Why Practice Yoga? Throughout history people have sought out to understand the essence of our existence, our core consciousness - The Self. The great sages and mystics who dedicated their lives looking for the Truth, found that in deep meditation, when their bodies, minds and senses were stilled, they entered into a different state. In this state they experienced a higher mode of knowing, a union with reality beyond time and change, a Self that is part of, and not separate from, this world. The experience of this is called Samadhi. And living in this state continuously is called Moksha. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a collection of 196 aphorisms, each one concerning an aspect of the path to Enlightenment through yoga. Considered as one of the most profound and enlightening studies of human nature and the search for spiritual liberation, the Sutras were complied over 2000 years ago. In the Yoga Sutras, yoga is described as the cessation of movements in consciousness. Yoga shows ways of understanding the functioning of the mind, and helps to quiet its movements, leading one towards the undisturbed state of silence, which dwells in the very seat of consciousness. Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga: YAMA – rules of restraint NIYAMA – rules of behaviour ASANA – Yoga Postures that keep the body healthy and strong PRANAYAMA: Breathing exercises that help control the mind PRATYAHARA – The withdrawal of the senses DHARANA- Concentration DHYANA – Meditation SAMADHI – Enlightenment Patanjali Yoga Sutras The great teacher B.K.S Iyengar said that “ Yoga is a friend to those who embrace it sincerely and totally. It lifts its practitioners from the clutches of pain and sorrow, and enables them to live fully, taking a delight in life. The practice of yoga helps the lazy body to become active and vibrant. It transforms the mind, making it harmonious. Yoga helps to keep one’s body and mind in tune with the essence, the soul, so all three are blended into one.” - Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, by B.K.S Iyengar |
|
|
Naked Voice Workshop with Chloe Goodchild by Lia Constantinides On the weekend of the 22nd of November, Yoga Heart and Chloe Goodchild
organised a fabulous workshop at the Candili Estate in Evia. The theme was 'The Naked Voice: Transform your Life Through the Power of Sound.'
Although I knew about Chloe’s work, had read her book, and listened to her
work, I was not sure what to expect. There were 12 of us, Chloe immediately led
us deep into the work. Sound and its vibration became a tool of going inwards,
a thread that connected us all in the room creating an incredible space that
allowed everybody to embark on a journey of self discovery. We sang our souls
out, we listened to each other, we danced, we laughed, and we celebrated life.
Some of the participants wrote to us after the workshop: " Such a powerful practice! Still resonating, I am infused with it. Singing from a deeper level keeps happening throughout the days." Maria " My general feeling before joining the workshop was that finding my voice, will help me be more stabilized in my centre, be more present. The experience with Chloe was very special and beyond any expectation. There is a lot of depth in the way she teaches, and without being able to define exactly what it was, I felt that she touched something very important in me." Zenia "In the work with Chloe I felt inspired, I felt a lot of joy, more connected with myself and also connected with all the team. I am very interested to continue this work with Chloe." Yiorgos _______________________ Next workshop with Chloe We are organising a longer, in-depth residential workshop with Chloe in Candili between the 12th and the 17th of June. It will be a workshop addressed to all international students of Chloe, & it will be a wonderful gathering of people from different parts of the world. The details will be announced soon. In the meantime, we will be getting together at Yoga Heart to practice some of Chloe's work and will be welcoming newcomers who are interested. _______________________ We highly
recommend that you read Chloe’s book “The Naked Voice”. Below is an excerpt
and some reviews. |
|
|
Excerpt from ‘The Naked Voice’ by Chloë Goodchild The song of your life. An African legend “There is a remarkable story of the Himba people in Namibia, who live on the banks of the Kunene River. It is said that the Himba are one of the few cultures who consider the birthday of their children to be not the day they are born, nor the day they are conceived, but the day the mother decides to have a child. The Himba understand that every child’s soul resonates or “sings” its unique flavour & purpose. So when a Himba woman decides to have a child, she goes off & sits under a tree by herself & listens until she can hear the song of the child that wants to be born. Once she has heard the song, she comes back to the man who will be the child’s father & teaches him the song. And then, when they make love to conceive the child, they sing the song as it is a way to invite the child to come. When the woman becomes pregnant she attunes to the child’s song & sings it out-loud to the midwives, & the old woman of the village, so that when the child is born, they too can sing the child’s song in welcome. As the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child’s song. If the child falls or gets hurt, someone picks him or her up & sings the soul song to restore wellbeing. Whenever the child does something wonderful, or travels through transitions such as puberty, the village community honours the child by singing his or her song. There is one other occasion when the child’s song is sung to him or her; if the child commits a crime or commits something contrary to the Himba social norms, instead of punishing the child, the villagers will call him or her to the centre of the village & form a circle around the child. They then sing the child’s “soul song” once again. The Himba’s corrective response to anti-social behaviour is led by love & remembrance of identity. For when you recognise your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another. Such singing restores an open heart, self worth, sound values, & clear conscience. As children grow up, their songs are the theme of their lives. In marriage, the songs of the two people are sung together. Finally, when the child, as an adult/elder prepares to die, all the villagers gather to sing his or her song as the soul transitions into the next life.” Book Reviews of 'The Naked Voice' "Chloë Goodchild’s subtle voice work opens the heart. She is a spectacular genius of this teaching art. She is at the core of a fascinating phenomenon that is allowing individuals to find their truth & freedom through the creative process of voice & sound." - Cole Barks, author of ‘Rumi: Soul Fury’ "Chloë Goodchild has written a book that is a major contribution to our understanding of the power of sound & music. From her personal experiences as a singer, to the many decades she has worked to empower people through their voices, she has the deep truths inherent in coming into our true, authentic voice & nurturing our souls. This book is a must-read for sound healers, music therapists, physicians, & therapists. It is an astonishing accomplishment." - Barbara J. Crowe, board-certified music therapist, Arizona State University director of music therapy, & author of ‘Music & Soulmaking: Toward a New Theory of Music Therapy’ |
|
|
Gift vouchers now available at Yoga Heart, offering therapies, as well as yoga and tai chi sessions. The perfect stocking stuffers for the holidays! |
|
|
Interested in becoming a SHIATSU PRACTITIONER? If yes, please send us a message. Ane Grimseth will be starting her course soon! You can find details on the course on our website. | | |
|
|
Christmas Get Together at Yoga Heart |
|
|
Friday, December 20th at 19:00. We will be showing the movie 'The Shift'. (starting at 19.30) Please bring something to eat or drink which we can all share after the movie! | | |
|
|
Tai Chi as an Art of Healing with Tew Bunnag |
|
|
Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th
January 2020 “The art of tai chi provides the means with which we can maintain harmony & wellbeing. It is also about healing & the deep level of our being.” About Tew Bunnag | | |
|
|
Parents' Psychoeducation Groups |
|
|
Tuesday 21st, January 2020 12:00 until 13:00 in Greek 13:00 until 14:00 in English Eleni Tzavela presents the latest empirical knowledge on the aetiology symptoms and protection against pathological anxiety in childhood and adolescence, answering parents’ common questions such as: How can we tell if our child is experiencing excessive/pathological anxiety? How does anxiety develop in childhood ? What does stress inoculation mean? What does psycho-education mean? How is it different from information and how from group psychotherapy? To register (required) and for additional information, please message 6976069160, or e-mail et@intec.gr | | |
|
|
Hatha Yoga - Eva Ruchpaul A unique approach A rare, unique approach to Hatha Yoga practices (posture - breath - meditation) developed by Eva Ruchpaul, one of the first yoga ladies in
Europe, aiming straight to a simultaneously quiet, alert and creative mind.
During a Ruchpaul yoga session, each posture is unique and home to a
specific and precise breathing mode.
Focus on the breath through a natural rhythm of practice alternating action
and pause, builds the steps towards inner balance.
A weekly session suffices, allowing the practitioner to fully benefit of the
effects of the practice, which are prolonged throughout the week.
Refined consciousness, optimises the practitioner’s ability to engage into life
joyfully and the with the fullest of his/her potential. Mondays at 12:15 - 13.45
& Thursdays 19:30 - 21:00 |
|
|
|
|
