TERMS & CONCEPTS I-Z
insight meditation
the practice of gaining clarity and perspective. by anchoring our attention in the present moment with breathwork and meditation techniques, the practice opens us up to the idea of accepting reality rather than resisting it. this insight can lead us to create positive change in our life. many supine practices promote the idea of non-striving to bring this point home.
interbeing
the term refers to the interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings past and present. the great buddhist monk thich nhat hanh, uses the word in his writings to refer to the project of creating community and comity between all beings and their environment. find three meditations that can help repair our disconnect from each other and promote interbeing here.
judicious scenting
a considered approach to using aroma for emotional recalibration. by giving ourselves room to breathe and time to transition between edited quantities of essential oils we can harness their powerful energetics without experiencing sensory overload. this philosophy is reflected in all our aromatherapy offerings. read more about using aroma for therapy here./pages/offset-sensory-overload
mantra
a mantra in sanskrit means a tool for the mind. in the buddhist and hindu traditions it is a word and sound repeated with intention to induce focus and deepen calm. the repetition of the mantra assists in bringing our attention back to the present moment when it wanders. in its modern iteration in mindfulness and psychology, it functions as an affirmation. find a guide to setting your personal mantra here.
mala
a string of 108 beads used in buddhist and hindu meditation practices that anchors the mind for better focus and calm. a tactile tool used to repeat a mantra for emotional recalibration. at calmdojo we refer to our mantra chain as a mala and the beads as individual mantras strung together to represent our collective resilience. learn more about the mantra chain here.
meditation
encompassing concentration and breathing practices in many wisdom traditions. meditation may be harnessed for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety as well as for its potential to promote greater self-awareness and resilience. it is particularly helpful in editing the sensory and digital distraction of our everyday lives. find an introduction to three buddhist meditation practices here.
metta loving kindness
a meditation practice which promotes inclusivity and interconnectivity of all beings. we begins by directing love and kindness towards ourselves, then in an specific expanding sequence, we extend it towards all beings everywhere without exception. learn how to do a metta loving kindness meditation here.
mindfulness
the quality of being present and aware in the moment with intention and without judgement. mindfulness can imbue everyday activities with deeper meaning. MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction program) created by jon kabat-zinn uses the tools of mindfulness such as body scan meditation breath work and yoga to address psychological as well as physical pain and trauma in a systematic way. learn how to cultivate nine aspects of mindfulness here.
non-striving
the attitude of non-striving removes the scrim of our own emotional reactions and baggage from decision making. non-striving does not mean renouncing agency but instead means ceasing the struggle to control the narrative so we can more accurately assess its true implications. supine practices can provide ways to cultivate this attitude here.
pranayama
pranayama refers to the life force that courses through our bodies. in yogic practices pranayama breathing is used to reconnect information systems and energy pathways in the body which may be blocked by stress or disease. similar to chi in chinese medicine. learn more about breathing practices here.
resilience
the ability to recover consistently from setbacks and keep moving forward. meditation practices that brings our attention again and again to the present moment can be helpful in cultivating this crucial life-affirming quality. setting a mantra can also help push through roadblocks and help us cultivate resilience.
sankalpa
your deepest desire or wish which may be articulated during the practice of yoga nidra. as you access deep parts of your consciouness and make new synaptic connections during the practice your sankalpa is nurtured to create positive change in your life. a sankalpa can be a powerful tool to offset the negative impact of social media practices.
savasana
often referred to as the corpse pose it is a supine posture of non-doing and rest. the pause marks the end of the physically active phase of a yoga practice. savasana allows us time to absorb the benefits and wisdom gained from our effort so we can take them into our day. find a simple savasana practice here.
social media
websites and applications that allow a user to create and share content with others in a social network. social medial is a tool that has the potential to expands our reach to millions. while this scale has been used to promote public good in some cases, it has also led to a breakdown of personal boundaries and divisiveness. embodied practices can help offset some of the harms caused by social media practices by grounding us back in reality, and cultivating our empathy, compassion, and reflexivity.
somatic awareness
the body's ability to tap into its own reservoir of knowledge in order to retrieve crucial information regarding its physical and psychological state. practices such as somatic foam rolling and body scan meditation allow us access this state of awareness by editing distraction and refocusing our attention on our bodies.
somatic foam rolling
a method of myofascial release that places its meditative and therapeutic possibilities front and center. use foam rolling as an aid to cultivating somatic awareness by following the cues provided by your own body. find a tutorial here.
still point
the moment of non-doing between breaths. the still point serves as a door way through which you can enter the reservoir of your awareness and the state of non-striving. it is the perfect middle point between effort and rest which offers clarity, insight, and rejuvenation. at first you may be able to touch the still point just for a moment, but with practices such as yoga and breathwork you can extend this calming state.
sufism
from the arabic word suf: rough wool which refers to the simple garb of early islamic ascetics. it is an expansive and inquiring branch of islamic thought and mindfulness. rumi is one of its greatest and most profound proponents.
tonglen
a meditative practice in which we consciously take in another being's pain and suffering with our in-breath and send them relief with our out-breath. in the exchange pain does not take residence in us, but rather is transformed into something infinitely more compassionate and healing. access a simple tonglen meditation here.
vinyasa
of particular interest to the cultivation of introspective awareness, vinyasa in sanskrit literally means a linkage. movements, transitions, and breath are carefully sequenced to create synergies that promote fluidity, harmony and sensorial acuity. the practice lends itself to the apprehension of the body in space, and fosters connection and inter-being.
yoga
from the root word yuj in sanskrit which means to yoke or unite. in the practice, this refers to the union of body, breath, and mind to create a harmonious holistic philosophy of living. yoga combines the physical practice of asanas with breathing techniques and concentration practices which lead to a "cessation of the whirling fluctuations of the mind." yoga sutra 1.2, pantanjali
yoga nidra
often referred to as yogic sleep, yoga nidra is a state of conscious dreaming which promotes creative and open-ended thinking. we begin the practice by articulating our sankalpa, our deepest desire or wish. this is followed by a specific guided body scan meditation script that induce a deep sense of calm. the practice reboots our nervous system and promotes deep rest and a heightened sense of wellbeing
