I also knew the remedy for both.

In 2006 I went to Masala Mendhi Masti at the CNE grounds.  And that is where I came face to face with Laughter Yoga.  It was such asimple concept – laugh for no reason.  Laugh because it feels good.  Laughter is a human connector, a way to tap into creativity and love. I was hooked.  My friends thought I was a cuckoo for coco pops.  Maybe I was, maybe I am.

I looked for this teacher soon after the festival and discovered he had died of a massive heart attack.  Interesting.  I pursued my yoga studies in Kundalini Yoga with love and devotion.

In 2008, and in a dark place, I went looking for laughter Yoga.  After many months I  found a teacher close to Toronto.  I was excited, raring to go.  I got to the training session introduced myself to everyone and spent the next few hours totally miserable.  My body had no way of processing that much pleasure.  I ate so much sugar that night and dragged myself back for the second day of training.  And I am so grateful that I did. What I learned about myself was eye opening.  What I knew I could offer others was humbling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPYs_YXCkn8

What followed from this simple two day training is my own inner spirit of joy.  The more I laugh, the more I want to laugh and the more I laugh the easier everything is.  My day to day experience has become lighter, more fun, playful and creative.  All of these qualities are amplified in the people who I meet.  Laughter Yoga has opened the door for community service – I have taught seniors, kids with special needs and cancer survivors. In venues I never thought possible; the Rogers centre, the Toronto Yoga Conference, The Steven and Chris Show on the CBC and in corporate board rooms.  The reach has been amazing and each time I feel blessed that I make an income this way.

One of the most amazing parts are the people who come to Laughter Yoga – you just can’t help but love someone who you laugh with.  I’ve met some of my best friends through this practice.

In this spirit I am holding a Laughter Yoga Leader training session from June 8 to 10. Bring an open mind and an open heart will follow.  This is an opportunity to explore the practice with a small group of people who want what you want – inner peace reflected as world peace, a natural healthy way to connect to ourselves and to others.  Come for the fun, practice for the pleasure.

See you soon.

I watched you grow up.  I’m the one with the blue star spangled panties, red bra, and bullet repelling gold cuff bracelets.  From my invisible plane I have been watching your lives unfold.  And I gotta say – you inspire me.

As I thought of you this morning, the sun came streaming through the clouds and I knew I was witnessing a miracle.  It was the very thought of you and how you make every moment come alive.

Even though I have the title of superhero, I see you as the real hero.  From your first breath and to your last breath – you embody courage, grace and dignity.  You go boldly into the unknown, and discover your superpowers there.  Mine were given to me at birth and I have known about them all along. It’s not quite the same now is it?

True; there are evil doers everywhere.  In fact, I see you struggle with the Lex Luther within you as well.  And I find that inspiring too – your beauty is in all of your flaws.  Like the Japanese form of art called Wabi Salbi – the flaw is the art.  You recognize the imperfect as perfect and this vulnerability is something I will never know as a superhero.  You have been graced with this consciousness and quite frankly, I am envious.  It is a miracle and wonder of your humanity and Oneness.  I am inspired by how you recognize and cultivate this idea called Truth.

You see possibility.  You allow the free flow of ideas and without promise of reward you seek to be of service, to contribute to the enlightenment of humanity. From you I have learned that inspiration comes from tuning in and tapping into your unique superpowers and spreading love far and wide.  For some of you it means making the world a safer place and for others it means raising children who are very aware of their superpowers.  Sometimes it means making noise, or challenging conventional wisdom.  It means taking a stand for others who you don’t know or may not even like, but you do it because it is the right thing to do.  In this way, we are similar.  It makes my job a little easier because really, I can’t be everywhere all the time, but you are.  In your small villages, neighborhoods, schools and hospitals you make the impossible possible.  It’s so easy to see your love for each other.  And it makes the world a better place.  If you could see it from my perspective, this would make you smile.  While I may never die, yours is a legacy of transformation.

You inspire me as students of life.  You make small changes in your life and it makes a big impact around the world. Sometimes this is through this very quiet thing called meditation and sometimes, like me you lasso the bad guys, round them up and toss them away in an eco friendly kinda way.  Good on you.

Inspiration is what makes the ordinary extraordinary and you have that in abundance.  It is a new thought process, a fresh spin on an ancient wisdom tradition.  In the end you have an infinite number of choices and when you chose from a place of love and happiness inspiration flows.  That’s pretty and that’s impressive.

As our consciousness expands the boundaries between us contract.  In this way our digital presence bends time and space.  I can be hanging out at home and simultaneously participating in an event somewhere else in the world, and tweeting and watching something on Youtube posted 30 seconds ago.  We all “know” someone in our online worlds who we have never met and somehow are deeply connected to.

Check my Facebook status and you will likely know exactly what I am either learning or being summoned to teach.  Social media offers a perfect venue for the power of a thought and a consistent presence.  This is the marker of all Teachers.  A global classroom like this is evidence of our Oneness and our ability to share our Love.

A powerful demonstration of this is the Peace and Healing Meditations that I lead on Monday nights via Skype.  The meditation night has been ongoing since 2001 and is dedicated to the eradication of institutionalized violence toward women and girls, worldwide, permanently and in our lifetime.  The format is simple, we practice gentle warm up exercises, discuss a specific topic to raise our awareness and practice 2 meditations like this one:

http://youtu.be/kv7iyj8WCXo

It is eco friendly and provides an opportunity to develop a home practice.  And because it is my service to humanity, there is no charge.  Commitment is the only requirement.

I have not met many of the people who join in.  Others are friends through Facebook or Twitter.  For those 45 minutes, we form community, dedicate our practice to uplifting the world and then we dematerialize.

It’s a fascinating process, the foreshadow of a friendly future.  We invite you to engage, to participate as a small gesture for yourself that has huge impact around the world.  It’s so simple and all the tools are available to you.  And if you can, then you must.

See you very soon.

Love,

Salimah

Yesterday could have been a crappy day. By midday, I received feedback on opposite ends of the spectrum. Some of it was uplifting and some was just wrong (says my ego). The sum result was a gnawing in my gut that I have been letting myself down, not keeping my eye on my ultimate goals.

I spent the rest of the day adjusting myself.  I took out my tool kit of techniques and teachings and reminded myself:

1. Other people’s opinions are just that – other people’s opinions. How I let that land is up to me.

2.   I have a ton of things to be grateful for so I quickly wrote my list of 5 and sent it to the recycle bin    so the Universe could receive it.

1. I took a few long deep breaths – after listening to other people’s opinions, I noticed that my body had tensed up creating even more stress.

1. I sang myself a little mantra. Singing is always uplifting, strengthens the aura and keep negativity at bay.

1. I asked to be in service. I know that the fastest way to shift consciousness is to help someone else because I can and if I can I must.

I sat at my desk at work and asked for an opportunity to serve.

And then the day got really interesting.  At 4:55pm the phone rang.  In my experience those call are of three types – crisis, confusion, wrong number. I hoped for wrong number. I got confusion. The lady on the other end spoke slowly and explained that she had a learning difficulty and asked if I could help her understand how to fill out some forms. I took a deep breath and we began. At 5:45pm we were done, the forms were completed and we were laughing and joking with each other. All of a sudden the line became quiet. “God, please bless Salimah. Bless her in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, the holy ghost and all of the angels in heaven. May Salimah thrive in her career and may there be many ways for her to excel and change the world.”  She continued for another ten minutes and suddenly the speech impediment was missing and the words came poetically. I don’t remember it all – I never interrupt when someone wants to give blessings – I just listened.

She inhaled deeply, thanked me and was gone.

I sat there a little stunned, humbled and very aware of how closely the Universe is listening.  It could have been a crappy day, if I had chosen so.  Instead yesterday was a reminder that Love opens a path for the ancient wisdom traditions to be revealed.  Not knowing becomes knowing and vulnerability is actually a strength.

As you can already guess – today is an amazing day.  I wish the same for you.

Love

Salimah

This was the basis of Oprah’s LifeClass which I attended live in Toronto with my lovely sister, Sorayah.  It was a day of love, insight, inspiration, tears and lots of laughter.

With a crowd of 8,500, the morning session was rocking.  Waking up early was effortless and the ticket was priceless access to a day of higher learning. I think of my spiritual life as an investment in the eons to come.  We had the privilege of learning from Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Iyanla Vanzant, Bishop Jakes and Oprah Winfrey.

As a small child, I heard a voice say “Salimah, if you want to change the world – plant a seed.” The inner knowingness of that statement stays with me.  Over the years, echoes of it are my reminders from Spirit that all is unfolding perfectly.  When I started Yoga teacher training, the first meditation I explored used was the bij or seed mantra – Sa Ta Na Ma.   That mantra became my companion for 1000 days.  I have since found a new appreciation for trees.

On Monday, Deepak Chopra led his talk with a similar story.  He recounted an experience of snacking on peanuts, and in a moment of realization he looked at the peanut and saw in it the seed and the entire forest and ecosystem that creates a forest.  The image blew through my veins and opened a range of infinite possibilities.  He talked specifically about the ancient wisdom traditions, an eloquent way of talking about the spiritual systems of the east without naming names.  Deepak, I a grateful to you for sharing that.

For my sister and I this experience gave us an opportunity to heal with each other and to plant seeds for a stronger, more vital way to interact.  She was the best company – she has a zig for my zag and a wonderful way of keeping me on the edge of laughter.  She’s the one who shouted “run” when the doors finally opened at 715am and so we did.  Our seats were exactly what we had hoped for.

At the end of the day I was on the edge of love.  Silently, gracefully  conscious of all the opportunities I have to serve, to teach and to heal,   I slipped into dream land.  Holding the promise of a new day lightly in my hand, I woke the next morning aware of the start of a different kind of future.

Many thanks to Oprah Winfrey for having the courage to shape our awareness in this direction.  I say her network is a success even if the media says otherwise.  She is a visionary.  Also much love to Dr Shamira for first turning me on to the online LifeClasses through her blog, Wellness Works.

To register for Online Peace and Healing Meditation every Monday Night at 7pm – please click here.

My Teacher, Yogi Akal, is the world’s only Master of Numerology.  His guidance in my development as a leader, an activist and a Yogi has been unwavering.  I present his work to you now to set the tone and pace for the month ahead.  You can accelerate your progress mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Look for the month of your birth below and find out more about your own personal Numerology for April 2012.

Here are a few words from the Master:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qlHT5RqzqU

If you were born in:

January

Any magnet will attract and repel. However, a moving magnet, like the Earth, has a particularly strong force. You are like a planet this month, a mighty magnet in motion, projecting a unique inner core and drawing everything close to you. You are creating your own atmosphere, climate and aura. Be aware of this power and pull. In April, spend some time at the library and stay away from crowds.

February

Imagine a ship on the high seas, with all its sails open, the winds passionate, the journey accelerated and perhaps just a little dangerous. This is what April is like for you, powerful and forward moving. No time to look back, over think, or be ungrateful.  Make decisions and be confident with every breath.

March

People, like life, come and go. This is the lesson of April. When you are challenged, rise to it without any question. When you are faulted, adjust your Self immediately. When you feel insecure, drop it and move on. Let go of whatever binds you to mediocrity this month. Be excellent.

April

Love is the theme for April. When you feel love you may have overlooked someone. When you don’t feel love you are probably not seeing the obvious right in front of you. Love is neither dependent nor co-dependent. It is neither alone nor shared. It is your nature, simple and refined, always present and never lacking. Enjoy the experience and see it everywhere. Do not complain about anything this month.

May

Whatever form Light takes in April is for you and you alone to understand and experience.  The mystical is private, practical and real. It is a time of brightness and manifesting force. What you imagine must happen, so be careful what you think, say, project, and desire. When you are negative this month, conflicts will spread. When you are positive, everyone (including you) will be inspired.

June

When everything seems to go wrong, it is always right. That is the lesson coming to you in April. The process of life is changing for you. Whatever you think is best is being adjusted by a much higher Force. To align and re-calibrate your Self, it would be wise to meditate every day this month. A simple few moments in reflection would do very well.

July

Leadership is the minimum standard for you in April. You are being called on to command from your True Self.  When you avoid the responsibility of leading, you hurt your own heart. When you rise to it, all hearts are lifted. The good news is that you have the capacity. The bad news is that you may not be popular.  Create a vision and share it.

August

Relationships, relationships, relationships.  That is the purpose, lesson and mantra of the month. It is sometimes called the balance of overlords and underlords. In other words, knowing how, when, where, and who to serve, satisfy, communicate with and relate to above and below you. You are not alone for a single second in April. Your soul mates are everywhere.

September

Depression is a word often used incorrectly. We usually mean something unpleasant like a bad day or a passing mood. However real depression is a serious and treatable illness. When you catch it in time, you can avoid days and sometimes years of pain. This month, avoid all negativity and assist those who are mired in it themselves. One kind word can change everything. In April you can combat depressive states of mind. You may want to try including steamed celery with crushed red chili peppers in your diet to feed your nerves and of course do your best to avoid processed sugar this month. Better yet, have others over for dinner and feed them well.

October

This month you are focused on work. View all work as service and do it without complaint or question. Neutrality is your personal mentor, guide and frame of reference in April.  This not a time for vacations, physically or mentally. It is time to be serious, calm, practical, effective, and organized. When you react you will lose. When you do what has to be done (with a smile), you will be happy.

November

All Yoga is good, but some postures are better than others for a specific person, situation or treatment. This month you need to exercise. Each week, choose one exercise that you can handle and do it every day with the discipline of an athlete. If you add this to your daily repertoire as a personal challenge, you will be able to handle anything, especially the unexpected.

December

A man has one halo. A woman has two. A holy revered person has three. This thin line of light reflects a destiny, an immune system, a self-esteem, a sacredness. When you are clear the halo is beautiful and smooth. When you are chaotic your arc is dull and broken. Even a criminal can have a lovely halo or two. It is a perfect protection from both internal and external negative traffic and congestion. So this month, make your halo ideal with meditation, concentration and study.

For more information about Numerology Professor:

Email  numerologyprofessor@gmail.com

Web  http://yogiakal.tv/courses

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/number.professor

YouTube  http://www.youtube.com/yogiakaltv

Here is the short list of what we came up with:

1. Before you speak, stop, look and listen.

Not every thought you think is true or needs to be spoken out loud.  Listen generously to the other person or situation first – you will have all the cues you need to uplift the situation.

2. Take one deep conscious breath on the hour every hour.

This is a ten second meditation.  It is a way to create the practice of being present and aware throughout your entire day.  Best to start this practice now – before you need it, before a criss comes up.  Build the habit into your routine so that you can draw on this strength and power at any point in your day or life.  It is always there for you.

3. Eat organic, vegetarian food

This is great for your health, great for the planet, shows love for all life.  For women in particular it is important to eat food that will digest within 18 hours.  The process of elimination and digestion is a foundation to good health and vitality.  Take small steps – add raw food to each meal and notice the difference.

4. To change your life positively and profoundly – meditate.

You knew that was coming. . . here is the quintessential meditation from the  school of Kundalini  Yoga.  .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdUwsDc7k1w

And here is your bonus. . .because part of grace is generosity. . .

The fastest way to shift consciousness is to do for others.  In that process you step out of your own way.  You take action because you can.  This perspective can and will correct any limitations in your self perception and provide you with more and more opportunities to be in service to the world.  What an incredible way to put your vast potential to work.

Recently the conversations in my world have been around money – the not having of money.  So first of all money is what money does.  There is no energy attached to money.  It is what it is and the rest is what we bring to it in the form of our history, background and experiences.  All of this can be re-written and expressed in a new way.  In fact, prosperity and abundance is our birthright.  What we deny is our legacy.

The second part is that money (or anything for that matter) doesn’t show up until and unless you commit to having it.  In the words of one of my students, “When I get money from my next acting job, I will ask my partner to marry me.”   Hmmm.  Can you spot the flaws that will stop all of this from happening?

The first step is the commitment. Commitment builds character and caliber.  First take a stand, ask your partner to make a long term commitment with you.  And then the rest shows up to uphold that direction and that powerful desire, iIncluding the paid acting gig.  Until then, the acting will be at half mast (because we really don’t want money because we really don’t want to be committed to the acting or to the partner).  And even if that is not a conscious act – it become part of how we operate in the world.  It takes time and practice to neutralize these old habits.

That’s where Yoga becomes really helpful.  The movements, the meditations, the devotion and service all lead to new opportunities to test and challenge our ideas of what is possible.  Yoga is a tool for transformation because it creates a wedge between what has been and what can be.   The rest is up to you.  Can you handle seeing yourself in a new way without all the old stories?

So you say you are ready.  Here is the meditation to get you going.  3 minutes per day for 11 days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMBpbtQLOF0

I double dog dare you.

Love,

Salimah

This day marks an opportunity to acknowledge all of our accomplishments and also re-dedicate ourselves to the upliftment of all women and girls around the world.  We do this because we have privilege beyond measure and we can use our powerful presence in the world to make a difference.

Here is a very simple way to be involved in making a difference.  Take a personal stand to  eradicate violence against women.  Become conscious of your words and actions – align yourself with women, you don’t have to like everyone, you only need to promise not to do harm.  Sign this online proclamation and make your voice count for International Women’s day.

If you can, then you must.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/yoga-without-borders/

with love,

Salimah

1.       Lengthen and deepen your practice. 20 to 30 minutes of daily stretching and muscle strengthening cues the body to use sleep for regeneration and repair, resulting in a deeper quality of rest.   A regular yoga practice helps manage stress and anxiety which are key triggers for sleeplessness. Try a morning or early evening practice time for best effects.

2.       Pay attention to your feet. Wash your feet with warm water in the winter and cool water in the summer to relax and regulate your body temperature before bed.  Another option is to massage your feet for five minutes before bed.  There are thousands of nerve endings in the soles of the feet.  These never endings or meridian points are connected to different organs and glands in the body.  Massaging the feet can help to relax your entire system.  Engaging in a quiet and connective activity before bed allows your body to set an internal rhythm for sleep.  Try sharing a foot massage with your partner, children or parents.

3.       Massage your head by using a wooden comb.  According to the ancients, using natural fibers to work with your crowning glory protects your hair and strengthens your aura.  A strong aura   keeps negativity away.  Negativity includes, you guessed it, stress inducing situations.

4.       Breathe through your left nostril.  Sit cross legged and use your right thumb to cover the right nostril.  Keep the fingers of your right hand  stiff and pointed straight up like an antenna.  Breathing deeply like this for 5 minutes to relax and welcome sleep.  For more information on these breathing tips – check out this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_iVAjE-No

5.       Lie down on your stomach and turn your face to one side.  Just as you are falling sleep, turn onto your right side allowing your left nostril to remain dominant.  This is another way to provide the relaxation needed for a deep sleep.

Nav has since learned to relax in the evening.  She eats four hours before sleeping and leaves the TV off most nights.  She has re-connected with her body through her yoga practice and wakes up refreshed and ready to go.    Phew.

Did this help?  Drop me a line.

Best wishes,

Salimah

salimah@yogavision.com