October 2011

As most of you know the last few months have certainly had their challenges. I could quite easily have wallowed in my sorrow but Yoga teaches us to live in the moment. If you limit your attention to how life lets you down, you blind yourself to the endless gifts you receive all the time. Yes you need to deal with the cards that life deals you but keeping yourself in the past only leads to more suffering. Dealing with the now surely is enough? Human beings seem hard-wired to notice how reality fails to meet some idea of how they think things should be. By shifting your attention you can put an end to your suffering and appreciate lifes joys that are all around you. Patanjali (who compiled the Yoga Sutras) wrote that santosha (contentment, or appreciation for what you have) leads to unexcelled joy.

Count your blessings and you'll find that even an uneventful or "bad" day is filled with precious gifts. My experience has really helped me see what I am truly grateful for. My practice has been invaluable in not only helping me to keep present but also helping balance my hormones, helping me recover and restore, nurturing both my physical body but also my mind and my spirit. I am truly grateful to family and friends for just being there and also for you, the community that I have surrounding me, so many kind words, words of encouragement and positive healing vibes. Again I thank you.

Through the mindfulness practice of gratitude, you are able to rejoice amidst all life's suffering. Cultivating gratitude is a very powerful form of mindfulness practice. Being relieved of the endless wants and worries of your life's drama, even temporarily, is liberating. The understanding you gain from practicing gratitude frees you from being lost or identified with either the negative or the positive aspects of life, letting you simply meet life in each moment as it rises.

Cultivating Gratitude
Start by finding a comfortable seat. Focus on your physical body and really notice how your body is feeling today. Simply focus on your breath. Breathing in and out of your nose, slowing your breathing and making it smoother and more regular. This relaxes the nervous system and when the nervous system is relaxed, the mind often follows.

Gratitude can be cultivated by taking a moment to think about what you are grateful for. You can maybe start with the people around you, all the people who have helped you in your life: those who cared for you, clothed you, educated you, cooked for you. The roof over your head, your job, the beauty that surrounds you. Find something that resonates with you.

Count your blessings every day.

Gratitude practiced in this manner brings delight, balances out your tendency to focus on the negative, and can even lift a dark mood. Responding to a difficult situation by acknowledging it as such, then saying, "Yes, this is terrible, and I am grateful for . . . ." allows you to meet life's difficulties with an open heart.

Yoga teaches that joy, or ananda, lies deep inside each of us, and its various tools are simply a means to get at what's already there


Baby Yoga
Next course commences 01 December. Baby Yoga is a great way to bond with your baby. Learning new songs and rhymes to gentle Yoga moves for baby helps sleep and digestion, coordination to name a few benefits. Start connecting with your breath and practice gentle Yoga moves for yourself, connect with your own body. Relax, restore, energise.

I am also offering a single drop-in class on November 17 that is open to all. Cost is £6 for this trial session. Babies need to be 6 weeks and after your postnatal check.
Please contact Jessica for more information and booking.

Testimonials Please
I am looking to update my websites and would very much appreciate some recent testimonials. If you have the time I would greatly appreciate any feedback that you are happy for me to share on my pages. I am looking for feedback on Baby Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga and my Catton and Inner Space classes.

Yoga History and Philosophy
Joss at The Yoga tree is running 5 one hour Yoga History & Philosophy sessions. Starting Monday 10th Oct 12.15pm at the Complementary Health Care Clinic, Exchange St Norwich. Each session is £5, a mini workshop to get the juice out of the history and philosophy to recharge your yoga practice. Interested? Please call Joss direct on 0759 837665

ASQUITH CLOTHING
Asquith London offers the finest quality lifestyle clothing, which is deliciously soft, organic and ethically produced.

Classic, elegant and comfortable styles with a perfect, flattering fit in Certified Organic Cotton and Bamboo fabrics that feel fabulous against your skin.

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Bliss Yoga Norwich is offering students an exclusive 20% off until November 30th 2011, simply visit www.asquithlondon.com and type BLISSYOGA20 into the promotional code box when placing your order to receive your 20% exclusive discount.

Much love to you all
Hari OM