More on Happiness

A friend was telling me about some happiness research that a leading sports clothing retailer had done and how useful she found their findings in planning for her up and coming Yoga Retreat.  I remembered a longitudinal study done by Harvard University, This study done over 75 years with males from all walks of life show "love"  to be the key to happiness, longevity and mental health and well being. 

Read more about it 

http://aplus.com/a/75-year-harvard-grant-study-happiness?

Another interesting article on happiness talks about the chemicals that can increase or produce levels of happiness. 
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-23924/the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them.html?utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=160227-the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them

ASTEYA

Non Stealing 

The first limb of the eight limbs of yoga are the Yamas.

The Yamas are the moral,ethical and spiritual guidelines of a person aspiring to reach balance, health and well being leading to spiritual development. 

The third Yama is ASTEYA.

To practice ASTEYA we need to not take what is not ours, not taking more than we need, and by not taking credit for something we didn't do. We can steal from ourselves by neglecting a talent, or letting a lack of commitment stop us from practicing yoga. You can steal someone's time by being late, or their happiness or ideas. 

If you take something consider how you can give back, ensuring the appropriate energy or amount is returned or reciprocated. Every thing is interconnected. 
Energetically and karmically you create a major imbalance if you take and don't pay back. 

The Beatles "the love you take is equal to the love you make" 
*Build the worlds kindness reserves by giving more than you receive. 
                                                     
                                                            Mantra 
Summon the power of Lakshmi the goddess of light and abundance by chanting 
                                      Om shirim lakshmiye namaha

Happiness is Ice Cream and Home Made Blackberry Coulis

Today my partner and I took a drive down the Channel armed with large yoghurt buckets. The aim was to pick blackberries. We came home with bucket loads of berries, scratched arms and purple fingers. Oh but what bliss- spending time with a loved one outdoors, communing with nature, picking huge, plump, purple berries and eating lots too! Life doesn't get much better. 
Home to freeze the bulk of our mornings work for later use. Frozen in a single layer on a tray and later packed into plastic bags, seperate little frozen berries ready for a pie, crumble or muffins.  
The remainder I made into Coulis - A rich thick tangy sauce to pour over ice cream, pan cakes or to eat with yoghurt Yum Yum Yum! 

• 250g blackberries
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
• 50g golden caster sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Method
• Put the blackberries and sugar into a small pan with 100ml/31⁄2fl oz water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins until the fruit is soft. Stir in the vanilla, remove and cool a little.

1. Tip the contents of the pan into a blender or food processor, and whizz to a purée, then strain through a sieve, rubbing it through with the back of a ladle or spoon. Serve warm or chilled. Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Why Do Indian Women Wear Toe Rings 

Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing a toe ring on this toe strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularised. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

 Yoginis wear toe rings for this same reason, even woman who have been through menopause feel the benefits of the energy created. My toe rings and Mala beads are from Silver Nest in Mysore India. Visit my friend Meena and her beautiful silver shop for personalised Mala beads, toe rings and all thing Yogic.

In Search  of Happiness 

Buddhist  Mantra 

I have been saying this prayer or mantra every day for two years now and it has helped to change the way I view happiness.

May I find happiness and the root of all happiness ( repeated several times) 

May ( insert the names of loved ones) find happiness and the root of happiness ( repeat) 

May ( insert the names of close friends) find .........................

May ( name of someone you are indifferent to) ................

May ( name of someone you dislike, or who has been hurtful to you) ..........

May all sentient beings find happiness and the root of all happiness. 

Steps to Happiness! 
1) Lower your expectations
2) Learn to depend / trust yourself
3) Appreciate the simple things
4) Smile, even in a challenge
5) Be kind to others (including self)

Finding an Ashtanga Practice in Tasmania

Lotus Yoga Centre

After developing an intensive Ashtanga practice in Bali Indonesia and Mysore India I was keen to find a practice here in Tasmania.

The truth is I was nursing a hip and knee injury from putting too much pressure on myself and my body to perform Lotus position. A very unyoga thing to do as a consequence my yoga practice now has the intention of acceptance. Acceptance of my bodies flexibility on the day, my age, the time of day I am practicing and acknowledgement that my body is in a constant state of change. (Anicha). I have found a practice that supports me, my body and my intention.

Bija Yoga at The Lotus Centre, Victoria Street Hobart. 

The centre provides Ashtanga classes four times a week and will soon add a Mysore style class as an extra session. It is not Ashtanga in the pure sense, more an Ashtanga Vinyasa. I had to let go of Ashtanga Mysore snobbery and look at the primary series through a different lens before I came to appreciate the benefit of this style of practice for this time in my yoga journey and my bodies requirements at this time. 

Lyndel Dean, one of the instructors is amazing, tenacious with body position and alignment to retain the integrity of the asana. The Shala is gorgeous, a haven of calm in the city centre. See their web site www.bijayogacentre.com  

My partner and I joined the 10 day Vipassana course at Healsville in Victoria.

On arrival

• Registration- handing in valuables, phone, car keys
• Orientation, house rules and time tables 
• Separation from males 
• Accomodation settling in ( bed, and en suite bathroom , small veranda with chair to view the sunrise 5.45am 
• Beginning of Noble Silence 
• Meditation in the meditation hall (one hour) lights out 9.30am
  
   Day 1 to day 3 

• Gong to wake up 4.00am 
• Meditation from 4.30am to 6.30am 
• Breakfast ( fabulous) 6.30am spiced prunes ( pictured were fabulous ) 
• Meditation from 8.00am to 10.30 techniques for Anapuna  meditation
• Lunch 11.00 am Vegetarian and vegan options, wonderful food great salad dressings 
• Meditation 1.00 to 2.00 then 2.00 to 5.00pm 
• Dinner consisted of two pieces of fruit or for returning students lemon tea 5.00 to 6.00pm
• Meditation 6.00 to 7.00pm 
• Discourse by S.N Goenka 7.10 8.15pm 
• Meditation 8.15 to 9.00pm 

Wanted to go home day three, many people find day two and six tricky. For me it was day three and eight. 

Recipe for  Spiced Prunes                                  

As many dried organic prunes as you wish
Handful dried organic apricots
Several slices of thinly cut oranges with peel.
A cinnamon stick
Cover ingredients with water and stew until they hydrate and mixture thickens

Day 4 to Day 9
Same time table as for the first three days except that 
S.N Goenka gave instruction in Vipassana mediation (body scanning) learning to sensitise the mind and fine tune to recognise the sensations of the body as it changes continually. 

Key words and Conceps 

• Equanimity - a balanced mind and emotions, calm and composed 
• Adhitthana - strong determination 
• Anicha - law of change, every thing rises and every thing passes away 
• Noble Truths all to do with suffering (Craving) 
• Noble Slilence ( for the entire ten days) 
• Dana share what ever good you have acquired with others. 
• Silk (Five Pre Sets ) Abstain from killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, wrong speech, all intoxicants