Dear Yogis,

Dreary days in Woodend as it always is this time of the year.  It has rained, not too cold, so the plants have time to recover.  I have spent a little time doing a small portrait of Gracie, in her appropriate outfit, although you can see she was slightly miffed because there was no crown.

THE YOGA FOR DISABILITY IS MOVING ALONG… we have another zoom get together tonite – don’t forget.  They are the most useful part of the course.

I remember when i started THE AUSTRALASIAN YOGA INSTITUTE.  I was so excited.  Everyone told me it wasn’t possible, but I just went for it, and it was good.  However, I remember that I ran away from home, and then from school and then from Art School not to do yoga, but because I wanted to be an ARTIST (from about 6 years of age).  Yoga came along in a series of happenings as things do.  I just said yes.

Success really is nothing but REGRET IS POISON.  Although I am looking after my graduates, and thinking up more courses so that they can succeed in the same way I did, I am painting, painting, painting.  I AM AN ARTIST – now I move forward with expanding my gallery…

THE CAT:

The hard thing is to realise is that painting can be both work and play, and that I can do it when i want to.  I have never had that realisation before, and its welcome.  It is work of course, I don’t play!  How’s the portrait of Gracie (my cat) to the left.  She looks as snooty as usual, probably because she wanted a crown! I could have done that but she is already pretty impossible.  Imagine if she had a crown, I would have no chance.

If you want a “period piece” of your pooch or cat, we can organise that.  I do have a large elephant to finish painting, and I have cleared the decks.  It’s in three panels, so the table needs to be cleared of fabric – and it is at the moment.  However, at night I love doing miniatures.  The size of the cat canvas is 8inches x 8 inches, so the actual painting does qualify as a miniature.

To have your very own  “miniature” of your dog cat or any other animal, reptile, bird, you just need to send me a good quality sharp photo of your pet via email JPEG.  I will provide the appropriate period clothes, and can post the finished product to you – unframed on canvas, ready to hang or frame. Email me to organise yogafirst2@bigpond.com

CLASSES WOODEND.

Windarring Yoga –  Tues. 1pm .  (Tuesday AM in Gisborne starting in the new term).

STUDIO YOGA WOODEND: Monday Hatha 1pm (full) Wednesday Restorative 1pm,  FRIDAY RESTORATIVE 10am 

DISABILITY YOGA CLASS (YOGA FOR WHEELIES AND WALKERS) in NORMA RICHARDSON hall, starting 9.30am 17th July  by donation. Next term.  All my disability classes with have an emphasis (after time) on meditation/sound therapy.

ZOOM DISABILITY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. This week class 2 –  6.30 zoom class.

TAROT/PAST LIFE ADVISOR/counsellor – Always available by appointment.
I am updating the Etsy booklets relative to my decks (and my new RED deck).  I will let you know when this is done.

HOT STONES MASSAGE – Our Winter offering once the new hot stones arrive – THEY HAVE ARRIVED!.  Weekdays and weekends by appointment only.

NEXT STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING – The Sunday June 30th at 2.30

 

NAMASTE .  JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

Had an interesting last week.  As you know I have been teaching yoga for disability, however, whilst I see people wandering around Woodend in wheelies and walkers they seem unwilling to join the class.  I was talking to one of the Windarring team leaders in Castlemaine, and she made an interesting observation.  People didn’t know how yoga could help their community – they saw yoga on the TV and none of them could even think about doing what those people do.  Obviously the problem we are having is all about perception.

So we have changed the name of that arm of our yoga and called it (unless you can suggest better)  “SO FUN!” Yoga movement for strength and flexibility.  

I am having a new logo made highlighting wheelies and walkers. Amazingly The NDIS pays for walks, trips to the coffee shop, and fun.  It does not support yoga,  massage (unless you are a masseur with a university degree)  and other worthwhile therapies.  We are lumped under the heading INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

The first step is for parents and support workers to understand what we are doing… last week at my meeting team leaders, COO, CEO they were amazed that we used straps, weights, and taught strength, physical ability and flexibility.  The importance of branding was brought home hard and fast.  Take heed.

The photo is of children (not Windarring), and yes, they are doing yoga.  For them it was “SO FUN!”

 

CLASSES WOODEND.

Windarring Yoga –  Tues. 1pm .  (Tuesday AM in Gisborne starting in the new term).

STUDIO YOGA WOODEND: Monday Hatha 1pm (full) Wednesday Restorative 1pm,  FRIDAY RESTORATIVE 10am 

DISABILITY YOGA CLASS (YOGA FOR WHEELIES AND WALKERS) in NORMA RICHARDSON hall, starting 10.30am 17th July  by donation. Next term.  All my disability classes with have an emphasis (after time) on meditation/sound therapy.

ZOOM DISABILITY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. This week class 2 –  6.30 zoom class.

TAROT/PAST LIFE ADVISOR/counsellor – Always available by appointment.
I am updating the Etsy booklets relative to my decks (and my new RED deck).  I will let you know when this is done.

HOT STONES MASSAGE – Our Winter offering once the new hot stones arrive – THEY HAVE ARRIVED!.  Weekdays and weekends by appointment only.

NEXT STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING – The Sunday June 30th at 2.30

 

NAMASTE .  JAHNE

Dear Yogis,

Wednesday already and a hard, hard frost (but beautiful to look at!).  Thank goodness I have wood.

I did get some comments with regards to Mondays biblical reference to the war involving Gaza and Israel, thank you.  Now I am getting back to YOGA FOR DISABILITY.

Starting anything new requires effort, disappointment, realisations, and occasionally joy.  My students give me joy.  It took 10 years for Morgan to translate the bible into Welsh which kept the Welsh language alive and led to Nationhood.  Yoga for Disability (or a new look at anything), takes patience and discipline and often tears, but like Morgan,  one keeps going because of the larger picture.

I am trying to translate the yoga for people who have no way of appreciating it as the rest of us do. For the last few weeks at Widarring, a Student who is challenged mentally and physically, has started to come to yoga.  She communicates with screams and apparently screams until brought to yoga.  When we do “omming” she has the most wonderful smile, and although she doesn’t understand “omming” she copies my physical actions – I feel like the teacher of Helen Keller must have.  Whatever she is experiencing is bringing her back every week.  After every class I take time to acknowledge her effort.  I acknowledge her,  but do it at a distance, as she doesn’t know me well enough to trust me and allow me into her space. I am learning.

I would like to explain this journey in art, but have not yet discovered the language …..  yet, but which? Portraits, faces, bodies, body parts, paint, fabric? It would certainly explain me to me if nothing else.

Dear Mr. Shakespeare did you choose blackness for Othello to challenge the viewer or to explain the darker recesses of the human soul – or both.  At the time of Shakespeare the population had been trained to listen very carefully to what was being said from the pulpit – they bought this skill to the works of Shakespeare, which were “gunpowder”, challenging attitudes on every level.  Before our students can understand what we are doing, we have to discover a language they (and their carers, parents and support workers”)  can resonate to.  I think it begins (and maybe ends) with smiles and kindness.  Yoga and musical chairs, Yoga and Tina Turner, Yoga and Baba – whatever it takes.

If you want to join me on this (challenging) yoga journey, email me.  You may not get into this class, but I can waitlist you for the next one.  yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 

Windarring Yoga –  Tues. 1pm .  (Tuesday AM in Gisborne starting in the new term).

STUDIO YOGA WOODEND: Monday Hatha 1pm (full) Wednesday Restorative 1pm,  FRIDAY RESTORATIVE 10am 

DISABILITY YOGA CLASS (YOGA FOR WHEELIES AND WALKERS) in NORMA RICHARDSON hall, starting 10.30am 17th July  by donation. Next term.  All my disability classes with have an emphasis (after time) on meditation/sound therapy.

ZOOM DISABILITY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. This week class 2 –  6.30 zoom class.

TAROT/PAST LIFE ADVISOR/counsellor – Always available by appointment.
I am updating the Etsy booklets relative to my decks (and my new RED deck).  I will let you know when this is done.

HOT STONES MASSAGE – Our Winter offering once the new hot stones arrive – THEY HAVE ARRIVED!.  Weekdays and weekends by appointment only.

NEXT STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING – The last Sunday in June at 2.30

 

NAMASTE .  JAHNE