Namaste Yogis & Yoginis,
It feels like that time again... I know what you might be thinking, but no, not summer, Christmas, end of year, or any of that (though that might be part of it)...
It's time for the Dr Miller story...
Every now and again, I can feel the sense of things speeding up. I hear more and more people talk about how busy they are, and how hard it is to find time for the things they would like to do. Time just seems to flash by... I know that feeling, but, I also know the antidote... It's the story of my experience with Dr Miller and it bears retelling from time to time.
Around 2002, I was going through a particularly challenging time, trying to manage not just what was on my overloaded plate – but juggling two or three of them! Time was flying by at warp speed – a year felt like a month, a month like a week, a week like a day and so on. I started fainting “out of the blue”. I couldn't eat, I felt nauseous all the time... Actually – the only things I could stomach for some reason were white bread and coffee!! Not even water felt like it would stay down.
So, I went to visit the late, great teacher Dr Geoffrey Miller. He listened patiently and completely as I rattled through my symptoms and concerns, and quite a bit more. After I finished he looked into my eyes with the kindest of smiles and simply said “You.. need.. to.. stop”. The prescription he gave me was to literally stop for one hour a day. Of course my mind kicked up with all kinds of stories “I can't do that! I haven't got time for that! That will make it worse not better!” - but I did it anyway. For one hour a day, I simply sat and watched the shadows of the leaves play against my curtains.
No reading, talking, listening to music or even meditating... just sitting and watching. A miracle occurred. I stopped fainting, I could drink water again, I could eat again… But more importantly, TIME SLOWED DOWN. A day was a day again, a week a week, a month a month, and a year? Well, a year was so gloriously long I had all the time I needed. I got way more done, and more efficiently, I connected to people again, I was nicer, I started feeling like I was living my life again.
How do we get so caught up?
It's easy I guess – there is just so much stimulation ALL THE TIME... We are bombarded with things we could/should do, ideas of how we should look, how much money we should have, the kind of life we should be leading – all AMAZING of course... but is any of it real?
The great teachers all talk about becoming present, about letting go of excess, and about simplifying, if we truly want to experience our lives and feel content. The monks and teachers from the East we love aim at simplicity, being extra-ordinary. The yogic teaching of Santosha (active contentment) gives us this guideline – being content with what comes without undue force or effort. This seemingly simple suggestion is incredibly powerful.
So as we move into the run up of the last few months of the year, and feel momentum growing as we head towards the holidays, pause a moment to think about how you want to get there. Do you want to run headlong into the chaos thundering like a freight train before you explode or burnout? Or do you need a reminder to meander into the holidays joyfully, at ease and looking forward to a time of connection and love?
So before you spend energy you don't have, give more when already depleted, take time to stop. It's even more important during times when demands on us increase. If you truly can't manage an hour – then half an hour, but do it! Also keep up those daily routines and practices that replenish you – no matter what! Yoga, meditation, time in nature, quiet time to yourself daily, a weekly massage or acupuncture treatment, cross off the list all the “shoulds/coulds” unless they really come from the heart... Whatever it is that fills you up and helps you wind down, and start now, planting the seeds for a truly joy-filled time of year, and a life well-lived.
Much love,
Suzanne
<3
P.S. Our banner photo taken by Tony Plant, co-created and submitted by Andrew Cottle, is dedicated to Dr Geoffrey Miller. In Andrew's own words... "The beautiful Dr Miller once suggested that I do yoga, he paused while looking over the top of his glasses and said ’At the Gold Coast Yoga Centre’ his voice was kind, his voice was knowing…I’ve loved the man ever since." Scroll down to view our Yoga Art Prize winner (hint... It's not this one!)
COMING UP AT GCYC...
Acupressure Workshop for Parents!
Saturday 24th November 2018 from 12.30pm to 3pm
Only 3 spots remaining!
Keeping our above editorial about entering into the silly season joyfully in mind - this will be a very special workshop for a calm Christmas holidays... Learn how to connect to your little ones and help them through common ailments and stress as you learn “Acupressure for Parents” with the amazing Alex Yates from Anchor Acupuncture. Spots are limited – bookings essential.
GCYC Christmas Party!
Sunday 9th December 2018 from 3.30pm, Teacher Demo at 4pm
*4pm Level 2 Class & 6pm Meditation cancelled that day*
Summer Ashtanga Intensive
Monday 7th January to Friday 11th January 2019
6am to 8am each day - limited places available!
Summer Yoga Retreat at Tyalgum Ridge
Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th February 2019
Early Bird price ends in 3 weeks...
GCYC Art Prize... And the first winner is!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Susi Sweeney who is our winner after being picked at random this month!! Susi entered 3 times with these beautiful paintings:
"Surya Namaskar"
"Frida the Buddha"
"The Subtle Body In-Between"
You can find Susi on Instagram @susisweeneyart or on the RAW artist website - http://www.rawartists.org/susisweeney
THANK YOU to everyone who was involved this month - check out all entries at the GCYC Yoga Art Prize Facebook page
You can still enter the Yoga Art Prize!
If you love expressing yourself through art, and would you love to share your art with us, you could win 3 months free yoga. Share with us your art with a YOGA theme. Inviting all creatives to show us what yoga means to you - beginner artists welcome!!
Guidelines:
1. Submit all artwork via the event page on Facebook, entering as many times as you like;
2. At the end of each month, one piece will be picked at random and featured in our newsletter, along with full credit and contact details of the artist;
3. In April 2019, all art work will be deliberated by an experienced panel of judges, and one of the artists will receive the grand prize of 3 months FREE YOGA at Gold Coast Yoga Centre!
4. If you are sharing your artwork for the competition via your own social media channels, please ensure you tag us! To included in the draw for the grand prize, the piece must also be shared to the Facebook event page.
We know that the yogis and yoginis of the GCYC community are a creative bunch, and we want everyone to share your vision and be inspired by your work!
Practice Tip
Do you want to relieve, or cause, neck and shoulder tension and headache?
Downward facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana aka down-dog)
There is a reason Adho Mukha Svanasana is a feature of almost every style of yoga. It has a plethora of benefits – lengthens hamstrings, rests the heart, lengthens the spine, strengthens the upper body and helps maintain bone density in the upper body as a result, brings oxygen and blood to the brain and face (brains and beauty) mirroring some benefits of inversions, prepares us for advanced postures such as handstand, backbend and headstand, releases neck and shoulder tension and alleviates headaches...
BUT...
It can also CAUSE neck and shoulder tension, bring on headaches, strain wrists and increase blood pressure if not practiced properly (and these poor habits often carry through to the advanced poses making them less beneficial as well).
Here are a few tips to maximise the many benefits your down-dog can bring:
- Make sure your hands are working properly. Fingers spread and extended. Press down and forward into the hands. Try to feel the opposite action of the hips moving away from the hands as you press them. I sometimes imagine the palm as the hub of a wheel and the fingers the spokes – exerting pressure around the rim of the palm (especially at the base of the fingers and sides of palm) and out through the “spokes” lengthening and extending the fingers. The wrist edge may become light – this is good – the wrist often lifts a little as it engages – this takes an enormous amount of pressure off the wrist.
- Pay particular attention to the base of the index finger – this is the one most likely to lift from the floor when not properly engaged leading to collapse of the wrist and a disconnect from the action of the arms. The action of pressing/sending energy into the base of the index finger also has the little known benefit of lifting the tricep up and hugging it into the arm – effectively toning up and reducing the floppiness of the underarm muscles that need more attention as we get older, or lose condition. Combine with awareness of the vyana vayu (breath aspect that causes a centrifugal effect – see past newsletter) and the effect is increased.
- Try to engage these actions using breath and consciousness rather than force or effort.
- When the hands engage properly – the arms naturally engage and provide a strong frame the shoulders can rest on. The shoulders can then relax; and the neck can easily lengthen receiving a gentle “traction” releasing tension.
- It is important to move from the core (activate the bandhas). Then you can draw the weight of the body and hips away from the hands and take pressure off the neck and shoulders. Try to imaging the action of drawing a bow. As one hand pushes forward, the other draws back. There are two equal and opposite actions – both strong. Similarly in down-dog, the hands move down and forward as the hips lift back and away in the opposite direction, both actions with equal energy. This technique has the added benefit of taking the stronger sensation into the back of the legs – encouraging the hamstrings to lengthen and release. If too intense – soften the legs!
Love and blessings <3 <3 Suzanne
|
