Dear Yogis,

What a glorious (if freezing) morning.  I am sure the afternoon will be suitable for gardening if I can get out and see it at all, I am busy, busy, busy and inspired by dolls.  I am up to painting the faces for three dolls, which means EYES, and I love imagining the eyes they will have.  I paint them on, no hard plastic stuff on my dolls or bears thank you. Then I have a stuffed rabbit.  Did I tell you about the beautiful French (mauve) Teddy Bear I bought for myself.  I totally love it, and will look out for another.

YOGA FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

Tomorrow (the date has changed) I will be teaching a group of people who are not able to stand up safely –  about 10 students with all kinds of disabilities.  Some in wheel chairs, some unable to understand, some who just wander around and don’t sit or concentrate in the way we do etc etc.  I had the idea that I could use flash cards with simple pictures on them.

Yesterday afternoon I put together a small group of flash cards showing various simple positions,  and will try them out tomorrow (they are not the finished product, they are a trial).

A member of the group will choose card,  and as a group (or as close as possible to a group) do the movement.  I would like to call what we do asanas, but we are not there yet, at best we will do “interpretations” of what we see.  They will be guide posts.  Having me do the movement isn’t “interactive” enough.  There needs to be a number of clues, and and invitation to try.

I will let you know how I manage.  If you are interested in getting a set of these cards, when I have worked out what is successful in terms of movements I will do a series and make them available to you.  Only 20 cards.  That is enough.

CHEWING GUM TO COMBAT COVID!

Would you believe it, clever science has been trying out SPECIAL CHEWING GUM.   Early results have been extremely promising. In test-tube experiments using saliva from individuals who had been infected with either the Delta or Omicron COVID variants, the virus particles attached themselves to the ACE2 receptors in the gum and the viral load fell to undetectable levels.  Clinical trials are now being prepared. They will involve COVID patients chewing four ACE2 gum tablets each day for four days, after which their saliva will be analysed for viral load.

If the trials replicate the success of the test tube experiments, the gum could be a cheap and easy addition to the arsenal of tools used to suppress the transmission of COVID.   The Pennsylvania University researchers have also tried a second type of gum, derived from bean powder rather than from lettuce, which may have benefits beyond stopping COVID. According to the study, this version “not only traps SARS-CoV-2 particles in lab experiments, but also influenza strains and other coronaviruses that cause common colds”.

Good news, indeed. So the next time you get frustrated at having to grab a stick to clean a sticky mess from the tread of your shoes, cheer yourself up with the thought that chewing gum is now being used for good, as well as evil.  (*taken from ….”Your Life Choices”)

THE BEARS AND OTHER TOYS – remember the workshop is on Saturday next

I am becoming a “toy Tragic”.   As I said, I even bought a large gorgeous mauve french bear on Saturday, and I walk around the house carrying her . I have called her “Edith” after Edith Piaf. – well, she is French.

The toy I am carrying in the picture is the latest of my own bears, and a possible for you to do at our workshop.  I have called this bear MARMADUKE.  and he looks suitably bemused.  It is quite a simple pattern.  The bear takes two pieces of fabric and one continuous seam, then the patches for the muzzle and tummy (both optional) and the two arms which can be done a number of ways.  I line them for my bears, but they can be a felt addition in which case they require little to be done, except positioning them and sewing them on.

At the workshop you will get a template you can use for making your own bears at home afterwards, fabric, materials, I will teach you what you need to know.  Afternoon tea (chocolates, cheeses etc) will be available.  You will be able to finish a bear like the top one on the right,  in the time.  He is larger than he looks, but can be finished in a variety of ways.

The teddy with the longish arms still unfinished in the left, is the latest.  Quite a bit bigger, and difficult even for me.  you can’t see but the reverse is a beautiful little Liberty print.  I will photograph it when it is further along.

For the workshop – If you have favourite needles, scissors, and a piece of fabric you prefer, please bring them.  Saturday at 12noon.

Details below.

THE YOGA CLASSES – please book before you arrive.  They are small classes and one unplanned extra may not be able to join.

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

SEE YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE JAHNE