The Power of Mindfulness and Ethical Living
/Hello Yogis!
I’m off to a talk this afternoon (Saturday 13th May, 4pm) called ‘The Power of Mindfulness and Ethical Living, A discourse by Ajahn Sundarā’. (Ajahn means teacher). Ajahn Sundarā is the most senior nun at the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel Hempstead.
After life as a dancer she chose to be ordained as a Buddhist nun in the UK in her mid-thirties. She founded the female monastic community and she teaches and leads meditation retreats worldwide.
The talk is at the London Buddhist Vihara, Chiswick London W4 1UD. (Also on Zoom, Meeting ID 833 9660 3479 and Passcode 170832). Nearest tube: Turnham Green. There are nice coffee shops in Turnham Green Terrace for afters… or there’s the 6.00 nightly chanting which is quite sweet.
Classes
I have exciting news. My teacher is coming to teach here in my lucky studio on Thursday evenings. She’s a power Yoga teacher and so her class will be called Strong Vinyasa Flow. It’s on the timetable, Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:30pm, bookable as usual.
Valentina’s style of teaching is upbeat and fun, challenging but gentle. Vinyasa Flow yoga emphasizes the sequential movement between postures, coordinated with and guided by deliberate breath. The practice becomes a moving meditation that creates strength, freedom and fluidity in the body and mind.
Here’s a round-up: Monday and Tuesday = stretchy class at 7.00pm, Wednesday = Ashtanga at 7.00pm, Thursdays = Strong Vinyasa Flow at 6:30-7:30pm with Valentina and Friday morning = Ashtanga at 8.30am. You can book here.
Yoga In The News
The New York Times has: Yoga for Skeptics. ‘The act of doing yoga tamps down activity in certain pathways within the body that get ramped up in response to threats, collectively referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, Dr. Fazzio said.’
The New York Times has: Yoga Keeps Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors Grounded. ‘Earlier in his career, Looney could not seem to escape injury. But over the past two seasons, he has emerged as Golden State’s sturdiest player, appearing in every one of his team’s games. He practices Joga before every game, at home and on the road’.
The Times has: Is this yoga's #MeToo time? Women speak out about abusive healers. “Last year Tania Rose Willis, 32, met the man she thought she was going to have a family with. He was a thirtysomething British shaman, and such were his healing powers, he was considered royalty within the local spirituality community on a Spanish island. This community was united in its shared spiritual beliefs, beliefs that were rooted in shamanism, ie the practice of interacting with the spirit world for healing and guidance. To her delight, he wanted her”.
USA Today has: What is Pilates? Workout, health benefits and how it differs from Yoga. "From a technical perspective, Pilates is purely resistance training," says Alycea Ungaro a Pilates instructor and founder of Real Pilates in New York City. "From a trainer's perspective it is an exercise system that offers students a holistic system of strength, stretch and alignment," she adds.
