Newsletter – October 2009

Intermediate meditation courses in Melbourne

Continue your beautiful meditation journey during the following six-week courses:

Intermediate meditation course in Caulfield

• Starts Monday 12 October
• Time: 8pm – 9.15pm*
• At: Caulfield School of Yoga, 101 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield

Intermediate meditation course in Surrey Hills

• Starts Wednesday 11 November
• Time: 8pm – 9.15pm
• At: 470 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills

During the series you will:

• Develop skills in relaxation
• Explore two key elements for meditation – concentration and mindfulness
• Let your imagination soar with creative visualisations

Bookings essential. Phone Eileen (0407 881 285) or go to Contact Us

Meditation for Beginners courses in Melbourne

A practical meditation course filled with strategies to help you to stress less and really relax…

Beginners meditation course in Caulfield (4 weeks)

• Free introductory meditation session: Monday 9 November
• Starts Monday 16 November
• Time: 6.30pm – 7.45pm

Beginners meditation course in Surrey Hills (5 weeks)

• Free introductory meditation session: Wednesday 11 November
• Starts Wednesday 18 November
• Time: 6.30pm – 7.45pm

Out and about

You can be relaxed about your busy lifestyle at two Meditation for Beginners workshops during October.

You will learn:

~ Simple and effective ways to reduce stress, during the busiest day

~ The benefits of ‘stress busters’

~ Several easy meditations so you feel calm and relaxed

~ How meditation restores harmony and balance to your mind and body

Meditation workshop in Doncaster East

~ Saturday 17 October

~ Time: 2pm – 4pm

~ At: Contours Doncaster, 1/42 Jackson Court , Doncaster East

Meditation workshop in Mount Waverley

• Saturday 24 October
• Time: 2pm – 4pm
• At: Contours Mount Waverley , Shop1/ 2 Centre Way , Mount Waverley

Cost: $40 (includes notes of meditations covered during the session)

The workshops are part of a Health and Wellbeing Week at both gyms.

Bookings essential. Phone Eileen (0407 881 285) or go to Contact Us

Feeling so relaxed…

“(The session) was lovely. I never knew breathing could be so relaxing.”

“I have never felt so relaxed. I just thought breathing was how we survived.”

“I found (the session) really relaxing and calming. It was good.”

These impressions from three secondary students attending a Meditation Pathways meditation session at Vermont South Library, during September, highlight an interesting aspect – it is easy to assume that you are relaxed.

In fact, most people do not realise that some of their muscles can be chronically stressed. They just believe that their twinges and tightness are part of their makeup and they tell themselves and others that ‘this is how they always feel’. (However, tightness or pain is never natural – it’s more of a warning sign about taking more care of yourself.)

Evidence from the mind-body connection invites you to consider another perspective – when any thoughts or events make you anxious, these will translate into muscle tension in your body. Particularly vulnerable areas for locking tension are the stomach, shoulders, neck, back and face.

When you release tension in your body, you allow oxygen and nutrients to revitalise your brain and muscles, enabling you to think and act more clearly and make better decisions.

Therefore, taking the time to progressively relax particular muscles and muscle groups in your body reduces physiological tension and, in turn, reduces stress and anxiety. This technique can also help to ease insomnia, fatigue, muscle spasm and high blood pressure.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves distinguishing between sensations of tension and relaxation. It can be done sitting in a chair or lying down – and, it’s so simple.

Relax your body

• Make the time to sit quietly.
• Breathe in and tense a particular muscle or muscle group for a few seconds. Be aware of how this feels.
• As you exhale, relax the muscles for at least 20 seconds. Be aware of how this feels – perhaps there is warmth, looseness or softness.
• Continue in this way, from your toes up to your scalp.
• Then keep breathing slowly and deeply, and enjoy the feelings of warmth, heaviness, calmness and relaxation all through your body.

You will feel fantastic!

Pam’s pebble meditation

Last term’s pebble meditation captured the imagination of Pam who adapted the concept in the following way...

Pam writes: “ I used your stones this morning, and decided to give each a quality or characteristic.

Each time I pick up a stone, from the feel I can gauge the thoughts associated with its quality.

For example, the stone with the flaw – is a reminder to accept one’s flaws and eliminate negative self-talk.

The stone that feels the smoothest and softest – represents one’s soul.

The largest (or fattest) stone – represents our abundance, to be grateful for.”

Thank you Pam for sharing your beautiful meditation.

* The pebble meditation involves sitting down and mindfully picking up pebbles (one at a time), passing each pebble from one hand to the next and then placing the pebble on the floor. Then one pebble is chosen as a meditation object and for creating the following connection – the mind to become as still as the pebble resting at the bottom of a river.

Students who really enjoyed the meditation remarked on the coolness and connection with the natural world as if the pebbles had just been gathered from the riverbed. They also liked the subtle rhythm and movement in their body as they passed a pebble from one hand to the next.

Anyone for…

• Feldenkrais: David – 9830 1003
• Reflexology: Jennifer – 0412 220 623
• Spiritual healing: Seneca – (03) 9390 3760
• Yoga: Michel (Caulfield) – 0418 547 894
• Dru Yoga: Michelle (Eltham) – 0409 373 606

All of these practitioners are passionate about their work and dedicated in helping people to achieve optimum health.

Meditation Pathways News

If you would like to receive future editions of the Meditation Pathways Newsletter, please go to Contact Us.

Enjoy your meditation journey
Eileen