Week 10: Task and Affirmation March Theme: Gratitude Quotation: “Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.” Walt Whitman (1819-1892), US Poet This week’s Task: Celebrate both light and dark: Sunshine is a symbol of positivity. Darkness tends to denote the opposite. But, in the darkness, the stars light up. This week think of one thing each day that darkness gives you – from a reason to stay in bed longer to the chance to see starry skies in all their sparkling glory. Consider how elsewhere in life the flipside of a positive situation can provide reasons for gratitude, too. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro This week’s blog explains the role of Shiva and his importance in the Dance of Life – especially relevant now as the festival of Shivaratri will be celebrated on Thursday, 11th March. This Hindu festival takes place at night at a time of the month when the moon is at its darkest, appearing as just a sliver of silver in the sky. Shiva, as the dancer in the circle of life, appears as a destroyer desolving the past and making way for the new. The class today included elements of the dance with Dancer and the Salute to Lord Shiva known in his role as destroyer as Rudra, hence the name Rudrasana. This sequence can be a standing warming sequence before or instead of Surya Namaskara (Salute to the Sun). The word rudra is cognate with the English words "red" and "ruddy" ad the Rudras are identified in Vedic texts as eleven red complexioned devas, intimately linked with Shiva and associated with the principle of destruction. They are devas of space and time and represent the ten forms of life breath along with the intelligence. They live in the liminal space between consciousness and unconsciousness, between hard intelligence and he intuitive world of emotion. Rudra also means "howling". The eleven types of life breath cause everyone to howl when they abandon the mortal body, and that grief is felt most painfully halfway between the heart and the mind. Enjoy the dance of life and embrace all of its experiences. Life isn't supposed to be easy, we have good and bad times, daylight and darkness but it's all part of the dance. Accept it all, go with the flow and out of darkness light will flow ... With thanks to my teacher trainer, Conrad Paul, Founder of Yoga Professionals and co-author of The Complete Guide to Yoga for Fitness Professionals published by Bloomsbury.com. He sadly no longer with us although his teacher training courses are still available through the YMCA. Also acknowledging Avatar Art, Neo-Vedic Paintngs celebrating Life by Steven J. Rosen and Kaisori Bellach. 7.3.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga Recording 75 minute class with option for longer savasana (Dru deep relaxation going through each part of the body twice: physical and subtle) for those who want it. Today’s class is about the Dance of Shiva so includes two versions of Dancer (Natarajasana) and Conrad Paul’s Salute to Lord Shiva with Rudrasana which is an intermediate/advanced pose set into a sequence but practised here using the wall to aid balance. Followed by the Tree of Transformation. There are a few quality issues for the first few minutes but after that it’s fine! https://zoom.us/rec/share/0z5wsGGDmHebubAMLlSuF2jhbXOGvIgd1vU9dpn-v_uEwTWDZ20cWukg4bUbrr3E.LoYzQcywpxrAmbcU Passcode: DyPK?5H^
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Week 9: February Theme: Exploration Last week I asked how are were feeling at that moment? Was lockdown giving you the blues? This week I invite you to embrace and acknowledge your feelings. Take time out to sit quietly, acknowledge all your emotions whether they are positive or negative. Imagine you hold each emotion one by one in your hands, notice how they, how they look. Do they have a colour, a size, a shape? Make no judgement whatsoever. Simply observe. Make friends with your feelings. Then place them back inside you. Task and Affirmation Quotation: “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Bengali Poet This week’s Task: Act on possibilities: We make our own success – and that means exploring possibilities for action every time they arise. Identify something you dream of doing – it can be anything from wanting to take up a hobby to starting your own business. This week, stay alert to the signals that could herald opportunity – a notice in a shop window, an advert online or an offer of business advice. Don’t let the possibilities, however fleeting, pass you by. Your emotions make you who you are. They each serve their own purpose. We need so called negative emotions like fear, sadness and anger as much as we the so called positive ones like love, joy and compassion. Acknowledge, embrace and recognise them all. 28.2.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga Recording This morning's 75 minute class with option for longer savasana (Dru deep relaxation going through each part of the body twice: physical and subtle) for those who want it included the Seat of Compassion and Chandra Namaskar (Moon) sequences in honour of the full Virgo moon we are experiencing now. · February 27, 2021 the Full Snow Moon in Virgo appears. · This full moon will inspire you to get organized and balanced in all areas of your life. · The moon affects all zodiac signs, but Virgo and Pisces will feel it the most. Let me know if you read my blog by leaving a comment at the bottom. What emotions did you observe in yourself? How do those emotions affect you? Can anger or hate ever be used for good? What do you think? I want to know your thoughts and opinions? Week 8: Task and Affirmation It's wonderful to see spring in the air, especially after last week's snow. Today people are walking around without coats, just T shirts and jeans. What an amazing climate we've got in the UK. It makes me realise how quickly things can change. Hopefully spring is around the corner and lockdown will ease, even if it doesn't end completely. In the meantime practice yoga - EBR3 to open the heart, The Tree of Transformation to break old habits and set new pathways. Look out for an announcement soon about park classes ... February Theme: Exploration Quotation: “One must never look for happiness: one meets it by the way.” Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904), Swiss Explorer This week’s Task: Find a new place: Easier said than done, I realise, while we are still in lockdown. However, my suggestion is to find a new place for your daily walk or maybe walk in a different direction. When you leave your house, instead of turning left try turning right. You will be surprised by the different perspective that gives you. Use all your senses. Find joy in the act of discovering somewhere new. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro Week 7 - 14th February (Valentine Sunday and 5 year anniversary at Tesco) It's a while since the Sunday Stretch and Flow class has fallen on Valentine Day, five years ago to be exact. It was also my first time teaching in the Tesco Community Room at the back of the Roneo Corner store, sandwiched between the Bakery and the Fish counters with Harry the Stamp Club Man (who somehow evolved over the years into Harry the Record Man) at his table outside, acting as unpaid (and I admit not always entirely welcome!) doorman and very unpredictable DJ. If all that sounds a bit crazy - yes, it was but it was also wonderful that Tesco made the room available to so many groups throughout the week and enabled us all to keep costs down and give back to the community. Anyone who says that Tesco is the root of all evil obviously never came to a Tesco Community Room class! It's been almost a year since the world went mad (remember the great toilet roll dash???) and my classes went online. As someone said today - what a year it's been. Will we ever go back to the Community Room? Right now it's not looking that likely. The room was warm, cosy (sometimes a bit too cosy) and definitely convenient but I'm guessing that people will want more space and something a bit better in the future. I've already got several venues in mind and am open to other suggestions. Let me know if you know of a likely space and I'll definitely look into it. Maybe I'll even find a suitable space in my house or garden for people to come to but, for the time being, online is pretty much the only option. I must admit it's lovely to roll out of bed into my yoga room on Sundays instead of driving to Tesco, dragging assorted equipment across the car park in a Force 9 gale and negotiating the fruit and veg aisles through Tesco before sweeping the room and checking for embroidery needles. Ah, those were the days! So this morning's class began with a nod to Tesco and Harry (pictured above) with a Valentine love theme. Students were invited to dedicate their practice to someone - it could be another person or even themselves, to open their hearts and share their love. We moved through the Seat of Compassion sequence and a balance with hands outstretched to virtually support each other. The power of the mind is amazing and I genuinely felt supported and more balanced standing in our virtual circle. If you were there (or used the recording afterwards) I'd love to know about your experience. Use the comments box below to let me know. Week 7: Task and Affirmation February Theme: Exploration Quotation: “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919), Polish Philosopher This week’s Task: Step beyond yourself: Habits seem safe, but can be limiting. Identify three patterns in your behaviour. They don’t have to be bad habits as such but it could be time for a change! Do you read the news at breakfast? Eat only Italian on Wednesdays? Check emails before bed? Reading at mealtimes can inhibit our experience and our conversations. Italian is great, but so is Chinese. Emails before bed disrupt sleep – why not read a poem instead? This week, explore the options to do things differently. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro 14.2.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga Recording I'm sending this week's recording to everyone as an anniversary and Valentine gift. Enjoy this love themed 75 minute class with option for slightly longer savasana for those who want it at your convenience any time this week and completely free of charge or obligation. Start by dedicating your practice to someone you want to send love to – it can be another person or yourself. Includes the Seat of Compassion sequence with a twist! and a balance with virtual support from each other. The link is posted here with my compliments for you to use whenever you want a bit of nurturing and self love: https://zoom.us/rec/share/Jd4IgDqCqKwM2veXJZgd4z5dHE1MIwmK8cqJhFSGFCDn0mhUaslkIMkaM0B92c6A.F_xfKwcE6CbOAEaL Passcode: =M%%sA3b Join me for the Book Club on Friday at 7pm (free and open to all) https://zoom.us/j/93812927612 Meeting ID: 938 1292 7612 and/or try any of the timetabled classes. Book using the online calendar cal.smoothbook.co/5f1b819caa85381e17743f2c#/class and pay afterwards (email me for the bank details). A trial class is only £5 and you can come to other classes in the same week free. If you want to continue with unlimited access (plus recordings) just let me know. From next Sunday you will only need to pay £30 for 6 weeks and you can even share your membership with a friend at no extra cost to you. Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine Sunday. Om Shanti Mary Week 6: February Theme: Exploration Affirmation: Every day I open my heart and mind to exploration and discovery. As we enter the second month of the year (the fourteenth of the new decade) snow was falling softly outside my window and I could see the tops of the trees turning white. OK I realise it's not settled on the ground (maybe it will tonight) but for a moment the world looks better and, for a short time only, it's lovely and cosy being indoors with nowhere to go. Hopefully with the spring we'll be set free to explore the outside world again. I'm looking forward to trips further than the local park, visits to friends and coffee in crowded cafes again but in the meantime why not explore our own homes. What do they say about us? And why not explore ourselves, the inner most place that we so rarely take time to discover? Today's class (after a short internet hitch, probably caused by the weather! and a moment of panic while I pressed all the wrong buttons, definitely in the wrong order trying desperately to get back on track) included a slow and mindful EBR1. If you already know the movements, I recommend following my voice rather than watching the screen and closing your eyes during this practice. What do you discover about yourself? Explore that space, notice how you move, how your body feels, enjoy being in the moment. The simple movements of EBR1 are all that are needed to release tension from every joint, allowing energy to flow freely bring ease (rather than dis-ease) to the body. Today I invited people to become aware of the subtle bodies (koshas) as they moved. In the yogic tradition, different layers of our being are referred to as the koshas. There are 5 koshas, often drawn as circles. You can think of the koshas from the physical body outwards or inwards. Another way to think of the koshas is like a Russian Doll, one inside the other. All are equally important but we often focus only on the physical and ignore the other layers.
We also practised Flowing Tree - which I also encourage you to practise with your eyes closed. You can choose to rest heel on ankle if you're not sure about your balance or you really want to take time to focus inwards and to experience the moving meditation OR challenge yourself by taking the foot higher, onto the calf or even the inner thigh - always avoiding the knee. We finished with the Tree of Transformation - reaching forward as we step back, reclaiming our power and fixing it back into the present. Practise this sequence every day for 21 days in order to change habits and establish a new way of being. I find that the simplest movements have the most power to transform us. Give it a go and let me know in the comments how you get on. Quotation: “In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” Albert Camus (1913-1960, French Philosopher This week’s Task: Embrace your safe place: Exploration isn’t always about trekking in new territories – it can happen anywhere. This week, begin at home. Find an hour to spend in your favourite room (maybe where you do yoga!). Treat it like a cave of treasures. Explore every corner; dig through the drawers and cupboards; leaf through the books. Think about what the room and the things in it say about you. In exploring the room, what do you discover about yourself? Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro Week 5: Sunday Stretch & Flow Yoga Do you feel the need to let go of fear and take back your power from difficult situations? This mornings class combined elements of EBR1 and 2 to warm up the body before moving into the Tree of Transformation. This beautiful sequence awakens the potential that lies dormant within us and enables us to express our full power. We have all experienced the symptoms of moments in our lives when we have given our power away. We can feel less confident, a loss of motivation, or a lack of clarity about our way forward and begin to doubt our ability to succeed. January is a difficult month for most people and never more so than this year in the midst of a pandemic that leaves us feeling powerless and, maybe, even hopeless. The Tree of Transformation sequence is designed to allow us to reclaim inner harmony and achieve wholeness at every level of our being. When you have learnt the sequence, the recommendation is to practice it every day for 21 days for it to have the most effect. Task and Affirmation January Theme: Awareness moving into February’s theme of Exploration Quotation: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German Physicist This week’s Task: Attend to your environment: One of the most effective ways to cultivate more awareness is to get outside and take a good look around. This week, schedule at least 30 minutes to sit outside and take notice of what’s happening. Use your five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and (if appropriate!) taste. Notice how many different kinds of nature – animals, insects, flowers, leaves and so on – you’re able to observe in only 30 minutes. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro It was our first meeting of the year last Friday (22nd January) and, as the moon is going to be our next theme, we were especially excited to meet our guest speaker, Ingvild Skodvin Prestegard, all the way from her home in Norway. Ingvild is a fellow Dru Yoga teacher as well as being a Social Anthropologist and writer of the Moon Journal so she really knows her stuff. Ingvild outlined how she came to produce the Moon Journal, told us a bit about her relationship with the moon and why it has always fascinated her so much and kindly stayed for Q&A afterwards. Ingvild explained how the Moon Journal began as a way to theme her own yoga classes and provide her students with materials to follow outside her class. She spoke a lot about light affects us and how we have lost that awareness living, as we do in a constant blaze of artificial light. What struck me the most was her assertion that "sensitivity is our super power". Having thought of sensitivity as a negative quality as in "don't be over-sensitive" thinking of sensitivity as a super power sets that completely on its head! But with sensitivity to the light we start to notice things and we become present in the moment rather than constantly living in the past or the future. She urged us to become more aware of the seasons and to accept, rather than struggle against, the seasons - especially important now as we are in the depths of winter. It was also interesting to think of the moon and its relationship to the sun. While we can't look directly at the sun we can look at the moon. In that sense it is the sacred made visible! There was a discussion about whether the moon is male or female. I was surprised that in Norse mythology the moon is seen as masculine rather than feminine. I have been using the Moon Journal in my class theme setting for some time. The journal focuses on the moon cycles and the different seasons. Each moon phase has a meditation and an affirmation in the journal and there is space to write personal experience and reflections. The idea is to use the journal as a record you can look back on and reflect on how the moon has affected you. Ingvild has a website and Facebook Community with additional resources to be used with the journal. This year the journal AND the resources are all available for free download from her website. This actually makes them even more interactive because you can print them as and when you want them and build your own journal into a year of personal reflections powerfully connecting you to the moon cycles. We decided to use the resources this month and discuss our experiences at our next meeting on 19th February. Join Ingvild's Facebook group for regular moon updates: www.facebook.com/moonjournalcommunity Download the 2021 Moon Journal and additional resources from: www.allmenningen.org/moon-journal-2021-online/?fbclid=IwAR3QHQVzh_HcPXn1QOetgwJqqqdm9oS3bWaSWF-I1nEx5A8Qppltfv67Iyc Next Book Club Meeting: 19th February 7.00 to 8.30pm (UK Time) Please use Yoga Book Club facebook group or the comments section here to share your reflections and experiences of using the Moon Journal. As the snow fell outside this morning, we moved through Chandra Namaskar, the Moon Salutation. We continued with Flowing Tree, turned into a meditation if you close the eyes and move with your breath and finished with Boat pose, great for strengthening the core. This is the fourth week of memberships and I'm excited to have a growing group of enthusiastic yogis trying the different classes I offer each week and motivating me to add more. I've moved the Family Class intended for Over 6s and their adults (plus anyone with or without children wanting a fun class) to Tuesday afternoon at 5pm, which hopefully fits better into home-schooling timetables. That leaves me available on Thursday mornings for younger children (and their adults too). I don't know if there will be any takers yet but I really want to give it a go. If you have, or know anyone with, under fives interested in yoga please let me know and I'll book the zoom session especially for them. It's not on the online calendar yet because I don't know if anyone wants it! If you're a Gold member (or thinking about becoming one) this could be the perfect opportunity to share your membership. It'll cost you nothing and could really help someone else enjoy the benefits of yoga. This week the Gold membership reduces again (to reflect the fewer weeks up to 31st March) to just £44. That gives you (and a friend if you nominate them) 10 whole weeks of yoga with Body and Soul! What's not to love about that??? Is your friend new to yoga? Maybe they've never used zoom before and don't know what to expect? Or do you have a question you'd like to ask me privately? I'm offering One-to-One tutorials on Thursday evenings at 6.15pm. Email to book on a first come, first served basis. It's all included in your Gold Membership and I'd love to see you or take time to reassure your friend about yoga or how to use zoom. Week 4: Task and Affirmation January Theme: Awareness Quotation: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Aristotle, Greek Philosopher This week’s Task: Identify your best attributes: Improved awareness of our best bits helps us see our own positive influence on the world. Make a list of “Things I love about me”. Consider how those attributes improve your life. For example, if you are loyal, think how loyalty deepens your relationships. Good in a crisis? Think how your skills tackle life’s obstacles – for yourself and others. Week 3 The sun came out this morning after a week of gloomy, dismal days (and I'm not just talking about the weather). It's amazing the difference a bit of sunshine can make to how we feel. I decided to embrace the sun with Surya Namaskar which takes in the elements of Forward Fold, Runner, Plank, Child, 4 Stage Cobra and Down Dog all in one beautiful sequence. Even better you can practise it slowly, as we did this morning, or fast to make it an aerobic exercise - the choice is always yours! We followed up with Dancer using the wall for extra support. While the sun shines let's celebrate it and dance! This week's Quote: “The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor This week’s Task: Pay attention to your thoughts: Our thoughts can influence our experience. Pick two events this week (say a meeting at work, whether zoom or in person, a zoom get together with friends or a family meal at home) and job down how you imagine each will unfold. How do you imagine you will feel? Later, consider what actually happened and how you actually felt. How might expectation have influenced reality? Did anything surprise you? What do your findings teach you about yourself. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro Sunday Stretch and Flow kicks off the second week of Body and Soul membership, building on EBR4 & 5 as we harness the Dru Mudra Energisation sequence for inner strength and self-esteem. You are invited to choose a quality you most want to embody this year and use it for affirmations. For example: I am STRONG, I am CONFIDENT, I am MOTIVATED. The quality is up to you! Insert as appropriate after as I repeat “I am … , I am … , I am … . Believe it and you will be it. This is your San Kalpa! EBR5 clears your pathway for change. Creating a natural flow and rhythm with the movements will help you let go of the deeply entrenched emotional patterns that so often prevent us from moving forward. Affirmation of the week “One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.” J.W. Von Goethe, German Writer Task of the week Experience the everyday anew: Being more aware means tuning in to the things we take for granted. This week, pick a familiar walk (from your home to the shop, say) and try to imagine it from the perspective of a bird, a dog and a child. Think about the different heights and use your senses. How would the breeze feel on a bird’s wings or the ground on bare paws? What sounds can you hear that a child might experience with wonder and awe? Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro Not a member yet? No worries - you are welcome to join and, as we're now in Week 2, the price has reduced to £47. This will give you 11 weeks unlimited access (zoom, recordings AND outdoor sessions if and when they are allowed to restart) as well as the opportunity to share your membership with a friend or relative. The idea is to encourage as many people as possible to give yoga a go. You can choose to make it a gift or share the cost with them - it's completely up to you. There will be extra benefits for you as the main member (I haven't decided what they will be yet but I promise they will be worthwhile!). Prefer to pay monthly OR for individual classes (pay as you go)? No problem! Both those options are available if you still want them. |
MARY GRIFFITHSI qualified to teach in 2015 but my yoga journey started much earlier, way back in the 1970s. Here I share my experiences and passion about everything yoga. Archives
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