Books. Music. Mantras.
Books
( Very hard to choose which books to recommend. I have many favourites. I will add traditional texts at a later date.)
Yoga for Your Type - David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield Kozak
Vinyasa Yoga - Richard Freeman
Vedantic Meditation - David Frawley
Yoga and Ayurveda - Self-Healing Self-Realization- David Frawley
Deeper Dimensions of Yoga - Georg Feuerstein
The Path of Yoga - Georg Feuerstein
The Art and Science of Kriya Yoga - Goswami Kriyananda
Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
The Law of Success - Paramahansa Yogananda
Kundalini Yoga for the West - Swami Radha
I also recommend my books
Inspired Living a Guided Yoga Journal & Bite-Sized Yoga for Daily Inspiration.
Music for practice
Shamanic Dream by Anugama (on repeat)
Chen Rezi by Gabriel Roth ( on repeat)
Eternal Om by Robert Slap (on repeat)
Gayatri Mantra by Deva Premal (on repeat)
Bija by Todd Norian (on repeat)
Artists
Krishna Das
Deva Premal
Bhagavan Das
Snatam Kaur
Wah
Mantras
AUM –OM
The original and most powerful sound of OM; the sound of the Universe. It is the vibration of life. In deep meditation, OM is not repeated but heard. It is always here if we open our ears and heart to hear it.
OM as AUM and the Seven Levels of Consciousness
A short expose of AUM as discussed in the Mandukya Upanishad
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A = gross level, beginnings and waking;
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Transition;
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U= subtle level, middle and flow;
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Transition;
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M = Causal level (beyond endings);
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Transition;
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Silence (vibration and integration).
Gayatri Mantra
Om bhur bhuvah svah
tatsaviturvarenyam
bhargo devasyadhīmahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
“We meditate on that most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspirer and source of eternal Joy. May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.”
Om Glaum Shreem Svaha
Glaum: Glaum empowers Aum and removes obstacles allowing us to move forward with expansion and stability.
Shreem: Brings light, abundance, grace and happiness while enhancing our glow and radiance.
Svaha: Adding power to all mantras and affirmations with Svaha we add intention to the fire of creation.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
"May all beings be happy and free, and may my thoughts, words and actions contribute to the happiness and freedom of all.’
Lokah: Universe, location
Samastah: All living beings
Sukhino: Happiness, joy, ease
Bhav: Union with Divinity
Antu: May it be so
Tune in Mantras for Asana Practice
Om Suryaya Namaha ( Salutation to the Sun)
Om Chandraya Namaha ( Salutation to the Moon)
Om Prana Maya Namaha (Salutation to Prana/Energy)
Om Dram Dattatreyaya Namaha ( Salutation to the inner Guru)
Adapted and Modified Vedic Meditation/Prayer to reintegrate scattered energy and attention back to the Spiritual Heart.
May Fire (Agni) be placed in my Speech, my Speech in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing Divine light and speech as the power of manifestation.
May Air (Vayu) be placed in my Breath, my Breath(Prana) in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing Cosmic energy giving life to Prana
May the Sun be place in my Eyes, my Eyes in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing the Divine light that lights up the world which inwardly represents the light of consciousness.
May the Moon be placed in my Mind, my Mind in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing our balanced emotional nature being able to feel and understand.
May the Directions be placed in my Hearing, my Hearing in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing space.
May the Waters be placed in my Generative Fluid, my Generative Fluid in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Representing the creative energy.
May the Earth be place in my Body, my Body in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing our interconnectedness with matter.
May Herbs and Trees be placed in my Hair, my Hair in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Herbs and trees representing nature as a whole and that we are an expression of nature.
May Energy be placed in my Strength, my Strength in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing that our true strength is of the heart.
May Rain be placed in my Head, my Head in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
The rain of Bliss
May Will be placed in my Spirit, my Spirit in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing willpower as a Divine cosmic force.
May my self be placed in the Self, the Self in the Heart, the Heart in Me.
Symbolizing the individual self with the universal Self
May my Self return again. May my Life return again. May my Prana return again. May my Will return again.
When we offer all aspects of nature to the Heart we return to the Heart. Our lives become an offering of joy to joy.
May the Universal Energy increasing Her rays dwell within Me.
Symbolizing staying awake and inspired
From the Krishna Yajur Veda
Yoga and Ayurveda Advanced Course Part II
Ayurvedic Applications of Raja Yoga
David Frawley.