Blog Student News Trainees/Teacher News

Dear Yogis,

Now we are coming OUT of isolation you may think it a bit useless to do a retreat (or even a weekly mindfulness class).  Not so.  When you take the toggle off the pressure cooker, the blast of steam can take your skin off (or redecorate the kitchen), ask me, I know.  Same with you.  You managed to keep everything locked in tight, but when the pressure is released a little, the steam may be uncontrolled.  That is where mindfulness comes in.  It slows us down a little, allows us to direct “the steam”, take down the pressure, and generally be less destructive.

By learning to pay attention to your thoughts and actions in the moment, you’ll discover how to let go of old patterns and create healthier habits and ways of living that will make you feel good about yourself. And when you feel good about you, you can do just about anything.”

— Hugh Byrne, PhD

 

 

In the long term mindfulness can help us to regain balance, and progress forward in a more considered and fruitful way.  I love meditation and I hope I am not “preaching to the choir” as they say.  We all need a teacher (meditation can be your teacher) , we all need direction and we all need help on the path.  Allow me to help you on your path to a more fruitful future.  

I have put time aside to offer both classes and a monthly retreat.  I hope that you can join me in this.  For more details Click on the HOME page of yogabeautiful.com.au or go to MINDFULNESS in the menu.  Monthly 2 hour “Retreat” $20.  Weekly classes $35 for a set of three sessions.  Think of it as an investment in sanity.  

SANITY

People have asked me (and other students) who go to monthly acupuncture, and other alternative therapy sessions if it makes us “feel good”.  Like yoga, and other natural therapies, and of course meditation –  sometimes it doesn’t.  Sometimes BIG energy shifts occur and it takes a while for the mind, our computer to catch up, but catch up it does, and keeps us running along smoothly without drugs and without surgical interventions.  You are right,  it isn’t cheap, it can be uncomfortable, we do have to change,  but is a whole lot less expensive than the alternatives.   I don’t have to take time off, no hospital visits, no “days in bed”.  We are just “well” and getting “well’er”.

What would you rather? Go to a doctor to be told “your condition isn’t bad enough come back in a few years for an op”.  Or spend a couple of years cleaning up diet, decluttering the mind, walking or exercising, supplementing properly and eating well – no “op”, and owning  a biological age that is not racing towards the end of the world? I know my preference.

Meditation is the start of my day, yoga comes next, happy for no good reason, and acupuncture once every 6 to 8 weeks – result?  I am getting biologically younger and better, and happier.    As I once told an extremely sick client who grumbled about the regime because it may cut into his social life “you can’t have a social life and be dead at the same time”.  It’s a choice.

Really, I can guide you but no one can FIX you.  You can make changes, you can improve, you can discover the meaning of your life… no-one can do it for you.  No counsellor, no anything.  Healing is a team effort and you, body mind and spirit are part of the team.  You cannot walk away from your responsibility to self and survive.

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT.

NAMASTE – JAHNE (yogafirst2@bigpond.com)

 

 

Dear Yogis,

What a fabulous weekend…I had a wonderful one-on-one with a Restorative Teacher Training Student (yes, I do these!), then a yoga session, and then MAKE YOUR OWN TAROT CARDS, which was totally an inspiration to me.  Out of this session we have emerging a marine themed deck, a ‘Gita themed deck and an INSPIRATION themed deck and so an… and mine? A MINDFULNESS themed deck – very practical seeing that the Tea and Tarot cards were printed last week, and I am packing and selling them right now (they are for you!).  For details go to www.myyogabooks.etsy.com.

Then on Sunday we had our explorations into the BHAGAVADGITA.  The repeat class.  Next week is the next step in the current series and we will be looking at – THE FEATURES OF GOD – ‘KRISHNA” THE SUPREME BEING.  Yes, this is a subject and we will try to walk through in a simple, logical (exciting) way.  One topic leading to the next.  One of the students sensed our topic when she asked how I thought about God.  Come to Sunday Teacher Training, and discover how to talk to God for yourself.  The Hare Krishna movement of course adheres to what Sri Pradhupadha thought Krishna was talking about, and for him everything needs to be passed in front of Krishna for inspection and ‘tasting”.  This can be marginally boring, a mite joyless and add layers of rules.  Let’s go back to the original and see what Krishna himself said about EVERYTHING.  God didn’t design you to dance and then get pleasure from forbidding you from dancing…..

On Monday we will have RESTORATIVE YOGA at 1pm.

Tuesday, the CHAKRA DISCUSSION (part 3 of 3 I think).

Wednesday (a busy Zoom day):  12.30 Yoga Class, 5.30 Gentle Restorative Yoga Class and then instead of Dowsing, we will be having the first of the “MINDFULNESS MEDITATION” SESSIONS FROM 6.30 TO 7.30.   I always thought of the modern mindfulness sessions as being MINDLESSNESS yoga, but I have changed,  and embraced the method (among others) of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn (what a fabulous name!), and of course THE WAY of  ZEN, and Sensory Awareness (promulgated by Charlotte Selver,  Alan Watts, Erich Fromm and Fritz Perlz) which began in the 1950’s.  If you have ever meditated, danced, studied yoga or wanted “to be here now”, these sessions are highly recommended.

Friday: Strong Restorative (a blend) at 5.30 and we could have a MINDFUL MEDITATION AT 6.30 if you wanted.  Let me know.

Saturday:  12.30 Restorative and 2pm MAKE OUR OWN TAROT (The second of a series of three which can be ongoing, and can incorporate dowsing)

Sunday:  THE TEACHER TRAINING SESSIONS: Today, “The Bhagavadgita, The Features of God” – “Krisna the Supreme Being” (as it is discussed in the ‘Gita)

For details of any of the above, please go to the home page of the web site, and I  will list all the details there.

During my life I have often rejected one authority only to embrace another.  In thinking about this I have come to understand that underneath,  I was afraid of living in the world where there was not someone, somewhat like myself who KNEW.  But I have now come to the understanding that to know what one is doing with life, it is no good to consult authorities.  They spin veils to keep us from our truth. We need to penetrate these veils of unknowing with our own hands, eyes and senses if we are going in any way to be able to grasp the world, and feel it with our hearts.  It is not until we can TASTE for ourselves that we will truly be able to judge.

This requires discipline.  One discipline (and there are many) which has been embraced to control the rampant mind is ZEN, and other forms of Buddhist meditations…  We will explore this as we delve into  our discussions on the Gita, and on a personal experimental level as we play with SENSORY AWARENESS in our MINDFULNESS MEDITATIONS.  Don’t just wonder – join us.  It is not like lunching on sawdust, this is living food for the mind.

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING  WHO YOU ARE, AND WHY YOU ARE HERE?

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

 

 

 

Dear Yogis,

I know I wasn’t going to send newsletters on Saturdays... but here I am BECAUSE my beautiful TEA LEAF READING cards have been printed, they are on etsy, and they are available for you.

They are beautiful, and come in a box (I was going to send in a pouch, but I like this better).They are perfect to give a gift to yourself, or someone else.  The box makes this a beautiful gift.

In the box  is the cards, a booklet, a poster and a pendulum just made for you by me (nothing from China in this box).  All made, printed in Australia just for you.

Hop on to Etsy (www.myyogabooks.etsy.com), read about them, Pay pal them, and get the set for yourself. It is my first colourful cards.  E had a call from Europe this morning about some sets I made years ago.  The client is  wanting and updates and repeats.  How lovely is that…?? this is what makes me keep going.  Would you like to make your own set…?

See you on zoom. MAKE YOUR OWN TAROT (LIKE ME) AT 2PM and TEACHER TRAINING STUDY GROUP ON SUNDAY AT 10AM.  

MANATE – JAHNE