David Harshada Wagner

Many years back when I was learning (and struggling) to mediate, I used David's guided meditations on Yogaglo.com to get me in the zone. Those days I would be fraught with panic and anxiety, which is why his fear meditation in the mornings really helped me get through the day. Then later in the evening when I wanted to calm myself down I chose his samadhi meditation to really disconnect with my worries. Little did I know that years later I would have the chance to interview him for a post for Vogue.in on love. I will put a link for that towards the end of his story. Did I mention that he has been teaching meditation and self-empowerment to people all over the world for more than 20 years? Here's how he starts his day, in his own words:

As a spiritual teacher and yogi, I guess I'm expected to have a rock-solid routine. I don't. It depends a lot on whether I am with my kids. When I am with them, they wake up at the crack of dawn and want to get me right into my father role. On those days, I wake up with my prayer (I will share later) and cuddles and kisses and gratitude. Then I make a cup of tea and get busy taking care of them.

When I am alone, my mornings are more typically yogi-like. Upon waking, I usually recite a prayer before I sit up:

God I offer myself to you, to build with me and do with me as you will. 

Take away the bondage of myself that I may better do your will. 

Take away my difficulties so that I may bear witness to your love your power and your way of life. 

May I always do your will. 

Then I do some more connecting to spirit and remembering of what I am and what everything is and eventually make my way out of bed and to the kitchen. I love my tea. It's my one vice that I have held onto. If I have time, I will make a nice masala tea boiled with milk and sugar. If I don't have time, two bags of strong English Breakfast with milk and sugar is my cup. When I hire an assistant, their first task is to learn how I like my tea. 

I will have a couple of American-sized mugs full of tea while I write in my journal. I like to listen to morning ragas or sometimes Sufi music or sometimes recordings of Baba Muktananda chanting old hymns like the Siddha Gita while I write. I look out the window and watch the light come. 

When I have had enough tea and writing, I turn off the music and sit. When I am home or in my teaching space, I usually chant a little bit and play my ektara. This is a new practice my teacher suggested. It's a great preparation for meditation. Wherever I am I like to sit in a comfortable seat. I have great meditation cushions I designed use on the floor or I like to sit in comfortable chair or even a couch. If the ancient rishis had couches in their caves they would have used them.

When I meditate I don't have a fixed technique, it depends on what I need and what I'm drawn to and where my head and heart are at on any given morning. I usually incorporate some silent mantra repetition, and most of my favorite techniques involve connecting with and surrendering to the inner Kundalini energy. If I have time, I like to sit for 45 minutes or more. If not, I will sit for as long as I can. I usually finish my meditation with some prayers for the day, usually prayers of surrender. 

After I meditate I like to spend some time enjoying my state and just enjoying whatever is happening at the moment. When I have time, I like to take a walk. Then I will usually bathe and go about the business of the day.

Find out more about David at http://davidhwagner.com/bio/.
Read his interview on love at http://www.vogue.in/content/is-meditation-the-secret-to-finding-true-love/