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Dear Yogis,

Before we start, I have a technology problem and I need your help to try and solve it, PLEASE..

If anyone who reads this is 1. a member of The International Yoga Federation and 2. Has ACTUALLY  personally subscribed at any time to this newsletter, could you please let me know.

I am NOT interested to know if you receive the newsletter – I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER SUBSCRIBED even if you have unsubscribed.   Please send your name and your email addresses to me at yogafirst2@bigpond.com.

 

THE LATEST ON MINDFULNESS

Thank goodness I had the YOGA BEAUTIFUL site and shop.  I am having such terrible problems with ETSY.  When my pendulum told me to get going on the YB Shop, it spoke correctly.  To download your copy of this book please go to www.yogabeautiful.com.au and click on the SHOP.

They are there and ready to be downloaded, RIGHT NOW! Not earth shattering for you perhaps, but after more than an hour trying to make sense of the etsy site, I was SOOO pleased to revert to our site.  I don’t put enough there – but I will.  Etsy is getting sooo bogged down with structures and time consuming admin.

In the back of this new book are 12 MINDFULNESS ACTIVITY cards (three sheets of 4) which you can photocopy and on nice paper, trim,  and use  as a teaching tool, as a tool in counselling or tarot sessions (just to break the ice), or put one on the end of your student’s yoga mats in class so they can start the class in a calm manner… there are lots of ways to use them.

Even as a personal  “pick-a-card-a-day” discipline.  To download yours go to the shop on WWW.YOGABEAUTIFUL.COM.AU

 

WEEKEND STUDIO/ZOOM:  

FRIDAY 6.45pm THE FREE TAROT CLASS.  
Our SATURDAY 2pm Zoom class will be a Studio class (no zoom this Saturday).  We will have a studio meet-up once a month.
SUNDAY ZOOM 10am Bhagavadgita class.

 

LET’S DO SIMPLICITY?

It is totally appealing right at the moment after a day off that has been so very busy.  The only “day-off” thing I did was climb the ladder to the roof and rip the triffid-like wisteria away from the TV dish.  I think it likes the warmth?   But simplicity.  Hardly,  it was a day of challenges, in the garden, in the office and on the roof…plus technological challenges.

My printer which I had been “managing” has been costing me money lately, so it had to go (after 7 years hard work I might add).  Because of  covid and problems of stock, I had to buy a printer that I know will be a learning curve, and more expensive than I wanted to pay… but as I was gifted an older model IPhone (my first) I felt that balanced out.

Our task is not easy.  As I went about my day I often paused to consider what to do as situations presented themselves.  I have to admit to struggling to find integrity as I was pressured from all sides.  As I laboured to know what to do in every situation, I thought of the words of Mark Twain: Civilisation is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities”.

I read the bible as you know, and Jesus said that he “did nothing of his own accord” (John 5:19), and astonishingly he calls us to enter this unity of purpose.  We are told  we are to live with glad and generous hearts.  THIS IS SIMPLICITY.   When you get to that stillness, life is just beautiful….

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE. JAHNE

 

 

Dear Yogis –

STUDIO & ZOOM CLASSES.

We are all so pleased to be back in the studio.. Everything is as it was (the garden is a wee bit tidier… but that’s all).  Do come and be part of our community – in these covid times, community matters more now than it ever seemed to before, however, we have always valued our yogis!   Some of whom have been with us for a very very long time – 15 years and more.

MY FAULT – confusion about the cost of the classes – concessions, older students etc… I was trying to make it easier, and help you all which resulted in confusion, sorry about that.  So, I am going to revert to what was a particularly easy and successful model we used in 2006. That is a lot of years ago – some of you may remember this.  

From this week…. ...There is only one class pass, and only one price for yoga on zoom or in the studio – $88 for 4 classes for one person for one session.  It is consecutive.  Use up your present passes and then the new charge will apply.  It will be easier to remember where you are at, and the card will only be valid for 4 weeks, so no scrambling around when you lose it.

According to my financial advisor, with only three persons in a class it is the ONLY way it will work, and make it worthwhile.  I recently had to get some gardeners in to help out and they charged $52 per hour all up.  I have had 50 years yoga experience, and am highly qualified – I love teaching, and I love yoga (and I have missed you all during covid), but I no longer want to work for less than a gardener.  ZOOM OR STUDIO, all the same.. it is still an hour of my time and it is how I pay my expenses.  

I thank you for your understanding.  I don’t like to bring this problem to you, but I have to – otherwise we will have to close our doors and just work on zoom.. 

 

STUDIO CLASSES (and ZOOM)
These are filling up, but waitlists are available for when we are allowed more students in the classroom.

MONDAY:  1pm IS FULL.    6pm – there are vacancies in this class
TUESDAY: Ongoing ZOOM Sutra study 7.30pm
WEDNESDAY: 12.30 ZOOM.  5.30pm STUDIO IS FULL (waitlist?)
FRIDAY:  5.30 STUDIO With GENTLE WEIGHTS (get rid of the “covid Bulge”).  6.45 FREE TAROT/PENDULUM CLASS.
SATURDAY: 12.30 STUDIO YOGA.
SATURDAY: 2pm ZOOM TAROT/ART (There will be no zoom class this week – it is our monthly studio meeting)
SUNDAY: 10am ZOOM BHAGAVADGITA Study time.

NEW ON ETSY:

CHAKRA/REIKI CHARTS:  I am working on hand-drawn CHAKRA CHARTS echoing the work of Prof. Motoyama, and the REIKI CHARTS inspired by Dr.Usui.  I will let you know when they are on ETSY.  You will be able to buy them as sets to download, or matted and mounted ready to frame.

SUPERFOODS/SUPERHERBALS:
I have just finished the latest book of recipes.
It is an update of “Kannabis Kitchen” with a focus on adaptogens – herbals that help.

As usual it can be found on www.myyogabooks.etsy.com.

 

“DOING WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE”.
The Buddha said this, and we are all trying to live up to it I am sure.  It is not about buying some new toy, trying some new distraction, it is about using the skills and the equipment you have to meet your needs.  Yesterday at the evening SUTRA classes we learned about KRIYA YOGA and the NIYAMAS.  About cleanliness, study, positive change, humility and faith…pranayama.  What ASANA really meant when these texts were written.  It was not about the perfect down dog.

ASANA meant “The yoga of active practice”, which meant practice causing change, self-observation, and honouring the divine inner teacher.  A synergistic set of tools that bring about real change.  A powerful mechanism for learning and growth. Each part of the practice informs the others therefore change is more profound and noticeable when they are practised together.

PLEASE COME TO NEXT WEEKS SUTRA LESSON.  (Tuesdays 7.30pm) It is a process of self development using the skills of yoga, not just asana.  Inner growth involves changing the way that we feel, the way we do things, our attitudes, and our expectations.

SEE YOU THEN?

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

Good news.  After a lovely weekend where I have been in the garden (weeding of course), I have had time enough to put the finishing touches to the new newsletter “HEMPISH”.   I will launch the newsletter with the release of my latest small booklet ‘SUPERFOODS, SUPERHERBALS” which is a rewrite of the “KANNABIS KITCHEN COOKBOOK”, now in its fourth release.   In the next day or so I will put it on ETSY.   www.myyogabooks.etsy.com

In “SUPERFOODS, SUPERHERBALS” we begin the discussion about adaptogens.  Those herbs which help us to adapt to our changing internal environment by boosting our immune systems, not with a blast of medicinals, but with a steady intake of immune and organ building, sustaining ingredients,  lasting months (or in my own case, years).  These herbals, such as are used by TCM practitioners, gradually build the strength of the organs, rebuilding the body from the inside out (and no celery juice in sight).

As improbable as it may sound, I sprinkle mushroom powder (turkey tail, or chaga) on my yoghurt, or as a latte with cocoa.   It is a fantastic drink and pick me up (chaga being a “pick me up” mushroom” with many medicinal properties).  You can purchase the super boosting six mushroom coffee powder from us, or chaga or turkey tail.  They are all fantastic for your health and stamina.

 

THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

Yesterday I watched again a documentary about the architect I.M.PEI.  He is a Christian/Buddhist and had much to learn when accepted this commission.   The doco I watched  featured his eight year long project – THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART in Dohar.  First he constructed a peninsular that reached out into the ocean (no mean feat), then he brought into being the most wonderful building which is not only a celebration of geometry, but also of light.

He says if you really want to do something, no matter what that is – you can.  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.  (You have to know what you want to DO of course..)  His workers take on every task believing in those words, and in his patience and perseverance that everything will work out right.   Do google it, it is worth the time.

What is surprising (I saw it first off, but Mr.Pei had it brought to his attention by one of his female colleagues,  some time after the building’s launch),  from the front (the image you see to the left) with the two hooded eyes on the turret at the top, it looks like a woman in veiled Arab covering.   It is actually the light source for the internal dome, but you don’t see that – you just see the eyes, the head and can imagine the rest.  Fascinating that Mr.Pei didn’t see it.  It was accidental (as much an anything is, thanks to the subconsciousness!), but he was pleased of course. He spent 6 months researching Muslim Art and architecture before he agreed to the project, then 8 years to complete.  I imagine he was totally absorbed in the art, culture and customs, and it shows.  The building is exquisite.  It is not forced into a landscape, it is totally beautiful just by itself, in the same way that the Taj Mahal needs no explanation or guide book to appreciate.  It is poetry. It is like no other building.  Unique.

When you go there, as you must when we can, it costs nothing to enter the building and take advantage of the fabulous study halls, exhibition spaces etc.  It is free entry.

What I am trying to say is this.  Don’t limit yourself to studying one thing… yoga and art are everywhere.  If you don’t look at what is around you, you might miss something VERY IMPORTANT. As Kermit says “Inch worm, inch worm, measuring the marigolds why don’t you stop and see how beautiful they are”.

SEE YOU IN THE GARDEN. It’s not easy being green….

NAMASTE.  JAHNE