Good morning Yogis….

Let’s start with JUBILEE and then we will get to Jerusalem.  The word “Jubilee” in the bible is a celebration that occurred every 50 years. (Lev.25).  The trumpet sounded calling to “liberty throughout the land and to all its inhabitants”.  The land was sparsely inhabited compared to today, however, all slaves were to be set free. All debts were to be cancelled, and all land returned to its original owner.

Apart from the impositions that Covid has imposed, which are not unlike Jubilee, I can’t imagine that happening today voluntarily,  primarily because we don’t trust the universe (God) to provide, and we certainly don’t trust our neighbours enough to limit themselves in that spirit.  If faithfully executed (and humans being humans I guess sometimes it was not) it would totally eliminate the problem of the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer,  because once in fifty years, every fifty years everyone was on the same footing.  Parents who had sold themselves into slavery knew that their children would not be crushed by this economic legacy. They could have a fresh start, and conversely the wealthy also would know their advantage was not perpetual.

It also meant that land was only useful in so far as the crops it could provide.  Land in this way was not an investment.  The children of Israel did not own the land,  they only had use of it for 50 years.  God said “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine” (Lev.25:23) .  It is very much the Aboriginal view of land – they believe they are just custodians.  The land looked after, cared for, and divided equitably so that all could benefit.

We have no written evidence of the Jubilee or its execution, what it does show us is the people’s concern for justice and equity.  We can see in this law the special consideration for the helpless and the needy which is always an important ingredient in simplicity.

It is interesting to consider which of the Yamas is/are highlighted by this practice? 

Now for “Jerusalem”.  You might be thinking the place, but no, I mean the plant. The Jerusalem Artichoke.  I planted one bulb years ago, and I now have them all over the garden.  I became disenchanted after gorging myself on the occasion of my first harvest. I became jet propelled if you know what i mean! I lost faith in them but they didn’t lose faith in me, and every year the patch got bigger and bigger, and I gave more away.  I have been more circumspect this year because I have learned how to cook them and take the “fart” out of “farti-chokes”.   That whole tray came from the four stalks in the photo.  They are growing on an old futon which I put in the garden (that’s where they always go after they are replaced).  It traps the moisture, provides a good home for insects and you can see, artichokes love it.

 

If you have artichokes I have found that roasted they are splendid, made into pesto (after roasting) they are delicious (and can be frozen for later)  and pickled they are crunchy gorgeousness.  But never, never,  ever sit down and eat a bowl of pureed artichokes… they can be disastrous.  You can make them into a dessert cooked in milk with fruit, but once again, not a big bowl full.

Enjoy your gardening.  This is perfect weather.

Keep well, Keep warm and keep safe..

NAMASTE, JAHNE

 

 

 

Dear Yogis, 

I’ve been practising LIFE STYLE YOGA  professionally for decades now.  I do hatha, but I complete the picture with “Eat, Breathe, Move and Live” as the basics, not just asana.

We are going through a pandemic, however, there will be another, there may even be round 2 of this one (watch Bill Gates on TED TALKS) .  The best thing you can do is prepare your immune system.  Shutting your doors and hiding in your toilet paper fortress will not be helpful.

For most people contemplating starting a health lifestyle, changing their morning routine no matter how unhealthy, is usually the biggest  stumbling block.   Today the Universe is speaking to you – and the  lockdown has opened up some space for this – don’t waste this opportunity. This is a chance to get into the habit of starting each day for health. This enhances your immunity but also re-programs you internally for positivity so your whole life will change. It starts in the morning.  This is how your body is programmed.

With the lockdown in place it is easy to rationalise sleeping in.  It is easy to excuse randomly working all hours without a plan and without a goal.  It is easy to begin to feel anxious, depressed, deprived and all of the other emotions and feelings that loneliness, or imposed change can trigger. Especially eating… All of this weakens your immunity, and saps your motivation.

My LIFESTYLE YOGA prescription? Gradually (not too gradually) swap all the little habits that weaken your immunity and sabotage your health, for new habits that activate your inbuilt ward-off and bounce-back functions. Starting first thing.  Wake up early, do your yoga, have a shower, take the supplements, have breakfast.

Getting up early is the most powerful medicine for mind, body and spirit and it’s free. I was looking at morning habits of great writers.  The ones who had really made a difference, won Pulitzers, been best sellers.  They were the ones who got up early.  Now you may not want to get up at 4am like Oliver Sacks and others, but how about 6.30am instead of 9am.   Take charge of your morning, you’ll be in charge of your health, your day and your destiny will follow.  You will be in charge.  It is a good feeling.  My cat wakes up at about 5.30 and sits on my chest.  It is hard to ignore and she doesn’t have a snooze button.  She is pretty much in charge, but as she is a Princess and a yogi I just give-in.  Anything else is a wast of time.

Bye the way – I think that getting used to “real life” when the restrictions are lifted will be a challenge too – start your wellness regime TODAY.

 

Keep safe, Stay well…  NAMASTE – JAHNE

GOOD MORNING YOGIS

How can we put material things in proper perspective in what we call reality – a world of school fees, dental bills and football workshops? Or like me, how do you decide whether to buy a dishwasher, oven, or neither.  I am in the “lucky” position that because of my yoga training in particular, my sense of worth is not tied to the money I may have, my job, or my status (or a new dishwasher).  In the world we live in there is a tendency to define people by what they produce, or what they have.   To become Biblical, Adam and Eve made the decision amongst plenty, to provide for themselves. They mistrusted  the Goodness of The Universe (God),  believing that something was being held back from them.  Independence comes at a high price, especially when it is a rejection of the idea that everything is perfect as it is, and when we trust, everything will be provided to us.

Simplicity means a return to a position of dependence.  I can have a dishwasher, or an oven or anything else as long as it is just that.  As long as it fills a necessity and I am not confused about my acquisition.  It won’t make me a better person, it will just give me more time, the question is “do I need more time or should I learn to use my time better?”  To give it a position higher than a timesaver,   is to make an idol of it.  Greed and the need for more should not dictate our position. We must recognise that material goods are not for the benefit of just me, but for the benefit of everyone.  I can rationalise the benefit of a dishwasher.  I can say that it will benefit everyone and I can give you reasons, but really, I am just sick of doing the dishes.  To grow, I have to learn how to do the dishes in a way that will make the task not just useful, but meaningful in a yoga way.  When these things are no longer an issue a change will occur.

Aparigraha, the fifth of the Yamas asks us to be happy with what we have and not take more than we need.  In the Bible the promise of material blessings was a conditional promise.  It was not a blank cheque.  “If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land” (Isa.1:19).  We can see that there was a strong emphasis on the inward nature of simplicity (which some might call obedience) and that conditioned all the promised provision.  There is always a connection between obedience and blessing.  Like Karma – “Do the right thing and you will be rewarded” – “What goes around comes around”.  There are many ways to say it.

Simplicity, compassion and gratitude are at the heart of yoga.  Not down-dog, up-dog and handstands etc!  The asanas prepare the body for the bigger learnings, they put our body and our mind in the right place to be ready to consider the larger issues and to develop wisdom and skilful living.  Beautiful asanas are not the goal of yoga.

To discover HOW AND WHY YOGA WORKS (Pt.1), please go to www.myyogabooks.etsy.com

STAY WELL AND STAY SAFE.  Namaste JAHNE