By Jennifer Hanning, Yoga In Tahiti Kia ora, fellow Kiwis! Even though I moved to Australia in my early twenties, I still call New Zealand home and try to get back every year. Australia has been good to me, helping me get over a devastating betrayal – which is why I ran away from home – and providing me with a lovely man and a long career with a software development team. However, in 2008, something especially wonderful happened – my whole team was retrenched and I found myself out of … [Read more...]
Ourmala: The Yoga Centre Where Social Justice Comes First
This is the third article is this series showcasing yoga teachers and organisations who are bringing yoga to people who generally excluded from classes or studios for a wide variety of reasons like social class, finances, incarceration or general access. If you're doing some kind of community or outreach yoga and would like to share your story, please get in touch. By guest author Leah Davies, Paper Planes Connect “Following my heart is how I live my life. Sometimes it’s really easy, … [Read more...]
What If The Whole World Practiced Yoga?
by guest author Laura Green What if there were a world where everyone practiced yoga? Human beings, being imperfect as they are, would probably still manage to mess things up. But, on the whole, life would be far better. Anger Management Violence, wars, envy, hatred, greed – they would all be reduced if everyone practiced yoga. Wouldn't it be great if we lived on a planet where, every time someone started feeling these urges, they practiced yoga? Some anger empowers us, urging us on to … [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...]
Is peace on earth possible? Yes, yes it is. Today.
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat Peace on earth? Possible? Yes. Not sometime off in the future. But right now. Peace is possible - in my heart, and in yours too. I know this. And I know you know it too, although you may not have remembered it. Yet. Each day, small reminders of the power of now seep into my bones and make me feel grateful for being alive. For the work I've done to change the way I perceive the world. For the road I've travelled and the path I've been on. And now, … [Read more...]
The joy hidden within chaos
by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness On the surface of things, spirituality can seem to be about control, right? 'Mind Control' perhaps. Or 'Body Control'? On the far end of the spectrum you even get teachings suggesting that the point of life is to have ultimate control over the universe. Sounds good, doesn't it? But is that what 'spirituality', or more accurately, freedom is about? I personally wonder if it is. What could be more gratifying to our ego than … [Read more...]
Starting a Home Meditation Practice
by guest author Peter Fernando, Meditation and Mindfulness Are you wanting to start your own home meditation practice? The number one piece of advice I have for you is: Just do it! Having said that, a recent question that came in asked for more details, so in response to that reader, here's... Six Useful Home Meditation Tips 1) Don't meditate in front of the TV (even when it's off), or in front of the computer. If you take some time to create a meditation-only space in your home, it's … [Read more...]
How yogis can have a critical impact on the world
By Kara-Leah Grant, author Forty Days of Yoga Global Mala is happening this Sunday, September 20th, in Wellington - but it's also happening right across the globe this weekend. Started by Shiva Rea, this is part of the yoga community's contribution towards creating world peace. Ultimately peace is something we cultivate within, and then we witness it's material manifestation without. It is not something we can "fight for", nor something we can impose or control. It is only by being … [Read more...]
Wellington Meditation Teacher: Stephen Archer
A great gain for the Wellington meditation community, Stephen Archer has recently moved here with his partner Annie Chapman. They were previously involved in the running of a retreat centre up in the Coromandel, and Stephen is now involved with the Original Nature Mediation Group. Stephen has a long history with meditation - he first ordained as a monk back in the early eighties. He now brings this depth of knowledge and understanding to retreats all over the country. … [Read more...]
Global Yoga Teacher: Marianne Elliott
I had the great joy of meeting Marianne on the two Prana Flow teacher trainings I did with Twee Merrigan through Yoga Unlimited. Thoughtful, intelligent, playful and generous, Marianne makes a delightful yoga teacher. Marianne is passionate about peace, and has spent many years working for NGOs in areas of the world that would test any yogis ability to stay calm. She's lived and working in Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and Tior Leste. You can read more about her adventures in the world of … [Read more...]