Fall session extended two weeks

I am extending my fall schedule by two weeks until the last week of November 2012 as plans to travel have changed.

Fall 2012 Schedule

Tuesdays, 5:30pm - 7pm, St. John's Church Hall, Bath, starting September 11, 2012 -- Cost $10 per class.

Wednesdays, 9:30am-11am Wilton Hall, 251 Simmons Road in Wilton starting September 12, 2012 -- Cost $10 per class. Wilton is located west of Kingston, north of the 401, exit 599. The Hall is a short distance northwest of the famous Wilton Cheese Factory.

Fridays, 10am - 11:30am, St. Andrews by the Lake Church, 1 Redden Street, Kingston, starting September 14, 2012 -- Cost per class is $15.

All classes are offered are suitable to all levels of yoga experience.

Pay-as-you-practise basis for 10 sessions by cash or cheque.

Or, you can pre-purchase a 10 class session pass 

and get one class free.

West Kingston Summer Yoga Schedule

Yoga by the Lake July & August Summer Classes 2012 St. Andrews by the Lake Church, Upper Founders Hall 1 Redden Street West Kingston (near Days & Front Roads, off Lakeview Avenue)
Jane’s Classes, 10am Fridays	Karen’s Classes, 5pm, Wednesdays
July 6	July 11
July 20	July 25
August 3	August 8
August 17	August 22

Karen and Jane both graduated from Still Point Yoga Teacher Training in 2005.

Invest in 4 every-other Wednesday classes: $48 (4 classes @ $12) payable to Karen

Invest in 4 every-other Friday classes: $48 (4 classes @ $12) payable to Jane

Invest in all 8 summer classes ($96) – pay either of us and we will work it out!

Drop in: $15 per class

A minimum of 6 students committed to each four week session

is required for this summer schedule to happen.

To count yourself in, contact Jane before June 30 at (613) 386-3673, jmcd@reztel.net

and/or

Karen before June 30 at kaalexander9@gmail.com

Karen will be offering Wednesday classes throughout the month of June, 2012, while Jane takes a break from the city and hangs out in the country.

Wilton Summer Yoga Schedule

Gentle Summer Morning Yoga

Wilton on Wednesdays

251 Simmons Road, Wilton

9am-10am

Cost: Free will donation (suggested $5-$10)

Twenty percent of proceeds will go to Wilton Hall.

This session will continue throughout June, July and August 2012

Come whenever you can.

Drop in to any class any time throughout the summer

to stretch, breathe, have fun and relax.

Jane McDonald, Instructor

Still Point Certified since 2005

(613) 386-3673

jmcd@reztel.net

India Photos

To see photos from my trip to India in March, please go to

http://www.flickr.com/janeeindia

Namaste,

Jane

Back at Home

My trip to India is over and I am still somewhat numb about the experience of two weeks' intense time in Rishikesh, Hardiwar and along the banks of the Ganges River.  Many different events took place in this organized tour.

 One highlight was our visit to the Arya Sugandh Sansthan Ashram, an orphanage and school located in a rural area on the plains to the south of where we were staying. The motto of the place is "When a candle is lit, it shines in all directions..." and very quickly my candle was lit by the place, the work of the staff and young people who live there.The place is a 6 acre farm and there are beautiful mango and other fruit trees as well as an organic garden and a cowshed with over 30 cows.

 We broke up into groups and designed costumes made out of newspaper, coloured paper, stickers and the brilliant imaginations of the kids. Mina was our model and here is the finished product. She walked down the runway with music blaring and all the other kids as audience. Smiles everywhere so it wasn't just us that had fun.

As part of their welcome, the students gave us flowers and we were honoured with a tilak. Here's Chandra receiving his. Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead with sandal paste, sacred ashes or kumkum (red tumeric). The sweetness and kindness of this welcome brought me to tears. 

The gray-haired woman is an English-speaking volunteer who lives at the ashram with her 80 year old husband, a retired Air India pilot. About five years ago, they gave up their comfortable lives to come to the ashram to help. In October 2012 they will have been married 50 years.

The place houses about 100 boarding students and 800 other students come to the school daily. The children and young adults tend to the gardens, the cows and also make crafts. I found a paper mache deer that I treasure, of course.Those that live here are under-privileged, orphaned or physically 
challenged children.

www.aryasugsans.com


More pictures and thoughts to follow as I recover from jet lag and start to process.

Namaste and love, Jane

India Retreat Details

Thanks for all the good wishes. I think I am finally packed and ready to go. Here are the latest details of what I will be doing for the next two weeks (aside from sitting on an airplane for a total of 28 hours!).

Basic Daily schedule:

Yoga 6 am

Breakfast 8 am

Agni Hotra/Fire Puja 8:30 am

Lunch 12 pm

Yoga 4 pm

Dinner 6 pm

Day 1: Wednesday, March 14:

Arrive in Delhi.  Overnight at Hotel Lohias near airport. 

Day 2: Thursday, March 15:

Depart for Rishikesh.  Arrive at ashram mid-afternoon.  Ashram tour and orientation.   4 pm yoga class optional.   Evening kiirtan optional.

Day 3: Friday, March 16:

Morning yoga, breakfast and Fire Puja with Japa (chanting with a mala) and discussion about the puja.

Morning orientation of Tapovan area.   Afternoon walk to Ram Jhula, Beatles Ashram and Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ashram.   

Day 4:  Saturday, March 17:

Morning yoga, breakfast, agni hotra.   Visit Indian Market in Rishikesh town.

Day 5:  Sunday, March 18:

Morning self-practice.  Free day, with optional activities.  Afternoon workshop.  

Day 6:  Monday, March 19:

Morning yoga, breakfast at ashram.  Daytrip to Haridwar, including visits to several temples and ashrams, and visiting the main ghat at Haridwar.  Dinner at ashram.

Day 7:  Tuesday, March 20:

Depart for Ganga beach camp, see Vasistha’s Guha en route.  Lunch at camp, hike to village/temple, dinner on beach and evening bonfire.   Stay overnight.

Day 8:  Wednesday, March 21:

Morning yoga or walk on beach and rafting.  Return to Anand Prakash ashram.  Free afternoon, with options for massage, shopping in the market, quiet meditation, gentle yoga class etc.

Day 9:  Thursday, March 22:

After breakfast, head to Arya Sugandh Sanasthan Children’s home for a day of activities with the kids.  Return to ashram for dinner.  Kiirtan in evening.

Day 10:  Friday, March 23: 

Morning visit to Ganga beach for japa meditation and optional Ganga Snana (bathing).  Afternoon free. 

Day 11:  Saturday, March 24:

Free day.  We can support you in organizing activities, such as an ayurvedic cooking class, or visiting other sights in the area.  Group dinner at Ayurpak restaurant.

Day 12:  Sunday, March 25:

Morning yoga, agni hotra, group sharing circle.  Group departure for airport.

Next session begins in April

I am pleased to announce the schedule for Spring 2012 (April - May)

Bath, St. John's Hall, 5:30pm, Tuesdays starting April 3, 2012 -- Cost per class $10

Wilton Hall, 251 Simmons Road, 10am, Wednesdays starting April 4, 2012 -- Cost per class $10

West Kingston, St. Andrews by the Lake Church, 10am, Fridays starting April 13, 2012 -- Cost per class $15

India Retreat March 13 - 26, 2012

I have taken the plunge and am planning a trip to Rishikesh in India for two weeks starting March 13, 2012. I'll be back in Canada on March 26, 2012. I am currently undergoing immunization against all manner of possibilities and am very excited about this journey. I have made many promises to take notes, photos and to share as much as possible with my students.

For more details about the trip, see the organizers' website:www.insiteyoga.com

To check out the ashram where I am going to be living: www.anandprakashashram.com

Five ways to prevent injury practicing yoga

An interesting article has appeared in Huffington Post written by Eva Norlyk-Smith suggesting five ways to prevent injury that are:

1. Adopt a beginner's mind.
2. Learn to listen to your body.
3. Do your own pose, not your neighbour's.
4. Look for the intelligent edge.
5. Pick the right teacher and approach.


To read the full article, visit


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-norlyk-smith-phd/yoga-health_b_1191479.html