An Autumn meditation – Letting Go

Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year. The deciduous trees display an amazing array of colours; the rich, warm colours of the earth. The trees are withdrawing their energies in preparation for the winter. As the leaves turn and then fall, they create a warm blanket that forms at the base of the tree. In time, these leaves will return to the earth and provide nourishment for renewal and transformation. As we connect with this natural rhythm within ourselves, it seem appropriate to find a quieter pace of life; to be gentle to ourselves and others.

As we see in nature around us, Autumn is symbolic of letting go. What is holding you back? What no longer serves you in a positive way? When we let go, we create space for new beginnings and attitudes to enter.

Here is an Autumn meditation for you to enjoy.

With love

Circles of OM

Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril) breathing is an effective way to cultivate feelings of balance and wellbeing.  There are many ways to enjoy this pranayama and here I invite you to explore a creative approach using visualisation. This can be performed in a comfortable seated position or resting in savasana.  Always ensure the breath is relaxed, smooth and subtle. Enjoy the benefits of a mindful, quiet practice. Focusing on our breath helps to take our mind inward and create one pointed focus.

Just for now…

Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bare upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it. Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breath out whatever blocks you from the truth. Just for now be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and your fee. Drink in the possibility of being who and what you are – so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now

~ a poem by Donna Faulds

Where Blue meets Blue

I was fortunate to spend a few days down by the beach recently which has inspired this voice recording. There is a real sense of space  at the beach; distant horizons, boats moored off the shore, seabirds in flight and endless stretches of sand. It’s a wonderful place to open yourself to space; between each breath, between your thoughts. As you step slowly and mindfully along the shore, you are drawn into the present through your senses. This heightened awareness of ‘now’ creates mental calm and quiet which is reflected in your body and your breath. This is the union of yoga.

In practice I find patience and peace

Dipping cloth into dye

I love Erich Schiffmann’s book ‘YOGA The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness’. He speaks in a way that resonates truth: his words  feel familiar and comfortable to me, like a favourite jumper. I share with you a piece I particularly enjoy. It is about awareness, connection and presence; the benefits of a mindful, ongoing yoga practice.

“Deliberately be still. Close your eyes, relax and breath, be aware, and consciously experience your present moment of conscious awareness. Immerse yourself in your own unique feeling-tone. Feel you. Bask in the exquisite experience of being alive, of conflict-free high energy peace, and become thoroughly familiar with the core tone of who you are.

This is like dipping cloth into dye.  Each dip of the cloth strengthens the cast of the dye and enhances the colour. Here, however, you are dipping yourself into you. You are experiencing you. Each time you do so, you become more you; that is, your sense of the authentic you is enriched. Each dip into the silent experience of you washes away more false ideas, which enables the real you to shine forth more clearly to yourself and others; that is, your sense of the authentic you is enriched.”

We can find this connection to self when we rest in savasana, as we hold a posture, or sit in meditation. When we hold our thread of awareness throughout the practice, it becomes more about the feeling, tone and experience of the yoga. We find an inner stillness that enables our authentic self to the rise to the surface of our awareness and into the light.

This thread of awareness can be observed and experienced on many levels. I invite my students to notice:

1. Any sensations or feelings from the physical body

2. The quality of the breath

3. The state of mind

4. An overall feeling or tone that permeates the entire being

How wonderful it is to take the time within your practice to truly observe, to be fully present; to be witness to the amazing changes that are taking place moment to moment. The opportunity to know yourself in truth, beauty and peace.

In practice, I find patience and peace 

Upcoming workshop….

When you actively use the breath as a tool to enter a deeper state of awareness in any postures, your asana practice will radically change. It will flow. It will be smooth. It will energise and it will also calm your entire being. (extract from ‘Asana Pranayama Mudra and Bandha by  Swami Satyananda Saraswati).

In this workshop, you will explore pranayama (yogic breathing) to deepen your yoga practice, nourish your body and quieten the mind.

Aspects to be covered include:

• qualities of pranayama (dirgha and sukshma)
• Importance of correct breathing patterns
• correct breathing within postures
• kumbhaka (breath retention)
• breathing and the nervous system

  

 

  When: Saturday, 28th April 2012

  Where: Bhava Yoga & Dance Centre, Warrandyte

  Time: 2:00 – 4:30pm

  Cost: $30/$25 concession

  

 

 

Following the Breath by Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is a wonderful moment!

Breathing in, I know I’m breathing in.

Breathing out, I know as the in-breath grows deep,

the out-breath grows slow.

Breathing in makes my calm.

Breathing out brings me ease.

With the in-breath, I smile.

With the out-breath, I release.

Breathing in, there is only the present moment.

Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

Places are limited.  Bookings essential on 0413 939 530

Ways to fill yourself up

Often in our busy lives it is difficult to find time for ourselves. We can become consumed with getting things done and meeting other people’s needs and over time we become depleted and sometimes resentful. It is important to find ways to fill yourself up, so that when you give, you give from your overflow.

I have attached a short voice recording (about 18 minutes in total) taken from one of my regular yoga classes. The recording ends with around 9 minutes of quiet piano music. It would be appropriate to either sit comfortably or rest in savasana. You could also sit for the audio (around 9 mins) and then rest in savasana for remaining time.

Relax and enjoy!

Breathing to a quieter place

The word pranayama is comprised of the sanskrit words “prana” meaning breath or life force and “ayama” to length or expansion. This practice of controlled breathing helps the energy to flow more easily into the nadis or energy pathways and koshas (layers) of the body. The koshas can be visualised as the rings inside a tree trunk, where the outer layer is the physical body, moving inward to the energy (pranic) body, the thinking mind, inner wisdom and spirit. When we influence the flow of prana in the energy body through pranayama its effects penetrate every cell and fibre of our being.

When practicing pranayama, choose an environment that is clear, clean and free from distractions. Begin by observing your natural, spontaneous breath; breathing through the nostrils.  As you connect with your breath cycle, observe the four phases of the breath: the inhalation, retention, exhalation and suspension. Check there is no holding of breath or strain; that the pauses at the top and bottom of the breath are natural. The more you stay with your natural breath, the more the breath will deepen and lengthen without effort or force.

When we work with pranayama we are looking to cultivate two qualities: dirgha and sukshma. Dirgha means long and steady and sukshma means smooth and subtle. As we find the steadiness in breath, we find a steadiness in the mind, calming and quieting, soothing the nervous system. This in turn triggers a cascade of physiological changes: the heart rate slows down, blood pressure decreases and muscular tension is released.

We discover that changes in the prana maya kosha (energy body) affect the physical and mental bodies. When we find the steadiness, quietness and space within these outer layers, we open a doorway to the deeper and subtler aspects of self. Our inner wisdom, intuition,creativity and spirit move into our field of awareness as the ripples of disturbance subside.

Here is a simple pranayama practice. Enjoy!

 

In practice, I find patience and peace

Space between….

In the busyness and often unpredictable nature of our day, it can be really challenging to stay centred. It is easy to become reactive and behave in ways that don’t align with our higher self. Ideally we allow some space between what life offers us and how we choose to deal with it; what we say, what we do. Harmony flows within us when we operate in line with our higher self, our inner truth. We find within this space, a conflict free environment that cultivates peace and wellbeing.

For me, I chose my breath and stillness. When I find my breath and hold it gently with my awareness, connecting with its natural rhythm and flow, I feel soothed.  It is a balm for my nervous system that radiates out to fill my entire being with space; a space that opens to clarity and inner wisdom.

Another way to create inner space is to rest: stop what you are doing and lie down somewhere comfortably. In a yoga practice, we find this space within savasana, however we can reap the benefits of stillness anywhere that is comfortable where you will not be disturbed. Just a few minutes of  focussed stillness can move one from feelings of anxiety and tension to a place of calmness and clarity.

Here are some simple tips for a rejuvenating rest :

1. Once comfortable, close your eyes and connect with the natural heaviness of your body; the weight of your bones and muscles. Release the weight of your head, backs of the shoulders and hips into the support of the earth.

2. Scan your body for areas of holding and tension and  let your breath create space and ease around any areas found. Allow time for resistance to melt away: this is a process of undoing.

3. Look within and connect with the natural rhythm of your breath. You don’t need to change the breath, simply watch the natural rise and fall. Feel your body open to receive the breath and surrender as the breath is naturally released. Stay with it; become aware of the space at the top of each inhalation and the bottom of each exhalation. Don’t create the space or hold, simply notice what is there. 

4. If the mind wanders, simply begin again; heavy body surrendering to the natural rhythm of the breath.

Great if you can stay with this for 5 – 10 minutes then stretch gently and reenter your day with more clarity and ease.

A poem by Donna Faulds 

Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bare upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it. Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breath out whatever blocks you from the truth. Just for now be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and your free. Drink in the possibility of being who and what you are – so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now.

 

 

Why I teach yoga

I remember the exact moment that I decided to become a yoga teacher;  it was late 2001. My boys were then 3 and 5 years old, both attending pre school. I had more time on my hands and was wondering how to fill it. Having left a full time job in life insurance to be at home with my boys, I did not want to return to an office environment. I was attending a wonderful yoga class weekly at the Bhava Yoga & Dance Centre which was close and worked in with the time both boys were at kindergarten.

Initially I thought the class was not physical enough, having come from an Iyengar background. The postures were gentle and there was a strong focus on visualisation and meditation. After a few weeks though, I was hooked. The classes were transforming; I began to discover the depth of yoga, the moments of stillness, of breath, of ME. It was wonderful.

It was late in the same year, that I received a newsletter from the yoga centre. There was an article about their upcoming Teacher Training program. Time stood still. I remember looking dreamily out the window wondering if this was for me. The timing was perfect; I was looking for direction and this seemed to fit.  It was a wonderful opportunity to both deepen my own yoga knowledge and experience and to embark on a new career, one that could really work well with a young family.  The decision was made and I enrolled for the next year.

It was perfect; imagine studying, practicing and then working in a field that you love. A job that has flexible hours and brings something positive into other peoples lives. I remember thinking, if I can help just one person feel the way I feel when I attend my weekly class, it will be worthwhile. Yoga is like that, it changes you in so many ways. It starts in class, then permeates all aspects of your life. You experience a deeper connection to yourself and others. It is so much more than a physical practice. For me, the key difference is that Yoga is a practice of Awareness. One of my teachers at Bhava, Nola Day used to say ,YOGA is Your Own Growing Awareness.

The teacher training course at Bhava was more than I could have hoped for. It was a year of learning, exploration and integration. I have now been teaching yoga since mid 2002 and my greatest joy is sharing my passion of yoga with others. I also run workshops and retreats and have recently become co-owner of Bhava Yoga & Dance Centre.

The Bhava Yoga Teacher Training program for 2012, begins in early February. I am thrilled to be co-teaching with founder Lyn Colenso and co-owner, Wendy Bradtke. For me personally, this is full circle. It will be 10 years ago that I was beginning this journey that I will now help guide others through. It is such a privilege.

Pictures from Autumn retreat 2011

There are limited places available in the Teacher Training program. If you feel this may be your path, whether to deepen your knowledge and experience in yoga or to share your love with others as a teacher, I would love to hear from you.

Contact : Gaye Boswell  Co-Director/Owner

Phone: 0413 939 530

email: bhavacentre@gmail.com

In practice, I find patience and peace