Head over heels with Triangle

After practising yoga asanas (exercises) by 8 years I have recently discovered how good a triangle pose can feel. My new love for this pose has urged me to write a post for you guys letting you know why all of a sudden I can’t get enough of Trikonasana, the Triangle Pose.

For years I was doing this pose all wrong and forcing myself too far into this stretch just to look ‘right’ or ‘good’ at it. Now I realise how much of an injustice I was doing myself. The key to a great and comfortable stretch in the Triangle is to emphasise length and space in your body. Keep both sides of your torso long, swing the hips to one side and reach out to the other, keeping the upper rib cage tucked into the spine. When I focus on these things the stretch feels great. I am not worried about reaching right down to my bottom foot and I am definitely not leaning forward. I feel that as soon as I start to lean forward I loose the great stretch that I could be getting.

Triangle Pose not only increases flexibility in the legs, hips and spine but also increases mobility through the lower spine. You can feel an amazing stretch from the hip to the ribcage. It is great to ease backache and keep the spine supple.

Find a step by step guide with pictures on the Australian School of Yoga and Meditation website showing how you too can get into a great Triangle Pose. If you have any questions or queries about the pose ask one of our experienced teachers at your next class or you can email me @ amara@asm.org.au. Don’t forget to read the cautions before you try the pose.

Best of luck,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Words of Wisdom

The yoga tradition is a holistic and balanced approach to living. Especially in the western world when we think of “yoga” or someone that is good at “yoga” we think of a person who is flexible like a gymnast. The yoga lifestyle encompasses much more than flexibility. The ancient science perfectly combines strength, stamina and flexibility with a tranquil mind and inner peacefulness. Very simply yoga can be broken into three areas, each complementing the other; meditation, breathing techniques and yoga asanas (exercises). A healthy, balanced diet, hygiene, cleanliness, simplicity and higher thinking are also important elements.

Here are some of my favourite quotes that represent the concept of simple living and higher thinking:

Insights from Jesus

(from the Holy Bible)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Insights from Buddha

Better than a hundred years of ignorance is one day spent in reflection. Better than a hundred years of idleness is one day spent in determination. Better to live one day wondering how all things arise and pass away. Better to live one hour seeing than one whole life beyond the way. It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell.

Insights from India

There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

The petty mind thinks, ‘This is mine. That’s for others.’ Whereas men of noble thought consider the whole world as one family.

Chanakya

Insights from China

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Lao Tzu

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

Lao Tzu

Insights from Western Philosophers

The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different. Hippocrates

Until mankind can extend the circle of his compassion to include all living things, he will never, himself, know peace.

Albert Schweitzer

Enjoy this food for thought. To read more check out our website or stay posted for more to come.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Our November Mini Yoga Retreat @ Burleigh

Sunday saw the Fradgley Library Hall at Burleigh Heads filled to the rafters with yogi’s and yogini’s for our Mini Yoga Retreat day. The regular 10:30-12:30pm yoga session overfilled with students, so a group of us went down to a shady park and enjoyed the cool ocean breezes and fresh air as we stretched. The outdoor class is so popular with the students that they are asking for it each week. Feedback that I have received is that the difference an outdoor class makes is incredible. Nothing beats the fresh energy that our body absorbs when we are outdoors in nature.

Friends of ours joined us to lead us through some kirtan, beautiful chanting of sacred mantras with musical accompaniment, a very simple and beautiful way to meditate. Kirtan relaxes the body and brings peace of mind and joy to the heart. Mantra can also be chanted on beads and added to the breath. To learn Japa and Mantra Meditation you can visit the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga website.

Margaret spoke briefly about the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of the ancient yoga system and how ultimately yoga is a spiritual quest. She explained various limbs or rungs of the yoga system and how they assist the yoga practitioner on their journey of self discovery or self realisation.

Lunch was very simple but extremely tasty, mung dhal and Turkish bread. Writing it like that just doesn’t do it justice though. Honestly, it was one of the tastiest dhals I have ever tried, and almost everyone there agreed with me. Over lunch a group of us threw around great tried and tested recipes that we have collected over the years and shared healthy cooking tips and information.

Ready for a siesta, we got something better. One of our resident massage therapists guided us through a face and scalp massage. We learnt simple and effective massage techniques that we can use on friends and family to help them de-stress and unwind. We all felt truly relaxed and uplifted afterwards.

For those who didn’t want to leave, the Sunday Spiritual Gathering at 4pm gave them an excuse to stick around a little longer. Intimate and cosy, the beautiful yoga chanting created an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Everyone involved had a fantastic day and look forward to the retreats starting up again in January.

Keep an eye on the website for upcoming events in 2009.

Take care,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Back by Popular Demand

Initially the easy yoga and meditation class at the Robina Library was a 12 week program from 2 September to 18 Nov. However due to popular demand, this class will continue indefinitely at the Robina Library every Tuesday at 9:15am for an hour. This class is offered by the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga’s most senior yoga instructor, Margaret, through the Gold Coast City Council’s Active and Healthy Program. It is free and as you can well imagine, very popular. Each week Margaret has been having 30 plus students to her class.
Margaret’s class features half an hour of gentle yoga stretching and half an hour of relaxation and makes it very easy to relieve tension in the body and the mind. You will leave feeling alive and with a sense of peace and inner calm. These classes run also at Southport Library and will start next year at the Nerang and Runaway Bay Libraries.

This is your chance to add yoga to your life. In addition to these library classes, we run many other Deep Peace Meditation Classes, Stretch and Relax Classes and Meditation Courses that are free or by donation. Please bring a towel or mat to all our classes.

See you at a class soon.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

National Free Yoga Day MARCH 14, 2009

Yoga Centres Around Australia Throw Open Their Doors

&
Offer Yoga to Everyone Free of Charge

The Australian School of Meditation & Yoga will again be participating in the National Free Yoga Day by having a whole day of free classes and workshops. The day was so successful in March 2008 that in 2009 we will be holding the day at Fradgely Hall, a large community hall in Burleigh Heads. In the spirit of generosity and love, the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga along with many other participating yoga schools will be promoting the wonderful benefits of yoga.

National Free Yoga Day gives the community an opportunity to enjoy some gentle stretching, breathing and relaxing, whilst accessing the many benefits of Yoga for the mind, body and soul. This is a chance for many in the community to try Yoga for the first time, for others to return to Yoga and for regular practitioners to try a different style of Yoga.

To read about the day’s activities visit our website and/or give us a call.

The Fradgley Library Hall is on the corner of Park Avenue and Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads. It is conveniently located for public transport users. Surrounded by palms and cooled by ocean breezes it is the ideal location to spend your day in a spiritually satisfying way.

Come down and join on in the fun,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

A great start to the month

Our November Mantra Rock Dance was awesome. With over 100 people (adults and children) at the Fradgley Hall at Burleigh Heads, the vibe was sensational and everyone had an enjoyable night. Each month some friends of ours join us and bring with them their passion for music and meditation. It is such a perfect way to finish the week and start a new one.

The highlight of the evening is the rock part of the program when the musicians skilfully combine melody and meditation so that everyone is up dancing. Easy and enjoyable, mantra meditation is refreshing, uplifting and purifying. The program started with mellow kirtan or chanting and a guided meditation that can be practiced at home. You can now also download for free this same guided meditation from our website to listen to at home or on your MP3 player.

Ray Linsley, one of the senior teachers at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga gave a reading from the ancient Bhagavad-Gita and spoke briefly on the yoga tradition, the workings of the mind and transcendental knowledge. The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga volunteer cooks whipped up yet another mouth watering feast. The culinary theme was ‘Tastes of Mexico’.

We invite you to join us at our Sunday Spiritual Gathering each Sunday from 4-6:30pm and our extra special spiritual event, the Mantra Rock Dance, the first Sunday of each month. Our next Mantra Rock will be 7th December. The last one for the year!

Everyone of all ages are welcome.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

For the early birds

This week sees our outdoor Energy Yoga classes shift to a bright and early 5:30am start. Previously this class had been running from 6:30 – 7:30am. Now that we are heading into the summer months, you can take advantage of those extra hours of sunlight by adding an Australian School of Meditation and Yoga Energy Yoga class to your weekly list of things to do. We know that it does sound early, but keep in mind that the sun rises at 4:15am in summer. It is so refreshing to exercise when the day is still cool and tranquil. According to the science of yoga, the early morning hours are the most conducive for meditation and yoga because the atmosphere is clear and peaceful. The air is fresh and full of natural energy called prana or chi (in the Chinese tradition) and by rising early, we absorb the full benefits and feel lighter and more energetic than if we had slept in. As the old saying goes, “Early to bed, early rise…”

Some Inspiration From The Ancient Yoga Texts:

“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.”
Bhagavad Gita

Hopefully, we don’t loose anyone due to the earlier start and possibly gain many more of you who have to squeeze your workouts in before you rush off to work early.

I’ll see you if you come along to an Energy Yoga class at Labrador or you’ll see another of our yoga teachers, Mrna, if you get along to the class at Miami.

Namaste yogis,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Add Meditation To Your Life

Our November ‘Discover Meditation’ workshops start this week at Nerang and Mermaid Beach. At this two part workshops you can learn practical tools to add meditation to your life. These workshops are perfect if you are a beginner or if you have been meditating for years. If you have been attending other classes at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga and want to learn more formally about meditation and its benefits, you will find these workshops ideal.

We clearly explain how meditation works and give you the opportunity to experience the benefits yourself. The timeless art of meditation has been practiced by saints and sages since ancient times to bring about the joyful state of self-realisation. In this consciousness a person is free from temporary worries, anxieties and concerns and is immersed in a higher spiritual happiness and inner peacefulness.

Through the practice of meditation a person can experience an actual inner spiritual fulfillment or happiness. The secret to gaining the benefits is to practice it regularly. By starting your day with 15 minutes of meditation, you will find that your whole day flows more smoothly.

To find out more or book, visit our website or call. These workshops run by donation monthly.

Namaste,

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Thank you to all the Yoga Aid Challengers!

(TEAM ASMY @ The Yoga Aid Challenge)

1000 people gathered across Australia to salute for charity

The Gold Coast Yoga Community united on Wednesday 22 October for the 2nd Annual Yoga Aid Challenge. The registration desk opened at 5:30am at Queen Elizabeth Park in Coolangatta for yoga enthusiasts of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to join together to raise money for charity and promote yoga. We had over 80 people at the Gold Coast event saluting to the sun. Our challenge was to complete 108 salutes in two hours, and I am proud to announce that we did it! With the help of 9 yoga teachers from Gold Coast studios and gyms, participants got a taste of traditional and varied salutes along the way. A big thank you to Mrna, Andrew, Margaret and Candace (all the way from the Brisbane studio), teachers from the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga that volunteered their time, effort and encouragement not only on the day but along the way as well.


Leading up to the event I was busy encouraging and enthusing others to join the challenge and then days before the event it dawned on me what I had gotten myself into. 108 salutes, I was thinking to myself – that is a lot. Much to my surprise the actual salutes were not that difficult. With a one minute break between each set of ten and a half time break we saw ourselves slide over the 108 line at about 8:30am.

From all the teachers at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga I would like to say a huge thank you to the fantastic effort from all the team members involved. We had 33 team members saluting on the day and fundraising for the event - the second largest team in Australia! We raised $1500 for Save The Children Australia. They work with children at risk, to help them reach their potential through education, health and child protection programs in Australia and around the world. The total amount raised in Australia so far for charity is $130, 643!

What a great effort everyone! We hope to make the event even bigger and better next year.

Please make a note in your diaries for next years challenge – Wednesday 25 November 2009. It is truly a great opportunity to use your love of yoga to give back to the community.

Thanks again everyone!

Namaste

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Christmas Gift Ideas

Share the benefits of the healthy yoga lifestyle this Christmas.

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Vegetarian
Cookbook
$15

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Yoga Pass
5 Class Pass - valid 2 months
$50

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Yoga Pass
10 Class Pass - valid 3 months
$85

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Yoga Pass
1 Month Pass - Unlimited
$80

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Balanced Life Retreat
Gift Certificate $60

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Available for purchase at each class or the Sunday Spiritual Gathering.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga