Dear Yogis,

THE DIAMOND CUTTER

This month at Wednesday teacher training, and in our Monday zoom classes, we have been looking at The Diamond Cutter (the Michael Roach translation/interpretation of The Diamond Sutra) and talking about karma.  If you are a yogi reading this, then you should realise that karma doesn’t just turn on when you are making big decision, karma is at work every millisecond whether you understand it or not.  The law of cause and effect, it operates as a response to your thoughts and your words and your deeds, all day all night all of your life.

It doesn’t matter which holy book you read, you will find karma working out within its pages and stories.  Last night I was reading the Old Testament story about Joshua and his various battles.  How God spoke to him and at every stage alerted him to the effect of his actions.  At one time in one of his battles, God told him that if he fought the war according to the Law he would win, if he deviated he would lose.  The odds were immaterial, the way he fought and the intention of each tribe, each soldier counted.  In the first try, the battle was lost, so Joshua following God’s advice, looked closely at every soldier in the battle, and discovered one of his favourites had stolen artefacts from the opposing force.  Once he had taken the appropriate steps and righted the wrong, he went into battle again – a very small army against a mighty one – and he won.

This is at work in your life too.  If there is a “battle” you are trying to win and consistently losing, look closely at your intentions, and the minute steps towards the battle.  Make sure you are living according to the yamas, right any wrongs, work through the steps leading to the battle minutely –  and if you correct the steps (believe me there will be an aspect where you have deviated), the outcome has a better chance of being a positive one for you.  As it says in the Gita.  It is not about the battle.  God knows the outcome you have fought it many times before.  It is HOW you fight each of life’s battles that counts.  That is what makes the difference.

TEACHING YOGA TO FORGOTTEN PEOPLE

I have a sewing room full of bears I am fixing, washing and renovating to give to carers, rehab centres, aged care homes and generally to people who need just something of their very own to love.  A bear might seem a small thing, but to some people they are EVERYTHING.

If you could just see the look in a person’s eyes when they get a bear, and realise it is theirs to keep and love.  It is the most wonderful moment – and you can share in it.  By supporting me in any way you can we can continue this outreach.  I pay for the bears, and I take time to renovate them, giving out not one at a time, but 7 and 8 at a time.  I have a lot of bears, but I also have lots of requests for bears big and small….  It is great work, but I can’t do it alone.  I need your support.

Please buy a hand made bear of your own, buy one of my bear patterns via etsy (I will load them on Yogabeautiful soon) or just donate –  which you can do through PayPal on this page or go to www.patreon.com/yogafirstcarebears.  

I have also been asked by graduates how they can do what I am doing, in their community – I would love it if you did.  I will have a zoom chat that I will invite you to, when I discover a suitable time I will let you know.  I will give you as much lead time as possible, and then, you will be able to do what I do where you are.

I have a client who is a regular church goer and prides herself on her “unforgiveness” of others.  I know people who say they are Reiki Masters but don’t heal or care for others, people who say they LOVE yoga but don’t do any, and students (even trainee teachers) who say they will come to yoga or class and don’t come.  In every case their lives are a mess and they can’t understand why… I am sure closely examining intentions and changing negatives to positives would make a difference.

My TEDDY BEAR YOGA students, those in the community who are called “challenged”,  do what they say they will do.  In Tibet and other countries they would be seen as GIFTED, as SPECIAL, and this is how I see them. This is why our Teddy Bear sessions are so joyous – their intentions are pure. It is not easy work, it is energetic work, but I would do it every day if I could – I am having so much fun.

STUDIO YOGA CLASS TIMES
Fees FROM 3rd October (new term) $220 per term.

Monday – the 1pm class ONLY deferred until term 4 (re-starting 3rd October).  This hopefully will allow everyone to take care of families and school holidays for that 1 hour per week.
Monday 2.15 class as usual
Tuesday 1.30 Teaching at Windarring
Wednesday 1pm Hatha and 2.15 teacher training as usual
Friday 2.15 as usual.

NEW SPRING CLASSES:
I am considering a Tuesday and Friday 7pm class to take advantage of the warmer weather of term 4.

NEW – SATURDAY BOTANICAL ART CLASS: “GIVE IT A GO” with Jahne.  4 x 2 hour classes from Saturday 9th October, 2.30pm to 4.30 $75 for members of The Botanical Art Society of Australia, ($85 non-members). Location: Woodend, Victoria.

ZOOM TEACHER TRAINING 6.30 Monday (The Sutras)  STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING 2.15 Wednesday in the Studio.

FOR BOOKINGS, ENQUIRIES – NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 Dear Yogis,

“Live, Love, Laugh and leave a LEGACY”

FRIENDSHIP BEARS PLEASE

As you know, I have taught yoga for more than 50 years, have painted, run galleries and I have always made dolls and bears. The ArtDolls I design and make will soon be available at the Little Gallery next to the Trading Post in Woodend.

When I am not designing and making my own dolls and bears (I worked with the Late Mirka Mora),  I renovate bears and give them to charity.  Mostly I have been buying from op-shops, but passing on multiples a day it is difficult, although hugely rewarding.    As well as giving them away,  I do sell my own designed and hand-made denim and fabric bears to clients from my studio.  The money I make from this,  allows me to buy more bears, mostly from Op-Shops.   Can you help?

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, can you donate teddys to me, especially pre-loved and worn,  so that I can give them free of charge, renovated, and renewed to people in need? Everyone needs a bear.

You would not understand unless you saw it,  the difference a bear makes to someone who is deemed to be unresponsive, even those who can’t see or hear…  a light comes on in their soul.  They pick up the bear with gentleness and hold it, rock it like a baby.  It is beautiful to watch.  Transformative.

If you have bears  –  knitted, or fabric or fur (they don’t have to be pristine and beautiful – they are ALL beautiful in their own way) – and would like me to pass them on to people who will love and adore them (and keep them out of landfill or save them from being chopped up for their fibre), please let me know, or drop them on my doorstep at 37 Morris Road in Woodend.  I am hoping to be inundated.  The little teddy in the photo on the left has gone to a new home… I cleaned him, embroidered a new face,  I even knitted a coat.

TEDDY BEAR YOGA WORKSHOP.  

If you are a counsellor, a yoga teacher, a Disability worker, someone who works in hospitals or aged care… or all three, then maybe you would benefit from a short ZOOM workshop in using the bears to bring your yoga classes to life.  Maybe it’s about Covid anxiety, but Teddies are so wanted and needed at the moment.  I will show you how I collect, renovate and pass on these bears.  Maybe this is a family/community work you could do too.  Email me and I will send you and ID.  The workshop will probably be on a Sunday afternoon, I have not decided because I haven’t heard from you….

STUDIO YOGA CLASS TIMES
Fees FROM 3rd October (new term) $220 per term.

Monday – the 1pm class ONLY deferred until term 4 (re-starting 3rd October).  This hopefully will allow everyone to take care of families and school holidays for that 1 hour per week.
Monday 2.15 class as usual
Tuesday 1.30 Teaching at Windarring
Wednesday 1pm Hatha and 2.15 teacher training as usual
Friday 2.15 as usual.

NEW SPRING CLASSES:
I am considering a Tuesday and Friday 7pm class to take advantage of the warmer weather of term 4.

NEW – SATURDAY BOTANICAL ART CLASS: “GIVE IT A GO” with Jahne.  4 x 2 hour classes from Saturday 9th October, 2.30pm to 4.30 $75 for members of The Botanical Art Society of Australia, ($85 non-members). Location: Woodend, Victoria.

ZOOM TEACHER TRAINING 6.30 Monday (The Sutras)  STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING 2.15 Wednesday in the Studio.

FOR BOOKINGS, ENQUIRIES – NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: yogafirst2@bigpond.com

SEE YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

This piece by David Michie (a Buddhist Monk) was submitted to me by one of our graduates.

……….When I heard the news of her death, I immediately recalled a specific insight often mentioned by my cherished teacher Geshe Thubten Loden: “On the day she dies,” he often used to tell his Australian students. “The Queen and the kookaburra will be the same.”

The point he made was that whatever status, wealth, social connections or power we may enjoy in this lifetime we lose the moment we die. After our last exhalation, physical and mental dissolution follow. All that continues, whether we are the Queen or a kookaburra, is subtle consciousness which carries the imprints of our actions, predisposing us to experience reality in a particular way.

I never met the Queen, but I know people who did, and who worked for her. Guided from a young age to perform her unique role, she had a powerful sense of purpose – one that was fundamentally benevolent, encouraging others to be their best selves. As a result, I feel sure that her subtle consciousness will continue in an auspicious way.

On the passing of a high lama or revered yogi, the appearance of rainbows in the sky is often said to be a sign of such auspiciousness. That rainbows appeared above both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle – among other places – at the time of the Queen’s passing may just be an indication of the air moisture in England… but I like to believe not.

May the Queen, and all who have recently passed into bardo,
Quickly and easily attain complete and perfect enlightenment.
May all of us who feel gratitude for what she gave us,
Live up to her own ideal to be our best selves.
May love, compassion, joy and equanimity,
Pervade the hearts and minds of all limitless beings
Throughout universal space.

STUDIO YOGA CLASS TIMES
Fees FROM 3rd October (new term) $220 per term.

Monday – the 1pm class deferred until term 4 (re-starting 3rd October).  This hopefully will allow everyone to take care of families and school holidays for that 1 hour per week.
Monday 2.15 class as usual
Tuesday 1.30 Teaching at Windarring
Wednesday 1pm Hatha and 2.15 teacher training
Friday 2.15 as usual.

NEW SPRING CLASSES:
I am considering a Tuesday and Friday 7pm class to take advantage of the warmer weather of term 4.   Please indicate if you are interested – email yogafirst2@bigpond.com

NEW – SATURDAY BOTANICAL ART CLASS: “GIVE IT A GO” with Jahne.  4 x 2 hour classes from Saturday 9th October, 2.30pm to 4.30 $75 for members of The Botanical Art Society of Australia, ($85 non-members). Location: Woodend, Victoria.
To Book: Email yogafirst2@bigpond.com.  Details on www.jhwilliams.online.

ZOOM TEACHER TRAINING 6.30 Monday (The Sutras)  STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING 2.15 Wednesday in the Studio.

TEDDY BEAR YOGA.  I am having such fabulous fun teaching this at Windarring and have been collecting teddies to refurbish so everyone has a bear.  If you teach in aged care, or in any kind of rehab community, then you might like to try this.  It is such fun – much more yoga than usual gets done and much more enthusiastically.

SHOPPING THE PRE-CHRISTMAS STUDIO SHOW – Date to be determined – probably end of November. As I am exhibiting in other galleries, I have to see how they are planning their shows and will fit around my appearances at those venues.  If you want to purchase dolls or have one made for Christmas (or a Christmas stocking made for a special person or child), please let me know.

If you have comments, or would like to express your interest in the new evening classes (or others), Please email me: yogafirst2@bigpond.com

I will see you on the mat

Namaste – Jahne