Friday, November 11, 2011

My class at St. Andrew's by the Lake Church is cancelled this Friday, November 11.

My apologies for any inconvenience.

Yoga for wine lovers

Thanks to Karen and Greg for sharing this with us.

Yoga in Bath starts October 4

I just confirmed with Cathy at St. John’s Hall that I can offer yoga classes there on Tuesdays starting October 4, 2011 at 5:30pm until 7pm.

Class fee will be $10 per class (20% will go to St. John’s).

This session will continue for nine or ten weeks until November 29, 2011 or December 6, 2011.

I am looking forward to seeing you again. Please note the earlier start time.

The class is, as always, open to beginners as well as those with yoga experience.

An Autumn Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you & yours!

Anonymous, Irish

Fall 2011

Plans are underway for the fall session of yoga in Bath, Wilton and West Kingston.

Bath, St. John's Hall, 5:30pm, Tuesdays starting October 4, 2011 -- Cost per class $10

Wilton Hall, 251 Simmons Road, 10am, Wednesdays starting September 14, 2011 -- Cost per class $10

St. Andrews by the Lake Church, 10am, Fridays starting September 9, 2011 -- Cost per class $15 or $120 for 10 classes

Summer 2011

Summer Yoga 

by the Lake

Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30pm

Twelve week session:June 8 to August 24, 2011

Cost $120 for session. $15 to drop in.

Led by Still Point certified instructors

Karen Alexander & Jane McDonald

Gentle, flowing hatha yoga suitable for all levels 

including beginners.

St. Andrews by the Lake Church (Upper Founders’ Hall), 

1 Redden Street, West Kingston

Southwest corner of Days and Front Roads. Access off Front Road on Lakeview.

For more information, please call (613) 386-3673 or 

email jmcd@reztel.net

May we exist like a lotus

The lotus plant is a prominent image in Eastern philosophies. In yoga we learn the lotus or half lotus asana. In North America the water lily could be comparable, offering beautiful flowers rooted in swamp waters.

This mantra or blessing might help us along the way to develop and grow from life's suffering or "muddiness".

May we exist like a lotus

At home in the muddy water.

May we bow to life as it is.

Here's some interesting information about the actual plant.

Seeded in muddy waters, the lotus rises above the mud and produces beautiful and
fragrant flowers. The big showy bloom may be 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) in diameter. The
flowers open for just three days. Then each petal falls silently into the water, one by one, at
a short period. The large green seed head or pod remains on the top of the stalk for a long
time as it darkens and ripens. The pod then falls to the water, where it floats face down releasing its seeds to take hold in the mud. The seeds then germinate in the following
Spring and give rise to new plants.

 
All parts of the lotus are edible. The immature seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, they
have chestnut like flavor. Ripe seeds are roasted and ground into flour, or boiled to extract
oil. Lotus roots produce starchy tubers and have the flavor of sweet potato. The young,
unrolled leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

 
Lotus seeds have very hard, impermeable seed coats, and can remain viable for a very
long time. Recently, lotus seeds of 1,200 years from China have germinated. What an incredible plant!