NEWS new Chill Out Yoga Downloads.....Nick McNamara\\\'s thoughts on Body, Mind and Soul......NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS 2007.... 2008-05-04
Chill Out Yoga Downloads

Feedback from yoga enthusiasts who’ve downloaded Chill Out Yoga Practice Session 1 has included ‘The flowing moves in the easy to follow 30 minute session got me practising every day’.

The good news is that there are two more downloadable practice sessions in the pipeline. One will be an energising 45 minute class for advanced yogis, the other will be a longer class with more time on breath awareness and a talked through relaxation at the end. These new sessions should be available in June.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already tried Chill Out Yoga 1, go to the DVDs and downloads page.

http://www.harrogateyoga.com/dvds.html


Body, Mind and Soul by Nick McNamara

Two of my favourite things are yoga and psychotherapy. Both have a profound effect on me, and give me a strong sense of the incredible connection between body and mind.

As babies we all experienced the whole range of emotions; rage, terror, ecstasy, despair and everything in between. If you watch a baby you can easily see how their feelings are whole-body experiences – they scream, shout or giggle; their arms and legs thrash about in anger or delight; or their body becomes literally rigid with fear. The emotional, psychological and physical act almost as one. I have a sense of a baby being well connected up!

As we grow up things seem to get in the way of this brilliant process. Often our parents will only tolerate certain of our feelings. For example, in our culture a little girl may be encouraged to be a ‘beautiful princess’ – delightful and happy. But what does she do when she feels murderously angry, and knows her parents will not allow her to express it? What happens if we hurt so much because we feel we are not wanted by one or both of our parents, but it seems too dangerous to tell them so?

In cases like these I think we eventually try to deny to ourselves that we even have the feeling at all. We shut the feeling away, and in shutting off our natural emotional process I think we also shut off something physical. We hold the blockage as a fixed experience or memory in our body and also in our subconscious mind – somehow in our very cells. The healthy flow of our system, involving body and mind, is impeded. Perhaps we become stiff and rounded in the shoulders, become prone to sore throats, or stop breathing properly. I strongly believe that these kinds of effects impact our bodily development and health, and ultimately do cause disease.

I see yoga and psychotherapy working to remove the blockages and restore the natural flow necessary for our healthy growth to happen. Because our minds and bodies work as a system I think it is possible to help any one part of that system and to somehow have a positive effect on the rest of it.

When I help a therapy client to feel safe enough to say something about their experience which they have felt too painful to admit to themselves before, they might find that their niggling head ache which they have had all week has suddenly disappeared. They might feel lighter, as though a weight has been lifted. (Notice the physical metaphor). One of the latest developments in psychotherapy is that of body psychotherapy in which the therapist works much more actively with the client’s physical sensations, experiences and presentation.

When I take the time to do my yoga practice, to breathe consciously, to allow my body to do what it wants to do, I experience myself as being patient and kind to myself. In response, I have my feelings more freely. I might realise that I feel very sad about something, or that I need to change something in my life. Afterwards I feel more connected – with myself and my life. My body and mind feel like they belong to me. I am flowing again.

Both yoga and psychotherapy work to improve the health of our body and mind, but just take different routes. I feel very glad that I discovered both.

As for my soul, I have less idea of what that is, but somehow I think I’m closer to finding out whenever I have a good therapy session or yoga class!

What do you think?

If I were to arrange a short talk and discussion to explore these ideas further from a psychotherapy perspective, perhaps before or after a yoga class, would you be interested? Let me know!

Nick McNamara works as an Associate Psychotherapist at The Tuke Centre in York, and has a private counselling and psychotherapy practice in Knaresborough.

He would welcome any thoughts, comments or enquiries, so feel free to contact him on 01423 340 482 or nickmcn@hotmail.com, or visit www.nickmcn.co.uk.

HARROGATE YOGA
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER


Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift.

These words, all in pink, adorned the dhokla, samosas, pakoras, burfi, jelabee, halva, etc, on sale in Bobby’s Sweet Shop in Leeds. Justine Gaunt, spotted the phrase when she called in to the shop to satisfy her sweet tooth. She says “I wrote it down and put it up on the mantelpiece at home. A few weeks later we had a lovely man staying with us whose wife was in hospital in Leeds having cancerous tumours removed. He was very taken by the words. I saw him again this weekend in London, and he presented me with the original Sanskrit text."

Listen to the exhortation of the dawn!
Look well to this day for it is life.
The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the verities
And realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth.
The glory of action.
The splendour of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream.
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today well lived
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope
Look well therefore to this day!
Such is the salutation of the dawn.

(From the Sanskrit)

********

Justine, who comes to Level 2 class at the Academy, says “Isn't it beautiful? And such a wonderful reminder to live in the moment!”


RECIPE FOR CHAI
If you feel too cold and lacking in energy to practise, maybe a cup of chai will help to get you going! This recipe was sent in by Sophie Bickerdike (Level 2 class) she says it’s from Patricia Grube.
Take 3 quarts of boiling water. Add: 20 whole cloves, 20 whole green cardamon pods, 20 whole black peppercorns, 5 sticks of cinnamon. Continue boiling for 15 – 20 minutes and then add 1/4 teaspoon of any black tea. After 1 or 2 minutes add 1/2 cup cold milk per cup of remaining liquid. Return liquid to boiling point, then strain and serve with honey to taste, if desired. Add a slice of ginger root if you are suffering from a cold or recovering from the flu, or in need of extra energy. Enjoy!



NEWLY QUALIFIED TEACHER
Congratulations to Lisa Leinhardt – a Level 2 yogini – who has recently qualified as a yoga teacher with The British Wheel of Yoga.

YOGA BABES
Two Level 2 yoginis have recently had babies – big babies! Pam Robinson’s little boy Archie Frederick Alexander, born April 21st, 9lbs 2ozs, is on the left below, and Ceri Hartley’s little boy Edward James, born September 3rd, 9lbs 14ozs, is on the right.

NB let me know if you'd like a copy of the newsletter with pics





Thank you to those who have contributed to this newsletter, and thank you to everyone who comes to class and to workshops and in so doing inspires me to write it!
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a New Year!

Love

Amanda



HARROGATE YOGA
AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2007
NB pictures cannot be shown on the news page so contact Amanda through the contact form if you'd like a copy with pictures

HARROGATE YOGA
SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2007



‘Unicorn’ Lynne Kirkby

Yoga and Creativity

Last term Sophie Bickerdike of Level 2 asked if Yoga could make us more creative? I said ‘Yes, depending how you do it!’ A few people have given me their thoughts and contributions on this subject; see Lynne Kirkby’s beautiful artworks.

Sandy Carlson of Level 2 said ‘I don't think I have a creative bone in my body but for those that do, I would think yoga has the ability to calm the mind, put life in balance and therefore free up mental space for creative thoughts.’ Her comment regarding ‘mental space’ resonates in me. As she is pointing out, it’s not just about making art.

Justine Gaunt says that through the breath work, meditation and focus of yoga practice, ‘we can reach the pure place of the mind's eye’ and that focus can be replicated for a creative focus.


Jo Kirby, who is a graphic designer says ‘Yoga has enabled me to engage with a more open mind, letting me be more free thinking with my ideas and thoughts. I am more aware in everyday life and of what is around me, so visually I am more aware than ever. I feel a lot calmer and have more clarity leading me to feel more balanced in all areas of my life, which has a positive effect on my work.’

She also says ‘Yoga makes you comfortable with who you are and allows you to have more self belief, hence I am being more dynamic with my design and true to my work.’

My own practice of Yoga is a process where I check in with myself every day, this helps me see where I might be getting stuck in my body or life - by cultivating flexibility in my body I aim for flexibility in my mind also. In this way I create the space for spontaneity and to be able to cook up new ideas.

An idea which has been cooking for several months is to have an Art Gallery page on my website of my own artwork. I hope this will be up and running before Christmas. In the meantime I’ve been persuaded to put some of my drawings up in Halo hair salon. Another idea which has come to fruition is a downloadable practice session….


Chill Out Yoga Practice Session
to download

I’m excited to announce that there is now a 30 minute practice session for you to download from the website www.harrogateyoga.com . You should be able to download the session onto your ipod/mp3 player, or onto CD, or play it through your computer. Dan Burt of www.bbmusichouse.co.uk recorded it for me. Sadie Lant, a local Diploma Course Tutor, made the ujjayi sound and helped me by doing the moves as I talked it through. Richard England www.rpengland.co.uk, my website designer, set it up.
.


New Qualification

After four years of studying, I have finally completed my training in Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy (based on the principles of Body-Mind Centering®). So I now have my diploma accredited with ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association) as a movement educator.



More beautiful paintings by Lynne Kirkby


Brimham Rocks Lynne Kirkby Scarborough Lynne Kirkby





Baby Project

The photographic documentation for my baby project is now complete because the baby is on his feet and walking! Baby Zack is the son of Angeline and Tris Campbell.





To inspire - Colette Luscomb suggested including the following piece by Max Ehrmann -
Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Thank you to those who have contributed to this newsletter, and thank you to everyone who comes to class and to workshops and in so doing inspires me to write it!

Love
Amanda