|
|
Newsletter February 2008
|
 | |
Namaste yogis & yoginis,
Apologies for missing the January newsletter, but I am away on sabbatical & family leave, and have actually just spent 3 weeks in ayoga ashram! Ashram environments provide many opportunities for change and re-evaluation. The last few years have been quite challenging for me, and because of this I had gotten right out of sync with my yoga discipline and asana practice. I still lived by the yogic approach as best I could, but routine had gone right out the window. In yoga, regular practice “abhyasa” is considered essential for spiritual growth and development. One of the main reasons I am away is to try and re-connect to my physical self and practice, and the ashram was a very good start. I was up 4.30am each morning and on the mat at 5.15am for asana practice. Then was short meditation and chant, silent breakfast and into the daily chores (another good way to get in touch with the physical). It was great being part of a community sharing a similar focus. Choice and preference are taken away from you, which can bring a lot of feelings up, but I really appreciated the benefits of routine. It became very easy to commit to the time on the mat when I had been to bed early. It was very freeing to know when and where I had to be and where food was coming from. In just 3 weeks I found that I had become stronger again, and body memory began to kick in. I was beginning to feel like a yogi again!!Superfluous thoughts began to drop away, and I had time to contemplate my priorities in life. Mind responds very well to routine. In ayurveda, anxiety and stress are often associated with a vata imbalance (there is a dominance of the ether/air element effecting the elemental constitution creating instability and lack of grounding). One of the main antidotes to this is routine, which brings in the earth element to create balance. As things had been chaotic and busy over the last number of years, I had developed anxiety that manifested in many ways including fear of flying, and fear of being too far away from home/my car/help. This really affected my love of bush walking and being in nature. But after being in a routine environment, even just for a short while, I have found myself freely trekking through the bush without fear again. This is definitely a bonus I didn't expect. There are many other insights I gained in the ashram, and some habits I was able to break (e.g. late nights!!) but the most valuable was the reminder of how good regular practice feels.
Since then I have been travelling and visiting family for 10 days. Routine has become fluid again, but I have been able to create new routine. I try to make sure I go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day. I have enjoyed asana practice a couple of times, but as I have not always had access to a practice space, my routine is a good long morning walk. The flip side of the coin to routine is being able to let go of it, and this last 10 days has helped me learn to do that again, without losing routine all together. As with all things, it is finding the balance that works. I am off to Melbourne &Tasmania next, and more yoga. Lovely Kath has taken over the rest of the newsletter, and will let you know of our upcoming events. Till next time, be well and enjoy regular practice without becoming attached to it!!
Namaste, Suzanne.
The Five Contemplations for mindful eating
This food is the gift of the earth, the sky, numerous living beings and much hard and loving work.
May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive this food.
May we recognize and transform unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed.
May we take only foods that nourishes us and keeps us healthy.
We accept this food so that we may nurture our sisterhood and brotherhood, build our Sangha, and nourish our ideal of serving living beings.
The first contemplation is being aware that our food comes directly from the earth and sky.It is a gift of the earth and sky and also of the people who prepared it.
The second contemplation is about being worthy of the food we eat.The way to be worthy of our food is to eat mindfully—to be aware of its presence and thankful for having it. We cannot allow ourselves to get lost in our worries, fears, or anger over the past or the future.We are there for the food because the food is there for us; it is only fair.Eat in mindfulness and you will be worthy of the earth and the sky.
The third contemplation is about becoming aware of our negative tendencies and not allowing them to carry us away.We need to learn how to eat in moderation, to eat the right amount of food.The bowl that is used by a monk or a nun is referred to as an “instrument of appropriate measure”.It is very important not to overeat.If you eat slowly and chew very carefully, you will get plenty of nutrition.
The right amount of food is the amount that helps us stay healthy.
The fourth contemplation is about the quality of our food.We are determined to ingest only food that has no toxins for our body and our consciousness, food that keeps us healthy and nourishes our compassion.This is mindful eating.The Buddha said that if you eat in such a way that compassion is destroyed in you, it is like eating the flesh of your own children.So practice eating in such a way that you can keep compassion alive in you.
The fifth contemplation is being aware that we receive food in order to realize something.Our lives should have meaning and that meaning is to help people suffer less, and help them to touch the joys of life.When we have compassion in our hearts and when we know that we are able to help a person suffer less, life begins to have more meaning.This is very important food for us and can bring us a lot of joy.A single person is capable of helping many living beings.And it is something we can do anywhere.
From “Present moment, wonderful moment, verses for mindful living”
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Upcoming Events
Alison Pomroy is returning for a Menopause workshop on Sunday 16th March.
The workshop is suitable for everyone and will involve follow–up material for the students who did the previous workshop.
Also remember Michael our Ayurvedic practitioner is also available for consults.
If there are any questions please check in with the teachers.
| 
