Dear Yogis,

“When we speak of inner discipline, it can of course involve many methods.  But generally speaking, one begins by identifying those factors which lead to happiness and those factors which lead to suffering.  Having done this, one sets about gradually eliminating those factors which lead to suffering and cultivating those which lead to happiness.  THAT IS THE WAY”. -The Dalai Lama.

Today I was sitting looking at all my books, hundreds of them.  I was looking for  an author who had (reliably) written about HAPPINESS.  There was only one who spoke of it in a human, achievable way –  THE DALAI LAMA.

I thought that all of us need reassurance of a bigger picture, of an art called “Happiness”.  The Dalai Lama  goes even further the that, he calls it THE RIGHT to happiness, and he has written about it a lot.  So, rather than re-iterate what he has said for almost his entire life, I thought I would tell a story told about Him.

In 1993 The Dalai Lama was giving a series of lectures at The University of Arizona.  Here everyone, not just the conference participants,  witnessed his willingness to reach out and create a feeling of goodwill and affinity with others, even in the briefest of encounters.

One morning after his public lecture, the Dalai Lama was walking on an outside patio on the way back to his hotel room surrounded by his usual retinue.  Noticing one of the hotel housekeeping staff standing by the elevators, he paused to ask her “where are you from?”   For a moment she appeared taken aback by the foreign looking man in the maroon robes and seemed puzzled by the deference of the entourage.  Then she smiled and said shyly “Mexico”.  He paused briefly to chat with her a few moments and then moved on, leaving her with a look of excitement on her face.  

The next morning at the same time, she appeared at the same spot with another of the housekeeping staff, and the two of them greeted him warmly as he got into the elevator.  The interaction was brief, but the two of them seemed flushed with happiness as they returned to work.  Every day after that they were joined by a few more of the housekeeping staff at the designated time and place, until by the end of the week there were dozens of maids in their crisp grey and white uniform forming a receiving line that stretched along the entire path that led to the elevators.

What is the purpose of our life – your life? What makes your life meaningful? As The Dalai Lama has shown us, do you take time to not just notice others, but do you love enough to interact with them, make a connection?  The person who has been co-opted to disinfect the baskets at Coles, the person who collects the carts, who picks up the trash? Or abiding by the restrictions that apply regarding gathering and sanitising in this time of covid wether you believe  in them or no – just for the protection of others?  Why? Because you genuinely love and care for others at least as much as you care for yourself.   Love your neighbours as yourself.

What if we begin with the idea that the purpose of our existence is to seek happiness? A vision of happiness as a real objective, and one that we can take real steps towards achieving.  As you begin to identify the factors that lead to a happier life, you will learn how the search for happiness offers benefits not just YOU, but  changes everyone your life touches, even a maid standing outside an elevator.  It is easy – do more of the things that lead to happiness, and less of the things that lead to sadness or unhappiness…. 

If you possess an inner quality, a calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, then even if you lack various external facilities you would normally consider necessary for happiness, it is still possible to live a happy and joyful life.  How can we achieve this inner contentment?  There are two ways.

1. The first way is to have everything we want and desire.  This is an unreliable way because we will always desire more, and the next thing.  It is unreliable because sooner or later we will come up against something we can’t have.
2. A more reliable method is NOT to have everything we want, but to want and appreciate what we have.

“Inch-worm, inch-worm, measuring the marigolds, don’t forget to stop and see how beautiful they are”.     – The Frog, Sesame Street.

Don’t just think about it – reach out.  Start with small things.

Keep well, keep warm.

NAMASTE  JAHNE

 

 

Dear Yogis,

Here I am on my day off, still in my PJ’s on the computer.  Nothing changes really… except I have learned to not rush at the day, hence the early morning relaxed mode.

Yesterday was the first day of the new regime. I had yoga classes, and I have to remind EVERYONE that new rules apply to EVERYONE.  You have to bring your own gear, sanitise your hands, and generally take all care.

If you don’t believe in Covid, then that is your business, but if you come to class YOU MUST care enough for others to follow the rules.  We are not asking you to change your belief system, we are asking you to CARE for everyone in the class enough to put your beliefs aside for the time of the class.

I hope that all teachers who are welcoming their clients back even on a limited basis, to be vigilant for the sake of the class.  If one of the class has a cold, has a temperature, any or all of the things we are told to watch for, or has come without their own gear,  we must ask them to leave.  This is a virus, and for the moment we must be super serious.  The virus doesn’t care if we believe in it or not – it just IS.

Regularly visit the web site for any updates.  I am following YOGA AUSTRALIA guidelines.

It goes without saying the classes were lovely. There are only three persons allowed, but they REALLY love their yoga, and they really appreciate the class.  What would we do without our yoga?

I can’t responsibly massage, but I can do BOWEN (PPT) MASSAGE especially if I do it the “Tom Bowen way”. He rarely did the usual one hour sessions – clients sometimes had only 10 minute sessions.  This makes enormous sense because if a person comes in with a problem,  following Bowen it is best to do short sessions three days apart, than one big session.  It also is perfect at this time, because, short sessions, fully clothed are certainly recommended in a Covid environment.

Tom Bowen was a healer, not a technician, and saw a remarkable number of persons per day.  Mostly by donation or free if they couldn’t afford to pay.  He only taught six students his technique, and said at the time that he understood they would do it filtered through the techniques they were trained in (ie osteopathy, chiropractic etc.).  He realised that none of them would trust the Universe enough to be able to do the method as he did.  Those people whom he “trained” (actually they watched him work he didn’t train them per se), have gone on to teach many, but always as a technical, physical manipulation technique.  That is not how I do it.  I try to be true to the spirit of  Tom Bowen’s therapy.

I received my certification in 1986 and have been using the technique ever since.  It takes a lot of trust to do it as Tom did, and it suitable for physical problems, aches and pains, stuckedness, spiritual, emotional and unresolved issues…. If you would like to experience Bowen my way I am taking clients Mon. Tues. Wed. Fri. from 9 to 12 noon by appointment. The cost is $25 and the session will be a maximum of half an hour – guided by spirit. yogafirst2@bigpond.com

I look forward to seeing you at class, and/or at Teacher Training.  Don’t forget the cancelled Tarot Reading class (due to Covid), is back on  – the 1st Saturday in June…2pm to 4pm.

LOVE AND BLESSINGS.

NAMASTE.  KEEP WELL.  JAHNE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning yogis,

This morning, WHICH IS THE FIRST DAY BACK AT YOGA  – not much philosophy, but lots of news on the home front about our wonderful TYOH OIL.

We have been overjoyed to see how the hemp market has flourished during COVID, and I am sure we will experience the “Roaring 20’s” at least on the stock market  as the isolation  rules are  being slowly lifted.  There are more people about, more cars on the road, and more optimism.   Now that supplies are coming back to (almost) normal – whatever that was – our TYOH OIL has been flying out the door.

With CBD being a Special Access Scheme-only medicine in Australia, a transdermal product you can try without a prescription is our TYOH OIL  which  contains a blend of Hemp and Essential oils. 

HOW DO THE ESSENTIAL OILS, TERPENES AND HEMPSEED OIL (A PERFECTLY BALANCED RATIO OF OMEGA 3,6 AND 9) WORK?

Glad you asked! Copaiba Oil, (A rare Peruvian resin) one of the constituents of TYOH  has been long regarded for its brilliant, natural analgesic properties, high in turpenes the active constituents in Hemp Oil, and reputed to be more effective than CBD.   It’s been widely used in topical pain-relieving treatments, delivering in some cases almost immediate results.  Because of the powerful herbs and essential oils, TYOH is not to be taken orally.

Along with the essential oils, we have the Hemp Seed Oil – with its plentiful and perfectly balanced ratio of Omegas 3, 6 & 9.  As I have been telling you all along, Hemp Seed Oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and is known to help relieve inflammation-related pain (which covers a lot of our common pains). Plus the added benefits of pure  lavender and clove essential oils, and you have a power packed package!

Unlike marijuana which drowns the system in chemicals, depending on dose producing complete “shut down” of all responses and feelings,  Hemp oil strengthens the existing endocannabinoid system in the body. The major  naturally occurring cannabinoid  in our brain is called “ANADAMIDE” which in Sanskrit means “Bliss”, which is appropriate for this wonderful naturally produced chemical.

Using the Patches (see the page above) together, the beneficial constituents of the essential oils and Hemp Seed Oil are released slowly into the bloodstream – more effectively reaching sore spots  and problem areas than if the same ingredients were to be ingested, because they bypass our built-in filters – the lungs, stomach and liver.

As we get back to our lives, there may be times when we get anxious – maybe for no good reason, just an effect of change.  Essential oils combined with hemp oil can ease this confusion and give you the “head-space” to work your way more easily through the fog.

As usual, if you are interested please go to  “HEMP” on this web site www.yogabeautiful.com.au for details.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY – HOPE YOU ARE GETTING TOGETHER IN TINY, TINY GROUPS AND DOING YOGA WITHIN “THE YOGA AUSTRALIA” COVID  GUIDELINES. KEEP WELL

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

Disclaimer:     Any statements made within this document  have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). No products produced, manufactured, marketed, or distributed are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before beginning any supplements or botanical extracts. If pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before use. For use by adults 18+. Keep out of reach of children or pets.