Yoga Health and Fitness Notes

What is this whole idea of ‘altering consciousness’ that everyone is talking about? Is it becoming psychic, clairvoyant, or meditating until we levitate? Is it increasing our memory or improving our sleep? Is it a higher IQ and better test stores? Or is it just perhaps the ability to meet our loved ones upsets with a calm demeanor, instead of a snarl and a growl. As I think about it, I wonder if it is all of this and more. perhaps altering consciousness is simply shifting our entire way of thinking, acting, and being in the world so that it works better.

And I will admit, all of this sounds very new-agey and far out, and in many ways it is.

And as I speak about ways to alter consciousness you may begin to think of manifestation, and the movie called the Secret. You may be reminded of Echart Tolle and THE POWER OF NOW or A NEW EARTH. You may think of Yoga, meditation, Buddha and karma. You may recall a life-changing course you once took called The Landmark Forum. You may think of the deepest tenets of Christianity and other world religions. Quotes may come to mind- such as “There but for The Grace of God Go I” and “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ”

And as we think further about altering consciousness there may come a realization There is nothing new or different here.

As a race, humans have desired to alter their consciousness for eons now. And we’ve had some great ideas. We’ve had the idea of living in peace and harmony with others. We’ve thought it would be great to have tolerance for others, good judgment, and a love for all. We’ve longed to help people instead of hurt them. We have actually contemplated what it would be like if all beings lived their lives in joy, happiness, and with a high level of life fulfillment. We’ve pondered a world where everyone on the planet was fed, clothed, and educated.

No, the idea is not a new one. So then what is new here? Obviously there is something that makes the concept of altering consciousness hit our world, and rock it like an atom bomb. Here’s what I believe. I believe that lots of people are dropping the bomb of possibility for a new new world order right on top of our heads. And we, for the first time ever, are actually able to see what it is. Masses of us now believe that we may be able to alter our lives and the world, by altering our consciousness. And this is a totally new phenomenon. Now we don’t say it’s definite. We don’t say it will be easy. But many of us do say “This could happen.” And that’s big, and it’s brand spankin’ new.

And if we don’t kill ourselves off first, we might just actualize this possibility.

I’m an optimist at heart and choose to believe we will. So as these articles progress, I will speak more about various ways to alter consciousness in the direction I believe humanity is longing to go. Some are time honored, tried and true practices that take some work. Others, such as brain entrainment, are new on the evolutionary scale, and relatively easy to employ. Stay tuned as we explore all of these practices in more depth. And as the yogis say, Namaste.

Tags: fitness, pilates