Overtime there are always many fads that come and go. Some are funny, cute, amusing, trendy and market themselves under the umbrella of Yoga, such as cat-yoga, doga, SUP-Yoga , nude or naked-yoga, etc.
But the latest one beer – yoga goes under my skin, and I need to state my opinion and probably that of many serious yoga practitioners: beer – yoga. What an insult to the masters and ancient wisdom of yoga.
I have nothing against drinking beer, a good glass of wine, fancy cocktails, what ever rocks your boat.
But beer – yoga: drinking while practising Asana, Pranayama and Meditation. You missed the point of the true nature and teachings of Yoga.
If you want to drink beer, while doing certain stretches and exercises, do that if you want, but please don’t call it Yoga.
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
Yoga Retreat at Luther Heights, Coolum from 7th to 9th September 2018
I have never been to a yoga retreat and I was quite sceptical initially. A friend told me about it and I thought I will give it a go. It was a great decision! The teacher Maria Prema was great – skilled and personable; I felt really comfortable with her. The view was breath-taking and the food was delicious. Meeting like-minded people and doing yoga for the 3 days was wonderful. To do Surya Namaskar while watching the sun rise over the ocean was quite an amazing experience. On the whole, it was soul-enriching and the retreat was a real treat for me!
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.
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.
#Yoga4dignity 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 practicing YOGA in your hometown as we share #Yoga4dignity.
Purchasing this ticket enables you to be part of this amazing event.
This is the second year of #Yoga4Dignity. Last year we had a sold out class of nearly 30 Participants and Yogis, at the Scout Hall, Booval. Let’s see if we can do this again.
Thank you for helping to Share the Dignity.
#Yoga4Dignity sold out class 2nd September 2017. Let’s do it again in 2018.
Nice article in the local paper QT Ipswich to help promote #Yoga4Dignity #ShareTheDignity
I decided to donate $2 for every person coming to a yoga class this week, August 6th – 10th, 2018 in support of the Farmers in Australia living though the worst drought in many, many years.
This includes the Yoga class I teach for the PCYC Ipswich on a Wednesday evening. And everyone coming for a free trial class. So please bring your friends and family to a yoga class this week. Dust off your yoga mats, the days are warm.
I know it’s a small gesture, but I believe if everyone shows a bit of Support to the drought stricken farmers, we can make a difference.
Through the month of July (school holidays and many cold, frosty mornings) an average of 40 Yogis came to class per week.
Please come to the yoga classes in high numbers this week. Thank you!!
Update 13-8-18
52 happy Yogis made it to a class. Many gave extra change, and my husband helped to top it up to a even $200.-, which I donated to Drought Angels this morning.
Thank you everyone for coming to class and showing support.
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.
The yogic diet is a vegetarian one, consisting of pure, simple, natural foods which are easily digested and promote health. Simple meals aid the digestion and assimilation of foods. Nutritional requirements fall under five categories: protein, carbohydrates, minerals, fats and vitamins. One should have a certain knowledge of dietetics in order to balance the diet. Eating foods first-hand from nature, grown in fertile soil (preferably organic, free from chemicals and pesticides) will help ensure a better supply of these nutritional needs. Processing, refining and overcooking destroy much food value.
There is a cycle in nature known as the “food cycle” or “food chain”. The Sun is the source of energy for all life on our planet; it nourishes the plants (the top of the food chain) which are then eaten by animals (vegetarian), which are then eaten by other animals (carnivores). The food at the top of the food chain, being directly nourished by the Sun, has the greatest life promoting properties. The food value of animal flesh is termed as “second-hand” source of nutrition, and is inferior in nature. All natural foods (fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains) have, in varying quantities, different proportions of these essential nutrients. As source of protein, these are easily assimilated by the body. However, second-hand sources are often more difficult to digest and are of less value to the body’s metabolism.
Many people worry about whether they are getting enough protein, but neglect other factors. The quality of the protein is more important than the quantity alone. Dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds provide the vegetarian with an adequate supply of protein.
A healthy motto is: “Eat to live, not live to eat”. It is best if we understand that the purpose of eating is to supply our being with the lifeforce,or Prana, the vital life energy. So the greatest nutritional plan for the Yoga student is the simple diet of natural fresh foods.
However, the true Yogic diet is actually even more selective than this. The Yogi is concerned with the subtle effect that food has on his mind and astral body. He therefore avoids foods which are overly stimulating, preferring those which render the mind calm and the intellect sharp. One who seriously takes to the path of Yoga would avoid ingesting meats, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, coffee, tea (except herbal), alcohol and drugs.
Any change in diet should be made gradually. Start by substituting larger portions of vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts until finally all flesh products have been completely eliminated from the diet.
The Yogic diet will help you attain a high standard of health, keen intellect and serenity of mind. To really understand the Yogic approach to diet one has to get familiar with the concept of the 3 Gunas * or qualities of nature.
*(I’ll explain the 3 Gunas in a future post)
I eat and thrive on a vegetarian diet since many years, including raw vegan.
Quinoa salad, zucchini fritters, roasted vegetables with yogurt dressing + and raw vegetables / mixed salad with avocado dressing.
Vegetables from my garden: sauteed greens (silverbeet+spinach), rocket or rucola, cherry tomatoes and homemade sauerkraut.
Raw Vegetable plate at my sister’s place in Switzerland, made with organic vegetables fresh from the farmers market.
Hatha Yoga Ipswich 