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Big Heart Blog

FREE Meditation and Mantra Class

by Omkari
posted Thursday, August 16th, 2018

Come check out a Shambhava Yoga® meditation class during Austin’s Free Day of Yoga.  The class will be held on Monday, September 3 (Labor Day) from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at 1200 East 11th Street, Suite 109. Meditation practice helps to calm the mind, open the heart, and release the stored up tensions that are […]

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Slowing the Pace

by Omkari
posted Thursday, January 15th, 2015

“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.” – Mahatma Gandhi Hindu mythology tells a story about how Lord Ganesh won a race without the benefit of speed.  He and his brother Kartikeya agreed to race to see who could go around the world 3 times and come back first.  Kartikeya set out […]

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Take it easy this fall and breathe

by Omkari
posted Thursday, August 28th, 2014

When I attended a yoga teacher training at Shoshoni Yoga Retreat in 2001, I couldn’t quite understand all the focus on breathing.  While I did find it helpful to breathe more deeply, and pay more attention to my breath, I wondered about the necessity of repeating this instruction over and over.  I was mildly suspicious […]

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A Light-hearted Poem on Raising Spiritual Children

by Omkari
posted Sunday, April 6th, 2014

How does a yogi mom raise a spiritual child? Does she raise her child vegan, does she let him run wild? Does she give her child malas instead of rattles and toys?  Does she shield him from plastic and non-yogic boys? Does she make him play yoga instead of video games? Does she spend her time calling […]

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Slow Motion

by Omkari
posted Thursday, August 29th, 2013

“Slow motion cures commotion.”  -Paul Reps Parents feel, and there is some reality to it, that they need to be in constant motion to keep their family’s needs in balance.  The never ending cycle of cooking, dishes, laundry, shuttling here and there, work, buying groceries, and managing things in general can seem overwhelming – and […]

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Connecting through Surrender

by Omkari
posted Friday, February 1st, 2013

Being a mother is so confusing.  We seek to deeply attach to and bond with our children, and yet, the skill we must truly develop is the one of learning to let them go.  We must learn to let go of our attachment to what they do (and don’t do) that is different from what […]

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The Blessing

by Omkari
posted Monday, November 19th, 2012

“Look lovingly on some object.  Do not go on to another object.  Here in the middle of this object – the blessing.”  from a translation of the Vijnana Bhairava in Zen Flesh and Bones. This teaching is so relevant for me right now.  Much has fallen away to make room for a longed-for baby, and […]

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Opening to Life

by Omkari
posted Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

“Instead of trying to recreate what was, see what IS.” -Babaji Shambhavananda Learning to open to the life that you have is one of the most beautiful gifts of a regular meditation practice.  Disappointed that your relationship is not what it used to be?  That your sweet-natured child is learning to speak up, but only […]

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Walking Meditation

by Omkari
posted Friday, July 13th, 2012

“I have arrived.  I am home.  My destination is in each step.”  -Thich Nhat Hanh The other morning while I was walking on the greenbelt, I experienced a moment of being truly absorbed in the act of walking.  Inside of me, everything became profoundly quiet, while around me the birds sang and the frogs croaked.  […]

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Everything is in You

by Omkari
posted Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

This past weekend, we had another sweet family yoga and kirtan class.  We listened to a story about Lord Krishna as a child. Krishna (or Gopala), the beautiful blue god-child, and his brother Balaram are caught eating dirt in the back yard.  Their mother, usually sweet and nurturing, yells “STOP EATING DIRT.  I’VE TOLD YOU […]

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Learning to Surrender

by Omkari
posted Monday, March 5th, 2012

“Surrender is a process that takes place inside of you.  When fear, anger or any strong emotion arises, if you can let those feelings go, you are surrendering.” (S. Shambhavananda) I must confess that I have done a fair amount of wondering about whether or not I really know how to surrender.  Over time, I […]

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Some Thoughts on Sweetness

by Omkari
posted Friday, February 24th, 2012

The other day, I treated myself to a large cup of convenience store coffee with hazelnut creamer.  The flavor was both satisfying and familiar.  This is not my normal fare.  I am by and large a green tea drinker these days, with an occasional cappuccino splurge from the city’s best locally owned coffee shop.  Today, […]

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May All Beings Everywhere be Happy and Free

by Omkari
posted Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

“Lokah Samastah Sukhinoh Bhavantu.”  My 5 year old daughter spent Sunday afternoon singing this mantra.  It had been the “lesson” at family yoga that day.  I smiled to myself because she had not seemed to be paying attention during a lot of the family yoga class, and so I was a little surprised when I […]

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Vedic Astrology and the Planetary Mantras

by Omkari
posted Thursday, November 24th, 2011

(By Guest Contributor Lakshman Fontaine.) The planets in Vedic Astrology are called Grahas which means ‘to seize’ or ‘to take hold of’.  They represent forces that have influence on us in different ways.  In Sanskrit, the word Shakti has to do with energy or power.  It is related to the feminine aspect of Divine Consciousness.  […]

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Simple Reminders

by Omkari
posted Monday, November 7th, 2011

Be Present. Focus Inside. Relax the Breath.  

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Family Yoga Bliss

by Omkari
posted Monday, September 12th, 2011

It is both amusing and frustrating that my daughter does not really like to do yoga with me.  When she was a baby, before she had a say, we practiced “Itsy Bitsy Yoga” together.  When she was about 2 years old, we went to a toddler yoga class.  She spent the whole time wanting to […]

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Mantras

by Omkari
posted Thursday, September 8th, 2011

This past weekend, we held a Mantra Immersion. Taking a full day to do mantra practice is like soaking oneself in the most soothing and refreshing of inner baths.

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Meditation for Mothers

by Omkari
posted Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Meditation can be defined as a state of mind that is without thoughts, AND it is a mind that is at peace despite thoughts.

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Contributors

Anita (Omkari) Stoll

Founder, Austin Big Heart Yoga

Anita Omkari StollAnita began her studies in yoga in 1999.  In 2001, she became certified to teach hatha yoga in the Shambhava Yoga tradition.  Since that time, she has become a Certified Shambhava Meditation Instructor and continues to practice and study meditation, yoga philosophy and hatha yoga in the Shambhava tradition.  She has also had the privilege of learning from senior teachers of the Ashtanga, Viniyoga, and Anusara traditions of hatha yoga.  Anita is an experienced psychotherapist, student of Ayurveda, and mother to a preschooler.  Her teaching style reflects her keen interest in how the ancient practices of yoga can help us to create emotional, mental, and physical balance, as well as spiritual transformation.