We made it to the end of season 2. In this episode, #40 "Let Go & Get Grounded" Mary shares inspiring ideas and ways you can bring harmony into the body and mind by slowing down, giving room for reflection, and creating a state of ease with our relationship to change. Autumn is the perfect season to "let go".
Explore the power of a gratitude practice shifting your awareness to aspects of your life you are grateful for. A gratitude practice connects us to our innate joy. You will experience a heart-opening practice that is independent of any challenging conditions you may be experiencing right now. Step into the practice of gratitude.
"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self" The Bhagavad Gita. Often the question is asked, what is the purpose of practicing yoga? Is it to become more present, more patient, more flexible, more creative, more self-confident, more loving, more mindful - or to be? This is the paradox of practicing yoga. Do I have somewhere to go or is there nowhere to go? The answer...Yes. Both.
Mantra is a meditation technique that helps you to take your mind to quieter, calmer levels of thinking. Mantras are often referred to as vehicles for the mind because with focus on the repetition of a mantra, other thoughts swimming in the mind dissipate and the mind shifts toward mental clarity and stillness. The So Hum mantra has a special meaning in Vedic philosophy and is often the mantra given to those new to the practices of yoga and meditation. So Hum is a phrase comprised of two Sanskri...
Svadhyaya means, litterally, "to recollect (to remember, to contemplate, to meditation on) the Self." It is the effort to know the Self that shines from the innermost core of your being. This Niyama asks you to pay attention to what you are doing, how you are doing it, and why you are doing it. Svadhyaya challenges us to be honest with ourselves. Mary teaches yin yoga the first Monday of every month. You can join her online from 5:30 - 6:30 pm CST and email [email protected] for the Zoom li...
In this meditation, Mary guides you and invites you to become aware of sound, breath, sensations and thought. With a witnessing mind, you enter into a state of peace. You as the observer and the one being observed are One. You will rest in a state of present awareness.
Have you found yourself full of judgment? You may be finding yourself these days feeling soft on the outside and hard on the inside. Decision fatigue is real and we need our practice now more than ever. Practicing yoga on our mat including standing poses and gentle backbends can help us shift. Lessons learned on the mat can be taken into our lives off of the mat as we move forward with a strong body and a soft heart.
Dr. Andrew Weil has taught the 4-7-8 breath to help reduce anxiety, help a person get to sleep, manage cravings and control or reduce anger responses. This technique can be done anytime throughout the day. Children can practice this as well to calm the mind preparing for a good nights rest.
In this meditation, we will bring our awareness to our heart and mind. With conscious awareness, we will bring a balanced presence to these two areas. You will rest in the perfect balance between the guiding forces of your mind and heart.
In this episode, Mary shares self-care rituals that help bring her into balance. Let's hear from you! What self-care practices help you manage stress and bring balance into your life? Share with us on FB and Instagram @yogabymary Don't forget to sign up for Mary's monthly newsletter at www.mary-mccarthy.com Stay safe and well friends. Namaste
Tara Brach shares with us in her latest book, Radical Compassion, the acronym RAIN. R - Recognize what is going on; A - Allow the experience to be there, just as it is; I - Investigate with interest and care; N - Nurture with self-compassion. Listen as Mary shares with you how she uses RAIN to help her during these challenging times when she feels anxious and angry. You can read this blog on Mary's website: https://www.mary-mccarthy.com/post/r-a-i-n-a-practice-of-radical-compassion...
Pranayama is a powerful tool that can affect our mood and emotions. The breath and the nervous system are intrinsically linked. Stimulating the vagus nerve with these five breathing practices can help calm the mind and decrease stress helping us stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
In this episode, Mary shares her journey from teaching in-person classes to online using Zoom. It has not always been easy, but her years of experience and love of learning have helped Mary transition to a new way of teaching yoga during a pandemic.
"Grace, not Perfection" is the title of a book I have on my shelf, wanting to make time to read. I see the beautiful cover, I am inspired by the title and I know there are rich gems for me to savor and take in. Grace is a word that has become a larger piece of the conversation during this pandemic. Hopefully, you have received a little more grace from your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. But most of all I hope you have given yourself a little more grace.
Rest in the healing energy from the heard during a 20-minute yoga nidra practice. Mary will guide you through the practice inviting healing energy and light to travel through your body as you come to rest in the heart center feeling love, compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Where should you place your attention during meditation? Mary explains the benefits of shifting your awareness to one of the three centers during meditation practice. You will learn about the centers in the naval, heart, and mind. This episode ends with a short meditation inviting you to feel the power in each of these areas of the body.
In episode #24, Mary shares a few words written by President Obama today, June 1, 2020, in response to the national protests happening across our country due to the killing of George Floyd. He helps us understand what is happening and why and how to act for justice and peace. A "Prayer for Peace & Comfort" is shared and a short meditation on the powerful mantra words, Lokah Samastah Sukino Bhavantu. This mantra means, "May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words,...
In honor of Memorial Day, Cultivate a Warrior's Heart with a heart-centered meditation practice. Turn inward and breathe into your heart with a willingness to feel your world, focus on something of beauty to you and acknowledge what nourishes your soul.
When survival gets triggered, go back to these four basic practices: 1. Ritual & Routine 2. Rest & Digest 3. What you Focus on Grows 4. Gratitude
Viloma means "against the natural flow." This pranayama or breathing practice separates the inhale into three parts and allowing the exhale to release with ease. You will feel calm and relieve anxiety with this practice.
Are you struggling to stay calm and serene? Mary shares her self-care routine encouraging you to reflect and remember the practices that bring you joy, peace and ease.
Learn how to extend more love to yourself and others with this short Metta meditation. You can sit in a chair (or on the floor) or lie down for this practice. Metta is Loving-Kindness. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you live with ease. Send loving kindness to: self someone who has deeply cared for you someone you care deeply for community members, neighbors, acquaintances animals someone you have difficulty with everyone and everything in our world. We are one....
Follow your breath as it moves through your body. Traveling your inhale down to the base of your spine and back up to the crown of your head with an exhale. Rest in the ceaseless stream of breath.
Learn how to practice "Alternate Nostril Breathing" also known as Nadi Shodhana. This practice bring balance to your physical, mental and emotional well-being. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as "rest and recover." It enhances respiratory functions increasing our respiratory strength and endurance. It improves our ability to focus the mind and restores balance in the left and right hemispheres of the brain, clearing the energetic channels.
Mary shares tips on creating a yoga practice at home. Consider your environment, intention and if you want to be teacher or self guided. Create a space that feels soothing and calm to your mind and body.
Learn how good sleepers get their rest. Mary shares helpful tips to go to sleep and wake up feeling rested and ready to start your day!
I attended Yogarupa's online Parayoga weekend workshop, "Uncovering the Secrets of the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad: A Parayoga Immersion Weekend" online via Zoom March 20 - 22, 2020. In this episode I share my reflection of the teachings.
Can I really meditate? Who has time for that anyway? Won't my thoughts make me feel more anxious, stressed and worried? What is the point? How do I begin? Do these thoughts come to mind when you think about starting a meditation practice? Do you feel like you don't have time to add one more thing to your daily routine? Listen in.
Learn about four key areas you can do to positively impact your brain's health and resilience. In the March/April 2020 Yoga Journal Magazine, an article was written titled, "Mind Games." The author, Tasha Eichenseher wrote, "Resent research studies have demonstrated how yoga (i.e., asana, meditation, mantra, and mindfulness) can improve health and happiness. Now, scientists are uncovering how these practices can help prevent memory loss and delay the onset of more serious and scary cognitive imp...
To strengthen the mind, you can practice a 12-minute Kirtan Kriya meditation. It is a meditation to help with memory and practiced by many. 1. Find a comfortable seat and bring your internal gaze to your third eye. 2. Place your hands in the Gyan Mudra, arms straight with backs of your hands resting on your knees. 3. Touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your index fingers gently and say saa (representing infinity, the cosmos, and beginning of time). 3. Touch the tips of your thumbs to th...
