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Yoga & Meditation Weekend, 16th – 18th August 2019.

8 Jul

Only a few more weeks until our Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Coolum Beach, on the Sunshine Coast, at the Luther Heights Youth Camp.

We still have spaces available in our small, focused group. If you feel inspired and called to immerse yourself into a weekend of traditional Hatha Yoga and Meditation, don’t hesitate to contact me for detailed information and to book.

email: hathayogaipswich@gmail.com

phone or text: 0423 477 725

Yoga & Meditation Weekend Retreat
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th of August 2019
at Luther Heights Youth Camp, in Coolum Beach, on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland

  • Experience, learn & practice traditional Hatha – Yoga, Meditation, Rituals and Kirtan (Mantra chanting).
  • Simple, basic, clean accommodation and amenities.
  • Delicious, vegetarian meals, that might inspire to try new recipes at home.
  • Spectacular ocean views, observing the sunrise.
  • Walks along the beach, or buswalk at Mount Coolum. If we are lucky we spot some migrating whales in the distance.
  • Release – Relax – Recharge.
  • Letting go of the Winter blues, to be ready for Spring.

The topic of the weekend retreat is based on the five points of Yoga, as taught by Swami Vishnu-Devananda:

  • 1) Proper Exercise (Asana) Proper exercise should be pleasant to the practitioner while beneficial to the body, mind and spiritual life.
  • 2) Proper Breathing (Pranayama) Proper breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical. This increases vitality and mental clarity.
  • 3)Proper Relaxation (Savasana) By relaxing deeply all the muscles the Yogi can thoroughly rejuvenate his/her nervous system and attain a deep sense of inner peace.
  • 4)Proper Diet (Vegetarian) A lacto-vegetarian diet. This is an integral part of the Yogic lifestyle.
  • 5) Positive Thinking and Meditation(Dhyana) Here is the most important point of all, we become what we think. 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.

During the weekend we practice these five points of yoga.

The retreat is suitable for beginners to learn about the basics of yoga and for more advanced yoga students to deepen their practice.

The cost for the weekend is $420.-
Included in this price are the complete yoga program, accommodation (Please bring your own linen) and vegetarian meals. A non-refundable deposit of $120 .- is required to reserve your space. The final payment is due one week before the Retreat.

Detailed information are on the website: https://hathayogaipswich.com.au/retreat/

or contact me directly via email and phone call.

email: hathayogaipswich@gmail.com

phone or text: 0423 477 725

I also have a pdf file (6 pages) with detailed information and photos.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you.

Prema Maria
OM OM OM

PS: Following some more photos from last year’s Retreat, September 2018.

  • Hatha Yoga with Maria Steiner
    Hatha Yoga with Maria Steiner

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Yoga Retreat August 2019

19 Feb

So far this year, about once a week someone or two came back to a yoga class, who hasn’t been in class for a while/years. It’s interesting; often when people miss for a long period, they are almost embarrassed to come back to a yoga class. There is no need to be embarrassed to return to the yoga class after a long absence.  As I hear this excuse a lot, if you wan’t to come back to class come back, no questions asked.


The next excuse I hear from people not coming to a yoga class is: “I’m not flexible”.  Well that’s the purpose of yoga to become flexible and allow movement to your own ability. Improve and moving to your own level. 


The same counts for the Yoga Retreat, you can be a complete beginner to attend the 
Yoga & Meditation Weekend in August, Friday 16/8 – Sunday 18/8/2019.

  • We will return to the same venue as last year, Luther Heights Youth Camp in Coolum Beach. The accommodation is very simple, bunk beds, dorm style. But since we occupy only a third or quarter of the beds available, we can spread out nicely. There are separated niches to share with your friends & family. You need to bring your own linen. 
  • Toilets, showers are basic & clean.
  • The vegetarian meals are delicious, and a good variety.
  • Even good coffee (a luxury, not following traditional yoga ashram rules).
  • So rather than a luxury yoga Retreat, this is more a traditional Yoga & Meditation Camp, as they used to be, when Yoga first arrived in the West. Or more like a Yoga Ashram in India, where the focus is on the practice of yoga, rather than a luxury bed & spa. (which is very nice, but has it’s price). 
  • This allows me, to keep the price below $450
  • The cost the for whole weekend is $420 (including the yoga program, accommodation and meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner).
  • We are surrounded by beautiful, peaceful nature, trees and grounds. Views over the ocean and towards Mount Coolum.
  • Spectacular sunrise, to start the day with Sun Salutations and Meditation.
  • Short walk to the beach and Point Arkwright lookout. 
  • A good location and opportunity to immerse into the practice of Yoga. Dust of the winter blues, getting ready for Spring.
  • My friend Amrita Kamala will mostly likely join us again, to play the harmonium.
  • As a new activity this year, we might have a camp fire on Saturday evening. The Camp has the facility for this, but of course this will be weather permitting only. If no fire restrictions.
  • For the Retreat Weekend to go ahead, I need a minimum of 15 -18 bookings. 
  • Please let me know by 31 March 2019, if you are seriously interested to attend the Yoga & Meditation weekend.
  • As by then I can cancel the venue without any extra charges, and of course I would refund your deposit as well. Fingers crossed, that will not be the case. 

Please contact me for any questions and bookings. I can also send you a detailed pdf file by email , or you find all the important details by following this link:

https://hathayogaipswich.com.au/retreat/

Looking forward to hearing and seeing you,

Prema Maria

Sunrise Meditation, Retreat September 2018.

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Yoga is back for 2019

11 Jan Yoga with Maria in Ipswich QLD

Grab your Yoga mat. All Yoga classes with Maria resume on Tuesday 15th January 2019.

(No unforeseen interruption to weekly class schedule until Easter mid April 2019).

Hatha Yoga with Maria Steiner
Hatha Yoga with Maria Steiner

Weekly Yoga class schedule:

Cameron Park, Scout Hall, Easton Street, Booval

  • Tuesdays, 6:00pm–7:30pm (90 minutes Hatha Yoga class)

Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights

  • Tuesdays, 9:00am – 10:30am (90 minutes Hatha Yoga class)
  • Wednesdays 9:00am – 10:00am  (Seniors Yoga class) 
  • Thursdays, 5:00pm – 6:00pm   (Seniors yoga class – new class)
  • Thursdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm  (new time – 90 minutes Hatha Yoga class)

 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 Classes  (Wednesday 9am – 10am + Thursday 5pm – 6pm)

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

Plus every Wednesday night 6:30pm – 8pm. I teach the yoga class at the PCYC Ipswich. Now since 10 years.

Please phone, email or message me, if you have any questions. All of the above Yoga sessions are suitable for beginners.

Looking forward to welcome you on the yoga mat in 2019!!

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Focus on breathing

16 Nov

How I recently experienced the power of proper breathing.

Healing on and by the water. Tallebudgera Creek, November 2018. Photo by Prema Maria

A couple weeks ago I had a root canal treatment. It wasn’t my first one ever. But for this one, I had to go to an Endodontist, a specialist for those kind of procedures. I spare you of the details.

The procedure took about two hours. I couldn’t do much, lying there with my mouth open, breathing through the nose. 

And that’s exactly what I’ve done. I had my hands on my belly, focusing on deep abdominal breathing, taking the attention and focus away from my face. While I visualised healing light all around me, specially on my tooth, as well as for the Endodontist and Assistant. They did the hard work, I was just lying there. 

Now in general I very seldom meditate for longer than 15 minutes. But I had no other choice, no place to go – nothing to do. I tried to detach from my body and observe myself from the outside. Forgetting time and space. 

Of course I felt dizzy and was numb on one side of my face, once the procedure was finished. Instead of going home or trying to drink, let alone eat anything. I went straight to the movies. Probably the best I could do at the moment, and I can highly recommend it. I watched “A Star is born”. It made me forget my tooth, I was distracted in a dark room. While the sensation in my face and mouth came back slowly. Afterwards I drank a green smoothie with a straw and went home on the train.

In the evening I was teaching a yoga class, without bending forward or moving my head too much.

At night before going to sleep I took two pain-killers, just in case it would help me from waking up through the night with pain. Plus I did not need to be a hero, as I almost never take any painkillers.

The next morning I had the day off. I could feel the pain and swelling ease by the hour. I was thinking more about the movie I saw, listening to the Soundtrack of “A Star is born”, than my tooth.

I give credit to my almost pain-free experience and quick healing to the BREATH, proper deep abdominal yoga breathing, meditation of detaching from the body. 

Everyone in my yoga classes the following week, had to listen to my story. As I was practising and experiencing in every day life, what I preach.

Thank you for reading my story !!  Prema Maria 

PS: In addition to the breathing exercise, I would recommend to go straight to a movie theatre after a root canal treatment or similar. 

Tallebudgera Creek, a few days after the procedure we had a nice Sunday on the stand-up-paddle boards on Tallebudgera Creek. November 2018, Photo by Prema Maria







				
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Change to Thursday Yoga Classes

	
		24
		Sep
	

		Yoga Class at the Raceview Scout Hall with Maria Steiner.
	

	

		
As of Thursday 18th October 2018, 


Thursday class schedule / timetable as follows:


These Yoga classes are at the 


Raceview Scout Hall, 32 Taylor Street, Eastern Heights, 


Yoga Class at the Raceview Scout Hall with Maria Steiner.
Yoga Classes at the Raceview Scout Hall with Maria Steiner.


5pm – 6pm Senior Yoga class (new class), cost $10.-


this class is suitable for everyone who likes or needs an easier and shorter yoga class, this class is one hour. For the breathing and other exercises we sit on the chair, instead of floor. We do standing up exercises and on the yogmat or continue on the chair. In general we do not practice the Sun Salutation in this class.


SAM_5991.JPG
Standing spinal twist, my mother Pia Steiner, November 2015.


 


6:30pm – 8pm Hatha Yoga Class (new time), cost $15.- or yoga class pass


our usual 90 minutes hatha yoga class, breathing exercises (pranayama), sun salutation, 12 basic postures, final relaxation.


 


Hatha Yoga class with Maria Steiner at Raceview Scout Hall, Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD.
Hatha Yoga class with Maria Steiner at Raceview Scout Hall, Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD.


 

				
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	 		Quote
 	
	
September 2018 Yoga Weekend

	
		16
		Aug
	

		
	

	

		
via Retreat




I have a few last minute spaces available, if you would like to join our Yoga & Meditation Weekend.


Friday 7th – Sunday 9th of September 2018.


The cost for the weekend retreat is $420 including, Yoga & Meditation program, accommodation, meals. 


If you are short on time you can join us for one day only Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th of September 2018, at the cost of $300.-


All bookings need to be confirmed and paid by 30/8/18.


Please, don’t hesitate to contact me for any questions and discuss details.


Looking forward to begin Spring in Queensland with a Yoga Weekend: release – relax – recharge.


OM Shantih – OM Peace, Prema Maria


 


 


 


 


 

				
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3 daily healthy habits

	
		5
		Mar
	

		I start my day with lemon or lime water.
	

	

		
A few weeks ago, in one of the yoga classes, I talked about daily healthy habits. We narrowed it down to three. Here a short summary for everyone:


lime water.jpg
I start my day with lemon or lime water. Presently I have fresh limes from my garden. 


 


    

  1. 

     Drink plenty of water 2 – 3 litres per day.
    

    2. 

  2. 

     Stretch and move daily. This can be yoga, walking, swimming, running, cycling, fitness class, dancing, a few rounds of Sun Salutations. etc.  Any kind of movement and stretching you like and you will do. It does not have to be long, 15 minutes daily is good. 
    

    3. 

  3. 

    Breathing exercises. Focusing on deep abdominal breathing, taking time out throughout the day to make time for some conscious breathing. This can even lead to a short meditation. 
    

    4. 



 


Stretch daily - sun salutation
Stretch daily




breathing exercise - anuloma viloma
breathing exercises




going into stillness and silence
daily meditation




Start with small, steady steps and keep it up.


I wish you a good, happy, daily practice.


Prema Maria xx


 


 


 




 


 


 

				
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Interview on SBS Radio in swiss-german

	
		17
		Nov
	

		
	

	

		
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.


Here the link:


http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/german/de/audiotrack/echo-helvetia-gesundheit-und-innerer-frieden


Emol oepis fuer d’Schwyzer wo mini Website laese. 


 


 


SAM_6814_Maria Steiner
Maria Steiner (Prema), Yoga with Maria. OM OM OM


 


 


 


 


 


 

				
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Pranayama – proper breathing

	
		16
		Apr
	

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

	

		
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.


IMG_5470_Anuloma Viloma small
Anuloma Viloma – the alternate nostril breathing is one of many yogic breathing techniques or exercises.




© Photography Maria Steiner

				
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