Australian School of Meditation and Yoga: Gold Coast Blog

Biscuit Recipe

2009-11-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

Namaste
This biscuit recipe is the one I use week after week at the Sunday Free Yoga Session at Fradgley Hall Burleigh Heads. People are always asking me for the recipe so here it is:

160 g soft butter (1/3 of 500g)
1 cup rich brown sugar

4 Tbsp yoghurt or soured milk (milk mixed with cider vinegar)
1 cup sultanas

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup coconut (optional)
2 cups self raising flour

Yields about 32 small biscuits or 18 large

Beat the butter and sugar, mix in the yoghurt and sultanas and then stir in the dry ingredients. Roll into balls and squash down with a fork onto a greased tray. Bake for 20 - 30 mins at 280 degrees centigrade.

Cool on a wire rack.
Store in an airtight container for lasting crispness.
These biscuits are super quick to make and are delicious. For variation I sometimes add carob chips, nuts, carob flour and at Christmas time mixed fruit with a cherry on top.

happy eating
Margaret

Yoga Aid Challenge 2009

2009-11-17T17:56:00.000-08:00

Namaste

This years Yoga Aid Challenge was held in the picturesque riverside park in downtown Brisbane on Sunday November 15

About 120 people greeted the morning with 108 Sun Salutations.

The day was just beautiful. Sheltered by a huge fig tree and cooled by a soothing breeze which swept in from the river Brisbanites and Gold Coasters got together to celebrate yoga and raise money for refugees, cancer sufferers and children in need.

Salutes came in many variations from the different yoga leaders and the whole event had a peaceful community feel.

After about two hours of exercise everyone felt they had earned a really good rest

But the best part was saved till the end when everyone opened their hearts to yoga meditation

Here's what some of our teachers thought after the event:

"I felt great and so energised afterwards, I really must have needed that!" Mrna lini

"Ooh my hamstrings are telling me they got a good work out yesterday!" Andrew

"It was fun!" Amara

"Looking forward to next year!" Candace

We're all looking forward to the event next year, maybe you'd like to join us!

Namaste

Margaret

2009-11-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

Namaste

People often comment on how deliciously scrumptious our food is at our Balanced Life Retreats, Mini Yoga Retreats and Sunday Spiritual Gatherings, so I thought I'd publish this recipe for an Indian style Sweet Rice that tastes so heavenly it's hard not to go back for seconds not to mention thirds or fourths. This recipe is for 2 light eaters or one hungry person.

Absolutely Delicious Sweet Rice
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups full cream milk
1 heaped Tbsp butter
6 cardamon pods
1/4 tsp black pepper
5 bay leaves

2 Tbsp medium grain white rice

1/3 cup currants
1/2 cup white sugar

Method
Bring first 5 ingredients to the boil, then add the washed rice and stir to bring back to the boil. Turn the heat down to medium, cover with a lid and leave to slowly boil for 40 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.

After 40 minutes remove the bay leaves and cardamon pods and add the washed currants, stir then leave to boil for 10 more mins. If your mixture is starting to thicken you will need to stir it often. Lastly add the sugar and boil for 5 minutes stirring the whole time. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. As it cools it will thicken.

TRUTH AND BEAUTY

2009-10-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Namaste Last Sunday saw the final Mini Yoga Retreat for the year. Every retreat I give a little talk on applying the spiritual side of yoga in our daily lives. This month I read out the article which is featuring in the ASMY November newsletter and elaborated on it a little. It’s such a nice article I thought I would publish it here. And if you don’t already receive our newsletter you can contact us and we’ll send it out to you. Then every month you will have to opportunity to read an enlightening article like the one below, try out a tasty vegetarian recipe, learn a yoga pose and read an interesting article about the benefits of yoga asanas.

Twilight. The crimson sun dipped toward the horizon, bathing the sky glowing saffron. The silvery ocean reflected the blaze of colour, tropical flowers perfumed the air and delicately winged bats darted through the gathering dusk. Magic! We are naturally attracted to beauty but the beauty of this world does not last. With the passing of time, the blooming rose shrivels, the radiant sunset dims, fades and is gone. We can’t hold on to beauty because it is not permanent. The beauty of this world is not only temporary, it is also superficial. The bodily beauty that attracts the eye is only skin deep. We may become enamoured by a pretty face, but because it is not lasting or totally satisfying, we become frustrated. Real beauty exists. Our longing and search for beauty need not end in frustration. We can find and relish real beauty. We simply need to know where to find it. Everything beautiful in this world is but a tiny reflection of the beauty of the Supreme. We are attracted to beauty because we are a small part of the all beautiful Absolute Whole. Our bodies may be ugly or old, but they are only an external garment covering our true self. We, the living force, are by nature eternally beautiful and it is this inner beauty that shines through our eyes, our thoughts, our words and our actions. Our yoga practice is not just to keep our bodies healthy, but also to develop and nurture our inner beauty. We need to develop the spiritual vision to see and appreciate this transcendental phenomenon. We need to become self realised to perceive our real nature and the all-attractive nature of the Supreme. This will give us real and lasting satisfaction. The most valuable gift yoga has to offer is meditation on transcendental sound vibrations or mantras. Mantras are no ordinary sound vibrations; they are spiritual in essence so they are inherently attractive to the spiritual soul and have the effect of awakening one’s dormant spiritual consciousness and opening one’s eyes to real spiritual beauty. We experience joy in the beauty of a lovely face or a scenic view but it’s impossible to imagine the boundless happiness for those who perceive the very source of beauty. The wise and determined seek the most beautiful, the reservoir of all beauty and their search is never frustrated. Such wise men live in this world relishing the eternal pleasures and beauty of a different world. “Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendour.” Sri Krishna,Bhagavad-gita Namaste Margaret

Cooking Demo at the Balanced Life Retreat

2009-10-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

September's retreat was again a huge success with 26 happy participants, delicious lunch as always and a relaxing foot reflexology workshop from Amara. The cooking demonstration given by Mrnalini was an introduction to tofu and this is what she told us.

Tofu is a product made from soy milk and a coagulant. It is a very good source of protein while at the same time being very low in saturated fat.Tofu provides an abundance of iron as well as manganese, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus, copper, calcium and magnesium.

This wonder food is touted as one of the world’s healthiest foods and for good reason. It has been found that soy products help to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and keep estrogen in balance. There are also studies which show soy intake helps to prevent colon, breast and prostate cancer as well as atherosclerosis.

Yet, like all foods, soy needs to be incorporated into a person's diet in a balanced and individualized way. It’s important that even very healthy foods are consumed in moderation.

Tofu has very little flavor or smell on its own. Consequently it lends itself equally well to either savoury or sweet dishes. As a method of flavouring it is often marinated in soy sauce, chilis, sesame oil, etc. Fresh tofu is usually packaged in water and once opened it should be kept in the refrigerator and it's water changed daily. In this way the tofu can last up to a week.

Tofu is sold in a number of different ways:

Silken/Soft tofu has the highest moisture content of all tofus. Its texture is similar to a very fine custard and is often used in desserts, smoothies, soups and sauces.
Firm tofu is dense and can be cubed and stir-fried, grilled, scrambled, pickled, smoked, baked, barbecued or served in soups. Firm tofu is higher in protein, fats and calcium than other types of tofu.
Fried Tofu puffs (bean bubble) are deep fried until light and airy at the core and are delicious in soups because they soak up the flavour like little sponges.
Pressed Tofu is usually seasoned and pressed to remove excess water content. This can be cut into strips and used in soups or stir fries or used in sandwiches.
Frozen Tofu (thousand layer tofu) By freezing tofu, the large ice crystals that develop within the tofu result in the formation of cavities that soak up the flavours of the dish once the tofu is defrosted, the moisture squeezed out and marinated.

September Mini Yoga Retreat

2009-09-28T18:15:00.001-07:00

Did you miss the mini yoga retreat on Sunday the 20th of September? Never mind there’ll be another in October. We have a day of yoga, meditation and massage on the 3rd Sunday of the month which runs in conjunction with the free Sunday yoga class as Fradgley Hall in Burleigh Heads.

It’s hard to say what the highlight of the day is, whether it’s the shared massage at the end, the beautiful meditation led by Yadu with his velvety voice or maybe the delicious lunch cooked by his wife Monica. There’s certainly something for everyone: yoga asanas, relaxation, the chance to make new friends, eat delicious food and the opportunity to start or continue our spiritual journey.

This month’s massage was shared reflexology. A reflexology massage only involves massaging either the feet, hands or ears and because there are so many nerve endings in these places it is said to have a wonderful effect throughout the whole body. Amara led us through a simplified routine to massage the feet that was designed to be both soothing and stimulating to many other parts of the body from the pituitary gland deep within our head to the neck, liver, kidneys, digestive system and lower back. In fact after the foot massage many of us commented how we felt like we’d just had a full body massage!

So now we know how relaxing it is to get our feet massaged and also we have the ability to give this wonderful gift to a friend or family member.

namaste
Margaret

THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDNESS

2009-09-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Recently I read an article about how dairy cows give more milk if they have names and are known by them. Isn’t that sweet! I thought of how those cows day after day are having their milk taken from them and when they develop a relationship with the farmer and feel respected and cared for they’re happy to give more.

What a wonderful example this is of the importance of love and friendship.

There are so many lonely people in the world whose lives are grey and bleak and just a smile or a kind word from us might make all the difference to their day. But of course the highest kindness is to give them the chance to experience the transcendental yoga process which will take away that loneliness and give them the chance to be deeply peaceful, satisfied and even joyful.

The yoga process is more than just healthy exercises and focused breathing but actually becomes transcendental when we engage in yoga meditation. Yoga meditation draws our consciousness away from the troubles of this world to that place deep within each one of us, which is where we can find shelter, love and true kindness

My friends and I get together every Sunday to engage in yoga meditation at Fradgley Hall which is above the library at Burleigh Heads from 4 – 6 pm and everyone is most welcome to come along and bring a friend.

The Making of Andrew’s Amazing Yoga DVD

2009-09-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ever been down to Hastings Point at 5.30 in the morning? Not something I do regularly I must admit, but a few of us assembled there last week to roll the cameras and get started on Andrew’s Stretch and Relax DVD. We had to get there really early to catch the sunrise and get a magic meditation shot. How nice the atmosphere is at that time of day! A soft hazy serenity, just right for meditation. But no time for too much of that we had to get moving on the yoga poses. Our camera men told us that after 8.00 the light becomes too bright and the colours wash out, so even though it is only an hour class we knew with all the miss–takes (ha ha mistakes) we’d be pushing it to get through in time. It all went very smoothly though; after all we were working with talent! One cameraman is an acclaimed surf photographer and the other a naturally gifted amateur and all three yogis are fantastic yoga teachers, so there wasn’t too much stopping and starting.

Hastings Point is a truly beautiful place and we were able to capture some exquisite shots of the waves and birds and dolphins as a moving backdrop to the yoga poses. A lot of people seem to know how nice this place is too because by 8 o’clock the car park was full of people who were either off fishing, exploring or simply sitting and viewing and I’m sure our little crew added to the interest of the day.

So hopefully by Christmas time we’ll have the DVD out. Watch this blog and you’ll be the first to know!!

Namaste
Margaret

Yoga in the Park

2009-08-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Due to increasing numbers the Council’s Active and Healthy yoga class at Robina Library has now been moved to a nearby park at the same time on Tuesday morning at 9.15.

We’ve been in the park now for 8 or 10 weeks and even though we started off in the rainy season as yet haven’t had to call the class off. The first Tuesday in the park was a bit damp underfoot and a bit grey, but the next week most of us determined souls were prepared with ground sheets to put under our yoga mats. We’ve had a few near rainy days and one day we could see the rain drops on the lake but narry a drop on us.

Everyone has found that they really enjoy doing yoga outside. But of course it’s not just any old place outside. The Lion’s Park in Cheltemham Drive Robina is a little slice of heaven. There’s the trees, an assortment of ducks, black swans, cheeky magpies, blue water lilies and for the last few weeks beautiful pink blossoms. We all feel very lucky to be doing our yoga in this idyllic setting. It seems so natural to be outside doing our yoga asanas, absorbing the natural energy of the surroundings while our minds are soothed by the serene beauty.

Some people because of their health have had to stay away so it’s not for everyone but fortunately no one misses out as now the Council is offering a yoga class every Wednesday morning at the Mudgeeraba Memorial Hall. So if you are in the area come along to one or both of these free classes, make some new friends and get active and healthy.

Namaste
Margaret

An unforgettable day for us!

2009-03-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

International Free Yoga Day on Saturday, March 14, was an unforgettable day for us. The day was a huge success on the Gold Coast. 2009 is the third year that the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga has participated in Free Yoga Day. It has grown from just our regular classes being offered for free to a full day of free yoga and meditation classes from 7am to 5pm.

We knew that the day was off to a great start when we had over 30 people arrive for our 7am Energy Yoga class. The weather was beautiful and sunny and people kept on rolling up with many new faces trying yoga for the first time and many regulars passionate about exploring their practice further. Highlights on the day include; 110 students participating in a mid morning ‘pick me up’ Energy Yoga class; over 150 yoga enthusiasts partnering up to learn how to give an Indian Head Massage; a tasty and sumptuous lunch and refreshments served throughout the day; inspirational and beautiful yoga chanting meditation that left everyone feeling like that had stepped under a clean mountain waterfall and the amazing teamwork of all the ASMY teachers and volunteers who made such a successful day possible. More than 200 people joined us on Saturday at the Albert Waterways Community Centre to celebrate all things yoga.

Free Yoga Day is an international event aimed at promoting the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of the time tested yoga tradition. Some feedback from students on the day included; “I wish that I could do this everyday”, “I feel great, so relaxed and peaceful”, “I am so glad that I made the time to come” and “There is no better way to spend a day”. If you missed out on Saturday be sure to mark March 14 in your diary for next year. We hope to make next year even bigger and better.

A big thank you to all the people who came, without your support the day wouldn’t have been such fun and a big thank you to all the helpers on the day, without you it would not have been possible! A special mention must be made to the amazing kitchen crew who served out over 180 plates of Indian Dahl, rice, salad and pappadams for lunch and over 400 baked items such as Pina Colada Muffins, Pumpkin Scones and Vanilla Cookies throughout the day.

We hope that you continue to enjoy and pursue your passion for yoga.

Namaste

Amara

Another successful Clean Up Australia Day!

2009-03-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

In the mid morning sun we gathered to contribute our part in keeping our beautiful country clean and green. On behalf of Clean Up Australia and the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga I would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their Sunday morning to lend a helping hand.

I remember back to when I did my first Clean Up Australia Day, when I was 7, around the Tallebudgera Creek. This year I was fortunate enough to be supervising the Nobby Beach Clean Up Site. Having only registered the site 2 weeks ago I honestly thought that I would be one of only a few people at our site. I was over the moon when people kept on rolling up to help out. With 23 online registrations and 23 registrations on the day, I was very excited to see everyone’s community spirit.

We cleaned along the Nobby/Miami Beach foreshore and coast, Lions Head Park and the bushland edging on Miami State High School. In total we collected 3 ½ wheelie bins full of rubbish. Our most interesting and unique finds that I thought would be worth sharing with you were; a Buddha with only half a head, a one wheeled pink girls bicycle (later on we found the other wheel) and a wheelless skateboard. The amount of empty bottles, cans and cigarette butts that we found was a shock to everyone. Members of the public joined in helping us to pick up rubbish as they saw us passing by with our Clean Up Australia Day bags.

After all the hard work and heat we headed back to the studio and had some much needed refreshments. Everyone received a certificate of appreciation from Clean Up Australia for their participation. All in all in was a very successful morning and yes, this little part of Australia is a little cleaner because of it! Why not try to make everyday a Clean Up Australia Day? It doesn’t take much effort to pick up some litter when you see it, or at the least put your own rubbish in the bin.

Here's to keeping Australia clean and green!

Amara

National Free Yoga Day March 14 2009

2009-03-04T04:59:00.000-08:00

The Australian School of Meditation & Yoga (ASMY) 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 are holding the day at Albert Waterways Community Centre, a large community hall behind Pacific Fair. In the spirit of generosity and love, ASMY, along with many other participating yoga schools would like to promote the wonderful gift 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.

Find out what Australian School of Meditation and Yoga is doing for Free Yoga Day 2009.

We are looking forward to a great day and hope that you can make it!

Namaste,

Amara

Set yourself on the path to health and wellbeing

2009-03-04T04:52:00.000-08:00

An increasing number of people want a lifestyle which will help them achieve overall well-being physically, mentally and spiritually. Because this is what yoga offers, people are naturally attracted to it and are interested in its practice and applying its principles and techniques to their lives.
Yoga is for everybody - men and women of all ages and all levels of fitness.
Through the practice of yoga you can become stronger, healthier and more flexible and get into shape in a way that is less stressful on your body. Yoga will give you the tools to improve the quality of your life and you can become physically and spiritually renewed through the time tested practices of the yoga lifestyle. Experience meditation and relaxation so deep, so peaceful, so tranquil.
Around the globe, over thousands of years countless millions of people have experienced the life enhancing benefits of yoga. So can you.

Mermaid Beach – Southport - Burleigh Heads – Nerang

More information www.asm.org.au 5554 5440

Come along to one of our free or low cost Community Classes in conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council Active and Healthy Program.

See you at a class soon,

Amara

Clean Up Australia Day 2009

2009-02-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Namaste,

Clean Up Australia Day is coming up on March 1 and the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga have registered the Nobby Beach area as a Clean Up Site. Every year hundreds of thousands of Australians get stuck in and clean up their local environment by collecting and removing rubbish on Clean Up Australia Day. It is fun, easy and everyone can get involved.

This is how you can help:

1) Register to volunteer for Clean Up Australia Day

If you would like to volunteer at our Clean Up site, you can register as a volunteer here.

Or you can meet us on the day and fill out a volunteer registration form.

2) Volunteers can make a donation to Clean Up Australia Environment Fund

On the right click on the ‘Donate Now’ link and follow the prompts.

Or you can make a donation at one of our yoga or meditation programs.

Donations will assist Clean Up Australia to continue to work and foster relationships between the community, business and government to address critical issues of waste, water and climate change.

3) Support us by making a donation to our fundraising target of $800

Those you can not be involved on the day can visit our fundraising page and make a donation to help us reach our fundraising target. If you are volunteering and would like to get more involved with fundraising you can register your own fundraising page. Just click the 'Sign Up & Join this team' button.

When: 1 March 2009 8-10am
Where: Nobby Beach area. Meeting at the ASMY for an 8am start.
What to bring: Gloves, sturdy shoes, sunglasses, sun protection and water.
Questions: amara@asm.org.au or (07) 5554 5440

Great saints, sages and yogi’s understand that cleanliness and hygiene are important elements to a healthy, balanced life. A peaceful and tranquil environment is much more conducive to a meditative state and self realisation.

We hope to see you at the centre on March 1.

All the best,

Amara

Our Sunday Spiritual Gathering

2009-02-19T04:58:00.001-08:00

We invite you to our Sunday Spiritual Gathering, with beautiful chanting of sacred mantras, guided meditation, a fantastic vegetarian dinner and an inspiring talk that explores the spiritual essence of yoga.
The heart and soul of the evening is the joyous, enlivening chanting that will reawaken your spiritual consciousness and transport you to a place of peace and harmony.

Yoga wisdom has been studied and praised for thousands of years for its clarity, insight and wealth of spiritual knowledge. Here is the chance to tap into this most ancient of sciences that has been handed down from self-realised spiritual teachers since time immemorial. If you would like to learn more about your eternal spiritual nature, meditation, real happiness and life’s ultimate purpose, then this is for you.

Gain insight into the workings of the mind though guided meditation and develop more clarity and wisdom. This is the perfect time to inquire about spiritual topics, make new friends and cultivate your spiritual garden.

Every Sunday 4-6 pm

Burleigh Library Hall, Cnr Gold Coast Hwy & Park Ave
More information www.asm.org.au 5554 5440

See you there,

Amara

Back By Popular Demand

2009-02-17T04:10:00.000-08:00

Namaste,

For those living on the Northern end of the Gold Coast you will be pleased to hear the good news. Our Thursday morning free Easy Yoga Stretch and Relax with Meditation class will be resuming this Thursday (Feb 5). Initially this was a 6 week program (Oct 9 to Nov 20) at the Southport Library. Due to popular demand, this class will now continue indefinitely at the same time, at a new venue (Southport Scout Den).

Thursday 9.15am Southport Scout Den (Corner of High and Smith Sts)

In conjunction with the GCCC Active and Healthy Campaign, this class will continue to be offered free of charge. This class features half an hour of gentle stretching and half an hour of relaxation and meditation 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. A great class for anyone wanting to try yoga for the first time. We have hired a much larger hall, so why not do your friends and family a favour and invite them along.
Please bring a towel or mat to this session.

Don't forget that we also hold meditation and yoga classes at the Southport Community Centre on a Monday and Wednesday night and Yoga in the Park Thursday mornings at Labrador. Read more.....

Any questions 5554 5440 or asm@onthenet.com.au

We look forward to seeing you at a class soon.

Amara

2008-12-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Summer Fruit Pizza

Take advantage of the abundance of fresh, juicy summer fruit with this exotic fruit pizza. Fruits are bursting with vitamins and minerals and by eating them when they’re in season, you get them when they’re at the peak of their nutritional content. This is a healthy dessert with no added sugar that’s great fun for kids to make and was invented by 11 year old Tamal. What a great way to get kids to eat their fruit!

Summer Fruit Pizza

Ingredients

1 large pizza base
¼ cup sugarless peach jam
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp lemon or lime juice
¼ cup crystallized ginger, diced into tiny pieces
A selection of sliced fresh summer fruit. Choose from mangoes, bananas, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, dragon fruit, star fruit, blueberries, strawberries, lychees.

Method

Lightly toast the pizza base in the grill.
Spread with peach jam and then top with slices of colourful fruit.
Sprinkle with crystallized ginger and then drizzle with maple syrup and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.
Grill for 10-12 minutes, until the pizza is lightly browned.
Slice and serve. Yum!

For many more tasty vegetarian recipes like this one visit our website.

Enjoy!

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

2008-12-08T20:42:00.000-08:00

Come and celebrate Christmas with us

We would love to have you come and celebrate Christmas with us. We believe that Christmas is best when shared with friends and family.

The festivities will include:

Meeting old friends and new

Beautiful chanting

Songs of Praise

Video presentation of the teachings of Jesus

Sumptuous vegetarian feast

A joyous mantra rock dance

When: Sunday 21st December

Where: Albert Waterways Community Centre

Cnr Hooker and Sunshine Blvd, Mermaid Waters (Behind Pacfic Fair)

To help us with meal preparations, please RSVP by Sunday 14th of December

Phone: 5554 5440
E-mail: asm@onthenet.com.au

This year we have hired a much larger hall to comfortably accommodate everyone who would like to come so please invite all your family and friends.

Hope to see you there.

Namaste,

Amara and all the teachers and crew at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga.

2008-12-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

Discover Meditation Courses 

The year has flown by and there are only three more Discover Meditation courses left to run in 2008. Time seems to be flying by far too quickly, so make sure you mark the dates in your diary early as Christmas is just around the corner and social calendars will be booking up. At this time of year, people really need meditation and relaxation in their lives as it is a very stressful time of the year and extremely busy for most of us.

Meditation calms the mind, nourishes us spiritually and gives us inner resources to deal with the busy-ness of life. Unfortunately if we don’t make the time to meditate a priority in our lives, time will pass us by, and before we know it, another year is over and we still haven’t put any time aside to meditate and relax. People who make the effort to maintain a regular meditation practice right through the Christmas period always comment on how much more relaxed they felt and how much better they were able to cope with the stresses of life.

Mark these dates in your diary and make meditation a priority in your life:

Mermaid Beach
10.30am Wednesday 3rd and 10th December
7.30pm Thursday 4th and 11th December

Nerang
11.45am Friday 12th and 19th December

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.
Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back,
and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”
Buddha

2008-12-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

That time of year again

Well here we are again, almost at the end of another year! As you know the teachers and volunteers at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga work very hard all year without a break, so Christmas is a time when we close the centre for three weeks to give us that much deserved break. It gives us all time to organise our programs for next year, relax, revitalize and rejuvenate.

The last program for the year will be our Christmas gathering held on the 21st December and our first program back in 2009 will be our Sunday Spiritual Gathering on the 11th January.

The programs at Southport finish Thursday 11 December. The 2009 program starts Monday 12 January.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all the teachers and volunteers at the Australian School of Meditation.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

2008-11-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-15T03:53:00.000-08:00

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 Aus tralian 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

2008-11-14T05:19:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2008-11-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-11T03:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-10T04:26:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-10T03:36:00.000-08:00

(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

2008-11-02T18:26:00.000-08:00

Share the benefits of the healthy yoga lifestyle this Christmas.

__________________

Vegetarian
Cookbook
$15

_________________

Yoga Pass
5 Class Pass - valid 2 months
$50

__________________

Yoga Pass
10 Class Pass - valid 3 months
$85

___________________

Yoga Pass
1 Month Pass - Unlimited
$80

____________________

Balanced Life Retreat
Gift Certificate $60

____________________

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

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Guided Meditation: Free Download

2008-10-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

You can learn an uplifting meditation practice using breath and mantra that will energise your body, calm your mind and bring joy to your heart. We are offering a free recording that you can now download to your computer or MP3 player to use and enjoy whenever you like.

The slow deep breathing has the effect of calming the entire nervous system. The mantra is calming, uplifting and cleansing to the heart and mind.

Sit comfortably and lengthen your spine so that you can keep the chest open for nice deep inhalations. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Bring the breath deep down into your relaxed abdomen, and as you exhale draw the abdominal muscles back and up, then release them for the inward breath. Spend time with your breath feeling the relaxing effect of the outward breath, and the energizing effect of the inward breath.

To add mantra to the breathing, take a deep breath in, vibrating the mantra “Gauranga” on the long outward breath. As you say the mantra, simply listen to the sound. When the mind strays, simply refocus on the sound of the mantra. As you say the mantra allow your mind to become fully immersed in the sound, feeling its vibration throughout your whole body. You may like to spend 2 or 3 minutes in meditation at first and gradually increase the time up to 5 or 10 minutes.

For a free download of this meditation, go to www.asm.org.au and download the Guided Meditation from the Videos and Music page http://www.asm.org.au/videos-music . It’s a very nice way to go to sleep at night to ensure you have a sound and tranquil sleep; it’s also a nice way to start the day to ensure your day is peaceful and energized. During the day, whenever you get a chance, it is a wonderful refresher and a great way to de-stress and calm the mind.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Annual Christmas Celebration

2008-10-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Set aside Sunday, 21st of December for our annual Christmas party where we gather together to celebrate the life and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ through songs, chanting, meditation and, of course, feasting! We would love to have you come celebrate Christmas with us.

The Festivities will include:

•Meeting old friends and new
•Chanting of sacred mantras
•Songs of Praise
•Video presentation of the life and teachings of Jesus
•Sumptuous Vegetarian Feast
•A joyous Mantra Rock Dance

We believe Christmas is best when shared with family and friends

To help us with meal preparations, please RSVP by Tuesday 27th of November.
5554 5440 asm@onthenet.com.au

Please invite all your family and friends.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Inspiring Words

2008-10-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

Truth is recognized wherever it is found, in all languages and all cultures. Here are a selection of our favourite insights from cultures and saints around the world – all concise and eloquently spoken. Keep checking because we’ll add more as we come across them.

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.
St. Augustine

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Namaste,

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Yoga Aid Challenge – Only eight sleeps!

2008-10-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga is striving to raise money for children in need. On Wednesday 22 of October, only 8 sleeps away, hundreds will be doing yoga around Australia to raise money for different charity events. The Yoga Aid Challenge was developed so that the yoga community can give something back through their love of yoga. It is a way to facilitate the giving for living concept. An integral aspect of the traditional yoga system is non-greed, non violence and introspection.

I would like to share with you some truths from different cultures and saints around the world:

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

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

Lao Tzu

To be without a friend is to be poor indeed.

Swahili

It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace and live in peace.

Shenandoah

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

Lao Tzu

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

Lao Tzu

He who really wants to do something finds a way; he who doesn’t finds an excuse.

Confucius

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Confucius

When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.

Arapaho

For information on how you, your friends and family can support the Yoga Aid Challenge click here.

Yoga practitioners use the Sanskrit word ‘namaste’ as a greeting. Namaste is a yoga greeting of respect.

Namaste,

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

http://blogactionday.org/js/b7a411cd58490e9b8703910beeb10aeea8ab28f5

September Balanced Life Retreat

2008-10-05T03:37:00.000-07:00

“An amazing day! The retreat space is heavenly, the meditations were awesome, fantastic food and a positive environment.”

Diane (Law Student)

On Saturday, 28 Sept. the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga held our famous Balanced Life Retreat in the rolling hills of the Tweed Hinterland. The weather couldn’t have been better, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The rays of the sun were so inviting that Steve took the Chi Kung class outdoors amid the bamboo and palms of the Nadia Retreat Centre.

Many of our regular retreaters were pleasingly surprised by the changes made to the meditation and relaxation space. After a complete makeover the area gives out refreshing, uplifting and relaxing vibes. If you have been to one of our retreats before, it is well worth another day at Nadia, just to see the magnificent changes, not to mention everything else the day entails.

Lunch proved most popular, with many going back for seconds or even thirds. We enjoyed an alfresco Asian banquet under the mango trees, with an array of tempting dishes. On the menu was Laksa soup with Vietnamese mint, enoki mushrooms and deep fried bean curd, Vietnamese summer rolls and sweet and sour sauce, green Thai curry with tofu and cashews, coconut cream rice with kaffir lime leaves, green mango rice noodle salad and a fresh garden veggie and hokkien noodle stir fry. Later on in the afternoon we had deep fried bananas in a rice flour, sesame and pandan batter served with ice-cream and chai. Exotic!

After lunch, Monika taught us how to make the Vietnamese summer rolls that we had all just tried. Summer rolls are rice paper spring rolls that are perfect finger food for entertaining or around the house snacks. They are filled with flavoured rice noodles and finely sliced salad ingredients and unlike spring rolls, they are not fried, making them light and fresh and perfect for the hottest summer days..

Over all, the day was a smorgasbord of so many things that the yoga lifestyle has to offer. Breathing, massage, delicious healthy food and cooking tips and stretching for physical health, relaxation for peace of mind and meditation; food for the soul. These ideas were the focus of the spiritual discussion in the afternoon, where Ray (a senior teacher at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga ) shared an analogy of a three legged chair. The only reason a three legged chair is able to stand with a strong foundation is because it is equally balanced on its three legs. If we took one leg away, the chair would no longer be balanced, despite it still having two legs. Physical, mental and spiritual health are our three legs. Just like a chair, when these three are in balance, we have a strong foundation for our life. Meditation and yoga techniques that we learnt today at the retreat and that we teach at other programs and classes run by the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga educate and encourage people to add this balance to their lives.

The perfect finish to the day was an uplifting group meditation accompanied by melodious Kirtan or beautiful chanting of sacred mantras led by Mrna. Oh, and not to mention the deep fried bananas and chai!

We invite you along to our next Balanced Life Retreats on October 25 and Nov 22. But be quick to book, they fill up fast.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Aubergine Curry

2008-10-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

Aubergine (eggplant) Curry, Pakoras, Fragrant Jasmine Rice, Salad and Pappadams were on the menu at our September Mantra Rock Dance.
The Aubergine Curry that the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga chefs cooked up was so tasty and so simple that I thought I’d better share it with you.

Sometimes I wonder to myself, “What do I do with this eggplant?” I find it a difficult vegetable to cook with. But experts tell us that eggplant is a great health food. It is full of fibre, vitamin C and B6, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium and low in fat and sodium.

This recipe is one way to make this wholesome veggie more popular in your house, everyone will be coming back for seconds.

Heat some olive oil in a pot. You will be surprised how much olive oil you will need, the eggplant soaks it up.
Add one large, chopped eggplant and stir. Add some sweet paprika and turmeric. Cover with a lid and stir occasionally. It is here you may need to add more olive oil.
Cook covered until tender. The eggplant should be soft.
Here you can add a chopped leek and some minced garlic, stir in with the eggplant. Cook for two minutes.
Once the eggplant is done, add a chopped carrot. Also, add a little water and one veggie stock cube. Break up the stock cube before you add it to your cooking.
Once the carrot is mostly soft, add one red capsicum, chopped. Cook for 5 minutes.
When all the veggies are done, add some tomato paste, and a little more water may be needed depending on how runny you would like your curry. You may also like to add some palm sugar to make your curry a little sweeter.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
At the end, once the pot is off the heat, you can add firm, diced ricotta or chickpeas. They do not go well together so you’d use one or the other, depending on what you will be serving your eggplant curry with. Ricotta goes nice if you are serving with mashed potato. Chickpeas go nice if you are serving with rice.
You can stir through some spinach or garnish with parsley.
Appreciate all the wholesome, nourishing food available to you and enjoy.

This amount will make enough for you and a friend. With a recipe like this though, you better have enough to feed a family.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Inspiring Words

2008-10-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Truth is recognized wherever it is found, in all languages and all cultures. Here is a selection of my favourite insights from cultures and saints around the world – all concise and eloquently spoken. Keep checking because I’ll add more as I come across them.

- Buddha

For he who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.

- Bhagavad-Gita

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul as well as his enemy.

- Bhagavad-Gita

Namaste

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Mantra Rock Dance – A very special spiritual event!

2008-10-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

Come along this Sunday 5 October and let the music set you free. The heart and soul of the evening is the uplifting and upbeat chanting of sacred mantras. Each month on the first Sunday, world class musicians join our Sunday Spiritual Gathering with their electric guitars, bass guitar and electric drum kit. The night is never short of fun and laughs, ear catching melodies and a fantastic vegetarian feast.See you on the dance floor,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Organic Gold Coast Farmers Market – The freshest of the fresh

2008-09-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

No one will argue that regular exercise, relaxation and a healthy diet will hep you to lead a more balanced life. Just as our cars need regular grease and oil changes and tune ups, so do our bodies. When buying products to maintain our cars, we ensure that we are buying the best for our money. Our most valuable possession, our bodies, also need such diligent care.

We are seeing an increasing amount of individuals and families switching to an organic diet due to the huge benefits, environmentally and physically. Buying from local farmers is another way to ensure that you and your family are guaranteed fresh and high quality produce.

Each Sunday, in Miami, The Organic Gold Coast Farmers Markets supplies many people on the Coast their fruit, veg, grains, breads, skincare, teas (you name it, the list goes on) for the week. A social highlight of the week for many, it is an opportunity to shop, eat, make friends and chill out. I have discovered veggies and herbs such as daikon radish, dill, dandelion greens and kale which I never knew existed.

Thanks to the committed growers and distributors that continually strive to offer the Gold Coast fresh, tasty and affordable organics.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Yoga Aid Challenge

2008-09-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

Join the Yoga Aid Challenge and raise money for the Save The Children charity. 108 sun salutes in 2 hours.

22 October 2008

Namaste! Join us as the sun rises on the 22nd of October for the 2nd Australian Yoga Aid Challenge. The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga team will join with other yoga schools on the Gold Coast to complete 108 sun salutes in 2 hours to raise money for local charities. You can participate by joining the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga Yoga Aid Challenge team or by contributing financially – even a tiny amount is appreciated, because everything helps. We are raising money for Save the Children Australia who work with children at risk to reach their potential through education, health and child protection programs in Australia and around the world.

To support our challenge by donating to Save the Children Australia:

Log on to: Yoga Aid Challenge Click on: Donate Now and follow the prompts.

To join the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga Yoga Aid Challenge Team:

Click here: Yoga Aid Challenge And then click on: Join this Team and follow the prompts.

And then join us on the big day!

Date: Wednesday 22 October, 2008

Time: be there 5:45 am to start at 6:00 am – concludes 8:15 am

Where: Queen Elizabeth Park, Marine Pde, Coolangatta

Bring: Yoga mat, drinking water, workout clothes, sunscreen, plenty of energy, a joyful heart.

Info: gold-coast@asm.org.au (07) 5554 5440

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Spring clean from the east

2008-09-23T21:00:00.001-07:00

For many of us Gold Coasters, spring marks the end of the dreaded winter season and the beginning of fun in the sun. Outdoors, sunshine, magnificent scented flowers, beaches, picnics – these all go hand in hand with spring. But then so does hay fever, allergies, sniffles and sneezing. Find some relief this spring through the ancient principles of Yoga and Ayurveda.

1. Spring back with yoga

According to the science of Ayurveda, allergies are aggravated by a build up of toxins in your body. By gently stretching, twisting and massaging, yoga poses help to successfully remove built up toxins and wastes from your internal organs. After a yoga session you are less likely to crave the heavy, oily foods that dampen your immune response. Instead you will crave the wholesome and nourishing foods that revitalise the body.

Spring Yoga Pose – The Fish Pose
2. Try Neti

How’s that wonderful feeling in your sinuses when you dive under the waves! You can get that feeling every time you do neti – fresh and clear.
Neti is a nasal wash with warm, salty water. Its main benefit is in the prevention of respiratory disorders like colds, flu, sinusitis and allergies. However, it is also said to be helpful in treating various disorders – like glue ear, myopia, inflamed adenoids, nervous tics, muscular tension in the face, migraines, and even epilepsy.

3. Treat yourself to some rest and fun

Stress dampens our immune response, making our bodies more vulnerable to the allergies and hay fever of spring. Get plenty of rest, relaxation and meditation to protect the health of your immune system. Twenty minutes of Yoga Nidra is more rejuvenating than four hours of sleep. Or is can be as simple as slowing down. Give yourself the time to enjoy doing the activities that you like. With the sun out in the bright blue sky it is the perfect time of the year for a picnic, bushwalk, surf or hit of tennis. Balance the stress and responsibility of your everyday life with fun times spent with family and friends.

4. Spice up this spring

According to Ayurveda, spices are useful to counterbalance the side effects of spring. Ginger is famous for its warming qualities which improve digestion and burn up toxins. In a previous post I shared a great chai tea recipe that necessitates (for me anyway) a generous serving of ginger. Even herbal tea or hot water with a squeeze of lemon or lime will warm and nourish your body.
Other spices such as cumin, turmeric, coriander and fennel help promote and maintain heat in the body. You can experiment using these spices in your cooking, many of which a tasty Indian dish would call for. Turmeric is known to reduce inflammation associated with allergies. Taken as a supplement or in your food it can help to ease away the discomforts of the spring season.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Simply Delicious Curried Lentil Pie

2008-09-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

This is my favourite recipe at the moment, so I thought that I would share it with you. It is delicious and quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

2 sheets of short crust pastry

2 400gm cans of brown lentils, drained or 3 cups of cooked lentils

1 Tbsp of olive oil

½ cup finely chopped onion or ½ tsp asafoetida

2-3 tsp curry powder

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp cumin, ground

1 tsp basil

2 tsp light soy sauce

1 Tbsp sugar

¼ cup coconut

1/3 cup sultanas or raisins

3 Tbsp cornflour

1/3 cup water

Method

Place one sheet of pastry into a greased pie dish.
Heat the oil and fry the onion, curry powder, turmeric and cumin.
Add lentils, basil, light soy sauce, sugar, coconut and sultanas.
Mix water and cornflour together and add to lentil mixture and continue stirring until it thickens.
Put the mixture in the pie shell.
Place pastry over the filling.
Crimp the edges and pierce the top.
Back at 180 degrees C for approx. 30 minutes or until golden.

Lentils are an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of iron, high in fibre and low in fat.

Lentils do not need to be soaked over night, but any soaking time cuts down the amount of time needed to cook. Canned lentils are very convenient and need to be drained and rinsed before using.

This recipe can easily be frozen into single size portions and then cooked when required.

Asafoetida or Hing can be found in Asian spice shops. It can be used sparingly on fried tofu, patties, burgers, veggie dishes and beans. It is often used as a substitute for onion.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as I have.

Visit our website to discover many more delicious and easy vegetarian meals.

Happy cooking,

Amara

Instructor

Let's eat to our bodies good health

2008-09-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

For thousands of years yoga practitioners have recognised how their food choices have an effect on how far they are able to stretch, twist and focus.

As a yoga practitioner I have experienced how eating a healthy, well balanced vegetarian diet can be simple, invigorating and tasty. When I first starting eating more vegetarian meals I was surprisingly impressed by their flavour and simplicity. I felt full sooner, and a real, nourished full. Not bloated or as though I had overeaten. Over the last ten years I have been exploring a plant based diet and the array of endless ingredients that you can add to dishes.

If you are thinking of adding more vegetarian meals to your diet or cutting out animal products all together there are many good resources that can assist you in your quest. A well thought out vegetarian diet brings life to your body, literally. In your asana practice you will feel lighter and more limber. You’ll experience how your mind is more alert and attentive. And spiritually you will feel yoga qualities like respect, compassion and empathy growing inside of you.

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

Albert Schweitzer

Let’s eat to our body’s good health.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Join us in celebrating Australia’s second National Vegetarian Week

2008-09-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

The 29 September is a day to mark on your calendar. This is when The National Vegetarian Week begins. From the 29 September to 5 October vegetarians across the country will be enjoying and promoting a healthy plant based diet. You can contact your local vegetarian society to discover a range of community events that will be held in your local area or you can visit The National Vegetarian Week forum. Around the country many will be sharing tried and true favourite plant based recipes that can be easily whipped up at home.

We would like to invite you and your family along to our Sunday Spiritual Gathering - the ideal balance of food for the soul and for the body. Each Sunday is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fantastic vegetarian meal and make new friends. The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga volunteer chefs whip up a legendary vegetarian feast which leaves no one hungry. With no cooking or cleaning, this is the perfect way to finish or begin the week.

National Vegetarian Week

Australian Vegetarian Society

Vegan Society of NSW

The Vegetarian/Vegan Society of QLD

Vegetarian Network Victoria

ACT Vegetarian Society

The Vegetarian Society of South Australia Inc.

Join us on Sunday 5 October and you will be surprised just how flavoursome a plant based diet can be!

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

15 essentials of Hatha Yoga

2008-09-03T22:37:00.000-07:00

Reading through some of my yoga notes, I came across some helpful hints written by one of my yoga teachers. It made me appreciate more the beauty of yoga, how it is so personal and well adaptable to every body. That is one of the things that I truly do love about yoga, that it really is for everyone. I hope that you find these tips as helpful as I have when practicing at home or at a class.

Allow yourself time to chill out and relax before a class. If you are attending a class at a studio allow yourself enough time to get there. If you arrive stressed out because you had to speed the whole way there you will need the whole class to calm back down. Instead leave 5 or 10 minutes early, enough time to drive there relaxed, not running every orange light, so that you can really benefit the deeply relaxing effects of the class. Then you won’t have to spend the whole class undoing all the stress you had put yourself through to get there on time.
Enjoy your yoga session. There is no rush. Take time between each pose to feel the sensations in your body. Feel, for example, how your back is warm after a twist, you have just squeezed extra blood flow to all the muscles in your back.
Don’t forget to ………. Breathe. How many of us forget to breathe until the instructor says ‘now count five more deep breaths’ or ‘make sure you are breathing deep into your abdomen’. Once you get into a pose, work on your breath. Give each stretch at least five good breaths.
In a class if you finish a pose early, try not to get distracted by the chatter of your mind. Instead just rest and enjoy focussing on your breathing.
In between each pose, rest and focus on the breath. Give your body this important time to recover from the work that it has just done. Feel your body assimilating all the hard work. Don’t rest too long though, your body will cool down.
Yoga is non competitive. Often after engaging in competitive sports most of our lives we bring a competitive attitude to our yoga asana practice. When we begin to compete in a yoga class we are losing the bodily awareness that we are trying to cultivate. So next time you find yourself comparing yourself with the person on the next mat, how far they are lunging or how you are so much more flexible than them in the Camel Pose, draw your awareness back to your own practice. This way you will get more from the class. You will be less likely to overstretch and injure your muscles. You can work with your breath more, moving deeper into the poses. Nothing is gained by comparing yourself to others. Yoga asana practice helps us to develop humility, patience, tolerance and respect.
Just stick at a level that suits you. Don’t feel pressured to move into a pose that you feel uncomfortable in. Instead gradually and safely lengthen and tone your muscles.
Keep your mind engaged. Use your mind in your practice. Instead of thinking about what you want for breakfast when you finish or how much work you have to do, just lend yourself this time and relax. Keep you mind focussed on your breath, the sensations in your body, your alignment and relaxing.
You can try counting your breath to stay focused. Remember to hold each pose for at least five deep breaths. So in your mind you can count each breath. If you are familiar with the poses, don’t let your mind wander. Even experienced practitioners can count the breath.
In each pose, no matter how basic, work on complete yoga breathing. I love this saying and try to remember it in my own practice and remind my students each class, ‘deep breathing and space creation’. Complete yoga breathing encourages your body to relax more into each pose. The more that you can deep breathe the more you will get from the class.
Take five minutes to rest for every half an hour of yoga that you practice. The Corpse Pose, one of the hardest poses of all. Our bodies need this time to assimilate all the work that they have just done. You may feel a little frazzlled if you get straight from you mat and back to your everyday duties. Often what stops us from relaxing is our mind. You can practice some pranay ama breathing or Gauranga Breathing Meditation to finish you session. This gives the mind something to focus on so that you don’t fall asleep or get easily distracted. Twenty minutes of meditation and relaxation is more rejuvenating that four hours of sleep.
If you are just beginning your yoga journey, you probably have experienced that there is a lot to focus on at once. Just focus on your alignment and practicing safely. Breathe normally and frequently. With practice you will be able to breathe deeper and in time with your body.
When working with your breath allow it to radiate throughout your entire body. Breathe through your Tantien (the area below your navel) and on the inhalation feel your entire body opening up and the feel the exhalation relaxing your muscles. Keep your abdomen soft and breath slow and deep.
In yoga we breathe in and out through the nose. A few reasons for this is that nostril breathing cleanses the air before it enters the lungs and breathing out through the nostrils slows the exhalation with helps us to feel more relaxed.
The general rule for each pose is relax and breathe. Relax the parts of your body that you are not using. Try not to block areas of your body with tension. Keep your body open and long. Monitor that you are relaxing your face, neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees and feet.

Even after practicing yoga for more that 8 years I often forget many of these. It is wonderful to have an instructor who has an appreciation for these basic essential of hatha yoga and can remind you when she or he sees you not breathing or tensing your shoulders. Develop your own bodily awareness in conjunction with this so in your own home practice you have a sense of how you are carrying your body. I hope that you can integrate these tips into ones you already use in your practice.

Each Sunday, The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga runs ‘An Introduction to Yoga’ session at Burleigh Heads. Margaret, our head yoga instructor introduces participants to yoga in a very down to earth, easy to follow manner that will give you a very solid yoga foundation. Perfect for beginners or more advanced practitioners. Everybody is welcome.

Enjoy your asanas,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

The Yoga Lifestyle - Holistic and Healthy

2008-08-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Set yourself on the path to health and wellbeing. Improve the quality of your life. Around the globe, over thousands of years, countless millions of people have experienced the life enhancing benefits of yoga, so can you. Join us in one of our many yoga lifestyle classes aimed at bringing balance into your life through yoga, relaxation and meditation. Visit the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga website to read healthy lifestyle articles and personal journeys. Find tried and true favourite recipes served at cooking classes, retreats and spiritual gatherings as well as some from our home kitchens. A collection of delicious, healthy recipes to help you along the path of health.

Have fun in the kitchen,

Amara

Instructor

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Meditation for everybody

2008-08-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Interested in learning to meditate. Whether you are a student, a taxi driver or a busy mum, meditation will help you to deal with life’s challenges in a positive way. Meditation can lower your levels of stress and therefore have a positive effect on your body and mind. On the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga website you will be able to find out where the closest meditation class is to you, or follow the easy D.I.Y guides to adding the gift of meditation to your life. Learn deeply relaxing and meditation techniques to develop clarity, wisdom and improve your physical and mental well-being.

Want to know more about yoga?

2008-08-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Discover all that the time tested yoga tradition has to offer. The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga website has a range of articles and poses to browse. Whether you are a veteran yoga practitioner or a first time yogi you will find the yoga section of our website an interesting and informative read. Learn how to improve your poses with our step by step guide, including images to assist your learning. Read educational articles about the countless benefits of yoga to further inspire you in your quest to a healthier, balanced life.

Happy reading,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Video Introduction (click image to play)

2008-08-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga is a non-profit organization with centres in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Each lifestyle centre is run by qualified teachers who offer relaxed and personable instruction incorporating asanas, meditation, diet, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques for a holistic yoga experience.

The programmes of the ASMY are simple and enjoyable and can benefit everybody regardless of age or current physical condition. Our goal is to guide you to a more balanced lifestyle with an increased sense of wellbeing and vitality as your body grows stronger and more flexible, your mind calm—and bring a greater sense of ‘sacredness’ into daily life.

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga - Gauranga Music Video

2008-08-17T18:25:00.001-07:00

Enjoy the beautiful sacred sound " Gauranga ", an ancient meditation with contemporary classic guitar featuring imagery from inner city parks of Melbourne.. (turn up your speakers)

Discover Meditation, Discover Yourself

2008-08-17T04:49:00.000-07:00

What is meditation?

How do you do it?
What are the benefits?
Can anybody try it?

Are these questions that you have asked yourself? And then a split second later thought, “I am way to busy to meditate!” When you don’t think you have time to meditate this is actually when you need it the most. Scientific studies show that 20 minutes of meditation is more rejuvenating than four hours of sleep.

You have read about the live changing benefits of meditation in endless amounts of scientific and medical journals and you have made the decision that you want to learn how to do it. Now what, where do you start?

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga invites you to our “Discover Meditation, Discover Yourself” workshops in August. These two part courses are available during the day and in the evening.

10.30am Wednesday 20th and 27th August
7.30pm Thursday 21st and 28th August

These workshops are suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners wanting to add something new and fresh to their meditation practice. Take advantage of these courses that run monthly by donation. Phone (07) 5554 5440 or email gold-coast@asm.org.au to secure your booking.

Look forward to seeing you there,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Energy Elixir

2008-08-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Maintaining healthy and adequate energy levels is a battle that every one of us faces on a daily basis. Energising yoga asanas are ideal to balance out our energy levels and ensure that that energy reservoir that we are running on is in fact a healthy one (as opposed to our adrenals).

Research shows that physical exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells. The brain building effects of exercise are greatest in the area of the brain that is damaged by high levels of stress and adrenalin. We can do ourselves a favour when we are feeling frazzled, roll out the yoga mat, even if it is just for 15 minutes (perfect for work and study breaks). This way we are running on our bodies real energy reservoir, not the superficial (really high, then really low) energy that we get from the ‘adrenalin rush’ or the ‘caffeine hit’.

The ancient hatha yoga system, Chinese medicine and internal martial arts teachings make clear the flow of ‘chi’ or ‘prana’ throughout the material body, primarily through the meridians or nadis. This chi is carried or circulates through the body via these subtle ‘nerve’ channels (meridians), through bones, blood, etc. Yoga poses and breathing exercises facilitate the free flow of chi throughout the entire body by releasing stiff muscles that could be impinging these channels. Yoga’s faster moving sun salutations and dynamic standing sequences increase the flow of chi throughout the body contributing to a sense of bodily lightness, raised energy levels, clearer thinking and relaxation. When chi is deranged physical ‘dis-ease’ may result. Yoga exercise is especially beneficial to keep the chi in order so that diseases of the body become almost nil by such exercise.

Yoga exercise accompanied with deep diaphragmatic breathing oxygenates the blood and encourages fresh nutrients to all peripheral vessels and capillaries. Improved circulation means that the brain will receive more oxygen, improving alertness, memory and mood; vital organs receive a steady supply of the nutrients they require for optimal functioning. Alleviate fatigue with poses such as the slope stretch, headstand and its variations, windblown tree and the camel. Poses in which you have to ‘bend over backwards’ are especially helpful for invigorating the entire body. The backward bending asanas energise, refresh and invigorate the body – opening the chest, encouraging inhalation. Some of our favourite backbends are the Bridge, Bow, Fish and Cobra. Backbends benefit the nervous system, as cerebral-spinal fluids are pumped resulting in a clearer feeling mind and benefits all the meridians.

Energising poses create an internal physical heat that encourages muscles to lengthen gradually and safely. Stamina building standing and balancing poses build joint stability by strengthening surrounding muscles. By nature, joints are inherently unstable and reliant on ligaments and muscles to guard them from injury. The quadriceps are often sore after a Warrior I or II, Chair Pose or a demanding balancing pose (such as Warrior III), whether you are a beginner or a veteran yoga instructor. We can literally feel the legs working hard in these poses, building strength and energy.

An Energy class at The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga will boost your heart rate up into the aerobic range. When we regularly get our heart rate up into this range we lower our chances of heart problems and can relieve depression. Studies show that yoga practice has a calming affect on the resting heart rate, enhances endurance and increases lung capacity, improving oxygen intake during exercise. Research highlights that participants who were taught only Pranayama (breathe control) used less oxygen during vigorous exercise.

Yoga ‘work outs’ serve to sculpt the body, by toning, lengthening and strengthening the bodies 300 plus muscles. Getting the chi in the body moving is helpful in circumstances where sluggishness, weigh gain and decreased energy are correlating factors. Sequenced poses using movement and the breathe as a link, build heat and can increase the amount of calories burnt. No one will argue that regular yoga exercise, meditation and relaxation, and a healthy balanced diet will assist in weight loss and body tone. With a refreshed, energised body and a deep rooted mental focus it is much easier and enjoyable to step into meditation (the third area of the yoga tradition), which is where we can fulfill our inner spiritual longing.

Energy Yoga Pose - Sun Salutation Sequence

(a mini yoga session)

This set of flowing yoga poses is recommended for cardiovascular health. 6 to 12 cycles can be done daily.
Salutes help to strengthen the health of the heart and help to prevent heart attack.
Enhances blood circulation to nourish and heal, warming extremities.
Strengthens the muscles of the body, especially the abdominals.
Refreshes the skin, clearing complexion.
Produces health, efficiency and longevity.

Cautions:

If you suffer from heart problems, the Sun Salutes may be too strenuous.

The instructors at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga invite you to share with us the wonderful benefits of an Energy Yoga class.

6:30am Every Tuesday – By donation

Miami Foreshore Park

Corner of Chairlift Avenue and Marine Parade

6:30am Every Thursday – By donation

Len Fox Park

Marine Parade Labrador

5:30pm Every Thursday – First class $5

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

2241 Gold Coast Highway Mermaid Beach

Amara

Yoga Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

A Balancing Act

2008-08-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Balance – we appreciate it so much more when we don’t have it. Even the simple act of walking requires so much of it. Just observe the body next time you are walking and notice the different muscles that you are using, the movement of the legs, the placement of the feet, the weight distribution throughout the body, it is truly an amazing thing. Balance is one of the first things that we loose when we age. At the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga we practice at least a few balancing poses in each class to gradually improve poise, stability and determination.

The act of balancing, whether it be on the ground or on a tightrope, it actually achieved through the use of three bodily systems, visual, vestibular, and proprioception. We depend on our vision to keep us orientated with our external environment. The vestibular systems use inner ear fluid and act similarly to an air bubble in a level. The ability to physically feel the things around your body, for example, smooth polished floor boards under your feet, is called proprioception. ‘Dis – eases’ of the body such as Parkinson’s, Meniere’s, labyrinthitis and stroke can rob the body of this much needed skill. When our balanced is interrupted due to a fall or aging, it causes us to feel dizzy, disorientated and nauseous.

Yoga poses, deep breathing and meditation benefit the nervous system, muscles and joints – all of which tend to wear with age affecting our balancing abilities. Twisting asanas and backbends stimulate spinal nerves, benefiting the entire nervous system. Standing and balancing poses build muscle tone isometrically, improving strength, stamina and posture. The suppleness and flexibility that yoga poses facilitate maintains the natural health of our joints. Synovial fluid is stimulated and released into the joints and works just like a grease and oil change would for the engine of a car, keeping the body well lubricated and clean. All these fringe benefits that yoga has to offer contribute to the bodies over all health and balance.

Research shows that brain disease affects balance. Slow, deeply rejuvenating yoga breathing fuels the brain cells with health giving oxygen, nourishing cells that can often be half starved due to short, shallow chest breathing.

The eye inherently has a reflex movement that steadies images on the retina during head movement. Have you ever wondered why the eye rotates in the opposite direction to the head? For example, we can be looking straight ahead and quickly turn our head to the left, unconsciously the eyes move to the right. Another amazing action of the body – this continues to centre the image.

Think back to when you were a child, we all enjoyed creating towers and various structures from building blocks. We can apply these same basic theories to our yoga practice. It is common sense that a strong, solid, stable structure necessitates an even stronger foundation. The foundation of a yoga pose is the area that touches the ground, and it is vitally important that this foundation is well grounded, equally balanced and correctly aligned. We can notice if the inner points or the outer aspect of the foot feels heavy, the toes might grip or lift off the floor. The feet are an excellent way that we can gauge how we are carrying our bodies and our anterior-posterior centering. Once noticed, we work on distributing equally the weight of our bodies into all four corners of the feet.

Moving up the body, we can appreciate that the pelvis plays a vital role in balance and posture. The pelvis girdle carries the weight of our torso and transfers that weight to the legs and feet. Misalignment of the pelvis, be it twisting, tipping and/or leaning, disturbs the lift and symmetry of the spine. Building core abdominal strength is one of yoga’s many attributes that aids in and improves pelvic awareness and positioning. Poses such as the Balancing Cat, Boat Pose and Plank Pose tones the abdominal muscles and increase the strength and health of the spine.

The hip abductors (the muscles that lift the leg out to the side) play an important role in holding the pelvis level. They contract with every step taken when walking and they also must contract firmly in yoga’s many one-legged balancing poses. Strengthening standing poses such as Warriors I, II and III, Triangle and Intense Side Stretch strengthen the abductor muscles.

Bodily awareness that yoga produces is just as important as muscle training, keeping the mind focused, present and in the moment. These qualities assist balance, especially is challenging yoga poses such as The Tree, Eagle Pose, Warrior III and forearm balances and train the body and all its muscles to be centered and strong. This is a benefit that will flood over into your everyday life, enabling you to concentrate better at work and be present and not ‘off with fairies’ with friends and loved ones.

Try to remember a few of these tips the next time you are in a Tree or Eagle pose.

Have fun experimenting in your poses.

Amara

Yoga Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Anyone for chai?

2008-08-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

The aromatic flavours of chai tea have inspired me to write this post and share with you a very special blend that I have used throughout winter. The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga, Gold Coast, regularly runs a Balanced Life Retreat. A mix of energy for the body and food for the soul. Each month freshly ground chai tea and a sumptuous cake are served for afternoon tea. Now you don’t have to wait till the next retreat, you can blend yourself a batch today.

In India and throughout the world, spices have been used for their medicinal and flavoursome effect for thousands of years. Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, is the study of different foods, spices and herbs for their medicinal and healing properties.

This blend of chai will aid sluggish digestion during the colder winter months, sooth a sore, tickly throat and stimulate metabolism and elimination in the body. From experience, anything this good for the body must taste disgusting, but that is the beauty of chai tea, it is anything but disgusting.

I like to blend a large quantity; this makes it easier to quickly grab a scoop when you want a cuppa. This recipe makes about a 750g mix, which equals about 35 cups of chai. One mix keeps me going for about 2 to 3 weeks. You can tell I like chai! I make a pot early in the morning and throughout the day reheat the strained tea. Don’t be afraid to play with your own blends, you will be pleasantly surprised what you concoct.

At the moment, a new season of ginger is coming through. It is very acidic and juicy. It seems to be curdling the chai tea. At first I thought it was remnants of lemon juice left in my cooking pots (from making curd). It has been happening to friends of mine aswell. We suggest to leave the ginger roots in the sun to dry out for a few hours before use to avoid any problems. So I didn't have to waste my chai tea, I mixed the curdled chai with milk powder, and it still tasted the same, delicious!

2 x 200g boxes of Rooibos Tea

200g of Cassia Bark

3 palms full of Star Anise

3 palms full of green Cardomom Pods

1 palm full of Cloves

1 Tbsp of Black Pepper

10 bits of Liquorice Root

Fresh ginger root

Milk

Water

Honey/Sugar/Pure Maple Syrup

Remove the Rooibos Tea from their sachets.
Add the Cassia Bark.
Individually blend the Star Anise, green Cardomom Pods and Cloves in a blender.
Grind the Black Pepper Corns or you can add them whole.
Add the Liquorice Root

This is your chai blend.

To make a cup:

Place half a cup of milk and half a cup of water into a pot.
Add one Tbsp of chai mix.
Depending on how much you like ginger, next add the ginger root. I am a bit of a ginger fan, for one cup I add a 5cm piece of ginger.
Turn the heat to medium and allow the tea to heat slowly. By slowly heating the chai it will allow more of the flavour to be extracted from the spices and ginger. It will take 5-10 mins. Be patient it is well worth the wait.
Remove the pot from the heat just before the mix boils. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.
Strain and pour.
Add sweetener.
Enjoy!

You can substitute the Rooibos tea for Dandelion Tea, the Black Peppercorns for Cayenne Pepper. From past experience I have learnt that you do not need very much Cayenne Pepper at all. For this 750g quantity you can add 1 to 2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper depending on how much bite you would like it to have. Don’t forget you also have the strength of the ginger.

Benefits of each spice.

Cassia Bark: A cheaper and less refined alternative to Cinnamon sticks. Will benefit people with flatulence and indigestion.

Star Anise: Remedy for indigestion, colic and rheumatic conditions.

Cardamom: Aid for digestive disorders, teeth and gum infections, sore throats and lung congestion. Helps to break up the mucus forming qualities of milk.

Cloves: Beneficial for bacterial infections and digestive complaints. Interesting fact: You can lay a couple of cloves on your stove hotplate (temperature on low) to rid your house of any unpleasant smells.

Black Pepper: A component of black pepper can increase absorption of selenium, vitamin B and beta-carotene.

Liquorice Root: A herbal remedy for coughs.

Ginger: Benefits low metabolism, low energy, detoxifying and nausea.

This might seem difficult and fiddley, but it is actually quite simple and fun. You will feel a real sense of accomplishment.

Have fun chai lovers,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Piping hot coals, black eyed peas, shiatsu massage and fresh country air, what do these four things have in common?

2008-07-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

Trick question? Most definitely not. There were abundant amounts of these at our Balanced Life Retreat on Saturday. Each month the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga hosts a rejuvenating and uplifting one day retreat in the Tweed Hinterland at the Nadia Retreat Centre.

This month the winter weather was kind to our retreaters. It was a gorgeous day, full sun, not a cloud in the sky. Just 15 minutes inland from the Coolangatta airport (what Coolangatta airport? We don’t even see it now on the drive thanks to the zippy Tugun Bypass) we could already tell we were back to simple living when there was a road block due to half a dozen mellow grazing cows on the road. A few turns left and right from Kennedy Drive and we arrived. It is always a pleasure to step from the car and be instantly transported from the hustle and bustle of the busy, transient Gold Coast to a serene and spacious country retreat property.

With enough time before the retreat started we were able to wander through the maze of meditation gardens and organic fruit and vegetable patches. The colours of the rainbow seemed very dull compared to the vibrant textures and shades of colour found in the exotic meditation gardens. Sitting underneath a Balinese straw hut, the retreat hadn’t even begun and we were already experiencing a sense of inner peace and calm.

The meditation hall welcomed us with crackling and warmth from the fire. We started the day with a meditation and relaxation session to help calm the mind and relax the body. The session included lots of deep diaphragmatic breathing of the fresh invigorating country air, mindfulness meditation and Gauranga breathing meditation.

Feeling very enlivened, we headed to the garden and found a patch of sun amongst the bananas and winter Magnolias. Here, Jodie guided us through a Qi Gong (pronounced chi kung) class. Qi Gong involves slow, soothing body movements to accumulate, circulate and work with chi or subtle energy in the body. We learnt simple yet effective exercises to improve the overall health of the body and mind. Qi Gong is also used as a therapeutic intervention and is a component of the Chinese martial arts training.

With a deep sense of relaxation yet alertness we returned to the meditation hall for another session. This time we practiced Yoga Nidra (progressive full body relaxation) and J apa Meditation. These practical techniques can be used everyday to help deal with stress and anxiety.

By this time our bellies were grumbling. After being tortured all morning by the sensational aromas floating from the kitchen it was time to enjoy a beautiful banquet in the garden. Each month there is a different culinary theme – this retreat the focus was simply wholesome food. There was such a variety of root and stalk vegetables, pulses, soup and cheeses, salads and Italian breads, that no one could possibly go hungry. There was something to satisfy everybody’s tastebuds.

Just when we thought that we possibly couldn’t eat any more, it was time for a vegetarian cooking class, alfresco style. Barney (our head volunteer chef) taught us how to whip up an amazingly tasty, ridiculously simple vego brekkie. The perfect substitute for the traditional farmers breakfast (sausages, bacon and eggs): sautéed mushrooms, spinach, ricotta cheese, black Russian tomatoes, haloumi frying cheese and basil. Then we had ourselves seconds (I mean thirds) for lunch. I whipped this up for my brekkie on Monday morning after the retreat and was surprised how simple it really is, it took me less than 20 mins to cook up an incredible tasty and healthy breakfast which kept me going to 2:30pm that day.

We headed back inside for a meditation session. Some very talented and inspiring musicians lead us through beautiful chanting of sacred mantras, a spiritually satisfying meditation practice. Margaret (The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga senior instructor) shared a famous yoga parable with us about a boatman and a traveller. It demonstrated the necessity of leading a balanced life and cultivating an inner spiritual happiness.

Any aches or pains in the body where addressed in the next session. We paired up and swapped a Shiatsu massage with a friend. Jodie taught us a comprehensive and easy Shiatsu routine that we can use on friends, family and ourselves. Shiatsu is a non invasive style of Japanese massage that involves applying pressure to particular sections of the body to correct imbalances and promote and maintain good health. The massage component of the retreat is always one of my favourites, it is an ingenious way to meet new people and learn something new and exciting. The massage workshop for the September retreat will be a Tension Relieving Neck and Shoulder massage.

The day finished over a cup of chai tea and a slice of carrot and walnut cake. Chai is my favourite hot drink especially during winter – this was a creamy, caramel blend that instantly warmed the whole body. Everyone said their goodbyes and many people booked in for our next retreat. Slowly everyone made their way home with a full belly, a sense of balance and rejuvenation and a retreat pack so that they could go home and incorporate the yoga lifestyle into their daily routine.

Overall is was another extremely enjoyable retreat and it is always sad when they come to an end. Looking forward to the next one.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Free Mini Yoga Retreat - 20 July

2008-07-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

"Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and feel like you are light years away. Amongst the palms and gumtrees, cool ocean breezes and rainbow lorikeets, you’ll forget that you are in the heart of Burleigh Heads. Instead you will feel transported to a place of tranquillity and comfort"

"If you have heard about the Free Mini Yoga Retreats that The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga run, come and check them out for yourself. They are a day not to be missed. Full of fun, laughter, health, meditation, yoga, sumptuous vegetarian food and a massage – you get to end your week in a spiritually satisfying way. Make new friends and explore the wonderful physical, mental and spiritual benefits that yoga has to offer"

Many of our June retreaters booked in again for July, and I think that the mouth watering homemade crusty bread and Indian dhal might have had something to do with it. Monika (one of the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga volunteer chefs) baked homemade bread, which proved most popular. She needed to give us all a cooking class so that we could go home and whip up some of our own.

The day got kick started with a yoga session. Each Sunday at Burleigh we hold a free yoga class from 10:30 – 12:30pm. This is such a popular class. Fradgley Hall is filled to the brim with people of all ages and backgrounds synchronising their Salutes to the Sun. The fresh sea air drifts into the hall, bringing with it what are often referred to as the vitamins of the air (better known as negative ions). Negative ions improve alertness, mental clarity and energy levels by increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain.

In case we weren’t already chilled out enough, Margaret guided us through relaxation and meditation techniques and invited some of the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga musicians to lead us in beautiful and inspiring chanting. Margaret discussed with us spiritual ideas from the yoga texts or sutras. She spoke about how the ancient yoga system is one to help a person understand more about themself and their essence and where we can place our interests to bring lasting happiness into our lives.

We finished the day by learning to give and learning to receive (this part was most difficult!) a relaxing Shiatsu Massage. Paired up, we got better than a mid afternoon siesta. Jodie took us through a Shiatsu routine and we experienced how effective this style of Chinese massage is for relieving tension and balancing the flow of chi or prana in the body.

A welcoming invitation to continue the day saw many retreaters sticking around for the Sunday Spiritual Gathering. There was beautiful chanting of sacred mantras, a guided meditation session, a sumptuous but very healthy vegetarian dinner and a talk on the spiritual essence of the yoga teachings.

The Mini Yoga Retreat was a great way to finish the week and start a new one. Our next Free Mini Yoga Retreat will be 21 September. If you would like to book in contact us. To read more visit www.asm.org.au/yoga.

Namaste,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

New Free Community Classes

2008-07-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce the launch of the new Gold Coast City Council Active and Healthy Campaign, starting the 21st July and going through to June 2009. In conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council, the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga is happy to present many free yoga, relaxation and meditation classes throughout the Gold Coast. Classes will be spread through Nerang, Elanora, Robina, Mermaid, Southport and Runaway Bay. If you have been thinking about trying yoga or meditation, this is the perfect opportunity. Take advantage of these free community classes.

Classes will be set in a variety of locations. Enjoy an invigorating Sunrise Energy Yoga class on the foreshore, this will beat the energy of a caffeine hit any day. Feel the energy in your body awakening and your mind focussing. We’ll see you there at 6.30am, and 5.30am in summer! Many of us jog or walk at this time in the morning, pencil into your diary to come and stretch out those tight muscles on a Tuesday morning at Nobby Beach and a Thursday morning at Southport. Just look for the Gold Coast City Council Active and Healthy signs.

Want to learn and discover the wonderful benefits of meditation? Our Stretch and Relax classes are the perfect combination of yoga and meditation. We will be holding these classes at Gold Coast Libraries throughout the Active and Healthy year. The Gold Coast City Council is aiming to make as many activities available to the community as possible so take advantage of a class just around the corner from you.

For more information and a full list of classes please click here.
See you at a class soon.

Amara

Instructor

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga – Gold Coast Blog

2008-07-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Namaste, and welcome to the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga’s blog. We would like to invite you to follow what is happening in the world of yoga and meditation on the Gold Coast. Here you can be the first to hear about exciting upcoming events. If you missed a One Day Balanced Retreat or a Sunday Spiritual Gathering, don’t be too disheartened, this blog diary will be a running commentary on every thing that you missed (and even more incentive not to miss the next). We are frequently adding content to our website www.asm.org.au to aid you in leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle – hear about it here and receive first hand feedback from myself and other Australian School of Meditation and Yoga teachers about various recipes, lifestyle tips, yoga asanas and meditation techniques. You will be able to explore exciting links related to the yoga lifestyle and all that it has to offer you in your journey to health and happiness.

Happy reading,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga