There are books that you can relate to, and those that you can really relate to.  Brian Leaf's Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi definitely falls into the latter category for me.  It begins, "I am a parent.  I can prove it.  Inside my coat pocket right now are one diaper (clean), one pair of children's underwear (soiled), one unscratched lottery ticket, and countless teething biscuit and rice crumbs....". 

Just last week I compared purse contents with another mama.  While the days of soiled diapers have finally past, I did have 5 clementines, crumpled tissues, and an unidentifiable gooey mass hidden in the corner of my bag.

In addition to these stories from the trenches, Leaf describes his immersion into alternative parenting approaches as he and his wife work to consciously raise their two sons.  Deconstructing Attachment, Simplicity, Playful, and Free-Range parenting in such a way as to make them more digestible.  And connect them in a way that allows parents to pick the method that works for them in the moment.  Describing this  connection as Conscious Parenting,  Leaf essentially provides cliff notes for alternative parenting. 

"Make no mistake. I don’t have it all figured out,” Leaf writes. “I’m about as neurotic as the next guy. Maybe just a bit more. And that’s why I know that another sure key to parenting is patience, compassion, forgiveness, and even faith, in my kids, of course, but also in myself.”

This is the heart of yoga.  And what better way to live your yoga, than to practice joyfully with your children?

Namaste Friends,
Kristin

This particular book review couldn’t have come at a better time.  For the past week I have been following my bliss (one of many) in the Redwoods of CA, learning about herbs and connecting with with other herbalists who share the same passion.  As you might imagine of a group of herbalists, even through the 9 hours a day of clinical training, we still found time to connect through songs, chants, and sacred rituals.  It’s through these songs and chants that we really come together, that we process the information we are gathering.  Through them we form a community, and find a way to rise above our patterns to support each other on whatever path we might be treading.

This is the message I found in Alanna Kaivalya’s new book, Sacred Sound.  In Sacred Sound: Discovering the Myth & Meaning of Mantra and Kirtan (New World Library, April 15, 2014), Alanna Kaivalya explores both the myth and meaning behind twenty-one mantras, or chants, that stem from the yogic tradition. She also describes the myth, text, or context each mantra comes from or is associated with, and explains how these rich myths relate to our modern-day spiritual practice.

If you’re like me, this is what you might struggle with.  We all have a story, and man it can be hard to interpret what your story means at times.  These ancient myths teach us important lessons and provide analogies that we can relate to our own personal story to find meaning.  This book does a great job of going beyond the myth and relating it to our lives.  It’s an invaluable tool as you search to find meaning in the every day.

Divided into two sections, The first part contains a group of common mantras that are important for the modern day yoga practitioner, and the second features popular kirtan- or call and response- chants commonly used by modern day kirtan teachers.  Each of these chants contains a deeper wisdom that can illuminate the yogic path.  

Of these chants Alanna writes, “Let their vibrations and related myths uplift your mind, outlook, and sense of well-being to generate an overall feeling of harmony.”

I’m still riding that wave of harmony I found in the Redwoods.  And I can’t help but think that a lot of that energy was supported through mantras  and songs just like these.  I recommend you check out this book, and see if you can’t find your own wave to ride.

xo,
Kristin

Alanna Kaivalya is the author of Sacred Sound. She is the yoga world’s expert on Hindu mythology and mysticism. Her podcasts have been heard by more than one million people worldwide, and her Kaivalya Yoga Method melds mythology, philosophy, and yoga. Visit her online at http://www.alannak.com.