At the beginning of October this year, a journalist from SBS Radio in Melbourne contacted me for an interview over the phone about Yoga.
It’s for SBS Radio the German speaking program. The segment within the German program is in Swiss – German (my first language), the weekly program on a Sunday night is called Echo Helvetia: interviews, portraits, stories, etc. about Swiss immigrants in Australia.
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 tohttps://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
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:
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
Snow in Spring near Lucerne, Switzerland, April 2017.Spring in Switzerland, country side of Basel, April 2017. This should be enough firewood for our Queensland Winter.Spring in Switzerland, May 2017.
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.
Anuloma Viloma – the alternate nostril breathing is one of many yogic breathing techniques or exercises.
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.
Ardha Matseyndrasana – half spinal twist.Halasana – the plough.Standing spinal twist in triangle – Parivritta Trikonasana.
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
Next week on Friday 4th November 2016 we have a Friday hatha yoga class and Satsang.
In a Satsang class we begin with silent meditation, then Kirtan Mantra chanting and a lecture on different yoga topics and philosophy.
It is a stress-releasing way to start the weekend, letting go of the week. 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!
Jacarandas in flower at the Raceview Scout Hall.
Where: Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights
What: Hatha Yoga Class (breathing exercises, sun salutation, 12 basic postures)
Time: 5pm – 6:30pm
What: Satsang (silent meditation, uplifting Sanskrit chants, an inspiring reading)
Time: 6:45pm – 8:30pm
Cost: $15.00 or class pass (no first free trial class on this day).
The lecture for this month will be on the Mantra. The meaning of OM, why we meditate on OM, the benefits of chanting Mantras.
You are most welcome to join for just one of the classes. If you like an extra exercise session you come 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.
In between the two sessions we have a cup of (herbal) tea and something sweet. I made a raw vegan chocolate cake, it’s setting in the freezer.
raw chocolate cake, vegan, gluten-free
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.
Hatha Yoga Ipswich 