Grounded Rap By Carlos, 8th grade Spiritual Gangster
Yoga is the best, so don’t put it to the test.
Yoga is better than the rest.
It helps you breathe through your chest.
Now just go wit da flow and don’t mess wit Yoga.
It’s so fly it can make a drunk person sober
Yoga is the best. Don’t put it to the test.
Yoga is better than the rest.
It helps you breathe through your chest.
But when it’s time to leave
we want to stay
but the teacher says it’s time to say
Namaste.
Namaste.
How Yoga Makes Me Feel Like a Better Person Yoga makes me feel like I’m fearless, more important to this world than I thought I was. It teaches me to be proud and positive, to respect others and understand what they may be going through. It tells me to do what I need to do…
Said my young friend who wants a connection: “I wave. I shake hands, with no objection. No pain, no remorse, no one intervening a choice I make without much thought or meaning~”
“…Is there a gesture that honors each other? That celebrates greeting sisters and brothers? Can you show me HOW to express happiness with social and spiritual significance?”
YES, my dear friend, I can show you a mudra~ a gesture of sorts, for kings, friends and sudras. Place hands together from fingers to wrists~ like a knife, cut through difference that may exist.
This immediately gets you to the shared ground~ of ALL people, of all cultures, of all sound. It’s a recognition, a united force~ that honors equality of all from the Source.
Close your eyes and tune into your own inner light; your divine spark that forever burns bright. That’s the key, my dear friend, you must see your OWN in order to recognize others’ light shown.
BLEND your five fingers of action on the left~ with five fingers of knowledge on the right~ to achieve the symbol of perfection the union of opposites; interconnection. FInd the Connection of your brain and your heart; your sun and your moon; your stop and your start. Marry together reason and emotion~ unite thoughts and feelings, stillness and motion.
Join positive and negative; hot and cold~ theory with practice, silver with gold~ Wisdom with Method, intellect with instinct~ talent with genius, and feelings with think!
Exhalation and inhalation, ,brain and heart~ Align in harmony, right from the start! There is indeed no sphere of our existence untouched by the symbolic significance~
Bondage and ignorance and limitation! Oh my! We contract like a sneeze~ You want to know why? These are the roots of our issues, You see~ Unworthiness, insecurity, feeling un-free.
These deep darkened roots, known as Anava Mala, cloak our awareness like pollen all upon ‘ya.
This pollen of unworthiness Helps us forget~ How miraculous we are~ We recoil ~we regret.
We regret and we doubt. We feel separate and small. Our pimples and frizzes Keep us enthralled.
How, do we, how do we How DO we re-remember? Our goodness, our freedom From here to September?
Good question, my dear! So at your request~ I’ll teach you the tools To elevate your quest!
Your breath is the broom that sweeps away pollen, Shines light on the ignorance Which is hidden and smallen.
Sit tall, close your eyes, Tune into your spine. Inhale your breath Down the left side line
Sweep your breath out~ On the same side, From bottom to top~ Deep inside.
Sweep your breath in, Down the right side this time. Get real close and real low~ To release dust and grime.
Sweep your breath out~ From bottom to top. Keep sweeping your spine~ No reason to stop!
No reason to stop~ Till you feel lighter and free! Relieved of unworthy Pollen and debris.
The pollen of ignorance~ And debris of limitation~ Can be swept to the surface For expansive illumination.
Each time we remember, We grow and expand~ We become more real! And that is quite grand!.
Little Bo Breath has lost her depth, And can’t tell where to find it: She closes her eyes, tunes inside And breathes from hips to armpits. When you feel shallow and dull, deeply breath to get more full. Settle your seat and settle your feet. Close your eyes and visualize a cave in each armpit; …
(Inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter II, v. 42 samtosad anuttamah sukhalabhah)
From contentment, Highest happiness is obtained Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs Are invited to explain….
Consider us each a chakra An energy gate of sorts That we open, clean and balance For optimal support.
Work on passing through The seven chakras {or gates} In order to visit the underworld And ascend to blissful states.
Let’s begin in MOUNTAIN with SLEEPY, Awaken abundant roots. Stand with both feet straight Ground heavy in your boots.
Each time you inhale, Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HERE. Each time you exhale, Root your feet a little deeper.
Reach up high with outstretched hands FORWARD FOLD and touch the ground. Prepare to balance GRUMPY Who needs some healthy bounds.
Whenever you breathe in, Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL. Each time you breathe out, Circle your hips like a water wheel.
Step your right foot back Into a STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE Here we balance DOPEY Soak up power, like a sponge.
Each time you take breath in, Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACT. Each time you release breath out, Stretch your belly with great tact.
Step your left foot back Press hips up into DOWNWARD DOG Open up to HAPPY Melt your heart free from smog.
Receive your in breath and Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOVE. Give your breath out Feel Unworthiness? Get RID of!
Shift forward into PLANK So BASHFUL can get clear. Soften your throat back And open up your ears.
Each time you breathe in Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK WORDS. Each time you breathe out Say, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.
Lower knees, chest and chin GRATITUDE for SNEEZY’s insight and vision. Draw back of eyes toward back of head To focus on decisions.
Each breath in Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE. Each breath out Cross your eyes to a degree.
Stretch your crown forward and up To balance DOC in SNAKE Straighten legs behind you, Connect to what’s awake.
Each time you breathe in Think, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW Each time you breathe out Stretch from head to toe.
Lower back down Prepare to pose in reverse Remember your rights Remember to immerse.
SNAKE back to GRATITUDE Breathe into your poses Up PLANK to DOWN DOG Your rights are like roses.
STRAIGHT LEG LUNGE to FORWARD FOLD And back up to MOUNTAIN Keep moving and grooving Till your rights flow like fountains.
When we know our rights, And pass through chakra gates~ We develop a sense of contentment And more deeply relate.
Happiness is indeed obtainable. When we follow the path of contentment Accept the ups and the downs of our very own presentment.
May we be content with GRUMPY work Or no work at all~ DOPEY or HAPPY states BASHFUL or baseball.
May we be content when SLEEPY Or wide awake~ SNEEZY or Doc It’s our right~For Goodness Sake!
Grounded Kids Yoga 115 Milton Park Court, Alpharetta, GA 30022
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Grounded Kids Yoga provides in-person and online training, professional development workshops, and ongoing support for educators, parents, and clinicians. We specialize in kids yoga, mindfulness, social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma and pain management, emotional regulation, and impulse control for preschool through high school students. Each year, we serve thousands of children and teens through school programs, after-school enrichment yoga clubs, summer camps, Girl Scouts, 4-H conferences, and yoga studios across Atlanta, the Southeast, and nationwide.
Yoga is the best, so don’t put it to the test.
Bondage and ignorance and limitation!
