Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

So I'm not sure if I'm completely freaked out by this or not. As I mentioned in my last post, I've been on the bench for several weeks...I have not been able to practice and it has SUCKED. That also means no centering or meditating or OMs because I'm a slacker and I just can't get in the zone at home.

Anyway, today I'm working away on my computer. I realize I need to print my mobile phone bill so I can itemize and expense it, but I recently disconnected and moved my printer. So off I go to fetch it. I plug it into the outlet on my wall, plug another cord into the USB port on my computer, and press On. I turn back to my computer to send my document to the printer, and suddenly it starts to print even though I have not sent my document yet. I start getting aggravated, which is just a continuation of some earlier aggravation: For some reason around noonish, all hell was breaking loose. I was being instant messaged by two people from work at the same time as I was trying to respond to a text message that had just come in from my favorite man, at the same time my doorbell was ringing and my dog and my friend's Pomeranian that I am watching simultaneously begin their deep-bark, high-bark alerts. By the time I answered the door, my sister-in-law (who was on the other side) could hear me cursing through the door and looked like she was ready to duck and run when it finally swung open. Who could blame her.

But back to the printer.

Again, I'm aggravated, because this printer is brand new. So when I press On, I expect it to act appropriately and not give me any static. But it's acting strange and now it has just printed and spat out a piece of paper that I will have to throw away, which means wasted toner and wasted paper, which I hate. I snatch the paper out of the tray and turn it over and for a moment I think, cool, it didn't print at all, because it looks like the page is totally blank. Then my eye catches something in the upper left corner of the paper, a little black blemish...and this is a photo of what I saw, cross my heart, I swear:

Oh. My. God.

OM.

OM!!!!!!

My printer just told me I need to take a deep breath and chill. Or the Universe did. Or God. Or someone.

Of all the numbers. All the letters. All the possible combinations...I get O and M. O and M thisclose. The only letters on the paper. You know how sometimes when a printer goes wonky, it prints gibberish all over the page, a stray character here and there, symbols and whatnot? Well, my printer didn't wig out and spew gibberish. It malfunctioned and proclaimed OM, just one time in stark black on a blank white page. Very Zen. Very spartan. Very clearly OM.

Presents for Your Favorite Yogi

Thank all that's good that these days, there's more yoga stuff out there than ever. From clothes to mats, to jewelry and DVDs, there is a perfect present out there for every yogi.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Gorgeous, Indian-influenced jewelry by Rosena Sammi. Check out the Kismat Collection to see her Om Shanti Necklace, Om Necklace; the Fashion Collection for the stunning Mandala Earrings. Prices run from $110 to $320, and up.
  
  
• Yoga clothes. For those of you not in close proximity to Asana Activewear, I'm sorry for you. BUT, if you're ever passing through Charlotte, NC, do not miss this place. Owners Gary and Leslie have the BEST selection of activewear in town if you're looking for gear more interesting than what's available at your local big box store. It's a great looking store with a selection that has been edited with a very discerning eye. You will not be disappointed.
  
  Lululemon Athletica also has some great looking pieces for guys and girls. Plus a cool site with gorgeous, real-people-doing-yoga photos. I like.
  
  
• Yoga music. Give a gift certificate to Omstream.com. Yoga, meditation, and world music can be downloaded for playing on you iPod or mp3 player. Listen to samples, see suggestions, or download entire playlists.



• Cool mats. I should practice what I preach and invest in some fun mats, but I'm still sticking by my favorite Nike mat. If you're looking, here are some ideas...be sure to check out Get Your Crow Flying with Cheeky Yoga Gear and More Unique Mats to see more.
  
  Circles Mat
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Prana Reversible ECO Sticky Mat

Yogic References in Madonna's "Frozen" Video

So why did I post Madonna's "Frozen" video? Well, any yogi can see the more obvious yogic references. And anyone listening can hear the message, which is very yogic as well. I, frankly, am obsessed with this video, and here's why: it has all my favorite things...Madonna and her enviable musculature, mehndi, mudras, music, plus the Doberman, the black, the hair, the art. I recently told a friend that if I had to choose one video to represent me, this would be it.

But let's delve a little deeper into the symbolism of this video from a yogic perspective. There are a lot of things going on here:

• Gyan mudra throughout (first instance at 4:14). And it appears she does variations on other mudras in which the fingertips are held in Gyan mudra as part of another mudra.
  
  
• Madonna in Marichyasana (3:48). Not easy to see with the long skirt, but she very gracefully moves right into it. If you click Marichyasana above, you can read more, but here's an excerpt of the history behind this asana:
  
  "Marichi is the son of Brahma and chief of the Maruts, the warlike storm gods. He's one of the seven seers (rishis) or lords of creation (prajapatis), who intuitively "see" and declare the divine law of the universe (dharma)." An interesting choice, of all the asanas out there.
  
  
• Madonna in Child/Balasana (at 1:49) before revealing a hennaed OM in the palm of right hand (1:36), in a semi-Varada mudra. What's interesting about this? Varada mudra is a gesture of giving, of bestowing blessings. OM symbol in the palm of the right hand...a gift to us? Say what you want about her, but she really brought yoga to the forefront, enlightened the masses about it at a time when it wasn't on every street corner.

There's probably a lot more going on than even this, but it's getting late and I'm getting sleepy. But before I go, here's a cool tidbit I learned in doing this research...you can find this info at http://hinduism.about.com/od/omaum/a/meaningofom.htm:

To type an OM symbol on your computer, open MS Word and key in backslash ( \ ) in Wingdings font. It works!

For more information on mudras, see these posts:

• http://theyogaphile.blogspot.com/2007/02/mudra-power.html
• http://theyogaphile.blogspot.com/2007/02/im-in-mudra.html
• http://theyogaphile.blogspot.com/2007/03/mudras-in-christian-imagery.html