Sunday 14 February 2010

Happy Valentines, New Moon in Aquarius

A day of love, an auspicious alignment of planets, New moon in Aquarius, Chinese New Year of the Tiger grrr. Time for some new goals me-thinks. Watch this space
Jonathan Cainer wrote at the beginning of the month that there is a conjunction of Venus and Neptune (8 February), then the Sun and Neptune, followed by Venus and Jupiter (today) he advised that the whole month of February, and not just Valentines day, is a time to fill our hearts with more love :-)
So how have I spent my day? Little lay in cuddling my doggie Jasper all snuggled up in the warm with cold wind outside. Taught a 1 2 1 yoga therapy session, beautiful peaceful start to the day for both of us. We felt lighter and better for making this time for health and well being. When I asked the student if she really did wish to do this session on Valentines day, or would rather be with her partner with breakfast in bed, she replied 'I expect to be treated well every day of the year not just today' Well that says it all really, when today has become so commercialised and over priced - making every day about love is the secret to keeping a relationship alive.
I popped to Walton to treat myself to a cappuccino, and as I left my house a white feather floated down by my feet, what a beautfiul gift from the Universe, and also maybe the Angels were saying they were close by, I felt blessed after the week I have had of challenges with all my familys health.
Then another surprise as I drove round the back of a road where I always park at the weekend and walk to the shops - a bouquet of flowers and a red balloon had been left on the path - what to do, leave it or accept it as another gift from the Universe? Well what do you think i did?
Had some quality family time sharing sugary yum yums - naughty but nice. Walked Jasper along his favourite haunts, then back for a day of TLC - a pamper session followed by snuggle time with Jasper munching choccies and watching the romcom '50 First Dates' and Dancing on Ice full of love songs, hearts and flowers, and now to bed.
Happy Valentines, Happy Chinese New Year full of Love :-)
Love, Light and Lots of Oms xx





Saturday 6 February 2010

Commitment, Contentment, Chaos, Companionship, Caring, Compassion, Camaraderie, Community

Well so much for my commitment to keep a blog rather than a diary - its been rather like my yoga practice this week - non-existent. Its not that I haven't 'done' any yoga (I have taught 12 classes this week) its just my personal practice to be more precise

What is yoga anyway?

It means union, to join together, or 'yoke' - mind, body, soul - to be more aware of the body, emotions, to be in the moment, to have a sense of contentment, and awareness of the impact one has on the world in general and on other beings.

Oh well, maybe I have not done too badly after all. I might not have gone into the studio and practised perfect physical postures, but I have lived life in a yogic way. Accepting the challenges the week brought -

my doggie Jasper has a bad hip, he can't jump on and off the sofa or bed and can't walk up and downstairs at present :-( I have been carrying him so he rests as much as possible (and walks are banned for a few days too)

Dads just completed second round of chemo, skin falling off his feet, very unpleasant side-effects

Mums ill now - very high calcium levels in the body, doctor can't understand why she has not collapsed and been admitted to hospital! (On No please no more hospital visits!)

one of my brothers has to have minor ENT surgery next Thursday (groan hospital again - am praying it goes well and he gets home the same day - fingers crossed)

one of my pregnancy students gave birth at 32 weeks and baby is now in St Peters neo-natal ward (hospital again!) I have been lighting a candle and we have all been sending her positive and loving thoughts

another of my pregnant students is hoping to be back in her home after being a nomad for a month , major renovations have run over and then the boiler just blew up! (she's keeping legs crossed too and wants baby to be 2 weeks late!)

not heard from my son (no news is good news) am hoping things are well in his life in Leeds and that he passed his last year exams - fingers crossed again

my house is total chaos! when do i fit in housework?

like me, loads of students continually have 'stuff' going on in their lives, its often quite relentless,

So, what gets us all through? Yoga.

Yoga has always been my lifeline - every aspect of it, going to class, home practice, breathing and relaxation techniques, meditation, treating others as you would like to be treated yourself, laughter, sharing, a sense of community and support - all things I encourage and foster in my classes. A couple of new students have commented on how lovely the people in class are, that they have never before had an opportunity to get to know anyone in a yoga class, or had the sense of companionship, caring, compassion and camaraderie. Previous ones have been quite a solitary experience - but in this world of stress, fast paced living, spread out and fragmented families, we need a sense of community, caring and belonging more than ever

Quote for the week when 'stuff' happens to you -

'Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass.......its about learning to dance in the rain'

Whats your favourite quote? Or way of seeing the challenges of life?

Om shanti