Namaste. Welcome. You have found your way here to this collection of practices that I have used to access a deep place of inner knowing, comfortability, trust and ease.  If you were to ask me what is one thing that I have noticed about myself, one noticeable shift in the past six years I would say, that I am more at ease. I have a deeper sense of knowing myself, trust in myself and the world that I create around me. I am no longer bound by fear. It shows up, yes and rather than allowing it to constrain me, I use it. I use the force and energy of fear, I harness it and focus it towards taking steps of action and courage. This shift, I know is of great importance to my overall way of being and a huge component of this growth has been my commitment to my practice. I have learned to show up for myself, to rely on myself. To trust myself and that all will be, because it already is, okay.

So it is here, in this space that I share techniques and practices that have been graciously shared with me, techniques that I have been taught and initiated into through an integrated approach rooted in the yog-vedantic tradition.  What you will find here are practices and techniques that include mediation, pranayama and/or kriyas.  Some of these practices were recorded for my own growth, as I explored my voice being a student and a guide simultaneously. Some of these practices were recorded when I was sharing these techniques with others (maybe some of you). All of these are recorded from a place of genuine sharing and love. These practices have and continue to shift my life and my intention for sharing them here is for you to explore them, meet them, welcome them and see how they meet you. You will hear me say “allow your breath to come to its own natural rhythm, become aware of any sensations or subtle shifts you may notice within the body.” How these practices show up for you will be unique to you. You have the opportunity to decide how you interact with them, establish a relationship with them and how you commit to working with them.

Why, you might be asking, engage with them? For the longest time I sought to control the external world, everything around me- events, situations, experiences, people. As I began to practice I realized that the only thing I have control over is me, and sometimes my conditioning and programming is so strong that I act from that place rather than a calm, centered, rooted place. I know that if we are to access peace and ease in the world around us, it begins with us. It is grounded in our relationship with ourselves and it is through these practices that I have met myself, all aspects of myself- stuff that I like and stuff I want to run from. Through these practices I am learning to embrace myself fully, all of me. All of me. Taking full responsibility for my actions and choices and owning them fully, not passing them off or placing blame on someone else or some event. Facing myself fully and taking full responsibility for me being me.

As you begin, I invite you to remain innocent, whatever comes, comes. It is showing up for a host of reasons.  Allow whatever sensations, feelings, thoughts and/or emotions arise, see them and bring your attention back to the breath. As soon as you catch yourself being carried off or taken away by a thought or feeling, simply bring your awareness back to the breath. Hold yourself in a loving embrace, a compassionate gaze with the intention of learning, of engaging with something new connecting to yourself through your breath.

When we breathe as a practice, it becomes an exploration of how our breath affects us and how we can affect our breath.

We are establishing a working relationship, one in which our presence is required and participation is requested.

The more we engage, the more familiar it becomes. We establish this relationship through experience and commitment.

For context and if you would like, here is some insight into the energy you will be working with when you explore these practices. Some of the practices are energizing, some are stabilizing. Some are calming, some are activating. Some are a combination of these. Under each practice is a short description. While each body is different and unique, some practices are not recommended for everybody. Please read the description before you begin and always, always, always honor the messages from the body. Stop if you feel any pain or twinging or pressure.*

Pranayama is made up of two words- prana meaning life force and yama, to tune. Pranayama is the art, the practices, the state where our understanding is all in tune, aligned with the natural law- energy. Everything is energy, vibrating energy.  Prana is also known as Shakti, Divine Feminine Energy, working with our prana allows us to get in touch with our inner light, our inner wisdom.

Kriya is a specific technique or action that is designed to create a specific evolutionary response.  Kri meaning act or do and ya, the atman or soul. Kriya is any action that leads to evolution. Kriyas are actions that create expansion and liberation while karma is action that leads to bondage.

Mudra means seal, a mark or gesture that allows energetic shifts in the body, allows energy to move in the body. Most mudras involve our hands, they also include the eyes and the body’s posture.

Ready to get started?

Come into a comfortable seated position. One in which your hips are slightly elevated above your knees. You can sit on a cushion on the floor, in a chair with your feet planted firmly on the ground and your knees at 90 degrees. Explore what feels best for you. Once there, sit up tall so that your spine is elongated and bring your shoulder blades together and down on your back to open up the chest, soften the belly and relax the body into the space. Allow yourself to be held.

Enjoy

*These tools and techniques are being offered as a way to connect with your own inner wisdom and guidance. Please defer to your own inner teacher and the awareness that comes through the recognition that works best for you and your body. Find what practices and techniques suit you while honoring and respecting your body and its messages. Pumping the navel and holding the breath in may not feel good, especially when ovulating or bleeding. Feel in. Listen in. Trust. Some techniques involve expansion of the chest and may not be suitable to anyone who has had breast or chest surgeries. If at any time something does not feel good in your body, stop.

**By participating in any of the Practices shared here, through The Auspicious Octopus, you are committing to taking personal responsibility for your body, mind, and soul.  All movement practices have an inherent risk of injury, and by participating you agree to honor and take full responsibility for your body and any injury that may occur. You understand your physical limitations and you are sufficiently self-aware to stop or modify your participation in any Practice before you become injured or aggravate a pre-existing injury.  You understand that the basic purpose of these practices is learning to re-regulate the body and to support your wellbeing.  You understand that I, through The Auspicious Octopus, am offering practices and information that is educational in nature and is not meant to take the place of medical, psychiatric or psychotherapeutic consultation. In taking personal responsibly, you release me and The Auspicious Octopus of any liability or responsibility for anything that might occur through the engagement with these practices. As with anything new, consult with your medical professional before beginning.

***I was formally trained and completed my 200 hour YTT at Sattva Yoga Academy in the foothills of the Himalayas by Anand Mehrotra, also called Anand Ji, in Rishikesh, India from the 24th of November through the 16th of December 2019.  The teachings shared here are holistic, integrative and transformative, they are rooted in the Vedantic and Tantric traditions of the Himalayas. I bow my head in reverence and humility for the ability to receive these generous teachings as well as the time, dedication and grace in which they have been shared.

Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha. Jai Ma. Jai Guru Dev. Om Namaha Shivaya

*** I am Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance - RYT ID 338797