Are you good at offering kindness and compassion to others?

That family member who you love and is struggling with a health or a work issue.

The lovely friend who is torn between staying and leaving their partner.

Your neighbour who’s sweet and is always in pain, but somehow keeps cheerful (or not)?

But what about you?  How much kindness and compassion do you offer yourself – on a daily basis?

This has been a long journey for me; partly my upbringing – family and societal culture, the era of my birth (the 1960’s) – and partly because of low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth, thankfully now in the past (well, mostly, I still have my wobble days!)

It’s common, that sense that there’s something “wrong” with us, that we’re not good enough and therefore, not deserving of receiving kindness (from others and certainly not from ourselves).

The breadth and depth of yoga offer you many ways to overcome these deeply rooted samskaras.  In Indian philosophy these are subtle mental impressions left by our thoughts, intentions and actions.  Like grooves in the mind, or well-trodden tracks, they form our behaviour and our psychological and emotional habits or patterns.  Mostly held unconsciously, yoga offers both an understanding of how samskaras work for and against us, and most importantly, ways to change and heal them.

Nada Brahma – the Yoga of Sound. 

Yoga in the western world is too often focused on the physical practices (asana), some good breathing (pranayama) and that lovely relaxation at the end (either yoga nidra or shavasana).  And you and I love that!

However, that is the tip of the Yoga iceberg.  Chant and mantra pre-date yoga asana – yet how often is it included in a yoga class or offered as a separate, and spiritual, practice?  (No surprise that two of my classes have chant as their primary focus – Gentle Hatha Yoga/Mondays and Yoga & Chant for Calm/Thursdays).

Nada Brahma…the translation. 

Nada is a Sanskrit word meaning “sound”.  It is also translated as “sounding, droning, roaring, howling, screaming.”  It is said that the word Nada is related to Nadi, meaning “river” or “stream” but also “rushing” or “sounding” (Yes, there can be multiple meanings to one word in Sanskrit!)

Brahma also has different interpretations; Brahma is the first god in the Hindu trimurti, responsible for creation, and the Highest Divine Principle.  Brahma is understood to be the primal creative word, source of the world and sacred knowledge. From Brahma came the four Vedas (the most ancient religious texts).

Nada Brahma translates as Sound is God or God is Sound.

In Sanskrit dictionaries, Nada Brahma also means Sound is joy; sound praises; Spirit and Soul are sound.

I love that last translation!  Mantra-s are sacred sounds that can bring us joy, heal, and praise the “Source” of all life, the Divine.

Chant is not about “singing” – there are just three notes – Svarita the middle note (where you would naturally pitch Om), Udatta the higher note, it’s one step up from the middle note, and then the Anudatta, lower note, one step down. If you can speak, you can chant – and if you can’t speak (or struggle to speak) you can mentally repeat the sacred sounds.

Single syllable sounds, short words, simple phrases – there is such power within the simplest of chants that means it is accessible to all.  Yes, there are longer chants, but like any skill, we start at the beginning and build up (if we wish to).  But never underestimate the power of a single syllable (Bija) sound!

So, back to compassion, Karuna…for yourself.

Karuna translates as compassion – this is an action-based form of compassion, not one of sympathy.

Namaha is a humble salutation, an expression of humility; we submit to a higher power (Source of all life, Higher Power, Mother Nature)

So, when we chant “Karuna Namaha” we are bowing down to the Divine energy of Compassion, and we are offering ourselves an active energy of compassion, not sympathy or ‘poor me’…We are gifting ourselves this Divine, compassionate energy, into our heart, body and mind.

We can actively choose healing food over junk food…or to say no to going to an event which we know will be too much for us (noise, people, energy required) …or take ourselves off for a walk in Mother Nature to soothe our body-mind…these are all acts of self-care that derive from the energy of compassion for ourselves.

How do I chant Karuna Namaha?

1. Out loud, whispering or silently – watch the video (link attached) for the melody, rhythm and pronunciation.
2. As part of your yoga/asana practice – as demonstrated in the video, (use the passcode Yoga4Compassion1! ) chant on the exhale as you move in and out of postures. For your own practice, choose simple asana, move slowly, softly, and repeat the mantra on each exhale.
3. As a meditation -chant softly out loud, then whisper, then repeat mentally/silently – this keeps your mind focused and becomes a true, in the moment meditation.
4. You can write it down as a sacred practice. Like writing lines at school (!), but such a beautiful mantra.  Write slowly, with care, in different colours.  Write it in Devanagari – Sanskrit – the first language of the world.

करुना नमहा

Yes, you are absolutely worth self-compassion and kindness.  Yes you can gift yourself sacred practises to support your personal and spiritual growth… “You do not have to be good.  You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting…” (Mary Oliver)

I have two yoga and chant classes –  Monday – Gentle Hatha Yoga, 1130 – 1230 (In Person at Shipham village hall+ Livestream) and Thursday – Yoga & Chant for Calm 1000-1100 (Livestream/Online via Zoom).  Both classes are recorded, so you can catch up at a time to suit you and repeat the practice (recordings available for 3 days).   DISCOUNT:  If you’re booking 2 or more classes a week, contact me for your loyalty Discount Code.

When your mind tells you no, when your thoughts are filled with criticism, self-doubt, or unkindness…take a breath, pause, and ask yourself “Who says so?”  “Where does that come from?”  We give so much power to our thoughts, getting stuck in our heads, on that not-so-merry roundabout.  Question them, laugh at them, dismiss them…they are not real, they are beliefs formed from previous experiences, they are ‘just’ thoughts…

 I really hope this has given you food for thought, and inspired you to join one of the 6 week yoga and chant courses – for your health, healing and spiritual connection.