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Spiritual Gangster

Grounded Rap
By Carlos, 8th grade Spiritual Gangster

Two teenagers in orange headbands posing together and making hand gesturesYoga 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.

More to Explore

  • Roadmap to Lucidity

    Or
    The map to LUCIDITY
    Inspired by Yoga Sutra 1.33 which reads:
    maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha duhkha punya apunya
    visayanam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam
    The map to LUCIDITY?
    YES! Have you heard?
    Takes four states to get there~
    Not that absurd.
    The first is of FRIENDSHIP
    toward those who are happy.
    Even when you feel distant,
    resistance and slappy.
    The second is of COMPASSION
    toward those in distress.
    Tough when annoyed,
    imposed on and stressed.
    The third is of JOY
    toward those who are good
    through roadblocks of useless
    and misunderstood.
    The fourth is of EQUANIMITY
    toward those who are foul
    who are lacking in virtue,
    and react with a growl.
    Here in our mapping
    Four residents are mentioned.
    How we perceive them
    Is our fierce contention.
    Our attitudes we go for
    From composure to kind~
    Get us closer to LUCIDITY
    Where we STABILIZE our mind.
    Memorize these four~
    And observe in daily life.
    During times of quiet,
    Noise, and even strife.
    So buckle up~
    And prepare for a ride~
    To align your attitude,
    And try the untried.
    Close your eyes~
    Feel the state you are in~
    Soften your heart~
    your throat, and your skin.
    Drop your breath
    right into your heart~
    It’s made up of LOVE~
    And that’s where you start.
    Inhale with the thought~
    May I be friendly~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give friendship.
    .
    May I be COMPASSIONATE
    with your next inhale
    May I give COMPASSION
    with your next exhale.
    Inhale with the thought~
    May I have JOY~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give JOY.
    May I have EQUANIMITY
    with your inhale.
    May I give CALMNESS
    with your exhale.
    When someone comes to mind
    Offer these prayers
    No matter their issues,
    Their stains, or their stares.
    May you be LOVING~
    May you be LOVED ~
    May you be PEACEFUL~
    May you give PEACE~
    Your states of envy and mean
    Get smaller each time~
    Intolerance is removed
    You get closer to SUBLIME.
    Once your mind is CLEAR,
    And you’re CENTERED and FREE
    Skillfulness in ACTION
    Will be … Will be~

  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Built a Published Cancer Study on the Grounded Kids Curriculum

    A peer-reviewed study in Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics tested whether yoga is feasible for children and adolescents undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), one of the most intensive treatments in pediatric cancer care. The research team came from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and Emory University. The yoga…

  • Count On Meditation to Be Your Best Self

    It’s true that meditation helps children to feel better, know better and do better. That’s because meditators are in touch with their best self. If we’ve neglected to stay in touch with that part of ourselves, then how can we introduce that self to others? When access to our best self is as close as our next inhalation and expressing our best self is as easy as the next exhalation, then showing up to school, tests, parties, conversations, and even to do your chores as your best self feels natural. If your best self feels like a stranger, this meditation will help you tune in to your goodness and integrate that energy into your being