Newsletters Index

Newsletter October 2007

Well the year has finally picked up momentum for me. September seemed to just disappear, although at the same time it seems  like a long time ago. It's strange how malleable time is!!

I think that means I need to re-apply Dr Miller's remedy: stop, for at least one hour a day, no reading, no music, no meditating just being. It really works!! Time seems to slow right down again, and paradoxically you seem to have more time to do things not less :)

Not many events on this month here at the centre. We are gearing up for Glenn's workshop. As a senior teacher, Glenn brings a perspective and depth that comes from devoting around 30 years to the practice and teaching of yoga, and we get a chance to share that perspective.

We hope to have a couple of in house workshops and a social night before the crazy Christmas season starts. Even if we don't manage to, the best tool to evolve your practice is regularity, so keep practicing anyway, summer parties or not!!

Next year we have some great workshops lined up. For all of these events, keep your eye on the noticeboard, website and an ear out for announcements at the end of class.
A reminder as always, let us know if there is anything we can do to enhance your experience at the centre. If I am not around, let one of the teachers know and they will pass any feedback on.

Have just got a couple of articles for you this month. Enjoy!

Recipe:

Our Ayurvedic practitioner, Michael has been reminding us how good stewed apples and pears are, especially in the morning, when we may not feel like something bigger.
A light breakfast is an important part of keeping your digestive system in balance.

This is what I do:
Place about a centimetre of water in the bottom of a small saucepan. Slice and core apple/pear. Place lid on and heat at medium temperature. When fruit is soft when you test with a fork, remove.
Add raisins, a few nuts and pure maple syrup. MMMMMMMM Breakfast becomes a delight!

How can something so good for you taste so indulgent!!
If you have any variations or ideas, let me know, and we can share it around!

The VEDAS and Vedanta

The Vedas are a group of ancient texts. Depending on the source quoted, the Vedas originated between 5-8000 years ago. Some even state as far back as 12,000. (references have been found to the flooding of the Indus valley which has been geologically determined to be 10,000 years ago). Anyway let it be said they are old, and it is believed they are the oldest known written texts yet discovered. There is a saying the first words ever written were tatvam asi. “I am god/that”

This is not literal, but refers to the fact that the Vedas were a collection of insights by a group of rishis (seers/profound meditators) on the nature of the mind/existence and all aspects of spiritual life. Rishis had no agenda, they were not paid, not commissioned, and gained no benefit from sharing these insights. They lived in different parts of the country, at different times, had no connections to each other, yet came up with the same core  conclusions. For this reason – the Vedas are said to contain divinely revealed information.

Because of the different walks life/temperaments etc of the rishis, the texts in the Vedas have very different flavours, some technical, some very poetic. They contain not only spiritual insights but very profound physical insights including the first reference ever to what modern science calls the atom, in Sanskrit paramanu,  which is described as the  smallest possible division of matter, indivisible. Without parts and therefore cannot be destroyed, since destruction involves the separation of parts; there fore it is eternal.

The Vedas are the root texts of almost all eastern thought including Yoga, Ayurveda, Buddhism, Jyotish and Hinduism. Thus each of these branches contains essentially the same message, with a different emphasis according to the teacher, time, place and circumstance by which they are passed on.

Tantra also refers to a group of texts. The Vedas, being quite esoteric, require a great deal of contemplation and study to gain their insights, and what householder has that kind of time??? Thus the Tantras were written to make the information more accessible and practical. The Tantras cover all aspects of spiritual practice although in the West a focus on just the relationship aspect has developed. Another name for the Tantras are the Agamas. Agama from the root “gam” to go “a” downwards, thus it implies a handing down of knowledge from teacher to pupil. The tantric texts are usually in form of a dialogue between deity & spouse/student, the deity is asked for and gives clarification. The Vedas are also called  the Nigamas, the direction of flow upwards. The teachings are often in the form of hymns of praise (from those below up to the Divine), based on personal insights of  the rishis.

Vedanta is the study of the Vedas. Although the texts are ancient, Vedanta teaches that the only true knowledge is by experience, and that all genuine realisation is valid and worthy of investigation. Thus Vedanta remains fresh and current, re-evaluating and incorporating all new genuine insight that arises. Vedanta is considered a science not a faith. It is required that all insight is tested and experienced before being accepted. Vedanta is as valid today as it was many thousand years ago. But don't just take my word for it, test it for yourself!

How much is enough?? How much yoga should I be doing?

That trusty old adage “it's quality not quantity that's important” can also be applied to yoga. There is a general rule of thumb that consistency is more important than how many hours, or how many times a week you practice.

Consistency takes away the element of “working against yourself”, where you have to spend time catching up after letting go of the practice for a while. Like cycling up a hill, it is often easier when you are on a roll, than to stop and have to get momentum up again.

To add to that, it's important to know a) what you want from your practice and
b) the hidden levels at which yoga works.  Depending on whether you want to feel better, to fix your back or become enlightened, each of you will practice differently.

It has been shown that even one regular class a week is enough to keep general structural problems (e.g back/knee) in check, take the edge off the tendency to over-react and just feel generally “better” and calmer. Students that have been attending once a week for years, report noticing a huge difference if they are placed in the situation of not being able to practice for some time. At this level, however, you will maintain a homeostasis, but not progress a lot.

Around 3-4 times a week is considered a great amount to slowly unravel injuries and ways of thinking over time, without being too confronting or stressful. This is a perfect balance of progression and enjoyment and not to be discounted, as enjoyment is one of the key elements to being able to maintain the practice over time.

At this level you will find your body becoming stronger and freer over time, you will feel increasingly more centred, calm and relaxed, and you will find it easier to discern what is meaningful. Some people worry that this will make them seem “distant” to friends and loved ones, but the truth is you are able to be more present, and more accepting when you have a calm centre and are not reacting emotionally.

Yoga does not only work on the physical levels, it also works on energetic, mental and spiritual levels. Part of yoga's job is to weed out all of the habitual ways of thinking and being that get in the way of our contentment and wellbeing. Of course some of us want to speed that up and get straight to the contentment part, but it is not always easy going through the process at that level of intensity. The danger is of course that it is not sustainable, as well as may lead to imbalances if awareness is not vigilantly maintained. It is also a natural part of this level of practice to experience the occasional injury or “melt-down” as you learn where your limitations are and which skills you need to develop.

Often students throw themselves into the practice thinking that if a little is so effective, more must be better. This is not always the case. Often this can lead to burn out which requires a withdrawal from the practice, if not abandoning the practice altogether.
Remember of all the different roles and duties we have in society and in our lives, it is only a small percentage who are called upon to be monks, teachers or seekers. For the rest of us, we have to find a way to combine our spiritual practice with our daily demands.

If you are not sure what is right for you, test it out. If you decide you are going to come every day, but obstacles keep cropping up, take the pressure off yourself and just surrender to a gentler approach. If you come intensively but have extended breaks in between, consider coming less frequently and see if you can maintain your practice more consistently. But if you get more and more out of the practice, and never tire of it, and even when it feels like it is dismantling you yet you want more, then increase with awareness and always talk to your teachers along the way if you have questions or need support.

In summary, at least once a week regularly will allow you access to the benefits of yoga,
3-4 times a week is perfect for most people, with an intense practice of 5-7 times a week being suitable for those who have the time to commit to a physical and spiritual
transformation.

If you maintain awareness (and isn't this one of the core techniques of yoga?) your practice will evolve organically, at the right pace and level for your highest wellbeing and growth.

Mindfulness is always the key.