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Welcoming the return of Daylight Saving ~ Oct. 2009 |
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| *NEW VENUE*
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| Daytime Meditation
at the
SANDRINGHAM CLUB
Wed. 28th Oct.
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| BREATHE AT PARKDALE |
| Join us for Yoga & Meditation instruction at our beautiful beachside space at
Parkdale Yacht Club
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| Exploring Meditation
x5 week course |
| Tuesday evenings
Isnt' it time to learn Meditation? |
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"When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities."
Deepak Chopra |
| Join our list |
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| Surprises! |
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Recently I have been asked to present a Meditation workshop to:
*Corporate groups
*VCE Students
More on these
new programs next month or check out website shortly | |
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Greetings!
What amazing weather we have experienced in Melbourne over the last few weeks. As our classes are held 'front row' to the beach we have the wonderful opportunity to witness the constant changes and wild emotion of the water .. one class set before the wild and angry sea and sky .. the next class a dazzling and breath-taking sunset, and calm glassy waters.
When I enter our meditation space by the beach I always set aside a half-hour or so for my own 'preliminary practice'. It is important that we set aside adequate time to transition from the busy-ness of the day, to the gentle calmness of our meditation practice. This is the 'grace period' in which we honour our intention to practice; establish the best possible conditions for quiet and stillness, place ouresleves at the ready, and take our seat .. then reflect silently on our motivation for our practice.
As part of my own ritual prior to class .. I light my favourite incense (and smell it deeply), I touch the windows (to feel the weather outside), and I inhale and exhale the view before me. Softening into the sunset stretching before me .. breathing in the sea air .. being still.
For a moment.
May you enjoy some golden sunsets and silver skies ...
Sarah |
| Cultivating 'Beginner's Mind' |
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 "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are only few" Shunryu Suzuki
I have recently started a new series of meditation classes at our wonderful beachside space in Parkdale. The Exploring Meditation program runs over five weeks and I always look forward to these weeks shared. It is such a pleasure to have a regular 'date' with the group to catch up and share meditation .. a new program is a chance to meet new friends, share the joy of a new life skill learnt, discuss experiences and help support new meditation practices.
In the days leading up to a new class I also connect again with that sense of excitement I felt in the lead up to the start of a new school year .. you know it's coming, you are familiar with some of the 'picture' .. but all the many 'parts' of the surprise are still unknown, yet to unfold.
That sense of being truly open to a new experience, is a reminder to me of the importance of 'beginner's mind'.
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| Half-Smile 'Spot' Meditation |
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If you look at a picture or statue of the Buddha you are likely to see him holding a small upturning of the mouth, a relaxed and easy half-smile.
Smiling has been confirmed by modern psychology as having very positive effects, sending messages to the brain that everything is okay and assisting us to feel better. The smile also deeply relaxes our facial muscles and leads to the whole body feeling more relaxed. When you soften muscles in your cheeks and eyes, the edges of your mouth naturally turn upwards - and facial tension dissolves. Studies have shown that holding any particular facial expression can mimic in us the feeling of that emotion .. and marked changes can be found in our autonomic nervous systems solely from our chosen expression.
The half-smile has been shown to help stimulate positive emotions thereby purposefully attracting peacefulness .. even when we don't feel like smiling!
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| Mental Health Week : 4th - 10th October |
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 My life has been filled with terrible misfortunes - most of which never happened - Mark Twain
This week I have been invited to attend a local business and present a Meditation Workshop as part of Victorian Mental Health Week (4th to 10th October).
Mental Health Week is an annual Victorian event (that has been running since 1982) and aims to :
· raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the wider community
· increase community awareness and education about mental health issues
· encourage participation in life enhancing lifestyles.
According to the National Institute of Health 90% of illness is caused or aggravated by stress; and the World Health Organisation classes job stress is a worldwide epidemic .. predicting that stress will be the number one killer by 2020.
Modern day stress is often insidious and hidden ... read more here |
| Sunset Meditation |
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 Daylight saving starts in Victoria at 2:00am on Sunday 4 October 2009
Finally we can enjoy some 'extra' day- light hours at the end of our busy working day. I love this time of year, when the extra daylight is still new to us and often provides us with unexpected gift's .. a spur of the moment walk down by the water after dinner, finding time (finally) for some much needed exercise, fitting in an evening meditation, or just being available to experience the beauty of our night sky.
I am often asked when is the best time of the day to set aside for meditation. In many ways it simply depends on whether you are a morning, or evening person. Listening to our natural rhythms is possibly the best advice. Find out what fits your lifestyle, and your body clock, and incorporate some habitual triggers to remind you to meditate at that time each day - until a positive new habit is formed.
Traditionally the ideal times for meditation were said to be sunrise and sunset, aligning our practice to the earth's natural energy cycles. A period of stillness at the end of a busy day can be a wonderfully refreshing practice .. the pressures of the day have been dealt with and we are naturally winding down. An evening meditation helps clear out the mental clutter - so we don't end up sleeping with it.
At Breathe@Parkdale we practice our yoga and meditation right on the beach and often take advantage of the beautiful weather by moving our classes outside on to the balcony or the sand. Earlier this year, in the closing days of summer, I held a couple of meditation classes on the balcony .. being outside in nature allowed us to indulge all our senses and witness the beauty unfolding before us. The ocean, the seagulls flying low and in packs across the water, people enjoying a leisurely walk in the warm evening air, little boats bopping on the water, all pictured against the dazzling beauty of the setting sun. This month try to make a date with the sky somewhere so you can witness its changing colours. Maybe you can be near the ocean, a park, or find a quiet spot in your own backyard .. just find a place to sit and listen and watch the transition from day to night. Try some stargazing. Release the day and settle into the stillness. Feel the balmy night air on your skin. Explore the vastness of the night sky and the blanket of stars magically above. | |
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We believe that Meditation is a healthy and vital life skill.
Meditation allows us to find the 'pause' button in our busy, noisey, non-stop world.
Taking a moment to just be still and breathe, we allow the body to achieve a deep state of relaxation and the mind to settle into a space of stillness and calm. People meditate for many reasons .. to relax, let go of stress, improve health, develop greater focus and awareness, inspire creative thinking, cope better with change and the demands of life, and discover inner joy and clarity.
There is now a wealth of research validating how good meditation is for our health and general wellbeing .. not forgetting that meditation has been practiced and talked about for many thousands of years. Isn't it time to learn what all the talking is about?
Ensure you find a little time to enjoy the beauty of the world around you with the arrival of daylight saving!
Sarah Fletcher
Quiet Mind Meditation
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| Save by sharing
with a friend.. |
We believe that everyone should learn meditation .. we believe it is a life skill!
Bring a friend to one of our classes and we shall extend to both parties a 10% discount on the class or program!
Just bring this coupon with you.
Quiet Mind Meditation |
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