“You will be always peaceful if you are able to calmly witness the mental modifications.”
Swami Sivananda
© Photography Maria Steiner
be the witness
Author: premaria
Namaste
Welcome to my website and wordpress blog.
www.hathayogaipswich.com.au
Here you find all the information about the yoga and meditation classes I'm teaching in Ipswich, QLD, Australia. In my blog I post info for the latest change in the yoga class schedule and/or events. I write about the different aspects of the yoga philosophy, quotes by yoga masters, that inspire me. Nice photos, humour, general inspiration, uplifting and positive thoughts.
To shine a light in the world..... 🌟💫
I recently also started a more personal blog www.mariasteiner.com
On "maria steiner unplug" I intend to share more personal stories, poems and photos by me.
Happy reading and thanks for stopping by.
Prema Maria (premaria) 😘
Satsang Friday 21 November
Friday 21 September, Satsang and additional Hatha Yoga Class
This week is the monthly Friday hatha yoga class and Satsang. Make sure not to miss it, it’s the last one for 2014. Do something good for your soul, even if you feel tired at the end of the week. You will feel a big difference come Saturday morning!
Where: Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights
What: Hatha Yoga Class (breathing exercises, sun salutation, 12 basic postures, guided final relaxation. When: 5pm – 6:30pm
Cost: $14 or regular class pass (no free trial class on this day).
What: Satsang: is a combination of meditation, uplifting Sanskrit chants, yoga lecture.
When: 6:45pm – 8:15pm
Cost: $7 (or free if you attend the earlier class)
In between the two sessions we have a cup of (herbal) tea and something sweet.
You get most benefits if you join for the whole program from 5pm onward. But if this does not suit you, you are most welcome to come only for the yoga class or meditation/Kirtan (Satsang) only.
Looking forward to seeing you soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Prema Maria
© Photography Maria Steiner
The Five Points of Yoga
Swami Vishnu-Devananda condensed 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 modern stress-management and relaxation methods borrow heavily from this tradition. By relaxing deeply all the muscles the Yogi can thoroughly rejuvenate his nervous system and attain a deep sense of inner peace.
4. Proper Diet (Vegetarian)
Besides being responsible for building our physical body, the foods we eat profoundly affect our mind. For maximum body-mind efficiency and complete spiritual awareness, Yoga advocates a lacto-vegetarian diet. This is an integral part of the Yogic lifestyle.
5. Meditation (Dhyana) and positive thinking
Here is the most important point of all, we become what we think. Thus we should exert to entertain positive and creative thoughts as these will contribute to vibrant health and a peaceful, joyful mind. A positive outlook on life can be developed by learning and practicing the teachings of the philosophy of Vedanta. The mind will be brought under perfect control by regular practice of meditation.
” Health is wealth, peace of mind is Happiness. Yoga shows the way.”
– Swami Vishnu-Devananda
The Seven Chakras
Homemade Kale Chips
Ingredients:
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half or one bunch of fresh organic Kale (I prefer the non-curly one for these chips)
-
Olive or other vegetable Oil
-
Celtic Sea Salt or pink himalayan salt
(Please do not use ordinary table salt, it contains anti-caking agent).
Method:
Heat the oven to 180C – 200C
Cut kale into 1cm – 2cm wide strips. Wash, rinse and dry well. Toss with some oil and the salt.
Arrange on a baking tray, that is covered with baking paper.
Put in the oven for +/- 20 minutes. At the half way mark, you can turn them on the tray, bring the lower ones to the top.
The Kale chips should be crisp, but not burned.
Enjoy!!! E Guete 🙂
© Photography Maria Steiner
use of the mind
“A tree can be used either for building a house or for making charcoal by means of fire. So also the mind can either be utilized tor spiritual evolution or reduced into ignorance by the fire of five passions.”
Sri Swami Sivananda-ji
© Photography Maria Steiner
Success in Yoga
Wise words by Swami Sivananda:
Success in Yoga or any other spiritual path requires the annihilation or control of the six enemies, viz., lust, anger, greed, pride, jealousy and hypocrisy.
Sri Swami Sivananda-ji
Satsang 26 September
Friday 26 September, Satsang and additional Hatha Yoga Class
This week is the monthly Friday hatha yoga class and Satsang. Make sure not to miss it. Do something good for your soul, even if you feel tired at the end of the week. You will feel a big difference come Saturday morning!
Where: Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights
What: Hatha Yoga Class (breathing exercises, sun salutation, 12 basic postures, guided final relaxation. When: 5pm – 6:30pm
Cost: $14 or regular class pass (no free trial class on this day).
What: Satsang: is a combination of meditation, uplifting Sanskrit chants, yoga lecture.
When: 6:45pm – 8:15pm
Cost: $7 (or free if you attend the earlier class)
In between the two sessions we have a cup of (herbal) tea and something sweet.
You get most benefits if you join for the whole program from 5pm onward. But if this does not suit you, you are most welcome to come only for the yoga class or meditation/Kirtan (Satsang) only.
Looking forward to seeing you soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.
© Photography Maria Steiner
Nirguna Meditation
From the book Concentration and Meditation by Sri Swami Sivananda:
Sit in Padmasana. Repeat OM mentally. Keep the meaning of OM always in the mind. Feel that you are the All-pervading, Infinite Light. Feel that you are the “Suddha-Sat-Chit-Ananda, Vyapaka, Atman, Nitya Suddha Buddha Mukta, eternally free Brahman.” Feel you are Chaitanya. Feel that you are the “Akhanda Paripurna, Ekarasa, Santa, Infinite, Eternal, Unchanging Existence.” Every atom, every molecule, every nerve, vein, artery, should powerfully vibrate with these ideas. Lip repetition of OM will not produce much benefit. It should be through heart, head and soul. Your whole soul should feel that you are the subtle, all-pervading Intelligence. This feeling should be kept up continuously.
Negate the body-idea when you repeat OM mentally. When you chant OM, feel:
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Infinity I am OM OM OM
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All Light I am OM OM OM
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All Joy I am OM OM OM
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All Glory I am OM OM OM
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All Power I am OM OM OM
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All Knowledge I am OM OM OM
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All Ananda I am OM OM OM
Mediitate on the above ideas constantly. Constant effort with zeal and enthusiasm is indispensable. Repeat mentally the above ideas incessantly. You will realise.
SOHAM, I am That I am !!
Silence
” Feel the silence, hear the silence, touch and taste the silence. Silence is the music of your soul.
Be One with this Silence. “
Swami Vishnudevananda-ji
Friday 29 August, Hatha Yoga Class and Satsang
The next Satsang and additional Hatha Yoga class is already this Friday 29 August 2014. Relax your body and nourish your soul:
Where: Raceview Scout Hall, Taylor Street, Eastern Heights
What: Hatha Yoga Class (breathing exercises, sun salutation, 12 basic postures)
Time: 5pm – 6:30pm
Cost: $14.00 or regular class pass (no free trial class on this day).
What: Satsang (silent meditation, uplifting Sanskrit chants, an inspiring reading).
Time: 6:45pm – 8:15pm
Cost: $7.00 or FREE if you come to the 5pm class
In between the two sessions we have a cup of (herbal) tea and some raw carrot cake I made earlier.
You are most welcome to join for just one of the classes. If you like an extra exercise session you come to the Hall for 5pm.
If you like to learn/practice meditation and get deeper into the yoga philosophy or if you like the Sanskrit Chants (Kirtan) please come to the hall for 6:30pm.
Looking forward to seeing you soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.
© Photography Maria Steiner
