Many of us are feeling the tumultuous energy flowing around the world at present and wondering where it’s all going and whether there is anything we can do about it. This is the time where our practice of yoga can be of service to the world community. Returning to a sense of calm despite the global situation is choosing peace instead of adding to the turmoil through thought and talk. In Patanjali’s yoga philosophy, sutra 1:2 describes yoga as cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. He goes further in Sutra 1:51 to describe this dismantling of all thought processes as a seedless state where the aspirant feels total non-attachment becoming open, clear and transparent. This has been described as Oneness with the Universe or a state when one’s energy feels a part of the Universal energy.

We may not get to that state of Nirvana but through our practice we can daily generate a feeling tone of deep calm which we can take into the day’s activities. Gradually with regular practice we can sustain the feeling of calm within stressful situations.

Let’s make our New Year resolutions bigger than our individual selves. From Gandhi’s famous quote ‘be the change you want to see in the world’. Start from a grassroots level by contemplating ways to generate peace in 2009 so those around us will feel the ripples.

Contemplative Meditation on Peace within our Community
Sit comfortably and relax your body and mind through relaxed breathing observing the incoming and outgoing breath. Stay with the breath focus till you feel calm and in the here and now.
Imagine placing your family around you. Your mother to the left, father to the right and the rest of your family behind you. Place any people in your life you have difficulty with in front of you.    
Now visualise going to somewhere where you have felt deeply at peace. This may be a place you have been or an imaginary place. Completely absorb yourself in the feelings of deep peace. Don’t hurry from this part of the meditation.
Next feel this deep peace emanating from the deepest part of self and extending to your relatives. Start to visualize each of them as peaceful smiling beings.
Come back to visualizing those problem people in front of you and realize that they also want peace and happiness. Visualise them as peaceful and happy. Feel the connection of peace and happiness emanate between you and them.
Now imagine behind the people in front of you many people from around the world seated together for as far as the eyes can see. Visualise them as deeply at peace and happy.
Think and feel sincerely “May all beings be at peace and happy. May our thoughts be positive and our actions generate love far out into the world.”

A little regular time in contemplative meditation is a continual reality check and a way of renewing our intention for peace. Quiet time for the mind is necessary in seeking truth and seeing the ways to change the world.  

Compassionate Communication (NVC) Foundation Training 21s t -22nd February in Sandgate
A 2 Day Foundation Course with Cate Crombie 
Compassionate Communication or Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a practical and easily learned process for communicating with empathy, honesty, power, integrity and compassion. The skills taught will help you to improve your listening and speaking skills; say more clearly what you mean; transform difficult relationships; enhance all relationships and show you how to listen and speak in a way that vastly increases the likelihood of getting your needs met and your highest dreams realized.
Where: Inner Harmony Yoga and Movement Centre Sandgate
Cost: Sliding scale - $160 for the 2 days if we get 16 people (no partial enrolments)
 Times: 9am till 5.30pm each day    Lunch will be provided

“The task is not to struggle for illumination but to still the mind and steady the body and its pranas. Then the light will inevitably shine forth.” Swami Satyananda

Looking forward to our journey in yoga together this year
Love and peace always
Anishka