When most people picture kimono robes for women, they remember the elaborate silk creations they’ve seen on Japanese women, many of which would be displayed at museums and galleries. While these collectors’ editions still enjoy quite a following, the average woman cannot picture herself wearing one. The modern kimono robes of today are just as attractive as those traditional ones on display, but they are much less expensive and easier to care for. In fact, nearly all of the Japanese kimono robes for women have the same appearance and quality as those that were created so long ago.
Kimono Robes for Women – The Perfect Accessory for Summer
May 20th, 2012Zen Room Décor – The Best in Meditation Mats, Chimes & Gongs
May 14th, 2012
If you’ve ever tried finding meditation supplies, such as mats, chimes, gongs and other room décor, you know how difficult this can be. Even in urban areas, there are very few retailers that offer a selection of zabutons, meditation timers and chimes. As a result, the most reliable place to find these items is online, but how do you know which items are the best? This article will help you discover the most popular and useful items to decorate your meditation space, and best of all, everything is available in one convenient online store – Chopa.com.
Enso Pearl and Enso Asari Meditation Timer and Alarm clock
May 9th, 2012
These meditation timer and alarm clocks are perfect for your active lifestyle. Compact, lightweight and portable, they are ideal for meditation, yoga, Reiki therapy, and travel. The symbolic Enso circle offers an innovative way to convey time. The Enso appears brushed on the screen as time progresses. You can view the relative amount of time that has elapsed with a quick glance, thus eliminating the distractions of reading and calculating time on traditional clocks.
Enso Pearl Meditation Timer and Alarm Clock
The Enso Pearl features interval timing, allowing you to create sequential timers that run one-after-the-other to compose a customized sequence to mirror your personal practice. You can set a repeat timer function for multiple repetitions of a single timer and count-up like a stop watch in hours, minutes and seconds.
The Enso’s soothing sounds are recorded from Tibetan and Japanese singing bowls, tingsha (bell), moktok (wooden blocks) and a beep for meditation or alarm clock. Its unique design allows it to be placed flat on the floor in front of you or propped up using the hinged stand that folds out of the back of the clock to place on your bedside table.
Enso Asari Meditation Timer and Alarm Clock
The Asari offers the same sleek, light-weight design and Enso ring for conveying time. It offers a single count down timer, a repeat timer and a stop-watch (count-up) timer. As with the Enso Pearl, it can be set in hours; minutes and seconds can be laid flat or propped up using the same hinged stand.
The Asari is great for your meditation sequence to take you deeper, while a subtle chime signals your transitions. For Yoga, the Asari enhances your pranayama or asana practice by setting a timer that mirrors your flow.
The Asari offers a soothing, crystal clear singing bowl chime and a beep tone. Like the Enso Pearl, it can be used as an alarm clock. The chime gently awakens, leaving you feeling calm and refreshed.
The Asari is available in two colors; an oyster white or a soft sage green.
Whether you choose the Enso Pearl or the Asari, you will find the quality and versatility of these meditation timers to be exceptional and ensuring your meditation session to be more enjoyable.
Zen Habits – Improve Every Moment
May 9th, 2012by Leo Babauta
It seems that life is moving faster and faster these days. At times, we stop and say, I want to slow down, simplify my life and do less. But what if you can’t? Are we doomed to a life of stress, anxiety and unhappiness?
Leo Babauta, author of Zen Habits says no. He learned and practices a very simple tool that may help transform your life. By implementing one simple method, you can be more present, so life doesn’t feel like it’s passing you by. You can learn to enjoy every activity, feel more relaxed, and be ready to handle any situation that comes your way.
We experience two modes in life, busy and relaxed. We spend most of our time in busy mode with only a few hours on the weekend to relax and unwind. How can we change this? How can we bring the child-like relaxed, sensory mode back into our everyday lives, without just relying on lunch breaks, meditation/yoga time or yearning for that once a year vacation?
Leo Babauta refers to his method as the “Zen State.” Recall a time when you were relaxed; feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, the grass under your feet, hearing the wind rustle through the trees, smelling the salt of the ocean air. In a relaxed state of mind, you “feel” instead of “think”. The sensations our bodies experience flow into our minds and create a happy, relaxed state.
The Zen State can be re-learned through conscious awareness and practice. We often find ourselves tied to a computer or cell phone. Our minds are actively engaged in the internet but our bodies are in the physical world. If you are sitting right now, what is your body experiencing? Is the room warm or cold, is your back hunched and fingers on a keyboard? What sounds are you aware of? How is your breathing? Is your jaw clenched? When you focus on physical sensations, you “get out of your head” and begin to enter the relaxed mode instead of the thinking mode. It’s not a complete state of relaxation, but you do become relaxed like a day on the beach or practicing yoga.
Once you learn to become mindful of the physical world around you, you can do it anytime, all the time. Notice the smell, taste and feel of food you are preparing and eating. Take in all the sensations of a shower, the warmth, feel and sounds of the water. At work, take time to stop and listen. What is going on around you? How is the light in your office? How loud are the sounds around you? What about the way you are sitting in your chair, how is your breathing and your posture? At home, be mindful of what you are experiencing while doing chores, making dinner or getting ready to go to work. The more you practice this simple technique you will feel more relaxed and find more enjoyment in what you do. It will turn busy into being present, harried into enjoyment. Life will be lived, instead of ignored.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHAKRAS – The Third Eye Chakra
May 9th, 2012
This month we explore the sixth of the seven energy systems, the third eye or brow chakra. “Ajna” is the Sanskrit name and its translation means “beyond wisdom.” It is located in the center of the forehead, just above the eyes. Air and the color Indigo, a rich blue/violet are the associated elements for this chakra. The musical note is D.
The third eye chakra governs our center of intuitive abilities including rational thought and wisdom. This chakra which powers our intuition is called the “third eye.” As our two eyes view the physical world, the third eye senses and visualizes what is yet to be. The 6th chakra is the center of imagination, optimism and spiritual awareness. It allows us to gain insight from life’s challenges, to see and understand the “big picture,” and to discern what is right and wrong through perceptive reasoning. The power of optimism is in play when you consciously choose to make the best of a difficult situation, trusting that a power beyond your understanding is always at work. Buddha said “Wisdom arises through effort and disappears through lack of effort.” When open and functioning optimally, that “inner knowing” affords us the ability to make “clear headed” decisions.
A balanced chakra allows a keen sense of clarity with the ability to visualize creative ideas through imagination. As a center of wisdom and intelligence, the brow chakra promotes the development of learning and retention, the makings of a good student! It fosters the ability to see beyond the obstacles in our daily lives and to find alternatives to accomplish the most challenging goals. We remember our dreams and often spend time visualizing our future and mapping our future path in life.
We experience similar thoughts and feelings on a daily basis “I knew this was the right decision” or “I had a good feeling about that person” or “I just knew this was the job for me.” This is your 6th chakra providing you with the necessary insights to follow the inner- self without fear. Acknowledging and trusting those important signals strengthen your intuitive abilities, fosters self-evaluation of where you are in life, how you got there and visualizing where you see yourself in the future. Listening to others’ ideas without critical judgment, feeling secure with yourself and relying on divine intervention are signs of healthy 6th chakra energy.
An unbalanced chakra is often characterized by feeling mentally “blocked”, unable to visualize the big picture, making decisions based solely on logic, experiencing headaches or nightmares. Have you ever been told to “come down from the clouds?” This is not unusual with an under functioning 6th chakra. The inability to concentrate, remember or not being able to grasp a solution to life’s daily problems are also indicative of an imbalance.
When the 6th chakra is overactive, a person will appear egotistical, domineering and manipulative. These people will react critically to others, perceiving misplaced emotions are directed at them. The result is becoming “closed minded” to new ideas and opportunities and thereby inhibiting future intuitive and spiritual growth. Sixth chakra growth is stymied when behavior patterns are denied. We don’t permit ourselves to accept that we don’t know everything. When we cannot acknowledge the validity of new ideas or new ways of living that are different to us, we “close our minds,” essentially shutting ourselves off from the power of mental energy that is available to us.
To balance your 6th chakra, be mindful of your thoughts and stay in the present moment. Try to recall a dream from last night and keep a journal. You may be surprised at the recurring themes they take! Wear a shade of indigo or place accents in your room or office as a reminder. If you meditate, focus your attention on the location of your third eye with the intention of developing your intuitive skills. Be aware of the images that come to you.
The gemstones for this chakra are lapis, sapphire, sodalite and amethyst. If you burn incense, try vanilla, anise or jasmine which is thought to improve mental clarity. Grounding activities such as dance, exercising and being outdoors are helpful in aligning the energy centers and “getting you out of your head”. Try eating indigo colored foods such as purple grapes, plums, eggplant or grape juice.
To enhance your “third eye” power center, channel your synergistic energies by taking time each day to visualize. Journal your thoughts, predictions and visual images that come to you and over time, you will begin to see how your intuition plays a bigger role in your life and how your decision making skills have changed. Your intuitive powers and sense of mental clarity are enriched through practice and acknowledgement of listening to the inner-truth with confidence and without fear.
In the next issue, we explore the last of the seven energy centers, the crown chakra.
Tatami Beds – A New Way to Look at Sleep
May 7th, 2012
Most Americans have been conditioned to believe that they must sleep on a thick mattress to get a good night’s sleep. This belief is as much a part of the culture as believing a chair is where one should sit. But this is not true in other areas of the world. For example, tatami beds are widely accepted throughout Asia as an ideal sleep surface. When one considers the mainstream paradigm of traditional mattresses being the best solution, or that a 2 to 3 foot deep system of mattresses and box springs would be needed to get the “firm bed” effect,” it does seem a bit silly. As more people seek out a firm bed for comfort, tatami beds are an ideal choice.
The whole concept of soft and comfortable mattresses being the ideal place to rest our tired bones might just be a myth perpetuated by the mattress industry. In reality, most sleep experts find that rejuvenating sleep comes from surfaces with less “fluff.” The Japanese seem to have perfected this concept through their popular tatami beds. The preferred sleeping surface in Japan still seems to be a futon mattress spread out on the floor, or a Japanese futon set.
Which Meditation Supplies Make the Best Gifts?
April 29th, 2012
When you try to find that special gift for the “person who has everything,” it’s important to find out about their hobbies and favorite pastimes. If your friend or loved one is into meditation or similar Zen practices, they may need some thoughtful meditation supplies. What do I mean by “thoughtful,” you may ask? Well, these gift suggestions have both a practical and a luxurious side to them that is sure to appeal to any meditation practitioner.
Usher in Spring with Japanese Garden Fountains and Outdoor Zen Décor
April 18th, 2012
Creating a peaceful oasis in your own backyard is every homeowner’s dream, but it is not something that occurs without effort. Spring is the best time to get started on a Japanese garden project and pick up Zen fountains, Buddha statues and other supplies. But you may not be aware of what Japanese garden is supposed to look like. Fortunately, there are countless books available on this subject alone.
The Japanese take their gardens and Zen décor very seriously and they go about the design of a garden in very deliberate ways, but there is no one method for creating your own. Your backyard garden may look very different from someone else’s, depending on the space you have available.
Tatami Mats for Sale – Beyond the Martial Arts Studio
April 10th, 2012
If you’ve ever visited a traditional Japanese martial arts studio or meditation suite, you may be familiar with woven rush grass flooring known as tatami mats. But according to many of the top decorating magazines, the tatami mats for sale today are just as likely to be purchased by interior design firms and homeowners. Made from 100% organic materials, tatami mats consist of a rice straw core that is both gentle and firm underfoot. The woven rush grass that surrounds the core gives off a lovely scent, especially on humid days.
Spring marks the arrival of the Cherry Blossom
April 4th, 2012
The symbolic meaning of the Sakura or cherry blossom can be traced back centuries to the core values of the Japanese culture, simplicity and purity. It is also closely tied to Buddhist teachings; reminding us to treasure each moment in life as they are as fleeting as the life of the delicate cherry blossom.
When in bloom, Japan celebrates as a nation. The media provides regular updates on the “Sakura Zansen” the cherry blossom front to allow the nation to prepare for “Hanami” the viewing parties which fill the squares with dance, food and music when the blossoms peak.
Cherry blossom trees first came to America in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo donated 3,000 trees to Washington, D.C. as a gesture of friendship. Today, they line the tidal basin and are enjoyed by thousands of people each year. In 1926, Japan also donated cherry blossom trees to Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of our freedom.
Stretching across centuries when the ancient Samurai proudly wore the Sakura blossom on their uniforms, often reflecting their own brief service and life, to the enduring symbol in Japan’s modern culture, the cherry blossom is seen as a time of new beginnings. Schools open for new sessions, employees start new jobs and many couples wed. The Sakura blossom can be found in business names and logos, home décor such as shoji screens, tea sets and kimonos and is also present on the 1,000 yen bank note.
