blue lotus yoga

A Web Mandala in Honour of my Grandmother

2011-09-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

In August I travelled back to the UK as usual. However this year, something was different. My grandmother was no longer there.

My family and I took a walk along the coastal path, carrying my grandmother's ashes. We chose a spot that we knew she liked well, and scattered them over the cliff top. As I looked down to the water, watching her ashes fall, I noticed some of them had fallen onto a spider's web.

This web transformed into a beautiful mandala in honour of my grandmother.

Sounds of the Chakras

2011-06-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

As part of the recent Onpaku festival in Beppu, I attended a collaborative workshop led by my friend and fellow yoga instructor Marie, from Canada.

As we chanted the Bija mantras , we were accompanied by reverberating sounds made on crystal bowls.

Each sound of the mantra corresponds to one of the seven chakras. The Chakras are said to be the energy centres of what yoga refers to as the subtle body.

Recently, in trying to explore and connect with the energy of my subtle body, I've been enjoying this 'hand to heart' exercise http://www.yogajournal.com/video/134

The peaceful heart of Beppu

2011-05-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

Today I took a stroll with my friend Tomoko through Beppu Park. It is one of the most beautiful and relaxing city parks I have ever seen. It has a very peaceful atmosphere, with lovely trees, flowers and landscaping, and an incredible bamboo grove.

It is particularly spectacular during the cherry blossom season.

Tomoko told me something of the park's history. It was formerly the site of US Army Camp Chikamauga, but now stands as a peace park and testament to post-war good will between the two nations.

The soldiers stationed here planted a small pine tree, which they decorated at Christmas time. This tree now stands 60 feet tall and beside it is a plaque commemorating "the kindnesses shown by troops of the 19th Infantry Regiment to the people of Beppu". Local people still decorate this tree every Christmas.

Tomoko also told me about a soldier who returned recently, to visit his former camp, and how he was moved to tears by the sight of that tree, that he himself had helped to plant so many years ago. (You can read his own personal account of his return visit to Beppu here)

Guest article: Yoga for Cancer Patients

2011-05-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you to guest writer, Krista Peterson for this post.

Krista is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer. As a health and safety advocate, she shares a strong passion for the wellness of others in her community. She has been practicing yoga for 3 years and loves to encourage others to do so as well. Through her writings, Krista helps to spread awareness of such issues as cancer and chronic illness and the different methods of treatments available.

Yoga for Cancer Patients

Yoga is a mind and body incorporative exercise that originated in India over 4,000 years ago. As a fundamental component of Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system of India, yoga incorporates meditation, relaxation, imagery, controlled breathing, stretching, and physical movement to gain physical and mental control over the body.

Yoga has started to become more and more popular due to the many mental and physical benefits. Positive advantages of the practice of yoga include, but are not limited to lubrication of the joints, detoxification, massaging of the organs, additional flexibility, improved physical fitness, and even as a compliment aiding in psychotherapy.

With the need for relaxation and rest, and the physical demands of the disease, yoga is quickly becoming a viable option in aid to cancer patients looking for complementary therapies. Recent studies have even shown that yoga can be useful in the relief of symptoms from multiple illnesses like leukemia, and even the rare mesothelioma cancer. Patients suffering from cancer often suffer from fatigue, and can have trouble sleeping for months, sometimes even years, due to chemo and radiation therapies. Yoga can help patients sleep better and feel more energized, leading to a decrease in sleep aids and sedative intake. Though yoga cannot cure cancer, it can be used as a complementary treatment.

Yoga creates a strong feeling in connecting the mind, body, and spirit, and can truly aid in helping those suffering from illness to feel more in-touch with their self. The alternative treatment can develop a higher sense of overall wellness and can instill a feeling of being on the path to wellness, as well as helping to develop the perception of being more in control of the self, aiding cancer patients to not only feel more in touch with their emotions, but also helping to develop a connection with the ability to release them.

Strength in the face of adversity

2011-05-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

At this time of year, you can see them everywhere, flying in parks, schools and gardens, strung up over rivers and hung from balconies: they are 鯉のぼり (koi nobori), carp streamers.

I saw these this weekend in 大分農業文化公園 (Oita nougyou bunka kouen) Oita Agricultural Park, and found them particularly impressive.

The carp has a very positive image in Japan. It is a strong, energetic fish that is able to swim upstream, overcoming the current. Hence they have come to represent success, persistence and strength in the face of adversity.

Given the recent tragedies and struggles now facing Japan, they are a very appropriate symbol. I wish Japan much strength in the face of adversity.
頑張って日本！

For a first hand account of what's happening in the disaster stricken area, there is an English translation of a blog written by a Japanese aid worker: http://jkts-english.blogspot.com/

Hugging the earth

2011-05-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

Today I had another yoga session in the park. It was wonderful to be immersed in the prana of nature. Truly energising. For one of our poses we lay face down, chest against the ground, with arms spread wide. It felt like hugging the earth. I don't think you can get this sensation on the floor of the studio. It's a very satisfying experience. Try it!

It also reminded me vividly of a sculpture I once saw in Hakone at the open-air sculpture park there, 彫刻の森 (choukoku no mori) It amused me at the time, but now the image fills me with reverie.

地球を抱きましょう！

New beginnings

2011-05-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

We've moved! We now live on Kyushu. And we have a garden!

I'm looking forward to seeing how we grow here.

Wild thing, you make my heart sing

2010-04-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is a line from a song that Jimi Hendrix sang. But I am actually referring to my current favourite pose. It's called Camatkarasana, which is translated into English as 'wild thing'. And it really does make the heart sing. In fact, one poetic translation of the pose is "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart".
Back bends are energizing, uplifting and stimulating. I don't really teach my daughter how to do yoga, but I do encourage her to be active and enjoy moving her body. I was amazed to notice that she often does this pose, all by herself, with no instruction. It just comes naturally and spontaneously to her as an expression of happiness. I think this natural, joyful, childlike freedom is the true yoga.

She is my inspiration and I learn from her everyday.

beach yoga and beach clean

2010-04-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

On the first Sunday of the month here in Hamamatsu, there is a growing custom amongst an ever increasing circle of friends to get together down at the beach and pick up the rubbish: everything from discarded fishing line and empty drink bottles to TVs and air-con units. This custom was started by Mike Boyce, of SurfQuest, who has liaised with the local council and arranged pick up for the trash we collect.

We usually start with a beach yoga session to warm up. This time, we had lovely warm weather. I love to practice Yoga outdoors, especially when the sky is blue and you can hear and smell the ocean. The energy of the sun, and the rhythm of the waves make the perfect yoga setting.
As well as lots of trash, my daughter was very excited to find this heart-shaped stone at the beach

After the beach cleaning, we all pile back to Mike's house to relax in his garden and enjoy food off his barbeque. It's great fun hanging out with friends down at the beach, but these events also fill me with optimism and inspiration.

meditation

2010-03-27T03:32:00.000-07:00

Meditation is an important part of yoga. In fact, in classical Yoga, the physical postures were simply a way of preparing the mind and body to be seated for long periods of inner stillness.

In our modern, busy lives, inner stillness is something we find very difficult to achieve. 'Switching off' our thoughts seems virtually impossible. Students often tell me they find it very hard to quieten their mind during our meditation sessions. Many people arrive at yoga class straight from work, where of course their minds have been very active, often under considerable stress. I encourage students to leave their thoughts and worries at the door as they enter the studio (they can pick them up again as they leave, but hopefully they'll be lighter then!) It's important to enter yoga practice with a certain dedication. Your yoga time is precious. Vow to yourself to focus on your practice and try not to get distracted.

To begin, sit comfortably in an upright position on your mat or cushion. Try to relax the hips down into the earth, and feel grounded and stable at your base. Then allow the spine to naturally lengthen, the head floats gently upward, relax the shoulders and arms and start to breath deeply and rhythmically. Lightly close the eyes and relax the muscles of the face. Watch the breath as it enters the body, through the nostrils and travels down deep into the lungs. Feel the torso expanding and contracting with the breath. Notice the brief natural pause that occurs between inhalations and exhalations. Try to watch what is happening as if from a neutral observers point of view. Don't make any judgements. If any thoughts or emotions arise, acknowledge their presence but allow them to slip away and gently guide your awareness back to your breath. This will probably happen again and again, but with practice and patience the periods when the attention sits lightly at the breath without distraction or interuption will gradually become longer and longer. In this way, you will start to cultivate a deep sense of inner peace and you will have created yourself a refuge from life's turmoil.

tingshas

2010-03-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

These are my Tibetan Prayer Bells, called tingshas. I got them here in Hamamatsu at a fair trade shop called ふぇあういんず (Fair Winds). Tingshas are traditionally used by Tibetan Buddhists as chimes to mark the beginning and end of meditation.

They make a beautiful, clear, sweet chime that resonates throughout the room, creating space and cleansing the mind of negative thoughts. They also look and feel beautiful - the bells are hand cast from 7 different metals. Each one is decorated with Tibetan good luck symbols.

time to blossom

2010-03-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

What is yoga? Yogic practice involves philosophical and spiritual contemplation, but it is not a religion. Yoga is really a science: the science of understanding our body and mind so we can live happy, healthy, productive lives.

We are all like the buds of a plum tree - full of infinite potential. Yoga is the water, the sunlight, the nutrients and the love we need to make our lives vibrant, beautiful and full of sweet fragrance. Yoga is therefore a powerful tool that can help us blossom to our full potential.

(These pictures were taken at Fruit Park, Hamamatsu)

yogi chai

2010-02-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

I've just made a fresh new batch of chai ready for my new yoga courses starting this week. It smells fantastic! I learned this recipe from my husband, who learned it while staying on an ashram in the Czech Republic.

We call it yogi chai.

Ingredients:
cardamon pods (10x)
cloves (10x)
black pepper corns (5x)
star anise (1 'star')
cinnamon (1 stick)
nutmeg (about a 1/4 nut)
fresh ginger (about 1 inch piece) peeled, sliced
( Alter quantities to suit taste)

black tea leaves
milk
sugar / honey

Grind the dry spices (I use an attachment on my blender) and add a teaspoon of the mix to a 1/2 litre pan of water. Also add the sliced ginger. Simmer gently to allow the flavours to infuse. Add a teaspoon of black tea, milk and sweeten with sugar or honey. It makes a wonderfully warming, mood-enhancing drink.This time I've added some fennel seeds too.

Students often ask me where I buy my spices. Sometimes you can find them in regular supermarkets but they are pretty pricey. I usually order them online from Indojin dot com, but have heard that Tengu Foods also have a good organic spice selection.