Spirals of Light Blog » yoga inspired jewelry http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog Handcrafted gemstone chakra jewelry, bracelets and crystal suncatchers from Spirals of Light creates unique handmade jewelry: Yoga jewelry, healing jewelry, new age jewelry, metaphysical jewelry and gemstone jewelry. Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:18:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Practicing Yoga By The Lake http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/reflections_essays/practicing-yoga-by-the-lake/ http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/reflections_essays/practicing-yoga-by-the-lake/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:38:07 +0000 Spirals of Light http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/?p=511 The  early morning sunlight filters through the Gambel Oaks and Ponderosa  Trees.  The hummingbirds are already active, searching for anything red, including my bandana.  There is a deep quite, a peace in these woods. I take my yoga mat down by the lake.  Big mountain views greet me. The lake is reflective this morning, gentle  ripples creating never ending patterns. I place my yoga mat on the grass, in the sun, craving the warmth. The  cool mountain air brings a chill to my still sleepy body.  As  I begin my yoga  practice I face the sun in the east and begin doing Sun Salutations ( Surya Namaskar), sweeping my arms up over my head, reaching towards the sun, giving thanks for the warmth it provides, shining light on these beautiful grasses that surround this mountain lake.  I bow down towards the earth, connecting to the Mother who provides me with everything I need.  As I bring my hands back together in Namaste I give thanks for this day. My heart opens to the beauty that surrounds me.  I feel so awake. I turn to the south and repeat the asana, welcoming a different view of the lake and its surrounding beauty.  Each time I turn to a different direction I am greeted by a deep sense of appreciation for  the beauty that is here.  I complete the Sun Salutations in all 4 directions.  I feel revitalized and deeply connected to the spectacular  natural setting I am witness to this morning.   Nature inspires me,  ideas run through my head for necklace designs reflecting what  I see before me on this early July morning.
 
Reflections from my camping trip to Vallecito Lake in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Vallecito lake is at 8000ft elevation.
 
This Amber necklace was inspired by Sun Salutations and is available for sale from my web site: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/yoga-jewelry.html
]]> http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/reflections_essays/practicing-yoga-by-the-lake/feed/ 0 Why do Yoga? http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/jewelry/why-do-yoga/ http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/jewelry/why-do-yoga/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:15:16 +0000 Spirals of Light http://www.spiralsoflight.com/crystalblog/?p=293 yoga-teton1Someone asked me the other day why I create yoga and chakra jewerly.  Good question I responded and answered with—  I began designing yoga and chakra jewelry as a way to support my own yoga practice.  The next question followed, why do you do yoga?  Even bigger question.  Lots of answers came to mind, but the next day I received this email from my friends at  Pathways www.pathwaysbayfield.com. This description of yoga really helps explain why yoga is so important to my life and why I love creating jewelry to help inspire the yoga path.
 
Why Yoga?
Developed in India, yoga is a spiritual practice that has been evolving for the last 5,000 years or so. The original yogis were reacting, in part, to India’s ancient Vedic religion, which emphasized rituals. The yogis wanted a direct spiritual experience — one on one — not symbolic ritual. So they developed yoga.
Yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the classical language of India. In Hatha yoga, for example, postures and breathing exercises help purify the mind, body and spirit so the yogi can attain union. Yoga doesn’t discriminate. Even if you don’t believe in the spiritual side of life, you can still do yoga.  If you do yoga, chances are that you will feel its psycho-physiological effects. Moreover, the concept of union has a powerful down-to-Earth meaning. Yoga helps us get in touch with our true selves.
Yoga gives us control of ourselves. It helps cut through the layers of mis-identities that arise in response to our actions, experiences and feelings. Specifically, research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. It calms the frenzy, clears the clutter and allows us to get back in touch with ourselves.
 
Whether you pursue yoga as a spiritual path or for its physiological benefits, yoga is a methodology for developing a deeper experience of your self and the world. And it makes you feel really good.
 
To see some of my yoga inspired jewelry designs go to: http://www.spiralsoflight.com/yoga-jewelry.html
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