OOPS, I missed July, and almost August, time has done one of those funny warps it sometimes does, and just slipped by. So I have to remind myself of the lesson the wise Dr Geoffrey Miller taught me, and find time every day to just stop. Do nothing. No reading, listening to music, meditating, thinking, talking, nothing. This was the prescription he gave me many years ago when I let myself get into quite a state, and time was flashing by. Days were seconds, months were days, and years were only months. After following his prescription for one hour a day, time began to slow down again until finally days were actually a day long, months a month long and years a gloriously long year. I know it seems like a lot to put aside an hour a day, but it gave me back so much more time. Now, I may not always practice for an hour, some of that memory has imprinted itself on my psyche, and I seem (mostly) to be able to live time at it's intended pace. Every now and again, I slip, and go back to the remedy, for an hour or at least half, until I feel spacious again. It seems crazy that we have to choose to live life at its right speed, but we live in a culture that has accelerated beyond any expectation. That speed of travel, communication etc increases vata (the air element in ayurvedic terms) which when in excess brings anxiety, overwhelm, fatigue, and time loss. The remedy is to bring in more kapha (the earth element) which Dr Miller's prescription is perfectly in line with (stillness, slowness, grounded, calm). Luckily, we are about to enter Spring, the season of kapha, and as the days warm up, we are more naturally inclined to stop and smell the roses. Finally, as Mataji (a wonderful teacher) and the Dept of road safety remind us; Stop, Revive, Survive; or even better, Stop, Revive, Thrive!
COMING UP
We have several exciting workshops coming up.
The first two are on the same weekend (13/14th Sept) and are two days run by Philip Stevens. As well as being a swami of the Satyananda tradition, Philip also has degrees in psychology and physiology, which puts him in a rather unique position of being able to back up the observations of yoga with science. This makes his workshops essential for anyone who is a teacher, or who wants to have a deeper understanding of how yoga works. He is offering two days that can be attended seperately, but totally complement each other when both are attended. The first focuses on Breathing & the Brain, and the second day on the physiology behind asana. We all loved Philip when he was last on the coast and are looking forward to another fascinating weekend of learning & practice. For more info pick up a flyer at the centre, or check the website.
Please note: the General class will begin at 8am on these days, the Sat Level 1 & Sunday Beginners are cancelled on this weekend.
On October 6th, we finish a great year of workshops with long time favourite and constant inspiration Glenn Ceresoli. Regulars love the evolutionary feel of working with Glenn as they continually learn to refine and progress their practice. Newcomers will be inspired by the depth of his understanding of yoga and asana technique. Glenn always offers something to move your practice forward. Flyers out soon.
REVIEW
The Yoga Retreat Weekend at Springbrook.
The weather this year was stunning, so we were able to appreciate the full beauty of the surroundings, and it was lovely to spend free time lounging on the grass in the sun. Marg's food was, as always, spectacular. It's amazing how food so healthy can taste sooooo great, with her choc/beetroot cake to die for!!
I enjoyed teaching the classes, and having space & time to savour the practice, and to share some of the other aspects of yoga through the mantra talk. I love seeing people revive and blossom when given the right space and freedom, and seeing everyone relaxing on the lawn was a scene worth painting. The kirtan on Saturday night featured the angelic voices of Amanda & Ryan, and the devotion and drums of our very own Dan. I enjoyed participating in the Mandala workshop on Sunday morning. Rob & Shauna coaxed some amazing drawings out of us, through meditation and intuition, it was truly like magic. All in all, I thought it was great, but then I'm biased, so I have included a few words by some participants.
“Great to leave my responsibilities behind and feel free!” – Kath
“Fun atmosphere in a beautiful forest setting, deep meditation & connected with inner creativity” – Clint
“Great teaching, knowledge & patience combined with a sense of humour. Warm, friendly group” - Anthony
P.S Keep an eye out for photos of the retreat coming up on the website!
View retreat photo gallery
BITS & PIECES
lWell we have a little bit of exciting news. We are doing some renovations! It's time the place had a spruce up and we are finally getting windows. Although we love the look and insulation of the glass bricks, we know that fresh air is a higher priority for more students, especially as Summer approaches. So in about 4 weeks, we will have to close for a few days. Please keep your eyes on the noticeboard, and ears out for announcements. We will try and give as much notice as possible. Thanks in advance for your co-operation and patience!
lAs you know I firmly believe in a yogi's duty to the environment. I can't always fit all the information into our newsletters/on website, but luckily there is a great magazine called “G” that does just that. G is chock full of great, accessible information on pretty much everything to do with the environment and daily life, from facts & figures, to inspiring stories, renovation tips, disposal tips, consumer awareness, brand comparisons, AND they've managed the impossible, it's a really enjoyable read. We hope to stock it again soon, but it is available at your local newsagent. I really enjoyed the article in the current issue on compacting – people who have made a commitment to go a whole year (or more) without buying anything new! The article ends with the comment “in the West, we have this real hunger for products and things, and it seems to be endless. Compacting has freed me”. Sound like any ancient philosophy you know? But it's now, and it's real people discovering these truths in a very contemporary way. Get a copy today!
lDid you know we are offering the early morning classes for only $7 at the moment? Early morning is traditional practice time, and it is a beautiful time of day. Not only that, it sets the tone for the rest of your day, and can mean you start out feeling calm, centred and balanced. If you have ever contemplated the early morning classes, now is the time!
lNew Product! We finally have some colourful bags for the thick grey mats. Lime, aqua & chocolate.
lThank you for your generousity, our charity jar has been very full. In the last 2 months we were able to send money to one of our sponsor children for their birthday, buy some more rainforest and we are just about to send seeds & tools to world vision in time for harvest. All from spare change!!
MANTRA
At the retreat I gave a talk on Mantra. I thought I would give you a taste of it here today!
Mantra chanting (and chanting in general) is considered to be a very powerful practice in the yoga world. The beauty of it is, that you don't have to believe or understand mantra, you just have to try it and test it out for yourself. I define mantra as a sound, word or phrase that has a sacred meaning or resonance, that brings about a transcendent change in consciousness. Mantra is traditionally in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit alphabet is said to resonate with certain states of consciousness. This, coupled with the power of having been practiced for thousands of years give the Sanskrit chants a particular potency, but mantras can be found in other languages as well. A very simple and useful mantra is “I am (on the inhale) peace..(on the exhale)” When you sit and repeat this simple mantra, you will notice a change in your consciousness, transcending stress/disturbance to feel more at peace.Try it and see. Mantra often refers to a particular deity. This is not simply about worshiping that deity, but rather stimulating in our own consciousness the qualities that deity represents. For example, Lakshmi is the goddess of abundance & pure wisdom. When we call on Lakshmi, we are invoking in our our minds the qualities of abundance, generousity, compassion & wisdom that Lakshmi represents. If we need strength or protection, we might call upon Durga, the goddess of protection, again awakening in our own minds these qualities. A favourite mantra is the mantra calling on Ganesh, “Om gum ganpatayei namaha”. Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, so if you have a particular obstacle you are having trouble with, this mantra may awaken in you the insights needed to overcome that obstacle, or create a resonance/energy that attracts a resolution. Mantra does not have to be complicated. One of the simplest and best known mantras is “Om”. “Om” is powerful as it represents the highest state of consciousness possible, yet is is simple enough to use immediately. Teacher Richard Freeman says it's his favourite mantra, because he can always remember the words! As with all things yoga, the proof is in the pudding. Set aside ten minutes a day to chant “om” and see what result it brings. There is a mantra for almost every problem known to man. Mantra has been used for thousands of years in India to solve issues such as health, romance, money, career and more. A great book to look out for is “Healing Mantras” by Thomas Ashley-Ferrand. (hopefully in our shop soon!) Till then, give “om” a go, and see what you think!
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