Septemberis Yoga Month: Crystals for a Yoga Practice

Any gemstone canhelp you connect with your practice! Crystals can "speak" to us indifferent ways and it is usually due to the fact that we instinctually needsomething from it. It may be that we are attracted to its shape, color orsheen. It could be its size, weight or properties, but whatever it is thatdraws us in, there is a reason behind it. When this happens at first glance, Ioften like to look up it's metaphysical properties and color meanings. Thisoften explains immediately why I was drawn to it. Below is a list of myfavorite stones I use in my yoga practice. I hope you find a stone or two thatcalls to you!

Amber:

This ancientpetrified resin has electromagnetic properties. It is excellent atdetoxification and protection from other people's energies. Due to its strongconnection to nature and the earth, amber is a great stone for grounding ourhigher energies. Amber can add stability to your life and your yoga practice.Helpful in clearing up depression and therefore, bringing about a positivemental state in your practice.

Amethyst:

The stone oftransformation and spirituality. It is used for contentment and meditation.Provides common sense and flexibility in decisions. Strengthens and enhancespsychic abilities, imagery and mind quieting. This soothing stone is in tunewith your Brow and Crown"Chakra. Amethyst takes you on this transitionfrom the magic time of dusk to a conscious shift into a different place.Crossing this threshold is the lesson of humility, which Amethyst can teach usto flow with peace.The perfect yoga tool.

Coral:

Coral is a rich blendof calcium and calcite. It resonates with our body and beneficial in your yogapractice as it is used to quiet our emotions and brings peace to our inner selfand offer the lesson of diplomacy and concurrence. Coral facilitates intuition,imagination, visualization and expedites and accelerates the transfer ofknowledge from teacher to student. This "sea stone" strengthens bothcirculatory and bone structure in the body therefore, it is good for us on andoff the mat. Coral can be used alone or in combination with other stones. Coralhas a true link with the past and can pass knowledge along.

Emerald:

Emerald is a symbolof love and good fortune. This stone is used for abundance, growth, peace,harmony, patience, love, fidelity and honesty. What better benefits to give toa yogic practice. Most effective on the Heart Chakra perhaps because it accessdesires held deep within. Emerald provides inspiration and helps those in needof balance, healing, and infinite patience. Helps the wearer gain physical, emotionaland mental equilibrium. Valuable in meditative work, as well as healing.

Hematite:

This crystal is themost recommended stone for grounding and is associated with the Root Chakra, byencourages ones survival instincts and is centering. Hematite condensesscattered feelings and turns fuzziness into mental clarity. It enhancesconcentration, memory and practicality. Considered the symbol of life energy,hematite allows for more confidence, will power and boldness. Helps us adjustto being physical. A protective stone hematite is known to deflect negativity.It restores equilibrium, stability and brings our awareness back to the body.It helps one maintain their sense of self on and off the yoga mat!

Herkimer Diamonds:

These clearcrystals closely resemble diamonds but are really quartz. Considered a"Dream stone", they are used in for yoga meditation or under yourpillow to enhance visualization, astral travel and dream recall. Most effectiveon the Brow and Crown Chakra, this stone shifts the brain powerfully intoalpha/deep stillness. Amplifies and stores thoughts, energy; and can be used asa bridge to stimulate energy flow (Kundalini) up through the Chakra centers,opening the Brow and Crown Chakra for a strong, clear channel for psychicawareness, intuitive insight and yogic practice.

Himalayan Sea Salt:

Pure Himalayan PinkSalt is hand-mined in the Himalayan Mountains. This salt is known for itsunique healing properties. According to the Global Healing Center, "thissalt's unique cellular structure allows it to store vibrational energy. Itsminerals exist in a colloidal form, meaning that they are tiny enough for ourcells to easily absorb them." Himalayan pink salt naturally generatebeautiful ions, which improve air quality and health. Place a few chunks in abowl and place the bowl in your yoga room, meditation space or studio. Heatmagnifies the natural healing properties of the salt, which makes them a mustfor any Hot Yoga practice. Click here to learn all about the healing remedieswith sea salt.

Jasper:

This stone is amethodical and meticulous worker of practical, down to earth solutions. It hasthe ability to foster and nurture and its energy is used for grounding andprotection. This makes it an exceptional stone for your yoga practice. Eachcolor of jasper has additional, specific qualities when used alone. Jasper isvery effective when use on the Root Chakra. Jasper is a general tissueregeneration; mineral assimilation; and general healing.

Pearl:

In tune withemotions, water, and women, especially pregnant women, pearls are a symbol ofpure heart and mind; innocence and faith. Because it is from the sea, it haswatery and lunar elements, therefore it is used for balancing emotions,especially for water signs. Wonderful for pregnant mommies who do yoga. Pearlis the result of layer upon layer of substance produced to combat irritation,which in turn, makes it cooling, soothing and very nurturing.

Phenacite:

This angeliccrystal is considered a powerful, loving, healing, spiritual stone. It isbelieved to be one of the highest vibrational crystals yet discovered. Theclearer the stone, the more intensely it opens the Third Eye, Crown Chakra andTranspersonal Chakra as a white light channel. Hence, its aura clearingabilities are phenomenal! This stone ignites clairvoyance/spiritualcommunication, meditation, astral travel, as well as life journeys. Energizesmeridians and the healing of other stones. It helps one to go further in atrance state and gives a deeper awareness of one's inner structures. Phenacitecan be used to amplify the energies of other stones used for healing and tobalance energy within one. The perfect stone for a yoga practice.

Quartz: "RockCrystal":

Quartz is theMaster Healer and the "stone of power"! The natural tendency forquartz is for harmony. Quartz can both draw and send energy therefore it iseffective for sending/receiving guidance within your yoga practice. Quartz isused for transformation in healing and in all levels of change(mentally/emotionally, physically and spiritually). Quartz stimulates thenatural crystal in body tissues and fluids to resonate at the highest healingfrequency. Quartz works with All Chakra and is the perfect stone for completeAura balancing.

Clear Quartz:

This is thought to amplifyboth body energy and thoughts. It can assist in the creation of power, clarityof thinking, meditation, cleansing, clearing the aura, spiritual developmentand healing. Pure white light passes through it easily, leaving all the colorsof the spectrum unaltered and giving substance to the argument that clearquartz crystals can help balance all the elements needed to make us whole andfulfilled. Amplify whatever influences are present in an individual orlocation. Acts as a purifier and tunes into the frequency of each individual.Will unblock specific areas or organs blocked from transmitting or receivingthe flow of energy throughout the body. Helpful in guiding our search for themeaning and importance of existence. A must have for any yogi!

Rose Quartz:

Rose Quartzrepresents love, beauty, peacefulness, forgiving, lovingness, self-love andemotional balance! There is no better crystal to help nourish your yogapractice. It helps us with issues of self-love and self-nurturing. As humansand as life students of yoga, it's soothing influence helps diffuse negativestimuli and uncomfortable memories. Helps us discover the ability to loveourselves and makes us more open to others. It is of particular value inhelping us to forgive ourselves, hastening self-acceptance. Helps us realizethat all change is important, even difficult change. One of the best stones tobring honor and compassion into your practice!

Shiva Lingham:

Lingham is thesacred Sanskrit word for phallus. In Tantra, the shape embodies the masculineenergy; dynamic expression and knowledge. The markings or Yoni depicts femaleenergy; wisdom and intuition. The Tantric Shiva Lingham unifies the dualisticfemale/male world into harmonious balance. This Sacred Stone relates to theHeart Chakra, and represents the harmony and balance of the soul that ismaintained within the hearts of all of us. Shiva Lingham stones are used forspiritual detox, allowing us to see the higher knowledge within ourselves. Thestone gives us the capacity for hanging on to the beliefs which work the bestfor us and letting go of those beliefs which no longer serve us. When usedduring meditation, lingham shows us how to connect with our physical andspiritual energies and therefore, our higher selves. The goal of any yogapractice.

Smoky Quartz:

Smoky Quartz is agrounding stone. It is used most often to overcome depression, nightmares andstress. Quartz stimulates the natural crystal in body tissues and fluids toresonate at the highest healing frequency. Attune to the Root Chakra, it isgood for inducing Alpha/deep meditation. It benefits also include channelinghigher guidance, deep connection and helping with unconditional love. Heightensyour understanding of nature and concerns for the environment. Because it isassociated with the Root Chakra, it helps to alleviate fear, anxiety andassociated emotional depression. When placed opposite other smokies in acrystal grid these stone vibrate at a high energy level. Wonderful for youryoga space.

Crystal Clusters

I love usingcrystal clusters in my practice. I have often used a quartz, amethyst orselenite tower in the middle of the yoga studio and have my students circledaround facing the stone throughout the practice. Another idea is placing thestone(s) on my yoga mat as I practice, to remind me why I am here on the matthis day. Clusters of crystals bring a "group" energy to it'ssurrounding area. They are used to foster protection, cooperation,purification, harmony, friendship, intimacy and to break up negative energy inthe environment. Clusters help to keep all life forms energized and clear ofheavy or unproductive energy.

Andrew Pacholyk MSL.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/sanskrit.htm

Therapies forhealing

mind, body, spirit