ALWAYS FREE ISSUE NO. 6 TWISTING PEACOCK

MAY 2011 A Note From Rom! News It’s been some time since I put out a newsletter. I’m not sure where the time goes, but here we are almost the middle of 2011. I hope it’s been a happy and content year for you all so far.

2010 finished with a bang at Twisting Peacock. Night classes were not only full, they were alive with yogic energy. The word is obviously spreading that people are loving and it’s becoming their exercise of choice. And why wouldn’t you, when you finish you leave the room in this relaxed high...without touching any illegal drugs. You come in exhausted, angry, anxious or stressed and you leave like you’ve just returned from the best holiday you’ve ever had. Imagine feeling like that everyday!

As you know I have been away for most of this year, continuing to learn more about yoga and getting inspired by some amazing teachers in Thailand. FINDING STILLNESS I spent 4 weeks at a stunning (although somewhat too secluded) jungle location discovering the power of Try softening the eyes in poses. Let the softening of the eyes come Ashtanga Vinyasa and Rocket Ashtanga Yoga as with a softening of self-judgement, destructive comparisons, and mental rigidness. Flow in postures even when the body is still. Find taught by , the founder of It’s Yoga in stillness even when the body is flowing. San Francisco. [Tragically Larry died just a few days after our training.]

Deb Winning one of our regular students also came to this training and is now running the Monday, 7.30am I’m sure you’ll all enjoy her classes and her sense of and Wednesday, 9.15am Modified Primary Series humour. Ashtanga classes. [See the special offer for May later If you’ve been to class since I’ve been back you will in the newsletter.] have noticed a change in schedule. The has Deb comes with a long history in the health and been taken off the menu and replaced with Rocket fitness industry and I’d like to welcome her onboard. Yoga. I’m sure some of you are wondering why I’ve continued on page 3

Deb, the team dog and me at Haad Wynham, Fellow trainee Tirzah with the team dog. Precariously sliding out in Vasisthasana (Side Koh Phangan, Thailand. Virabradhrasana II (Easy Pose). Plank). (Warrior 2). Student Profile YOGI TIM ON LOCATION by Tim Hodge • • • Don’t let holidays stop you from It has been two years since yoga practising. Tim in Eka Pada crept into my life, and it is (one legged crow pose). interesting to see how it has subtly changed me and my interaction with others. It began, as do most things, with idle speculation over an evening glass of wine. Julie and I were ruminating over how despite a fairly active lifestyle (cycling, canoeing, walking) we were both getting stiffer and stiffer. Following this discussion, Julie started keeping her eye open for a local yoga place to have a go. Enter Ms Rom Hope. At this stage Rom was using the upstairs studio in 12 Mead St, and the first session was interesting and not fatal! I remember three things from this Tim conquering the Kokoda first session. Track. Relaxing in Vasisthasana (side plank). Firstly Rom was always able to offer "baby steps" for whichever was being done, secondly I Teenage daughters have the ability slowly work away with the sun was amazed at how much I sweated, to push all of your buttons, but I was coming up and the magpies starting and finally how good I felt after. certainly finding it easier to remain to warble. calm in these encounters. So it started off with one session a So at two years in, my overwhelming week. From a strength and balance At around the 18 months of yoga wish is that I had started my yoga viewpoint, it was possible to feel practice, I went off and walked the experience earlier in my life. I feel changes from about 4 weeks Kokoda Track. In hindsight yoga mentally and physically a lot more onwards. provided some real and unexpected optimistic, durable and resilient to benefits. The first and most amazing the stresses and strains of life. This Flexibility started to improve was that I was able to get changed in is despite me still having the somewhere around the six month a minuscule tent without either flexibility of a plank of wood! mark. Given that my flexibility rupturing myself or kicking a hole in initially resembled that of a rock, the tent. As much of the walking is The people that you meet at yoga are any improvement was good. actually scrambling up and down also an unending source of delight Probably one of the first things to hills, the improved balance and and enjoyment, and it is one of the disappear were the sore lower backs strength made life a lot easier and aspects that should be savoured. that seemed to appear four or five enjoyable, especially with a pack in While the physical benefits are much times a year. One of the key points muddy and slippery conditions. appreciated, it is the ability to calm was that there was always a and focus your thoughts that I changing routine, so that we It is coming up to almost two years of appreciate most about yoga. It is experienced a wide range of . yoga, and I have started to develop a amazing how often you can be home practice. The practice differs feeling unable to reach a posture, yet Somewhere after the first six from the sessions with Rom, in that when you make a conscious decision months, we started doing two they are more frequent but shorter. to release your mind (aka soft face sessions a week. The change to two Surprisingly the most enjoyable part and ), you seem to just move sessions actually felt better again, as of the home practice has been into your desired position. there was less time for each session slowing down and really focussing on to wear off. While strength and working with my breath. My • • • flexibility was steadily improving preferred routine is simply to put (now I was like a slightly flexible some music on and gently play away. rock), it was the benefits of the What I actually do depends upon my meditation that I was really starting mood, what exercise I have been If you have a story you’d like to share in the to appreciate. doing and what I have been reading. next or future newsletters, please email me: It is very relaxing and calming to [email protected]. Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga

1. It Feels Good To the important change this year.... 2. You Eat Less ROCKET YOGA You Sleep Better What is it? Where did it come from? 3. Why the name? 4. It Helps Back Pain Answering these in no particular order.... 5. You’re More Flexible Deb hanging out in Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose). Rocket was developed by Larry 6. Core Strength Schultz as mentioned earlier. He stopped Hot Yoga classes. There are was a student of the late Pattabhi 7. It’s Fun a few reasons. The main one being Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga. that you should teach what you Larry was invited by The Grateful 8. It’s Relaxing practice. And while some years ago I Dead, a band from the 60s, to go on was a huge fan of hot yoga, it now tour with them as their yoga 9. & It’s Invigorating doesn’t hold a lot of interest to me. instructor. He toured with them for Nothing stays the same. They call 3 years and it was from here he 10. You’re More Zen-like this impermanence! started playing around with the first three series of ashtanga into My personal practice has always what was named the Rocket by been based on with a B o b W e i r f r o m t h e SPECIAL OFFER MAY ONLY splash of hot yoga on the side. I now band....because it gets your there only practice Rocket, Ashtanga and FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2011, faster! This has only been on the M O N D A Y , 7 . 3 0 A M A N D Power yoga. In my opinion, hot yoga schedule for 3 weeks and WEDNESDAY 9.15AM CLASSES, is great for flexibility and of course BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE. already people are noticing you get that feeling of being hot and MENTION THIS NEWSLETTER TO increased strength. RECEIVE YOUR DISCOUNT! sweaty at the end of class which is invigorating, but a stronger vinyasa It’s a strong, dynamic, fast ...please note, this offer does style yoga is more rounded. Not only paced flow style of yoga. With not apply to any other class and is there more focus on core and over 100 poses practiced in can be used only once... upper body strength, it’s far more Rocket II, warming up with Sun interesting. I do also like practising Salutations, followed by this in light heat and humidity and standing poses, arm balances, when I find that awesome new backbends, twists, seated studio space I will be heating the poses and finishing with the room for my classes. This won’t be a, traditional ashtanga closing turn the heat up so high that you sequence. Peppered with plenty of will either die or vomit as to wake up that nervous experienced at many heated studios, system and make you feel alive. but a warmth that feels delicious and doesn’t hinder or stop your ROCKET IS UPBEAT AND Keep an eye on the website for practice. And...arm balances are FUN AND VERY ADDICTIVE. really hard when you’re dripping the latest schedule. with sweat! www.twistingpeacockyoga.com.au

MOVE INTELLIGENTLY “If you’re bending the body a little more than in everyday life, then tense that part of the body a little more than in everyday life.” Simon Borg Olivier Spotlight on Headstand and Shoulder Stand

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT • Helps to relieve varicose veins and especially the intestines, it helps to HEADSTAND IS THE KING drains used blood from the legs, cleanse them and overcome AND SHOULDER STAND THE pelvis and abdominal area. problems of the liver, kidneys, QUEEN OF ALL YOGA POSES. stomach, intestines and reproductive system and also If you practice shoulder stand on a constipation. SHOULDER STAND () regular basis you will feel new vigor and strength and will be happy, When done properly, headstand confident and at peace. Shoulder stand cools and neutralizes helps the spine become properly the body, bringing about a sedative aligned, improving posture, effect on the nervous system. B.K.S. HEADSTAND (SIRSASANA) facilitating good breathing and Iyengar states. It is the "mother of reducing muscular stress. asana," as a mother strives for Headstand the King! It has a heating Headstand is used to treat asthma, harmony and happiness in the home, effect on the body. It both revitalises hay fever, diabetes, headaches, so this asana strives for the and stimulates the entire body. Said anxiety and menopausal imbalance. harmony and happiness of the to be the anti-aging pose, bringing human system. It is a cure-all for fresh, oxygenated blood to the brain. Time spent upside down everyday, most common ailments. especially in sarvangasana and Headstand ensures a proper blood sirsasana, is one of the best things Shoulder stand (sarvangasana) supply and stimulates the pituitary you could possibly do for yourself. works on balancing the function of and pineal glands. Our growth, These poses bring health and vitality the thyroid and parathyroid glands. health and vitality depend on the to the body while calming and These are located in the neck region proper functioning of these two soothing the mind and spirit. and when the chin is locked in glands. shoulder stand, their blood supply is Who shouldn’t practice headstand and increased. Being inverted (upside Regular practice of headstand makes shoulder stand? down) allows healthy blood to healthy pure blood flow through the circulate the neck and chest and as a brain cells stimulating the nervous People suffering from high blood result, people suffering from system, increasing mental alertness pressure, detached retina, glaucoma, breathlessness, palpitation, asthma, and clarity. It is a centering, calming hernias, cardiovascular disease, bronchitis and throat ailments get and soothing pose. People suffering cervical spondylitis, kidney disease, relief. from loss of sleep, memory and slipped discs should not practice vitality have recovered by the shoulder stand or headstand. It is Some other benefits of shoulder regular practice of this asana. advisable for women during stand with continued practice: menstruation to avoid Blood and lymph fluid is inversions. • eradicates common colds and relieved from the legs and other nasal disturbances. ankles and coupled with shoulder stand it is a benefit • can help irritation, shortness of to people suffering from temper, nervous breakdown and constipation. The lung tissue insomnia. is stimulated, which relieves colds, coughs, tonsillitis, bad Relief from stomach and intestinal • breath and palpitations. ulcers and severe pain in the abdomen. By reversing the pull of gravity on the organs,

THE HEALING POWER OF YOGA The late Derek Ireland. [An excerpt from Derek Ireland’s Obituary by Peter Guttridge.]

Derek Ireland was a pioneer of Ashtanga Yoga and was responsible for bringing Ashtanga yoga to Europe from India. Derek is revered throughout the world for his teaching and has inspired many of this generation’s Ashtanga yoga teachers.

In 1988, Derek Ireland, the charismatic yoga practitioner who was largely responsible with Radha Warrell for introducing to Europe the "aerobic" yoga called ashtanga vinyasa, accidentally blew himself up with camping gas canisters on a Greek island. He was severely burnt on his legs and arms so a Greek doctor peeled the skin off. "He peeled my hand which really hurt because of all the nerve endings. My lateral ligament was sticking out like an onion ring," Ireland recalled later.

He was flown to London for skin grafts. On arrival the doctors wrapped the burns in netting and plastic bags and bandages then left him for a few days before starting on the grafts. Whilst waiting, Ireland did head and shoulder stands. "It was the Olympics so I turned the television upside-down and watched it for an hour at a time." Seven days later the doctors took the bandages off. The skin had healed. "No scars, nothing. But I felt tiny because I'd no prana left from healing this thing." Being Present While You Eat

“I mean, did you experience hunger, AN EXERCISE IN BEING PRESENT and then make breakfast?” WHILE YOU EAT...

“I don’t really understand what • Clear your eating space. you’re asking,” I said. • Capture your environment with “Let me put it this way,” she said. your senses. “Why did you have breakfast?” • Put all of the food that you want “Oh! I see,” I said. “I had breakfast to eat on your plate at one time. because it was breakfast time.” • Look at your food. Where did it “But were you hungry?” come from? What did it take for You’re often told to be the food to get to your plate? present in a yoga class. I stared at her a moment. “Is this But do you apply that to like a trick question?” I asked. • Take one bite of your food and your everyday life? Some chew it slowly, then stop. t h o u g h t p r o v o k i n g “No,” she said. “I just want to know reading and a worthwhile how you know it’s time to eat.” • Slowly and with attention, work exercise from Christy through the rest of your meal. Nordgren. “I know it’s time to eat because it’s meal time,” I said. “It’s morning, so • Try to stay seated for the entire WHERE ARE YOU WHEN YOU EAT? I eat breakfast, or it’s mid-day, so I meal. WHERE IS YOUR PHYSICAL BODY, eat lunch. And so on.” Feel tastes and textures. Look at YES, BUT WHERE ARE YOUR • To make a long story ever so the colors in your meal. THOUGHTS? DO YOU CATCH UP slightly shorter, she finally asked ON EMAIL OR WATCH TV WHILE me what it felt like when I was • When you finish, ask yourself YOU EAT? WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE hungry, and I could not answer. I how you feel. FOR EATING? DO YOU ENJOY asked her to explain what it felt EATING? like when she was hungry, and she • Release your meal. No more described a sensation in her snacking and grazing in the Anne Lamott relates her experience stomach of emptiness, an kitchen. Just as you were as a recovering bulimic in one of her awareness of appetite. present to the act of eating, you books. In the following excerpt, she must now be present to the task remembers her brand-new So for the next week, my of cleaning up. experience with her therapist. assignment was to notice what it felt like when I was hungry. It • • • was so strange. Several weeks later, during one of • • • our sessions, Rita asked me what I’d All of a sudden I was Helen Keller, had for breakfast. “Cereal,” I said. And then she gave me my next after she breaks the code for “water.” assignment: first, to notice when I “And were you hungry when you was hungry, and then — this blew my ate?” mind — to feed myself. “What do you mean?” I asked.

Remember that you have the power and the privilege to determine what enters the space behind your teeth and, even better, to evaluate how it nourishes or harms you. Christy Nordgren