What is Kundalini Yoga (KY)?

Kundalini Yoga was a guarded secret practised by the kings and queens in India. The practice of KY incorporates postures, breathing techniques and chanting mantras.

Kundalini Yoga can help you listen to your inner voice, be more intuitive, and aware of everything around you. KY gives you access to your inner wisdom which will guide you on the path that you are meant to take. KY can benefit you in many ways such as healing, reducing your anxiety and stress and having a better sleep. Your yoga practice helps you connect to your soul and be the best version of yourself.

In Kundalini Yoga, you learn to meditate, slow down the brainwaves and calm your mind. You stay focused in the moment and attract abundance with the different mantras you chant during the classes. There are thousands of Kriyas (exercises) and meditations in KY. Whatever the situation you are in, your teacher can help you find a meditation that suits your needs. KY can help you to be the lighthouse and lifts your spirit. Meditation can change your habits and make you more compassionate.

With KY, you experience the powerful vibrations and effects of mantras on you and on your environment. The different mantras can bring protection and prosperity in your life.

With regular practice of KY it is possible to see improvements in your flexibility and your mental health. KY can help heal the nervous system and recover from past trauma. KY helps you to be less reactive to negative events or to toxic people and reduce psychological biases. You could develop empathy and could have a positive impact on your relationships (family, workplace, friends, community, etc.). Over time, KY could give you the ability to cope better with stress and your magnetic field (aura) becomes stronger.

The different types of breath that you practise in KY affect your mental state and can allow you to gain clarity and increase your level of happiness.

As expressed in "Publishers Weekly's" book review, Laurie Halse Anderson's, "Speak" has left me touched and inspired. Despite my first impression of the novel, it was truly a great read. Although Melinda’s don’t-care attitude and negative outlook on life could be rather irritating, as mentioned in the review, her wit and sarcasm kept me reading and allowd me to sympathize with her. Anderson’s brilliance in giving Mel humorous, entertaining characteristics acts as comic relief, helping not only the reader, but also Melinda get through the somber, depressing first couple of marking periods (first two quarters of the book). Once again, as referred to in the selected book review, the first-person narration causes a bond to form between the reader and Melinda that is so strong, we feel as if we

know her; we worry for her, we take pity on her, and eventually, we become proud of her.

LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

The review merely touches on the subject of Melinda’s “hard-won metamorphosis.” To say the least, Melinda has earned my full respect. Mel picking herself up and blossoming into a determined, beautiful girl was one of the most gratifying things I have ever read. Although not mentioned in the “Publishers Weekly” review, Laurie Halse Anderson does a remarkable job of addressing serious issues that appear so often in our lives and in society as a whole. For example, the problems many adolescents face of depression and self-harm are those Melinda suffers throughout the novel. Furthermore matters such as gender equality, bullying and rape are explored in this piece of literature. Another important aspect of Anderson’s award-winning novel the book review failed to discuss is the predominant, touching theme. In Laurie Halse Anderson’s, “Speak” she illustrates the importance of standing up for yourself and that you cannot live a content life by letting others speak for you. This is a theme that not only pulls on our heart strings, but is one we can most likely relate to. Aside from the novel’s enticing storyline, the author poetic, witty style of writing that appeals to young audiences and unique way of organising the novel (through lists, sub-sections within four marking periods, and etcetera) equally contribute to the quality and success of the novel. To conclude, this is a must-read for all ages. It is unpredictable, captivating, and self-empowering. “Speak” is an amazing work of literature that in a way, has changed my view on life in a way I’ll never forget.

Book Review - Publishers Weekly

In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. Divided into the four marking periods of an academic year, the novel, narrated by Melinda Sordino, begins on her first day as a high school freshman. No one will sit with Melinda on the bus. At school, students call her names and harass her; her best friends from junior high scatter to different cliques and abandon her. Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine

through her pain and holds readers' empathy. A girl at a school pep rally offers an explanation of the heroine's pariah status when she confronts Melinda about calling the police at a summer party, resulting in several arrests. But readers do not learn why Melinda made the call until much later: a popular senior raped her that night and, because of her trauma, she barely speaks at all. Only through her work in art class, and with the support of a compassionate teacher there, does she begin to reach out to others and eventually find her voice. Through the first-person narration, the author makes Melinda's pain palpable: ""I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special."" Though the symbolism is sometimes heavy-handed, it is effective. The ending, in which her attacker comes after her once more, is the only part of the plot that feels forced. But the book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.

Daisy Questions

1.How does nature have an impact on Melinda? How do the changing seasons mirror Melinda's ability to speak?

In the novel we notice that as the seasons change so does Melinda. In the beginning of the novel it is fall and Melinda is sad, she doesn't have any friends and she is beginning to not care about life, and trying to get friends, she also begins the bad habit of biting her lips. As winter rolls in Melinda's sadness begins to developed into a deep, dark and cool depression. She does not care about school any more, does not leave the house, her physical appearance and she does not talk to anyone and her lip biting has gotten to the point where she gnaws clean through her bottom lip. But things begin to change around for Melinda as springs appears. She gets out more on her bike and begins to garden. We can clearly indicate that Melinda is beginning to heal at this point in the novel. She is begging to come out and she is beginning to speak and to get stronger.

2.What were your guy's reaction when Andy attacked Melinda again?

When Andy attacked Melinda again in the closet we all had major heart attacks. It was so unexpected and just scary because you didn't know if Melinda would be able to stop him from raping her again. When Melinda yelled "NO!" we were so proud that she was able to speak up and to stand up for herself.

3.What does Melinda learn in art class? What does the tree she spends the year creating finally come to symbolize?

In art class Melinda learns that for things to be beautiful they do not have to be perfect. The tree that Melinda had been working on over the past year symbolizes her life. At the beginning of the year Melinda had a lot of trouble trying to carve the tree and trying to make it look perfect. As the year goes on and winter rolls in Melinda has begun to give up on the project. The spring comes and Melinda finally get the idea that to complete the tree and to make it look real and alive that it is okay for the tree to have imperfections. This mirrors Melinda and her life/ story  perfectly because at the starting of the year in Melinda's life she kept on trying to have this perfect life and she was trying to hide that fact that she had been emotionally damaged by the rape. When winter comes Melinda begins to not want to try anymore and she wants to give up on everything in her life, her friends and her family ect... But when spring comes Mel begins to try and she begins to talk she begins to blossom like a tree after winter and she speaks out. The tree she ended up creating did have imperfection but that's what made it perfect and                                                                               beautiful just like her.
       

4.If you were raped what would you have done? Would you talk about it with someone or be like Melinda and keep it to yourself?

If I were in the same situation as Melinda I think that at first I would be embarrassed and that I would not want anyone knowing, but I feel like if it were to happen I would talk with my best friend about it before anyone else because, even though it isn't my fault that I got raped, I know that she wouldn't judge me and that she would help me tell my parents.

5.What roles do David and Mr. Freeman play in the novel? How does he contribute to Melinda's quest on finding her voice?

David and Mr. Freeman are key elements in Melinda's life and they are the two people who influence Melinda the most and who help her speak out. Both of these characters support Melinda through out the novel and are important in helping Melinda SPEAK. David, being one of Melinda's only friends, helps Melinda realize that if she wants to make a point or make a change that she has to speak out. Mr. Freeman helps Melinda by being there for her and comforting her. He let her know that it is okay to speak and that her is there to listen.

6.In the library when Melinda and Rachel have their written conversation, Rachel gets very mad at Melinda and accuses her of lying. What do you think of her reaction? Why does she react like this?

I think the that Rachel overreacted. I do understand as to why she might be upset, being that she is so deeply "in love" with Andy Evans but I think she should have stood up for her friend and that she should have comforted her Melinda and believed her. Gals before Pals ;)

7.Do you think Melinda should forgive Rachel for everything she has done to Melinda during the year?

I think that Melinda should forgive Rachel but I do not think that Melinda should become best friends with her again. Rachel treated her like a piece of garbage for the past year and has inflicted so much pain on Melinda, that's not what a true friend does to the other.

8.What do you think happened to Andy Evans?

I think that Andy Evans was arrested for raping a girl and for sexually assaulting so many others. And that he has been shunned by every one at the high school.

9.Do you like the way the novel ends?

I really like how this novel ends because it ends on a high note letting readers know that everything is going to be okay with Melinda and that she will move on and grow. The last scene in this novel is of Melinda talking with Mr. Freeman about what happed to her and speaking out, the last sentence in the book it "Let me tell you about it". This shows us that everything is okay and that Melinda will be okay. It ends this dark and somber novel on a high and happy level and I like that about the ending.

Daisy Journal Entry #4

I do have one connection to this story and it involves a girl who was, I would not say bullied but who felt useless and like she didn't belong just as Melinda felt in Speak. Sadly for this girl she did not have the same strength as Melinda and was not able to save herself and she resorted to drugs. It all started in elementary school. All of the girls in our grade made all of the sports teams, we all had nice clothes and were all interested in basically the same things. But there was one girl in particular who never made any teams, her parents were in a messy divorce and she felt as if there was no one there for her. This girl was one of my best friends but I am sad to say that I didn't do anything about it at the time. I didn't tell her that it was okay to speak out. I don't think anyone did really as no one really knew what she was going through . Both her mother and father were heavily involved with their boyfriend/girlfriends. She didn't feel as if anyone cared about her, when in reality we all loved her to pieces but I guess we didn't show her how much we cared.

As elementary school began to finish this girl could not keep her emotions bottled up any more and she was tired of trying in her life, just as Melinda was during the winter. The only difference between Melinda and this girl is that Melinda had this certain strength in her that helped her get through this tough time and this girl just gave up. She could not take it anymore and she began doing drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd of friends, not caring about her self respect, skipping school and getting in trouble with the law.  I lost one of my best friends, she was such a nice girl, the girl with the biggest heart and she still is, it's just now she is so heavily involved with drugs that I lost her. If I had one wish it would be to go back in time and to tell her that it is okay for her to speak out and to tell her that I care and that I want to hear what she has to say. Her life is ruined because she didn't have anyone who told her they care, because she didn't speak and look for guidance from the friends she didn't know she had. Lucky for Melinda she had Mr. Freeman and David to give her guidance. This girl had none that she knew about, if only she had the same strength that Melinda had she would not be ruining her life, she would come back to us. I miss her like crazy and it is not fair that because of the past she is ruining her future, it is not fair that because of not feeling like she could speak and talk to anyone that she is where she is today.  It is not fair that her life is being destroyed before it has even begun.

Dolly's Journal Entry 4

 

At first, I hated so much this book and it was bugging me because the principal character, Melinda was complaining about everything but didn't do anything to make it change and wasn't communicating with anyone. But later on in the book we can see that that she is more self-confident and isn't afraid anymore of what can happen if she do this or that, she just do it. Some examples of that would be when Heather asked Melinda for her help and she said no, normally she would say yes because she would feel bad for her but she finally stand up for what she believe. Another example of Melinda's self-confidence is when Andy Evans tried to rape her again for revenge against her big mouth but Melinda didn't let him rape her again, no she fought and screams as hard as she can to get out of his grip. Something that really make me think a lot about choosing stupid love over friendship is when Melinda was finally ready to open up and tried to tell someone what happened, she chooses to tell it to Rachelle but she didn’t believe her because she was so blind by love because of Andy Evans. It kind of makes me sad because she thought that someone would finally listen to her but it didn’t happen except for Mr. Freeman, he wanted to listen to her and what she had to say. In this book, Melinda is flourishing like a tree. The tree she was drawing and the tree in general are really important in the story because it represents her progress in life and how she felt during this whole process. I think that Mr. Freeman make his students do this project to learn about themselves and to help them find a way to solve their problems. The tree also shows that it can take time to be where we want to be but its better later than never and its better doing it with someone than do it by yourself. When we start reading, the author makes us wait and hate her book but if we continue to read it, it’s getting more and more interesting, funny and we are starting to love her book and for some of us we can even relate to her book and some events.  

 

Laura's Journal Entry #2

In Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak,” she illustrates that without a voice, you are nothing, and people treat you as such (nothing).
Although this theme is clearly the most significant message conveyed in the novel Anderson addresses several issues throughout the book that appear in our own daily lives, and in society as a whole. First of all, we see a lot of Melinda’s family dynamic in this section of the novel. The constant arguing between Mel’s father and mother is something that so many, especially teenagers can relate to. Melinda’s parents don’t seem to realize the environment at home is a contributing factor to Melinda’s behaviour. If her parents came across more caring, maybe Melinda wouldn’t feel so scared to speak to them. Secondly, the author brings up the touchy issue of racism so well. During a class debate, the teacher is making an intolerant remark that is offensive towards immigrants. Some students take his side, while other are punished for arguing his point. Unfortunately, racism is still alive and well today in our schools, workplaces, and on our streets. Laurie incorporates this into her book to help us understand the issue. She also demonstrates the ability some teachers have to treat students a certain way depending on their beliefs, their race, and what they do, or do not stand for. In the novel in general, the author makes priority of writing about the social pyramid of high school and the way teenagers act towards one another. Melinda is always there for Heather, who is only going to be friends with her until someone better comes along. Furthermore, because Mel is so hated and outcast, it’s no big deal when others pick on her, as opposed to the way it would go down if the same thing happened to a student with true friends, popularity, and dignity. We also read about the relationship between ex-best friends that we see so often during high school and middle school. Finally, the author addressed the way women are disrespected and exposed in society. At the end of the second quarter of the novel, Heather gets a modeling job where she is told to look “sexy” and is afterwards under pressure to barely eat and lose weight. This serves the purpose of reminding us, although we’ve come a long way, especially in North America, sexism and prejudice are still huge issues, whether we realize it, or not. I feel that so often the media advertises the need to look pretty, even if it’s not a direct attempt. To conclude, in this part of the novel especially, several social issues are addressed that are extremely relatable and come up frequently in our everyday lives.