Make Room

Awhile ago it dawned on me the connection between my name and it's meaning.  I've always liked my name.  Samantha means listener. And I have always enjoyed listening more than being the one who talks.  But the connection I made was more along the lines of spiritual listening - clairaudience, or "clear hearing". Although I have a couple extremely clear experiences of this, I haven't exactly worked on fine tuning this spiritual gift enough.  I feel I'm needing to head in that direction more intentionally these days.

There truly are so many things that take our attention, yet there are actually only a few things that are more of a requirement of our attention on a daily basis.  I remember having a distinct feeling about a year and a half ago that I was  ready to let my serious addiction to Pinterest go.  I felt there was a need to allow for something greater in my life.  Low and behold, I soon found this deep spiritual practice of meditation soon after that and Pinterest has never been the same for me since.  Over the past year I have joined a couple important Facebook groups that have helped me tremendously and I have met some amazing people that have helped me along the way.  Being more of a listener,  I haven't lent much of a voice to discussions,  but I feel I may drown without my support and the intellectual stimuli that Facebook has become (I'm very picky about what shows up on my news feed), I'm recognizing that same feeling again:

What I'm looking for isn't out there.  It's time once again to trust this voice in my head and this feeling in my heart.  There's more.  Make room.

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus."

- Neal A Maxwell

So while I have been torn with wanting to share more on this blog as well as do more classes, for now I will be making more room for Christ in my life by signing off of social media for a time.  "Make room" will be my mantra for this Christmas season to carry me into the new year with power and grace.

Sat nam,
Samantha

Food for Thought Friday: Healthy, Whole Foods

It's funny how things happen sometimes.  We don't even see how closed off we are until we are finally open to something, then take a small leap of faith in the right direction and suddenly a whole world of knowledge is opened up to you because you showed you were ready.  Treasures of knowledge that were there all along, but you couldn't see it for some reason.  You weren't ready.  But now...

This is how I feel my 40 day fast to break free of sugar addiction is going (see first post here).  The fast was a definite leap of faith because I was prompted to add meat to it.  At the time I didn't know what meat had to do with sugar addiction.  But it brought about a study of The Word of Wisdom that has helped me see things in a new light.  We're talking former Paleo-believer here.

The Word of Wisdom
Before I get into that I want to explain that I don't believe Latter-Day Saints need to avoid all meat in order to "keep the Word of Wisdom."  It has been defined as abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, illegal drugs, and habit-forming substances. But I promise you, there is SO MUCH MORE depth in that one section of scripture!  You can search it out for yourself here if you like.

The Paleo Framework
Years ago I took a "hiatus" from church.  My health took a nose-dive and I sought anything that would help, including a healthful way of eating.  I came across the Paleo diet (grass-fed meat, healthy fats, no grains, beans, legumes, or processed sugar) and was hooked since this was around the time we were also trying to add whole grains into our diet and noticed a lot of stomach upset.  Well, removing grains like Paleo recommends not only helped that but also helped my PCOS and skin issues.  My husband and I both lost weight and felt better.  Paleo certainly did give me a healthy framework to use.  But I believe now that it wasn't the removal of grains so much as it was the removal of processed foods.  Which brings me to...

Processed Foods vs. Whole Foods
Aah, the phrase we are all so familiar with.  But sometimes we might not think this one through - or, at least, I hadn't.  Maybe because I was Paleo and didn't eat bread to begin with, but this was one of the "ah, ha" moments for me: "whole grain" bread is processed.  All bread is processed.  For that matter canned foods are as well and many other things.  On the other hand, whole foods are just that: whole, as they are found in nature.

Now, immediately our minds go to: "But what about calcium?....protein?...fat?"  Plants have it all built in.  Think about it: "People eat meat and think they will be as strong as an ox, forgetting that the ox eats grass."  The elephant, the rhinoceros...herbivores.  How do they build strong bones and muscles?  Obviously the plants must contain the nutrients they need.

Reading stories of people who reverse cancer, diabetes, and all kinds of ailments is always very inspiring, but I've realized that doesn't have to be our fate.  Why use healthy eating as a backup plan for if we have to.  Why not choose to and avoid so much pain - not to mention lost wages and medical expenses.  Why?  Because it's extreme?  I think we need to redefine our definition of extreme.  Surgery is extreme.  Chemo and radiation are extreme.  Eating natural, whole foods is not extreme.  Eating healthy, whole foods isn't the backup plan, it is the plan!

I will never consider myself "vegan" but I have found vegan recipes extremely helpful.  I like to refer to this way of eating as a "whole food plan." Our bodies are obviously made to be able to eat meat and process the nutrients, but not full time, everyday.  Don't believe me?  Do the research.  If you dare ;-).  You, too will have a whole world of knowledge open up to you.

Food for Thought Friday: Partial Fasting

Our first 40 days has gone by in a flash of amazing insights and greater awareness to our incredible bodies.  I was inspired to begin a 40 day fast for my food addictions: no refined sugar, no refined wheat flour, and (to my surprise) no meat.  The night I opened my fast with prayer and meditation the bright blue full moon rose over the eastern horizon.  This is extremely significant to me because when I began my first 40 day meditation one October morning, the full moon was setting over the western horizon. 

I was also inspired to track my days by adding a charm each day to this bracelet I made.  My 12 year old daughter Hailey is apparently following my progress since she noted yesterday how many days I've gone without sugar by counting the charms and followed by a sincere "Good job!".  This is a big deal. She has her own food issues that came on over a couple choking crises. So now I'm realizing the bracelets significance: it doesn't only serve as a reminder to me of my commitment, not to mention a little motivation, but it is a visual representation to others that might need inspiration.  Here's what the bracelet looks like if anyone thinks this idea might work for them:

I can't tell you how many weeks, how many days - I've started and "failed" and started over again to try and eat healthy.  Turning it into a "partial fast" has made all the difference.  I didn't even have any of the typical withdrawal symptoms like headaches and a general cruddy feeling for the first few days from not having sugar.  And 6 days in I've realized that it's not about 40 days anymore - well, not exactly.  I know that after 40 days my addiction will be broken.  But I will need to continue this way of eating if I truly want health physically and spiritually.  

Fasting is Feasting
Fasting is a discipline that can be very helpful.  It has been used for ages as an advanced aid in spiritual awareness.  Fasting can quicken your pace and open you up spiritually because you are putting off the "natural man" like nothing else.   Fasting is feasting for the soul.  When we have addictions of any kind our body and soul are out of balance.

Food is fundamental and it carries with it a ton of psychological weight.  When we deny ourselves or cut back it unleashes all the unmet needs that we are using food to cope with.  We are suddenly left  with an opportunity to sit with those feelings and learn that the Lord will provide and that all is well.  

Much of what we have grown up to know about fasting in the LDS church (going without food and water for 24 hours) is highly advanced and now that I have learned about partial fasts and its power, maybe a little limiting.  Not only that but many don’t know how to properly prepare the body for something so strenuous physically and emotionally that I think we end up missing out on the spiritual part of it.

Resistance to Fasting

Going without food and water is not appropriate for everyone like pregnant/nursing women or people with blood sugar issues – BUT that makes a lot of people think that’s them because they feel they might be a little hypoglycemic and they skip it all together because of this. There’s a lot of limiting beliefs surrounding fasting.   Anyone who is on a steady diet of sugar (incliding processed, refined foods like white bread)  and caffeine is going to feel hypoglycemic when it comes to changing your diet suddenly.  And when we break a fast by eating a large meal any emotional and physical benefits that might have occurred will be undone immediately.  In contrast, if we can eat consciously while breaking a fast, that can go a  long way in terms of carrying that consciousness throughout our day and our lives. 

Partial Fasting

There are other ways to fast besides 24 hours without food or water: as long as you combine a fast with prayer and intention it can be really powerful.  A partial fast, or mono fast, is when certain foods are cut out of the diet and a person only eats certain foods.    A partial fast doesn't mean that it's another diet cleanse dressed up as spirituality. It should be done with prayer and intention.

You could do something similar to lent when you choose one food, or one food group to give up based on a predetermined amount of time.  You could do something called The Daniel Fast where you give up meat, leavened breads and sugars.  You could fast just one meal. There’s juice fasting… …if you wanted to break an addictive habit like sugar you could do one day, then the next time 2 days and so on.  One could fast only food and allow water.  Or maybe just fast between meals if you tend to be a grazer.  But it doesn’t have to be food -you could do an online fast, or a Facebook fast….the list is endless but it certainly means all can do something.  Fasting is much like Kundalini Yoga and Meditation – it can meet you where you are at.  

Ideally it’s a sacrifice of some kind…If you don’t like chocolate to begin with that’s not something you need to give up. ;)

Facts About Fasting

Fasting doesn’t send your body into “starvation Mode” and there are actually many benefits to it:

1. Improves insulin sensitivity 
2. Gives your digestive system a rest energizing the body's metabolism to burn through calories more efficiently
3. Promotes longetivity
4. Regulates the hormones in the body so that you experience what true hunger is
5. Improves brain function because it boosts the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
6. Helps us practice self-control and strengthens willpower
7. Fasting allows us to feel better both consciously and physically. With a lighter body and a clearer mind we become more aware and grateful for the things around us. With no food in the digestive system, this makes room for more energy in the body – the digestion is one of the most energy absorbing systems in the body.

There are many wonderful promises found in Isaiah Chapter 58, one of them is to "loose the bands of wickedness" and "undo heavy burdens".  I take that to mean addictions and things that hold us back.  Fasting will release our attachments to anything that we think we need.

If you want to add fasting to a 40 day journey, pray about it and see what comes up during meditating to find what is right for you.  Fasting is truly a great tool to help us balance our spiritual and temporal needs.

If you liked this post I will be posting more every Friday about the body and its relationship to food as I dive into a study of The Word of Wisdom, the temple body, and our modern way of eating.

Sat nam,

Samantha

Is Yoga Compatible with Christianity?

Short answer:

Yes.  I believe it is completely compatible.  I have my own experience of my faith deepening immensely when I began my practice sincerely and there are so many other faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Christians of other denominations who have found the same deepening of their faith due to their own personal practice.

Long Answer:

I believe wholeheartedly that it most definitely is, but unfortunately some do not understand the strength yoga can provide spiritually and they say no to its compatibility, their reasoning being that:

"The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as high-level spirituality." (Source)

I strongly disagree.  For example:

•  Look at the word "Atonement" more closely = At - ONE - ment: 

"The literal meaning of the word "Atonement" is self-evident: at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated and estranged." Jeffrey R. Holland

• The definition of "yoga" comes from the same root as "yoke" and means "union," specifically union with God.

And there are numerous accounts in scripture to help us understand:

• Psalms 82:6 - "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." 

• Luke 17:21 - "For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

• 1 John 4:16 - "...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 

• John 10:34 - "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"

• John 17:11 - "That they may be one, as we are."
• John 17:22 - "And the glory which though gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."

I want to point out our egocentric notion of what "Christianity" means with a few quotes:

"... non-Christian faiths teach many truths too ... God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend; 'not always giving a fullness … of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but always giving that measure of truth that the people are prepared to receive.'” - R. Lanier Britsch

“The world’s religions are not just corruptions of an original message but rather the product of a purposeful plan of God to reach all of his children, meeting them exactly where they need to be met. While some of the truths in other faiths may be the product of the original gospel passed on, many had brand new beginnings in meetings between the founder and his God. Falling into this category would certainly be Nanak, Zoroaster, Abraham, Muhammad, and Baha’u’llah. God seems to have given them new messages designed to raise the people of their day to new spiritual heights.” – Roger R. Keller, Light and Truth: A Latter-Day Guide to World Religions.

“Now we stand in the full blaze of the restoration of the Gospel.  If people in other spiritual traditions and philosophies even without the restored Gospel, obtain such marvelous manifestations as those recorded in the world’s spiritual literature, it may be that many of us have hardly begun to plum the riches and powers of the restored Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – M. Catherine Nelson

And finally...Fear not:

• "Fear not the reproach of men." - Isaiah 51:7

• "God hath not given us the spirit of fear."- 2 Timothy 1:7

• "Fear not little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

*   *   *

Yoga is consistent with Christian teachings and in alignment with Christ-centered values and beliefs, such as taking care of the body and growing closer to God.  There are also reasons why people with no religious affiliations are drawn to it.

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Tiehard de Chardin

When one uses yoga and meditation as a tool to grow closer to God, self-worship is not a part of the picture.  In fact, it is a sacrifice, a personal commitment which develops self-discipline and builds character.  I can see how the adversary does not want that, so I guess there will always be the naysayers.

Webinar Topics

40 Days Closer to Christ

A Nourishing Journey for Body, Mind and Spirit

“Be not conformed to this world,

but be ye transformed by the

renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:1-2

Weekly Meeting Topics

Week 1 - Prayer, Praise, and Power

"You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are." - Yogi Bhajan

Take a close look at meditation and why so many people are drawn to yoga.
Find out how not praising God daily is like holding your spiritual breath.
Learn how to meditate and the power of sadhana (a daily spiritual practice).

Week 2 - The Body and the Breath

"There is more wisdom in your body than your deepest philosophies." - Freidrick Neitzche

Explore the connections between the spiritual and physical bodies.
Find out how our physical bodies are influenced by our spiritual health.
Learn useful breathing techniques to help you feel centered and calm.

Week 3 - Feasting, Fasting...and Fear

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4 

Explore how daily habits and food choices determine consciousness.
Learn why an intellectual understanding of nutrition alone is insufficient to change behavior.
Discover how to balance temporal and spiritual needs.

Week 4 - Matters of the Mind

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth." - Colossians 3:2

Where is the mind and what does it mean to be conscious?
Take a deep look at the subconscious mind as well as the positive, negative and neutral minds.
Learn techniques for retraining the mind and clearing the subconscious.

Week 5 - The Thoughts We Think

“Our greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” - William James

Identify beliefs that are behind subconscious thought forms.
Learn how to manage your personal thought energy.
Learn what is at the heart of all addictions.

Week 6 - Conversion, Commitment, and Confidence

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." - Thomas Moore

Is it possible to "master time"?
How to "Keep Up."
More ways to Communicate with God

*PLUS*
Nourishing recipes
Weekly tools and techniques
Group challenges
Meditations and yoga kriyas
Private Facebook support group

Are you up to a 40 day journey that will bring you closer to Christ?

Join now!
It is not too late!  
You can still get started with the video of the first class.  
(Our next 40 days will begin again in August.)

New course beginning at the end of August!  Stay tuned!

The Many, Many Benefits of Meditation

I've wanted to share the many benefits of meditation but I kept getting overwhelmed - there are so many.  And there is study after study.  But then I found this awesomeness:

 Source

Seriously.  This stuff should be taught in schools.  Oh. Wait.  It is!

"Well conducted mindfulness interventions have been shown to be popular with students and staff, and capable of addressing the problems of the young people who take part, and improve their wellbeing, reduce worries, anxiety, distress, reactivity and bad 23 behaviour, improve sleep, self esteem, and bring about greater calmness, relaxation, and self-regulation and awareness as well as improving aspects of cognitive function, and also some aspects of physical health. Mindfulness correlates positively with wellbeing, positive emotion, popularity and friendships, and negatively with negative emotion and anxiety." - Katherine Weare, (2013) "Developing mindfulness with children and young people: a review of the evidence and policy context", Journal of Children'sServices, Vol. 8 Iss: 2, pp.141 - 153

6 more days until my webinar course where I will cover how to meditate along with  how to develop habits and behaviors that take you to a deep, meaningful practice!  Join me!

The Power of Mantras, Part II

The Power of Mantras, Part I

Yesterday my 5 year old son was tossing toys from one hand to the other trying to "juggle."  I told him, 

 "Ya know, doing Sa Ta Na Ma meditation helps with coordination so you can do things like that." He has heard me do this meditation many times.  When I first started he would go around the house chanting "Santa Mama."  The actual name for it is Kirtan Kriya. 

I broke it down into smaller parts for him but he actually did the whole thing, including tuning in and out and holding his breath for 10 sec and silence at the end.

During the middle of the meditation, when we chant silently in our head, I noticed he was moving so I peaked at him thinking he was having a hard time sitting still.  He was wiping his eyes.  He quietly told me, 

"I'm crying for happiness." 

He was crying gently out of pure joy.  

That is a small example of the power of mantra meditation.  You don't even have to know what the mantras mean in order for them to be effective.  Some people say that the meaning is the same as "Sat Nam" since it has the same letters (the meaning is described in The Power of Mantras, Part I).  But it can be broken down even further:

Sa - birth

Ta - life

Na - death/change

Ma - rebirth

This is very reminiscent of Christ's life and resurrection and his promise that we, too, will live again. (John 14:19)

This mantra  has the power to break habits because it accesses that level of the mind where habits are created.  I will be covering in greater detail more about mantras and how they help to clear out the subconscious mind in my upcoming course 40 Days Closer to Christ.  Don't miss it - only 10 more days!

More about Kirtan Kriya
Kirtan Kriya is one of the most studied meditations and can help in the prevention of Alzheimer's and current patients. See the article on the Alzheimer Research and Prevention Website.

Here is another study that shows improvement in patients with dementia from practicing this daily meditation.

Here is another article: 3 New ways Kirtan Kriya Helps Keep Your Brain Sharp.

A how to video by my  amazing teacher and mentor, Felice Austin/Nam Joti Kaur.

More about mantras The Power of Mantras, Part I

Sat Nam,

Samantha

The Language of the Soul

"We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is the meditation. Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as “a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme.” Meditation is a form of prayer.

Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord. Jesus set the example for us. As soon as he was baptized and received the Father’s approval, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” Jesus went to what is now known as the mount of temptation. I like to think of it as the mount of meditation where, during the forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father, and contemplated upon the responsibility of his great mission."

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, (2011), 29–37, Chapter 4, Elements of Worship

The Power of Mantras

When I first heard the chanting in Kundalini Yoga, it scared me off to be honest.  But when I looked deeper into the matter (years later) I realized how beautiful the mantras are.  They are all about praising God, plain and simple.  I suddenly knew there was nothing to fear.  Next, something beautiful happened.  Immediately I experienced spiritual blocks falling away.  And this was just from learning about the mantras, later I would go through many more experiences that taught me the power of words and mantra.

A mantra is a word or a sound repeated to help an individual concentrate during meditation.  It is also a slogan repeated frequently.  It is not the same as "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7). Vain means to have or show an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth and, in this case, repetition mean much speaking.  A mantra is the complete opposite.

In Kundalini Yoga and Meditation the mantras are in the language Gurmukhi, and I think they read like Psalms in the bible.  Here is an example:

Mantra Title: Aap Sahaee Hoa

Aap Sahaee Hoa Sachaa Daa Sachaa Doaa, Har, Har, Har

Translation: 

You, Divine One, have become my refuge. True is Your support, Great Creative Infinite

Psalm 91:2 reads:

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

Pronouncing these ancient words correctly vibrates different parts of the roof of the mouth, touching on meridian points, balancing and stimulating different parts of the body and brain.  Take the technology part of it and combine it with the command to praise God and you start to see the power behind the practice.  Actually practice it and you will start to feel it.

Sat Nam,

Samantha

Sat Nam....(pronounced Sut Nom)
it's the most frequently used mantra in Kundalini yoga
SAT means truth
NAM means name, identity, to identify with or to call upon
Sat Nam can be translated to mean, "Truth is my identity."  When spoken as a greeting, you are essentially saying, "I see your true nature" or "I recognize the divinity within you."

The Power of Mantras, Part II

Why 40 Days?

The number 40 appears across many faiths and belief systems.  Here is just a sample:

• Christ fasted 40 days and 40 nights. (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
• During Noah's time, it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. (Genesis 7:4)
• It took the Israelites 40 years to reach the promised land. 
• One of the prerequisites in Judaism for a man to study Kabbalah is that he is 40 years old.  
• The Israelites were challenged twice a day for 40 days before David defeated him (Samuel 17:16). 
• Jesus appears to his disciples after his death and stays with them for 40 days before ascending to heaven. (Acts 1:3)
• Lent consists of 40 days preceding Easter although it differs from East to West on the inclusion of Sundays in the count. 
• In Islam, Muhammad received his calling at age 40.  Believers have also been encouraged to devote themselves to God for 40 days to see wisdom come forth.
• In Hindu tradition some of the fasting periods consist of 40 days.

But when I heard a lecture given by a Kundalini Yoga instructor about the science behind how consciousness is changed after doing something consistently for 40 days, I was amazed.  He states that the iron in our blood is a recordable substance much like the old cassette tapes.  We make more than a million blood cells with every beat of our hearts and with that it records on the bone marrow of your body everything about who you are (and who you think you are or are not) then and there at that moment emotionally and physically.  That's why meditations are given in minutes (11 minute, 31 minute...).  It isn't about the minutes spent meditating but the approximate beats of the heart.  Your red blood cells live for about 112 days.  In 40 days there's a "tipping point" when the new blood cells start to overpower the old blood cells.  Now there will be a whole set of new blood cells that are carrying with them a brand new intention and attitude.  So that is why there are 40 day Sadhanas.(Sadhana means daily spiritual practice, or devotional in Christian terminology.)

Isn't that just cool?! Here is the link to the You Tube video if you want to hear it from him.

Instinctively I always felt that the popular "21 days to build a new habit" thing wasn't long enough.  It actually takes an average of 66 days so hopefully your first 40 day journey Closer to Christ is a good start to continue for a lifetime.

“Therefore when we do sadhana, what do we do? We challenge the weakness, the laziness and our self-destruction. We challenge everything which is going to destroy us tomorrow.” 
–Yogi Bhajan, 1/21/88

So, of course, if you can go beyond 40 days and keep up - endure, you will become the person you truly wish to be - with Christ's help, as always.

Sat Nam,
Samantha

40 Days Closer to Christ Journey

Are you ready to take your spirituality to a whole new level?  

Step up your commitment to Christ by diving deep within. 

This 40 day journey will open your eyes and your heart to intentionally connecting with God and help you find greater access to Christ's atoning sacrifice.  With an LDS perspective that supports how yoga fits perfectly into a Christ-centered life.

"...for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:21

"The truth is; we've got it backwards.  We're working life from the outside in, when it's really an inside job to begin with." -Dr. Habib Sadaghi

40 Days Closer to Christ: A Nourishing Journey for Balancing Body, Mind & Soul

In this webinar course you will:

• Learn how diet and daily habits determine consciousness
• Learn why an intellectual understanding of nutrition alone is insufficient to change behavior
• Find out how to balance temporal and spiritual needs through ancient practices of yoga and meditation
• Discover meaningful happiness by examining your true divinity 
• Participate in weekly challenges for personal growth and daily journaling exercises
• Have access to a private Facebook support group where participants share their stories, questions, challenges and achievements

*Registration for this class is now closed....