Obaitori

reach out

 

Mercury is out of retrograde, thank God! Mercury in retrograde is all about rest, reflection... and now I'm ready to go!

I haven't been wanting to do much and this generally doesn't sit well with me with Mars in my sun sign...

So I have a list and I've ticked off lots this morning and the list will go on and on and repeat itself for years and years.Inshallah! All work devoted to God, all karma...

The season is warming and my Christmas rituals begin; stone fruit in abundance, carols, beach side dwelling, refreshing zingy ocean swimming, oceanwater filled with rich sea minerals, weeds and salt.

I'm constantly preparing, reinventing and creating a simpler life...

My reach on Yoga Teaching;

"If you take any five asanas, two pranayamas, one technique of relaxation, any technique of meditation or repetition of mantra, they will bring about an effect. They will influence the processes that take place in your psycho-emotional plane and thereby you will become healthier, happier and more enlightened. This is the purpose. The aim and purpose is to heal, help, to make people happy and bring them to a better path, a better way of living. The goal is to find and make everyone else find the path of higher seeking."

~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati ~ Ganga Darshan, 8 March, 1981

I have a four year, potential chef, calling me to the kitchen. He wants to make crab cakes and mocktails! Is that a sign that we have too many parties?

rasta man

Rasta has to have his own weekending blog post because it was a big one for him, he went to the beach, a bbq, a party and a cultural + a weekend of firsts...



Meeting lots of people... mainly women Dazla noted.









He went to his first gig at The Circle of Life shop launch - well done Brother Heathie, it was fabulous!!! ...

West African band Keyim Ba draw from funk, reggae, hip hop and West African drumming...

With Sibo Bangoura from Keyim Ba...

I'm a rebel, soul rebel, Lord have mercy

I'm a capturer,

Well I’m leaving, soul adventurer

See the morning sun,

On the hillside

If you’re not living good

Gotta travel wide, Gotta travel wide

~ Bob Marley ~

 

thanks Ben with love and respect

Ben Harper - a modern day Mozart - blew me away. His performance was epic. He played for 3 and a half hours straight. Took two sips of water, no notice of the interval and played way past the finish line. He was oblivious to time, he played and played and played, like a mad man - a great man.

The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall is an intimate venue. It is well known for it's majestic, cathedral like space and sound quality. Ben said that he was honoured to play there and it was the best sound he had ever heard with apologies to Carnegie Hall. Every seat has a unobscured sound and view, the audience can speak and be heard. Ben responded to each call...

"Love you Ben!" Yeah, I love you Sista.

"I love you Ben." Love you too Bro.

It was delightful. He told beautiful stories and one in particular about Heath Ledger. Earlier they had been playing piano for two days. The next day Heath had the piano delivered to Ben's, ecstatic. Heath rang, "My baby is due in a month. You need to write a lullaby for her." Morning Yearning was born. Heath directed the film clip.

I love this song as I it gives me hope as a parent. The lines kind of go, 'It's a new day, a new chance, an opportunity to be a better parent, see the inspiration in your child. Follow their lead.' I like that.

With love and affection he spoke about the Blind Boys of Alabama. He sang I Shall Not Walk Alone. A personal favourite... towards the end of this YouTube clip Clarence Fountain's tears fall down on his cheeks.

 

Love you Ben.

getting excited!

2013 Satyananda Yoga Mangrove Retreat Programme

 

The latest programme of courses from Satyananda Yoga Mangrove... is here.

 

 

 

breath awareness

The family yoga class room smelt divine and by the end everyone was sophorically settled, two children were asleep and the parents had that dreamy look in their eyes.

There were fourteen little angels aged between 6 months and four years at the class on Saturday and Sunday morning. We did some beautiful practices. My favourite was the very simple pranayama.

We found rose petals and blew them gently and then a little stronger. That was it. The children observed different types of breath, their cause and effect. Breath awareness in a nutshell.

 

 

family yoga spring 2012

The Satyananda Yoga ashram at Mangrove Mountain is always particularly beautiful at this time of year. The trees are full, the flowers in bloom and the animals and birds are new, singing and joyful. At spring time we celebrate a new energy. It is a time to be reminded of the age old teaching to let go of the past and be joyful in the present moment. As parents this is one of the precious gifts from children.

Indira and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend of family yoga. The theme was The Rhythm of Life.

Tree Puja, the first step of yoga ecology - teaches us gratitude for the majestic providers of oxygen, prana to our bodies... more on tree puja here.

From Swami Prembhava, "Yoga ecology is the path of reconnecting to the rhythms and dance of nature."

"Tree pooja rebuilds our severed relationship with nature. When we build a relationship with something or somebody, we begin to care about its well-being and future, and the closer we get, the more we feel. As we care for the tree each day, as we see it change through the seasons, and notice the different birds and insects it attracts, and the flowers or fruit it may produce, our respect for it is certain to grow."

We danced, played percussion and sang around the tree.

"The Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat, puts a tingle in your fingers, puts a tingle in your feet..."

open hearts

The prep talk on the way to school in the car this morning was gratitude. We said thanks for family and friends, the children looked deeply at their hands and feet that enable them to give, share and walk far and wide. I asked the children to look at their lovely legs and notice the size of them and to remember them when they walk into school. They felt into their senses and thank you for their beautiful eyes that enable them to see, their ears for hearing the beautiful Christmas carols they are learning on the drive each morning. I asked them to look at each other and see the beauty, love and divinity of a brother and a sister.

We prayed for open hearts and minds and that we may be guided and supported on the path, this beautiful journey of life.