Experiencing Ardas Bhaee

“Normally there is no power in the human but the power of prayer. And to do prayer, you have to put your mind and body together and then pray from the soul. Ardas Bahee is a mantra prayer. If you sing it, your mind, body and soul automatically combine and without saying what you want, the need of the life is adjusted. That is the beauty of this prayer.” — Yogi Bhajan



I heard and recited Ardas Bhaee at White Tantric Yoga yesterday which was a challenging, intense and  powerful experience.  They say one of these sessions can be like weeks/months of therapy.  This was my second time. I attended the session last April and the results were very different. This time I left feeling energized, light, and wanting more. It started at 9am and went until 6pm!


I'm an on-time person which is good considering I am Dominican,  so upon arrival I was matched up with a male partner. We greeted each other and talked for about 2 minutes when we jumped right in with Ong Namo.

I interpreted the Kriyas practiced as going through the stages of a long term relationship in fast forward. 

First few dates while deciding if this person is a good match:

Look each other in the eye and tell each other a story for 62 minutes while holding each other by the tops of the arms. Mantra is playing in the background.

Series of dates before committing to one another:

Look each other in the eye and ask each other probing questions for 62 minutes while interlocking fingers and arms bent in front.

After being committed for a while: 

Turn backs to one another while interlocking fingers and mediating. Remember "God Is" when mind drifts 31 minutes.

Being grateful for one another:

Hold hands as best and comfortably possible eyes closed recite Wahe Guru 31 minutes.

Seeing oneself through the eyes of your partner:

Look each other in the eye while holding each other by the shoulders and recite Ardas Bhaee for 62 minutes.

Choosing to love and embrace the idiosyncrasies of the partner unconditionally:

Embrace in a hug while keeping backs straight and rest chin on each other's shoulders and recite Ardas Bhaee with eyes closed for 31 minutes. 

The next session is in November, last year I could only handle one White Tantric Yoga in a year.  Lets see how many I can handle in 2016. 


For now I'm meditating with the mantra:

ARDAS BHAEE 

Amar Das Guru 

Amar Das Guru

Ardas Bhaee 

Ram Das Guru

Ram Das Guru
Ram Das Guru
Sachee Sahee 

Kripalu and Miss Favela

Soar into Fall 2013 at Kripalu

I got the new Kripalu catalog in the mail last night, I was so excited I immediately went through it and marked all the classes I would like to take (wishful thinking). I had a really great time when I was there this past Spring.

I was in dire need of a vacation. I had just gotten a bonus and my manager mentioned that I had a lot of vacation days and that the first quarter was already over (a gentle hint that I shouldn't carry days over to next year).  On the Kripalu website I came across Tiffany Cruikshank's  5 Day Spring Detox for a Vibrant Life - Sunday through Friday in April. The start date was in less than a week... Why not! I got out my credit card and signed up.

An email from Tiffany advised me to start the detox process three weeks before the first day of class and to read her book but it was also okay if I didn't. I went with the latter. The day before I was to leave for the Berkshires I met my friend at Miss Favela in Williamsburg. 

Band at Miss Favela

Caipirinha and Feijoada at Miss Favela

Lunch time party crowd at Miss Favela

I thought I was going to have a nice quiet lunch to catch up. Little did I know it was going to have a live band, music so loud - we had to text each other, dancing, and pitchers of caipirinha's. They also have Feijoada - so good! Lets put it this way - going to Miss Favela before a detox was like Mardi Gras before Lent. It was awesome! I have to go again.

The following day was to be my first day of no:

1. Sugar
2. Wheat
3. Alcohol
4. Dairy
5. Caffeine

I didn't think it was possible to do it but I actually did it. I went through the week without having any of the 5 toxin accumulating foods. It was easy at Kripalu because the food there is very varied, all the food options have the ingredients listed, everything tastes really good, and it's healthy! It was a little tortuous to omit the 5 above (with the exception of alcohol) because I wanted to try everything.

Besides the food another reason I loved being at Kripalu was the Healing Arts. I opted to stay in a dorm room so I could have enough $$$ to get spa treatments. They have a staff of technicians on site that really know what they are doing. The prices are affordable compared to NYC prices. It was the best decision I made, totally worth it as staying in the dorm was much better than I thought it would be.

Remembering all these details really makes me want to go back there! It was a really great way to relax and get away from the everyday stresses. I'll have to narrow down my picks to one or who knows maybe I will splurge and go more than once!

Kripalu

Yoga to the People

I took my first Power Vinyasa Flow class at  Yoga to the People in St. Marks.  I've known of the place for over a year but had not found my way there.  Luckily I found a new friend that suggested we meet up for yoga instead of the usual drinks.

We met at 7pm for the 7:30 class.  At first I thought it might be too early but it worked out really well because we got a good spot and we were able to relax and talk before class started.

The studio is large, clean, and has good vibe.  Classes are 60 minutes and offered seven days a week.  The fee is a suggested donation of $10 (pay what you can). Mat rental is $2 and a bottle of water is $1.  I rented a mat but next time I will definitely bring my own ( I will feel a lot more comfortable on my own personal mat).  The studio has changing rooms, bathrooms, and cubbies for your stuff but it does not have showers or lockers.  Also, there is only one bathroom per class (long lines).

The actual class was vigorous but not strenuous and the poses flowed from one to the other.  The instructor encouraged you to move to your limit but no further.  "Feel where you are; enjoy the moment."

After class we went around the corner to Tahini for dinner.  I ordered a Falafel sandwich and a lemonade for a grand total of $5.40 including tax!  Very good after yoga dinner.  After that we went across the street to the DessertTruck.  A very unexpected surprise!  It turns out the people who run it are a bunch of pastry chefs who met at Le Cirque.  The result is a gourmet desert from a truck.  I ordered the Vanilla Creme Brulee and it was perfection.  The custard was not to sweet or too thick and a cool temperature.  The caramel was just perfect and very satisfying to break through.  I also had a taste of Goat Cheese Cheesecake and that was heavenly.  $6 each.