40 Day Sadhana

We (70 One Yoga yogis) started on our 40 day spiritual practice last night. Ryan lead a class that he said was going to be 1hr and 45 min...we all know that that really meant 2 hours 45 min. It was close, we finished our class/meditation after 2 and a half hours. What a nourishing evening.
At some points during the class I wondered if I am ready for this, if I am really really ready for this. As I was in purvottanasana (table pose) I could feel myself giving up, and contemplating these next 39 days, naturally. Ryan told us we'd be thinking like this, and I mean towards the end of that class I am sure more than half of us were. I just simply brought myself back to my breath, back to my intention for that class, and for my intention of the entire 40 day practice. Through the shakes, and my hands and feet slipping underneath me, I managed to stay with the pose - victory. We ended the class with meditation and a chant (my most favourite part). I have never been in a class where there were 70 people. The vibrations of everyone's Om's, and the chants were unreal. The vibe in the room was unreal. The energy so blissfully positive, which helped get me through that long, tough class.
We all got Baron Baptisete's "40 Days to Personal Revolution" book. So far, so good :)

Day 1
MY BODY HURTS. I knew it would. I was nervous walking into class tonight as I thought "how on earth am I suppose to hold any pose when I ache so much?" It was tough, but I did what I could. Stayed connected with my breath - ouija breathing. I couldn't help but drift off into my head and think about the end of class....or to finally be in savasana. Once I thought about savasana, it actually made the rest of my practice flow quite nicely. Well I am off to bed - I have to be up nice and early for my 6:30am class. I truly do feel blessed to be fortunate enough to partake in this spiritual journey.

Shanti (Peace) Prayer

Om sahanaa vavatu
Sahanau bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karavaa vahai
Tejasvi naa vadhee tamastu
maa vidvishaa vahai
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaantihi

Translation (in the context of a classroom)
May the teacher and the taught be protected together,
May the teacher and the taught be nourished together,
May they both work together with great energy,
May their study be enlightening and fruitful.
May the teacher and the taught never hate each other.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

We are one, in each of us there is an inner teacher that we must learn to listen to. I like this translation a little better...

May WE protect each other,
May WE nourish each other,
May WE work together with great energy,
May OUR study be enlightening and fruitful.
May WE never hate each other.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

Namaste