Albany, Western Australia
A complete approach to health and wholeness – integration of our body, breath (speech) and mind/heart through posture, conscious breath, chant, meditation and study. Through a daily yoga practice, we ignite the life-force flowing within and all around us. Consequently, we live and act more consciously, more interdependently – for our own benefit and the benefit of others.
WE WAKE UP!
The whole process of yoga, of spiritual development, is the removal of obstacles to self-realisation (enlightenment). In order to see these obstacles one needs a tremendously calm mind. Quietness of mind does not mean that there are no thoughts. There may be millions of waves on the surface of the ocean, but underneath it is absolutely calm. Can you go down to the depth of the ‘ocean’ within you, the depth of your own consciouness, so that even while the thoughts keep rising and falling on the surface, there is this deep calm and peace?
This is yoga.
I am a qualified IYA*, IYTA* and Heart of Yoga Assoc. teacher with 45 years study and teaching experience. I lived and taught yoga at Sivananda Ashram (Beacon Yoga Centre, Fremantle) for 9 years where I was a student of Swami Venkatesananda and completed the first IYTA training to be offered in WA. Venkatesa worked hard to ensure that all of us, his students, received a complete training in the Eight Limbs of Yoga (astanga). After Venkatesa’s death, I continued my yoga studies with Sri TKV Desikachar and other senior teachers from the Krishnamacarya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), Chennai India, focussing on the study of vedic chant and yoga cikitsa (yoga therapy). In the mid-90s I met and travelled to India with Mark Whitwell to further my studies again at KYM. From 1994 -2017, I received profound meditation and compassion teachings from Tibetan master, Sogyal Rinpoche (Tibetan Book of Living & Dying). In the course of these studies, I met the remarkable Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and feel so grateful to be able to continue my study and practice of the Vajrayana teachings under his guidance. To recognise the master in this life … an unrepayable gift.
I offer immense gratitude to my teachers who have (&had) the patience to transmit the yoga & wisdom teachings of India & Tibet to me. The teachings have blessed my life with a deep curiosity and understanding that informs all aspects of my life, transforming it into a truly healing path. I pray I may in some way be a conduit for the teachings for the benefit of others.
My love of sacred sound culminated in the release of a guided CD for students in 1999, The Healing Sounds of Vedic Chant.
In December 2002, after many requests from students, I released a daily yoga practice CD for those wishing to establish a home practice – Do Your Yoga Bless Your Life. Tracks from this CD are available for download.
*IYA – Integral Yoga Association
*IYTA – International Yoga Teachers’ Association
I salute my precious teachers who constantly inspire and guide my work
Swami Venkatesananda woke me up and set me on a lifetime path of study and practice – in a way, he saved my life. Swamiji was a disciple of Sri Swami Sivananda, a Sanskrit scholar and yogi who presented the yoga teachings with insight and sparkling wit. He emphasised the all-round development of the individual through the practice and study of all 8 limbs of yoga (astanga yoga) so that the heart and mind were encouraged to develop as well as the body. Venkatesananda is well known for his eloquent translations into English of the major eastern scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras and Yoga Vasistha. Although Venkatesa died in 1982, he had the foresight and kindness to introduce many of us,his students, to study with TKV Desikachar at the Krishnamacarya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai India.
TKV Desikachar (son of T Krishnamacarya who was also teacher of Iyengar & Pattabhi Jois) transmits the vast body of knowledge and wisdom handed down to him by his father. His genius lay in his ability to communicate yoga for ‘every body’ – for the able-bodied and the not-so-able. His insightful text, The Heart of Yoga is an essential resource for every yoga student.
Photo Courtesy Helen McKelvie
So much gratitude to Sogyal Rinpoche (The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying) who kept me afloat through so many turbulent years by transmitting the Buddha’s teachings. He generously introduced me and all his students to many other wisdom masters – Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul and Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche. And I also honour Ian Maxwell from whom I first received the healing, heart-opening teachings and practices of bodhicitta.
Links:
australia.siddharthasintent.org
www.rigpa.org.au
www.khandrorinpoche.org
tergar.org
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche is an inspirational teacher who generously and energetically transmits the Buddhist Teachings with clarity, warmth and insight. He was born in Bhutan in 1961 and recognised as the main incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1894- 1959). He was educated mainly by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and, from a young age, he has been active in preserving Buddha Dharma, establishing centres of learning and practice, supporting practitioners, publishing books, and teaching all over the world. In all my lives, may I never be separated from the lama and the Dharma, and have the courage to live out of that wisdom and compassion.
siddharthasintent.org/australia
khyentsefoundation.org
A DAILY PRACTICE CD/MP3 set for busy people who can sometimes only spare 15-30 minutes a day – now you don’t have to miss out on the many benefits of a daily yoga practice.
There are practices for:-
* morning
* evening
* stiff body plus
* guided relaxation to music and
* lovingkindness meditation with om mani padme hum chant.
An Introduction to Vedic Chant for Students by HAMSA
This CD/MP3 set is interactive and comes complete with an instruction booklet.
$35 for CD and Booklet set (includes postage)
$22 for MP3 and PDF Download.
Chant has traditionally been used as a tool for healing, celebration and transformation.
The Healing Sounds of Vedic Chant CD/MP3/booklet set provides an ideal tool for yoga teachers and students to learn some simple Vedic chants. All of the chants are rendered in the beautifully musical language of Sanskrit. Most of the chants are drawn from the sacred text of the Upanishads. These sounds are healing in themselves, even if one only listens to them. All of the chants can be learned and followed in the accompanying book.
TEACHERS – order 5 or more copies and save 30%.
| WA | VIC |
|---|---|
| Paperbark, Albany | Mangala Yoga, Carlton |
MP3 Audio Files
The practice of yoga reduces disturbance of all kinds and restores our inherent wellbeing, peace and clarity. Furthermore, there is a practice for everyone including the fit and agile, the stressed and stiff, and those in need of special care.
MEDITATION, ASANA & PRANAYAMA
Friday 7.00am – Meditation & Yoga 🧘🏼
Starts 18 October 🪷
Guided shamatha/vipasyana followed by asana & pranayama. When these are skillfully applied, we reduce disturbance in our system and allow energy and wellbeing to flow throughout our body/mind/heart.
Inspired Art
Sylvia broke her ankle just before our Summer Intensive began on 3rd January – oh no! In her indomitable style, she was still keen to attend and suggested she might dabble in some mindful art whilst we were practising asana. I thought that was an excellent idea. Here are some samples of the beautiful inspiration that manifested. Bravo Sylvia!
Summer Intensive 2022
Summer Intensive 2020
Summer Intensive 2019
Denmark Forest Retreat
May 2018
Do Your Yoga, Bless Your Life
CD/ book set – SOLD OUT Downloads available on CD page
The Healing Sounds of Vedic Chant
CD/ book set @ AUS$35 each includes postage
For orders of 5 or more copies and save 30%
For US or European orders (single copies), add AUS$10 postage.
International payments by Paypal only.