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September/October
2008 Newsletter
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 | | Namaste Yogis & Yoginis
Well Spring has definitely sprung!!! and change is in the air!! This newsletter we’ll look at a few health tips to do with spring, changes coming up for the yoga centre, and most importantly new perspectives! In yoga, one of the central practices is to be mindful of habitual tendencies. They sneak up on us and it’s easy to find ourselves behaving and thinking in ways without even being aware of it. Then some lovely person/event comes along and shakes up our thinking a bit, and we are able to press the refresh button and begin again, with a new (or at least freshened) perspective.
This happened to me recently. I was trying to buy a second hand bed (inspired as I mentioned last newsletter by the compacting article in G mag). I had looked around at second hand stores, and online and finally went to the auctions in Miami. The auctions are chock full of amazing bargains, and definitely worth a look. Anyway I found a bed I liked, but it was a busy day and the auction was taking hours and my bed was one of the last items. In the meantime I got chatting to a lovely fellow and his equally lovely wife. He offered to have a look over my item and check it out. When I told him I might not be able to get it as I had to go to work and couldn’t wait, he offered to stay and bid on it for me. They both assured me it was no trouble as they were staying for their own item anyway. So that night I called and sure enough he had bid on it and got it for only $10! Then he told me he was just fixing it up and he would drop it over to me when it was ready. I was flabbergasted that someone could help someone they didn’t even know so generously, but each time I protested he reminded me “if you can’t help someone every now and again, what’s the point in bloody living?!” or “it’s a privilege to help people”. This true karma yogi just blew me away, he inspired me so much, and it made me want to be even better and more generous too! When my beautiful bed arrived it was polished, he had not only made the slats for it, but he even put it together for me, and it’s just gorgeous! Every day it reminds me of his kindness and how I want to be in the world, how I want to influence and most importantly, to keep my eyes open because there is a lot of wonder out there!
ૐ ૐ ૐ COMING UP ૐ ૐ ૐ
Oct 5th We are looking forward to Glenn Ceresoli’s visit. There are only one or two spots left, so let us know if you are interested. Please remember that the general class will start at 8am and the beginners class is cancelled for that day. Participants reminded to bring a vegetarian dish for our lunchtime picnic.
Oct 10th-13th We are closed for renovations!! We are finally getting windows (fresh air) yay! I have received many offers of help for our renovations, thank you all for your support and kindness. We re-open Tuesday with our regular timetable. As part of the celebration of our new space, we are offering specials for the rest of the week we re-open 14th-20th Oct. All passes bought during this week will have 2 extra classes/days added to them, and if you bring a new student with you, they will come for free! So make sure you come and help us create a new energy as well as a new space!
Oct 19th Yoga expo in Sydney; www.yogaexpo.com.au
ૐ ૐ ૐ SPRING IS IN THE AIR ૐ ૐ ૐ
Some of you may have been feeling a little sluggish the last few weeks. This is partly due to the onset of spring, the season of kapha (water/earth elements dominating according to ayurveda). From
the dormant energy of winter, when we go “underground” to escape the cold, we begin to awaken as the weather warms up. Like any being, when we begin to awaken we are a bit slow. During the winter hibernation, we may have become a bit sedentary, and like water when it stops flowing, a bit stagnant, our blood a bit thick. Added to this, the warm weather causes pollens to be released as the blossoms open and we breathe them in. This clogs up our breathing system, and can cause reactions such as hay fever, asthma or just general toxic overload as our bodies try to cope with the extra work required of them to cleanse and eliminate. So we begin to feel tired, sluggish and lacking in vitality. If this is happening to you, it is important not to overwork in your practice, BUT it is important to MOVE. So lots of gentle flowing salutes, working the other postures comfortably and make sure the breath is flowing, and move smoothly from one posture to the next. Also remember to drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins out and eat clean, healthy food. In next to no time you will be feeling better and ready to take on what spring is really about, new life, new growth and joy! Of course if you have been practicing consistently, you will be ready already! Regular practice makes any transition easy, as you are more likely to maintain your equanimity and be less susceptible to external change. Bear this in mind with summer and the Christmas season coming up. Stay regular with your practice and sail through the heat and the “silly season” with ease!
ૐ ૐ ૐ BITS AND PIECES ૐ ૐ ૐ
- We have some new book titles in our yoga centre shop including the Ayurvedic home remedy book which I highly recommend as a must have home resource.
- Some great new green living websites to check out:
www.newmint.com.au for the fair trade catalogue (we also have a paper copy at the centre)
www.thegreendirectory.com.au promoting sustainable living (paper copy at centre)
www.greendemon.com.au affordable eco superstore
www.gmagazine.com.au green living made easy
- This month's charity jar donation going to the stroke foundation. Thank you!
- As always keep up to date on our website or via our notice board.
ૐ ૐ ૐ FOOD BLESSING ૐ ૐ ૐ
AUM BRAHMAR PANAM, BRAHMA HAVIH, BRAHMA AGNU, BRAHMANA HUTAM, BRAHMAIVATENA GANTAVYAM, BRAHMA SAMADHINA.
O God bless this food so that it brings vitality and energy to fulfill the mission and serve humanity.
O God bless this food so that we remain aware of the within and the without.
O God bless this food so that we love all and exclude none.
Bless those who have provided this food, who have prepared this food and who will eat this food.
ૐ ૐ ૐ CARROT HALVA (to eat after blessing, yum!) ૐ ૐ ૐ
Ingredients: carrots, ghee, milk, sugar, optional cardamom powder and saffron.
Grate carrots finely and fry gently in ghee until soft and dry without water. Add plenty of milk and bring mixture to the boil. Simmer until milk has thickened. Stir constantly. Add sugar. Continue to simmer until it thickens. When very thick, add cardamom powder and saffron. Serve hot or cold.
NB; there are no measurements given, to encourage intuition, creativity, and remind us that each time we do something, it is new, never exactly the same as before even if we use the same ingredients (or postures!).
ૐ ૐ ૐ Key message: be thankful, and maintain beginners mind! ૐ ૐ ૐ
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