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Newsletters Index
Newsletter July 06
Namaste yogis and yoginis,
Events of the last fortnight dictate the flavour of this newsletter. I beg your indulgence as I try to make sense of some of the teachings that lie within great loss.
Wake up!
Now is the time to stop and appreciate what and who you have in your lives!
Now is the time to create the space to experience what is important, what is real. Now is the time to feel love. There is no other time. Now is the time to stop filling your lives with more and more things that are essentially meaningless and pay attention to what is already there. The simplicity of being in the moment, the space to watch your children sleep peacefully, to really listen to a friend or loved one, to just throw the ball to your dog, or breathe the morning air without thinking of what’s next, of all the other things you have to do. This is important. This is already there. Forget striving for more. Instead empty out all the things that don’t really count and be here now with all the things that do.
Bubba says:
A couple of weeks ago, I was watching my dog Bubba attempting to carry a soccer ball up the hill. I was greatly amused by her attempts as the ball was about five times bigger than her head, and it would inevitably bump one of the many rocks that dot our hillside and roll back down the hill and she would have to start all over again. She made me laugh as she did this, tossing and pouncing on the ball, yelping and chasing it as it escaped her once again. She was at a task yet she was also having a great time. On the fifth day (the morning of the socceroos win by the way – she’s a very in tune dog!) she was standing at the top of the hill, tail wagging, face grinning, soccer ball at her side waiting for me to play! We played soccer every morning and afternoon that week! Once again she floored me with her innate wisdom and approach to life:
- She never gave up
- She had no recognition of a failed attempt, just began the next one with the same joyful enthusiasm as the first.
- She made work play and as such, she loved it! In this way no second was felt to be wasted!
It is with deep grief that I announce the passing of my darling Bubba. Her life ended too soon on June 19. However, the lessons I learned from her in our time together will stay with me always. She was joy personified. She brought warmth to my cold heart and taught me how to love unreservedly and for that I will be ever grateful. I love you Bubba and though your spirit may now be free, always know you have a home in my heart.
Changes in timetable:
Mark and his wife Kat are off traveling for a few months. It’s a very exciting adventure with big changes for them, and some small changes for us at home. The timetable will change temporarily as of Monday 24th July. The Tuesday 8.15 and Saturday 4pm Mysore have been cancelled. The Wednesday 8.15 is now a general with Kam, the Friday 8.15 stays Ashtanga led with Kathy. Thursday 8.15 is now a Self practice time. This means you can practice Ashtanga mysore style, or any other style of self practice with guidance and adjustments. It’s a great opportunity to work on specific practices like supported inversions, menstruation, or specific area workouts. These classes will be taken by Kath. Thursday 10.30 is still L1 with Dan, and Suzanne will take the Wednesday 6pm general. Changes are also on the notice board, website and in timetables from the 24th.
We apologise for the suspension of the Ashtanga program, but hope you see it as a great opportunity to broaden your experience not only with the teachers, but also with your practice, and a chance to embrace the yogic teaching of change with equanimity.
Apologies also for the suspension of weekend workshops, these will resume in the near future and will be notified.
Charity
A couple of people have asked us recently about a communal charity box. Here at the GCYC we believe strongly in charity as a part of the natural order of things. Currently we sponsor 2 children, are members of Greenpeace, Wilderness Society and Rainforest Rescue, make annual donations to the Mater Hospital and respond to charity drives for major events e.g Tsunami, earthquake appeals etc. Charity is a very personal thing and is often inspired by something we have experience with (e.g the Mater Hospital cared for Suzanne’s father during his illness and death). We strongly encourage all to find the charity they feel strongly about and support it by regular donations, volunteering, and campaigns whatever feels appropriate. On a local level, we also make available a low cost class on Fridays, and we try and work out either a barter, discount or free class system if/when a student hits a difficult time and needs a helping hand to get through it. We don’t want money to be the obstacle to yoga being a support for a genuine practitioner. If you ever feel to leave extra money here (as occasionally happens) you can rest assured that it helps us continue these practices. It is our commitment to continue increasing our charity as we grow, and there are plans in the pipeline for some services offered that will ask you to donate to a charity rather than pay for them. So although there is no communal box, feel free to contribute here, or to any group or organization that you feel makes a positive contribution to the world. Every effort counts and what can be achieved as a collective is amazing, go for it!
Wise words from other dogs
I googled Bubba’s name (as you do) and was amazed to find how many other dogs named Bubba there are in the world, all of them as special as my own dear love. I was amused to find one Bubba had his own website, and even had some wise words to share. In honour of my Bubba’s sense of humour in life, here are some words from the other:
“My companion looks deep into my brown eyes and reads therein deep thoughts and stirring emotions. Actually, I just want my ears scratched.” – Bubba
“Feed a stray dog and he will remain by your side for the rest of his life. Can we say the same thing about his human counterpart? Would we want the same thing from that counterpart??? “
- E. Hemmingway
“Never stands a man so tall as when he stoops to scratch a Dog behind the ears.” – Plato
“One sniff is worth a thousand words.” – Bubba
“He ain't heavy Father; he's my dog.” – M. Rooney
“There is no therapy in the world like a puppy kissing your face.” – S. Freud
“A ride in the car is perhaps the best thing in the world. I get to stick my head out the window drinking in a thousand delicious scents at once and bark in my best friend's ear for absolutely no reason whatsoever.” - Bubba
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