Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra, which is derived from the tantras, is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. It is a life transforming practice that can be done by anyone with any background or level of experience. (You are not physically moving for the practice.)

Most people feel like they are relaxing by watching movies, eating junk food, smoking cigarettes, or consuming alcohol, but these feed the senses and have not been proven scientifically to actually relax us. These activities are external pacifiers for our senses, and usually leaves us feeling unsatisfied. Even sleep does not offer the relaxation that yoga nidra provides. In fact, one hour session of y.nidra is the equivalent to four hours of quality sleep.

Likewise, most people try to correct their habits and limitations by imposing enforced boundaries and ideals. It is mostly a mental process, that provides short term relief, and results in inner conflict which creates more tension. Habits, limitations, dis-ease are a result of tension. By letting go of accumulated tension, these perceived “undesirable” aspects loose their grips on our lives. When we learn how to authentically relax, our true nature is spontaneously revealed. Tantra values the evolution of the mind as a spontaneous process.

Y. nidra guides us into a “threshold state between sleep and awakefullness, where contact with the subconscious and unconscious occurs spontaneously.” Conscious mind is like hard soil. Subconscious mind is like tender soil. When we plant our seeds “sankalpas”, resolutions, or intentions in y.nidra, they will not be rejected. Y.nidra is a process of inner transformation, where the life affirming seeds we plant in our subconscious, bears fruit in our life .

Bellydance
The ancient art of bellydance is as complex and colorful in its origin as it is in its movement. Although it is known as the oldest dance in the world, it has left little evidence of its history. Bellydance seems to have evolved through a multitude of cultures and historical periods. This blend of influence has shaped the art into bellydance, as we know it today.

Myths attach the dance to several cultures including Egyptian, Greek, Turkish and even that of Indian gypsies, and place it as far back as 4,000 BC. Many agree that although there is not enough valid evidence to provide a definitive answer to the question of its specific origin, most likely it started and flourished in the Middle East.

The most popular theory places its origin in Ancient Egypt. Pharoanic wall paintings and tomb scriptures indicate the presence of a form of dance using movements also used in bellydance. This was a time when temple dancing as a form of goddess worship and fertility rites was common. Contrary to popular practice today, bellydance was not originally performed to entertain men. This beautiful art form was women dancing for women, at parties preparing women for marriage, or childbirth (it is understandable that the dance focused on the belly), a tradition that continues in Saudi Arabia and other conservative Muslim countries. However, there was a period durning the 18th century when the dance became entertainment and was then performed in the presence of men and women.

There was a group of gypsies known as Ghawazee meaning "invaders of the heart", who were found living in Cairo and along the lower Nile. It is not known if this group originated in India and later settled in Egypt, bringing bellydance with them, or if they were in fact, purely Egyptian. These Ghawazee dancers were street performers and not very educated women who played a big role in spreading bellydance as they took it with them on their cultural migrations. At a time when only the wealthy were literate, little was recorded about the behaviors of the lower class, such as the Ghawazee. Women dancing in public places and in the presence of men was considered disrespectful behavior in Egypt at that time. As such conduct had no value to the wealthy it was never documented. Another class of dancers was known as the Awalim. An Almeh (singular), meaning "learned woman", was trained in the arts of dance, poetry, music and midwifery. They often played the oud, a musical instrument resembling a mandolin, and even came with a list of songs and poems that they could play and recite for you. You could add an Almeh to your household for a very expensive price. The Ghawazee and the Awalim had very different styles of dance although they both wore many layers of colorful clothing, belted at the waist and showing no skin. The Ghawazee dancers bounced the layers of skirts by aggressively tilting their pelvises, whereas the movements of the Awalim were more refined and sensual.

Over time, bellydancing spread throughout the Middle East. With each stopover, new costumes, instruments, movements and props such as snakes, candles and canes were incorporated. Each culture added too and transformed elements of the dance to suit their cultural styles and beliefs. Without much evidence, various myths explaining the use of props evolved. The technique of pelvic and abdominal movement originated as a natural aid to the child birthing process and was combined with breathing exercises to ease the pain of labor. Ancient Egyptians were strong believers in goddesses and their worship. The dance was always performed barefoot which is believed by many to be a symbol of connection to the mother goddess. Although most of the facets of bellydance have been attached to cultures of the past, there are many characteristics that were only recently incorporated when belly dance reached America.

In Arabic, the dance is called Raks Sharqi, meaning "Oriental Dance" and was later translated from the French, Danse du Ventre, or "dance of the stomach", when it first came to America in 1893 and was performed in the Chicago World Fair by a Syrian dancer. It later evolved from its roots as an art form used in rituals and religious worship into a more cabaret style of entertainment. The use of naval jewels and the two-piece bellydance costumes used today originated in Hollywood, as did fantastical ideas of harems and genies.

Today in many Western cultures, women are discovering this very ancient dance and using it to celebrate their femininity, and gain confidence in their bodies. Bellydance exercises are also being used in natural childbirth classes in the same way it was use in ancient times.

Bellydancing is a great form of exercise for women of all ages, shapes and sizes. It's a natural complement to a woman's bone and muscle structure with movements coming mainly from the torso rather than just in the legs and feet. The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in fluid patterns and weaving together the entire feminine essence. More importantly, women who bellydance have lots of fun and feel young at heart!