MarilynYoga Newsletter No.2 January 2008
Happy New Year and welcome to the first newsletter of 2008 from marilynyoga.com.
Thank you for subscribing and I sincerely hope you will find
something here to interest you each time you visit.
If you have subscribed only recently and not received our first issue,
you may read it by clicking here, (though it is now several months old).
Happy New Year and welcome to the first newsletter of 2008 from marilynyoga.com.
Thank you for subscribing and I sincerely hope you will find
something here to interest you each time you visit.
If you have subscribed only recently and not received our first issue,
you may read it by clicking here, (though it is now several months old).
Meanwhile, read on and enjoy...
In this month's Newsletter:Another New Year - Changes, Choices and Eternal Questions
Take Your Yoga Deeper - New Foundation Level Two Course Beginning Soon
Spicy Bean Soup - A Recipe From a Long Line of Scottish Cowboys
Why is it Only Me? - You are never alone with a wobble
In Search of the Purrfect Posture - A Short Master Class
Good Energy, Good Vibes - Meditation and Reiki Can Bring Peace
Oh How We Wooozled - More than a Funny Name, We had a Moving Time at Denshaw
Charities Do Well Thanks to You - Generous Contributions Help Two Charities
Pure Time for Yourself - A One-Day Workshop on 16th February to Treat Yourself
Salute the Sun and Drum Out Winter - Salutations and Drums for The Spring Equinox
MADYA Event - Manchester and District Yoga Association day workshop in February
Dates for Your Diary - Forthcoming Events Calendar Reminders
Another New Year
There is something very special about a new year. We often see it as a time of inspiration, of new beginnings and as an opportunity for personal transformation that may come with new year’s resolutions.
But you do hear people saying “I’m not making reslolutions this year. I never keep them anyway, so I won’t bother
But resolutions bring change. That’s why sometimes we don’t want to keep them or go on with them.
Change is not always easy and we think that change will only affect us. But it can affect everyone around us.. and they may not always like it.
Say your resolution was to get up half an hour earlier each morning. If you live with someone, this may affect them profoundly. If they have not already got up or if they have. It could be that your partner gets up first and enjoys the half hour alone.. which may now be disturbed.. or it may be that they do not need or want to get up then, but if you are rattling about, then they are disturbed or may even start to feel uncomfortable, [or even cold] at being left on their own in bed.
Do you see what I mean? Your change can radically affect people you are living with, and they may not always like it.. even from what can seem a very simple [to you] half hour.
Now it may be that they like it and are with you, but it may not. So it is good that we do consider others as we affect our changes.
But the choice is ours.
When we practice yoga, on and off the mat, we start to realise that we do have choices.
The practice of yoga is absolute and unconditional liberation. It is not a belief system, nor a religion, but a whole life journey towards self discovery.
This occurs gradually and in stages, and it may start with a new years resolution.
Choose carefully. Go slowly. Watch the changes in you and how you affect the world you inhabit.
And don’t forget.
You can’t change other people, you can only change yourself.
I know that I can sometimes be accused of rattling on and on and on and on about the benefits of Yoga, but that’s what I do! You wouldn’t expect me to do anything else would you?
There comes a time with many Yoga students when the weekly class just isn’t quite enough, where one might go home and think “well I’ve started so how shall I finish?”
It all gets a bit woolly then and perhaps a book or two for Christmas just doesn’t do it.
There is an answer and the BWY Foundation, Certificate courses are there to fill that gap. Foundation Level One is a great way to move things on a stage. My Level One course has already started for this year (provisional enquiries for next year can be emailed now if you like) but if you have already attained this certificate then Level Two is an obvious next step and my next Foundation Level Two is starting on April 12th this year. There is here a real opportunity to look deeper into Yoga and yourself. Finding new ways to adapt your personal practise to suit yourself. Make it lift you and take you where you want to go. You will learn more of the inner workings of a Yogic life and without pressure or strain you will be able to imperceptibly weave Yoga into every aspect of your daily life. That’s the secret though, you won’t even know it’s happening, it will just be there supporting you and helping you to manage your thoughts, your actions and your deeds. This year my level two course is going to include a fairly innovative feature for me in that we will be spending a weekend away. I hesitate a little in calling this a ‘retreat’ lest it may give the impression that you have to wear bells and beads and floaty gowns, (you can if you wish, - even the boys) but ‘retreat’ can sound a bit scary so you may like to think of it as a weekend where you really can “Take a little time for yourself”.
The commitment to Level Two is still quite large in so much as you must be prepared to give 60 hours over almost a year to complete it, even so it is not an ‘intensive’ and the atmosphere is always a relaxed, easy going journey where you take what you need from it.
See, I told you I can go on a bit, so I won’t go any further except to say that if it has sparked your interest for now or in the future you can read more and download a leaflet with application form by clicking here.
Who knows it may be just what you were looking for.
This is brill warming nourishing, versatile,cheap and so good for you and it tastes good too.
Get some mixed dried beans, a handful, and soak them overnight.
Then, the basic recipe:
Saute some onions in olive oil [or sunflower oil, or butter..how do you feel today?]
When they are going for a bit stir in some spices.
My son in law, Mark, who is the most brilliant cook, and incredibly handsome [inside and out to boot] makes up jars of spices to a secret Scottish cowboy traditional formula. This is his recipe for the soup, but you must make up your own spice mix by wearing Scottish cowboy boots, a Ten Gallon (45 litre) Hat and guessing!
(Really, just make a mixture of the spices that you like best)
Anyway, sprinkle some on then add a chopped vegetable. Whatever you fancy or have got in It could be a carrot, a courgette, piece of broccolli, bit of swede. or that butternut squash that’s been lying in the fridge for weeks. Here is its chance for fame. Best not to use potato. I have a feeling (I may be wrong), that potatoes and pulses don’t mix. Then add a tin of organic chopped tomatoes, rinse the tin out with water and add that. Taste it. Do you want any more salt or pepper. Add a little red wine should there be any hanging about. Stir it in and chant Om three times. Then leave it to chortle for about twenty minutes. Repeat the Oms to taste or as many times as sounds right. Breathe gently and relax (Do not do Yoga Nidra at this point though).
You can do lots with this. You can have it with gorgeous bread freshly warmed in the oven. Or you can drain it as you serve it through a slotted spoon and have it inside pitta bread. I like it with a swirl of creme fresh or yoghurt,
If you find it is too hot, and remember it will be hotter tomorrow, you could boil a few veg in a separate pan and add some of the soup, keeping it quite thick and having it with rice. The rice, brown is best for nuttieness, cools everything down, and hey it’s a casserole!
Have you got any more ideas for it?
Susan asked the question in one of the yoga classes. We were doing what looked like a simple balance, but the truth is all balances are tricky. Simply standing on one leg can prove to be very difficult if your focus is elsewhere.
“Why am I so wobbly?”
When Susan asked the question, most of the rest of the class chorused
“I am wobbling too”
What a relief when somebody speaks in the class and says what you have been thinking and feeling.
“I’m always very wobbly in balances. What should I be doing? Should I be pushing down, pushing up. Why is everybody else as still as a rock?”
Well in reality. Nobody is still at all. You only feel as if they are.
But you don’t see it. All you see is, steady as a rock other people. [Not actually seeing that some are leaning against a support, some are not actually lifting the other foot, some have wobbled and come to safety] Then you get to beating yourself up and saying “I am rubbish at balances.”
Then you build up this thing. As soon as balance is mentioned, your heart goes, your mind says “I can’t do this”, negative waves wash over you, and you wobble. Of course you do.
I always find it’s better to get a balance by taking the support of a wall or chair or anything solid. Lean against it and get the feeling of the balance. You can always move away a little, wobble a little and then see if you can balance for a second or two. Take the angst out of it. If you wobble, that’s all right. Balances are tricky and they vary from day to day from hour to hour depending on how you are.
They do bring a certain amount of calm and stability, but not if you go into them with a heavy heart, then saying to yourself “I’m rubbish at this, and I hate balances”.
What you think, so you are.
Change your mind set. Not so easy, but can be done. Feel the negative, then change it.
Okay here we go.
First thing is. Change your mind set.
“Balance oh goody!"
"Here I go".
Never mind the rest of the class. We are all in the same [wobbly] boat anyway.
and really nobody cares if you wobble or not.
We are all only concerned with our own wobbles.
Lean, gently. Feel the floor. Two feet. Soften your breathing. So you wobble? So what? The world will not end. Try closing your eyes with TWO feet on the floor to feel more. Then open your eyes. Focus either on an unmoving spot in front of you, or on your breath. Whichever comes easier. Often it’s the spot. Look at something. Nothing else matters. Stress is a major player in this. If you have lots going on, you will be “in your head” and not in your feet. Say to yourself. “It’s only for a minute Don’t hurry. Don’t worry about others in the class. They may be steady, or they may be wobblers. What are YOU doing? If you only balance and concentrate on two feet feeling the ground, you are winning. Stay simple. Don’t go for the big one, whatever anyone else is doing.
It’s your balance. Use the support of a wall if you wish. You can then simply ease off it, for a moment, and focus. Keep your whole mind in your feet. Stay simple. Enjoy it. Who cares if you wobble? It doesn’t make you a lesser person, and the world won’t end. What a relief when somebody actually speaks out and says what we have all been thinking.
The practise of balances bring strength and calm to our hearts and our minds, as well as to our body, so enjoy the practise.
Let go the angst!
In Search of the Purrfect Posture
The Cat Stretch:
Sometimes we find it difficult to puurfect some of the Yoga postures. The Cat stretch is one of them. It is a wonderful movement. It moves and energises the whole of your spine. It is extremely good for the relief of tension in your neck and shoulders. Done with gentle breathing, it stretches your lungs and so improves lung capacity and allows you to breathe more freely. Because of this, it really helps to take stress out of your body. You can feel if it you do it mindfully. It should be done often, like a meditation.
Get into it. Enjoy it. Do it so you like it... and feel the energy course around you.
Often though it takes more than a teacher to make it clear and to truly explain where a pose like this can take you... Below you see a real natural who is easily able to convey the finer points of her version of the posture.
Thanks to our guest instructor,Bree (and of course Joyce for taking the picture).
Good Energy, Good Vibes
You don’t need to look very far beneath the surface to see the similarities between the effects of meditation and Reiki. They both offer a soothing blanket to wrap ourselves in so that we may handle our highs and lows in a peaceful way.
Meditation actually is a state of being. It is not anything you ‘do’ It is something you slip into. But there are various tools and tricks and methods to get you to this state.
Transcendental meditation technique is one of them. a very good one and a powerful tool, which has become very popular and is used a lot. This was the type of meditation that was made famous by the Maharishi yogi who taught it to the Beatles, and George Harrison in particular. It is simply one way of meditating. There is in Skelmersdale a centre for it and also Terte is a children’s school which also uses the techniques. It is now a well known fact that has been much researched that the practise of these methods can signiificantly lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and generally lead to a much calmer life and enable you cope more easily with life’s ups and downs.
It has also been discovered that in and around the area of Skelmersdale where there is concentrated meditation going on, the crime rate has dropped and people generally are happier and more contented. Interestingly, this is only from the knock on effect of OTHER people doing it. Imagine how you would feel if you yourself practised. It does make a difference to you... and to others around you.
The same applies to the lovely Reiki energy that is being dispersed on Saturdays in Uppermill. The Reiki Drop-In Clinic has been fab. The energy on the Saturday mornings has just been so lovely, so full of love, and what is more, it is not contained, it is going out and out, to Uppermill and then beyond. All of us involved in the Reiki Clinic have observed the warm and gentle, calming feeling that is generated in and around the room. You will take it with you, it’s impossible not to.
A meditation isn’t always about sitting on a cushion in a darkened room. Sometimes that’s very nice... but in the mornings I like to take five minutes outside with my coffee. even in winter.. I wrap a blanket around me and sit outside. I offer up a prayer for the day, even though part of me is anxious to begin all the things lined up for me... returning phone calls, answering emails, putting in a load of laundry, even taking the dogs out... Just for a moment I sit in the fresh cool air, the breeze moves my hair, I hear the birds, the ducks, the trees, the grass, and I know. There is enough time. A great faith washes over me and I know that everything that needs to be done, will be done. My shoulders drop an inch and the small but familiar ache inside my heart eases.
There is enough time enough energy, enough of everything.
Meditation Courses start on Friday Feb 1st at 6.15
In these new three week courses we are going to explore mind, thought and breathing energy. How our thoughts affect us, how our breathing can change the way we feel and react in the world, and how simply by paying attention and becoming intimate with our breath, we can lead a more joyful and fulfilling life.
You don’t need to look very far beneath the surface to see the similarities between the effects of meditation and Reiki. They both offer a soothing blanket to wrap ourselves in so that we may handle our highs and lows in a peaceful way.
Meditation actually is a state of being. It is not anything you ‘do’ It is something you slip into. But there are various tools and tricks and methods to get you to this state.
Transcendental meditation technique is one of them. a very good one and a powerful tool, which has become very popular and is used a lot. This was the type of meditation that was made famous by the Maharishi yogi who taught it to the Beatles, and George Harrison in particular. It is simply one way of meditating. There is in Skelmersdale a centre for it and also Terte is a children’s school which also uses the techniques. It is now a well known fact that has been much researched that the practise of these methods can signiificantly lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and generally lead to a much calmer life and enable you cope more easily with life’s ups and downs.
It has also been discovered that in and around the area of Skelmersdale where there is concentrated meditation going on, the crime rate has dropped and people generally are happier and more contented. Interestingly, this is only from the knock on effect of OTHER people doing it. Imagine how you would feel if you yourself practised. It does make a difference to you... and to others around you.
The same applies to the lovely Reiki energy that is being dispersed on Saturdays in Uppermill. The Reiki Drop-In Clinic has been fab. The energy on the Saturday mornings has just been so lovely, so full of love, and what is more, it is not contained, it is going out and out, to Uppermill and then beyond. All of us involved in the Reiki Clinic have observed the warm and gentle, calming feeling that is generated in and around the room. You will take it with you, it’s impossible not to.
A meditation isn’t always about sitting on a cushion in a darkened room. Sometimes that’s very nice... but in the mornings I like to take five minutes outside with my coffee. even in winter.. I wrap a blanket around me and sit outside. I offer up a prayer for the day, even though part of me is anxious to begin all the things lined up for me... returning phone calls, answering emails, putting in a load of laundry, even taking the dogs out... Just for a moment I sit in the fresh cool air, the breeze moves my hair, I hear the birds, the ducks, the trees, the grass, and I know. There is enough time. A great faith washes over me and I know that everything that needs to be done, will be done. My shoulders drop an inch and the small but familiar ache inside my heart eases.
There is enough time enough energy, enough of everything.
Meditation Courses start on Friday Feb 1st at 6.15
In these new three week courses we are going to explore mind, thought and breathing energy. How our thoughts affect us, how our breathing can change the way we feel and react in the world, and how simply by paying attention and becoming intimate with our breath, we can lead a more joyful and fulfilling life.
It was good.. the wooozling.. just what we needed to perk us up and get us going to continue with Christmas preps.
Wooozling, for those of you who were not there, was our version of an Osho, dynamic meditation. There are many ways to stillness and quiet inside, and one of them is via movement,
Dramatic movement!
This was the core idea behind the Denshaw morning workshop, with the final half hour consisting of the ‘wooozle’, a name we invented to describe our version of this relaxation technique. We shook our bodies rapidly for ten minutes, stood swaying for ten minutes and then sat gently swaying for another five minutes. All this was performed to music that created the right feel and mood... and then a silent relaxation, lying on the ground.
Wow, it was amazing!
You know how you are sometimes after a particularly strong yoga class, you find yourself letting go and going into a deeper relaxation than usual.
This was the same. For some of us anyway.
You know how you are sometimes after a particularly strong yoga class, you find yourself letting go and going into a deeper relaxation than usual.
This was the same. For some of us anyway.
But it was slightly more than that I felt. Certainly when I did it. It moved my energy about so that I felt more alive, more connected, more in tune with the rest of the world.
Yoga is about balance in all things. It is not about being too much ‘inside yourself’, but connecting with the rest of the world outside as well.
Yoga is not about sitting in some cave, alone and cutting off everything. It’s about living here and now, but the practise of yoga will help us to stay calm amidst the storms.
Like the dynamic meditation. Like a spinning top. whirling on the outside, but still and calm in the centre.
It’s a nice feeling, a very ALIVE feeling.
Yoga is about balance in all things. It is not about being too much ‘inside yourself’, but connecting with the rest of the world outside as well.
Yoga is not about sitting in some cave, alone and cutting off everything. It’s about living here and now, but the practise of yoga will help us to stay calm amidst the storms.
Like the dynamic meditation. Like a spinning top. whirling on the outside, but still and calm in the centre.
It’s a nice feeling, a very ALIVE feeling.
We all have our favourite charities and I suppose that there will always be those that can say this or that is more deserving because it is near to their hearts. There are also media events that touch a tender spot, many of us will remember Live Aid and the massive fund raising effort that it triggered. It might even be a report on the six o’clock news or something we read in the local paper that makes us reach for our purse or wallet, or even simply the act of buying a Big Issue because it’s a cold day and we have a cozy home to go to. Just a little thought and we are happy to tip up a pound or two.
Well just imagine for a moment £697.82!
That is the amount that we have been able to give to charity from the last three months of 2007.
Perhaps I should explain.
For a couple of years now the Tuesday morning Restorative Yoga class at Uppermill Civic Hall has been running as a gentle one hour class, for those students that require a thoughtful, recharging and discretely energising yoga session. The idea behind it is that it should be available for a ‘contribution’ rather than a set fee and after payment of the hall hire costs are deducted, all the remaining money goes to Healing Hands Network. This is a charity that supports victims of war, even now suffering terribly, in Bosnia. Last year the cash paid for me to spend two weeks there providing Reiki treatments to women and men who are still deeply traumatised by a dreadful civil war that ended only thirteen years ago.
From mid September to Christmas your generosity allowed us to send them £513.67
During that same three months we were able to set up the Reiki Drop-In Clinic, also at the Civic Hall. This has been supported immensely by a wonderful team of Reiki practitioners who have all given their time entirely free of charge. Operating in a similar way to the Yoga class, but less numbers of patients per week, payment is by a small ‘contribution’ and the remainder, after room-hire, goes to charity. This time it goes to Saddleworth C.A.F.E. (Cancer Aid For Everyone) which is a local organisation that provides care and support for those diagnosed with Cancer and also to their family and carers. Meeting regularly at the Methodist Church in Greenfield it offers a socially relaxed environment, where those that need it can find caring, understanding people that will help them through their difficult times. C.A.F.E received a donation from us of £184.15 at Christmas last year.
That adds up to, I’ll say it again, £697.82 all from the generosity of the people involved, not just once, but over and over again. So, carry on coming to Yoga on Tuesday and having Reiki Treatments at the Civic Hall (now first Saturday each month), your cash is going to very worthy causes and thank you, thank you, thank you for being such nice people.
But hey, don’t forget the Big Issue sellers and all the others will you!
Treat yourself to a day of pure time for yourself.
The morning will be spent on restorative and innovative yoga, building your energy levels in a natural way, for when you feel that you are too tired to juggle everything that life throws at you.
Don’t worry. It’s easier than you think to recharge your batteries.It will be a fun morning where we will learn yoga techniques to raise and sustain energy levels.
Followed by a delicious, mouthwatering, nourishing vegetarian lunch.
The afternoon will be delving into breathing techniques, energy work and meditation, getting rid of old mind sets, stale ideas, toxic thoughts, to make way for freshness and the Springtime and new begininings.
This workshop will restore vitality your body and your mind, not guaranteeing non stop stamina, but helping you get that raring to go feeling.
February 16th in Denshaw, Saddleworth (Near Oldham- very easy from M62)
The cost is £30 for the day and numbers are limited to 16 so it is essential to book your place.
108 Sun Salutations for the Spring Equinox - Plus Drum Out Winter!
Surya Namaskara, better known as the Sun Salutation, is a rhythmically flowing exercise, with controlled breathing and has been practised daily in India for thousands of years. They were not regarded as part of the asana system of hatha yoga until recently, even though most of the positions correspond to the classical asanas. Begun as a salutation to the rising and setting of the sun, they were a means to communicate with a visible source of life energy while on earth. We now regularly include them in our weekly classes and you know how good you feel after practising only six rounds ... uplifted and exhilarated.
Imagine how you are going to feel after 108!
Why 108 time you may ask? 108 is a significant number in yoga texts. There are 108 sacred songs [The Upanishads]. According to numerologists 108 is significant because it adds up to 9, which is a magical number.
Well...
One Hundred and Eight is exactly what we are going to do!
It is a prayer and a joy.
Do not panic. We have rests.
You may stop any time you want to, but you may find you don’t want to. It is not an endurance test. It is a joy... to be with like minded people.. to be practising together.
We will do it in sections, with stops.
The most important thing to keep in mind is not to strain. Surya Namaskara teaches us to be in touch with our own capabilities and limitations. By developing sensitivity to our body, we can use this practise to greatly increase our awareness, health and wellbeing. All things on earth are nourished by the light and warmth of the sun, so we are provided with all our needs through its creative power. We offer our respects.
It will take us about an hour and a half and will finish with a glorious [and welcome] relaxation. Please come along just for the fun of it.
As an additional attraction for the day, at Noon, Drumming Dave will be coming with his drums to lead us in a drumming workshop for about an hour. This is a fabulous letting go . You will be surprised at the rhythm you have in you just waiting to be let out.
It’s lots of fun.
You may come for all or part.
You may come just for the Sun Salutations, or just for the drumming, or both.
Even come simply to watch the whole event, I am certain that the atmosphere will be a joyous one to be immersed in.
Put the date in your diary now!
March 29th 10 a.m at Denshaw Village Hall.
Denshaw, Saddleworth (Near Oldham - very easy from M62)
There will be no charge.
Please take it as my gift to you.
MADYA Event:
Don’t miss MADYA”S February event. Rajesh is coming. If you like chanting, if you want to be moved to tears by a voice, if you want to laugh, have a good time and enjoy some lovely yoga. Be there. Upasana will also be there, presumably taking the hatha yoga. For those of you who came to the ashram with me, you will remember Upasana’s gentle and interesting yoga asanas.
If you want any more information
email: madya@hotmail.co.uk or telephone: 0161 643 9470
Dates for Your Diary
New Workshops and classes for the early part of 2008.
I have been working on these and I hope there will be something for everybody.
I am very excited by it all
Jan 28th Reiki Exchange and Reiki Level Two completes
Feb 1st First Three-week meditation course begins
Feb 2nd Reiki Drop in at Uppermill
Feb 9th Rajesh at Madya Denton.
Feb 10th Foundation Level One
Feb 16th Workshop all day at Denshaw
Feb 29th Second Three-week meditation course begins
Mar 1st Reiki Clinic at Uppermill
Mar 2nd Reiki Level One (see website or telephone for info)
Mar 9th Foundation Level One
Mar 10th Reiki Exchange
Mar 29th 108 Sun Salutations, plus Drumming Workshop
April 5th Reiki Drop in at Uppermill
April 12th Foundation Level Two begins
April 13th Foundation Level One
April 26th Workshop all day Denshaw
For more details about any of the above
Telephone: 01457 870453
or Email: enquiries@marilynyoga.com
Well just imagine for a moment £697.82!
That is the amount that we have been able to give to charity from the last three months of 2007.
Perhaps I should explain.
For a couple of years now the Tuesday morning Restorative Yoga class at Uppermill Civic Hall has been running as a gentle one hour class, for those students that require a thoughtful, recharging and discretely energising yoga session. The idea behind it is that it should be available for a ‘contribution’ rather than a set fee and after payment of the hall hire costs are deducted, all the remaining money goes to Healing Hands Network. This is a charity that supports victims of war, even now suffering terribly, in Bosnia. Last year the cash paid for me to spend two weeks there providing Reiki treatments to women and men who are still deeply traumatised by a dreadful civil war that ended only thirteen years ago.
From mid September to Christmas your generosity allowed us to send them £513.67
During that same three months we were able to set up the Reiki Drop-In Clinic, also at the Civic Hall. This has been supported immensely by a wonderful team of Reiki practitioners who have all given their time entirely free of charge. Operating in a similar way to the Yoga class, but less numbers of patients per week, payment is by a small ‘contribution’ and the remainder, after room-hire, goes to charity. This time it goes to Saddleworth C.A.F.E. (Cancer Aid For Everyone) which is a local organisation that provides care and support for those diagnosed with Cancer and also to their family and carers. Meeting regularly at the Methodist Church in Greenfield it offers a socially relaxed environment, where those that need it can find caring, understanding people that will help them through their difficult times. C.A.F.E received a donation from us of £184.15 at Christmas last year.
That adds up to, I’ll say it again, £697.82 all from the generosity of the people involved, not just once, but over and over again. So, carry on coming to Yoga on Tuesday and having Reiki Treatments at the Civic Hall (now first Saturday each month), your cash is going to very worthy causes and thank you, thank you, thank you for being such nice people.
But hey, don’t forget the Big Issue sellers and all the others will you!
The morning will be spent on restorative and innovative yoga, building your energy levels in a natural way, for when you feel that you are too tired to juggle everything that life throws at you.
Don’t worry. It’s easier than you think to recharge your batteries.It will be a fun morning where we will learn yoga techniques to raise and sustain energy levels.
Followed by a delicious, mouthwatering, nourishing vegetarian lunch.
The afternoon will be delving into breathing techniques, energy work and meditation, getting rid of old mind sets, stale ideas, toxic thoughts, to make way for freshness and the Springtime and new begininings.
This workshop will restore vitality your body and your mind, not guaranteeing non stop stamina, but helping you get that raring to go feeling.
February 16th in Denshaw, Saddleworth (Near Oldham- very easy from M62)
The cost is £30 for the day and numbers are limited to 16 so it is essential to book your place.
Surya Namaskara, better known as the Sun Salutation, is a rhythmically flowing exercise, with controlled breathing and has been practised daily in India for thousands of years. They were not regarded as part of the asana system of hatha yoga until recently, even though most of the positions correspond to the classical asanas. Begun as a salutation to the rising and setting of the sun, they were a means to communicate with a visible source of life energy while on earth. We now regularly include them in our weekly classes and you know how good you feel after practising only six rounds ... uplifted and exhilarated.
Imagine how you are going to feel after 108!
Why 108 time you may ask? 108 is a significant number in yoga texts. There are 108 sacred songs [The Upanishads]. According to numerologists 108 is significant because it adds up to 9, which is a magical number.
Well...
One Hundred and Eight is exactly what we are going to do!
It is a prayer and a joy.
Do not panic. We have rests.
You may stop any time you want to, but you may find you don’t want to. It is not an endurance test. It is a joy... to be with like minded people.. to be practising together.
We will do it in sections, with stops.
The most important thing to keep in mind is not to strain. Surya Namaskara teaches us to be in touch with our own capabilities and limitations. By developing sensitivity to our body, we can use this practise to greatly increase our awareness, health and wellbeing. All things on earth are nourished by the light and warmth of the sun, so we are provided with all our needs through its creative power. We offer our respects.
It will take us about an hour and a half and will finish with a glorious [and welcome] relaxation. Please come along just for the fun of it.
As an additional attraction for the day, at Noon, Drumming Dave will be coming with his drums to lead us in a drumming workshop for about an hour. This is a fabulous letting go . You will be surprised at the rhythm you have in you just waiting to be let out.
It’s lots of fun.
You may come for all or part.
You may come just for the Sun Salutations, or just for the drumming, or both.
Even come simply to watch the whole event, I am certain that the atmosphere will be a joyous one to be immersed in.
Put the date in your diary now!
March 29th 10 a.m at Denshaw Village Hall.
Denshaw, Saddleworth (Near Oldham - very easy from M62)
There will be no charge.
Please take it as my gift to you.
Don’t miss MADYA”S February event. Rajesh is coming. If you like chanting, if you want to be moved to tears by a voice, if you want to laugh, have a good time and enjoy some lovely yoga. Be there. Upasana will also be there, presumably taking the hatha yoga. For those of you who came to the ashram with me, you will remember Upasana’s gentle and interesting yoga asanas.
If you want any more information
email: madya@hotmail.co.uk or telephone: 0161 643 9470
Dates for Your Diary
New Workshops and classes for the early part of 2008.
I have been working on these and I hope there will be something for everybody.
I am very excited by it all
Jan 28th Reiki Exchange and Reiki Level Two completes
Feb 1st First Three-week meditation course begins
Feb 2nd Reiki Drop in at Uppermill
Feb 9th Rajesh at Madya Denton.
Feb 10th Foundation Level One
Feb 16th Workshop all day at Denshaw
Feb 29th Second Three-week meditation course begins
Mar 1st Reiki Clinic at Uppermill
Mar 2nd Reiki Level One (see website or telephone for info)
Mar 9th Foundation Level One
Mar 10th Reiki Exchange
Mar 29th 108 Sun Salutations, plus Drumming Workshop
April 5th Reiki Drop in at Uppermill
April 12th Foundation Level Two begins
April 13th Foundation Level One
April 26th Workshop all day Denshaw
For more details about any of the above
Telephone: 01457 870453
or Email: enquiries@marilynyoga.com