Dear Yogis,

Please note that MAGIC CIRCLE ZOOM  starts THIS Wednesday (not September).  The 28th August at 6.30.  My mistake sorry – so many dates….

YOGA TEACHING.  I know that you are being very busy, but teaching yoga is as much about personal discipline as it is about asanas, and if you can’t keep a routine of one hour a week with me, how are you going to find time to teach – I suspect that being paid to teach makes a difference – but that is just me being old and cynical.  I know that often landed gentry didn’t have to earn money, they had inheritance – but that isn’t me.  So I make money helping yoga teachers, because we both need to do this to serve our community, but hopefully not at the cost of our relationship (such as it is).

I have just started teaching classes by donation.  I did it with trepidation, but, as I found in America it is working, and I make as much money from these “by donation” classes as I do from others.  This is the first time such has been the case.  I tried it on and off for years and in one memorable class I had some-one steal the donations…. Leaving me with almost nothing.  Now they put the donations in a pretty bag I sit with at the end, or they pop it in my handbag. I may try with more  classes (except Windarring) from next term.

Last winter I wanted to pickle Magnolia Flowers.

Magnolias  are in season right now, but not in my neighbourhood.  However, I have learned that camellia flowers work just as well.   I enjoy topping IGA sushi with the petals infused with ginger –  and this year camellias are everywhere.    There are over 250 known species of the genus Camellia and over 1000 different cultivars of Camellia sinensis alone. The sinensis variety is your traditional ‘tea’ tree, selected for its high caffeine content. In fact there is no reason why you can’t try making ‘tea’ out of your camellia leaves, they just won’t taste the same as true tea, and there’s a quite a lot of processing that needs to take place. Various varieties contain medicinal properties, and with most the flowers are used as garnish or dried for tea, and an oil pressed from the seeds.

Here is how to pickle either Magnolia or Camellia petals.  It is easy.  If you add ginger to the picking mixture, the petals will look and taste like Japanese pickled ginger.. the pink strips you can get in supermarkets.

Gather flowers with no bruises or markings. You’ll need to pickle immediately so don’t pick the flowers unless you’re going to head straight into the kitchen, as they wilt and turn brown extremely quickly.  Gather the flowers in an open basket and do not squash or bruise in anyway.
In the kitchen, sterilise glass jars and pack full of petals (just the petals not the whole flower).  Cover the petals completely with your pickling solution.  You can use any vinegar that you have, I usually use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar because it’s my favorite.
Simple: 1 cup vinegar + 1 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp salt (mix and tip over petals).
Sweet: 1 cup vinegar + 1/2 sugar + 1 tbsp salt (mix and tip over petals).
Ginger: 1 cup vinegar + 1/2 sugar + 1 tbsp salt + 1 cm finely sliced ginger (mix and tip over petals. You can use more ginger but I later found the ginger overpowered the magnolia).
Cardamom: any recipe above + a couple of cardamom pods.
OF COURSE, I ALSO ADD 1 TBSP OF VODKA.
Once the petals are completely covered in pickling solution, put on a tight fitting lid and leave in a dark cupboard for a few months for flavors to develop before opening. Once open store in the fridge.     I really like preserving in vinegar because it has a  long shelf life – sometimes if you use organic apple cider vinegar it even grows a “mother” over time.  A good indication that it is alive and well..  So whilst all recipes will say consume within 12 months, this will likely last a lot longer! (Don’t forget the vodka!  Not absolutely necessary, but does add a subtle something to the mix).

WHATS ON.

Windarring Yoga –  Kyneton Tues. 1pm,  9.30AM in Gisborne (10 week term ending end of September).

STUDIO YOGA WOODEND: Although these are small classes I take them VERY seriously. 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 every Wednesday (or a bit later)  by donation.   Arrive around 9.30 and we will start when we are settled.   I will be leaving around 11am..  I am not sure how long the class will last, or how long it will take to get everyone ready and moving, but we will be relaxed, and see how it goes.  Two students or more we always have a great class.  We are change makers.

>>>>>ZOOM DISABILITY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. Our zoom section is done.  If you want to join the class, you will have to wait for the next one towards the end of the year.    If you want to join our regular Monday zoom class,  you can, but you will need to email me to get the ZOOM ID.

MAGIC CIRCLE TEACHER TRAINING CLASS starts Wednesday AUGUST 28th at 6.30 x 4. No-one responded to the original call,  so I have sent the call out to teach the class to other teachers.  A 4 part teacher training.  Maybe you are not convinced, and you won’t be,  until (like me) you introduce it to yourself, and then your classes.  I even did a supported plank yesterday and could immediately see how this one exercise would help my class.

Luckily via zoom and writing,  I can introduce the new way I am working to an overseas group of dedicated teachers who are always looking for new, efficient add-ons to help their classes…  this is where the web has real value.

If you are enrolled and started the zoom training above, and/or the Disability course, there is a chance that I will get approval to accept my students for a period of placement with me. 

NEXT STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING – The last Sunday in August THIS SUNDAY the 25th AT 2.30

YOGA MONTHLY LUNCH: Last Saturday in the month (31st August) 12 noon at Full Moon next to the Vic in Woodend. .  Please email me if you would like to come, and haven’t emailed or contacted me already..

 

NAMASTE – JAHNE