The Not So 40 Day Meditation

I had a goal to complete a 40-Day meditation. It started October 2nd, and was supposed to run consecutively for 40 days- ending on November 11, 2011. In the Yoga community this date is very special. It is the beginning of the Aquarian age.

The meditation is very beautiful and very simple. You can check out the importance and significance of this meditation below.

Meditation is for everyone. It is a way to control our thought process, master the ability to focus, create clarity, bring awareness, release sub-concious fears and blocks, and promote a sense of well-being and inner peace. Meditation is a process.

I was never able to meditate until I found Kundalini Yoga. Below Gurucharan Singh, Director of Training for the Kundalini Research Institute, explains what Kundalini yoga is.

40-day meditations are an important discipline when you want to truly experience change. A daily practice of devotion is called Sadhana. It is considered a spiritual practice. From a yogic science perspective, it takes 40 days to change a habit. Practicing the same meditation for 40 days provokes the subconscious mind to release old patterns and make way for new ones.

I began my 40 day journey with the highest of intention, the funny thing about these challenges is that the 40 days need to be consecutive. If you miss one day- you start over! I failed at my intention, but not really. I take the advice of my teacher Harijiwan, he says not to beat yourself up and guilt yourself over your sadhana. Use your sadhana to uplift and put yourself into more positive direction. If you miss a day, keep up and do your best tomorrow.

I have experienced wonderful things the last 21 days: peace, calm, focus, clarity, and creativity to name a few. I believe that meditation in as little as 3 minutes a day can make positive changes for everyone. In 3 minutes time the body starts to charge its' electromagnetic field (field of energy) and it has a positive effect on circulation and blood flow. Most meditations are done for between 11-31 minutes. Start small and work your way up.

Remember, meditation is a process. It is not easy, but extremely worth a shot. Even if you don't complete a goal of consecutive days you still gained more from one time than to never have tried. Don't be hard on yourself. In the words of Yogi Bhajan, Phd.

"Always do your best."

Vibram Five Fingers

I am in love with my new vibram five fingers bikila ls. I have researched and contemplated purchasing these shoes for over one year. Fitness enthusiasts seem to love them or hate them. This style of shoe is a highly debatable topic in the fitness industry right now with both sides providing research to back up their claims. It all started with the barefoot running phenomenon.

Barefoot running, or minimalist running is not a new idea. The Tarahumara Indians of Mexico have been doing it for centuries in some of the most rugged terrain in South America. The tribe has been known to run for hundreds of miles at a time with little rest and have been mostly immune to the diseases that plague most human beings. They seem to have amazing vitality and a deep connection with their bodies. In 2009, the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall was released. The book explores the running habits and lives of the Tarahumara Indians and the philosophy behind barefoot running from a scientific and laboratory perspective.

There are claims that both styles of running cause injury. However, running in regular running shoes has the most research since the running world has been engaged in this type of running for a longer period of time. It seems that the more supportive a shoe becomes, the more injuries we have. Most runners suffer from over training. The most common injuries include plantar fasciitis and shin splints. These injuries can keep a runner down and out for very long periods of time and sometimes the only way to heal is to stop running completely.

Minimalist runners claim that they have eliminated those chronic running conditions. This is because the running stride and step are completely different than what we have been taught to run like. Most runners are heel strikers, and barefoot runners are forefoot or mid-foot strikers. Here is an example of a forefoot strike.

Here is an example of a mid-foot strike.

And finally a heel strike.

Minimalist runners make the claim that are injury free because of the shear force distribution of body weight and the overall impact to the ground. There is honestly a lot of information out there arguing both sides of the story and I figured the only way to really find out is to finally break down and buy a pair. I am only two weeks in to my training, and it is a completely new way of running. So far, I have not experienced andy knee pain at all and I generally do. However, when you start training in the Vibram Five Fingers you are supposed to work your mileage up over a long period of time. This is highly recommended as I, of course, over did it and have been experiencing a little soreness through the bottom tendon of my foot. Baby steps. There is a pdf brochure here that details the gradual training process of barefoot running. ALL of the people I know that have minimalist shoes love them and are injury free. Get a pair, and test it out for yourself- you may learn to love to run again like you did when you were young.

Two of my favorite activities to teach while I am working at Red Mountain Resort, are Nordic Walking and Canyon View Yoga. I get paid to take guests into some of the most beautiful scenery in the World, and exercise.

Leki Nordic Walking is a popular form of walking that burns up to forty percent more calories than regular walking. The poles offer increased stability and offer a way for the body to recruit more muscle therefore expending more energy. The poles assist in lengthening your overall stride. When your stride is lengthened, you simply burn more calories. Muscles that normally don't get much benefit from normal walking are recruited, such as: the glutes, shoulders, triceps, and lats. The core is also more engaged and posture is improved. Nordic Walking is by far on of my favorite activities.

One of the unique programs that Red Mountain offers is Canyon View Yoga. Guests are taken into Snow Canyon State Park to practice yoga and meditation for ninety minutes. Practicing yoga in the red rocks is a very spiritual experience. The sandstone rock beneath your feet, the fresh desert air and the endless blue skies make this yoga experience a once in a lifetime event for many people. Even if the yoga class is so so, the views and environment make it a class not to be missed. Snow Canyon is a wonder in and of it self. The rich pioneer and Native American history of the park and the sacredness of the area is felt by everyone who goes there.

Yes, I get paid to do what I love. I never tire seeing the majestic views of the canyon and the endless color palette that awaits each time I begin my classes.