Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!
Merry Christmas Soul-Starrs! May your days be filled with love.
BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Transformation: Ghetto of the Mind

Photo By Mista Jaycee

If someone gave you this house, mortgage free, tax free, under the condition that they could return any time, any day unannounced after one year and see what you've done with the place would you take the deal?

 What if you could have a body like the one below? Wait! What if you could have this body? Free and clear? Your mind, spirit and essence deposited in this frame? All strengths, no diseases or disorders, yours with the only condition being that the previous owner could stop by and visit you any day, any time after one year unannounced to see how you are doing? Same deal as the house. Would you take the deal?

I'd wager that alot of you Soul-Starrs would take both deals.  Alot would, and alot would not but I guarantee you all would consider at least one of the deals if not both.  Now, metaphysical queries aside, what would the house look like in a year? Would it be painted, the lawn mowed? Would the house have new plants surrounding it?  Would folks be begging to rent a room inside your home?  Gaining the home does not mean that you were prepared to accept and handle the gift does it?  I know of a building where the folks that live on the second floor stand on the balcony and flip lit cigarette buds on the first floor common area below. They flick their ashes onto the landing.  Don't they know that other people walk along this walkway? Don't they know that this makes the building appear to be trashy?  Of course they do!

Photo courtesy of the Web

On top of that they fight constantly, sometimes until 4 in the morning? Their little space looks like they act. It looks trashy and unkempt! How do you think the house would look with them in it?  It would be trashed and in foreclosure within the year.  Why? Because as a Person thinketh so is he!

Now, what about the body?  Remember, it's still your essence in the body.  It's still your mind, your soul. Would the body still look like the one in the picture? If the Soul has suffered from low self esteem, hurt, and anger. If the soul used food in order to cope the body would not be the same body anymore.  I'm sure that the Soul that possessed the House or the Body would envision how much better the life would be.  At first they'd live it up enjoying the view, enjoying the attention that the body attracted but eventually how the Soul handled a relationship would affect the body.  A Mean Bytch with a Goddess Body is still a Mean Bytch. Sure, Guys would sex her but they'd get away from her as soon as the novelty wore off.  The Soul would have to exercise, and  feed the body proper food in order to keep the body in the same or in better condition.  A damaged Soul can not.  Rot eventually would win out.

But with a new body I would not be ME anymore Mista Jaycee, I would be HER! 

No, it's your ESSENCE in the BODY so it would STILL be YOU! You may enjoy how strong the body is and even learn to use the strength but if you did not know how to maintain the strength, how to work out the body then it would turn to fat.  It's still YOU remember?

The House has to be cleaned, the light bill must be paid, the gardens must be trimmed!  If something breaks it has to be repaired. It would not be and the house would be a shit hole one year after you received it.

What's the point Jaycee?

The point....Our Character! Our Soul will largely determine what happens in our lives. So if you have Raggeddity habits then you gon have a Raggeddity life.

Yoga is a tool to help us see that and overcome it!

So, what are you at your core? Think on it.
Om Shanti Baby!
Jaycee

Tazima teaches for charity 12-11-10

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

Hey Soul-Starrs,
Tazima, The Compassionate Renegade, is teaching this Saturday for charity.  I can't make this one but I can tell y'all about it. Check it out and happy holidays!

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE {current through December 31, 2010}




INTRODUCTION TO YOGA—ONE-DAY WORKSHOP

Saturday, December 11 :: 1:00 - 3:00 p





This one-day workshop is recommended to all seeking to experience yoga for the first time, as well as those looking to revitalize a previous interest. Basic postures, simplified yoga philosophy, breathing techniques, and fundamental meditation skills will be addressed.







:: :: :: ::



$35 Registration Recommended! Workshop fee includes one free class of your choice from our regular schedule.











* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



SEVA (Compassionate Service)

Vinayasa Flow Benefit Class with Tazima Davis

Saturday, December 11 :: 6:30 p



Practice Seva with us...





A fundraiser on behalf of Artists for Charity for Orphaned and HIV+ Children in Ethiopa.





:: :: :: ::



$20 Suggested Donation Registration Recommended!

GroveStarHipHop: Yogabonics - Yoga for Black People

The Horror!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

Hey Soul-Starrs,
I've been praying and meditating alot lately.  The job, the family, and all of life's pressures can get to you. 

"Yeah, we know Mista Jaycee!"

One of the wonderful gifts of yoga and the eight fold path is the emphasis on your personal spiritual faith. The other gift is the HERE and NOW! These two things challenge us to stare into the HORROR of our own personal shit!

Yoga is more than just the asanas, chanting some strange mantra and talking about inner peace. We are all multi-layered, multi-faceted, fragmented people and we often have to peel back layers of bs just to get near the heart of us.

The HERE and NOW is the tool that we use to help us get over OLD SHIT!  The HERE AND NOW is the tool we use to stop being ruled solely by ego, angry, a sense of entitlement or any delusion of grandeur and get with the REAL.

So, your angry with some people on the job? Or maybe, instead of credit and a raise you got down-sized. Perhaps, you've seen one of your tormentors from high school and find that you are still angry, hurt and want to strike out at them! It's been years! Years! And now they smile at you and want to see pictures of your family and they've moved on and forgotten that they were the biggest, nastiest butt ever to you!

Hey guess what? They moved on and they don't remember. Guess what else? They don't care cause they didn't stay in the same place. Shit happened to them since y'all left high school too and they may not look back on high school either for what happened to THEM! Just cause they were hell on you doesn't mean that someone else wasn't hell on THEM!

Are you feeling me? Do you get what I'm saying? We have got to have the courage to take the tools of Yoga, Prayer, Meditation, and turn them into forgiveness and ultimately freedom.

Stare into the HORROR of your personal shit!

Om Shanti Baby!
BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

You have got to have a Support System!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

Hey Soul-Starr's,
It's been a little while since I had posted anything on my yoga blog.  I had not been faithful to my daily practice and so that contributed to my delinquency!  Sorry bout that!

I think that a post about not being faithful to your yoga practice is something that worth talking about though don't you?

Keeping a regularly scheduled yoga time can be hard.  It just is.  Work, School, Life!

Excuses huh? Well, they're good excuses. How long has it been since you been to Wednesday night prayer meeting? Huh?

How long has it been since you got on the treadmill, spin bike or used the core ball while watching your Tai Bo video?

Huh? Yeah, Huh indeed. (Laughter)

How many outfits fit on the treadmill? (Laughter)

Having a support system is great and everyone needs one.  My Wife, Mrs. Jaycee supported my interests in yoga and tai chi although she did not start a practice of her own.  She purchased my first yoga mat for me.

I would go to my Sunday Kriya Yoga class with George and come home.  Months later she kicked me out the house, one Sunday morning, cause she needed some alone time, but two cause she said that whenever I returned from Yoga I looked and acted so relaxed.  I stormed out the house that morning, irritated at the "Wife" but when I arrived at class, she called the Shades of Afrika to confirmed that I had indeed gone.

Support System!

She came to my Kriya Yoga class a couple of times, as did my daughter but it wasn't their cup of tea.  Well, my class at the Shades was on hiatus for a couple of months and in that time I took a yoga class at the local college. Four days a week, three hours a day. I gave up eating meat and drinking sodas.  I got in better shape, met some cool people and found a compliment yoga style to add to my Kriya home discipline. 

Then, I read about a class being held on the beach.  I went and my Wife came with me.  She enjoyed sitting out on the grass in the ocean breeze.  It reduced her stress.  Next she borrowed one of my mats. The next week against her protests I purchased one for her.  Yeah, I got her her own mat!

Now, she has a yoga practice of her own. She chants sometimes, and we practice breathing together. This motivates me! We are each others support system! Also now, we have two other buddies we come with us too. The four of us are practicing yoga.  Each person has their own reasons and their own journey but we are all connected.

Om Shanti Baby!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Yoga with Hayward and cat

Yoga by the Ocean!

This past Sunday, my regular Kriya Yoga class got cancelled so I went over to visit Yogini Dharma Shakti http://www.shalashakti.blogspot.com/  who teaches regular classes at Bluff Park in Long Beach.  Donation based Yoga seven days a week? Heck Yeah!

My Wife and a couple of friends came along and it was beautiful.  We laid our mats out underneath the shade trees and practiced our asanas as the ocean breeze kept us cool.  It was in the 100's that day so chillin in the shade was good but doing Yoga with new friends and someone you love in the shade.

AWESOME!

Happy Yoga Month! 

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful! 

Jaycee  

Shanti! Shanti! Shalom! SELAH! September 11th, 2001

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

It's the 11th day of National Yoga Month.  So, on the Sabbath of Creation, we give thanks to God (IAM)

OM! Mercy and forgiveness (Inhale) Exhale (Hatred and Anger) Shanti (Peace Loud) Shanti (Medium) Shanti (Soft) Shalom! Satnam! Sadhu! Tao! Em Aum Spirit! Kami! Swami! Amen! Aumen! Amin! Selah!

The word Selah in the Old Testament means is an anticipation mark like in music before something BIG and extraordinary happens!

SELAH for all those lost at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001!  Aum! (Breathe) We remember you but we DO NOT dwell in darkness of hatred! WE live in a spirit of Peace, extending love and brotherhood to all!

AUM!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

10 Breaths!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

First Take 2 Breaths standing in Mountain pose and exhale into prayer pose!

Hey Y'all,
It's day 10 of National Yoga Month! Whoo Whoo!

Breathe!

Now, for all y'all living in Los Angeles I know that the air may be a little dark, a little dirty, a little stinky sometimes but breathe anyway!

Take two more breaths! Still standing in mountain pose gooooo to prayer pose. (Breath one) then goooo to swan pose! (Breath two)

Inhale Monkey pose! (Breath one) exhale fold!

Now for the next five inhalations! Lets go to Child's pose then downward facing doggie! (That's right I said Doggie) then into cobra pose back to downward facing doggie into plank!

Gooooo  slow if you want to!

Feel better? Good!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Back to Yoga!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

Hey Y'all

How's Yoga month going?  I have not been practicing daily. Shame on ME right? Nah! I don't feel shame but I don't feel Good! I don't feel as energetic! I don't feel as flexible, and I can feel the aches and pains that I was not feeling when I practice regularly.

So, back to the Asanas! Maybe you are going through the same thing! Get back to it!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Aum!

Jaycee

Kenny Garrett - May Peace Be Upon Them

Happy Yoga Month!

Photo courtesy of the Web

Yoga fart

Try different styles

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

My regular Kriya Yoga class with George is on haitus while the Shades of Afrika does improvements to the shop but I am taking a Vinyasa Flow Yoga class at the local community college. It's four days a week and it's intense! I sweat buckets! (TMI)

I think everyone should try out different styles of yoga. My Daughter, (Junior) didn't like Kriya Yoga. She's an athlete, (track and basketball) and prefers an intense workout with lots of cardio. She believed that all yoga was the same. I enjoyed her surprised look when I told her about my Vinyasa class. She may grow to appreciate a slower, more refined style of yoga as she grows up and older.

Yoga is subtle, it is intense, it is explosive all at the same time! What yoga is not is one size fits all. All yoga styles are not the same and every person has to find what is right for them. That's the big trick! This requires effort, time, and patience. I know, patience, something I certainly don't have a lot of. (Smile)

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Shalom Satnam Sadhu Tao Em Aum Spirit Swami Kami Amen Aumen Amin SELAH Aum! (Peace)

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

My Yoga Class!

This has nothing to do with the post but it's Funnie!

I dig Kriya Yoga but I am loving the Vinyasa/Inyengar Style yogas I'm doing in class right now! Man! I sweat buckets and buckets everyday! I finally learned to do downward dog, and dolphin poses! YAY ME! Plough pose and Shoulder stand still ain't happening!





My Vinyasa teacher, Danielle , cautioned me against shoulder stance and plough, cause I have back issues. But even though I go slower than some of my classmates (Vinyasa is constantly flowing) and have to sit down during the workout more than some.





I really Dig it! Learning Vinyasa helps me appreciate Kriya more! I can see the Kriya Asanas in the Vinyasa! Try something different! It helps you appreciate what you already have.





BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!


Jaycee

MMMMM Yoga!

Hey Soulstarrs!

I'm taking a yoga class at the local community college. I like it alot but WOW! It's a hellava workout! The style is Vinyasa yoga (Flowing movements with alot of cardio) with some Iyengar (use of blocks and props) elements.

I can see alot of the 18 Asanas of Kriya Yoga in the other styles. The names of the asanas are different but it's all connected.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Learning!

Photo courtesy of the Web

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

I was once in a debate where I had to argue the pros of using slang in the English language. My opponent had suggested the subject and picked the con side. She had an agenda. She spoke the King's English having been educated in the British Virgin Islands and London and bristled at American English, Ebonics, (before the phrase was coined) and slang in general. I felt that she had a huge chip on her shoulder and a large stick in her tush. On the plus side, she had beautiful skin and great legs. But I digress!

We debated for about 20 minutes in front of the class, then she said,that using slang makes you appear to be uneducated!

An opening! I went for it! I stated " True Education should not be judged by how you speak but how well you can take the information that you have learned and process it in order to explain it with people in a way they can understand!

I won!

It was the last and only time that I would ever win an argument with a Woman hands down! (Laughter)

I thought about my statement when thinking about the asanas and concepts like Sauca and Ahisma. I've read the information. I've memorized the meanings. I've practiced the pronunciations but have I learned anything?

As a Christian this comes up for me all the time. We have all met or know a Bible thumper who can quote the scriptures, chapter and verse. But they don't know what it means! See memorization is external and knowing the meaning truly is an internal process. Only you will know if you've learned anything.

I'm still practicing though. Practice! Damn it! It's like Praising the Lord! Hallelujah anyhow! That's right! You ain't sure the Lord hears your prayers but you shout his name anyhow! The same thing goes practcing the asanas, studying the concepts and praying and meditating! Practice!

More than likely what you learn will come out when you're explaining Yoga to someone who doesn't understand.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Looking at the Sexxxy! Mmmmm! Sexy Yogini's

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

Hey Soul/Sol Brothers and Sistas,

Is it just me or are all the Yogi's and Yogini's in the magazine's perfect?

Perfect, Mista Jaycee?

Yeah, Perfect! I mean, judging by the my copy of Yoga Journal and Namaste TV some of these physiques seem unattainable.

Like Halle Berry?

Exactly!

One of my goals for this blog is to highlight Diversity in Yoga and to show some regular looking folks doing yoga!

I checked out this great Yoga show called "Namaste Yoga". Each episode features a different set of asanas designed to target a specific area of the body. The Yogini's are three perfect Women. One Asian and two Europeans. Damn! This some Soft Porn ish here!

Sorry, for all y'all people's who consciousness is in the upper chakras, but these Yogini's inspire my kundilini to rest in my Root chakra.

"Hey Where is my Lotion?!!!!!"

"I borrowed it! I'm practicing my yoga!"

"Ewww You nastee!"

"Hey! No one said that gaining inner peace would be easy!"

"No one said it would be messy either! And why you always locking the door? You don't need to lock the door to do Yoga! "

"Leave me alone! And get away from my Door!"

Ok, you should be laughin now, cause that's funny! Seriously, though, I would like to inspire folks like me to try and enjoy Yoga. I wanna see a Dude that has a beer gut start practicing Yoga!

I wanna see a Sista who's a size 16 or up begin to practice Yoga and get featured in the mags as they progress and transform.

If you check the bios of some the Yoga instructors, alot of them were dancers, martial artists, and cheerleaders. So, it's not that difficult to accept that they are limber and flexible. They've spent their lives being physical and in shape. They've taken their health and physiques to another level but what about the rest of us?

What if you're not an athlete? What if you've never had a sexxxy shape to begin with? Shouldn't we feature that aspect of Yoga more? I'm just saying?

Om Shanti Shalom!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Half Fish and Fish Pose

Photo courtesy of the Web

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

Hey Y'all,

What's going on? Well, I got a few Asanas in last night. I have got to be careful with my neck. Whenever, I do Meenasanam (Fish pose) and Pathi Meenasanam (Half Fish Pose)

Pathi Meenasanam (Half Fish Pose) Photo courtesy of 18 Kriya Poses

I arch my back and rest the crown of my head on the floor. This is part of the asana on Pathi Meenasanam but just an effect of ME doing Meenasanam. (Gotta figure out if I'm doing that right) I gotta protect my Neck!

Meenasanam (Fish Pose) Photo courtesy of 18 Kriya Poses

My neck is a lil sore this morning but still I feel good! I've been meatless for almost a month! Whoo Whoo! I like the way I feel. I don't feel gassy! I don't feel heavy and sluggish! That's right no heartburn!

My Wife, tells me I smell different now. I agree. My sweat does not smell as acidic and prugant. This is a good thing plus while there is more flatulence there's less of the silent but absolutely deadly kinds! (Laughter) Oh come on you pansies!

We all Fart! So let's not be so frigid about it!

Please let me know if you have asanas that will help me strengthen my neck. I need em!

And please let's share meatless recipes! I'm trying to be meatless without using the veggie meats!

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Mista Jaycee has gone Meatless!

Hey Y'all,

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

I have not gone vegetarian....yet! But I've going meatless for a while.

Why? Is it your LDL? Did you join PETA?

No, and NO! Although, I dig the Lettuce Ladies! No, I am concerned for my future health but I also want to look and feel great in my present life! I want to feel good and I want to feel good about the way I look too! ''

It's that kinda vain Mista Jaycee?

Yeah, but so what! Vain to want to look good! Yeah! Vain to want to feel good! NO, Never! We were created perfect but we are not now perfect nor are we perfected! So, we must strive towards perfection all the while we being perfected!

I'm doing my part! I'm feeling good so far, although I do want a piece of steak!

Om Shanti Shanti Aum!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Practice Y'all! Practice!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

Hey Y'all,

The past month has been an absolute Mutha----! I've had to meditate and Pray and with that comes today's post.

You must meditate and pray everyday! Remember, when I posted about looking for MCYOGA? You know instant gratitude? Ish don't exist! And if it does then you should flee from it!

No, daily practice is needed. It helps to strengthen your faith by teaching you patience.

Ha! Patience! I have none! Y'all know that!

So, On with my daily prayers and meditation. Practice y'all Practice!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

One Day! One Breath at a time!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

I didn't get through all 18 Asanas when I practiced but I managed to get in some consistent practice this weekend. I enjoyed it and I felt totally relaxed! I really tried to slow down and hold each Asana for a while.

One Day and One Breath at a time right? Well, I hope that you all had a Happy Easter!

BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!

Jaycee

Gonna do Plough Pose! Oh Yes!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

What's happening Y'all,

I am finally starting to see the light at the tunnels end with this pain. Finally! I don't know what caused it! I just know what didn't!

I didn't start a workout by warming up with 2 TONS! Nope!

Didn't try to perform Plough pose! NOPE! Actually, I can't wait til I can really do Plough pose! That would BE sooo cool! KEWL!

Practice! Slow moderate practice! It will happen! Someday!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Mista Jaycee goes in search of Mac Yoga!

Photo by "Junior"

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

The left side of my back hurt like a Sonavabytch! I couldn't move my neck from side to side.

A old, fat dude, like yourself can't do all them yoga exercises Mista Jaycee!

Who you calling old?

It wasn't the Yoga that hurt me. It was the Yoga that helped me!

Splain Mista Jaycee!

Dig, I went to yoga, after a couple of days, of serious pain. Vicodin did not help! Heating pads only went so far. I went to yoga, looking for some kinda stretch, that was get me out of pain. Some mantra of meditation that I could learn in five minutes that would eliminate my suffering. So, I bent down into Kriyavasana, and couldn't lift my arms, above my head! I couldn't move my neck and rest on the crown of my head. I tried! Oh God! Pain! I had to stop!

I ended up sitting, and watching the class and doing a few exercises.

I went looking for MacYoga! That ish don't exist! If MacYoga does exists, I say flee from it! It will make you happy in the meantime, but leave you fat, unhealthy and ultimately hungry!

I started to move my neck from side to side. Slowly, painfully, but move it I did. Brahmacarya! (Moderation)

I noticed after a couple of days my neck was looser, more flexible, less painful, than when I began exercising it.

Soon, I was able to move it without pain fully. But I had to go slow. I had to allow my body to respond to the yoga. I had to give God (IAM) the time to heal me. See, God (IAM) healed me but he used the Yoga, and my faith in him to accomplish it!

The point is. There ain't no quick fixes to long term ish! Breathe!

That's right! Om Shanti Shanti Aum! (Supreme aspect of God (IAM) Peace Peace Earthly Reflection of God (IAM))

Breathe!

You work out things like pain, inflexibility, anger, money problems whatever! Slowly, with a real plan and you make adjustments whenever they are needed. Then, you will be successful!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee!

Let it Go!

Photo Courtesy of the Web

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

I've practicing my breathing and meditation alot lately. I've needed to. I've been praying more too! Like everyone, I've been dealing with stress and anger. Some from things at work and some from things at home. God (IAM) is Good! He sent me what I needed, cause I happened upon Psalm 37, then a podcast by the "Bad Buddha" Ryu Cope. He spoke about Anger, and pointed out, that alot of us office jockeys don't get enough exercise. See, we like to get Angry! All that adrenaline, all those delicious endorphins! MMMMMM! I'm getting pissed off just thinking about it!

Just kidding!

(Laughter)

But "The Bad Buddha" hit the nail on the head for me. So I started to eat different, exercise more, and do a mental check list, prioritizing why, I was angry then trying to solve the problem or let it go!

There's that phrase again! "Let it gooooo!"

Most of the time I've found that right or wrong it was stuff I couldn't change or do anything about! I see people on Face Book, who are still dealing with or angry about ish that happened in High School! It's been 25 years! They angry that you called them Fat!

You were Fat! YOU were Huge! 5'4 and a size 28!

But now, you've slimmed down, to a sexxxy size 8, and you want me to drool! By the way, I am drooling for ya! But you want to see it! Then you can say Ha! Never Fool! You Wish!

And it comes down to all this time you've been angry over what a 16 year old did. That anger has fueled your revenge fantasy!

Photo Courtesy of Love Fibi

"I've come back a sexxxy size 8 to make them PAY! "

(Laughter)

If you think about it! You've missed and are probably still missing all the JOYS of you BEing a size 8! Instead of enjoying Life NOW! You pissed at something from 25 years ago, that a 16 year old did!

Sounds silly now don't it? Let it Gooooo! Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Shalom!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

But I Wanted It! Brahmacarya!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

I was reading Rolf Gates "Meditations from the Mat" and he wrote about Brahmacarya. (moderation)

While reading it I flashed back to the my younger days reading Seventh Day Adventist Church Founder/Writer Ellen G. White's writings on Temperance. Well, I kinda of brushed it off!

The last thing I want is another lecture on moderation. I don't want anyone telling me not to INDULGE when I'm having a good time INDULGING!

But there I was in the Trader Joe's and when I'd finished shopping the lesson hit me loud and clear!

I had three dollars to my name and some money on my credit card. Well, I figured I'd just stop in and get some ground beef to go along with the pasta and the chicken sausage I had at home. It was $1.99. So then, I decided to use my credit card and get a few more items to round out the meal.

I was cooking Italian, and I've been watching alot of cooking shows, so I got a bottle of wine to cook in the sauce. Did I need it? No! Just wanted it! But it was two buck chuck so I felt cool!

I was gonna mix a lil ground round, into the sausage, throw some bell peppers, onions, and garlic and toss it over the pasta!

So, I'm in the car, the money spent, then my spirit says....Brahmacarya!

"What????? Moderation! You didn't need it and now you've spent the money!"

And that's right! I could have skipped, on most of what I bought, even though I didn't overspend or anything. The meal would have still be great! It wouldn't have had all the bells and whistles but it would have still been great!

But I wanted it! My desire outweighed good sense! I went on impulse! See, moderation would have not only saved me then but it would have continued to save me now.

In these economic times there's nothing wrong with moderation and temperance!

Brahmacarya! Om Brahmacarya Aum!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Submission

Photographed by "Junior"

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

I've been trying to really practice meditating. It's alot like going to the gym and starting a workout program. Well, at least it is for me. Whenever I start something new I jump into it head first. I go to all the classes! I read voraciously about whatever subject I've become interested in.

Then, I give up! Well not give up but the discipline that's needed to continue and follow through to the next level I have not developed so I end up quitting.

I see that in alot of areas of my life. Why should meditation BE any different?

It's difficult to sit there quietly and focus on BE Still and KNOW that I AM GOD! Psalms 46!

Thoughts like all the things that I've given up, quit and failed at come rushing at me unfiltered when I'm sitting there quiet, meditating!

But in the stillness I gain clarity! I failed cause I quit! I stopped doing it! That's the lesson! Don't stop! See, the good thing about Yoga is that it does not require that you BE good at YOGA Ever!


It requires that you submit to the eight fold path. The Yamas and Niyamas, the Asanas, The breathing, the focus on the Divine, etc, etc!

See submitting to it means that you surrender or BE willing to let go of what you are holding on to and embrace something NEW! So with that I let GO of my past failures and let downs and I embrace doing YOGA. It's a gift to me from God (IAM)

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Aum!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Staying There

"Life ain't nothing but Bytches and Money" Ice Cube 1989

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

In Eastern Philosophy you hear alot about Attachment and about letting go. "Let Go!"

Let's say you're angry at your best friend. He stole your Woman and she's taken all your money. But your girlfriend had a choice right? She chose him! She emptied the joint account.

Let it gooooooo!

And you say........"Bull Shit"!!!!! Right??????

You're angry! Things like that will change the way you view relationships. So now, you don't trust the homeboys like you used to. You may say "Eff all them Bytches!"

Now you jump from bed to bed, breaking hearts, cause you angry right! No more Mista Nice Guy!

Interesting enough, You got movies, videos and music which supports your worldview. You angry! You money is gone, your homie has betrayed you and your Woman is gone. You should be angry but you can't stay there!

See, mistrust, anger, hurt, ie Suffering, is part of Life. But Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration are options we can choose to help us stop suffering.

BE real, you knew better than to leave your Homeboy with a Woman you wanted to keep. Why? Cause you knew how HE was and what HE Do. Right View!

But HE betrayed my trust Mista Jaycee!

Yeah, he did, but again, you knew who HE was. (Right View) You should have taken care of your Woman, including not placing your trust in your Homeboy to resist his Nature. (Right Mindfulness)

Thinking on it you were not the best Boyfriend. You forgot Birthdays, You stayed out with Homie's and there was that incident with "That Girl!" (Right Action) and You called her the B word. (Right Speech, Right Livelihood, Right Intention)

So her leaving you ain't the real issue is it? It's the Money! It's the "Idea" that someone would Leave You for something YOU Did or Didn't DO. (Right Mindfulness)

But you blinded by Anger and you ignore and refused to see the Truth. Instead your Ego led you away from (Right Intention) (Right View)

I think about the singer Mary J. Blige. Her music reflects her life. When she was sad, angry and her relationships were jacked up her music reflected that. She found a huge audience who related to her lyrics. They tuned in for every album for a refresher on their lives soundtrack.

But then, Mary got delivered! Mary got Happy! And Mary sang of that! Her audience though said Hey Wait! They hadn't moved on, got saved, got delivered, got over it, got on! They were "still" where Mary "use ta" BE!

They wanted Mary to sing that! But Mary had moved on. Some moved on with her. Some found new singers that sang Mary's old story. The audience moved on to another singer that sang where they were "still at".

They "Stayed" There! Again, Yoga like life is about growth. It's evolution and change or rather it should be. If you on the Right Path that God (IAM) desires for us then you can't just "stay" you must change.

Yoga in this instance like the Eight Fold Path, The Bible, and Meditation are just tools designed to help you overcome suffering, solve the problems, and deal with it!

You can BE Angry, Sad, Discouraged, and royally pissed but you Can't stay there. You poison yourself and those around you.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Learning Patience!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum

I went to my Kriya Yoga class on Sunday. I really enjoyed my session but Wow! Yoga is not a competitive sport! In Kriya Yoga we focus on 18 asanas. Well, Integral Shoulder stance is my least favorite cause I can't do that one!

I lay on my back and raise my legs but I can't not raise my trunk. My body is not ready for it yet.

I have to be Patient! Patience is something that I don't have alot of. That's the beauty in Yoga. I'm focused on building up the external but it points out what is weak internally. So with that I exhale and continue doing the asanas that I can do having faith and learning patience.

Hopefully, I will have more patience before I finally am able to do Integral Shoulder Stance.

We see the external but God (IAM) see's the heart. Om Shanti!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Ahisma

Photo courtesy of the Web

Ahisma: The Tamil word for Peace.

BE Still, and Know that I AM God ! Psalms 46

Ahisma translates into peace, do no harm, and non violence. It is the first, of the five Yamas.

Yoga instructor/Author Rolf Gates outlined, Ahisma in his book, "Meditations from the Mat" as Non Violence.

I've struggled with the principle of Non Violence. I don't agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ideas of Non Violence as a Way of Life. I think it is an effective tactic, but that it unrealistic, and even dangerous, to attempt to live your life, from that perspective.

Let me explain. There are, some spiritual schools of thought. that wouldn't kill a cockroach because it's a living thing. That's extremist in my view.

Notice, I said, MY VIEW?

Cockroaches can spread disease, ruin food, and make your house unlivable. I'm supposed to let it live, not kill it ,even though it poses a very real threat to ME and my family?

There are Christians, who follow the words of Christ Jesus, "turn the other cheek" in the face of violence and ridicule. This follows the same line of thinking as some other spiritual schools of thought.

I don't believe that's the proper application of Ahisma as a principle. Again, notice I said, I don't Believe? I did not say that it was Wrong or incorrect! I do not believe it to be the proper application of Ahisma.

In my view, the proper application of Ahisma, would be to keep a clean house, use safe pesticides and store foods properly so we don't get ants and roaches. We are then following the middle path.

Dr. King, as a Christian Minister, never to my knowledge, demeaned another human being. He condemned the actions of that person. He condemned unjust laws! He boycotted organizations and businesses that practiced injustice. He harmed those businesses economically didn't he?

But he didn't attack the people who worked there. He didn't call for violence against the business itself, he never closed the door on his community reconciling with the offender, did he?

He followed the Middle Path by doing the least amount of harm he could do. That principle included himself and his flock too. Someone punched him! You think Dr. King didn't "Roll" with the punch? He would have had a broken jaw had he not!

You think that Dr. King didn't facilitate classes in how to Resist returning Violence? We know that they did!

Turning the other cheek and doing no harm does not mean or require self negation! Ahisma means that we try daily to respect life by working to do the least harm to ourselves, our communities and our planet.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum!

What the heck did you just say?

See? That's why, I started this blog about my Kriya Yoga journey. This is a yoga blog for folks like me. I like Yoga alot! Since, I began practicing Kriya Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion) I feel so much better. I think that alot of folks would benefit from, and enjoy Yoga if they understood what it is and what it is not!

I am a Yogi, but I'm not a vegetarian. I don't listen to music by Krishna Das. I am not a Buddhist, Hare Krishna or Hindu. I'm an Afrikan American Man from Compton, CA, who believes in God, (IAM) and accepts, Jesus Christ, as his personal Savior and Friend.

I think it would be interesting to write about my Kriya Yoga journey because of who I am and what I am not! I think it would be nice to read a blog about Yoga that's not all mystical and esoteric. A blog written by someone who is doesn't make soy and tofu his way of life. Someone who doesn't think that Patchouli oil should be worn in polite company.

I pray several times a day. I read the Yoga Sutras, The Holy Bible and The Noble Quran. I weigh more than I should. I was raised among vegetarian, non smoking, non drinking, Christian Folks.

I eat more veggies, no longer smoke cigars, or a pipe and drink occasionally. I ain't a stranger to a piece of bacon although I try to leave the swine alone.

So, now you asking, why are you writing on Yoga again?

Cause it's where God (IAM) has placed me. I thank God for giving me Yoga. So, here we are together traveling the Eight Limbed Path, the Ten Commandments, The Yamas and Niyamas.

Welcome Home for the First time.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!