It’s been a while since I sent out a newsletter. I’m not sure where the time has gone. I heard one explanation that with all this disruption to our lives it’s like we are living in time soup, time is no longer linear, with no goals or celebrations to tether us. I have certainly had days that have felt soupy, a bit of blur, one day rolling into the next. Time from a yoga perspective is circular and when I am more connected to my yoga practice, have spent time working in my garden and time making things with my hands I have much more rhythm to my days. If you also feel like the days are becoming a bit like soup, you may like to counter this mind set by trying to shift your perception of time being linear, with a start and a finish to feeling the more circular energies of the natural world where there is no beginning and no end.

Being aware of the subtle signs of the changing Seasons is one way to dissipate that feeling of time soup and settle your senses on the circle of life. Here in Melbourne the burgeoning Spring is ever present. Many of you have been posting pictures of abundant Magnolias, glorious full bloom wattle and colour saturated sunsets. In our Zoom classes we had a very special New Moon restorative practice that was serenaded by the abundant frogs in my frog pond. Their soothing chirping was broadcast via my microphone into the ether and into your homes, lulling us into a deep rest. The bird life in my garden has also been exuberant. Without any background hum of traffic their songs have been ever present and sweet.

When the Seasons change we need to pay particular attention to our health and make good choices to support ourselves through this transition. In Emma’s Seasonal Mandala E-book that is downloadable from the Shadow Yoga webpage she states:

"During the change of seasons, the Agni becomes disturbed. To aid the body it is beneficial to take a two week cleanse fasting on light cooked meals of stews and soups."

In Chinese Medicine Spring is the time for the liver and it’s partner the gall bladder so it is good to support these organs by eating foods that nourish them; leafy greens and things that taste sour. Below is a summary from the Chinese Medicine Living webpage.

In our Yoga practice Spring is time for balancing asanas and grounding stances, our focus in class over the next couple of weeks. All classes are given for those that turn up on the day with whatever they have going on that in that moment in time. There are no levels or prerequisites. This is important to keep in mind as often when things are changing and fluctuating around us our minds follow those same patterns. I often hear excuses like ‘I just didn’t have the head space for a class’ or ‘I was too tired to do any practise’ or ‘I needed to get my house in order first’. All these mutterings of the mind seem very reasonable but really when we take a closer look they are just the musings of the intellect. Not having enough head space means come to class, or do your practice, as it will give you just that: headspace. After class I often have students who say they are no longer tired. Yoga will nurture your energy. And there is always something to do round the house, at work, these things are never ending and will never be done. What is more important your health and state of mind or more work and chores? All you have to do is turn up, nothing else is required. You sometimes have to trick your mind and tell it that you are just turning up, you won’t do much, and then once the body gets moving it dictates what it needs, not the intellect. Once you have turned up, go lightly with yourself, have no expectations of an outcome just a childlike curiosity of what could be. The good thing about learning from home in your own space is that you can respond more easily to your own needs. 

If you are curios to explore the subject of Yoga a little more, Emma’s film Agniyogana is available to stream on SBS on demand. It tells a beautiful story of the path with sumptuous visuals and is only available until September 6, so be quick! 

Emma is also interviewed about the film and her own personal yoga journey on the Live Like You Love Yourself podcast. I found it a really inspiring conversation about a very different life.

Keep well and I hope to see you in class.