Newsletters Index

Namaste yogis and yoginis!

What does namaste mean?? Well, it has both the simple meaning of “hello/goodbye”, andthe profound meaning of “from the divine within me I honour the divine within you”. Basically we are greeting each other, but also acknowledging the miracle inherent in every living being.  Usually the gesture accompanying the words is the hands in prayer position in the middle of the chest. This can mean “this message is from the heart”. My favourite meaning of this gesture is by bringing together two opposites (the left and right hands) we are saying “you and I are one”. We are acknowledging the harmony of unity, and our intention to end separation and bring peace.

Salt in your posture!?

Recently my beautiful mother has had to give up salt for her health. She’s finding it very hard. You see her taste buds have become so used to salt overpowering them, that they have lost their capacity to discern different flavours. I have reassured her that they’re just a bit out of touch, and once the salt is gone and they have had a chance to regain their sensitivity, she will experience a more rich and

complex array of flavours than before!!

Similarly in our practice we get in the habit of the obvious stretch. The big, overpowering semi- pain-

that-feels-so-good sensation. It overpowers our experience and we lose subtlety, and are surprised

when “suddenly” our back goes, or our knee starts to complain. The obvious stretch is the salt, it

provides flavour, but that not always what’s best for us. We need to keep our senses refined and capable of feeling the subtle and complex sensations in our body, to keep in harmony with how our whole body-mind is feeling. Like the food which at first seems bland, our practice can initially seem a little dull

when we begin to back off. But patience, and awareness begin to put us in touch with such an amazing array of sensations and experiences that we soon learn a new appreciation.

Welcome

I have been delighted to see such good numbers in our beginners classes, and would like to extend a warm welcome to all new students. Please remember to take classes at your own pace, and feel free

to ask any of the teachers, or call, if you have any queries or are unsure when to move on to the next level, and always let a teacher know if it’s your first time in a new level. This of course holds for all regulars too! We’re here to support you getting the most you can from your practice.

New Products

We’re very excited to introduce Pranava yoga wear, which is now available through the centre. Pranava has been road-tested on yoga teachers and practitioners and is designed specifically for yoga practice. The fabrics are Australian made and produced, and are high quality. See teachers for samples, costs and to get a booklet showing styles. There is a 20% discount for all of May, so now is the time to try!!

Also, just letting you know, one of our students has a great range of jeans, swimwear, havianas and active wear from Brazil. If interested you can call Renata on 5534 3526 or 0415 960128.

Reviews:

Glenn Ceresoli workshop 1&2 April

Glenn as always was able to inform, challenge and inspire in that subtle way he has, where instead of pumping you with information, he layers experiences until you awaken your own knowledge of the pose or movement. All left with a feeling of wonder and new knowledge, with the excitement of having a

new way to explore their practice and of course with the tiredness of having been well worked. The most pertinent experience for me this time was the way in which Glenn was able to demonstrate the power of the mind over us, making us give in before the pose is ripe, before we have gained knowledge. He did this by allowing us to acknowledge but not give in to tiredness and pain, keeping us to our edge but not beyond, and when my aching old body finally had to rest he was nurturing and supportive. Glenn will be coming back around October so keep your eyes open!

Kali Workshop 6^th May

I was delighted with the interest showed in the Kali workshop. I feel it is vital for all women practicing yoga to understand the very special dynamic of the menstrual cycle, how to work with the rhythms of nature and energy flow, honour your needs at this time and avoid injury. I forgot to announce at the end of the workshop that we keep the practice sheets here at the centre, so feel free to grab them and

set yourself up in a corner with bolsters etc and do your practice in the yoga space, no need to miss out on being here! I also forgot to mention an excellent iron supplement called Spatone, which comes in individual sachets, so no wastage, and is natural and immediate.

Lovely Susan (who leads our kirtan nights and is an acupuncturist) reminds us too, that singing is great for moving liver chi (energy) which can get stuck at this time and make us feel lethargic. We will try

and run these important workshops twice a year.

Kirtan 30^th April

Last kirtan was our smallest gathering, yet somehow so intimate and nourishing it also felt like the most full. Kirtan nights are evenings where we gather to sing songs of praise to the various influences in our life. In Hindu mythology these influences take on the form of gods and goddesses, and so we sing these songs in kirtan by chanting the names of these gods and goddesses. This does not mean you have to be Hindu to participate. Each god is representative of an aspect of/energy in life, and this is what we are calling upon. For example Ganesh is the god who is said to be the ruler of obstacles, so when we feel

we are facing obstacles in life, we might chant the name Ganesh to call upon/awaken our own

guidance in overcoming these obstacles. One of Hanuman’s aspects is devotion, so when we feel like our devotion to a cause or principle in our life is a little weak we chant the name of Hanuman. Lakshmi brings a compassionate mind and so on. The names are chanted in sanskrit which is an ancient

language whose “letters” are said to have a specific vibration/resonance, that literally has an effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. That being said, the proof is in the pudding. I always leave feeling uplifted, and any negative mood lifted after being at kirtan. The next one is Sunday May 28, 6.30 at the yoga centre. You don’t need to be able to sing to come, it is a yoga practice not a singing skill !!

COMING UP!!!!

May 20 Our 10 year anniversary celebrations. Can you believe we’ve been on the coast for 10 years now!! Our festivities include a concert on Sat May 20, doors open 6.30. The concert is free, as a small way of us saying thank you for your support over the years, and there will be prizes and giveaways. Margs, the world’s best chai maker will have her stall as well, food and cakes as well as chai. All welcome! This also kicks of a month of specials, keep eye on notice board and give some flyers to your friends. To help us continue to grow, and keep prices low, we rely on your referrals and feedback. So grab a specials flyer and pass them onto your friends.

June 3 : The next in our range of special focus workshops is “the Transition from Level 1 to Level 2”. The specific aim of this workshop is to teach inversions and full backbends so they can be safely included in your practice. Suitable for any student that wants to learn how to do these postures or who has been doing them without having had specific instruction. Normal class fee.

June 10Basic Philosophy covering the 4 main paths of yoga, the 8 limbs and the 4 pillars of life.

A thought:

It’s interesting to note how quiet the mind becomes when practicing mindfulness and how busy

the mind becomes when we move through life unaware. Slow down, take time to be mindful of each and every moment. When this is perfected, everything else will fall into place.

Gold Coast Yoga Centre:37/2 8^th Ave, Palm Beach 4221. (07) 55342883

Email: yoga88@bigpond.com Website: www.goldcoastyogacentre.com

Please check website and answering machine for current information.

Namaste