Dear Yogis,

ZOOM (and Studio) Classes:
Monday 6.30pm –  Tuesday, 7.30pm RUMI STUDY GROUP – Saturday (22nd) The Art/Craft Studio Group, Sunday 10am ‘Gita

Please join us.  I will be opening the Studio from 1pm this coming Saturday so that you can catch up with me in person, see what we have been doing, and CHOOSE A TINY TATTOO DESIGN PERHAPS (and wander in the garden if the weather is good).  The  art/craft Group starts at 2pm to 4pm as usual.

If you come to the studio early,  and once you have chosen a design, we can make an appointment to complete in either black, red, or my favourite – henna colour.

 

MONDAY FREE TEACHER TRAINING.  6.30 (Mary Magdalen)
Starting this Monday at 6.30 we are going to be exploring the Gospel of Mary Magdalen.  This is just a taster as on Tuesdays  we are almost finished contemplating Rumi (which could become a lifetime study if one were so inclined?), and we will probably use the Tuesday 7.30 time slot for this MM Study (Monday is only an hour) but Tuesday is an hour and a half.

In studying this Gospel we will be considering the unknown part of ourselves, which at the same time is the most essential and valuable part of us.  We learned in Rumi that due to this mediating contact between the higher and lower parts of ourselves, the deeper intimate experience of conscious love could be experienced.

Where does Mary fit in this? She is the Minister, not the Whore.  Once Mary had been released of  “The Seven Demons” she could see the world and Jesus as they really are.  Like us, above the material, in the depth of silence that contains everything, she could know her real nature, made not just to love, but to serve.

Remember the bargain Shams had with God.  He was looking “…..for someone he could pour his knowledge into, who would use it, and change the world”.  For this, he would give his life.  It is interesting that both Jesus and Shams had a three year ministry.   In the Jesus story,  Mary  mirrors Rumi.  Someone who intimately knows the spirit, who intimately knows God and takes the teaching into the world.

You are training to be a yoga teacher, or have graduated, and like Mary you have a job – a reason to be.  Not just to use yoga, and be perfect (no-one can be this), but to also take your knowledge to the world to serve not only God but to serve your neighbour, and through this the world.  This is why we have been created.

You signed up for a very big job.  That you have changed your mind, or didn’t understand what you were signing up for is not the question, but there are Karmic consequences of your actions (of course). A very good song to remind us of our humanness is from Jesus Christ Superstar  “GESTHEMANE” where Jesus is asking God to “take the cup from me…”, reminding God that he had “exceeded expectations”, but in the end gives in to the will of God, the way,  “thy will not mine be done Lord”.

SMOKIN’ THE YOGA OF SMOKE (www.myyogabooks.etsy.com)

If you or your loved ones smoke, if you are aching, anxious,  depressed, then give up nicotine, and try herbs instead.  You can use the herbs in a pipe, in roll-your-own, as incense, and in little bags tucked into your pillow.  In this book I even show you how to make your own pipe.  The book is almost 50 pages jammed with information about herbs, herb magic and Ayurvedic smoking herbs to balance your doshas (What, how and when you smoke is important in Ayurveda).  I even talk about and have drawings of pipes so you can make your own, and make your own clay.

The pipe to the left is a favourite.  It is small (palm size) and feels like a living thing.  A small animal, a piece of jewellery.  It is a fully functioning pipe, but because of its size there is not a huge bowl, so it is a small smoke, but enough, and very gentle….  I made the air-dry clay myself, so there would be no chemicals in the smoke…  The three little mesh things beside it are the pipe mesh (herb holders) that I put in all my pipes so you won’t inhale bits and pieces of herb!  Not a good thing.  If you want me to make you one especially with a special colour or beads in mind, let me know and I can do one especially for you (or a gift for a loved one).  Just email me. yogafirst2@bigpond.com.

YOGA AND TAROT – Have you tried handing your TAROT cards out at the beginning of the class and at the end? One card per person per time?  You will be surprised how the energy changes from the beginning of the class to the end.  Try it.  It is a great way to get closer to the class, to discover deep issues, and see how your students have resolved them in the yoga session.

 

WHERE EVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOU DO, I WILL MEET YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

Dear Yogis,

ZOOM: SUNDAY 10AM THE GITA STUDY.  If you want to join us, everyone is welcome.  Please pay by going to the web site and clicking on PAY VIA PAYPAL.

Friday already.. and heaps achieved.  Even did everything I could see with my new Karcher Steam Cleaner – The YOGA OF STEAM.  If you want to get chemicals out of your life get a steam cleaner (not a window vacuum thingy).  Kmart has one for half the price, but be aware, we are talking about high pressure steam – you may not want a cheaper model, although those students who have one say they are fantastic.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A “RESTORATIVE YOGA COURSE”
to add to your current qualifications.  If you have graduated, I have updated a SHORT Restorative Course – the first steps in this wonderful discipline which will inform all your teaching.   Once you have done this course you will be able to teach the basics, and can add to them if you want with a full course later.  You will love to take this to your senior students, those coming out of surgery, people who are anxious, depressed, those with life threatening illness, or those who just want to relax….  Hugely helpful in this time of COVID.

Cost: $75 pre-paid for this short course, or $25 per month for 4 months with a Certificate of Attainment.  Don’t under estimate the value of this course.  You will love it, and you will be able to add it to your class menu in about a month if you work hard at the course.   Please contact me if you want more information:  yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 

DEATH ANYONE?

I thought you would be interested in PAINTING YOUR OWN COFFIN.  One of my clients recently died, and as part of her Last Wishes she had all her friends paint the casket and pop meaningful items in with her.  I think this is quite beautiful, and to me, looks like a boat…  a very Egyptian ending.    You can buy flat-pack cardboard coffins… why not start yours now? Don’t leave it to friends to imagine what you want after you have “moved on”.

 

THE STUDIO:

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.  – Henry Ford

I have been re-learning about how to work both in and on the Studio.  We all had a bit of a rest and a time to restructure and re-consider during the lock-downs, and now it definitely is BACK TO BUSINESS, and is so relaxing to be here.

Thank you all for your support – writing the newsletter, keeping in contact,  takes time and dedication, and getting your support means everything to me.  Thank you.

I can’t massage or tattoo on Zoom, but I can do a TAROT READING ON ZOOM  FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED.  After being on zoom almost every day during the great rest, it is quite different to be back in the studio,.  I miss seeing my students from all over the country, all over the world.  It has been most interesting.  But now, with everyone getting their jab, we are in a different place. It doesn’t mean we are back to normal, or things are as they were, but it does mean that once again we have the time to look at our lives and become more self sufficient.  Like the coffin, don’t leave it for other people to do.  Prepare now.

Something is coming – we can’t know what, we are yogis, we can think, we can wait and we can breathe.  As the Qur’an says.  Nothing can happen that is not the will of Allah.  Trust this” .  When you do trust what is coming, then life becomes most exciting, without the worry of having to organise the future.

 

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE (OR ON THE ZOOM) SOON.

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

Good morning Yogis,

What a fabulous week.  The world is going bananas – but I feel quite at home in this chaos.  I have been showing you how to deal with it, and for myself, I am standing in the energy vortex, so the world can throw what it wants at me, I am happy.   Are you?

ZOOM.  SUNDAY AT 10AM is the next zoom class.  GITA GROUP.

THE TEACHER TRAINING and RUMI GROUP on zoom were fabulous as usual.  It is interesting that more students don’t come to the free training, and then wonder how they are going to get their Contact hours.  One hour with me = 1 contact hour and at the same time one hour of philosophy.  It helps.

 

MEANINGFUL MOVIES.

“NAVILLERA” Contd from Monday’s newsletter.   If you are dealing with anyone who has alzheimers, you will enjoy this movie.

We do not learn until quite a way in,  that Mr.Sim who is 70 years old and learning ballet, is doing it with great dedication and furiously taking notes about his days because he knows he has alzheimers.

It is not until episode 11 that his family learns this.   At the point his young teacher accepts that his student is mentally not coping and why,  and what the diagnosis means long term,  they have become like father and son.  Because it was memorable, and moving, I have written down in my own diary what he says to Mr.Sim –

“Even if you don’t recognise me, I will recognise you, I will remember you, I will not let go of your hand, and as long as you are with me and recognise me, I will teach you ballet”.

This is quite biblical and reminds me of the Story of Ruth in the Bible.  “Wither thou goest I will go….”

One ritual that I had not understood is the BATH HOUSE.  Mr Sim early on suggests that his young teacher (who has by this time taken the role of minder) take him to the bath house because he can’t reach his own back for scrubbing (I know the feeling).  Apparently a very male bonding ritual in Korea.  The teacher is reluctant because he has never bonded with his own father, but you can see as the scene progresses the impact of this intimate time.  It is about bathing, TALKING, SHARING,  and scrubbing backs – non-sexual in the American sense.  Later when teacher does meet his father he asks if they have been to The Bath House and suggests that they visit.

This is a pivotal moment in their relationship, which signals a healing, and I wondered what we in the West have for men/boys that is equivalent to this.   An opportunity lost perhaps?  

Perhaps The YOGA OF THE BATH-HOUSE could be re-introduced in your family?

 

I look forward to hearing what you got out of this movie.  

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE – JAHNE