Newsletter - July 2018
Dear Friend
If you look up into the sky (collar bones up first) on Friday night you could see a blood red moon; the total eclipse of the moon occurs at 9.00 pm when it passes through the shadow cast by the earth as they line up with the sun. A once in a lifetime sight, the moon goes red before being eclipsed so look up a bit earlier.
Yoga really is for everyone, whatever your ability, age, malady or creed. Forward bends, inverted and sitting postures come very well in this weather. Try folding down over the legs from the hips in sittings; those who need to give special attention to the lower back use as many as 4 blocks under their forehead. Please practice in the shade and no inversions if you have been sunbathing (too much rush of blood to the head).
It’s Hawkwood Yoga Day on Saturday 28th July. 9.30 – 5.00. You can stay on after and enjoy the beautiful gardens. Of all our retreats this much have the best views and food, but of course you are coming for the yoga! Please contact Hawkwood College directly if you are interested in coming – 01453 759034
Our next residential is Park Place which is from Thursday 25th to Tuesday 30th October. In addition to our usual programme we have Matthew coming to give us CPR Training on Monday afternoon. (I love his sense of humour). Also, Sam Rao is coming to give his practical talk on anatomy on Sunday afternoon.
I have just spent two heavenly weeks teaching the Ishaya Monks in Spain. I feel pervaded with mind space = blue sky = Akasha. One of the trainee Ishaya monks, James, has been blind from birth. He was a joy to teach as he obeyed the instructions to a T and performed the postures so well. His alignment and understanding are amazing. It does just show how precise and detailed Iyengar’s instructions were when he taught me. You would not know that this tall, handsome young man, with good posture, was blind. Without a white stick he would pass through doorways and lay down his mat or walk to a chair and sit down without feeling behind first. He was most sensitive to any corrections; they had to be so light, hardly a touch at all. When he did use his stick he sometimes ran. He had a wonderful voice and would sing to us when requested by Maharishi in the middle of a lecture and it lifted the atmosphere when he did. James often smiled and the whole of his face would winkle up. It didn’t look good. So, I put his hands on my face and I smiled ear to ear. After a few tries his face was growing too tense and tight so we puffed a breath out of our mouths to relax the lips. I asked him not to flare his nostrils and pull up his top lip – he put his hands on his own face and he got it. It was such a genuine felt smile (not copied as we do as babies because it pleases our parents). I learnt a lot from James. He and his partner, also an Ishaya monk, are coming to Lesbos next year.
With love
Ruth