovery for several more and didn’t get moved to a room until late in the day. I spent 5 days in the hospital, the first two flat on my back, unable to sit up higher than a 10 degree angle to be sure I wasn’t leaking spinal fluid. I remember thinking during those days that the invention of the catheter was pretty darn amazing. 

My recovery was long but I did recover. I went on to start my first yoga teacher training that fall. I got married the following year. I’ve had all the amazing ups and downs that life has to offer in the past 10 years. I’ve been given a second chance. I’m grateful for every next breath. And I do my best to live a life that reflects the amazing opportunity to live that I’ve been given. 

Mostly, I look back and I’m amazed at the transformation this event brought about in me. I’m a better person, a stronger person and a person with a very different set of values than I was before this happened for me. While I wouldn’t ask for it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

One of the most powerful and SIMPLE tools of yoga that can help YOU right now!

One of the most powerful and SIMPLE tools of yoga that can help YOU right now!

Mantra is one of the most powerful and most simple to use tools I've learned from my study of yoga. Spend a little time each day repeating a mantra and your life will transform. There's no doubt about it.

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Mantra, Prana, Dharana and Lakshmi puja with Bill Barry

Another fantastic #mantra workshop and #lakshmipuja with Bill Barry (mantravijaya.com) on Saturday! This time our focus was on combining mantra and #pranayama for increased #dharana and wow was it powerful! Always a joy to have Bill and his lovely wife Denise at the studio. 🙏🕉💙 #foreveryoganh via

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March 2016 Mantra of the Month

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Sorry for being a bit behind on getting this posted this time around! But here is the recording of our mantra for the month of March 2016. This mantra is said to invoke the quality of compassion as it is the mantra for the Tibetan Buddhist goddess known as Tara. She is a beautiful goddess who shows up in a variety of colors (perhaps you've heard of Green Tara?) which represent different aspects of her compassionate nature.

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/257248680" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

Enjoy the mantra!

February 2016 Mantra

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This month in Jessica's classes we have been working with this mantra: "Om Shri Rama, Jaya Rama, Jaya Jaya Rama"

According to Namadeva Acharya, this mantra is said to be a liberation mantra. Enough repetitions of this mantra will free us from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Enjoy 27 repetitions with Jessica through this Soundcloud recording.

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/248752335" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]

Namasté!

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Disclaimer: Not all yoga poses are suitable for all persons. Please consult with your health care provider and obtain full medical clearance before practicing yoga or any other exercise program. The information provided in this blog is strictly for reference only and is not in any manner a substitute for medical advice or direct guidance of a qualified yoga instructor.

Meditation Interview

Meditation seems to be a big buzz word in all sorts of media lately! Going into 2016, it seems like meditation is becoming more interesting to more people, and the information out there about meditation is becoming more confusing! It really can be overwhelming to start a meditation practice when you have no idea what is "right" or "wrong" and where the heck to begin. I was recently interviewed by the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript about these very questions and more on meditation.

You can read the full article on their website.

There's so much more I could have said on this subject, but this article will give you the basics.

Are you looking for guidance in starting or refreshing your meditation practice, even after reading this article? I'd be happy to help! Schedule a Private Session with me or come to one of my classes at the studio. I always include at least a few minutes of meditation in each class. Not local enough for that? Email me and let's see if we can work together via Skype or phone call. I'd love to help you experience all of the benefits of a steady meditation practice!

Mantras for Safety in Travel

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I was involved in a (luckily minor) hit and run accident on 11.6.15. I was on a busy highway at dusk in an area where the road signs can be confusing. I was traveling in the right most lane and a car in the middle lane sideswiped me. It was one of those things where you can see what's coming but have no time to react. After the hit as I slowed down I suddenly realized that they weren't going to stop! I still don't know what came over me, but with my car still obviously drivable, I followed after them long enough to get their license plate number.  Shocked and shaken, I pulled over to write it down before I forgot it and called 911. The damage to my car is minimal (at least it looks minimal to me but we'll see what the repair estimate says) and no one was hurt, which is the most important thing. However, as you might imagine, I'll be dealing with the psychological effects of this event for some time into the future. Luckily, I have the tools of yoga to help me with this!

After the dust settled, I was reminded that I had been given a sequence of mantras to chant before embarking on travel for protection and to avoid accidents. Needless to say, when this entered my mind I ran to look them up so I could start implementing them more regularly. And of course, it made me think of YOU dear ones.

I'm sharing these with you here in audio form. There are two versions, one slow so you can learn, one faster so you can get it done as you're in a rush to leave the house! You might practice with the slower version to get the hang of it to eventually chant on your own. You might just download the faster one to a mobile device so you can play it before you begin your journey.

I hope these bring you peace and safety as you make your way on your travels.

Namasté!

Malachite and rose quartz mala

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Here's another finished #mala!This one is #malachite hearts with #rosequartz rounds. This combination is great for releasing negative experiences and opening the #heartchakra. Stop by during our spa and #yoga event tonight and you can get it for 10% off! #foreveryoganh via

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Fabulous weekend!

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We had a great time with our Personal Protection #Mantras workshop and #Hanuman #Puja on Saturday! Thank you Bill for sharing the teachings with us and allowing me to assist with the Puja for the first time. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for all of these experiences. Jai Hanuman! via

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Custom Malas Available for the Holidays!

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A recently finished #mala available in the studio now. This one incorporates 3 color variations of #tigereye, a stone known for bringing feelings of sharpness, #grounding & #clarity. My handmade #malas are available at the studio and at times online through the etsy shop. I'll be doing some bead shopping soon so if you're looking for something special for yourself or as a gift for the upcoming holidays let me know! I'm happy to ship within the US too! Just leave a comment and I'll be in touch.

#handmade #meditation #mantra #mantras via

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