A – Gentle twists like Supine Twist (Supta Matsyendrāsana) and seated spinal twists help stimulate digestion. Dynamic poses like Cat-Cow encourage digestive flow and organ mobility. Ayurveda recommends lighter, cooling meals—think salads, broths, and avoiding fried or heavy foods.

A morning drink of warm water with ginger and lemon supports digestion. Meditation and prāṇāyāma will assist in maintaining mental clarity while aiding physical vitality and emotional equilibrium.

A – Sacred geometry and yantras are powerful tools for energetic harmony. The Sri Yantra aligns individual energy with universal flow, providing grounding support during seasonal transitions. Meditating on it or placing it in your home practice space can promote peace and clarity.

The Lotus Yantra and bīja mantras also create an energetic field of stability and calm, ideal for periods of heightened vulnerability or imbalance.

A – Prāṇāyāma is excellent for respiratory support and energetic balance during seasonal change. Ujjāyī breath calms the nervous system and releases excess heat. Nāḍī Śodhana helps balance vāta and reduces anxiety or restlessness. To counteract internal heat and dryness, practise Śītalī (cooling breath), which also promotes hydration.

These practices regulate energy flow, helping you and your wife maintain equilibrium as the seasons shift.

A – Dharma in yoga refers to living in alignment with your true nature and purpose. When feeling uncentred, cultivating mindfulness and dedicating your actions to a greater cause can bring clarity. Grounding asanas such as Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I) and Tree Pose (Vṛkṣāsana) promote stability.

Prāṇāyāma techniques like Nāḍī Śodhana (alternate nostril breathing) calm the mind, making it easier to attune to your dharma. Journalling your reflections at the start or end of your practice can further deepen this connection.

A – In August, Ayurveda suggests practices that soothe pitta and balance vata. Cooling asanas such as Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) and Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) can reduce heat and restlessness. For vata, grounding poses like Mountain Pose (Tadasana) and Child’s Pose are supportive.

In diet, opt for cooling foods like cucumbers and coconut water for pitta, and grounding, warming foods such as root vegetables for vata. Herbal teas like peppermint and chamomile are also helpful in maintaining doshic balance during this time.

A – To release heat and stagnation, cooling asanas such as Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana), Supported Fish Pose (Matsyasana), and Shoulder Bridge (Setu Bandhasana) are helpful. These poses calm the nervous system and reduce excess pitta energy. Restorative postures like Child’s Pose (Balasana) also support emotional clarity. Beyond physical balance, these asanas prepare the body for spiritual growth by encouraging stillness and inner awareness.

A – Incorporating yantras into meditation can be a powerful tool for focus and balance. The Sri Yantra, with its sacred geometry, is particularly beneficial for grounding and calming the mind—especially during periods of mental exhaustion. Meditating on its patterns may also help reduce excess heat and restlessness in the body.

Visualising the yantra during meditation directs energy inward, helping to restore equilibrium. Additionally, the Lotus Yantra or bija mantra symbols can promote emotional clarity, supporting both mind and body during seasonal transitions. As these are ancient symbols, please practise under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher before undertaking them alone.

How to Balance Your Life

Everyday Tips for Simpler Living and Lasting Harmony

By Robin James

THE ILLUSTRATED MEDITATIONS

LIFE LESSONS FROM MARCUS AURELIUS

By Marcus Aurelius, illustrated by Joanna Lisowiec, introduction by James Romm

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We returned to Yoga Bhavan in silence. My mind was distant, wrapped in a mist of memories from the temple. I could not forget her— the glow of Ruhi’s form, the ethereal beauty of her spirit as she was finally released. The sight of her had struck something within me, and now that she was gone, I felt hollow, like a light had been extinguished.

Days passed, and I felt myself spiralling deeper into a quiet sadness. I hardly ate, hardly spoke. The cave, once filled with the comforting scent of burning herbs and the soft echoes of Yogi Ji’s chants, felt empty. I could not shake the vision of Ruhi. I yearned to feel that sense of divine beauty and love again, and my heart ached with a strange longing I could not understand.

Yogi Ji noticed, of course. One evening, as I sat by the fire, lost in my thoughts, he joined me, a quiet warmth in his gaze. “Muni,” he said gently. “You look tired. The path of release we walked with Ruhi was powerful, and sometimes the heart holds onto what it needs to release. Do you feel this, too?”

I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. “Yes, Yogi Ji. It is as if I left a piece of myself back in that temple. Her face… it was like seeing love itself. I feel… empty without that vision.”

He nodded knowingly, his eyes softening. “What you experienced was a glimpse of divine beauty, Muni—a beauty that is, in truth, all around us. It is easy to lose ourselves in it, to let the attachment weigh down the spirit. This is a part of the journey many seekers face. But you, Muni, must come back to yourself, to your own heart.”

Despite his comforting words, the ache only grew. Soon, my sadness began to seep into my body, and I became feverish, weak. Bushie, the snow leopard who always brought a touch of cheer to our cave, sensed my state, and lay beside me, nuzzling me with gentle affection.

One evening, when I was shivering with fever, Bushie’s worried eyes met Yogi Ji’s.

“Is there nothing we can do?” Bushie asked, his voice unusually solemn. “He looks worse each day! See Yogi Ji – this, your student, cannot even control himself – let alone teach anyone else!”

Yogi Ji placed a hand on my forehead, frowning slightly. “The fever is from his heart’s longing,” he said softly. “But we will care for him. Muni, it is time for rest and healing.” He motioned to Bushie. “Bring me the holy tulsi and the shankhapushpi leaves. We will make him a tea to cool the fever and calm his mind.” As Bushie dashed off, Yogi Ji murmured to me. “Tulsi is a sacred plant. It is said to calm the spirit and purify the body, while shankhapushpi helps to bring clarity to the mind. Combined, they can ease both the heart’s ache and the fever.” He brewed a strong tea of tulsi and shankhapushpi and sat by my side, gently urging me to drink. As I sipped, he began a soft Chant, the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, his voice wrapping around me like a warm blanket: “Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.”

As he repeated the mantra, I felt my breath deepen, as if each word drew me back from the abyss of my sorrow. Over the following days, Yogi Ji continued to care for me, but the ache in my heart lingered. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ruhi’s face— radiant, serene, untouchable. It was as though my soul had brushed against something eternal, and now, the ordinary world seemed pale, almost lifeless.

One morning, I awoke to find Yogi Ji seated beside me, a deep concern etched in his gentle features. Bushie lay curled up by my side, his fur comforting against the cold cave floor, his eyes watchful. “Muni,” Yogi Ji murmured softly, “I can see that your spirit is burdened by this memory of beauty. But know this, even beauty can become a trap if we cling to it too tightly.” He touched my shoulder lightly. “We must learn to see beauty as a reflection of the divine all around us, rather than a possession we wish to hold .”

I tried to smile, but the effort drained me. “I understand, Yogi Ji, but it’s as though I’ve glimpsed something so profound, so… perfect. And now it’s gone, leaving me hollow.”

Yogi Ji investigated the distance, his expression grave. “This emptiness, Muni, is part of the soul’s purification. But you cannot walk this path alone.” With a quiet but powerful intention, Yogi Ji closed his eyes and began chanting a mantra unfamiliar to me. His voice reverberated through the cave, ancient syllables carrying a weight I could feel vibrating within my bones. The air shifted, growing thicker and warmer, as though it were filled with unseen energy.

Suddenly, a figure materialised at the mouth of the cave—a figure clad in deep red and gold robes, his presence both serene and imposing. The man’s eyes were wise and clear, his face weathered with age but radiant with compassion.

“Yogi Ji,” I whispered, “who is he?”

Yogi Ji smiled, his eyes twinkling with a quiet reverence. “This, Muni, is Lama Tenzen, a friend from lifetimes ago. He has come to help guide you through this darkness.” The lama approached me, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. “Muni,” he said, his voice soft but strong, “the beauty you seek is within you, yet your heart has mistaken it for something external. Let us bring your spirit back into harmony.” Lama Tenzen reached into a small pouch tied around his waist and withdrew a delicate, shining powder—a blend of Tibetan medicine. “This is made from precious metals— gold, silver, and a rare herb that grows only in the highest Himalayan peaks. In Tibet, it is known to restore balance to the mind and spirit.”

He mixed a small portion of the powder with warm water and held it to my lips. “Drink, and feel the healing power of the mountains within you.” I drank the mixture, feeling a warmth spread through my body, a grounding sensation that seemed to pull me back from the depths of my longing. My fevered body began to cool, and a calmness replaced the restless ache that had plagued me.

Yogi Ji then sat beside me; his gaze f illed with compassion. “Now, Muni, we will work to release this attachment fully. Breathe with me—deeply, with awareness.” He instructed me in a breathing practice – Anulom Viloma Pranayama, the alternate-nostril breathing. He closed one of his nostrils with his thumb, inhaling deeply through the other, and then alternated. I followed, my breaths unsteady at first but gradually growing steady.

“Through this breath, Muni,” he said gently, “you balance the left and right energies in your body, helping the mind f ind peace. With each inhale, breathe in the strength of the mountains. With each exhale, let go of the attachment, of the image you cling to.”

We continued the practice until I felt a profound stillness settle within. Lama Tenzen then guided me in another technique known as the Bhramari Pranayama, the humming bee breath. Placing my fingers on my forehead and closing my ears with my thumbs, I inhaled deeply and hummed on the exhale, letting the vibration fill my head and chest.

“This vibration,” Lama Tenzen explained, “is a sound of the universe, a reminder of the unity within all things. Each hum is a way of coming back to yourself, to the truth that resides within.”

The deep hum resonated within me, vibrating through every cell in my body, easing the pain that clung to my heart. I felt an inexplicable lightness, as though the weight of Ruhi’s memory was dissolving into the air around me. Bushie, sensing the change, gently nuzzled my hand, his cool fur soothing against my fevered skin. “You’re coming back to us, Muni,” he whispered with a glint of relief in his eyes. “Yogi Ji and I missed you.”

The next day, as I sipped on another herbal concoction prepared by Yogi Ji—this time a blend of ashwagandha for strength and Brahmi for mental clarity. I found myself more present, more rooted in the here and now. Lama Tenzen watched me, his gaze steady and serene.“Now, Muni,” he said, “let us move beyond these thoughts, beyond the mind itself. I will teach you a mudra—a hand gesture—to support your journey. This is Gyan Mudra, the gesture of knowledge.”

He brought his thumb and forefinger together, forming a circle, while the other fingers remained straight.“Place your hands in this mudra on your knees while you meditate,” he instructed. “It will help to quiet the restless mind, to connect you to a deeper wisdom. And as you meditate, focus on the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra that Yogi Ji chanted. Let its sound be an anchor.”

I followed his guidance, bringing my hands into Gyan Mudra and reciting the mantra silently. Gradually, my mind grew quiet, and a profound peace settled within me, replacing the longing that had once seemed unbearable.

Days passed, and with the guidance of Yogi Ji, Lama Tenzen, and Bushie, I regained my strength. The memory of Ruhi, once sharp and painful, softened into something beautiful yet distant,

a reminder of the divine beauty that resides not only in others but also within.

One evening, as the sun dipped behind the mountains, Lama Tenzen prepared to leave. He placed a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes with a gentle smile. “Muni, remember that beauty is fleeting in form but eternal in essence. When you feel lost, turn within. There, you will find what you truly seek .”

Yogi Ji nodded in agreement; his eyes filled with pride. “The journey is long, Muni, but you have taken a great step. Remember that every experience, even painful ones, are steps along the path to wisdom.”

I watched Lama Tenzen disappear into the mist, his red and gold robes blending into the twilight. Bushie nestled beside me, and I sat with Yogi Ji, gazing at the stars above, feeling a deep gratitude fill my heart.

For the first time since I left the temple, I felt whole again. And in the silence, with only the soft rhythm of my breath, I realised that the beauty I had seen in Ruhi was not lost, it was now a part of me, guiding me forward.

Kundalini – Memoirs of a Yogi, to be continued in next month’s YOGA Magazine …..

“Many say that life entered the human body by the help of music, but the truth is that life itself is music.” – Hafiz

Sound entrainment is rooted in science. It holds a profound place in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, energetic, and mystical planes. Let’s take a deeper dive into this phenomenon.

Sound is Creation. Sound is Energy. Sound is Vibration.

What we hear, feel, and perceive through the ear, skin, and bones is vibration. Every atom, cell, molecule, gland, and organ absorbs and emits sound. Made from 99.99% pure quartz and ethically alchemised with precious gemstones, rare metals, minerals, rare earths, musical notes, geometry, colour, and alchemy by Crystal Tones, the crystal bowls amplify, transmit, and store energy. When the mallet chimes the crystal bowl or moves around its rim or upper third, the sides of the bowl move back and forth, creating a vibration. These vibrations, or sound waves, permeate the body, identifying dissonance, stress, and anxiety.

The pure sound harmonics of alchemy crystal bowls attune to the fundamental vibrations (or notes) of the billions of cells in the body. Sound massages the cells, making them more vibrant and vital. Scientific evidence has shown dramatic changes in the colour, shape, and surrounding auric field when soft, gentle, and harmonious acoustic sounds are played.

Our cells respond to particular notes, and sound harmonises the frequencies so that, after several minute intervals, the body, mind, heart, and belly begin to dive into deeper states of consciousness, enabling profound healing across the nervous system.

Modern scientists and doctors integrate sound vibration from crystal and Himalayan bowls as a holistic alternative and healing pathway for treating patients. It is safe and non-invasive, clearing disturbances within the energy field to bring release, balance, and harmony to the electromagnetic field. The intention is to enhance and stimulate the mind and the body’s ability to heal itself. Dopamine levels increase while cortisol decreases, stimulating the production and number of white blood cells to strengthen the immune system.

“Every experience is unique to the individual and will differ with every sound journey. You simply need to arrive as you are because the bowls will meet you exactly where you are. The healing is there if you are open to it .”

My workshops have been described as ‘an intimate journey with the Self.’ They begin with movement meditation to open the physical body, followed by breathwork to balance the nervous, mental, and emotional systems before leading into a guided meditation and deep yoga nidra sleep.

Open, expansive, and fully receptive to the magic and power of sound, I weave a soundscape of vibrations with my harmonic set of nine Crystal Tones Alchemy Sound Bowls, Crystal Pyramid, and Koshi Elemental Chimes.

Sound journeys are relaxing, meditative, and harmonising, moving energy exactly where it needs to reach, change, or heal. Sound is a powerful healer, shifting and unraveling clarity around thoughts or emotions that may feel stuck. Sometimes, it reveals answers to questions we didn’t even realise we were asking. However, the experience may not always be comfortable and may involve an old injury, memory, or experience resurfacing. Trust that if you are receiving the gift of sound, it is because you are meant to be in that moment to receive its magic. You may not always realise it at the time, but it will later unfold and manifest in unexplainable ways—the mystery in the mysticism. T he benefits of sound therapy are profound. These bowls are truly unique pieces of sound art, loved by musicians, yogis, teachers, healers, meditators, and people from all walks of life.

So, what happens at a Sound Journey workshop?

I hold space for students in my unique and authentic workshops, regularly hosted at Yoga Life Studio in Eastbourne as well as in London. My Sound Journey workshops open our senses to receive the magic of sound through every cell in our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. We start with a gentle yoga practice to open the physical body, followed by a pranayama practice to balance the nervous, mental, and emotional systems before leading into a guided meditation, opening the channels of our spiritual self. We embody the tools to become receptive to the magic of sound.

I then immerse you in a sound journey, weaving a soundscape of vibrations with my Crystal Alchemy Sound Bowls, Crystal Pyramid, and Koshi Elemental Chimes. Sound is Creation. Sound is Energy. Sound is Vibration. Creation, energy, and vibration are the pulsations of Spanda in the traditions of Tantra in Yoga—the contraction and expansion of everything around and within us. Syncopating with the pulse of life, the magic of sound moves energy exactly where it needs to reach, change, or heal.

Sound is a powerful healer, shifting, unraveling, or bringing clarity to thoughts or emotions that may feel stuck, or expanding our awareness into a deeper knowing and consciousness. Nourishing and nurturing a state of deep relaxation, the alchemy sound bowls meet us exactly where we are. Alongside group workshops, I also offer private Crystal Sonic Therapy sessions for those seeking a more personalised healing experience.

Sonal Thakrar’s journey is one of integration—where the structured world of law meets the fluidity of spirituality. A lawyer for over two decades, she realised her childhood dream, becoming a partner at a leading London law firm by 32. Yet, she always knew she was more than just a lawyer. Alongside her legal career, she immersed herself in Bhakti, Yoga, and Sound Therapy, discovering a deeper resonance with life. Today, Sonal seamlessly bridges her corporate and spiritual worlds, teaching yoga and guiding transformative sound journeys. Known for weaving myth, mantra, and wisdom into her sessions, she aligns energy, breath, and prana with the rhythms of life. With 1100 hours of yoga teacher training and advanced Crystal Sonic Therapy certifications, Sonal creates immersive experiences using her Crystal Tones Alchemy Sound Bowls, meeting each individual exactly where they are. � � www.sonalthakrar.com | @sonalthakraryoga