Half Moon Pose

Half Moon pose has never been easy for me. Rotating the hips while balancing on one leg and the fingertips of one hand proved near impossible. I was always wobbling and the pose was just out of reach. But I persisted, slowly building strength and confidence.

One day a teacher assisted me into the pose enabling me to feel it completely - where I was supposed to go and how it should feel. I worked with this in future classes and I listened carefully to different teachers instructions. I began to play with the placement of my supporting hand and this was key to achieving balance. I found perfect placement of the fingertips a few inches to the side and quite a bit forward – about a foot in front of the balancing leg. The arm is pretty much in line with the shoulder although this positioning can be hard to ascertain from this angle.

The right arm extends down with supporting fingers pushing into the earth, creating a flat back while the right leg roots through the ground for stability.

The other key factor was finding strength in both legs, especially the one up in the air. Pointing the ball of the foot on the left leg and shooting power back creating the strength, and therefore the pose. Leaving the lifted leg hanging without any effort or energy meant that I would more than likely topple over.

I found that placing my left hand on my left hip and slowly rotating while maintaining power from the right side allowed me to find the pose. Once I feel stable, I can extend my left arm skyward, fingers reaching out and the shoulder slightly twisting for a gentle heart opening. Finally, I gaze upwards and it feels wonderful. I like to visualise the energy alive and soaring through my body in a glorious light.

It is a beautiful Asana but one that needs patience and persistence.

Litha

Summer Solstice is celebrated all over the world. In the Southern Hemisphere it falls on either 21 or 22 December, depending on the earth’s rotation. On this day of Mid-Summer, we honour the Sun recognising the longest day of sunlight and the shortest hours of darkness. The earth shines under the fertility of the God and Goddess providing abundance in nature.

As we bask in the warmth of the summer rays of light, it is at this time that we begin to prepare for the turning of the seasons. The coming days will begin to grow shorter and daylight lessens as we return to the journey towards darkness once more.

On this occasion we are also blessed with the energy of the full moon. It enhances the celebration of Litha, and being so close to the craziness of the holiday season, some of us will become more sensitive to the vibrations.

I am going to use the power of the combined energy to prepare for the new year. But most of all, I will remember to breathe and surround myself with golden light of love and protection.

Happy Litha!

Let go

Last week during one of my regular 6am yoga classes, the room felt hotter than I thought comfortable. The weather has been so unpredictable lately and the morning air seemed cooler than was usual for this time of year. I let it pass, thinking I would not notice once I had warmed up and begun to flow.

As we began to move, I felt enthusiastic and energetic. I could feel my strength beginning to return after months of injury. Through this, I have learnt to listen to my body. This meant modifying most of my practice for the past six months and leaving out more complicated or advanced poses that I would normally relish in.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt less restricted and more mobile. My experimentation gave me a renewed sense of certainty.

However, the heat seemed to really bother me. I was reminded of Bikram days when it was all I could do to breathe through the intensity to make it to the end of class. But this was not Bikram. Power shouldn’t be this hot. No, it was too hot. Or at least it felt that way to me.

I tried to breathe. As we moved upright from Crowe pose to standing I could feel my head become light and fuzzy - the effects of standing up too quickly. The room seemed to close in around me. Nonetheless, I took hold of my breath and thought of nothing else for fear of passing out. This wasn’t likeIy to happen but it was a possibility and I might need to rest in Child’s pose.

There is no shame in Child’s pose or resting - but I was having such a great class, I didn’t want to stop.

Ego. It was my ego that would not let me rest. Instead, I chose to reduce my practice from there on in.

Interestingly, my standing poses were held with grace and ease. Perhaps consciously letting go of pushing myself to a place where I wanted to be and allowing my body to just be exactly where it needed created this grace and ease. And in doing so I achieved my perfect pose at that very moment.

Let go. Take a deep breath, focus, and just be.

Rose Quartz

Underneath the subtlety of this pretty and delicate stone lies a powerful gem that enhances spirituality and increases compassion.

Rose Quartz is all about love. It provides a soothing influence that softens the harshness of our life experiences. With this wondrous stone, we can discover the love deep within ourselves, that allows us to open up to others – to love and be loved. Amazingly, it calms emotions creating an appreciation of all things beautiful.

Using Rose Quartz in meditation can lessen feelings of trouble and disarray. Change and acknowledging its importance becomes easier, however problematic it seems.

Energetically, Roze Quartz releases negativity, particularly those relating to self image

Wearing this graceful stone close to the heart inspires positive effects and is beneficial to all signs of the zodiac.

Amazonite

Today I am wearing Russian Amazonite. I love the blue-green, almost turquoise colour of the stone. When polished, Amazonite is easily characterised by the streaky grain and spot-like colouring.

The green colour resembles the love and compassion of the heart chakra. On a physical level, the green influence is linked to fertility and protection. It helps to regulate metabolic disorders, harmonises the brain, nervousness and internal organs.

But really, it is the blue qualities of the throat chakra that make this stone special.

The fifth chakra, Visudda, is located at the neck. It is the connection between the more physical lower chakra’s and the higher metaphysical chakra’s.

Spiritually Amazonite can assist in self determination and expression.

Mentally, Amazonite synchronises communication between the intellect and our intuition, providing a wider gateway to personal expression. Amazonite can also enhance ones sense of psychic awareness and can be used to tap into past memories.

The healing properties of this gemstone are amazing. Symbolic of the throat chakra elements it can ease problems with the ears, nose, throat and nervous system. It is useful in releasing blocked emotions. And it can provide inspiration for creative endeavours, supporting all aspects of communication, so is therefore excellent for those involved in the arts.

Beltane

Each year on October 31 the Northern hemisphere celebrates Samhain, better known as Halloween. As Pagan festivals are earth based they look toward the seasons for their celebrations. Samhain is a time to prepare for the oncoming darkness of winter. It is a time of reflection and remembrance. Some say the separation between the physical and spiritual realms is narrow during this time, bringing forth the tales of Halloween.

In the Southern hemisphere we are embarking on the warming days of summer. Beltane tells the story of a youthful God becoming a man, stimulated by nature he desires the Goddess in his arms. They fall in love and the Goddess is fertilised by his seed.

Beltane is a time of love and celebration. The earth is once again fulfilled with vitality providing enthusiasm and anticipation. It is a time to be creative and embrace the abundance of nature.

Today I paid homage to the Gods and welcomed them to this day of Beltane. Myrrh resin welcomed the youthful God Adonis. The young God died from a boar wound and the flower of anemone grew from his blood. His beloved Aphrodite was so distressed that the Gods allowed Adonis to spend six months of every year on earth with her. And so we are graced with the revival of nature as Adonis returns.

Red rose petals were gently burnt for Eros, also known as Cupid – God of love and son of Aphrodite. Finally, sage greeted Jupiter, God of rain, storms, thunder and lightening. We give thanks to the Gods for the wealth and beauty that surrounds us.

Happy Beltane.

Ostara/Eostre

The Goddess Ostara, or Eostre, is associated with fertility and it is during spring that she breathes new life into all us. Mother earth revitalises the life energy around us, and spring emerges with blossoms of effervescence and growth. As the days become brighter and the nights warmer, we find balance in light and dark.

Ostara is a time of birth and replenishment. It is an ideal opportunity to re-energise the body, stimulate the mind and invigorate the soul. Take some time to enjoy the exhilaration of restoration, find some balance within ourselves and embrace the nourishment and love waiting for us.

Illness

A prolonged period of illness takes its toll in every aspect. We feel emotionally drained, physically tired, mentally fatigued and spiritually depleted.

Many of us believe that an ailment or sickness can be a way that the body communicates with the consciousness that a change is in need. I too believe this to be true. When our physical and mental states are exhausted it is obvious the message is to slow down. A time to take care and nurture ourselves back to revitalisation. Stress can be a major factor for all of us, living in this hectic place that is constantly speeding up, and can manifest in differing ways.

Meditation is particularly useful to refocus and maintain positivity, to check in to see where we have overloaded. It is here that the necessary adjustments present themselves.

On a divine level, illness can be the body eliminating toxins for greater spiritual enhancement, clearing the path toward ascension.

And if nothing else, feeling healthy again is a reminder of how wonderful it is to have vitality, to have a clear mind and feel alive.

Dragon meditation

I leaned into the stone well and visualised all of my stresses of the day leaving my body. All my problems, all my anxieties, all my worries – I watched all of them fall down into the depths of darkness and the negative energy with them. My body felt immediately lighter.

I turned around, took a deep breath and continued down the dirt path towards the cave. I had not been inside this cave before but I was not afraid. This was exactly where I was meant to be and it gave me a sense of calmness, almost a sense of familiarity. The rustic walls surrounded me and I could feel moisture. Small dragons were scurrying across the ground, chasing each other and testing out their new found wings. What a joy to witness. I stood very carefully so as not to startle them and suddenly a great dragon emerged from the pond. She was a deep rustic and metallic bronze colour – very beautiful!

She snarled and roared at me to make sure I knew I was trespassing and she would not hesitate to protect her young. I felt her warm breath gush against my face and my hair moved as if I was walking in the wind. It was amazing and yet I was not frightened. I closed my eyes and kept them shut. She sensed I was not scared and stealthily moved closer – I could feel her presence, her breath and I could hear her sniff my scent. She seemed to recognise me although we had not met before. She moved back to the pond and I held my position for a while.

When I opened my eyes, she was watching me but with a sense of peacefulness. I call her Dragoness.

I moved carefully towards the edge of the pond and let my fingers gently paddle the still water. I could see my reflection. Suddenly Dragon appeared, my dragon. He came very close to me as he usually does. I was so happy to see him. He is lighter in colour but quite majestic. I put my arms around him and he his wings around me. Underneath this giant I felt warmth and tenderness. Moments of pure magic…

I realised this was his family. Dragon had introduced me to his family – a family I did not know existed. I felt privileged to be in their presence. He spoke and I was so overwhelmed I nearly did not hear his words in my head. Dragon had never spoken to me before, I had to bring my mind back quickly or miss his message entirely. He spoke of my fears and inhibitions that hold me back, to not be afraid, to embrace what I see and continue on my journey.

We spoke a little while longer until we both knew it was time for me to leave. I felt safe and comfortable and was reluctant to leave. But I knew this was not my place so I carefully walked towards the opening I had entered.

Dragon is my most powerful spiritual guide and the bond between us is very strong. He represents two of the elements of nature: water and fire. I have shared many wonderful moments with Dragon but this was the only time I have met his family.

Strength

One legged Chaturanga

When I first began practicing Power Yoga, I realised just how little upper body strength I actually had. For months my arms and shoulders ached from holding Down Dog and trying to master Chaturanga, both key elements of the Sun Salutation Vinyasa. As my practice became more familiar, I also grew stronger.

Gradually I have been able to attempt some poses that I once thought would be impossible for me to achieve. My body has slowly begun to open up, allowing me to move deeper into my practice. I like the term 'practice' because I think I will always be a novice and every class is exactly that - practice.

But I can now look back and feel grateful for all the aches and repetition of poses that have brought me to where I am in my yoga today. My body continues to change and life insists on providing new challenges. Every day is amazingly different and my strength continues to improve. Herein is yet another of the many available and astounding benefits of yoga.

Judgement

I know who I am and that my spirit originated from another dimension. I know that I am different, but certainly not special. I know that my divine journey is quite spectacular and one that perhaps some cannot relate to but does not separate me.

However, I find myself casting judgement on others. And in judgement we are at our worst. It is an ugly human behaviour.

I expect others to think as quickly as me. I expect others to have the same work ethic as me. I expect others to see the big picture and move on from meaningless relationships easily. I expect others to keep up and understand my erratic nature. I have judged those who are experiencing life, their life in their own unique way. My expectations let me down.

In this feeling of remorse, I remind myself that not everyone is on the same spiritual journey. It is important to acknowledge that each spirit has it's own place and will travel at it's own speed. This humbles me and allows me to see the light shining from each spirit for who they truly are.

Winter bliss

I love this time of year. Crisp, fresh mornings and sleep filled nights. Admittedly the days are shorter and I do miss coming home to spend the last hour of light in my garden.

These first few weeks of June just before the Winter Solstice are the longest, darkest and perhaps the coldest.

If we listen to our bodies, it's a time to rest. Early nights in with a sense of hibernation. It is also at this time that the earth rests. Crops and plants lie in waiting for the first specks of spring to launch their new growth. And so it should be for us since we are also creatures of the earth. In the fast pace of the Western world we forget to slow down and listen to our bodies. We forget to move with the earth and live as one.

Fear

I have been meditating on my Chakra’s for the past few weeks, using the symbolic lotus that represents each Chakra and chanting the corresponding sound. The results have been amazing, leaving me uplifted and energized.

During a more recent meditation, I felt particularly connected to the second Chakra, Swadhisthana, or Sacral. It’s located low in the abdomen and is often related to the sexual organs. The Sanskrit of Swadhisthana translates to mean 'self dwelling place'. It’s also the place where we hold onto emotions.

I visualised the crimson lotus with white crescent moon, then I saw the waves of the ocean under the moonlit sky gently lapping back and forth. Suddenly I was swimming in the ocean and there was a shark. It immediately sparked a feeling of fear. I quickly dismissed this thinking my mind had wondered off and I was a little annoyed that I had let this happen to spoil such a beautiful meditation. I continued on with the rest of the meditation raising the Kundalini up through all the Chakra’s. After the seventh and final Chakra, the Kundalini travels back down through the body stoping for just a moment at each Chakra, to finally rest at the base Chakra. During this process, again I saw the ocean under the moonlight sky at the second Chakra, then again I could see myself swimming and a shark attacked me. I knew then this had come up for a reason. I could feel the fear, I recognised it. So I acknowledged the fear and finished the meditation.

Remarkably, I felt calm. I took some time to contemplate this feeling of fear and realised it was a associated with the uncertainty of the future. The fear of not having control of current situations in my life. And the fear of not being able to receive and give the love I know I desire and deserve.

Working with the Chakra’s can produce incredible results. The body and mind will cleanse and balance leaving a positive awareness enabling the next phase of growth and development to continue the journey of life.

Breath II

Gustav Klimt, Love (1895)

It's the elixir of life. Without it we cannot exist.

At a recent yoga class, the teacher commented on how so many people come into the yoga space and focus on the breath. We leave our shoes at the door, we wear minimal clothing and forget about the outside world. For 90 minutes we leave behind our day-to-day titles and duties of parent, sibling, employee, entrepreneur or boss. For just a while, none of this matters. It's just about the breath and this one thing unites us all.

It's the one time we can be true to ourselves, be truly ourselves and not worry about other factors. It is amazing and beautiful.

This is so powerful. Something so simple, yet vital, can bring harmony. The transition and journey that yoga can take you on is simply breathtaking.

Breath

Gustav Klimt, Philosophy (1900)

It’s the elixir of life. Without it we cannot exist.

Most of us breathe without thinking about it. If we slow the breath down and consciously breathe - deeply, deliberately with each inhale and each exhale the benefits become apparent. The mind begins to calm, the heartbeat becomes more rhythmic and the panic disappears.

Fight and flight is a normal bodily response to situations of discomfort. But living in the 21^st Century with everything and everyone moving so much faster we bring this auto-mechanism response on more often than necessary causing us to feel stressed. Overstressed and exhausted. Burnt out and depressed.

Meditation helps us become aware of these situations before they get out of control, before they take control and create anguish and distress.

Anger

With regular meditation my mind has become clearer in so many ways. I no longer question my intuition. My sense of precision and mental aptitude is lucid. Things about myself have become apparent but I can no longer lull in the bliss of ignorance now that I am aware. Some of my experiences have been quite profound, to the point of remembering a previous life. And in this realisation I have a better understanding of my purpose in this life.

What I didn’t expect is the borage of emotions that would follow. The one that stands out most for me is the anger. For the past few weeks I have experienced a sense of anger that is uncharacteristic. I couldn’t understand where this was coming from. Work has been busy but not enough to make me feel like this. Then that awareness popped up again and it all fell into place, it made sense. It all made sense, my whole life.

At first I was filled with overwhelming sadness to realise my past existence, a soldier during one of the Great Wars. I was very young and died a horrible tragic death, as did most of my friends and thousands of others. It was all so unnecessary. I died before I had the chance to fulfil that life’s purpose. My lack of prosperity in that life meant that I had so much more to do this time around. Unfortunately it has taken nearly half of this lifetime to get to this point and I know that I simply cannot complete all that I have to do in the time left for this physical body. I have to come back, again. I was so angry, so very angry. How could I let this happen? How could I let time slip by like this? I don't want to have to come back.

But it is not up to me. Call it divine intervention, Mother Earth, the Goddess, whichever, I am exactly where I need to be. So with this I have been able to move forward and breathe, let go of the intensity and let it be. It has been an amazing experience, remembering, and the roller coaster of emotions – it is good to feel, as it is truly living.

Vitality

I love 6am Friday morning yoga class. However, I noticed my energy is often lagging. The end of the work week and another early start begins to show on my vitality. It became obvious to me that I rarely do or even want to do full Chaturanga. I steer clear of Vasisthasana (side plank) in its full pose and opt for the safer modification. And Wheel is a last minute challenge I can't bear the thought of.

But how much of this mind set, this attitude, is merely a thought pattern that I can change?

Last week the thought occurred to me that maybe I feel this way because I always think this is how I feel. My mind anticipates it so my body expects and reacts in exactly this way. Yet another example of the power of the mind!

Next week I will try to reverse this thought process and be completely in the moment. If I can do this, I will be able to perform the poses the way my body feels and not my mind. If I don't try I won't further my practice and if I fall out of the pose it really doesn't matter because this is yoga.

Connection

About three months ago, I put myself on a strict ten day detox program. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I knew something had to change and it had to start with me. It was challenging but the rewards were worth it. I felt revitalised, energised and in touch with my inner self again. It was wonderful.

My meditations were becoming clearer and it was easier to connect to my spirit guides. My intuition was strong, I was feeling more aligned to my spirituality than ever before. This was how I wanted to feel all the time, not just when I was being extra meticulous or as a result of exhaustion.

It only took a couple of weeks of work dinners and birthday celebrations for my efforts to feel unravelled. Even my modest contribution of drinking at parties was enough to make me feel disconnected, not to mention awful the next day. My eating habits were erratic and unhealthy, and my meditations suffered. I noticed my moods began to swing, I became less tolerable of silly things, and this is all because my footing slipped off my destined path. It is so easy to lose the connection.

I have spent many days sitting on the grass to reconnect to Mother Earth. I feel lighter and healthier as I recapture my normal eating patterns. My meditations are less stilted, and a sense of calm is once again filling my senses. It can be hard to keep a busy schedule in check but therein lies the challenge, to keep our connection to oneness.

Euphoria

Ever notice how the energy of a crowd can be so electric that it is contagious? This is most often felt at sporting events. The crowd roars with excitement and you find yourself caught up in the momentum, standing out of your seat, cheering and clapping. It is amazing. It is euphoric.

Yoga can have a similar feeling of ecstasy. The energy of the group is powerful and can change your sentiment from when you first walked into the class. This can swing either way. Some classes I have attended contained a general feeling of heaviness, lacking in energy and enthusiasm. You can almost hear everyone scream with relief as we move into final resting pose of savasana. This seems to be more typical around the festive season when late nights, parties, high carbohydrates and sugar laden food along with too much alcohol are all too prevalent.

In contrast, I have also experienced many amazing and breathtaking classes that are strong and consistently flow with unison. These are by far my favourite, of course, and one of the main reasons why I continue to practice. But it stands to reason that the group energy can be all of these things. We don't outwardly think about what the group or anyone else is doing. The purpose of yoga is to go within and focus on your own individual practice. If everyone in the room does exactly that, concentrates on their breathing and moving with flow, the results are euphoric.

Awareness

Being truly aware of who we are and how we feel can be one of the most difficult things we will ever try do. Having the patience to slow down the incessant mind chatter, to allow our bodies to feel – and nothing else, can be incredibly confronting.

We live in a society where we constantly blur our minds and fill our bodies with chemicals that hinder the ability to allow us to be aware of what we are feeling. Too much coffee, alcohol and processed foods with their additives all contribute to changing our perception or altering how we feel. This may be done consciously or unconsciously, but the fact remains that we continue to alter our natural state of being.

Yoga teachers often talk about being in the moment, to breathe and feel the posture rather than try to force the body into position. I know from my own personal practice that if I take a few moments before class to sit quietly and breathe my practice will be so much stronger. I may not always do advanced poses, but it isn’t necessary if the posture and flow are done correctly, an immense workout can still be achieved.

By taking that awareness and listening to how the body feels we are honouring it. The mind, body, emotional and spiritual elements unite to flow.

Unresolved feelings

Meditation has been a part of my daily ritual for a while now. It is so very interesting to observe the changes that have become apparent over the recent months. There are times when I struggle to sit through ten minutes and times when I emerge after twenty or thirty minutes of energised bliss. My mind can be busy, even at 6.00am. But without it, I feel the cracks around the edges begin to surface. I become irritable, anxious and easily frustrated.

Lately these feelings of anxiety and frustration have been more apparent, even with regular meditation. I began to realise that these feelings have arisen because they are unresolved. Emotions of undealt with past history – they are dangerous and destructive. Perhaps I thought that I had dealt with them but really I had not; or I swept them into the closet hoping they would be forever locked away; or the universe is clearing unnecessary clutter for me.

I am grateful these fragmented emotions have been brought to my attention. This is an amazing self-learning experience and an opportunity to grow. Without admittance and closure to these emotions I am preventing myself from advancing, from being open to receive the goodness that is waiting. But how does one progress? The only way forward that I can truly see is through meditation. Meditation. And more meditation. Giving forgiveness where necessary, accepting circumstances as they are and letting go.

Certainly this will not be an easy task and who knows how long it will take to complete. I think it will be enriching but most of all it is essential.

Self love

It was another relentless hot and humid day. The dishes were done and I had switched off my usual tunes whilst playing in the garden. I decided to sit outside and enjoy the last moments of daylight before the mosquitoes began to bite. The cats were playing in the grass, long needing yet another trim, which was always a treat to watch. Suddenly it was so very quiet. I could hear birds and crickets chirping, the trees leaves gently rustling in the breeze - nature. Just nature. It was beautiful. It was almost overwhelming.

At that moment I realised how so many people must feel lonely without noise or people around to keep them company. I too have been guilty of constantly having noise on – music or tv, even if I am not really paying attention to it. That constant chatter in the background is somehow comforting, perhaps filling a void. I understood that loneliness for a split second. And then I realised that embracing the quiet was really having the ability to be wholly and completely comfortable with myself. To enjoy my own company; to accept and be happy with who I am; to love myself.

I certainly do not profess to know it all, or to have all the answers. But like everyone, its a journey and a process that can become clearer through meditation and looking within. Some would call it soul searching I guess. For me, its a way of life. My last thought on this subject is a question. How can we honestly give to others if we have nothing to give? Giving is the greatest gift of all yet it we cannot find it within ourselves to accept and love who we are, how can we expect anyone else to?

Happy baby

When I first tried the yogic pose Happy Baby, I felt awkward and didn’t understand the posture. Now, it still feels uncomfortable in my hip area as I pull my feet down, but I enjoy getting into the pose as my spine stretches out any kinks and flattens down to my sacrum.

The other day I was reminded that this pose is aptly named as it resembles a baby happily playing. Additionally, I was reminded the reason why babies are full of playful joy is because they have no ego. When we go back to basics and eliminate the fear and ego we have automatically created in our busy lives, we can then embrace ourselves and be happy.

Lately I have been listening to spiritual podcasts that talk about embracing the inner child, to have fun and not take ourselves so seriously. This doesn’t mean to stop being responsible as adults but rather to allow ourselves to have fun, to dance, to laugh and let go.

I think that in allowing this to happen we define a calmer, more prosperous environment in which we can only evolve.

Rupert Bunny

Rupert Bunny, Pastoral (1893)

Rupert Bunny, Poseidon & Amphitrite (1913)

Rupert Bunny, Who Comes (1908)

If I were to ask you to name some famous Australian painters, you would probably mention Brett Whitely, Norman Lindsay, Margaret Preston or Sidney Nolan, and perhaps Frederick McCubbin or Arthur Streeton. Of course Australia holds quite a credible list of artists but it is less likely that Rupert Bunny would get a mention. Bunny was the only Australian artist to successfully work alongside European artists in Paris, and receive outstanding reviews during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The current exhibition, Rupert Bunny: artist in Paris at the Art Gallery of NSW, not only shows a huge collection of Bunny’s work but also his diversity. Personally, I really enjoyed the assortment of mythological paintings Bunny portrayed: the subdued blue-grey images of Pan and the water nymphs with splashes of red from the 1880s and early 1990s; the darker and sometimes horrific monotypes of Prometheus, Salome and alike, completed during the late 1890s; and the more vibrantly coloured and emotionally filled legends of Greek Gods, Goddesses, and leaders, with winged horses and serpents from around 1913 through to the early 1920s.

Certainly, there are many wonderful paintings in this exhibition that conform to the more traditional standards that society commonly finds pleasurable and could quite easily be mistaken for a true French Impressionist. Bunny’s use and display of light is quite fascinating although not as significantly obvious in pictures, you really need to see the originals. An exhibition well worth seeing.

Reach for the sky

Whilst watching the grace and elegance of tennis players like Roger Federer at the Australian Open, I noticed the extension of the players opposing racquet hand as they served or danced into place to return the ball. I first observed this whilst watching Dinara Safina practice. As she threw the ball into the sky and released it, the arm and hand extended back and upwards, flexing, guiding her body and ultimately the ball.

This interested me as an avid yoga practitioner since many of the yogic poses suggest flexing the hands with fingers outstretched, reaching for the sky and creating energy. The theory behind this is that the flexion creates a lighter feeling, and light is tight. So the arms feel much lighter when flexed and taught, rather than limp and hanging with heaviness, enabling the practitioner to hold the pose for a longer period of time. The extension of the hands and arms generate an openness, willing to receive light and energy with love.

Immediately I think of poses such as Extended Right Angle, Goddess/Exalted/Reverse Warrior or the full open Tree pose. But there are other poses that require the full extension of the arms and hands that are not pointed to the sky but forward, such as Warrior or Dancers pose.

Perhaps my observation came about by chance because I had recently attuned my focus to my hands during my practice. Regardless, this only reinforces to me the strength the hands and arms can carry merely by their intended direction. The power these amazing athletes enforce is mind blowing. The power of the mind and the body is even more incredible.

Poetry in motion

The great Roger Federer...

...with Jim Courier after winning first round match against Igor Andreev from Russia

Well, it’s that time of year again when the best tennis players around the world travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open and I had the pleasure of sitting Centre Court during the first few days. We agreed that attending the first days would give us greater opportunity to see many of the greatest players, not only on centre court but also on any of the twenty outside courts, where the elitists practice for upcoming matches. And we were not disappointed!

Watching these athletes is like poetry in motion. Their graceful moves dancing across the court makes the game look effortless. They play for hours, under the burning sun displaying their stamina. But tennis is more than just a game of hitting the ball until someone misses, it’s a mental game too. In a sense, the players need to outwit their opponent, improving their game style to win and move onto the next round.

Tennis is the only sport I will watch ardently. For the rest of this tournament I will be fixed to the tv in anticipation of this years winners.

Look up

During yogic balancing poses, I have recently changed my line of sight, my drishti, from the floor or midway to the ceiling. Sometimes I focus just at that point where the wall and ceiling meet. Certainly as a novice it is natural to look down to maintain balance and stability, but in time strength and confidence allow the eyes to move upwards.

I found in my own practice that by changing my drishti focal point in this way the pose becomes easier. Looking up creates a sense of lightness, a feeling of exultation.

It can be hard to remember to switch everything on in class: arms and thighs tight, stomach in, tilt the pelvis (moola bandha) and don’t forget to breathe – all in a heated room! My focus has been drawn to my feet, to consciously spread the toes and balance the weight evenly. Tightness and cramping meant that I had lost form, so this has been important for me.

For example, take Dancer’s pose. First I stand tall, spread my toes to ensure the weight is evenly distributed and I do not roll into my arches. Then I make sure my thighs and knees are strong but not locked out. I grab my right ankle with my right hand, left hand raises to the sky. I square my hips and look up to that special focal point on the ceiling. Inhale, as I exhale I gently, slowly kick back with my right leg to create a wonderful backbend. My left arm shoots out in a similar direction to my gaze. Gradually, the heart moves forward and down but the focus remains.

There is a lot to remember in every pose, in every practice, but the breath creates focus and eventually it falls into place. As I am often reminded, the eyes lead the way and the body will follow.

Norman Lindsay

Promise, (1919)

Venus in Arcady, (unknown)

Sea Magic, (unknown)

Death in the Garden, (1923)

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the Norman Lindsay Gallery located in the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney. The gardens are lush and peaceful, scattered with beautiful Goddess-like sculptures. It is easy to imagine the garden pool once filled, brimming with socialites and artists alike as they partied through summer days.

The painting and etching studio’s have been maintained as they were last used by the artist, with some unfinished works on display. The main house, now the gallery, is elegantly furnished with drawings, etchings, watercolours and oil paintings, not to mention the vast number of books he published. An entire room is dedicated to the model ships Lindsay spent hours building.

In particular, I like his mythical etchings which are often politically incorrect or slurring. Intricate drawings of the female form, some with wings, some with fish tails. They are elegant, flowing with narratives from other worlds.

Lindsay created an enormous number of art works in varying genres and with different mediums. Rarely does one person contain such an amazing gift.