email blast 16 June 2015
GOOD MORNING PRECIOUS ONES Honouring the Universe – The philosophy of The Australasian Yoga Institute…. Dedicated to a tradition of excellence in teaching for more than 40 years, The Australasian Yoga Institute offers yoga teachers comprehensive and systematic training in classical yoga. We teach yoga techniques for body, breath, mind and spirit in 200hr and 500hr certification programs. Our programs include training in meditation, asana.
JUNE IS A VERY IMPORTANT MONTH, in which we in Australia celebrate the winter solstice
Solstice means…”standing-still-sun”, and we celebrate it this year on the 21st of June, the shortest day of the year.
Ancient societies marked this point in the calendar with ceremonies to tether the sun, and to bear witness to the longest night of the year by staying up all night. Traditionally, too, the winter solstice was regarded as the best time to plant garlic and other bulbs.
All over the world, and for many centuries, people have celebrated the Winter Solstice. This is a time to honour and celebrate the longest night and the shortest day. Many cultures celebrate with Lantern Festivals. This year winter solstice is on Saturday 21 June with 8:51 pm the time that the Sun is furthest north. After 21 June the days start becoming longer and night time shorter.
In ancient Europe their winter solstice (in December in the northern hemisphere) was a time of celebration. The Romans had a week-long celebration called Saturnalia during which all wars had to stop and courts did not try criminals. Later this festival became Dies Natalis of Sol Invicti or the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun celebrated in Europe on 25 December each year.
THE BLOG AND FACEBOOK
Nic is doing our FaceBook pages and the Blog www.ministryofyoga.blogspot.com. She tells me we are on Instagram and we even have a program for the week!
THE DALAI LAMA
My time in Brisbane attending the seminars with the Dalai Lama were (as you would expect), wonderful. Three fantastic days. Please don’t expect me to chatter on about it quite yet. I can talk to you about what he said about the NATURE OF SUFFERING, or THE NATURE OF REALITY, but we already discuss this in our philosophy sessions, and when I have finished processing what he said, I will probably do a video for you all.
I was notified before I left that if you wanted a photograph of yourself with the Dalai Lama it would cost $5,000. All PR time spent with him costs dollars, and I was confused as to why that would be so – until I watched. The people who actually want to get close to the Dalai Lama, who elbow their way to the front, who (having read a colouring book or two) take lots more time than they should questioning him about his philosophies, and ask things like “I came to a seminar two years ago – do you remember me”, are the ones who actually are there getting their photos taken with him. If it was me, I would charge them $10,000! Even though perhaps an opportunity has been lost for more people to speak with him (not really necessary – I mean, what can you say that is meaningful? Just being there is enough), and time has flown, we know the money will be used to benefit people.
By the way – Tensin did not sing at the Brisbane seminars, but he was at The Blue Mountain retreat, here he was honoured by the Dalai Lama. I was sorry I was not there to witness it, but it is available on his Facebook site as you would expect.
We are turning the Institute into a Foundation. I will be working on this for the next month or more. It is a lengthy process, and we will let you know how we progress. It will not make any immediate differences to our students or teachers, it just changes the business model, but neither the nature nor the purpose of our Institute, which is to inspire yogis.
NOA BELLING – YOGA HANDBOOK.
We will buy yours off you for $25 plus whatever is the postage cost. Email us if you would like to sell yours, and Deb will call you to organise. yogafirst2@bigpond.com
YOGA CLASSES – Times they are a changing…. Classes held at the Bentinck THE NEW HOME OF THE AUSTRALASIAN YOGA INSTITUTE. Cost: $10 per person per class (or $100 a 12 class pass: non–transferable). $15 mum plus little yoga bub. $25 per family (mum, dad and two primary school children. Young adults $10 each).
Jahne’s classes are designed around her 50 years of teaching experience. Friends, Yoga is not a recipe that is repeated the same way every time in every class. That would be mindless. If you want repetition don’t go to Jahne’s class. There is a thread running through the class. But it is not EXACTLY the same. If it was the same each week, you could just check your mind at the door. The shelf is for shoes, not for minds.
You will notice that some of my senior trainee teachers are taking over the evening classes – Nicholas Martin, Nicole and Kalma. I hear that you are enjoying them. Don’t expect them to teach like me – they are trying to put their own stamp on yoga. This seems to be important when you first start out as I remember.
“The Bentinck” is on the corner of the Romsey Road and the High Street in Woodend. Enter from the start of the Romsey Road only. Don’t wander around Woodend looking for the class. If you really get lost, just ask a shopkeeper for THE BENTINCK. It is iconic in the district and they will give you directions.
PARKING – Sorry, “Staff parking” 1. at the front entrance and 2. parking right outside of the yoga door is not available to us yoga persons, this is kitchen staff parking (doesn’t even apply to me) and does not mean you. Please think of others when you park. We hemmed the chef in the other day and he was not a happy chappy. Never upset the cook!. If both sides of the car park are full when you arrive, please park over the road – you just have to walk across Romsey road to yoga, and that’s not such a hard thing.
Monday 5.30pm RESTORATIVE , 6.30 general class.
Tuesday 10am RESTORATIVE and 7.30 general class (Brad),
Wednesday 12.30 general class
Friday 6.30pm general class
Saturday. 10am general class plus 9am RESTORATIVE and 12.30 RESTORATIVE YOGA.
**Because some of the classes are back to back, please check before you walk in early. There is a notice on the door, PLEASE READ IT. Walk around the building and wait quietly in the sunroom on the other side as we have asked – don’t just walk in. Thank you.
*RESTORATIVE YOGA (4 classes now – and growing)
……….is a beautiful, gentle yoga which is done using lots of props and lots of time. No balancing, no headstands, nothing but gentle stretches and rests. You and/or a friend will love it especially if you have had surgery, are anxious, haven’t exercised for years, have a weight problem, or have a neurological problem. It is also a PERFECT pre and postnatal session – if you are pregnant, please get a doctors certificate and bring it to your first class – not because I think you are unwell, but as it is an insurance requirement.
Please, if you have recently given birth and wish to come to yoga with your baby you are both more than welcome (I always have maintained a baby even a couple of days old is welcome in our classes with their mum – however NOT in restorative yoga), but please be sensitive to others in the room when you join a mixed general class. If you wish to change and feed we have a lovely conservatory room especially set out just for you. Warm, carpeted, floor to ceiling garden windows – a million dollar view for the short time you exit the class! We love babies, we love young mothers, however, if you want to be with other young mothers going through the same things as you are, please wait until we start our Mums+One classes.
If you are a Visitor or Casual (i.e you don’t come to every class) please note that as our classes are pretty full with regulars i.e. People who buy a pass and wouldn’t miss a session, we may not be able to fit you in. TEXT ONLY YOUR BOOKING REQUEST TO 0402 088 170. Please don’t ring me.
PLEASE PEOPLE: It is important that you get to the class early. When you arrive, be observant, and if there is a class in progress go around to the side door. PLEASE, please be on time.
www.yogabeautiful.com.au If you are looking for any changes in times and days, then please go to the web site. You will find everything there. There is also our blog. www.ministryofyoga.blogspot.com Nicole is loading things on this.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD On Sunday I attended the official opening of Crusoeden Wellness (and Yoga) Centre in Bendigo. It was quite inspirational. They had organised talks, demonstrations, guided tours (and wonderful gluten free food). Jayne Boyle the Principal is a trainee yoga teacher, but a fully qualified alternative therapist. She and her staff (all trainee yoga teachers), obviously have a loyal following already. We are expecting great things in the future, especially with whisperings of another larger building to accommodate a growing yoga community.
NEXT TEACHER TRAINING CLASS – The next will be on Sunday 5th July at the Bentinck – in the Yoga Room. Please join us. If you are a distance ed. student then the cost of the afternoon is $10. If you are a visitor you are most welcome – and if you are a visitor and not formally a student teacher with us then the cost is $20.
THE FORGIVENESS BOOK This book is still travelling, keep it moving along, the list is longish. And…..If you would like to be next on the list of 108 people, please email me……yogafirst2@bigpond.com
ART/PHILANTHROPY AND PHOTOS FROM THE MISSION As you are aware, the income from my art goes into our ongoing philanthropic efforts. The money goes towards buying bandages and other necessities for the mission, and also into our scholarship fund – whichever needs it most at the time. If you can send even a few dollars, please do (talk to Deb on Tuesdays or Wednesday to arrange). We live the yamas, so, you will know the money will go to where we say it will go, and be used for what we say it will be used for.. No staff or administration fees deducted at any point!
Photos:www.flickr.com/photos/amigasdelsenor PS: You can’t send the money direct, although that would be easier – it has to go through the US Mission office for reasons of security. Everything will change for you when you work out that there is plenty of time in every day to complete the important things.
BEANNIES FOR NEPAL
Please keep knitting Beannies. When I was in Brisbane I had a chance to talk to many people about our Beannie effort. They we inspired to start their own, so if you have a beanie box, please fill it. You can send it to us when it is full, or you can ask Deb and she will give you the address to send it to the Tibetan refugees and orphanages in India.
You should see Debbies, it his beautiful. People knit a beanie, and love it, then they knit one for themselves. Try it, it is easy. If you can’t manage a beanie, then knit a scarf. Thank you for those who have posted beanies to us. Last year we at the yarn bombing group managed to inspire enough knitters to send a large bale of beanies to schools in Nepal. With the earthquakes, and the cold and hardship faced by the people at this time, I felt that we could REALLY knit heaps of beanies and provide an even more valuable service. You will find a pattern on www.ministryofyoga.blogspot.com Send your beanies to PO Box 14, Mt.Macedon. Vic. 3441. Please don’t send them POD or COD. It would be cheaper for us to buy beanies if we have to repatriate them from the post office. The cheapest way to forward them is to collect a whole lot, and then go to office works and take advantage of their new parcel service. Some Newsagents also have a splendid Australia-wide parcel postage service.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – AYI YOGA UNIVERSITY
All our classes are available via distance education and you can start any time.. Thank you to those students who are moving from their 200 to another, higher course. Once you have got into the habit of learning, then it is easy to keep going…. Within our school there are three levels of YOGA TEACHER TRAINING, plus a course in the Gita, the fundamental source of all yoga teaching through the ages.
1. THE BHAGAVADGITA (YOGIC PHILOSOPHY)
2. RYTA200 – THE BASIC YOGA COURSE
3. RYTA500 – THE NEXT STEP
which you can take in a number of ways. Must start with 200 hours first.
4. RESTORATIVE YOGA THERAPY TRAINING
Most people have never met, and don’t understand, that there are angels all around us whose only job is to make sure that you don’t get too comfortable, fall asleep and miss the important moments (and gifts) in your life.
THE SHOP and ETSY www.myyogabooks.etsy.com This week I received an email from one of our students who had purchased the chakras and colouring book and REALISED THAT COLOURING THE DRAWINGS WAS A MEDITATION. I celebrated. It has taken a year for a student to understand the reason for the drawings. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU……!!!
ALL OUR IN-HOUSE DVD’S AND CD’S ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS SITE. Please remember that they are not flashy high cost productions. They are made by Deb, Nic and me to answer your various questions. They are useful in your course.
“YIN YOGA” AND “FIVE TIBETANS”
THE YAMAS:
THE UN-MEDITATION COURSE:
YOGA SWINGS: Colours – *blue and grey, grey and black or pink and orange. I have five second hand swings in perfect condition available for $100. Please contact me personally if you would like these.
THE REVELATION TAROT:
LINO CUT PRINTS, HAND PAINTED “OM’S”
HOW-TO STUDY YOGA BY DISTANCE EDUCATION – A BOOKLET…..
THE CHAKRAS – A COLOURING-IN BOOK and a REFERENCE BOOKLET –
CHAKRA BOOKLET
ETERNITY THE PRAYER – (not on the site yet, but will be there soon).
YIN YOGA/ANATOMY/MEDITATION DVD’s – all with Paul Grilley This is one of my major sources of course and can be a source for you too. BUY ALL THREE. You will never regret it. They are the best and will form the backbone of your yoga references. Don’t hold back it will be false economy. As I have told you before when I bought mine they cost $100 or so each. I thought that this was a good investment. I think half that is a steal! And that is what we are selling this for. www.yogabeautiful.com.au I move with the infinite in nature’s power. I hold the fire of the soul. I hold the life and healing”. (Rig Veda)
REGISTRATION/INSURANCE www.yogabeautiful.com.au We are giving you total choice now, although it may be a bit more expensive…..
REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE HAVE BEEN UNCOUPLED. YOU CAN BUY THEM SEPARATELY. A DEARER OPTION, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT. WE AIM TO PLEASE.
YOUR TEACHER TRAINING YEAR (or so): We are culling our files and putting old files in archive. If you have not sent in any modules, and have not communicated in the last year, your file will be archived. You can still continue your course, but there will be a fee to start it up again. If you are not sending in modules, and are not communicating, then how can we know if you are a student!
Signing up for a course – our course included, is like buying a car. You can’t buy it, take it for one run, leave it in the garage and a year later go back to the dealer and ask for your money back. It doesn’t work like that. If you are on the course, you are on the course until you write and let us know that you are not. If twelve months and more have elapsed with no contact in spite of all our newsletters, etc…. then you have (as far as we are concerned) been on the course for 12 months.
Also, just signing up and not sending in any modules means you are not really a trainee yoga teacher, and unless we receive regular communication (even if it isn’t modules), at a certain point we will deem that you have disconnected from us, and we will disconnect from you. And, coming to class with no intention of completing the course just to get the cheaper, easier student insurance, and free classes isn’t exactly living the yamas! Sooner or later we will call your bluff.
If you are a trainee Yoga Teacher who has been working on the course for more than a year please understand that your course fee only gives you FREE classes with me for your first training year – the first 12 months only. Imagine if what would happen to our Institute if you took three years to finish your course and you could still come to classes free for the entire course. We do our fee calculation based on 12 months of free yoga classes. Your training fees cover you for a year, after that we ask you to pay $10 per class.
I have found if you paddle your boat it is easier to maintain the illusion of control, but I tell you it is so much more fun if you pull the oars in and just let the river take you where it will….
TAKE CLASSES WITH JAHNE ANYWHERE, ANY TIME.
VIDEOS: THEY ARE NOT OPTIONAL – THEY ARE NECESSARY! Only $275 per annum. Please look down the list of the videos before you try to do stick drawings, or organise your journal. I have shown you what I recommend. All you have to do is download. I even did a video on ‘The Gita. Good feedback thus far – thank you. Please. Email us and Debbie will make sure that you are logged in promptly.
GARDENING WITH BENEFITS Please go to our Blog. www.ministryofyoga.blogspot.com to catch up with recipes.
Nothing much is happening in the garden at the moment apart from weeding. Mulching, and keeping the frost off things.
I always have a cold dessert preferably and icy pole after dinner, and have lately been making my own. They are sugar free, nutritious and quite different. I am reminded of that lady in the “Vicar of Dibley” who made the extraordinary cakes and sandwiches, vegemite and strawberry jam, spam and jam, and so on. I have not gone that far, but I have made a beautiful sweet-corn and raspberry icy pole. I am going to put the recipes on the blog.
WANT RAISED VEGGIE GARDENS? One of my students is a member of a large apple growing family, and he has available BIG APPLE CRATES. Deb has bought two and tells me they are 1.2m square, weathered to a lovely grey. They are well constructed and would make a fabulous wood box, compost bin, raised garden bed and even with casters on the bottom a reasonable coffee table I am told. If you want one they are $100 each. If you live outside of Woodend you will have to collect them. But they are rather lovely. Order through Deb. yogafirst2@bigpond.com
REGARDING DEBBIE If you want to speak to Debbie about any aspect of the courses – she has done them, please remember that she only comes in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On those days she is available on Ph: 0354 273 518. I am always here, and available preferably on email or text because I teach and am not always at my desk. Don’t hesitate to email me and I will answer your email or text as soon as I can.
MOVING. MOVING (I THINK) – SO PATIENCE PLEASE!
The space is being beautified for us, and made into a welcoming yoga place to be – not just a room with an office. Unless something unforeseen happens, we are moving to The Bentink in the first week in July. We have started organising computers etc.
Now you know and I know that no matter how much we plan there will be a few days of chaos, as cables, Telstra and Optus catch up, and we pack then unpack the files. I am not looking forward to it at all. Not even a little bit. Everything about it makes me not want to think about it – but I am sure that when we have settled in we will love it.
THE LAST WORD: I try to imagine life without being able to speak to God, but none of the days without that special energy have the same laughter, or opportunities…..
For more wonderful, delicious thoughts
Log on to our Web site www.yogabeautiful.com.au
and tune in to our videos daily. ENJOY – Love and Blessings,
Namaste Jahne