What is Namaste?

In most Western yogic classes you may hear the word "Namaste" used as a greeting or in the closing of the practice. In other traditions, Amrit Yoga for one, the greeting is "Jai Bhagwan." In the Kundalini yoga tradition, the saying is "Sat Nam." 

While the words may be interchangeable, the heartfelt expression defined below, is not:

Path to Peace: A Meditation

My is heart is weighing heavy right now. I've been watching updates of Japan's earthquake and tsunami this morning, while also watching my reaction to this news. I can't help but to feel sorrow for those whose lives have been tragically effected. I recognize in my own journey it's easy to have the tendency to push pain away. Instead, the invitation through the practice of yoga is to just be with what you are feeling. It is a practice of expanding your capacity, despite chaos and disruption. To share peace, I must feel what it is like to be peaceful. To help others find peace, I must share EXPERIENCE of how I myself learned to move from distraction to peace, many times over. It's a path after all. There will be days when sharing peace seems like the last thing possible, and on those days when your heart feels heavy, instead of pushing the pain away, I hope you find a welcoming space to allow yourself to just feel. Allowing yourself to breathe, relax and let go. Let go of the need to DO anything. Simply be present with peace, as it's manifesting through you, with each breath.

In addition to this I wanted to post again about Baby Snow. He was one of the "Love Music" babies from the triple maternity session I did months ago. There's been a fund set-up to help him and his family along their journey to peace. Please help if you can.

Great (short!) Video

Please enjoy this video of my Guru, Yogi Amrit Desai. I can almost perform the posture flow he does but am still working on bringing my feet into lotus while in headstand. Keep practicing!



The first part of the video takes place in Salt Springs (Ocala) Florida where I had the pleasure of attending for my teaching certification. Here is one of my photographs taken while meditating on the beautiful Lake Kerr.


"The Quiet Choice" by Monica Kustra