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Namaste yogis and yoginis!
I have been a bit serious lately, so this newsletter will have more simply to delight, a poem, a recipe, a joke… who could ask for more!
The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper I mean, the one who has flung herself our of the grass,
The one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver (from Yoga & Joyful Living)
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COMING UP
Feb 17: Back to Basics workshop for beginners and experienced.
Feb 25th: Chant night, sing and be joyful.
March 10: Inversions Workshop
March 12: new timetable begins
Please make sure you have new times before attending class.
Note: early morning classes now only $10!!
New websites to check out:
www.easybeinggreen.net
www.carbonneutral.com.au
www.neco.com.au
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One of the best ways to slow down time is to do less. Create spaciousness in your day, prioritise tasks and choose only to do what is essential, and maybe one enjoyable thing. Find time each day to sit quietly and breathe. Take time to stop and smell the roses. You cannot receive if you are full. Even a tea cup will just overflow if it is already full. Try to be a little empty.
Paula’s Story:
On 4th September 2003 I turned 40yrs old and was attending kick boxing classes, boxing circuits, deep water running, lifting weights, swimming training and personal training sessions, sounds exhausting. I asked myself a question, to what age can I sustain this and why?????? Also my councillor (obviously I needed one) told me I was too much in my head and needed to get out of my head and into my body, so do yoga. This of course sounded like a challenge.
Early in December 2003 I found myself at the GCYC in one of Marks Ashtanga classes, talk about throwing oneself into the deep end but what would you expect from an adrenalin junkie.
Much has changed in my life thanks to all the most precious (jewels) teachers at the yoga centre. I can’t express in words how I feel about them all, except to say they have touched me and will remain in my heart for eons.
From practising yoga I have been able to access and fully acknowledge the meaning of Body, Mind and Spirit. When I started I had all of these goals to reach but through the years I have come to realise that there is no goal to achieve but that the journey of body, mind and sprit is the goal. My body is softer, mind is stiller, and spirit is freer.
They say that the one thing all people want is happiness and peace, and I am touching on that more every day, and this would not have been possible without yoga in my life. This is something I can do until I leave this body. In a nutshell, step out of the mind and into the body and you will touch the divine within and truly be at home.
Namaste Paula ( Lozang Jhampa) HUM MANY PADME HUM
As well as being a regular student, Paula is also an excellent chef and has been kind enough to contribute the recipe for Dukkah in this newsletter. Paula’s story can be found on the website. If anyone would like to contribute with their story for the web, please email Suzanne yoga88@bigpond.com.
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Dukkha
A delicious middle eastern spice mix
Ingredients:
500g Cashews raw (no salt)
150g sesame seeds (white)
150g sesames seeds (black)
50g coriander seeds
50g cumin seeds
50g thyme (fresh or dried)
60g Celtic sea salt (fine)
Method:
Toast coriander & cumin seeds in a dry pan until fragrant, then ground in
mortar. Toast cashews and white sesame seeds in hot oven on dry try until
just brown. Let cool. Place cashew nuts in blender or chop by hand (not to
fine, chunky). Place all ingredance in a container together. Use on egg dishes, in salads, meat, vegetables and on curries.
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There is a joke about 3 sisters, 96, 94 and 92 years old respectively.
The 96 year old runs a bath but just as she's dipping her toe in she can't remember if she's getting in or getting out. She calls to the 94 year old for help who says "hang on I'll come upstairs and see" but halfway up she can't remember if she's going up or down and calls to the 92 year old for help. "i hope i never get as forgetful as those two" thinks the 92 year old , knocking on the table for good measure. "i'll be there in a minute" she calls"i just have to see who's at the door".(boom boom) |
Finally a hint on hamstrings..
Hamstrings represent patience and persistence (both of which are needed to lengthen them!) To push into a hamstring stretch is to cause a reflexive contract response. This means they get shorter not longer! When working with hamstrings, be mindful, work just at the edge of feeling them, focus on breath and alignment and be happy with where you are, without ambition, and they will slowly soften.
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