Last week I had the pleasure to go to a kirtan with Jai Uttal at Urban Flow Yoga. The room was full with people and the atmosphere was sort of upbeat, friendly and loving at the same time. Rusty Wells yoga teacher training had kicked off with the first session that very day, and those participants were in the room, with a big relaxed smile on their face. It’s interesting – I could see the same light in their eyes, that I feel when I come from his class. I can only imagine how the teacher training is… I so hope there is someone there that will open up a kick ass Urban Flow Yoga studio in Stockholm one day. I’m just putting it out there.
Jai Uttal opened up singing a mantra with us called Sita Rama. The lyrics mean, “you represent perfect union, you are love.” The introduction was that when Jai started with kirtans 30 years ago, he used to feel afraid initially sitting on stage with a room full of strangers looking at him. He felt that they would judge him, dislike the music, etc etc – and so he always made sure to know where the EXIT door was. (At this moment all of us knew where that door was!)
Today we started with that mantra through which he could greet everyone welcome. Singing Sita Rama, Sita Rama, Sita Rama Jaya Sita Rama, with that very message of perfect union and love directed to each and every participant; seeing them and inviting them instead of being afraid of them. I think we chanted two mantras in two hours, so I am sure we did it long enough for every one to get their personal greeting and feel that we were in it together.
How do you greet strangers, or handle a situation of discomfort? Do you always keep your back-door open, eyes on the exit door, or do you stay to meet the person or situation to find out what it really is about and create the best of it? Do you invite the connection to your audience when you are in the spotlight? Do you invite the perfect union?
The following day I walked on Union Street where there was a fair in relation to Easter. The golden moment was to see children in a fenced little area get aquainted with some animals. In particular this little British boy, who with curiosity and care really was seeking contact with this creature, for him something or someone unknown. That is a perfect example. The children are such good teachers and sources of inspiration.
Sita Rama, with love,
Johanna
Loving Life Blog 
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