eNewsletters for Trainees Teachers

Hi there Yogis,

As a person who lost everything in the Ash Wednesday fires, my heart goes out to all those hundreds of families who are in that position in LA, thank goodness my children are nowhere near the fires – Jesse and his family are in Vancouver, Kelly is in OZ.

It is amazing that here in Australia we lease our fire fighting equipment from the Americans, and this year they are over-committed, and there is the suggestion we don’t have enough of our own.

It could be said that LA is in the same position as we were in 1983. During the last fires in LA, Kim K’s house was saved by a PRIVATE FIRE FIGHTING FIRM. Their state service is underfunded, the dams are empty and there are not enough aircraft to go around, plus the fires are changing. It is winter now in LA and we have this new fire season.

It is more important than ever that we in Australia become self sufficient with our firefighting teams and aircraft.

ART EQUIPMENT CLASS:

I am inviting you to join us in the Studio on Sunday February the 9th at 2pm (cost $65) for a class which will demonstrate to you the different qualities of paper, inks, grounds, plastics, home made equipment and inks, glues, minerals and etc. Things that can change the way your paintings look and the finished product. This will save you months (years) of struggle and frustration. It cannot be done on zoom. You can bring a piece you are struggling with.

WHATS ON IN THE STUDIO.

Our FIRST RESTORATIVE yoga class 2025 Friday 10th January at 10am. TODAY – DID YOU MISS IT!

Windarring Yoga – Kyneton Tues. 1pm. 9.30AM in Gisborne

STUDIO YOGA, WOODEND: Open 10th January, at 10am for restorative yoga and then ongoing classes in the following week for the rest of term. Monday 1pm, Wednesday 1pm and Friday 10am

DISABILITY YOGA CLASS (YOGA FOR WHEELIES AND WALKERS) in NORMA RICHARDSON hall, starting 9.30am every Wednesday by donation. Please arrive close to 9.30 and we will start when we are settled. FIRST 2025 CLASS 15th January.

YOGA PHILOSOPHY CLASSES AS USUAL ZOOM. See above. Two changes, two Tuesdays 14th and 21st then Mondays, 6.30 as usual (unless the class prefers Tuesdays).

ART EQUIPMENT CLASS: on Sunday February the 9th at 2pm (cost $65) please book. Only 3 places left.

YOGA MONTHLY LUNCH: at The Full Moon Saloon starting again in the new year. I am booking it today. Let me know if you want to join us.

I am looking forward to 2025. NAMASTE – JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

Hi there, we are starting a new year, the philosophy classes are still happening, our school is still happening and the teacher training is still happening – when many other schools and training centres are closing, except for those places which are getting cheaper and cheaper, and certifying teachers in a weekend. Our registration, whilst dearer than others, thanks us on a regular basis for providing what we do, and makes it possible. You might save a dollar or two elsewhere, but you are making known quite clearly where your loyalties lie. As Vera says “follow the money”.

You may think that saving a few dollars by getting registered elsewhere is no big deal – it is. It says, “you trained us, you provided terms and conditions that allowed us training we couldn’t get elsewhere, but now I am trained I no longer need you”. What about the Sangha – is the concept meaningless too? Forgive me. I am only human – and I miss you all.

Schools reduce their overheads, increase student numbers and can get by with teaching the minimum, in a method that can be copied from a youtube video. Unsupported. Such students don’t know the history of their practice, or why they do what they do – it is easier just to grasp the minimums of how, and put the certificate on the wall.

In this way they will never know the beauty and vitality (and possibilities) that they have been gifted. I don’t know all the answers, but I do know some pretty important questions.

KARMA is God’s gift to us. Minute to minute we make decisions, good ones/bad ones,, good actions, bad actions, good thoughts, bad thoughts. We make a choice and move forward. Once we understand about the seeds we are planting we can make better choices, in that way growing and improving moment to moment. We can recreate ourselves, not tied to the past. The yamas, they are key.

LAST WORDS. Remember when an elder dies, a library is lost forever.

WHATS ON IN THE STUDIO.

Our FIRST RESTORATIVE yoga class 2025 Friday 10th January at 10am. TODAY – DID YOU MISS IT!

Windarring Yoga – Kyneton Tues. 1pm. 9.30AM in Gisborne

STUDIO YOGA, WOODEND: Open 10th January, at 10am for restorative yoga and then ongoing classes in the following week for the rest of term. Monday 1pm, Wednesday 1pm and Friday 10am

YOGA PHILOSOPHY CLASSES AS USUAL ZOOM. See above. Two changes, two Tuesdays 14th and 21st then Mondays, 6.30 as usual (unless the class prefers Tuesdays).

MT.MACEDON GALLERY: I will be there 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday 11th January

YOGA MONTHLY LUNCH: at The Full Moon Saloon starting again in the new year. I am booking it today. Let me know if you want to join us.

I am looking forward to 2025. NAMASTE – JAHNE

GOOD MORNING YOGIS,

Thanks so much for subscribing – If you look at the hundreds of students I have taught, the subscription is received by a very select bunch – it’s wonderful to have you here. Even people who live around the corner would rather make the effort to come here, chose a time, and ask personally “when is… or what is…?” rather than sign up, or click on the blog? I don’t understand it.

I’ve been writing my free newsletter since 1970 – at first it was sent out via the postal system – hundreds were posted in the old days, enough that the GPO gave me a special rate. Everyone wanted one no matter where they lived. Even my students who were drovers or rode the fences in the “top end” got a copy. I usually post something thoughtful about yoga or plants or art each week and, sometimes, if the muse is hassling me, (now we have emails) I can post daily like I did during “lockdown”..

Daily? I want you to know that, so you don’t have a nasty surprise when I am on a writing streak.

I approach email differently than most people. I see it as a way to share my knowledge and excitements with you – let you know what I am doing, what other students are doing, what the world is doing slowly and quietly. I love writing to you – I love the quiet, the serene, and the simple things in life. On one day, I might tell you a folktale about a plant and how it has made itself known to me, and on another day, a recipe, and how to live simply with the ecosystem, another day a yoga tale or fact I think you should know. A different kind of “play”.

I am sure you have worked out that there’s no strict rule or structure to my writing, teaching, or speaking. My main thrust? I use stories. It drives some folk bonkers – those who want to “cut to the chase” but that is how I am.

Every one of my newsletters are like that: higgledy-piggledy, if you are a purist, you perhaps will feel uncomfortable. But if you like exploring new things where-ever I find them and bring them to you, it will all make sense in the end!

I hope you enjoy it.

AUSLAN AND THE MONDAY ZOOM: because I am learning Auslan to help my students who like me are hard of hearing (yes, AUSLAN YOGA is becoming available worldwide) I will not be able to give our usual zoom presentation on two Mondays – next Monday the 13th and the following Monday the 20th. Instead I will be opening the ZOOM at 6.30 on Tuesday the 14th and Tuesday the 21st for those of you who may be able to join us. If you haven’t been before, email me and I will send you the zoom ID. yogafirst2@bigpond.com

WHATS ON IN THE STUDIO.

Our FIRST RESTORATIVE yoga class 2025 Friday 10th January at 10am.

Windarring Yoga – Kyneton Tues. 1pm. 9.30AM in Gisborne

STUDIO YOGA, WOODEND: Open 10th January, at 10am for restorative yoga and then ongoing classes in the following week for the rest of term.

YOGA PHILOSOPHY CLASSES AS USUAL ZOOM. See above. Two changes, two Tuesdays 14th and 21st then Mondays as usual (unless the class prefers Tuesdays).

MT.MACEDON GALLERY: I will be there 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday 11th January

YOGA MONTHLY LUNCH: at The Full Moon Saloon starting again in the new year. I am booking it today. Let me know if you want to join us.

I am looking forward to 2025. NAMASTE – JAHNE