I consulted Santosh (Axis Yoga intructor) for a mantra that I could recite twice a day. Once before sandhana and once at the time before I retire for the day. I planned to recite the mantra 108 times. Om Namah Shivaya would be the mantra. During my daily asana practice I incorporated heart opening asanas, […]
Chanting the mantra took a slow but steady start. I have never really liked the sound of my voice so I thought that this part would be challenging. I found over time that I did not hear my voice but only the vibrations of the sounds. I felt light. I normally feel heavy in my […]
An unexpected result began to occur. I stopped spending money as much. I realize that last statement may sound strange. When I typically, shop I pick up the things I think my family needs. In the last few weeks, I have not rationalized needing the things that I thought we needed before. I did not […]
My relationships with friends and family are not the same. When I began this experiment, I told my daughter and husband about it on the way to dinner. I told them about the yamas and then about Aprigraha. I asked them both to guess what I coveted. They both answered in unison “Aging”. I was […]
My beginning goal was to practice the mantra, asanas and journal everyday of the experiment process. I completed 80% of that goal. I did find that on days that I did not practice my experiment elements, that I was a little harsher on myself. I did have a stretch of three days without the practice […]
Denver’s Axis Yoga teacher training asks students to apply one of the yama’s – or yogic principles – to their lives. This student examines how her attachments to not only material items, but also to people and emotions, effect her. She finds that letting go of physical possessions is one thing, but letting go of […]
I fought this experiment every inch of the way, whining like a child who doesn’t want to eat her vegetables even though it is good for her. I started thinking about aparigraha and to be quite honest I was a little smug because I had started practicing this yama a few years ago without even […]
Like I said, I was pretty smug with myself. I mean I was living with really simple means; I slept on an air mattress and had a folding camping chair as luxury items. I ate on the floor or in my chair and the outside world only came to me via cell phone or internet, […]
I was doing well with most of my attachments but I had not even thought about my attachment to people. I was and still am very attached to people. I am a jealous person and that tends to lead me to hate and anger. Looking back at all of my past relationships, I sheepishly realized […]
Attachment to people has also made me a prideful person and perhaps fearful in some respects. I concern myself with their well being and don’t want to let them down. I make sure I don’t disappoint them by showing up for them even if it disrupts my own life or isn’t in my best interest. […]