Today is the second International Yoga Day. Across the world, organizations, institutes and yoga teachers are holding workshops to bring Yoga to everyday people.

Yoga means Union. It is a philosophy and a set of practices used to connect to and become source energy. The goal is to stay in Yoga (connection to source) and eventually become Yoga (union with source).

In the video, we looked at Yoga at a physical, mental and spiritual level. It is a tool for transformation and transcendence. There are so many variations and combinations to these practices; which to me show the beauty, diversity, and inclusiveness of the philosophy.

Yoga is an art form. It cannot be taught, it has to be practiced; whether it is the Asanas (postures), the Pranayama (breath techniques) or Smrti (mindfulness).

There are no barriers and the practice is suitable for any age group, gender, race, religious background or lifestyles. It is not about twists and turns of the body. It is not about how long you can hold your breath. It is not about how long can you sit and meditate. It is not about how much or what you eat.

It is only about the quality of your connection to the source.

The tools, techniques, and the philosophy are there for you to make it your own. No two people will travel the path to Yoga in the same way. 

My favorite practices are the Suryanamaskar (sun salutations), Om chanting, Niyamas (particularly Self-Study & Contentment) and intellectual immersion into the Yoga Sutras.

In this day and age, when a lot of us feel disconnected, Yoga shows us that everything is connected. We are all the same source, we are all dependent on each other, and there is no separation. Whatever separation we feel is an illusion. Yoga shows us how to transcend beyond this illusion.

Take three minutes at some point today and practice this very simple breath technique to connect and practice mindfulness.

 1. Sit comfortably in a place where you will not be disturbed. No phones, computers.
 2. Set an alarm for three minutes (that way the monkey mind won’t worry about ‘are we there yet?!’)
3. Close your eyes.
4. Take a deep breath in and exhale.
5. Now with normal breath, mentally watch your breath as you inhale and exhale.
6. When you start to hear mental chatter, know that the process is working. Don’t engage the chatter; bring your mind back to the breath moving in and out.
 
The only way out is in. Happy discoveries!

Earlier this week, I did a video about how I was to romance my apartment but quickly realized this had so much juice that it deserved a further write-up.
​
Many of us don’t think twice about our physical space. We consider the physical space as ‘outside’ of us; separate.

Deliberate Creators recognize everything is energy and we create our experience using the premise of ‘Like attracts Like’. Which is to say; like magnets, we attract things that are a vibrational match to our energy.

I have always thrived on new experiences, new information and in being the first to test new paradigms. It’s no wonder that I am drawing into my experience multiple changes to my life in the form of relocation's. I recently had yet another relocation – so it's new apartment, new city, new culture and a new way of life.

The prospect of starting over though attractive is also a challenge than can send your head for a spin. The most obvious way your new reality presents itself is the physical spaces; house, building complex, office space, roads, shops,etc. And it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

The physical space that you inhabit have a tremendous impact on your energy and vise verse. It is an extension of your vibrational energy. For me, it becomes extremely important since I work from home. So I decided to actively engage my skills at amping up the energy for my new surroundings.

What’s my solution?

I am going to go romance the h#ll out of my apartment.

Yup, you read that right, I am engaging my romancing skills with every nook and corner of my new house. I want a love connection with my kitchen, my patio, my fireplace, my closet, my pantry…
​
It’s a potent formula when you actively focus on feeling the connection with your physical space. Soon you start to feel comforted, protected and at peace. The space ‘speaks to you’. And very often you will find that in this state of energy you draw inspiration and fuel creativity. 

A lot of cultures have rituals and ceremonies that are specifically conducted when moving into new places or at the onset of occupying a new space. Housewarmings are popular in western cultures; where family and friends come together and bring laughter and warmth to the place. There are entire industries dedicated to the art of interior design, transforming a space to reflect energy that a person wants to feel. Many people will tell you to ‘personalize your space’; it’s all in the hopes of connecting to it.

Sure, if you live in a house long enough at some point it transforms into a space that gives you that familiar feeling. But I choose to actively participate in the process and CHOOSE the energy that the house will hold. 
​
My house will become a home in no time!