 I don't love yoga. That is, in the way most people know it, the way it's been popularized in modern culture. Truth be told, I think I might like this yoga now, given where I am today. But I was not sold on it in my 20s. I was flexible and strong, able to balance and stretch and hold and flow. I didn't know what I was there for. It didn't challenge me in the way I needed. I already felt relaxed and calm (or so I thought). This yoga, I believed, was for people who needed to calm down and relax.
Sounds crazy for me to say as a yoga teacher myself. But the yoga that hooked me delivered what I couldn't name at the time: a fire under my butt. And in a fast way. It gave me a spark and the courage to set my world aflame and put me out there to do battle. To get out of my own way; to conquer, move boulders and live big dreams-- and to live out the gifts that God gave me, instead of burying them out of fear, shame, a lack of trust. The battle wasn't actually "out there" but within me. Furthermore, it gave me this emboldened energy WITH the sense of calm and steadiness. Together. All at once. This yoga practice that found me was kundalini yoga. It is a unique practice that is powerful in unexpected ways. The breathwork and the types of sets, or kriyas, vary in scope from class to class. I'd always found it hard to describe. Ultimately, it's spiritual. It delivers you to yourself. Your true, at-your-core, highest Self. Here are some more of its benefits: For the Mind: Heightened awareness, increased intuition and circulation, promotes your ability to receive downloads (inspirations and answers) For the Body: Strengthens immune system, improves nervous system balance, activates the glandular and circulatory system, aligns the body’s energies to keep you optimized Spirit: Expands your electromagnetic field (we all have this and it helps us attract what we need!), deepens connections to Self, the Earth, and others Indeed, it unites your individual consciousness with Universal Consciousness, which is what yoga, in fact, means. It is this union that it gifts us. These days, when I find myself easily distracted and ungrounded, flailing around in parts of my life, I know it's because I have forsaken my daily kundalini practice. It happens to the best of us-- life shakes us up, physically and emotionally; distractions find their way in and you lose your footing. And yet, amidst these moments, knowing I have these tools-- and I know how to use them, I don't fear even the worst downward spirals that come from drifting. I'm not happy about having allowed the drift from my daily "well-being" hygiene; I just know the practice awaits me and it works every time. If you are seeking a profound practice to smooth your way in this life, I highly recommend this one. Find a good teacher -- online (like me!) or choose someone in your local area-- and make it your own. The classes typically consist of:
Bring your yoga mat, water and an open heart and mind. And simply show up. Present. With grit and grace, Anna SachKiret PS. What other daily rituals give you this kind of balance, clarity, health and inner strength on its own? I'm sure there are others and I'd love to hear it. Please comment also if this practice has served you and how. Sat nam! ❤️
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“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that is why it is called Present” Master Oogway in Kung Fu Panda We are all blessed with the present, however many of us leave this ongoing gift unopened, missing out on valuable moments in our lives because we don't realize its impact.  Image by Spencer Wing from Pixabay The Presence Present
I admit, I often find myself mired in thought about: projects I’m working on, issues to resolve, how to coordinate my family’s schedules, my to-do list, how to do this or that better, a relationship challenge, and on and on. This is rather normal, of course– who isn’t dealing with these sorts of daily life situations? What isn’t ideal however is when these thoughts cause me to miss out on:
When we live in the present, it simply means we’re not dwelling in the past or living for the future. We are not distracted or sitting in paralysis by past pains and future fears nor dwelling in grief or longing for what was or what could be. We are fully feeling (good or bad) and living IN this very moment. Fully present for our lives. This is the gift. While it’s vital to make space for processing past situations and planning for the future, the balance between these activities and living in presence is often way off-kilter. We rush through our days, either constantly chasing the next thing or paralyzed by indecision. This is because we're not anchored in the present moment. You know that person who constantly checks their phone (-maybe there’s something more interesting calling or happening elsewhere?) and meanwhile misses the sunset, or checks work emails while on vacation and loses the purpose and enjoyment of the trip? How about those times driving from point A to point B and not recalling exactly how you got there? Do you experience this imbalance in your life? If so, how does it manifest, and how can we find the right balance? The Gift of Presence (and its two power partners) To be present, we must feel grounded. When we are grounded, our lives progress with more ease because we can be more aligned and self-aware from this space. When we are not grounded, life becomes complicated, stuck, discouraging as we are preoccupied with the past or future. We become disconnected, scattered, lost in thought, confused, and indecisive. This can lead to overwhelm and a downward spiral of emotions. Our consciousness retreats from the present moment and we go into autopilot. We are no longer rooted in our physical bodies nor aligned with our inner truth, our highest Self. We are out-of-balance and have lost sight of our gift of Presence. We can elevate our ability to Be Present with the help of two power partners. Our Presence serves these partners as well offering us a three-point team to truly live into our gifts. Power Partner #1: Our Practice Our Practice helps us develop our capacity to be more present. How do we get grounded? Strengthening our first chakra, or root chakra (the energy center for safety, security and belonging). How do we clear our negative thought patterns and blocks? Mantras (specific chants or sounds) and breathwork (focused breathing exercises) can be powerful tools. How do we find the energy to help ourselves move through the complications we create? Expand our aura, strengthen circulatory and nervous systems, boost the immune system. When our Practice is established, we give ourselves the support we need to be grounded, in Presence, and in alignment with our true selves. Kundalini yoga offers these supports and is my practice of choice, along with teaching it for mastery. What does your Practice consist of? Power Partner #2: Our Path Our Path clears the way for more Presence. Gaining clarity on your path can help you live a healthy balance between thinking about the future, worrying about the past, and staying present. One of the most effective ways I have found to illuminate my path is tuning-in to my emotions to uncover my blocks and acknowledge my true desires. Especially if you have a tendency for perfectionism, it can feel uplifting to spend a lot of time planning and healing without ever going into action. With the help of Power Partner #1, you can more readily access your emotional guides to release what paralyzes you and heal at the same time. The clearer your Path becomes, the easier it gets to stay Present. Tuning-in to my emotions is a powerful part of my practice to gain clarity and presence. How clear is your Path? Building Your Presence Muscle Take a moment now to reflect on your own Presence:
Your PRESENCE is something that builds like a muscle; your Practice is the gym (or mat), your Path is your goals and motivation . Finding your right balance is supported by this trifecta of powerful partners. How is your Presence? May you accept and open this gift often and receive your many blessings. With grace and gratitude, Anna SachKiret PS. a quick tip for you– include in your practice a midday alarm to check-in on your presence daily. When the alarm rings, take up to 5 minutes to notice your 5 senses, one-by-one. What do you see right at that moment? What do you hear? Smell? Feel by touch? Taste? Take your time with it and savor each sensation. PSS. hit reply and let me know how this landed for you! Do you feel your Presence is working for you? |
AuthorI am the Essential Soul Mama. I am a mama, a soulful-spiritual teacher, an intentional storyteller, and a lover of stories of all kinds, in all forms. I write about emotions, parenting, natural health options, mind-body-soul connections, and anything that elevates our lives. Archives
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Every other week I post a blog on my Substack on relevant topics including breathwork, healing, emotions, kundalini practices, and showing up for yourself. Monthly-ish I share events+updates you may be interested in. You can unsubscribe at any time. I'm happy to have you join my free Joymail!
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ESSENTIAL SOUL MAMA / Anna SachKiret Gratzl
Chicago, Illinois
Latitude 41.959740 Longitude -87.704821
established 2017 / copyright 2025
Chicago, Illinois
Latitude 41.959740 Longitude -87.704821
established 2017 / copyright 2025