Gratitude

Satyananda Ashram - October 2010

I love the word Gratitude. Its such a big full bodied word. Saying it makes me feel so happy and contented.

Here is a beautiful quote for the weekend:

"In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy."

Bother David Steindl-Rast.

Nice.

Namaste.

Yoga - to prop or not?

During my recent couple of months teaching I have noticed a need for Yoga props.

There are a few Yoga props that I think are valuable for Yoga practice.

These are:

Bolsters (big sturdy sausages)
Belts (great to loop around legs and feet: not to keep your pants up!!)
Blocks (many uses)
Blankets (lets raise our hips guys and gals)
Eye bags (do I really need to say anything?)

In the Yoga Sutras Patanjali refers to each posture being steady and comfortable (Chapter 2: 46). Props can be the difference between being comfortable and straining a muscle. I know which one I choose!

I choose to say "yaye" to props and just sent my order to www.iyogaprops.com.au. I want my Yoga peeps to be steady and comfortable Patanjali!

Namaste.

Mr Iyengar - Light On Life

Today I picked up a great book called Light on Life by Mr B K S Iyengar, one of the Grandfathers of Yoga.

He's amazing! I am continually spellbound by the insights of the Yoga community. I previously spent a huge amount of time trying to be ok with who I am and to learn how to handle my "difficult" people. I literally stumbled across that personality a dozen times and each time they left me miffed, perplexed and usually in tears.

So.... getting back to Yoga, well the view is that you are fine the way you are. Its how the mind operates that mucks you up. You were born a shining wonder, yes, each of us. Can you believe that, your actually ok just the way you are!

On page 11 Mr Iyengar writes "Asana maintains the strength and health of the body, without which little progress can be made. It also keeps the body in harmony with nature. We all know that the mind affects the body, for example "You look down in the dumps", or "He was crestfallen". Why not, suggests yoga, try the other way round - access mind through body. "Chin up" and "Shoulders back, stand up straight" express this approach. Self-cultivation through asana is the broad gateway leading to the inner enclosures we need to explore. In other words, we are going to try to use asana (postures) to sculpt the mind.

Wow, use the mind to lead the body. Makes sense to me. Yoga asanas take you to places you might not feel like going to, but it opens up the body in ways that need.

Thanks Mr Iyengar!

Namaste.

Yoga for Kids - Stillness

On the weekend I did a 20 hour "Yoga Teacher Training Course for Kids".

I love teaching Yoga to adults as I can share with them the amazing benefits of Yoga. Yoga is still around after thousands of years for a reason, IT WORKS. It works on your mind, body and spirit. It releases tension, it makes your body feel alive and it gives you energy to go forward into the rest of your life with some clarity and peace. And goodness knows, dont we need that!

However, teaching kids as I learned this weekend is completely different. Its an entirely different set up, lesson plan, props are suggested (from small balls, little windmills, colouring in, self-esteem tools etc) games are included and sweet little relaxation ideas.

What I came away with is a real need to offer Yoga to kids. Many have a busy schedule (mine included) and as a result they often cant relax and get a sense of calm or stillness. When we have that, we can make better decisions and we can sail the seas of life alot more smoothly.

Tonight I did some of my new material with my kids. Yes, they enjoyed it and so did I.

Namaste.

Valentines Day Class

Valentines Day is approaching. I was thinking about this day today and I wondered to myself, why is it so that we love others so much (and so publicly) and sometimes leave so little for ourselves (Mum's especially, yes you know its true).

I think that Yoga is onto something when it puts kindness (Ahimsa) first, in its set of guideposts for life. Its such a badge of honour these days to run around after others, yes sure, yes no problem. Its nice that we all like to help each other out, but I think that some are crying out for a little kindness to be shown to them. 

So stop. Think. Ponder. What can you do today to show a little love and kindness to yourself? A nap, a long bath, a walk and coffee, just something simple. I would love to hear your thoughts.

I think that for my Monday Class I am going to consider bringing the theme of love and kindness to the practice. Hmmm, how will she do that? Come and find out. 

Monday: www.djazzexdanceandpilates.com 9.30am to 10.30am. See you there. 

Namaste. 

Teaching Yoga

On Monday I taught my first public class. It was daunting and I was nervous, but it was that kind of scary nervous.

That morning I got up at 6am and rolled my mat out. I did the class I was going to teach, on my own in the family room surrounded by Thomas the Tank Engine and Car's Cars till 7am.

The key for me that day was preparation. I made sure it all flowed smoothly and that I felt comfortable and of course, all limbered up myself. Afterall, the class a Yoga Teacher teaches isn't an opportunity to do their own yoga, they are there to teach.

Which I did, even if their was only 1 person. Thanks Tania!

Namaste.

Teaching Yoga

I am very excited to announce (is there anyone out there???) that I am starting to teach yoga on Monday the 31st January.

I have met a lovely lady who is going to offer Yoga through her dance studio. What a woman!

We met and talked about times and I am going to teach on:

Mondays 9.30am to 10.30am

Thursday 9.30am to 10.30am

Its in Brookvale and for details you can just hop to my "Class Times" page or go to: www.djazzexdanceandpilates.com.

Early enough that the school drop off can co-incide getting straight to a class (and perhaps grab a coffee on the way!!) and late enough so that we can get there!

Its a mixture of excitement and nerves...fear even. Now I need to take that fear and "sit" with it, let it be and as one of my fab yoga teachers told me, "unpack" it. Often things aren't so bad, if one considers sitting with the feeling and looking into it.

So this weekend its about my yoga and about my daughter turning 9. Happy Birthday Maddy.

Have a great weekend peeps.

Hopefully I will see someone in my class on Monday!

Sara