Guided Meditation: Free Download

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

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

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!

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

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September Balanced Life Retreat

“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

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.

1. Heat some olive oil in a pot. You will be surprised how much olive oil you will need, the eggplant soaks it up.
2. 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.
3. Cook covered until tender. The eggplant should be soft.
4. Here you can add a chopped leek and some minced garlic, stir in with the eggplant. Cook for two minutes.
5. 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.
6. Once the carrot is mostly soft, add one red capsicum, chopped. Cook for 5 minutes.
7. 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.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. 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.
10. You can stir through some spinach or garnish with parsley.
11. 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

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.

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.

- 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!

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