Get the Monkey Off Your Back!
By Hayley Alexander

A Stress Busting Yoga Day was held at the ISHTA Centre in Atholl on Saturday 17^th October, presented by Kundalini yoga teacher Pritam Khalsa, who gave a two hour class on Yoga Kriyas for connecting to the third and fifth chakras, which is where we hold on to most of our tension. Kriya (the Sanskrit root of the word is ‘doing’) can be explained as the spontaneous fulfilment of action through the engagement of asana that links one’s infinite self to this finite moment.

Combining pranayama with asana and mantra, the group worked together to create a harmony that resonated both externally and within, gradually allowing any stress to be released while consciously detoxifying and purifying the body-mind along with the subtle energies. The exercises work in an elegant, round-about manner to deliver a precise effect on body, mind and spirit.

A favourite amongst the Kriya techniques was the “Baboon Breath”, practised by first bouncing an imaginary ball, bringing the hands into Buddhi Mudra:(the pinky touches the thumb and the other three fingers are straight, eyes are closed); followed by making the hands into a fist and bringing the arms out to the sides, moving vigorously while breathing loudly to create a sound similar to that of a baboon.

Yogi Bhajan’s comments to this exercise: “Get this Monkey out of your mind and system. Don’t be shy . . . This will stimulate the parathyroid . . . and you will burn up your sick dreams and your memories. By playing that ball, you will be able to control the psycho-magnetic energy.”

With burning arms held straight out in front at shoulder height for seven minutes (which felt like seven hours!), the lesson concluded with the singing of Bountiful, Blissful, Beautiful allowing all those present to experience this perfect and wonderful state of being.
Thereafter everyone enjoyed cooling off outside while tucking in to a delicious buffet lunch catered by Free Foods. With all the heat created in the first-half of the day, the opening of the heavens was symbolic of all the stress being washed away.

Having satisfied the appetite, the second-half marked the time to celebrate! Led by Natalie Vlismas, the band SATYA performed a selection of their most popular Kundalini based tracks, encouraging group participation and socialisation games that made it impossible not to smile. The vibe was that of ecstasy blended with serenity to bring about a state of transcendence. Although it was only a one day workshop, there is no doubt that the effects will be long withstanding towards a greater sense of vitality, strength, love, acceptance, happiness and peace in our daily lives.

Sat Nam

Yoga for Stress

Some of our day-to day stressors build our capacity, our muscles and our teeth for life. But sometimes our ’stress monster’ gets so out of hand that we don’t know who we are anymore.That becomes a great pain of life when our authentic, royal, regal and sovereign self is dethroned or left forever undiscovered.
We deserve to be rid of that deep-seated stress to be able to look with all new eyes and so handle the diversity of life.
In this class we will work with the elements and enter the stress-free zone. All levels welcome - even if you have never practiced Kundalini Yoga .

Pritam Hari Kaur Khalsa teaches Kundalini Yoga and teacher training. She has published a picture book in yoga, called the Kundalini Yoga Fan.

She shares a wealth of knowledge in natural foods and healing through her and her husbands Har Bhajan’s brand, Fruits & Roots Natural Foods.

Satya Kirtan Group

Kirtan is the art of devotional music that invites us as a sangat, a congregation, to celebrate and praise source through chantIt is the

experience of the individual elevating to a state of merger. The gathering of 

the voices around us draws us into our own experience and what we share with 

the group. We might have felt that we cannot sing - but we can still chant!

We explore breath and voice to awaken our expression in this class of kirtan and chant.

SATYA has been chanting and sharing for the past two years and is focussed through the musical

excellence of Natalie Vlismas/ Siri Kirtan Kaur (voice, piano) and Gidon Lazarus (guitar) and friends.

The main theme of the Satyananda Yoga is awakening the faculties of the Head – Heart – Hands. The Head represents – your Intelligence, Wisdom, Observation, Knowledge, Awareness The Heart represents - your Feelings, Emotions, Sensations The Hands represent – the ability for you to Act, Create, Perform The ability to manage all 3 compartments of our life creates the balance which will make a person whole and complete – but of course still practicing the physical yoga for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Yoga is a process of managing oneself. It is a lifestyle. If you are willing to change and adapt to that disciplined lifestyle – then you become a YOGI. Finally, Niranjan asks “What is the relevance of Yoga?”. The Answer: The moment we manage to handle our Intellect – Emotions – Actions, we give Evolution a chance in our life. Head, Heart and Hands is the theme in the 21st Century together with awareness of our spiritual nature. So if you want to experience the depth of Yoga, then immerse yourself in this idea: LIVE- LOVE- & LAUGH

S.A. Satyananda School of Yoga; Swami Kamalavidya 011 327 0073; kamala@wol.co.za; www.yogasa.co.za

5 Feb: Haum of Yoga, Pretoria (9.00am - 11.30am)

Contact: Haum of Yoga: Email:info@haumofyoga.co.za; Mobile: 084 800 4444

11 Feb: Yoga Connection, Centurion (11.00 - 1.30pm)

Call Charene at: Tel : (012) 660 2276; Cell : 082 572 4880

12 Feb: Yoga Wisdom, Benoni (9.00am - 11.30am)

Contact: Email:driftingsky@gmail.com; Cell:082 852 9289

yoga-workshop-2012

Give beyond reason, care beyond hope, love without limit; reach, stretch, and dream, notwithstanding any fears.

We are blessed in being able to practice and teach what we love. Your light has illuminated paths, your gaze has lifted spirits, and your life has already changed the course of history. Enjoy oneness with all its diversity. Expand your light and love.

May you have a blessed holy season - summer solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year, 2012.

Even though we may not have personally met, your touch through the clouds has brightened my life, I am so grateful.

May 2012 bring abundance on all levels and the awareness to appreciate it to the full.

Love Marina & YTF.

Cell: 082 771 8637

Style: Sivananda  style Hatha Yoga

Teaching venue: Anantam Yoga Studio, Humerail, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Website:www.anantamyoga.co.za

Cell: 073 729 2189

Style: Hatha Yoga

Teaching venue: Yoga Sopan Studio, Greytown, Kwa Zulu Natal

Address: Woolstone Farm

Greytown

3250

Cell: 073 140 8746

Style: Integral Yoga

Teaching venue: Teacher in Training, Yoga Junction, Alberton, Southern Johannesburg

Website:www.yogajunction.co.za

Cell: 073 429 9016

Style: Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa Flow

Teaching venue: Private, Weltevreden Park, West Rand

Website:www.spiralbound.co.za

Cell: 082 582 4142

Style: Integral yoga

Teaching venue: Private, Kensington, Eastern Johannesburg

Meditation

Jim Ryan teaches meditation at the Brahma Kumaris Centre in London. This meditation is taken from his book Meditation: The 13 Pathways to Happiness.

Visit http://www.bkpublications.com for more inspiration ranging from Food and Soul Vegetarian cookery book to Daily prayers; enquiries@bkpublications.com

Contact numbers:

Cell: 083 451 4270

Home: 051 444 2091

Style: YYI

Teaching venue: Ruths Yoga Centre, Bloemfontein, Free State

Website:www.youngyogainstitute.co.za

Good quality, affordable eco-friendly yoga mats & accessories (bags and towels) from

3rd planet: Contact Alex Goodwin 0829255233 www.3rdplanetyoga.com

“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

- Proverb (Confucius?)

Where there is no love, do not go.

Your purpose is to transmit love, not to convince, to expect that all will listen, understand, or be helped.

Remember, you are serving unconditionally, without expectation.” Babaji

CREATIVE ME CREATIVE ME

Presents a fun 2hrworkshop!Learn to draw your own aura!
By bringing out the creative child in you.

Take some time out of your afternoon to:

1.Have fun!
2.Awaken your creative inner child!
3.Learn a new ability!
4.Gain a different perspective of yourself!

Where: 25 Paris Rd,                                 SomersetWest.
When: 26^th November 2011
Time- 2:30 to 4:30
Cost: R300.00
Includes: All materials, tea and snacks
Phone us to grab this enlightening opportunity!
Kim 0842387321
or
Cher 0724259066

With metta practice the lotus flower within us unfolds. It grows, opens and blossoms, revealing peace and fulfillment.

• Heart centred Hatha yoga practice to help awaken Gratitude
• Writing a Gratitude List
• Guided meditation on Metta (loving kindness)

Wisdom of the Heart-Gratitude Workshop with Wendy Young at ISHTA School of Yoga & Health, 121 Atholl Road, Atholl, Sandton
DATE: Saturday 26th November
TIME: 2 - 5pm
COST: R260 including tea
TO BOOK: Please email Wendy Young at Wise Living: wendy@wise-living.co.za

About Wendy Young
Wendy is a yoga teacher and holisitic Ayurvedic therapist who has studied in India, Thailand and United Kingdom. She started practicing yoga 12 years ago and completed a two year Yoga Teacher Training course at the Mandala Yoga Ashram in Wales. This was a Satyananda yoga inspired training diploma. She also completed a one year meditation training course in the ashram based on yogic and Buddhist philosophy. She has been teaching for 7 years and has a calm, caring and down to earth approach.