Yoga Focus – Maha Shivrati – The Big Bang of Yoga!

Friday February 24th 2017 the Maha Shivrati (Great night of Shiva) starts. The consciousness, the aura, or the ethereal world, which is always ten inches above the material ground, touches the earth element on the day of Mahashivratri. A night when keeping vigil and allowing an austere practice of yoga to be prominent. Staying awake all night and observing a fast allows the yogi practitioner the opportunity to rewind the clock on his/her karmas. A celebratory night of soulful devotion and reverence to the master and creator of Yoga, Lord Shiva. Now, whether you practice the worship of Shiva or not is of non importance here. Performing astute sadhana on this day marks the way for personal insight and questioning of thyself. Perhaps by simply taking up fruit all day (fasting) and being extremely, more powerfully meditated on good thoughts throughout the day (Mindfulness) is a show sign of a serious yogi. To offer oneself up to the higher vibration of this day and what it may bring is worth exploring and to journal. It is believed that on this day, the planetary positioning in the universe evokes the spiritual energies very easily. Maha Shivrati is where the all pervading one enters the soul readily. We can most certainly use this day to overcome our own darkness and ignorance and work on how we can evolve. What changes are needed in the lifestyle? What can we do to improve our community and our world? Chanting, meditating, fasting, reading poems and so forth on this night can help with the personal goal of forgiving, repenting, showing kindness and nudging “honesty” to come forward. Scriptures say “During the Vigil Night of Shiva, we are brought to the moment of interval between destruction and regeneration; we have to be alone with our sword, the Shiva in us. We have to look behind and before, to see what evil needs eradicating from our heart, what growth of virtue we need to encourage”. Uniting with oneself whilst Shiva’s energy is the closest to Earth on this day is like riding a fast car in the fastest lane possible! Therefore, taking in the planetary vibrations of change and onward journeys during Maha Shivratri is a fast track to spiritual growth. Ratri means ‘to take refuge’. Shivratri is taking refuge in one’s own spirit (Shiva). It is the day that we celebrate the soul or spirit (Shiva Tattva) within ourselves!

Asana of the Week

Natarajasana (Lord Shiva Dancers pose)

Using the Yoga Strap.

Come into tadasana (mountain pose) hug the right knee high up towards the right armpit to get a hip opening. Grab your yoga strap/belt and place the loop part beneath the sole of the right foot. Hold onto the long edge of the strap with the right hand. Now bend the right knee behind you allowing the right foot to be near the right glute. Let the right elbow move downward, forward and then upwards catching the belt strap with both hands now and both the elbows pointing towards the sky. Squeeze the sacrum and contract the abdominals as you begin to shift forward on the standing leg whilst walking the hands down the strap behind your head and spine raising the right foot higher and higher. Keep pointing the right toes up towards the sky and hips squared as you work with the balance and the back bend. Drishti (gaze) into the horizon. Follow the breath, once you feel you can walk the hands no more down the strap and the right knee cannot point anymore higher stay, remain for an additional 5 breaths then slowly release and breaking the pose. Shake out the legs and then switch sides. Perhaps for some, a second time on the right/left side the strap can be put away and you can bind the hands and  feet like the diagram Sri Dharma Mittra is illustrating so beautifully. Heart remains lifted and the face soft with an inner smile.

Mantra for the week

Om Namah Shivaya
I Bow to my Inner Divine Self