Yoga 4 Dignity

Australia wide Event on Saturday morning 2nd September 2017, starting at 8am.

#Yoga4Dinigty will bring thousands of women & men from Australia together to Share the Dignity whilst at the same time opening our hearts and touching our toes. In Australia we have 48,000 homeless women and it is our GOAL this year to have the same number practising YOGA in your hometown as we share  #Yoga4Dignity. The cost is $20 and you donate directly to https://www.sharethedignity.com.au/

I donate my time to teach this class, and the Scouts are donating the use of the Hall on this Saturday, I don’t have to pay any hall hire cost.

The class I’m teaching will be at the

SCOUT HALL in Cameron Park, Easton Street, Booval 4304

Saturday 2/9/17 8am – 9:30am

All proceeds go directly to #SharetheDignity, I don’t handle any money. Please buy your tickets here: http://shop.sharethedignity.com.au/yoga4dignity-booval

Thank You!!

Certificate of Appreciation #Yoga4Dignity
Certificate of Appreciation and Temporary Tattoos

 

As this is an Australia wide event, you find many other classes Interstate, in Queensland and others in Ipswich / Flinders View / Springfield. Please check the full listing and find the nearest  yoga class for you, your friends and family: 

http://shop.sharethedignity.com.au/yoga4dignity/?cn=107&rf=cn

https://www.sharethedignity.com.au/yoga4dignity.html

 

#Yoga4Dignity Saturday 2nd September 2017, Australia Wide Event, Yoga class to support homeless women in Australia. #ShareTheDignity
#Yoga4Dignity Saturday 2nd September 2017, Australia Wide Event, Yoga class to support homeless women in Australia. #ShareTheDignity

Yoga during Queensland Winter

I’m back in Ipswich from another beautiful trip to my home country.

All classes during autumn / winter / early Spring as per our well-known weekly yoga class schedule:

Cameron Park, Scout Hall, Easton Street, Booval

(this hall has a heather, no excuse to miss class)

  • Tuesdays, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights

  • Tuesdays, 9:00am – 10:30am *) followed by meditation 10:30am-11am, if you wish to stay.
  • Wednesdays 9:00am – 10:00am Seniors Yoga class  *) followed by meditation 10am – 10:30am, if you wish to stay.
  • Thursdays, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
  • Thursdays, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

 

 Cost  

  • first trial class: free
  • drop-in class $15.00
  • 5-class pass (valid for 2 months) $70.00
  • 10-class pass (valid for 4 months) $120.00

Cost for Senior Class (Wednesday 9am – 10am)

  • first class: free
  • single class  $10.00
  • 10-class-pass  $80.00

 

 

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Snow in Spring near Lucerne, Switzerland, April 2017.
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Spring in Switzerland, country side of Basel, April 2017. This should be enough firewood for our Queensland Winter.
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Spring in Switzerland, May 2017.

 

Pranayama – proper breathing

Based on the “Five Points of Yoga” as outlined by Swami Vishnu-Devananda-ji.
2. Proper Breathing (Pranayama)

Yoga teaches us how to use the lungs to their maximum capacity and how to control the breath. Proper breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical. This increases vitality and mental clarity.

Breath is life. We can live for days without food or water, but deprive us of breath and we die in minutes. In view of this, it is astonishing how little attention we pay in normal life to the importance of breathing correctly. To a Yogi there are two main functions of proper breathing: to bring more oxygen to the blood and brain: and to control prana or vital energy, leading to control of the mind.

What is proper breathing?

Breathing correctly means breathing through the nose, keeping the mouth closed, and involves a full inhalation and exhalation which bring the whole of our lungs into play. There are three basic types of breathing: clavicular (shallow), intercostal (middle) and abdominal breathing (deep). A full yogic breath combines all three, beginning with a deep breath into the abdomen and continuing the inhalation through the intercostal and clavicular area. Without lifting the shoulders. The abdomen fills, the chest rises.  When we inhale, the abdomen expands and the diaphragm moves down, massaging the abdominal organs. When we exhale, the abdomen contracts and the diaphragm moves up, massaging the heart. In the beginning it is very helpful to place one hand on the abdomen, and the other one on the chest.

Pranayama literally means control of life force or vital energy. Prana=vital energy, yama=control.

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Anuloma Viloma – the alternate nostril breathing is one of many yogic breathing techniques or exercises.

© Photography Maria Steiner

Autumn Break

I’m off soon for a visit to family & friends in Switzerland and France this year. 

Therefore we have NO Yoga classes from Tuesday 18 April until Friday 12 May 2017.

All Yoga Classes will resume on Tuesday 16 May 2017, as per our normal weekly schedule.

I wish you all a good Easter break, ANZAC Day, labour day weekend. See you when I’m back.

OM OM OM  Maria Prema

 

 

Cherry Trees in bloom May 2016
Cherry trees in full bloom. I took this photo last year May 2016 in Baselland, Switzerland.

 

© Photography Maria Steiner

 

Asana – proper exercise

Based on the “Five Points of Yoga” as outlined by Swami Vishnu-Devananda-ji.

1. Proper Exercise (Asanas)

Our physical body is meant to move and exercise. If our lifestyle does not provide natural motion of muscles and joints, then disease and great discomfort will ensue with time. Proper exercise should be pleasant to the practitioner while beneficial to the body, mind and spiritual life.

Asanas or yoga postures/exercises focus on increasing and maintaining flexibility of the spine, toning and rejuvenating the nervous system. The gentle stretching, twisting and bending movements bring flexibility to the joints and muscles of the body, as well as massaging the glands and organs. Circulation is also improved, ensuring oxygen to all the cells of the body. The different poses put pressure on various points, which help to relax the nervous system and therefore also helps to release stress.

The Sanskrit word Asana means steady pose, therefore holding the yoga postures is beneficial.  Taking a few deep breaths in every pose, slowing down.

 

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Ardha Matseyndrasana – half spinal twist.
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Halasana – the plough.
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Standing spinal twist in triangle – Parivritta Trikonasana.

© Photography Maria Steiner

The Five Points of Yoga

During the yoga weekend retreat we practice the five points of yoga.

premaria's avatarHatha Yoga Ipswich

Swami Vishnu-Devanandacondensed the whole yoga tradition into a very practical system, aptly named ‘The Five Propers or ‘Five Points of Yoga’:

1. Proper Exercise (Asanas)
Our physical body is meant to move and exercise. If our lifestyle does not provide natural motion of muscles and joints, then disease and great discomfort will ensue with time. Proper exercise should be pleasant to the practitioner while beneficial to the body, mind and spiritual life.
2. Proper Breathing (Pranayama)
Yoga teaches us how to use the lungs to their maximum capacity and how to control the breath. Proper breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical. This increases vitality and mental clarity.
3. Proper Relaxation (Savasana)
Long before the invention of cars, planes, telephones, computers, freeways and other modern triggers of stress, the Rishis (sages or seers) and Yogis of yore devised very powerful techniques of deep relaxation. As a matter of fact, many…

View original post 166 more words

Friday 24th February 2017

Time for a Friday Hatha Yoga Class and Satsang Meditation.

Coming up on Friday 24th February 2017:

At the Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights.

5pm – 6:30pm  Hatha Yoga Class (breathing exercises, sun salutation, 12 basic postures, guided final relaxation)

6:45pm – 8:30pm Satsang (silent meditation, uplifting Sanskrit chants, an inspiring reading)

The cost is $15 or  one tick on the class pass.

You can join for both sessions to get most benefits, a good way to end the working week. Or if this is not possible for you,  just attend the Hatha Yoga class or the Satsang/Kirtan class.

In between the two sessions we have a cup of tea and something sweet.

If you know you will be coming  for sure, please let me know (message, email or in class). Otherwise it is perfectly fine to just show up and bring your friends.

Looking forward to a yogic start into the weekend. OM OM OM

Maria Prema

 

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Australia Day Holiday

A short reminder, that we have NO Yoga Classes on Australia Day Thursday 26/1/17, and next week.

NO Yoga from Monday 30th January to Friday 3rd of February 2017.

All back to normal schedule and weekly routine as of Tuesday 7th February 2017.

Looking forward to seeing you back on the mat. 

marigold-in-my-garden
Marigold blooming in my garden.