I open the large Haveli doors onto the terrace that leads out to the lush gardens where a magnificent sculpture of the Buddha in natural pink sandstone resides, seated with bowl, in earth-touching mudra. Ornately carved from black granite with its trunk upturned, the Maharajah Elephant brings the grandeur of the old days. Surrounded by old oak trees and birds of paradise this is the view from my yoga room in my house, my sacred space and sanctuary where I do my daily practice. Calm and peaceful, I take the goodness of Mother Earth and offer her my devotion.
My yoga room houses my beautiful altar, made from an old Indian window, where I practice meditation and align my chakras. The hand-carved deities of the Vedic traditions contain great energies. My altar has the Sri yantra and Shiva the mystic dancer and Hanuman the Rudra avatar of Shiva known for his healing powers and pure devotion to him. Ganesha and Lakshmi sit on their crystals and resonate with my daily intention. The photos of my mom and dad and the sacred text of the Bhagwad Gita guide me to follow the right path.
Lapis lazuli mala beads strung with rudraksha, hand knotted with cotton tassels, adorn Shiva and the quartz crystal mala synchronizes with the Sri yantra. Ganesha loves red and rules the root chakra, coral mala beads ground me as I sit in my asana of energy and love. I decorate the altar with candles, incense and fresh flowers, bringing new energy and love to my home and heart. Altars are divine centers for yoga or meditation and energize the space around them, raising the resonance of your soul.
Your altar is a manifestation of your inner spirit, an expression of your soul and how you identify with the world. Old world artistic elements such as the antique arches built into the wall make a beautiful backdrop for my yoga sanctuary. Light and airy sari drapes flutter in the wind and handmade cotton throws on the floors are perfect for sitting. It is my place of comfort where I come to revitalize my spiritual energy. The energy grows and multiplies with each mantra and is reflected back to me. It is a beautiful place to meditate and seek inspiration, connect with the universe, and grow with the seasons.
The carved barn doors of Saraswati and Vishnu, whitewashed with subtle tones of color see through, are a divine joy to behold. I used them as the gates to my yoga sanctuary. The old woods are so earthy and cementing that just looking at the ancient carvings brings me to the pure joy of divine bliss.
