Posts by Sophia Jones61

Balkanijan Pimp said:Which ones? 🤔

Well, there you go, you actually answered 😁

Or maybe Vishnu just stepped in as the barber (Sennanavi? 🤔 ) and shaved the king back to health after he lost his mind 😉

Basically, he just took over your forum duties for you 🙂

Sophia Jones61 said:Anyway, did you actually show up for that consultation with Helga? 😈

edit: still waiting on an answer to my last question 😉

Slim Thug said:Well, the Dalai Lama suggested breathing meditation using the SO-Ham mantra, which is actually a pretty standard technique... 🤔

hmm, I see where you're going... hmm... look, I'm not heading to a Vipassana retreat just to lose my mind and have you blaming me for it 😬

Anyway, did you ever make it to that consultation with Helga?😈

Slim Thug said:Focusing on the Unknown and keeping that mantra close to your heart is actually solid, especially if you're dealing with some heavy karma. I even heard some folks say you shouldn't jump into Ayni meditation unless you've already leveled up—traditionally, you're supposed to meditate on the Unknown through one of those two specific centers.

But honestly, none of that really matters because:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

☕

There’s definitely a catch, though. What's the point of being totally enlightened if all you can do is wander aimlessly through the woods?
And hey, trying to love everyone and everything is basically just "normal" behavior at this point.

So there you go, some classic Vedic wisdom for ya. Pretty wild, right? 🙂

boldsailor2 said:Honestly, I pretty much know which one it was, but I feel stupid obsessing over it when we all know what I picked up from the Yogi Berra... It’s probably just my own dumb biases playing tricks on me... since even that inspiration likely came from him... alright, now I know exactly what I'm adding to my practice... 😉, can't wait to get home...

You think it was from your mantra or actually yours?

It doesn't have to be the same thing. 😉

I'm starting to get the feeling it might be worth asking the Boss 😉

And it doesn't even have to mean anything, crazy V. 😉

boldsailor2 said:But I actually need it... I've been dealing with these issues since I was seven years old and I've just been waiting my whole life to move past this. It's driving me insane... that's why I ended up joining the FBI...

Are you saying you need it, or do you just think it would be good for you?

Look, I told you where to look if that works for you. 😁

And honestly, there might be a reason he’s keeping it there. More isn't always better, you know? 😉

Manna said:It’s such a surface-level realization. Every time I try the mantra, it just brings everything to the surface, and I feel like there's this constant bubbling up preventing me from actually diving deep. But maybe that's just because I don't get how it works on a different level... overall, I’d definitely want the mantra... but that comes down to the Guru... I want to level up this state of mind, but I'm missing the mantra itself...

You aren't missing it. When the time is right, it'll come to you. 😉

Neither too early, nor too late.

So, you looking for mysticism? 🙂

Just listen to that meditation tape—honestly, I think it's the best one out there. It's got everything. 😎

Man, just listen to all of them. 😁

boldsailor2 said:Look, Ujjayi Pranayama is one of those techniques that actually leads you toward Samadhi, and the whole point is just following the breath flow... all my sensations are tied directly to that. My only issue is that I'm having a hard time syncing it up with a mantra. It’s way easier to hit that state without a mantra... I don't get it. The mantra is great for burning through karma, but I can't seem to dive deep into myself while using it. I'm hoping Sophia Jones61 can clear this up for me.

The Guru-mantra is longer and works heavily on the mental level—basically clearing out karma (those old patterns and forms). It’s like what Satyanand says about the brain being like a messy web of burnt-out channels and stuff like that.

But once you hit a meditative state or Samadhi, the mind isn't really doing anything crucial anymore. Consciousness sits above it, so the mind is mostly just resting (not saying it shuts off entirely). In that state, repeating a mantra will basically "kick" the mind back into gear, which pulls our consciousness back "up." It’s like trying to do yoga poses when you're mid-meditation; you activate physical processes, or someone starts bothering you, and suddenly your consciousness latches onto those distractions and the meditation breaks.

That’s why, in that state, there's usually a Bija-mantra involved, which is just a single thought or idea that gives the mind absolutely nothing to chew on. It just *is*, period.

And that Bija-mantra pulls consciousness even deeper and intensifies the meditation.

Anyway, that's just how I see it.

shadowgardener12 said:Focusing on the breath is the whole point and the foundation of any Pranayama. When you actually do it right, the So-Ham meditation just kind of happens on its own.
With Pranayama, you always have to stay locked in on the breath/Prana... where exactly you're focusing is secondary.

So, what you wrote isn't really hitting the mark.

She mentioned she focuses on the spot below the nose, not the tip of the nose, and that’s a massive difference.
Below the nose, we focus on the entry and exit of Prana, becoming aware of the Ida and Pingale flows. But the tip of the nose is the Root Chakra. If you focus there while also concentrating on the breath, you'll end up stimulating the Root Chakra.
There’s this one super intense Kriya where you guide the Breath from the tip of the nose up to the third eye—which obviously can trigger Kundalini, though you'll probably just deal with some weird side effects first.😉

The trick is that with Pranayama, you always have to follow the Breath and be fully conscious within it, because the Breath is the bridge.
It's not like, "Okay, stop focusing on the breath and just stare at a specific point instead." That's not how it works.

What she’s doing is actual Pranayama—expanding the Prana.

If you do this consistently over a long period (like months or even a year), you start seeing the actual manifestation and expansion of Prana. You'll hit those individual experiential phenomena—contact with the astral plane, the collective unconscious, shifting boundaries of time and space, and your intuition just spikes.

Anyway, now think about why I suggested that to her in the first place.

Joseph Ortiz26 said:One type of Buddhist meditation involves just focusing on your breath at a specific spot right under the nose—basically where the air hits as it goes in and out of your nostrils.

Mmm, sounds pretty chill 😍

And honestly, that’s exactly why you’re getting those effects you mentioned; it's all tied to the breathing.
If you were focusing on the heart instead, it would feel different—way more emotional and deep.
Focusing on the forehead, on the other hand, usually brings that mental clarity and stuff like that...

But the big thing is keeping your eyes relaxed and your posture upright. Everything else is just fine-tuning...

😉

edit: hey, just try focusing on the spot where the breath enters the head one day—not the tip of the nose, but the bridge/base of the nose, just for kicks—and let me know how it goes. 😉

goldeneagle2 said:Look, Joseph Ortiz26, just ignore those side effects and keep going with your meditation—assuming, of course, you’ve actually been initiated and are following a structured spiritual practice. Meditation clears out all those mental "clutter" layers, so you might run into some beautiful or totally gnarly feelings and experiences. A true yogini like you shouldn't get distracted by them; just stick to your core practice... even if it costs you everything, or so the Hathatha Yoga Pradipika would say.

I have to agree there, even if I'm not exactly a fanatic. No one should be that hardcore about it. 😉

As for initiation, maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. In my book, that uncertainty is just part of the journey.

🙏

Benjamin Diaz71 said::-)
This is a textbook case of the syndrome you get when you spend way too much time in Canada (or just hang out with Canadians too often)—the sentence structure gets all Canadian. They’d say something like "Lahko ti pošaljem...", which doesn't mean "It's easy for me to send you..." in a literal sense, but rather "I can send it to you..." It actually hit me once when I was spending more time over there; my friends used to laugh at me because I sounded like I was speaking half-English, half-Canadian. Like, geez, John... hey, Peter, hey, R...

:-))

P.S. No hard feelings!

P.P.S. - As for that meditation phenomenon, I get the exact same thing and honestly, it’s pretty fun. Sometimes I feel like I'm floating right under the ceiling, back pressed against it, looking down while simultaneously sitting in meditation. Other times, my internal perspective shifts from being behind my eyes down to the Anahata area, and so on.

Look at you, Mr. Pure! 😬

And don't go dropping any identity hints here—how are we supposed to fight against adharmichara if everyone recognizes us? 😁

When I sit down at my computer, I pull my socks up over my face. Unfortunately, I don't have nylon ones, just these white athletic socks, which kind of cuts off my circulation, so I end up having similar effects to you. 🙂

But honestly, people who spent their youth puffing themselves up anyway should probably take these astral phenomena less seriously. 🙂

Is it interesting? Yeah, it is. 😁

Joseph Ortiz26 said:Can someone explain why, when I'm meditating, I sometimes get this weird sensation where my body proportions feel totally off? Like, I suddenly feel massive and stretched out, or objects around me seem way too far away, or my head feels miles from my feet... stuff like that?

You're feeling your pranic body (the astral one, basically), or some Sahasrara activity.
Out-of-body experiences aren't usually like what we see in movies where you just float up and look at the ceiling—mostly because we're so heavily tethered to our physical bodies. Instead, it manifests as a shift in your center of gravity within your consciousness.

It’s pretty common to feel like your palms are huge (like bear paws) or that your head is oversized.

Or you might just feel this sense of lightness, like when you're doing exercises that activate the Vishuddhi.

Don't forget to keep up with your physical movements and Pranayama.

Try Trataka if those sensations are tripping you out (that's candle gazing). I can easily shoot you some instructions via DM.

👋

Elizabeth Nelson23 said:Hold on... what part of this don't you get? My neck is killing me and my doctor actually recommended stretching... specifically yoga. It’s a fine way to move, but I’m not interested in anything besides the physical stretching part!!!

1) I honestly don't see how you're going to find a yoga class without running into all that "woo-woo" stuff and "energy" nonsense you claim not to believe in.
How do you even strip the spirituality out of yoga?
2) What happens when you show up to a class and accidentally hear someone mention something spiritual?
With an attitude like that, you might actually end up more tense than when you started.

Look, I'm just saying if you actually gave that "spiritual" yoga you're so allergic to a shot, maybe you'd find some relief beyond just your neck.

And don't take this the wrong way, I genuinely want you to feel better.
I've been practicing yoga for a while now and it’s been a lifesaver for my lower back, knees, and migraines—stuff I used to struggle with constantly. But seriously, try keeping a slightly more open mind.

That's all I got. Good luck! 👍

Elizabeth Nelson23 said:Hey... not sure if this is the right spot for this, but I'm looking to start yoga to help with some neck tension. Problem is, I don't buy into any of that energy crap, and I have zero interest in religious or spiritual nonsense. I just want the stretching part. If anyone knows an instructor who won't try to preach to me, let me know where they are (I'm in Chicago)

thanks

Look, I love football, but I don't believe in the "magic" of kicking a ball into a net.
With an attitude like that, you aren't going to get much out of it, regardless of who’s leading the class. Anyone teaching yoga without the spiritual side usually doesn't actually know what they're doing.
Just watch out so those spiritual types don't bite...

Good luck!

Deep Heat is meant for calming down inflammation and soreness after an injury. (It actually worked for me), though it’s pretty mild.

Deep Heat is more for warming up your muscles—standard stuff once you're recovering from an injury. You just rub a little on before training to get things moving.

Kimberly Adams81 said:Start eating 6-7 times a day, bump up the protein, hit those healthy fats (walnuts, fish oil, flaxseed), stick to complex carbs like oatmeal, eat tons of veggies, and don't go overboard on fruit. Just doing that will make a massive difference. If you throw in a gym routine three times a week, you'll see killer results and actually feel good about yourself.
I wish someone had pointed me toward the right path when I was 17. 😢

Nice effort, but I have a feeling people aren't actually going to listen to you. 🙂
He’s probably looking for some magic powder or a pill to drop 20 pounds in two days; he isn't exactly looking to break a sweat... 🙂

And if you tell him he needs to start cooking his own meals, God forbid! 😂

konj111 said:Honestly, you'd be better off just cooking a decent meal instead of wasting all that time sitting in a doctor's waiting room. 😁

Oh, absolutely not!

He could always just grab a Gatorade. 😁

Alright, fine, go ahead with your sandwiches and way too much Vitaminwater—suit yourself.
If you actually need some advice, feel free to reach out...

Just tell me one thing, you aren't that same Dana Allen3 guy who was posting everywhere else about being into running, are you?

👋