Spring 2017 : Volume 20
FIND YOUR VOICE YOGA THERAPY YOGA FOR CHILDREN The Ancient Wisdom of Relieving the Impact of Yoga Techniques for Vedic Chanting Cancer Treatment Children A vibrant forum which will bring together delegates from all over Australia to experience a broad range of presentations, workshops and lots of opportunities for information sharing
The conference will be held at Crown Conference Centre over three days
Early Bird Tickets now on sale
We’ll see you at the conference
book your tickets at yogaaustraliaconference.org.au
2 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Spring 2017 : Volume 20 In This Issue 4 President’s Report 6 CEO’s Report 8 Working Group Reports 11 Committee Reports
16 Yoga Australia and Health funds Yoga Today is published by Yoga Australia & New Zealand, 125A Chapel Street,FIND YOUR Windsor VOICE 3181.YOGA THERAPY YOGA FOR CHILDREN 18 President’s Thoughts: Yoga and Religion The Ancient Wisdom of Relieving the Impact of Yoga Techniques for Vedic Chanting Cancer Treatment Children Editorial & Advertising Enquiries: 20 Industry intelligence and the business of yoga [email protected] 22 What’s on Phone: 1300 881 451 Website: www.yogaaustralia.org.au 24 Find your authentic voice with Vedic Chanting Whilst every effort has been made to 26 Yoga Therapy ensure accuracy, Yoga Australia shall not have any liability for errors or 28 Havan Feeding the Gods omissions. Made with a carbon neutral 30 Mindfulness, meditation and the Complete Athlete manufacturing process. Impact is FSC COC certified and consists of 100% post 32 The Value of Children’s Yoga consumer waste recycled fibre. 34 Prana – The Life Force that Moves Us 36 Yoga for better posture A vibrant forum which will bring together delegates 38 The mind – journey to the self from all over Australia to experience a broad range 40 Seed Thoughts of presentations, workshops 41 Q&A and lots of opportunities for information sharing 42 Book Reviews
The conference will be held at Crown Conference Centre over three days
Early Bird Tickets now on sale
We’ll see you at the conference
book your tickets at yogaaustraliaconference.org.au
3 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 COMMITTEE NEWS
President’s Report Leanne Davis Yoga Australia & New Zealand President
Welcome to the Spring Gabrielle Boswell and Ann Marie next year and beyond. These few Johnston who are giving up their days were comprised of some very edition of Yoga Today. time to bring this event to fruition. intense and creative brainstorming Read more about the Conference by the team. The goal is to ensure and Conference Committee here: that Yoga Australia upholds the yogaaustraliaconference.org.au/. standards and advocacy for yoga In keeping with the professionals in the most beneficial season, Yoga Australia The past few months have seen way for our members and the changes and developments in the is blossoming with broader community. Thank you office. Shyamala will give you a to the members of the Executive growth and fresh full update in the CEO report but Committee for volunteering your energy. I would like to acknowledge the time to this weekend. We are very contribution that Phoebe Jamieson confident that Yoga Australia is has made to Yoga Australia. Phoebe growing and keeping abreast with has been Yoga Australia’s Marketing Excitement is building as the the needs of the profession and and Communications Manager planning for the March 16-18, its members. The outcome of the for the past 2 and a bit years but 2018 “The Modern World of Yoga” strategic plan is reflected in the in August left to pursue another conference gains momentum. work done by the Working Group opportunity. On behalf of the office This conference promises to be a volunteers. Please take some time staff, committees and members, I timely reflection and education to read the Working Group reports would like to thank Phoebe for the on both the traditional teachings to understand the progress that way she modernised the presence of yoga based on its ancient texts the Association is making in various of Yoga Australia and opened as well as all that is new in yoga areas. the Association to a stronger from current innovations and professional profile. Phoebe’s research. It’s the perfect way to invaluable perspective and work secure your Continuing Professional Many thanks to the growing team led to the success and dynamism Development for the year while of volunteers on the National of the past two conferences and learning from esteemed teachers Management Committee, State I personally learned a great deal such as Michael Lee, Michael de Management Committees and from her in the areas of business of Manincor, Leigh Blashki and others. co-opted volunteers who help marketing and technology. We wish offer their skills and expertise to you every success in your new role contribute to the Working Groups. Never before in the history of Phoebe. It is also through the work of many humankind have so many people of these volunteers in organising practised yoga in so many diverse and attending state events that As always thank you to Shyamala ways. This conference will offer an the results of the projects can be who has maintained her state opportunity for teachers to feel shared with members. of Yoga and provided her usual secure about what it means to be a steady guidance of members, staff yoga professional at this time. Now and volunteers through the office is a great time to take advantage YOGA AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL transitions. of the early bird registration that PRESENCE has opened and continues until In July, the Executive Committee November 22nd. and CEO met at the Yoga Australia office in Melbourne for two days of I mentioned in the Winter Thank you to our strong and meetings to review the strategic President’s report that I was about creative Conference Committee plan for Yoga Australia for the to attend the Symposium of Yoga volunteers under the leadership of Therapy and Research (SYTAR)
4 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 President’s Report
offered by the International yoga community through monthly become a registered Yoga Australia Association of Yoga Therapy in phone meetings and two face- Yoga therapist you will be required California, USA. I am pleased to say to-face meetings in the USA each to complete Yoga Therapy training it was an inspiring and fruitful time year including attendance at that meets with Yoga Australia’s and has flowed into new worldwide SYTAR. I am delighted to serve current education standards for collegial relationships and initiatives with this dedicated team that Yoga Therapist. These standards that benefit Yoga Australia members is committed to ensuring high can be found on our website. If and Registered Yoga Australia yoga standards of educational guidelines, you have any questions about this therapists. furthering the role of yoga therapy please contact me on leanne@ in mainstream healthcare and yogaaustralia.org.au. education and increasing the A most pleasing outcome from accessibility of yoga therapy to a SYTAR was the chance to encourage broader reach of the public. Thank you all for taking the time to an Australian yogi living in the attend the many gatherings for Yoga U.S, Michael Lee, to come home Australia over the winter, for your for a visit and present at our I would also like to acknowledge communication with the office and conference. We are also talking to that in serving on the Certification committees and for taking the time other internationally known yoga Committee I will be continuing to keep up to date by reading this therapists about providing post the close relationship between publication. I am sure you will enjoy graduate opportunities to our the International Yoga Therapy reading the Spring edition of Yoga members. Association and Yoga Australia Today. that was established by former Yoga Australia President, Leigh I am honoured to announce that Blashki. Leigh has served on the Leanne Davis while I was at SYTAR I met with the IAYT Standards Committee, the IAYT Certification Committee and I Accreditation Committee and will have been selected to serve on the step down from his role on the committee for a 3 year term. Certification Committee in October. Thank you, Leigh for your efforts in the growth of yoga therapy IAYT was founded in 1989 and has worldwide and representing been accrediting Yoga Therapy Australia in the international yoga training schools, using education community for the past decades. guidelines closely aligned to Yoga Australia, since 2014. In 2016 IAYT commenced certification of GRANDPARENTING OF YOGA individual yoga therapists. As of THERAPISTS 2017, IAYT has over 4,000 individual members from over 50 countries, and over 175 member schools. There IAYT closed applications for are also 27 IAYT accredited yoga grandparenting pathways for therapy training programs, with over yoga therapists in June 2017. 20 under review. Please know that Yoga Australia will also conclude the option of a grandparenting pathway afterl This appointment keeps Yoga December 30, 2017. After this time to Australia linked to the global
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 5 COMMITTEE NEWS
CEO’s Report Shyamala Benakovic Yoga Australia & New Zealand CEO “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new”. - Socrates
Spring is a time for new beginnings. years with Yoga Australia she has with exceptional organisational For more than two years now, Yoga made significant improvements to skills. Australia has not had many changes membership, financial and other 4. Valeria Ryavkina – Most of you to its office team but this quarter operational processes. Jackie will know Val, who has been with we have some happy and sad news departs on Maternity Leave at the Yoga Australia for two years. Val to share. end of September and we hope to is our Digital Marketing Assistant see her back in the office in 2018...... who looks after communications to members, subscribers and the wider community. She is our social Changes to Office Staff And the happy news is that we media champion and ensures all our If you have been following our now have a new office team members are kept informed. monthly newsletters, you will bringing with them fresh ideas and know that our Marketing and strategies to continue to support 5. Shamiso Muradzikwa – our new Communications Manager, Phoebe our membership. Our current office Client Relationship and Sales Jamieson left us in August to pursue team consists of: Executive. Shamiso comes to another opportunity. We were us with significant experience 1. Kate Beath – our new Marketing all sad to see her go but we are in customer relationships and and Communications manager who sure that she will continue to be a providing customised solution to takes the reigns from Phoebe. Kate strong advocate of Yoga Australia. customers. She will work well with comes to us with qualifications Phoebe has been the driving force Yoga Australia teachers and training and experience in marketing, in significantly enhancing the providers to promote their classes, communication, PR and Project professionalism of the Association workshops and training. Management. She also has a and educating the wider community Masters in Human Nutrition. 6. Nathan Collis – our Marketing on the importance of a qualified Assistant who will work alongside yoga teacher. She worked hard to 2. Amy Witnish – our Admin and Kate in all our marketing activities. increase the profile of Yoga Australia Volunteer Manager who looks Nathan’s main focus will be registered teachers with her “You after our accounts and supports Marketing, Communications and are in Safe Hands” campaign and our volunteers. Amy has a strong Events for Yoga New Zealand as well she implemented many member background in the health and fitness as the social platforms that keep benefits to ensure our members industry and comes to us with nine Yoga New Zealand members up to were supported. We will miss years experience in administration, date on all things yoga. Phoebe but once a friend of Yoga operations and business Australia, always a friend of Yoga development. Australia. 3. Nidhi Chopra – our Admin Please welcome our office team Assistant who works with Amy to and know that they have your manage our accounts and will take best interest in their minds and During the month of September, we on some of the office management hearts. Over time we will build on will say goodbye to Jackie Rogers, tasks that Jackie was looking after. the new ideas our team bring to our Office Manager. The smooth Nidhi’s experience in IT and Project the running of the Association and running of the Yoga Australia Management in varied industries implementation of its strategic office is a credit to Jackie’s diligent and economies will bring a fresh objectives. All our staff work part- management of all our office perspective to Yoga Australia. She time so please take note of their systems and processes. In her two is a vibrant and responsible person office hours on the Yoga Australia
6 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 website. A reminder that our offices all those members who provided teacher training courses. are open Monday to Thursday 10am valuable feedback. In summary, here 2. Continuing Professional to 4pm. is what you told us: Development (CPD) opportunities for ...... regional members. YOGA AUSTRALIA SERVICES 3. Partnerships with organisations to Volunteer Activity THAT YOU RATE HIGHLY: promote corporate yoga. In other news, our Executive 1. Yoga Today Magazine 4. Business networking events. Committee, Management Committee 2. Office and Member Support and Working Group members have 5. High education standards. been working hard to form strategic 3. Application and renewal process 6. Streamlining processes for partnerships, maintain international 4. Annual Conference membership upgrades. connections and address the terms of their respective working groups. 5. Professional Support You will see from the working group reports that we are working Please take time to read the working 6. CPD Opportunities group reports and contact the on addressing your priorities and respective Chairs if you have specific 7. Website needs. In particular we have: questions or ideas. 8. Personal profile page 1. The Yoga Therapy and Training working group continuing 9. Networking to maintain high education Our State Committees are continuing 10. State Events standards and provide many to engage with members. This being education opportunities for yoga the last quarter of the year, most professionals; States will be hosting their final TOP FIVE MEMBERSHIP 2. The Peak Body working group events. Please check out the Yoga BENEFITS: Australia website for Yoga Australia working on statements and hosted events in your respective 1. Continuing Professional strategies to start advocating to State. A reminder that our Annual Development Opportunities relevant stakeholders; General Meeting (AGM) will be held 2. Your Yoga Australia Profile page 3. The Yoga for Children working in Adelaide this year on Sunday 12th group providing tools and education 3. Yoga Australia website November. Please mark this event in opportunities for teachers your diaries if you will be in Adelaide 4. Industry Advocacy interested in this area; during this time. Invitations to the 5. Public Liability Insurance and 4. The Health Funds working group AGM and relevant notices will be Health Insurance Rebates recruiting more health funds to pay sent during the first week in October rebates for yoga; to all our members. BUSINESS OF YOGA, TOP FIVE 5. The Industry Intelligence working REQUIREMENTS: group providing important analysis The continued growth and and summary of the Roy Morgan accomplishment of Yoga Australia 1. Having access to legal and yoga participation report; and is largely due to our dedicated and business compliance advice and 6. The Business of Yoga working committed group of volunteers. support group are working on identifying From the Executive Committee to 2. Developing and executing resources and tools to support yoga the Working Groups to the State marketing strategy professionals in the running of their and Regional Committees, we have studios and businesses. a team who invest a lot of their 3. Business development ideas and personal time and energy to ensure execution I hope you enjoy this edition of Yoga that our vision and objectives are 4. Managing and implementing Today, pulled together by our new met and our members are fully technology Marketing and Communications supported. As we approach the Manager, Kate Beath and Marketing final quarter of the year and our 5. Networking Assistant Nathan Collis with the AGM, I would like to personally In addition to the above in relation help of all our volunteers who acknowledge the work of all our to Business of Yoga, most of you have provided their reports, and volunteers. Thank you to a great have told us that you are confident members who have very kindly team of dedicated and skilled in the running of your yoga studios provided great articles that yoga professionals who work hard and businesses. address the current successes and to ensure that the yoga industry challenges in the yoga industry. remains true to the practice of yoga. Namaste, WHAT YOU NEED FROM YOGA ...... AUSTRALIA TO SUPPORT YOU AS Membership Survey YOGA TEACHERS: 1. More marketing and promotion In April 2017, we conducted a Shyamala Benakovic Membership Survey. Thank you to of registered yoga teachers and
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 7 COMMITTEE NEWS
Yoga Australia Working Group Reports
...... now these changes are in place. Stay www.yogaaustralia.org.au/post- Business of Yoga tuned! graduate-qualifications-2/childrens- yoga-teacher/. These Fact Sheets are For more information: tamara@ Working Group Report invaluable resources and essential yogaaustralia.org.au The Business of Yoga Working Group reading and support for all Children’s has been busy compiling a Business ...... Yoga teachers. We encourage Basics Listing - we’re scouring free Peak Body Working everyone to download and make use resources we can point members of them. Group Report to that provide business directions Fact Sheet 1: Research on Children’s we think are useful. We’re assessing This quarter the Peak Body Working Yoga educational opportunities so that Group has been working hard on a members can get help addressing stakeholder mapping analysis. We Fact Sheet 2: Duty of Care the business issues they face when are also in the process of refining the Fact Sheet 3: Required it comes to marketing and business Peak Body Statement. In November Documentation development, as identified as key we will be meeting further to talk target areas drawn from our member through each of the Peak Body Fact Sheet 4: Top Things to Know survey. documents as a Working Group and Fact Sheet 5: Teaching Yoga to We’re exploring HR advice for will keep members informed of our Children with Special Needs progress. members and examining ways of Fact Sheet 6: Classroom Management compiling responses and business Both the new Governance Framework Fact Sheet 7: How to Approach and resources, as well as best delivery and the Advocacy Statement are Market to Schools options for members to have their now available. Please visit online business questions answered. and take a look: yogaaustralia.org. Fact Sheet 8: Development of Lyn Romeo has come across to this au/governence-statement/ and Programs Linked to Curriculum yogaaustralia.org.au/advocacy- working group, presenting her Part Fact Sheet 9: Understanding the statement/ 3 Discussion Point on the under- Australian Curriculum representation in yoga participation We have now developed a media This quarter the Yoga for Children in the Roy Morgan survey. To read statement on NDIS and have written Working Group have successfully further, please see page 14 in this to the NDIS CEO lobbying for yoga refined the terms of reference for issue of Yoga Today. and yoga therapy categories and 2017-2018, and we have also made ways of streamlining processes with the CPD (Continuing Professional the NDIS. For more information: Development) documents for We have successfully updated the Children’s Yoga available on the Yoga [email protected] terms of reference for 2017-18 for this Australia website, listed just above working group and are considering the new Fact Sheets online...... changes to the Yoga Australia Vision In September, a digital Yoga for Statement. You can find the current Industry Intelligence Children’s Forum was held, free to all Vision Statement online here: registered Children’s Yoga teachers, Working Group Report https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ using the platform Zoom. This The Industry Intelligence Working about-us/about-yoga-australia/ Group has undergone a change in was our second digital forum this For more information: committee and is revising its terms year, with 20 teachers registering. During the forum we discussed ways of reference to now focus only on [email protected]. scientific evidence based research of linking yoga programs to the for yoga. This working group will ...... Australian curriculum and outlined accordingly now be called Research. the new fact sheets, and those Yoga for Children attending loved this forum. We plan Changes to this group include moving on continuing quarterly digital forums all industry data work, driven by the Working Group Report in 2018 that provide information to work of Lynn Romeo through the Roy We are pleased to report we have members and keep children’s yoga Morgan report and member survey now successfully developed and teachers up-to-date. We encourage analysis, across to the Business of uploaded all nine Yoga for Children you as members to take part… Stay Yoga Working Group going forward. Fact Sheets to the Yoga Australia tuned! website. Visit yogaustralia.org.au, More to follow regarding pushing We have now completed the grant go to About Us, click Children’s Yoga ahead with Industry Intelligence and funding activities that were available and download from there: https:// Research activities into the future 8 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 to us through VicHealth. This grant list of yoga friendly funds has style guide when promoting their has been amazing to help refine the dramatically increased since the courses. This will be done prior to digital product we’re developing and table was first developed. We the desktop audit process for all we’re on the hunt for more grants. previously had 15, and now have 26 registered teacher training courses. We’re looking to broaden grant yoga friendly funds. Registered Training providers are funding opportunities outside of welcome to have a look at the style Please note that BUPA has decided Victoria into other states. guides here: to no longer provide rebates for This working group has been busy yoga and other physical activities yogaaustralia.org.au/yoga- working on a new Communications due to administration burdens. resources/ Strategy as well as updating We encourage all members to We’ve put together a competency the website, identifying new print this table and display it at document that recognises prior fact sheet topics and new grant their studio to help communicate learning and formalises all prior funding opportunities overall in all to clients the opportunity to learning that meets our educational jurisdictions. access rebates from yoga friendly standards. This document will Please look out for announcements health funds. We encourage you be invaluable for trainers to in the next issue for our 2018 Forum as members to share the link to assess competencies and award dates! the table on your Facebook pages. recognition for prior learning in yogaaustralia.org.au/health-funds/ students coming into their courses. Keep abreast on Children’s Yoga at yogaaustralia.org.au/post-graduate- We are currently working on We’ve prepared registration qualifications-2/childrens-yoga- inducting more health funds, guidelines to approve Professional teacher. creating a portfolio/business case Development courses. These are for health funds, and increasing being prepared for implementation communications about the role and once this is ready, we will For more information: of Yoga Australia within the communicate the guidelines to all health sector. We’re working on our members and training providers. [email protected] collaborating with primary health We’re also in the process of networks...... communicating with all teacher We like to thank Patti McBain and training schools to see how we can Health Funds Working Liama Aesha McConachie who have best support each school and their Group Report stepped down from the Health students on their learning journeys. Funds Working Group. Thank you We aim to visit all training providers, This working group aims to Patti and Liama for all your fantastic meet with the students and actively strengthen relationships with yoga work over the year in helping to engage members as we increase our friendly health funds and educate form the direction of the working communication strategies. We aim them about the yoga industry. We group and updating the yoga to talk with students coming into also aim to work with non-yoga friendly health funds table on the the yoga teacher training courses friendly funds and encourage them Yoga Australia website. about becoming associate members to revisit their policy on providing of Yoga Australia, and then about rebates for yoga. becoming Level 1 teachers, and A direct benefit of being a Yoga For more information: discussing how Yoga Australia can Australia member is offering clients best support them. [email protected] the opportunity to receive rebates from yoga friendly health funds. We are so pleased to announce that ...... For more information: our new updates on the reviewed Teacher Training [email protected] health funds table now include yoga friendly health funds, and Working Group Report removes all health funds that no We’ve had a busy quarter in the longer provide a rebate. The new Teacher Training Working Group. table includes the latest updates Our terms of reference have been and changes to existing health updated. We’re currently in the ...... fund information. See page 16 for a process of emailing letters to all full list of the participating health training providers regarding our Yoga Therapy Working funds. A downloadable printable plans to conduct desktop audits. Group Report table is now available on the In the coming months, we’ll be website at: contacting all training providers who We’ve been busy with have registered courses with us to communications this quarter in the yogaaustralia.org.au/health-funds. see where they may need assistance Yoga Therapy Working Group. We’ve We are excited to report that the conforming to the Yoga Australia now updated the terms of reference
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 9 COMMITTEE NEWS and have extended the group to and helps build international throughout the year and it was a welcome additional members. support and develops international great starting point. I really wanted standards for our members. Leanne to delve further into this, to find my We’ve been working to book dates will be joining the monthly meetings voice and confidence and to see if for both the Community of Practice with the IAYT and attending teaching yoga was something I really and Yoga Therapy Presentations in person twice yearly. It is a wanted to do. Teaching two classes for 2018, to be announced in tremendous honour to be taking up a week, for three months at the the Summer 2018 issue of Yoga the legacy and continue building on Pop-Up Studio really gave me this Today. Please stay tuned! These from the relationships former Yoga opportunity. And as suspected, once presentations provide support and Australia President, Leigh Blashki my nerves subsided, I did fall madly benefits to your registration as a established in his presidential in love with teaching!” Yoga Therapist. role and while serving on the What did you learn? Initially, Yoga Australia began Certification Committee himself. registering Yoga Therapists in Dec Thank you Leigh for representing “I think the biggest thing I learnt 2016, accepting an old standard Australia in the international yoga was that once I got out of my head, during this first phase 12 month community for the past decades. words just flowed. For me it was period. As of December 2017, about letting go and trusting that For more information: Yoga Australia concludes the I have knowledge inside me. I also grandparenting pathway - ceasing to [email protected] learnt to be flexible with my class use the old standard - and officially plans, and to let go if what I planned replaces it with Yoga Australia’s ...... wasn’t suitable for the people Educational Standards across the Pop-Up Report who turned up to class. One time I board, including a requirement of planned a dynamic vinyasa class and 650 hours of yoga therapy training. What is Pop Up? only one person arrived, and they Please see our Yoga Therapy Yoga Australia’s Pop Up Yoga had never practised yoga before. Educational Standards available Studio in Melbourne gives recently So instead, we spent the hour going on the website: .yogaaustralia.org. graduated yoga teachers, the through the basics at a much slower au/post-graduate-qualifications-2/ opportunity to take a 10 week pace, in a one-on-one environment.” registered-yoga-therapist/ teaching stint, often at the Is there any advice you’d like to This working group is supporting beginning of their teaching pathway, give to recent teacher training our registered yoga therapy training to consolidate new learning. Pop Up graduates? providers by actively communicating Studio offers an affordable, intimate “Take time to think and plan your with trainers that are not registered and rewarding yoga experience classes and make them meaningful as yoga therapy courses to for the yoga teacher and general to you. Keep up your own practice, discuss their terminology in their public, and is a pay-as-you-feel and at the same time, attend your advertising. yoga studio. Customers give what they feel the class is worth, and favourite teacher’s classes. I found We have also been liaising with have the opportunity to contribute I was most motivated to teach the Australasian Integrative towards a world where respect, when I was doing this. Try not to Medicine Association (AIMA). We generosity, trust, equality, freedom be disheartened if no one shows are so pleased to be developing a and kindness rule. up - it’s a nice opportunity for self- relationship with the AIMA, to work practice and to test out a new class with professionals in the integrative In this issue of Yoga Today, we hear plan.” medical community who choose from two Yoga Australia members, Lou Desroches registered yoga therapists. Thanks Amy Goodwin and Lou Desroches, to Kym McDonald who travelled about their Pop Up teaching “I have been lucky enough to be from Newcastle to Sydney to experiences. teaching at the Pop-Up Studio at represent Yoga Australia at the AIMA Amy Goodwin, what did you want Yoga Australia on Chapel Street for event and build relationships and to gain from this experience of 10 weeks and it has been amazing. communications for our members teaching at Pop Up, and did you When you become a yoga teacher, with the AIMA. manage to achieve your goals? I think it is very hard to start your own teaching journey. Often you In other exciting news, as “I had wanted to do yoga teacher have a lot of doubt and although you mentioned in the President’s report, training for years, both for feel full of great knowledge, there Leanne has been selected to serve professional development and is nothing better than experience. on the Certification Committee of to study something I loved. The Teaching opportunities get you more International Association of Yoga thought of teaching yoga made me confident and help you find your Therapists (IAYT) for a three year extremely nervous as I’d always own self and style. term. This is significant for Yoga struggled with public speaking. Australia Yoga Therapists, as her My training with the Australian Starting my journey with the involvement links us internationally Yoga Academy required us to opportunity to run classes on to the global yoga community, teach at a couple of Karma Classes donation twice a week in such a 10 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 beautiful space was truly a blessing. with your choice to attend one events, was free for members. The team at Yoga Australia provide of three CICs (Common Interest a safe and supportive environment, Communities). This concept has so one can find their own path been borrowed from the IAYT’s Attending workshops like this as a yoga teacher. It is extremely Symposium of Yoga Therapy & provides fantastic educational rewarding to be a part of a project Research - and proves to be a fun opportunities and the chance to that offers yoga to a larger part and engaging way to learn, connect participate in discussions with of the community that is donation and network with fellow colleagues fellow teachers while earning your based. with similar interests. CPD points. I have grown so much as a teacher, There will be two panel We have a few presentations refined my skills and got a lot more presentations throughout the already planned for 2018 and will be confident, met amazing people, conference, sure to draw strong announcing those shortly. Please and found who I wanted to be as attendance. ‘Hands on Assisting, to mark our events in your diary and a teacher and what I could offer. I adjust or not’ and ‘Marketing in the get along to workshops on offer can’t imagine a better way to start Modern Age’. through your membership with Yoga my yoga journey that this. Australia. Next up in October is: Early bird tickets have gone on Thank you, Yoga Australia, and sale and will be available at their The Bendigo Yoga Teachers Meeting thanks to all my students that came reduced rate until November 22nd and Mudra Workshop with Gina along”. (and it’s not too late to join in as a Macauley ...... sponsor for this event, either!). We Sunday 22 October 2017 hope to see you there! Conference 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Ann Marie Johnston & Gabrielle The Yoga Australia Conference Boswell At Yoga Hara Committee is excited to announce that that our program for the March 1A King Street 2018 Yoga Australia Conference - The Yoga Australia Bendigo, VIC 3550 Modern World of Yoga, March 16-18, If you have a venue/studio that you is in the process of being finalised. Committee Reports feel would be suitable for a Yoga The event will be held at the Crown Australia event, and/or would like Towers and a block of rooms have ...... to offer a workshop, please email: been organised at a reduced rate. Vic Report [email protected] We were delighted to have both In July, Yoga Australia had the Don’t forget, the 2018 Yoga national & international speakers pleasure of hosting a Yoga for Australia Conference will be held submit to be key note presenters Diabetes with Rachel Zinman in Melbourne on 16-18 March 2018. at our conference and we’re thrilled workshop at Prana House. Rachel Please mark this out in your diaries to announce that Michael Lee (The shared significant knowledge and now, so you can come and be with Founder of Phoenix Rising Yoga practices for members so that your peers and fellow members at Therapy, a leading edge yoga based teachers can understand and this wonderful conference event. modality in body-mind therapy) help students in yoga who may and Nikki Myers (Yoga of 12 Step be suffering from diabetes. The Recovery - addressing the physical, workshop included discussions For more information: mental and spiritual disease of around understanding diabetes, addiction) both from the US will be an autoimmune disorder and the [email protected] joining in with Yoga Australia past different types of diabetes and presidents, Leigh Blashki (Founder warning signs. Rachel presented on of Australian Institute Yoga Therapy, how yoga helps increase sensitivity Yoga Australia Senior Registered to insulin, the correlation between Teacher and Certified Registered stress and disease management, Yoga Therapist with the IAYT) and how yoga can help manage blood ...... Michael de Manincor (Director or glucose levels and work with SA Report the Yoga Institute and Founder muscles to help increase the uptake & Executive Director of the Yoga of glucose, taking pressure off the Thank you to all who attended the Foundation). pancreas. Rachel highlighted the International Day of Yoga in Adelaide and for providing feedback on this We are also, this year, excited to many benefits of yoga for diabetes, including increases in circulation, fantastic day-long event featuring advise that we’re extending the different styles of yoga. We would conference to include a half day of calming of the central nervous system, and what to consider for like to extend acknowledgements to presentations on Friday afternoon. Kate O’Leary-Wroblewski and Jacqui The conference will kick off at 12:00 students. This was a wonderful workshop, and like all our state Teusner for their efforts in putting
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 11 COMMITTEE NEWS on the International Day of Yoga For more information: Jha, High Commission of India’s event. talk on “Yoga & India – its impacts [email protected] on adults and children around the Thank you all who came along to world” at the 1st 2017 Yoga Australia the South Australia State meeting ...... ACT meeting for the year. Thanks held this quarter and were actively also to Kendra Boone for her talk involved. We value our members so ACT Report on the yoga journey and her yoga much and the more participation we The Yoga Australia ACT 2017 annual therapy studies at the 2017 2nd Yoga receive from members the more you Pot Luck meeting will be held Australia ACT meeting on 27 May will feel connected to Yoga Australia on Saturday 21 October 2017 at 2017. We also would like to thank Ms and the support we give. 11 Couvreur St, Garran between Robyn Lewis for her stage sequential We are excited to be organising 6:15 pm and 9:00 pm. Mr Darryl routines at the main International the Yoga Australia Annual General Alexander will be presenting at this Yoga Day event at the Albert Hall, Meeting here in Adelaide on 12 event. You might remember Darryl and thank you to YA ACT members November 2017. We hope to see as from 2015, as he led the first ACT offering of free classes and many of you there as we can. We’ll International Yoga Day presentation presentation at their own studios/ be sharing reports on the work that year. Soon after that Darryl different locations/schools. Thank of the committee and conducting experienced a near death accident you everyone! We look forward to elections for positions on the and major head injury while bringing more talks and events to Executive and National Management attending a yoga training centre in members going forward. Committee. The event includes a India. He’s still in the process of CPD presentation. Hope to see you recovery and recuperation, yet he’ll in November! be with us to share how yoga has For more information: been of enormous benefit to him in the face of the unexpected, and how [email protected] For more information: yoga is helping him move forward with life. He’ll also be talking about ...... [email protected] his experiences growing up with TAS Report yoga and how he became a yoga ...... teacher in the first place. We would Many Tasmanian members WA Report love to see as many Yoga Australia gathered in Hobart in May at the members at this event as we can. beautiful new Hara studio. Gabe Our final CPD event for the year will Gartrell, an Iyengar Yoga teacher, be held on 4th November at Off the We would like to take the gave an informative workshop in Wall Yoga studio, East Fremantle. opportunity in this issue of Yoga ‘Adjustment in Asana’ with a useful This event is about Moving into Today to express gratitude to all Q & A afterwards during which Stillness - Immersing Yourself the Yoga Australia ACT members the diversity of teachers present into Dru Yoga. Aileen Emery is your and partnering organisations for respectfully shared a range of presenter for this one and Aileen is their continued efforts and support different perspectives in practising a Dru Yoga Teacher Trainer in WA. in volunteering and collaborating asana in general. Lynn updated with the various activities held us on what is happening in Yoga The half day workshop will be a throughout the year. Australia at a national level and we great experience to come and relax, enjoyed the opportunity to network experience Dru’s unique Energy Special thanks goes to the over cups of tea. Block Release Sequence, discover Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre powerful techniques for inner clarity Canberra (HTCC) of the ACT with On September 23rd Julia and and calm, and simply recharge while their invitation for a talk and Maddy will be heading north to being in great company of other involvement with Yoga Australia ACT Launceston, together with a few Yoga Australia members. Dru yoga for the celebrations of their 30th other southerners to meet some of is a graceful yet potent style of anniversary on 25 March 2017 and our northern members. yoga, combining dynamic, flowing affiliated open Yoga Day program. Kinga Kielar-Coe has generously movements with directed breathing We would also like to thank The High offered us her Satsang studio for and visualisations. Dru offers simple Commission of India’s collaborative a workshop where she will present techniques to help you navigate approach with the Yoga Australia ‘Joint Safety in Asana’ and Maddy everyday challenges with calm, ACT for the 2016 and 2017 June and Julia will offer their ideas on the clarity and ease. If you’ve never successful International Day of Yoga value of including Mindfulness in experienced Dru Yoga before, and ACT celebration, and The GOPIO, yoga classes. especially if you have, you won’t Yoga Mandir and other organisations want to miss the free Yoga Australia with the 2017 International Day of We recognise the industry has taken event and collect your CPD points in Yoga Events. off in recent years, with a wide November. As always, don’t forget to We’ve had some wonderful talks variety of styles of yoga now being book in! this year including Mr Nachiketa accessible across our community. 12 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Many people are receiving the authors of “Yoga for Osteoporosis”. connections. benefits of yoga and it remains in Lastly, we would absolutely love Rachel opened the teaching part our hands as teachers to maintain to have your involvement on the of the day’s activities by leading a balance of content in our classes committee. Please have a think the group through the Om Saha in order for students to acquire a and do get in touch if you would Navavatu invocation. Explaining holistic practice. like to help out by volunteering, the qualities of teachers and as we could always do with more archarya, as in keeping with the Later in the year we are planning volunteers. We are also looking for Krishnamacharya lineage, Rachel a workshop which will include a venues on the Gold Coast, Sunshine then guided the attendees through practical component followed by a Coast or Brisbane where we can hold the seven steps; the Vinyasa presentation from Lynn on Ethics our state meetings, so if you have Krama, of learning and teaching: in teaching and mentoring new a venue, that would be wonderful. Sravanam, Grahanam, Mananam, teachers. Please stay tuned for If you have a CPD topic you would Nidithyasanam, Anubhava, Pariksa, announcements. like to present at a state meeting, Pracaranam. During the teaching we would love to chat with you Rachel led the attendees in a For more information: about it, and if you would like to practice to master the sense [email protected] lead an interactive workshop for of hearing and then closed the teachers at a state meeting that formalities with a Kirtan chanting ...... would be superb. Please email qld@ session and meditation. A lively yogaaustralia.org.au and we will be discussion followed with yogis QLD Report in touch. sharing the insights, ideas and challenges they’ve experienced as In July on the Gold Coast, at the Thank you to Carmel Gannon for teachers. Feedback on the day was Yoga Therapy Community of Practice your support and leadership as NMC extremely positive with attendees session, Trish David presented QLD. Thanks also to Robyn Raneng sharing how their expanded “Burnout, Rekindling the Flame.” for helping with both the QLD & NSW knowledge of learning and teaching Drawn from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras Committee with events. And thanks will enhance their personal practice and her years of experience working to all our members, please continue and their ability to teach others. with clients, a robust discussion your support with attendance and followed, indicating a common feedback at our state meetings. Next up, was a gathering at the thread for many of our clients. Thank you. Yogic Wisdom Studio in Boolaroo Thanks to Robyn Clatworthy for (Lake Macquarie region) with around hosting this meeting at her home. 35 yogis coming along to hear Kate O’Donahue from Frontline Yoga The QLD Committee, namely Robyn For more information: share her experience and wisdom Raneng and Carmel Gannon (NMC [email protected] around working with students QLD) have also been actively who’ve experienced trauma. Kate supporting the NSW committee for ...... shared how to tailor classes to events in the Northern NSW region ensure those with conditions such in June 2017 in Byron Bay, NSW for NSW Report as depression, PTSD, and anxiety the Yoga Therapy Community of On Sunday 30 July, nearly 30 yogis can gain a greater sense of calm Practice. gathered in the Ray of Light Studio and peace from participating in Trish Crossley presented “Darsanam in Bulli, NSW to listen to Rachel these uniquely formed classes. Kym of Breath” - characteristics of breath Nokes share The Vinyasa of Learning McDonald, the founder of Yogic at rest as an assessment tool in and Teaching. Yogis from as far afield Wisdom and NSW representative for yoga therapy. as Sawtell (near Coffs Harbour), Emu Yoga Australia also spoke, sharing Plains and Newcastle travelled to the aims and accomplishments Please mark in your diaries the participate in this enriching event. of Yoga Australia. The afternoon QLD State Meeting on Sun 12 Nov was riveting and topped off with a 2017. The CPD Presentation will be Merry Lee Perez represented the scrumptious afternoon tea provided Yoga for Strong Bones (assist with Yoga Australia Executive Team by several of Kym’s Yoga Teacher osteoporosis & osteopenia). and explained the goals within the Strategic Plan and provided Training students. Our presenter will be James Bone an update on the activities of the Please mark in your diaries the first BSc BAppSc (Physio) Dip Bowen Adv Committees. Of particular interest weekend of November for Yoga Cert Ayurveda, Member Level 3 YA, to the group was the upcoming Australia, as interested yogis are Yoga Therapist member YA, Member Children’s Yoga Pilot Program invited to attend a session in Emu AAYT, Member APA. – which several of the teachers Plains with Gemma Perry. Gemma James, a physiotherapist, yoga in attendance hope to become will share the science of mantra teacher and yoga therapist with engaged with. The group then and meditation and how this can over 20 years of experience, has relocated onto the deck, in the lush help students heal and increase been a facilitator for Osteoporosis sub-tropical forest surrounding their overall wellness. Gemma is education with Osteoporosis Rachel’s amazing studio and home, dedicated to the science of mantra Australia. He has completed extra to network over refreshments. This and completed her Honours in studies in Yoga for Bones with Dr was a lively gathering with yogis Psychology in 2015 during which Loren Fishman & Ellen Saltonstall, catching up with those they’ve she investigated the physiological met before, and making new
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 13 COMMITTEE NEWS and cognitive effects of chanting mantras. The invitation will be posted on the Yoga Australia website in the next few days, so please watch this space if you would like to attend! For more information: [email protected] NZ Report We have had our busiest few months at Yoga New Zealand so far! Thanks to Robyn Lewis and a team of resourceful volunteers, YNZ meetings on ‘Inclusive Yoga’ will be held in Auckland on 30th September and in Wellington on 1st October. Please mark these dates in your diary as we would love to see you there! We are looking to grow both our volunteer and membership base, especially in the South Island and outside of the main centres. Please contact us if you want to connect and bring events and meetings to your town. New application forms and guides are available for New Zealand membership and Yoga New Zealand is keen to register kiwi teacher training courses. Isabelle Major, based in Auckland, provides support for membership and volunteers through [email protected]. nz. Please do get in touch!
We are starting to plan our 2018 events soon, so we encourage all New Zealand members to let us know if they are interested in hosting an event at their studio, and to tell us what you’d be most interested in attending Yoga New Zealand workshops on, and what aspects of yoga interest you the most. We look forward to hearing from you! For more information: [email protected]
some moments from the Newcastle Yoga Teachers
Meeting and CPD Workshop with Kate O’Donoghue
14 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Why become a Yoga Australia member
Yoga Australia is the peak body representing & advocating on behalf of the yoga industry.
By joining Yoga Australia, you gain access to a range of products and services both locally and interstate that will support you in developing and maintaining professional and ethical standards of practice throughout your career. Membership of Yoga Australia illustrates your personal commitment to upholding the values of the association. Your membership will help support the ongoing promotion, lobbying and representation of your interests as a yoga professional.
To view the full range of member benefits or to apply for membership, visit: www.yogaaustralia.org.au
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 15 Yoga Australia and Health Funds
For more comprehensive information of the Health Funds available please visit yogaaustralia.org.au/about-us/health-funds/
Fund Name What are the requirements of the Yoga What are the requirements of the Yoga Student? National Fund Name What are the requirements of the Yoga What are the requirements of the Yoga Student? National Teacher? or State Teacher? or State only Fund only Fund AHM Health Insurance An official receipt must be provided. AHM members with an eligible level of cover and National Health.com.au An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Claim Form completed by a National ahm.com.au who have served the relevant waiting periods may health.com.au registered teacher membership number GP is to be provided to the Fund. The form is kept claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner must be provided. on file for 12 months then needs to be renewed. refers them to yoga to address a specific health Mildura Health Fund An official receipt with the clients names, The program must be approved by a GP and be to National condition. mildurahealthfund.com.au dates of sessions that the student attended treat a medical condition. Australian Unity An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National and description of the services provided australianunity.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. (e.g. yoga classes) must be provided. must be provided. NIB An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Program completed by a GP, National CBHS Corporate Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National nib.com.au registered teacher membership number and Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. cbhscorporatehealth.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. NIB registration number must be provided. must be provided. Nurses & Midwives Health An official receipt must be provided. Student must have been refered to yoga by a GP/ National CBHS Health Fund An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National nmhealth.com.au Physio/Chiro to ameliorate a specific medical con- cbhs.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. dition. must be provided. One Medi Fund (National An official receipt with the clients date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National CUA An official receipt must be provided. A Health Management Approval Form completed by National Health Benefits Australia) of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. cua.com.au a GP is to be provided to the Fund. onemedifund.com.au business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. Doctors’ Health Fund Rebates are not provided specifically for A Health Management Progam Form completed by National Peoplecare An official receipt with the client’s date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National doctorshealthfund.com.au yoga classes however they are provided a GP is to be provided to the Fund. peoplecare.com.au of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. for Gym Membership. To obtain a rebate business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. for Gym Membership, yoga teachers must Phoenix Health Fund An official receipt must be provided. A Health Lifestyle Treatment Plan completed by a GP National be delivering yoga in a Gym registered phoenixhealthfund.com.au is to be provided to the Fund. with Fitness Australia. Queensland Country Health An official receipt with your ABN and Yoga Student must a referral to yoga from a health care Qld & NT GMF Health Now part of HBF Health Insurance. Please Now part of HBF Health Insurance. Please refer to National Fund Australia registered teacher membership professional to assist with a specific health issue. - gmfhealth.com.au/ refer to HBF. HBF. qldcountryhealth.com.au number must be provided. Approval form GU Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National Railway and Transport Health Rebates are not provided specifically for Student must have a referral to the Gym from a GP. National guhealth.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. Fund Limited AHSA yoga classes however they are provided for must be provided. rthealthfund.com.au Gym Membership. To obtain a rebate for HBF “HBF provides a rebate for eight yoga Eight yoga sessions must be attended within a National Gym Membership, yoga teachers must be hbf.com.au sessions when completed within a three three month period. delivering yoga in a Gym registered with month period. Fitness Australia. An official receipt with your HBF Provider Reserve Bank Health Society An official receipt with the client’s date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National Number and dates of sessions that the myrbhs.com.au/ of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. student attended must be provided.” business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. HCF An official receipt with your Yoga Australia “HCF members with an eligible level of cover and National Teachers Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia “A Health Lifesyle Form from a GP/Physio/Chiro National hcf.com.au registered teacher membership number who have served the relevant waiting periods may teachershealth.com.au/ registered teacher membership number, completed by a GP, Physio or Chiro confirming that must be provided. claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner ABN, address and description of the attending yoga classes will help prevent or amelio- refers them to yoga to address a specific health services provided (e.g. yoga classes) must rate a specific medical condition is to be provided to condition. be provided. the Fund. To make a claim, complete an Exercise and gym “ benefits authorisation claim form from: www.hcf. Transport Health An official receipt with the name of your National com.au/pdf/Exercise_Gym_Form.pdf and submit a transporthealth.com.au/ client must be provided. recepit. “ TUH Health Fund An official receipt with your Yoga Australia TUH members with an eligible level of cover and National tuh.com.au/ registered teacher membership number and who have served the relevant waiting periods may Health Insurance Fund of Must be Registered with Yoga Australia. A Health Management Form completed by a GP is National ABN must be provided. claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner Australia Limited to be provided to the Fund. refers them to yoga to address a specific health hif.com.au condition. Health Partners AHSA Must be Registered with Yoga Australia. A Health Management Form completed by a GP is National Westfund Health Insurance An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Program completed by a GP National healthpartners.com.au/Rnew to be provided to the Fund. westfund.com.au/ registered teacher membership number and is to be provided to the Fund. the dates of the classses attended must be “Please note that Yoga Australia works with HealthFunds to provide up-to-date information in this table. Information may be subject to change, and Yoga provided. Australia recommends that yoga students contact Health Funds directly for the most current rebate information available. Table current as of September 2017.” 16 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Yoga Australia and Health Funds
For more comprehensive information of the Health Funds available please visit yogaaustralia.org.au/about-us/health-funds/
Fund Name What are the requirements of the Yoga What are the requirements of the Yoga Student? National Fund Name What are the requirements of the Yoga What are the requirements of the Yoga Student? National Teacher? or State Teacher? or State only Fund only Fund AHM Health Insurance An official receipt must be provided. AHM members with an eligible level of cover and National Health.com.au An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Claim Form completed by a National ahm.com.au who have served the relevant waiting periods may health.com.au registered teacher membership number GP is to be provided to the Fund. The form is kept claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner must be provided. on file for 12 months then needs to be renewed. refers them to yoga to address a specific health Mildura Health Fund An official receipt with the clients names, The program must be approved by a GP and be to National condition. mildurahealthfund.com.au dates of sessions that the student attended treat a medical condition. Australian Unity An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National and description of the services provided australianunity.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. (e.g. yoga classes) must be provided. must be provided. NIB An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Program completed by a GP, National CBHS Corporate Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National nib.com.au registered teacher membership number and Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. cbhscorporatehealth.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. NIB registration number must be provided. must be provided. Nurses & Midwives Health An official receipt must be provided. Student must have been refered to yoga by a GP/ National CBHS Health Fund An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National nmhealth.com.au Physio/Chiro to ameliorate a specific medical con- cbhs.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. dition. must be provided. One Medi Fund (National An official receipt with the clients date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National CUA An official receipt must be provided. A Health Management Approval Form completed by National Health Benefits Australia) of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. cua.com.au a GP is to be provided to the Fund. onemedifund.com.au business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. Doctors’ Health Fund Rebates are not provided specifically for A Health Management Progam Form completed by National Peoplecare An official receipt with the client’s date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National doctorshealthfund.com.au yoga classes however they are provided a GP is to be provided to the Fund. peoplecare.com.au of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. for Gym Membership. To obtain a rebate business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. for Gym Membership, yoga teachers must Phoenix Health Fund An official receipt must be provided. A Health Lifestyle Treatment Plan completed by a GP National be delivering yoga in a Gym registered phoenixhealthfund.com.au is to be provided to the Fund. with Fitness Australia. Queensland Country Health An official receipt with your ABN and Yoga Student must a referral to yoga from a health care Qld & NT GMF Health Now part of HBF Health Insurance. Please Now part of HBF Health Insurance. Please refer to National Fund Australia registered teacher membership professional to assist with a specific health issue. - gmfhealth.com.au/ refer to HBF. HBF. qldcountryhealth.com.au number must be provided. Approval form GU Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Form completed by a GP, National Railway and Transport Health Rebates are not provided specifically for Student must have a referral to the Gym from a GP. National guhealth.com.au registered teacher membership number Physio or Chiro is to be provided to the Fund. Fund Limited AHSA yoga classes however they are provided for must be provided. rthealthfund.com.au Gym Membership. To obtain a rebate for HBF “HBF provides a rebate for eight yoga Eight yoga sessions must be attended within a National Gym Membership, yoga teachers must be hbf.com.au sessions when completed within a three three month period. delivering yoga in a Gym registered with month period. Fitness Australia. An official receipt with your HBF Provider Reserve Bank Health Society An official receipt with the client’s date Student must a referral to yoga from an allied health National Number and dates of sessions that the myrbhs.com.au/ of birth, teacher’s name and teacher’s professional to assist with a specific health issue. student attended must be provided.” business name must be provided. Please note pregnancy is not a health issue. HCF An official receipt with your Yoga Australia “HCF members with an eligible level of cover and National Teachers Health An official receipt with your Yoga Australia “A Health Lifesyle Form from a GP/Physio/Chiro National hcf.com.au registered teacher membership number who have served the relevant waiting periods may teachershealth.com.au/ registered teacher membership number, completed by a GP, Physio or Chiro confirming that must be provided. claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner ABN, address and description of the attending yoga classes will help prevent or amelio- refers them to yoga to address a specific health services provided (e.g. yoga classes) must rate a specific medical condition is to be provided to condition. be provided. the Fund. To make a claim, complete an Exercise and gym “ benefits authorisation claim form from: www.hcf. Transport Health An official receipt with the name of your National com.au/pdf/Exercise_Gym_Form.pdf and submit a transporthealth.com.au/ client must be provided. recepit. “ TUH Health Fund An official receipt with your Yoga Australia TUH members with an eligible level of cover and National tuh.com.au/ registered teacher membership number and who have served the relevant waiting periods may Health Insurance Fund of Must be Registered with Yoga Australia. A Health Management Form completed by a GP is National ABN must be provided. claim for yoga classes when a medical practitioner Australia Limited to be provided to the Fund. refers them to yoga to address a specific health hif.com.au condition. Health Partners AHSA Must be Registered with Yoga Australia. A Health Management Form completed by a GP is National Westfund Health Insurance An official receipt with your Yoga Australia A Health Management Program completed by a GP National healthpartners.com.au/Rnew to be provided to the Fund. westfund.com.au/ registered teacher membership number and is to be provided to the Fund. the dates of the classses attended must be “Please note that Yoga Australia works with HealthFunds to provide up-to-date information in this table. Information may be subject to change, and Yoga provided. Australia recommends that yoga students contact Health Funds directly for the most current rebate information available. Table current as of September 2017.” Yoga Today • Spring 2017 17 President’s Thoughts: Yoga and Religion Yoga In The Community
Throughout the year the To answer people saying that yoga on how and when we teach in discussion on yoga as a religion emerges from the same origins as different settings to different and yoga in conflict with religious Hindu and other eastern religious students. Let’s take opportunities institutions has been prominent. belief systems, the answer is to communicate openly with It seems that there is much yes that is correct, though the churches and those who may confusion about this amongst practices and goals of yoga differ. have concerns about the teaching yoga teachers. of yoga to their followers and find ways that we can direct our WHAT IF WE JUST TEACH THE teaching of yoga to help people IS YOGA A RELIGION? POSTURES AND BREATHING OF move closer to their chosen faith YOGA? without any spiritual confusion. We No. The authoritative text on yoga also need to be open to the fact is Patanjali Yoga Sutra. In chapter According to Patanjali for the mind that yoga, including the physical one Patanjali states that yoga to reach the state of yoga the practices alone, may not always be is to quieten the fluctuations of body may need to be prepared. the path of choice for everyone. the mind so that the mind does In Chapter 2 verse 46-47 he says not only conform to the thought the practice of asana leads to the waves but has an ability to link loosening of physical resistance As I have been writing this report I to a deeper unchanging state in the body so that we may focus came across a post by Michael Lee of mind. In sutras 1.23-1.29 he on the infinite. Then in Chapter quoting the Buddha (Magandiya suggests that one of the OPTIONAL 2 verse 50 the breath becomes Sutra), “Those who cling to ways that we may still the thought long and subtle so that the mind perception and views wander the waves is to devote our thoughts and senses are prepared for world offending people”. Let us to an entity that does not suffer concentration (Chapter 3, verse 1) share the light of yoga in the ways from the same mental afflictions which leads to Chapter 3 verse 3, that best serve our communities that we might, is not effected by Samadhi a transcendental state of and respects each individual’s the consequences of actions, is mind. choices. the knower of all knowledge and original teacher of true knowledge. Technically if a physical, breathing or meditative practice is not IS YOGA HINDUISM? leading to an inner state that transcends our usual patterns Yes. In the context that Hinduism of thought it is not yoga. Most is a term that refers to anything yoga teachers will correctly teach Leanne Davis that has evolved from the culture that our practice is helping us of people who originated in the to recognise our inner spiritual President Yoga Australia Indus Valley of what was formerly nature. As teachers, we need to North India. The teachings of respect that this is contrary to that time are passed on through most religious belief systems who the four Vedas which thousands will be guiding their followers to of years later were condensed look outside of themselves and into six scientific systems to towards a preferred God. understand their meaning. The sixth of those sciences is Yoga. Another of these systems is Vedanta which forms the basis WHAT DO WE DO? of what is referred to as Hindu religion. Here we find God as sustainer, creator and destroyer. The path of yoga is one of respect Many people have been exposed for each other’s relationship to to the teachings of yoga as a blend our own individual beliefs. It between Yoga and Vedanta which is important that we know the does lead to confusion. origins and cultural context of the science of yoga and then be honest and open minded
18 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Looking after you and your business A tailored insurance solution for you www.gsaib.com.au/yoga
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GSA would like to thank all Yoga Australia members who participated in the early bird promotion and renewed their policy with GSA. We had an overwhelming response and are pleased to congratulate Anne Middleton on winning the $1,000 Webjet Travel Voucher. Tel: 02 8274 8100 Email: [email protected] 1 Cover can only be taken out when you purchase a policy through Yoga Australia and GSA GSA Insurance Brokers 2 Yoga Australia recommends a minimum of $5m PI and $10m Public Liability ABN: 34 084 437 196 AFSL 238477 3 Must relate to a policy coverage issue www.gsaib.com.au Yoga Today • Spring 2017 19 ARTICLES & OPINIONS
Industry Intelligence & Business of Yoga: DISCUSSION POINT - TOWARDS MORE DIVERSE PARTICIPATION IN YOGA Are we teaching people who are the same as us?
BACKGROUND The Students Will Be There’ was in research cannot tell us specific the Winter edition of Yoga Today relationships or causes, and In early 2017 Yoga Australia and grappled with issues around that there are limitations in the purchased the ‘Yoga Participants marketing, profiles and knowing study (for example, ‘yoga’ was Profile’ report from Roy Morgan our purpose as teachers. not defined), here is a list of Research. This report is based populations that were deemed on data extracted from a wider As a third part of our response, significantly less likely to be survey of 20,000 Australians this paper highlights the participating in yoga than the (via face-to face interviews and populations that seem to be general Australian population (this self-completion questionnaires) under-represented in yoga list includes only those identified over the period July 2015 to June participation and raises questions as at least 15% less likely). 2016. It gives us information about about what this might mean and the characteristics of the 1,240 what we are doing to reach out. • Men (53% less likely) participants who listed yoga as • 50-64 years old (16% less likely) one of their sport/recreation activities and compares them to POPULATIONS LESS LIKELY TO DO • 65 & over (68% less likely) the general Australian population. YOGA • Tasmanian (49% less likely to do Yoga Australia’s response to The Morgan Yoga Participants yoga than the average Australian)1 this report, via the Industry Profile shows us certain age • Northern Territory (results too Intelligence and now also the ranges, geographic areas, low to be reliable ... but 56% less Business of Yoga Working Groups personal characteristics, social/ likely)1 has been in 3 parts. Part 1 - economic/educational groups that ‘Yoga Participants: Who Are They are over-represented in the 1,240 • People with a secondary In Australia?’ focused on the yoga participants surveyed and education of year 11 or below (45% demographic data and appeared some that are significantly under- less likely) in Yoga Today, Autumn 2017 and represented. part 2, ‘When The Teacher Is Ready • People with no secondary Remembering that this education (91% less likely). 20 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 • People who are retired or not In the 2006 study, level of • ‘Yoga For People Experiencing employed (52-62% less likely) education was similar between Disadvantage’ teachers and students (p136), as • People who are NOT • ‘Indigenous Storytelling In Yoga’ was marital status (p128). The professionals, managers, white same study looked at ‘rurality’ [p • ‘Why Boys Need Yoga’ collar workers (ie skilled/part 116] and found that teachers were skilled/unskilled workers) are up slightly less likely to live in capital • ‘Why Don’t More Men Practice to 48% less likely. (People who are cities and slightly more likely Yoga?’ professionals/managers are 33% to live in remote areas or rural more likely to do yoga, white collar In addition there are articles centres than students, otherwise a workers 49% more likely). and blogs looking at the value similar percentage of students and and feasibility of yoga in PTSD, • Income/socio-economic status - teachers live in metro and large surviving stroke, diabetes, anxiety not surprisingly, people with less rural centres [p 137]. As far as and depression, chronic pain, discretionary expenditure were employment status was concerned people who are deaf, war veterans, less likely to do yoga (37%) and in 2006, teachers were significantly to name just a few. people from lower socio-economic more likely to be self-employed backgrounds were 50% less likely than their students and less to do yoga likely to be employed full-time – CAN WE CHALLENGE THESE otherwise similar. [p139] “Teachers STATISTICS? were more likely to have a lower 1 Possibly reflects rural/low household income, and twice as We know that statistics often don’t density population? likely as their students to have a give us a true picture of the world household income of $30,000 or we live and breathe in. Perhaps 2 Possibly reflects age/disability? less”. you have stories of yoga in your area that is accessible to diverse 3.Note: there is no data on race/ It seems the evidence suggests populations? At the very least, cultural background in this profile that, except in a few areas, yoga Yoga Australia can be a forum for report students and teachers are likely to yoga teachers and students to mirror each other’s characteristics. share wisdom, experiences and Thus it is no surprise that male, strategies as we take the wellbeing ARE WE TEACHING PEOPLE WHO older, less educated, blue collar and personal expansion that yoga ARE THE SAME AS US? and geographically isolated can bring to more corners of the It is interesting to consider populations aren’t finding their world. whether this list of characteristics way to yoga classes. REFERENCES is the opposite of the key Many of us teach the people who characteristics of yoga teachers. are attracted to us. Perhaps this YOGA PARTICIPANTS PROFILE, July2015 –June 2106, Roy Morgan We might not have current hard means we mostly teach people Research data but there is significant who move in similar circles to us. evidence to suggest that yoga If we teach from the ‘livingness YOGA IN AUSTRALIA: Results of teachers are predominantly of our being’ then as a matter of A National Survey, 2008 Stephen women. The ‘Yoga in Australia course this may be so. Penman, https://researchbank. Study’, for instance, found that rmit.edu.au/eserv/rmit:6110/ 82.6% of teachers were female Penman.pdf [Penman 2006:119]. It would be ARE WE ACTIVELY REACHING OUT? interesting to find out the age If we are to make yoga more statistics for yoga teachers. Are accessible to the populations who there significantly more teachers are currently missing out we need who are under 50? Our 2017 to consciously reach beyond our member survey might indicate Lynn Romeo is a Gita-trained familiar zones – something that is teacher and social worker who not – 60% of respondents to this intrinsic to the nature of yoga, one year’s survey were between 45 and has taught for over 25 years in would think. This is what teachers Melbourne and Hobart. She 64 and only 6.25 % were below are doing when they offer time or 34. (This might reflect a different is currently the Tasmanian classes for free or at reduced cost representative on our National propensity to fill in surveys or in what can be variously termed it might reflect the age range of Management Committee, mentors as ‘karma yoga’, ‘philanthropic yoga teachers/trainees and teachers rather than an accurate outreach’, or ‘pro bono’ classes. representation of the age of yoga brings together human service teachers). On the other hand, the This year’s YA members survey workers and yoga teachers 2006 yoga study found that 82% showed us that 50% of the 208 to explore partnerships and of teachers were 25-54 yo and teachers who responded offered understandings in using yoga to generally speaking students and some form of free yoga and 17% release the effects of trauma and teachers were spread similarly said they would like to. And a quick thus heal the causes of most of across age groups. [Penman – scan of the Yoga Australia website, the world’s personal, health and P112]. Are yoga teachers more reveals articles and blogs with social problems. likely to have higher secondary encouraging titles such as: and tertiary education and are • ‘There Will Be Diversity And The they more likely to live in cities/ Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ more densely populated areas?
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 21 WHAT’S ON - 2017
Hatha Flow with Michelle Papa really help me to focus and I find that most students love them too, - Sunday Gentle All Levels Hatha especially the mudra meditation What’s Flow with Odette Beswick. For focusing on the breath. I am looking more information visit forward to sharing this with you too.“ On sfol.com.au/
21 October November 2017 ACT Annual Pot Luck Dinner Your guide to with Darryl Alexander 4 November the member Inviting all yoga teachers and WA CPD Event - Moving into teacher trainees to join Yoga stillness – immerse yourself workshops & Australia ACT Annual Potluck in the great experience of meeting on Saturday 21 October. Dru Yoga events As a part of the meeting, we will be planning for the 2018 - Yoga This half day workshop will leave Australia ACT ventures and Darryl you deeply relaxed and recharged Alexander will be talking about his on all levels. Graceful and yet life experiences of growing up with potent in form, this style of the yoga tradition, practicing yoga yoga combines dynamic, flowing and becoming a yoga teacher and movements with directed breathing how yoga assisted him to face the and visualisations. In addition unexpected and move forward with to enhancing your overall health everyday life. and wellbeing, Dru yoga offers simple techniques which will enable you to navigate everyday October 2017 challenges with calm, clarity and 22 October ease. This workshop is a perfect way to: Experience Dru yoga’s 13-15 October Bendigo Yoga teachers meeting and mudra many benefits; Experience one of Celebrate Deepavali with us workshop with Gina Dru’s unique Energy Block Release at Swan Festival of Lights in Maccaulay Sequences; Discover powerful Perth this October techniques for inner clarity and Inviting all yoga teachers to attend calm; Recharge and relax. Deepavali is a celebration of Yoga Australia Teachers Meeting and the joys of life through the Mudra Workshop with Gina Macauley presentation of Indian fine in Bendigo! In this workshop Gina arts and culture to the public. will share with you three simple 12 November Every year the festival attracts and fun ways to work with mudras Yoga Australia Annual 25,000+ people over its three day in your own practice and with your Meeting duration. Yoga Space: West Perth, students. Sometimes mudras can State Meeting & Workshop, Maylands & Carine have kindly be a little subtle for beginners, so Melbourne, Victoria offered to run yoga sessions on this workshop will explore working behalf of Yoga Australia. Sessions in ways that are more available At the meeting, there will be a report will be: for people new to mudras. And for those who love chanting, we will on the work of the committee over - Friday Gentle All Levels Hatha earn the mudras for the Gayatri the last 12 months, a financial report Flow with Jean Byrne PhD mantra. “I love working with mudras and elections for positions on the Executive and National Management - Saturday Gentle All Levels in my personal practice as they can
22 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 State group meetings are an excellent way to meet other teachers in your area; gain extra CPD points, share ideas, build competencies and make new friends. We encourage you to make the most of your membership and attend one of the upcoming state meetings. We Committee. The nomination process hope to see you there! will be communicated in August. The Annual General Meeting will be the Pictured Below: Queensland state event last national meeting we will have with our members for 2017. It is a place to share with other members of the association and contribute to ongoing discussions. The meeting will also include a CPD presentation “Business of Yoga”.
December 2018
No events planned at this stage.
January 2018
No events planned at this stage.
February 2018
No events planned at this stage.
March 2018
16 - 18 March The Modern World of Yoga Yoga Australia Conference
Melbourne, Victoria
The conference will be a vibrant forum appealing to a broad Stay Informed range of interests with full days To find out more about these events, or of concurrent presentations others in your area, please visit our website: and ample opportunities for information sharing and australia networking. www.yogaaustralia.org.au For more information visit: new zealand yogaaustraliaconference.org.au www.yoganewzealand.org.nz
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 23 ARTICLES & OPINIONS Find your authentic voice Is today’s busy life with Vedic Chanting impacting your health? The ancient wisdom of Vedic Chanting
Remembering the first class I is adhyayanam and this means of Vedic chanting throughout taught fills me with emotion. I felt to move towards your inner self, Australia, I have developed a a mixture of nerves and strident to connect you with your heart dedicated Melbourne-based Vedic Discover Bioglan Ancient Herbal supplements. passion, as I struggled for the creating a sacred thread from your chant teacher training program right words to guide the students innermost being which binds you beginning in February 2018. in front of me. I was teaching a emotionally to your voice. group of older men at the Centre Among the benefits of chanting Stress & Mild Anxiety Immune System for Positive Living in Prahran and Vedic mantras are: they were much more confident with their yoga practice than I was Traditionally used in Traditionally used in with my teaching. • Improved pronunciation and Ayurvedic medicine Chinese medicine to Your voice reflects who you are strengthening of your voice to help: help: and must be congruent with Relieve stress & Maintain a healthy your inner self, or your message • Better listening skills and improved ability to concentrate mild anxiety immune system will not ring true. Good teaching Relieve mild nervous As a Qi requires focus, clarity and gentle • Better memory and increased instructions delivered with an confidence tension strengthening tonic authentic, not mechanical voice. As a sleep aid • Integration of body, voice, Support memory My confidence, my communication mind and emotion which creates enhancement skills and my voice have developed resilience and inner strength through practice and study of one of the oldest uses of sound, • Relief of stress and anxiety chanting the mantras of the Vedic chanting helped me find Vedas. Chanting can be the most my voice and express myself in sublime way to clear your head ways beyond anything I could and still your mind, allowing time ever have imagined. I now have and space for your own unique the confidence to teach and authentic voice to evolve. became acutely aware of my Digestion Energy & Performance Chanting is a powerful tool of yoga progress recently when I did an for health and healing. The Vedas extended interview about Vedic are the most important collection chanting for ABC radio. I would Traditionally used in Traditionally used in of ancient wisdom and sacred have been unable to do this a few Ayurvedic medicine Oriental medicine^ texts of India. The language of years ago. My heart would have to help: to help: been pounding, my mouth full of the Vedas is Sanskrit and the Relief of occasional Maintain alertness specific vibrations of the sounds glue, and my tongue so twisted I wouldn’t have been able to speak. Debby Badger is a Yoga and Vedic constipation (Matcha) have a powerful positive effect Chant Teacher. She runs individual on you at a physical, energetic, Now I’m able to take such things in Relieve mild Improve mental and group yoga and chanting mental and emotional level. The my stride. abdominal pain & physical classes at Indi House Yoga & Vedic Vedas form the foundation of all For 12 years now I’ve consistently flatulence performance* Indian philosophy. The mantras studied Vedic chanting. During chanting in Melbourne. Find her at Relieve mild heart (Matcha) or verses of the Vedas have been this time I travelled to Chennai vedicchanting.com.au burn associated Increase vitality & transmitted over generations from to complete a formal two- Facebook : with non-specific energy (Ginseng) teacher to student through an oral year teacher training program, indigestion Adapt to mild stress tradition, by call and response. and attended the Australian Debby Badger Chanting (Ginseng) The relationship between teacher National University to extend Email : and student plays an important my knowledge of the Sanskrit role because something unique language. This training has given [email protected] happens when the teacher recites me a strong technical foundation, and the student receives; when but most importantly it’s helped The ABC Radio interview - the student listens and then is vedicchanting.com.au/media/ Always read the label. Use only as directed. For Adults only. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare practitioner. Store below 25°C. me realise I have a true love of Do not use if tamper evident seal is broken or missing. Triphala - drink plenty of water. listened to. chanting. In an effort to expand ^Matcha – Traditional Japanese medicine, Ginseng – Traditional Chinese medicine. *After periods of mental & physical exertion. CHC 72580-0817 The Sanskrit word for chanting and deepen the knowledge
24 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Is today’s busy life impacting your health?
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Always read the label. Use only as directed. For Adults only. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare practitioner. Store below 25°C. Do not use if tamper evident seal is broken or missing. Triphala - drink plenty of water. ^Matcha – Traditional Japanese medicine, Ginseng – Traditional Chinese medicine. *After periods of mental & physical exertion. CHC 72580-0817
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 25 ARTICLES & OPINIONS ARTICLES & OPINIONS Yoga Therapy relieving the impact of cancer treatment
Yoga therapy is a wonderful in the body, which results in the she did endure 32 chemotherapy complementary discipline not yet most severe side effects. The sessions. She joined the retreat fully recognized by the medical treatments are long and the side with no experience of yoga or world and by the general public. effects creep in on us very slowly, meditation at all. Although it is not a panacea and so we often have very little Her initial test scores for Anger, for every condition, it offers an awareness of our state. No wonder Tension, Depression, Fatigue evidence informed science to fill in that over 80% of patients suffer and Confusion were fairly high. the gaps in conventional medicine from depression after ending their She participated in our program – such as cancer care. treatments. We feel terrible for a diligently but being shy very long time and we do not know if/ Typically, after surgery, cancer rarely shared anything during when we will feel any better - nor patients undergo chemotherapy the classes. After 3 weeks of do we know where to look for the and radiation, which may last retreat she showed the best relief. from a few weeks to a few years. improvements in all test values Often such intensive treatments My presence at the Kaivalyadhama compared to others in the group. result in severe side effects – Yoga Institute in India in 2013 She reported feeling renewed and mental and physical fatigue, opened up an opportunity rejuvenated with a new lease on cognitive dysfunction (brain fog), to fill this gap by creating a life. depression, mental confusion and comprehensive program based on After the program ended I had not loss of short-term memory. yoga principles - Beyond Cancer heard from her for a long time. I – Healing the Whole Being (www. Such was my case. At the end of knew that she went for another kdham.com/cancer). This is a my treatment in 2008, my body round of chemo as the cancer residential program for cancer was completely exhausted and my became active and I worried how patients who have finished the mind was shut down. I couldn’t she was taking it. She had already treatments. We have been running focus enough to read a paragraph endured so much! these retreats for four years in a book. I was severely now, with wonderful effects. 3 months went by and it was time depressed and I had no awareness My mission now is to take these for follow up tests. I sent them to of it. I was fatigued and strangely retreats out of India and make everyone and waited, wondering had no short-term memory. I them available in other countries how she was doing. In my two was wondering – how am I going (see www.yogaforhealth.institute). years of running the program the to live the rest of my life? When best I saw in 3 months follow up my oncologist said to me “This Here is a true story reflecting how was when patients maintained the is the end of the treatment – we much yoga has to offer to the 20th day result. Jyotsna’s results did everything we could for you. cancer patient: left me speechless. Now it is time for you to live your Jyotsna, a 35-year-old Indian life again!” I looked at him and homemaker from Delhi was wondered – WHAT LIFE? diagnosed with breast cancer at Despite doing yet another round The end of the treatment means the age of 33. She did not have an of chemotherapy Jyotsna managed usually an accumulation of toxicity operation or radiation however to improve her 20th day result!! 26 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Her Tension, Depression, Fatigue astonished by my own replies… Lee Majewski, M.A., DYEd, C-IAYT and Vigor values improved. Her that I can even say these things. Lee is a Senior Yoga Therapist at Anger increased, which I often I have let down most of my guard see as a simple reflection of a Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, and I feel so much at ease with patient’s higher awareness of their the world’s oldest Yoga centre myself. It has really improved my emotional state. Her Anxiety and in Lonavla, India. She creates relationship with him. I also enjoy Depression score also decreased. and teaches therapy programs time spent with my son more. Overall POMS and HADS total for cancer survivors and scores improved dramatically. I do meditate regularly. There are psychosomatic chronic diseases. days when I can’t even close my I wrote to her asking how she is These customized programs help eyes because I am scared. There doing and here is her beautiful to increase awareness of one’s are days when I cry. I started a verbatim response: spiritual nature and self-healing diary where I write every day… it power. “Hi Lee has enabled me to mirror myself and look at myself and accept yogaforhealth.com I am glad that I am showing all my emotions with love and improved results, despite being appreciation.“ kdham.com/cancer and on chemo again. I will have my second last chemo on 20th of this This testimonial speaks to the kdham.com/chroniccures month and the last in the month of effectiveness of yoga in improving Australian Link: www.yogavic.org. August, my birthday month. the quality of life for someone au/beyond-cancer---healing-the- under extreme emotional, physical The retreat has propelled me on a whole-being---lee-majewski and psychological stress. path of self-discovery. I understand my body, my feelings, and my needs in a much better way now….. I am more aware of my emotions
Jyotsna’s Results Day 1 Day 20 3 months Same TOM POMS Profile of Mood States New look Tension 14 5 3 Depression 27 3 1
Anger 22 4 8 Vigor 23 23 30 Fatigue 13 6 2 Confusion 14 3 3 Total score 57 -2 -13
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Yoga Today • Spring 2017 27 ARTICLES & OPINIONS
Havan Feeding the Gods
It is early morning. Way too early to and mango wood is thick in the air. As the ceremony approaches its be up and about, if you ask me. Yet conclusion, Anthony holds up a Anthony lifts his gaze as we enter here I am, bundled up in my car with burgundy silk pouch containing the area, smiles at me, then the heater blasting. It is still dark seeds, herbs and dried fruit. Dipping returns to the ritual before him outside. it in the ghee pot, he begins ringing with reverence. The area past the a large brass bell, and with the I am on the way to meet Anthony balcony is engulfed in darkness, a final ‘Swaha’, the offering is placed Zafer, a Yoga Australia teacher from striking scene as the flames dance into the fire. More ringing of bells, Western Australia and practitioner and leap upward to receive every waving of lamps and hand gestures, of tantric rituals and rites. Today I offering. I quietly settle onto the and the ritual is over. will sit alongside him as he performs cushions a few metres away. havan, a yogic fire ceremony. I I shuffle closer, and turn on my In the half-light, Anthony sits glance at my watch. 5.30am. I am on recording equipment. erect on a deerskin, wrapped in time. Turning into the quiet, leafy a white cotton dhoti and shawl, I come to know that in 1996, Anthony street, I pull up alongside his house. with malas of rudrakshas on his travelled the whole length of India I step out of the car and grab the chest and vibhuti on his arms. The in search of an accomplished recording equipment and camera havan kunda, a pit for invoking the teacher. A sequence of events led from the back seat. Heading up the fire god Agni, sits before him. The him to a Yogini who had emerged stone pathway to the front door, I paraphernalia required for this from a decade of silent meditation knock lightly. ritual surrounds him –bells, incense, in the forests of Andhra Pradesh. herbs, flowers and wood from Next to me sits a portly Ganesha Anthony settled into a nearby sacred trees. statue, adorned with flowers. Wisps bunker and commenced his of fragrant bluish smoke waft There is a tangible sense of sadhana under her guidance. For upwards from a nearby stick of something in the atmosphere. With the next 2 years, from 3am to agarbatti. The door opens and I am every libation of clarified butter 8pm, he alternated long rounds of met by Anthony’s partner, who leads into the flames, every mudra of the meditation with pranayama, mantra me through the living room and hands and mantra uttered, I become japa and tantric rituals. He taught in outside to the balcony, where the more entranced by the beauty of Asia for 6 years before returning to ringing of bells, Sanskrit chanting this ancient ritual. Minutes turn into Perth. Twenty years later, Anthony and heavy aroma of burning ghee an hour. continues to teach and practice. He
28 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 visits India twice a year. mantra into the fire. This is also why we find chanting, hymns, bells, I used mantra for a while but gave incense, resins, flowers, herbs and up, as I could not feel the benefit. fire throughout all world religions What are your thoughts on this? and esoteric traditions. These are all ‘Practices always bear fruit, though forms of nourishment for the gods. each person’s experience will differ. What are some of the benefits of a If we commence with a heavy karmic yogic fire ritual? load, it will take longer before we feel the benefits, as we first need This ceremony brings both material to purify the system. Patience and and spiritual benefits. It is also commitment are required. Some important for burning off karma and people are like dry wood. They have for achieving mantra siddhi. done much sadhana in the past lives. Their karmic burden is light. They approach the fire and are Anthony glances up at the clock instantly ablaze. Others are like wet mounted on the wall and smiles. It wood. They too sit by the fire but is time for us to depart. are only in the process of drying. It ‘Come back again when you have takes a little longer for them.’ time,’ Anthony says, as he ties a Can you tell a little about raksha, a blessed cotton bracelet, this Havan ritual that you are around my right wrist. performing? ‘Yes, I would like that very much,’ Here is the kunda, the fire pit. We I reply, as we make our way to the start with mantras for invocation, door. protection and blessing of the space. We purify ourselves with mudras, mantras, sipping and Back in the car, I take a few sprinkling of water. We also state moments just to sit in silence. Anthony Zafer is a Physiotherapist and Senior our intention, our sankalpa, I wind down the window, close my eyes and breathe in the fresh Instructor with Yoga Australia. addressing the devas and those to He delivers Higher Limbs CPD morning air. I can smell the scent be blessed. Workshops for Yoga teachers of pine trees. There is a curious We light the fire, and invite Lord and conducts yogic fire rituals but pleasant humming sensation Agni into the kunda. This becomes for studios, events and retreats. through my body. I feel lighter. the ‘mouth of the gods.’ Agni Quieter. He is also a Corporate Wellness consumes the offerings and Presenter through his company, transports them into the heavens. Somehow, I feel that I’ll be meeting Present Minds Australia. There is a reciprocal blessing from Anthony again before too long. the gods. Email: Anthonyzafer@hotmail. com The subtle beings exist in a spiritual Facebook: Sacred Fires Yoga body, so they cannot eat gross food Website: www.present-minds.org as we do. The devas ‘eat’ through sound, vibration and scent. This is why we offer the foods with Yoga Today • Spring 2017 29 ARTICLES & OPINIONS ARTICLES & OPINIONS Mindfulness, meditation and the Complete Athlete A study on the application of mindfulness in sport
pictured above (from left to right): Maisy Gibson, Lauren Smith, Ryan Hadley, Param Uppal and Jason Sangha
In March 2017 Shaun Martyn and to introduce the concept of was that these players were Greg Wythes were invited to Mindfulness in Action. busy, - studying or working, with introduce mindfulness training to lots of training and practice Cricket NSW had chosen 8 players a group of emerging young players sessions built around their outside from their Elite Pathway program: from Cricket NSW, and to assess commitments. When the players 4 men and 4 women. its influence on their performance. came to us at 6pm we were the THE APPLICATION last item on their schedule for the THE PROGRAM day. Early in March we met the players The program we outlined for the first time and spent the So we cut each session back to to Cricket NSW was an first 15 minutes outlining the around 60 to 90 minutes, dropped 8-week program focusing on program. the Movement component and Communication, Mindfulness and reduced DISC. Each session had Movement, with a 2-hour session Shaun took them through the a similar structure. A discussion each week. DISC approach and their level of of what they had practised since engagement lifted the players Communication: The DISC program the previous session. A video, an recognised themselves in the helps to identify communication episode from the ABC’s Catalyst or profile it returned. This made it styles. It allows the individual to a TED lectures where an athlete or more personal and the ensuing identify the communication styles coach outlined how mindfulness discussion was open and lively. of others, and adapt one’s own had transformed performance. They were interested. style to the circumstances. Then further discussion of each Later we introduced them to of these videos and lots of Mindfulness: The mindfulness a body scan and a method of questions. techniques we chose were based using the breath with the aim of in yogic and Buddhist meditation One question that came up becoming more attuned to natural practices, but condensed, without early was about thinking. We sensations of the body generally most of their cultural or religious explained that there is a common outside of awareness. features. misconception that the purpose What we soon began to recognize of Mindfulness is to stop thinking, Movement: Because we were as each session progressed, but that’s not what it’s really working with athletes we wanted about. You can’t prevent thoughts 30 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 but you can let them go. As and thoughts were rushing the face of a strong, negative well you can change your inner through at a million miles per reaction from the fast bowler he attention from thought to sensory hour, I decided to meditate on the replaced. Param took the wicket. experience - to the breath and bus on the way to the ground, it The partnership and Sri Lanka’s the subtle sensations within the was a 30 minute commute in which ascendency was broken and this body - and feel them without I found myself meditating for at was the key moment that turned thinking about them. This reduces least 20 of those minutes. That the game. Australia went on to the impact of thought and creates day I opened the batting in the win. a quieter internal world. Once t20 (keeping in mind this was the ‘In those moments when the players had some experience first time I had meditated before everything is rushing and random of applying this technique and a game) things were amazingly thought are coming from all more importantly, could feel different! Out in the middle it was directions, I find I can now identify it in themselves, we began to a difficult day to bat as the wicket this much earlier and clear my introduce some of the theory, was sticky and our run rate was mind,’ Jason says. ‘As captain I felt the research and the background extremely low which was causing that decision making from this to its practice. We explained the a lot of scoreboard pressure, space was easier. I can certainly neurological changes that came however I felt so calm and see a place for mindfulness in about through the practice; how collected. The pace of everything cricket.’ mindfulness reduced the influence just seemed to slow down and I of the limbic system, - the older, really felt as though I was in total Geoff Lawson is a former Test more primitive part of the brain control of my mind and focus. fast bowling great and currently that initiated effects based on coach, commentator and writer The 6th and final game was very the activation of the Sympathetic on cricket. For some time much the same as I went through Nervous System; a system that he’s been been following the the same routine of meditation on prioritized survival and activated development of these players the way to the ground. Both days the fight/flight reaction in and, as well, has a keen interest I opened and both days I was not situations of threat; and how in the impact of new training out (I haven’t been not out for a Mindfulness builds the capacity of strategies on performance. ‘A very long time!!) and I top scored the Pre-Frontal Cortex - the part lot of stuff gets put in front in both games. I wished I had done of the brain that controls impulse of these players in terms of it from game one!’ and emotional reaction - to performance improvement,’ says respond in a more measured way Mikayla now practises daily. She Geoff. ‘And they’re smart, young to external stimuli. says that her life is better, not just and ambitious. They’ll try things her cricket. She feels she has more out, but it has to work or they’ll After each session we emailed time and space around her, even let it go. In this mindfulness trial them links to Apps, or articles, or in daily life, and that things come they found a practical application YouTube videos, either revising at her at a slower pace and she is of something that had been or preparing for the next session, ready for anything. ‘Mindfulness considered abstract and unusable. and the players were pragmatic was hard at the beginning,’ she But the big surprise was the in approaching this material. They says. ‘But you begin to see there’s immediate results. We thought we watched the videos and read the no right or wrong. If there’s might see results slowly trickling handouts. They asked questions thought, you just accept it and in, but the impact in the under 19 that grew in sensitivity week then go back to the next breath.’ International, when they had only to week. Maybe it just crept up just finished the trial, was entirely on them. I know it crept up on Jason Sangha is a member of the unexpected.’ me. But by week 4 they were all Under 19 Australian team. In the practising and they were feeling recent international series against We feel there is much more to it. The guided practices in each Sri Lanka he was captain for one be achieved in working with this session had given them a taste of the games. Early in this game group of players as they mature. of what they were looking for, a Sri Lanka were well on top, scoring Both in their game and their clearer mental space, and had quickly and hitting to all parts practice. It also defines goals that fostered enough confidence to of the ground. Jason’s thoughts could be replicated with other practise alone. were swirling as he looked for groups of elite athletes. But, for a solution. ‘I walked slowly to Shaun and myself, what they were Most players felt positive about my slips position in the break able to gain from the practice and the trial in their evaluations. between overs,’ he said. ‘I felt my achieve in their game so quickly, But some saw specific benefits contact with the ground through has become a clear starting point emerging. Mikayla Hinkley is a my feet and took my attention and a solid foundation for the member of the Australian Under to my breath. I let thought drop future. 21 team and was selected for the away and felt this calm me and tour to Sri Lanka. Early in April she clear my mind. I didn’t think about sent us an email: “I found being the problem at hand and then the Greg Wythes has been teaching yoga mindful over there quite difficult idea formed in this clearer mental in the northern suburbs of Wollongong due to the continuous excitement space.’ for the last 20 years. Shaun Martyn has of being overseas and also the spent much of the same period working in heavy playing schedule. All up we Jason told the wicketkeeper corporate training.” played 6 games in which the first 4 he was bringing Param, a spin I highly under-performed. bowler, into the attack. The keeper For a link to the full article: complained that it was only the On the day of the 5th game my 7th over. It was too early. Jason shaunmartynassociates.com/?page_id=33 mind was completely unfocused remained composed, even in Yoga Today • Spring 2017 31 ARTICLES & OPINIONS
The Value of Children’s Yoga Yoga Techniques for Children I first started practising yoga and I went about putting together and breathing). Encourage them to approximately 10 years ago at home yoga lessons for children aged 2 put their hands on their stomachs in my lounge room using online years to teens. I began teaching and feel how their tummies blow up websites. My children were 4, 7 yoga to children professionally after as they breathe in and then go soft and 16 years of age and I’d recently completing further training in kid’s as they breathe out. They can then become a single mother. I’d always yoga teacher training. I now help move their hands up to their chest previously gone to gyms and others to learn how to bring yoga to and feel how their chest rises as practiced Pilates, but yoga was new children. they breathe in, like a balloon filling to me. up with air and then flattens down Benefits of children’s yoga like a balloon that you have let the In that period I started attending a Yoga encourages good posture air out of. Breathe deeply like this yoga class once a fortnight. I loved for the skeletal system and for three to five breaths together. the teacher I had and felt more able flexibility, agility and strength for to cope with life each time I left the 2. Lying down on the floor, play young growing bodies. Yoga helps studio. There was no competition in some soothing music and ask them children tune into their bodies the room, just encouragement from to put their hands on their stomachs both physically and mentally. your teacher to focus on yourself and with their feet outstretched. Yoga increases oxygen to the and what was happening on your Ask them to breathe in and out brain which supports learning mat. I felt my body getting stronger deeply, in through their nose and and concentration. Yoga ignites each week along with my mind and out through their mouth or mouth children’s imaginations, creativity continued my home practice and breathing if that is easier at this and self- expression. often with my children involved. It stage. Ask them to imagine there would become a happy, playful time The nervous system and the is a paper boat on their tummies or in the house and the animal and endocrine system are ignited and place a bean bag on their stomachs nature poses, like ‘tree pose’ and work together. Calming of the and imagine it is a small boat on ‘lion pose’ became the favourites. nervous system with breathing out the sea. Feel it rise and fall with and asanas takes place as the heart their breath as it moves over the I started to notice how shallow rate slows down and cortisol levels waves of the sea. Continue to lie breathing was a very big part of lower, activating calming hormones, like this and talk them through their my stress and anxiety and I learnt such as serotonin. breathing in and out slowly in their techniques to control it and bring own rhythm. You can add children’s more calm to my overactive mind In our fast- paced world, yoga relaxation stories and visualisations at any time of the day that I needed assists children to calm their to the process, either downloaded it. I became more in-tune with my thoughts, centre themselves for or make up your own. You could tell body and how it felt and could turn learning and learn how to be ‘still’ them to imagine they have a lemon anxiety attacks around by using the for a moment. Even preschool age in their hands and show them how techniques I was learning. I shared children are showing signs of stress to tighten their hands and squeeze these with my children also. I learnt and anxiety in Western countries. the lemon, then let the lemon go that it was never too late to take Yoga teaches children how to care and do the same with different body control of the emotional well-being, for their bodies, body awareness parts or just their hands and toes self-esteem, spiritual, physical and and self-regulation through to start. It teaches them to feel the metaphysical health of yourself mindfulness and relaxation. difference between a tense body and your children through yoga and and a relaxed one. They can feel the mindfulness. The joy of movement, music, games and socialisation can all difference when their hands and I continued to work as an Early be experienced during a yoga feet go ‘floppy’ and melt into the Childhood teacher in kindergarten session with children. There is mat ‘like ice cream melting under programs and started to incorporate no competition. Yoga teaches the warm sun’. it into the kindy program. I found perseverance and confidence in Have fun and be flexible! any child could engage in yoga at their own abilities. their level. One year I had three children on the autism spectrum Simple yoga breathing for 2 to 5 year in my room and I saw how they felt olds: Tracey Maclay is a Yoga Australia when yoga was implemented and 1. Ask children to sit in ‘easy sitting Registered Teacher with further their joy in achieving a pose. Their pose’ ‘Sukasana’ and cross their training in yoga for children and enthusiasm was a joy to see, as legs. To encourage them to sit up own business ‘Yogamotorskills’. they came to the mat for yoga and straight, ask them to imagine a Her passion is to share yoga with immediately showed off their latest piece of string coming out from the the next generation and empower pose. top of their heads and lifting their them with tools to connect their I could see how it was supporting bodies up with a long neck and mind, body and soul. Tracey also the children’s emotional and spine (you can get them to feel their runs workshops for educators and physical well-being and I wanted to spine on their own backs to connect teachers to do the same. learn more. I enrolled in a course with their bodies and understand of teaching yoga to children in 2011 how our spine supports our posture
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 33 Prana – The Life Force that Moves Us
34 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 ARTICLES & OPINIONS ARTICLES & OPINIONS
Watching my young son go under without it we wouldn’t be alive! demands you to be present – not anaesthesia recently was a just going through the motions. It can be a great indicator of our confronting experience. Slowly his Tapping into this adds another layer health… short breath can indicate natural functions were shut down. to the quality of a yoga practice. anxiety, illness in the body, or a His body was closer to a coma lack of fitness. (Like most things state than a sleep one. Tubes and in our life we only notice it when it machines assisted his breathing. Beyond this there are other, more becomes a problem!) Consciousness no longer linked him specific pranayama techniques used to his breath - his body had been The opposite of this is a long, in yoga to affect the quality of our forced into an artificial state. So it smooth and steady breath – a state breath. got me thinking about breath…and indicating a calm mind, capable In fact, pranayama alone can assist prana. body and the goal of anyone who in bringing wellness to the body wants to sustain their energy! In – which is why even people who the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali this may be paralysed or with physical Prana is essentially life force. The breath is described as dirgha and restriction can do yoga. As a breath is our expression of prana – suksma (long and smooth) and is a colleague of mine likes to say ‘If you the part we can access. The ancient prerequisite to starting a pranayama can breathe you can do yoga!’ yogis believed we were born with practice and moving deeper to a certain amount of breaths in meditation. our life. Therefore extending the So far from being an esoteric breath was of benefit to living a concept that may have little long, healthy life. (prana=life force The ancient yogis believed we are relevance for us, prana is actually ayama= to extend). all born with prana within us – but very logical and can be accessed it’s capacity or strength will change Have you stopped to think about so simply. We all have the capacity depending on what we do, think, your breath today? to ‘exercise’ our breath if we can and feel. Although prana may be just take our mind to it. Yet yoga If prana is weak or not functioning ‘unseen’ it shows in the ability to is relatively new to the Western well it will show in breath capacity complete simple functions – moving world and it sometimes seems we and rhythm. Far from being our body, having that thought, have grabbed the most obvious a mystical concept prana is a digesting our food etc. tool and run with it - the body. To necessity for wellbeing. Its flow in our system is via many move deeper into yoga, the body is energetic channels or nadis, one or the starting point - like the tip of more of which can become ‘blocked’ the iceberg. The real depth to the There is a wonderful Indian perhaps as a result of fatigue, poor practice sits deeper beneath the story from the Upanishads health, inappropriate diet etc. surface, where prana lies… highlighting how breath is linked to consciousness… A dispute broke out between the Which is why working with our *Story from the Upanishads taken senses, the mind and the breath as breath is such a valuable tool… from ‘What Are We Seeking?’ by TKV to who was more important. They Desikachar with Martyn Neal. went to a master who informed them that the most important Where the mind moves, so too does part was the one without which prana. When we link our mind to our the whole could not survive. They breath we are affecting prana. agreed to each leave the body for a short period of time to see what would happen. Conscious breath enables yoga Jill Harris is a Senior Teacher to become a multidimensional Each of the senses left the body but with Yoga Australia and teacher practice. life carried on without them… trainer in the lineage of T. Are you just moving the body Krishnamacharya. She has been The mind disappeared and even through a series of asana or teaching for 14 years and is though things were dull, life still postures or bringing mindfulness currently undertaking Yoga Therapy continued… to breath at the same time? If the training with her mentor Barbara However when the breath started to breath can become dirgha and Brian. She conducts group and leave, the mind and the senses felt sukshma we begin to affect our individual classes at Kyo Yoga in themselves being pulled out of the health at a much more subtle level. Ocean Grove, Victoria. body too. They all recognised who The breath used this way is termed www.yogabijam.com.au was the most important!* ujjayi – a subtle awareness as it moves softly through our nostrils and down the throat. This breath We take our breath for granted yet
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 35 ARTICLES & OPINIONS
Yoga for better posture Yoga can strengthen posture and will make it less ‘tight’. This is a the movements of breathing to huge blind spot in yoga and fitness contribute to a lifetime of health, classes. longevity and pain-free living. In my experience, I have seen that Whether one is teaching or practicing a repetitive practice of forward yoga, focusing on asana that bends can make back pain worse as simulates aligned ‘posture’ rather well as destabilize the sacral joint. than aligned ‘poses’ is an important One must deeply bend the knees in distinction to consider. forward bending to protect the hip joint and avoid laxity in the posterior THE HUMAN BODY IS MADE ligaments needed for upright OF CURVES posture. A lot of chronic pain and premature FINDING THE YOGIC aging is the result of poor sitting and breathing habits juxtaposed with too MIDDLE PATH IN ASANA much time in chairs and cars. Many people age by going forward so my recommendation is to focus The human body is an organic on yoga poses that simulate aligned structure and in the natural world, and upright posture. I have never there are no ‘straight lines’. The seen anyone age by going backwards human body is made of curves and into the wheel pose so I see no yet the bane of the modern lifestyle, need to get good at going forward. the chair, forces our bodies into a Chair sitting, stress and forced linear unnatural right angle shape compartmentalized exercises and that inhibits our breathing apparatus poses can magnify the shortness in and distorts the natural curves of our the flexor muscles/ fascia chains of spinal column. the anterior body. Also making the In order to remain injury free in our spine loose in all directions can lead practice, it is important to do yoga to instability and more pain. poses that keep the ‘curves’ of the People come to yoga to feel balanced body while avoiding linear and right- and peaceful in the body and mind angled poses. but many people still suffer from SOME YOGA POSES CAN back pain. MAKE POSTURE WORSE Ancient yoga teachings encourage us to find the middle path, and in asana Many people mistakenly assume this this can be the practice of creating tension in their back body is a result aligned and centered posture. of shortness. Many will try to remedy the situation in their yoga practice AVOID by stretching the back body to make it ‘longer’ by doing a forward bend. COMPARTMENTALIZED But in anatomical reality, our back is STRETCHING OF THE BODY too ‘long’ and our front body is too AND BALANCE TENSIONAL ‘shor t’. FORCES The stretch reflex will turn on in Centered poses engage the breathing forward bends giving a false sense apparatus while contracting the back of security for about 20 minutes and muscles which can stop the feeling the illusion that stretching the back of pain or ‘tension’ in the back body
36 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 or ‘extensor chain’. This chain creates a on inhale will actually inhibit your ability to line of pull that runs from the bottom of breathe and can lead to more slouching. the feet all the way up the hamstrings, Many people engage daily in abdominal sacrum and back muscles, to the back crunching moves that enlist the muscles of of the neck and over the skull to the the trunk to be short and tight which can eyebrows. The extensor chain creates cause the organs to protrude and make a the curves in the back body needed for ‘pot belly.’ shock absorption during movement. In most people, the flexors or muscles Cyclists in particular are known for hunching in the anterior part of the body are over their handlebars and surfers and much shorter than the extensor chain paddlers – prone as well as stand up – are in the back body. The flexor chain runs often in very poor postural alignment when from the top of toes up the front of the they exercise. The muscles that people legs, hip flexors, abdominals and chest engage to shorten the abdominals and round muscles to the sternocleidomastoid the upper back in these positions mimics muscles or SCM. The SCM runs in a slouching. Working the body hard in these diagonal line connecting the anterior positions engages the deep exhalation flexors in the front body to the back of muscles and locks them in, so it is like they the skull behind the ears. The flexors are literally stuck in the exhale. and extensor chains meet in the skull and in the feet and to balance the BREATHE YOUR WAY TO A tension in these forces allows one to PAIN-FREE LIFE feel young and be pain-free. Practice self-massage daily on the BALANCED TENSION - head, neck, feet, and arms to release FLEXOR & EXTENSOR CHAIN unnecessary tension. Don’t wait for someone else to give you a massage; Your yoga practice can be adapted to you can and should massage yourself. balance the tension between the flexors Manage your stress levels with brief and extensors while using breathing walks during the day and spend as little techniques that create expansion in the body engaging the core by using time as possible sitting in a chair. Stop the deepest movements of breathing. stretching your back and hamstrings and Our whole body is connected and doing instead practice focused breathing. yoga poses that create aligned posture can help to upload better ‘posture GET A BIGGER DRINKING software programs’ in our brain. By STRAW FOR THIS EXERCISE using focused breathing, one can tap into the autonomic system alerting the From standing, inhale through a straw ‘bio-intelligence’ to ‘remember’ better slowly feeling the movement of the rib posture. cage and the extension of the spine. Now hold your breath gently for about 6 Michaelle Edwards is HOW TO DO ACTIVE SITTING seconds, then take the straw out of your the creator of YogAlign When sitting in a chair, use blocks or mouth and slowly exhale making a slow and director of the Kauai a firm pillow to get your hips at least SSSSS sound while focusing on staying Yoga School in Hawaii 4- 6 inches higher than the level of the tall in your body. registered with Yoga knees. This will release tension in the Alliance. She is a writer Repeat 7 or 8 times each time practicing abdomen allowing the diaphragm and for the Huffington Post, rib cage to engage without restriction. the lengthening of your trunk muscles a massage therapist, Using the chair back acts as a brace when you inhale and the retention of author, and musician. leading to atrophy of the extensor the ‘lift’ as you exhale. Michaelle teaches in muscles that keep us upright. Try to sit Hawaii, the mainland and engage your back muscles rather This simple exercise can teach your USA and internationally than using the support of the chair brain, which controls your muscles conducting YogAlign back. contractions, how to automatically teacher trainings and enlist your trunk muscles to stabilize Change Your Posture, AVOID USING THE your spine rather than flex your spine. Change Your Life PERIPHERY TO CONTROL THE Workshops. INFRASTRUCTURE This is a quick way to realign your posture, get your curves back and www.yogalign.com When exercising, doing things like keeping improve your posture and health. your back flat, tailbone tucked, belly tight, knees straight, or pushing your belly out
Yoga Today • Spring 2017 37 ARTICLES & OPINIONS The Mind journey to the self
“We are mind of the mind creator It is how we view the world and our earthly world). We create new Karma of thoughts”. What is mind of the reaction to that. It is the conduit for at every turn by never looking at mind? Well first let’s look at the all our other layers. For example, our reactions let alone where they mind. our instinctive reactions are played came from. If we stopped before out via the ego or conscious mind, we reacted and asked ourselves; When we look at our mind what but they actually belong to the will this reaction be good for me, do we see? Maybe we see the ego, sub-subconscious mind or the mind is it what I need or want, we would maybe we see our conditioning, but of subliminal traits. The conscious be on a path to moving beyond the nothing more than that. So, let’s mind is also the playground of the lower mind to the deeper parts look a little deeper. Let’s look at the manas, the chatty mind. The part of ourselves. To our very essence. layers of our mind. Each layer of our we listen to 24/7. We spend all of There is a wonderful analogy in mind holds a key to our journey of our time in this first layer of the Vedantic literature. The bowman evolution. mind on a constant treadmill of has already sent an arrow and it has Let’s start with our first layer, the slavery to the ego, doing its bidding left his hands. He cannot recall it. conscious mind. This conscious mind and being continually bound by He is about to shoot another arrow. or lower mind is where our ego sits. the play of Maya (illusion of this The bundle of arrows in the quiver
38 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 on his back is the sanchita karma, We have been given the free will to experience. She bought new clothes the sum total of all his Karma from act and react any way we want. We and had a new attitude to life. It was all lifetimes; the arrow he has shot need to use this free will to stop, wonderful to witness the positive is prarabdha karma the karma that think and then act. It takes courage effects that maturing the ego and is bearing fruit or has been put into and steadfastness to stop before letting go of its merciless control action in this lifetime. The arrow firing, but the more we practice can have. The next time you are which he is about to shoot from the better we will become. Another in yoga Nidra really let go, assure his bow is Kriyamana, or the karma way of lessening the impact of your ego you are safe and enjoy that he is creating. Of these, he has this ego and these samskaras is to the experience of transcending the perfect control over the Kriyamana participate in a yoga class that has conscious mind. karma (your choice or freewill), as he a dedicated yoga Nidra component. Remember, the mind will happily must surely work out his prarabdha Yoga Nidra is the easiest way go on it’s negative way if we don’t, karma; the past which has begun to allow these samskaras to be at some point, stop and say “I have to take effect he has to experience. overcome. Withdrawing the senses had enough. I want something The message here is to stop and from the outside world (pratyahara) better. I don’t want to keep acting think about what you are about to and reaching into the inner mind this way”. It is then that the real create with your thoughts, words will allow the subconscious to mind changes will come into action. and deeds. It is said if we are going teach the conscious a different way to shoot an arrow we must learn through the minefield. This will take Once we allow ourselves access to to be a very good shot and aim our practice as our ego will want to keep the deeper recesses of the mind, arrows correctly. control and keep us attached to this we will overcome the ego, our physical world. Fear will play a big conditioning and our samskaras. Our mind is a complex minefield, part of this. Our ego will throw fear Then we will be free to really begin with many stumbling blocks and into our conscious mind and stop us the journey to the self. hurdles to negotiate if we are to from letting go and surrendering to lessen the karmic implications. the process. Have you ever noticed First, we must look at our instinctive the impact your ego has had on you reactions or Samskaras. What are in the past? yours? Stop and think of some I have an amazing story of a woman recent events and your reactions to Donna Jordan is a Yoga who came to my Bali retreat. The them. Did you respond in the same Australia Registered Senior participants were in a meditation way and have the same reaction? Teacher and runs a 12 month workshop and meditating happily. Do you constantly go around the Diploma of Yoga Teaching. Her Quite suddenly one woman got treadmill acting and reacting the passion, apart from learning is up and looked quite distressed. I to teach and empower people same way? I hope you weren’t took her for a walk eager to calm from all different backgrounds expecting a different outcome. It is her and find out what the problem to find their own Body, Mind and the case for all of us, we get caught was. She told me that during the Spirit connection. up in the physical world or this meditation she thought she was play of Maya and before we know having a stroke and was convinced it there are so many arrows being she was going to die in Bali away fired we can no longer see clearly. from her family. As 30 minutes or We will always have experiences, so had elapsed I assured her if she that is what we came to do. These was having a stroke she would be experiences help us to grow and unconscious by now and on her way work out this prarabdha karma, but to hospital. We walked and talked our reactions need to be refined for about 45 minutes until she finally or matured. How can we ever be had the realisation that it was her discerning and use our Buddhi egos drive and determination to (discerning faculty) correctly if keep her from meditating that was we never stop to think and keep causing the negative reaction. Our reacting instinctively? ego will do extraordinary things, Once you have looked at your mainly negative to keep us from reactions and have an awareness going within. I am pleased to say of them it will be easier to change she is quite well and was a changed them. It will be easier to stop and woman on the retreat after that take control and react differently. Yoga Today • Spring 2017 39 ARTICLES & OPINIONS Seed Thoughts With Di Lucas power of Pranayama! we can plan a week where we use OCTOBER our “lunch time” each day, to look As we all know and teach, breath is locally and personally. As we move into October we can ask the first thing we do and have in this our students to consider something life. It sustains us throughout life I suggest jotting down events or they are able to do now which they every day. It is free, and finally it is experiences which have coloured could not do previously, because the last thing we surrender. your year. Now distill each into they are now experiencing the a point of gratitude. Even the So, let’s go back to breathing. benefits of three terms of yoga, or tough lessons have, from a yogic Let’s breathe easily, consciously, at least regular weekly classes. perspective, the expansion of rhythmically and regularly. Is it physical? Is co-ordination insights and the deepening of better? Do they have increased In the morning, when you wake understandings. We need to pause strength? Have they come through up, sit up and stretch your arms and ask what can be learned. How the winter in better health? Have sideways. Expand your chest and can this be handled differently? Are they suffered less with colds and breathe. Do this several times. there useful follow ups for me now? Then sit and experience the peace flu? Is there a vitality flowing Now put these personal responses of the breath as you sit and watch through each day? into phrases of gratitude. You may its flow as if it is the very first time prefer to call it “thanksgiving”. What Is the truth of the old Chinese you have ever observed this natural is most important is the expansion saying “You are only as young as life-giving process. Notice how the of consciousness. your spine” ringing through each in breath seems to flow in on the day? “roof” of your nostrils. Then notice All our yoga with its physical Now let’s move to the feelings and how the out breath seems to flow beginnings, ultimately gives us ask some more pertinent questions. out on the floor of the nostrils. Be the ability to handle the stresses the “observer” and allow the breath of the world. This is why we Has the regular practice of yoga to work its life sustaining magic. express gratitude! We can enjoy increased your confidence in your the achievements of every day ability range? Are you able to engage How you start the day is how the knowing we are expanding our with other people evenly and able day will flow. In a competitive consciousness. We are connecting to enjoy challenging interactions? environment it’s healing to be with the vast field of Consciousness Philosophically, do you have a “in the breath” As you share the that brings everything into being. broader overview of life? Is this workplace and all the challenges allowing you to see “why things there may be, think of the oxygen Celebrate the year of yoga you have are as they are“? Are you enjoying re-charging your physical body. given yourself and your students. Remember also the prana. This is states of being such as tranquility, Evaluate from your field of the finer life-force sustaining our harmony and determination? consciousness. The Wisdom energy or etheric body. Has the spiritual perspective teachings reminds us that allowed you to understand you are Consciousness is all that there is. We are in it whether we succeed “part of all that there is “? Can you Use the conscious “breathing” brilliantly or have a sense of there express, without arrogance, the to prepare you for some focused being more to learn. It is not about realization “I am my best asset“? meditation. When there is much ‘good ‘ or ‘bad’, rather it is all of us Can you smile and be glad that you happening in the day ahead, joyful, sharing a huge learning curve. began, and sustained this journey conscious yogic preparation is what ensures we are the best we can be, It is our all embracing yoga into the wholeness of yoga? contributing, sharing positively and framework that includes all and achieving! excludes none. NOVEMBER So….let 2017 with all its challenges In the workplace this month DECEMBER and triumphs, be celebrated with gratitude and expressed with joy. of November can be “full on”. Now in December we have the Expectations that the year is almost opportunity to review our year and complete can cause people to celebrate the steady progress our Di Lucas is Co-Director of Gita hassle, hurry and demand evidence yoga has nurtured. International Yoga and is a of projects being completed. If you member of he Yoga Australia find yourself or your students are As we reflect on 2017 with its global Council of Advisors (Y.A.A.A). Her under such pressure, remember the chaos, challenges and changes, Seed Thoughts reflect decades of practising and teaching yoga. 40 Yoga Today • Spring 2017 Q&A with Swami Dayananda/Nancy Jackson : I run an after-work class in the go. For example, the bridge is : I used to put up a picture of city. A few people have to rush a wonderful posture to open my guru, a flower and a piece Q to get there on time but lately the heart and navel chakras. Q of fruit, and play a mantra so many have been late it’s It’s a great asana for reminding as people came into class. I affecting the class. Any tips?? them to be open to receiving, taught some of my favourite feel safe to open the heart and Sanskrit mantras and would : I like to tease the class. When open to new possibilities. I also have the class learn them someone is late I say “Everyone remind them to let go as we do as well. Then I heard some A must pay” and tell them we’re different breathing exercises feedback where friends-of- going to hold one of the more or when they are tight in a friends who came to class challenging postures for a posture. When you tell them said it was too “religious” and long time. We all have a laugh to relax the jaw, the shoulders, I backed off. The other day but it gets the point across. I the hips, the ankles, they also I spontaneously recited the always start the class on time let go of their worries, even for “Purnamadah” mantra and even if someone is still arriving a moment. everyone loved it and said and getting set up. That way I they’d like to learn it. What to maintain the discipline not only Another loosener is to get do? of starting on time, but also them to tense on purpose. finishing on time and allowing For example, I get them to do : This is a standard yoga the right rhythm of postures, what I call the “teenage shrug”, teacher’s dilemma. When do pranayama and relaxation bringing the shoulders up A you stick closely to what you within the session. towards the ears. When they were taught in your lineage? let go they realise how much When do you make it more On the other hand, when they hold in that area. generic to suit the students someone genuinely has trouble you teach? Needless to getting to class on time, Usually people have become say, people nowadays are yoga also is flexible. I always a bit happier by the final highly influenced by what welcome each student and try relaxation but here’s the is said around them. Some to make them feel comfortable. time to help them even more are reticent about different Individually you can talk to the through guided meditations of cultures, some embrace them. person to let her know it’s okay letting go or bringing light and and the class will work with her grace into their inner selves. It’s vitally important to be with as little disturbance as considerate of your students. : I need to raise my class price. possible while honouring the Obviously you’ve done the right Is there a good way to do it? others. Q thing. It was right to honour : First, perhaps, give them some your tradition in class and then As new students try out lead time. You can print out an it was right to make it more the class, I also am sure to A information sheet at sign-up generic. Now it’s right to add announce to everyone that to let them know the price will more elements of ancient yoga. they are welcome to come 15 go up. Or you can mention it at minutes before the class for As yoga is always internal an appropriate time. You can relaxation and that we always work, one of its most amazing encourage them to purchase start and stop on time. aspects is intuition. Naturally a discount card for a number lots of things in life backfire, : Sometimes the students seem of sessions, or make one up, but your intuitive pathway to have low energy and I find perhaps 10 sessions at the old through each yoga class Q it hard to make them more price. enhances each student’s present to the class. Generally students recognise journey. : Tell jokes! Even if someone’s in that prices need to go up A a bad mood and hates stupid from time to time and for the Swami Dayananda/Nancy Jackson has jokes, it uplifts the energy. most part absorb the change. practiced meditation and yoga for more If there is an individual with Usually people get lighter than 40 years. Widely published in health a sincere financial challenge emotionally throughout the and self-development, she is senior who has supported your class class as they let go of their feature writer for Australian Yoga Life for a while, you can offer for concerns and focus on the magazine. She teaches in Adelaide and that person to be a helper and body. Depending on the runs retreats at her Lokananda Yoga attend the class for free or at a posture, you can remind the Meditation Retreat Centre in Country SA. reduced rate. students to open up and let Yoga Today • Spring 2017 41 BOOK REVIEWS
Pranayama Psychic is Not a Dirty Word The Breath of Yoga Intuition Matters by Gregor Maehle By Yvette Adler Black There are many books written on this topic and all are As yoga teachers we understand and resonate with the equally thorough and educational. The main difference importance of trusting our inner guidance or intuition with this book is that it sticks to the traditional meaning and the practice of sraddha – an internal, informed and practice of yoga. It explains this limb of yoga as it conviction. is described in the ancient yogic texts. By taking the reader from the basic practices to the more advanced, However people who have a finely developed ability, or it explains each practice in terms of the what, how and simply a gift to be able to intuit on many levels both why including the physiological impacts of each practice in relation to themselves and others have not always and the contraindications. For each practice there is enjoyed the most welcoming attitude from much of a description of how to practice and how to teach the society, especially when they call themselves (or are practice. It emphasises the importance of learning called by others) a “psychic”. through experience before teaching. In her partly autobiographical book, Psychic is Not a I believe this book is a valuable source for yoga teachers. Dirty Word – Intuition Matters, author Yvette Adler Black shares many moments of her life with honesty, charm and humour, as she recounts the unfolding of her own psychic abilities from an early age, leading to a lifelong Words Shyamala Benakovic, Yoga Australia CEO vocation assisting others in understanding and being more comfortable with what life is telling them.
Yvette helps us recognise that intuition not only matters, but is a vital part of being a whole, integrated, authentic human being – which of course resonates clearly with the goals of yoga.
I’m reminded of a saying that I first heard from Deepak Chopra. ‘For those who don’t believe - no proof is possible, while for those who do believe - no proof is necessary.’
This book is easy to read and thoroughly engaging. As a person who has sat with Yvette many times over the past 15 years, I can say that reading it is like sitting around the fire with her, having a cup of tea and a chat. It is a writing of simple authenticity – even down to the occasional mixed or adapted metaphor.
The word “psychic” can be a charged one for some people, but after reading Yvette’s book, folks are likely to come to the conclusion that “psychic” is indeed not a dirty word and intuition does surely matter. Words Leigh Blashki, Yoga Australia Council Advisor
42 Yoga Today • Spring 2017