by Dyana Wells, Open Ground School of Meditation A lot of us have heard about mindfulness and its possible benefits. Recently I have learned a few interesting things about the brain that have made the benefits of mindfulness meditation even clearer to me. Meditation produces a thickening of the prefrontal cortex – the part of the cerebral hemispheres above and behind the eyes. The prefrontal cortex increased in size massively during our evolution into human beings and it may hold the … [Read more...]
Embody Your Purpose: Insights from an Off the Mat Workshop
by guest author Jen Wilson, Off the Mat, Into the World I had never been to a ‘proper’ yoga workshop before despite I’ve practiced on and off since my teens. To start with I guess I thought yoga was cool, a bit hippy – I dug that. As life went on I wanted and needed more yoga, but I wasn’t sure where to find it. I was often overwhelmed, prone to the black dog, and scared of everyday life. I started to realise yoga was always there when I fell down. I committed to my yoga practice and … [Read more...]
Wound-Relating: When Relationships Break Us Open and Set Us Free
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat Last year I wrote in detail about my desire for a relationship, moving into a relationship, the issues that came up in the relationship and then… nothing! What happened! Obviously, much has unfolded, and the strange thing about using my own life to illustrate a process of yoga and self-inquiry is that when I start a story, I feel obligated to finish it. Kind of like Charles Dickens when he was serialising Two Cities… he wouldn’t stop before the end … [Read more...]
Thoughts on living in an awakening world
An Interview with Prajnaparamita, an awakened Master Prajnaparamita is leading a retreat at Kawaipurapura on Feburary 16 and 17. Find out more here. 1. There seems to be a big shift in the way businesses are being run and in the way people are reconsidering their lives. What do you see happening? Globally, structures are breaking down on all levels. They can no longer hold themselves. The banks, politics and many corporations, the way they were used to operating is no longer … [Read more...]
February 16-17: Albany, Meeting in the Heart: Dialogues with Prajnaparamita
Dialogues with Prajnaparamita about love, truth, inner peace and freedom. Prajnaparamita is an awakened Master, tirelessly travelling the world giving satsang and retreats, inspiring all who are longing to awaken to their inherent Buddha nature. Her teachings are no teachings really. In the togetherness of the satsang, in her response to questions being asked about all aspects of life, there is a spontaneous expression of universal truth, as an ongoing encouragement to come to rest in … [Read more...]
Treading water on the void – an interview with Zoë Wild
by guest author Peter Fernando, A Month of Mindfulness This interview is part of a one hour conversation I had with Zoë, a former Buddhist nun, in April 2012. You can the rest of her insightful and heartfelt reflections on the Month of Mindfulness blog, here. Peter: You seem to have a fluidity in terms of your relationship to spiritual forms. Looking at your path so far, there seems to be a real sense of an understanding of the transparency of forms, as well as a great respect for them. … [Read more...]
June 2nd & 3rd: Wellington Yoga Centre, Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Louisa Potter
Would you like to? Release grief & anxiety from the heart and live with more freedom? Learn to work the ‘organs of action’, our arms & legs, to stimulate, strengthen and support our inner organs? If so, you're in luck, Louisa Potter is returning after the successful April weekend workshop at Wellington Yoga Centre for another workshop. Louisa is trained in Iyengar yoga, and some background in this style of yoga is needed for attendance. Weekend Workshop, June … [Read more...]
April 14 & 15, Wellington, Iyengar Yoga workshop with Louisa Potter
Louisa Potter is an Iyengar teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has been to India to train with BKS Iyengar or his daughter six times. Louisa is coming to Wellington! This is not to be missed if you have even a little Iyengar knowledge. Her workshop will be designed around the needs of the students who come to this workshop Cost: $120 for two days, or Saturday only $60 When: Saturday 10.00-12.30 2.30-5.00 Sunday 9.30-12.00 2.00-4.30 Where: Wellington Yoga … [Read more...]
Wellington Yoga Teacher Profile: Scott Milham
Scott Milham has practised yoga for 20 years and been a teacher for 11 of them. Prior to bcomeing a fulltime yoga teacher he was a professional dancer for over a decade working with such companies as the Hong Kong Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Footnote Dance Company. Over the years, Scott has trained with T.K.V. Desikachar, Sean Corne, Saul David Raye and Erich Schiffmann. He has also assisted Erich Schiffmann with his annual teacher training in 2009 at Exhale Sacred Movement yoga studio … [Read more...]
Why practicing ‘Freedom Yoga’ can work wonders for your practice
by guest author and Wellington Yoga Teacher Bruce Foley The term 'Freedom Yoga' has a very nice ring to it. I immediately attach the emotion 'Joy' to the idea of 'Freedom'. Other associated words that come to mind are 'liberation' and 'self-determination'. That last word leads us towards another more weighty word which is 'responsibility'. Almost verbatim, Erich Schiffman describes Freedom Yoga as: Not deciding in advance what you are going to do, but instead listening inwardly, and then … [Read more...]