FROM
THE CORE TO THE HEART
`There is a Light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest,
the very highest heavens. This is the Light that shines in our heart.` Chandogya Upanishad 3 13 7 (Penguin Classics)
Unfortunately for most of us being able to experience that Light is perhaps one
of the hardest things we have to face in our daily lives. In a society largely bereft of spiritual values,
where material survival has become the main priority for us it is all too easy to ignore what we cannot touch or feel physically.
Iincreasingly in life it seems that even on a physical level we are losing touch with ourself. The
great value of yoga is that it allows us, in fact helps us, to redress the balance and find our way back into our heart.
Format of
the day:
Morning:
Establishing our `place` as a group and an individual
Developing awareness and focus
Applying awareness to physical exercises,
Asanas and other exercises used in this part of the session
will focus on core (middle body) exercises to develop physical tone etc, but also to begin to release blocked lower body energy
(kundalini). While some of these practices may be strong and challenging it is important to remember that
each individual works to their own level of competence and safety.
Resting poses.
Afternoon:
Bringing
the mind into the equation: combining concentration and thoughtfulness with simple physical exercises.
Questions and discussion
Closing relaxation, yoga nidra and meditation.
This workshop will bring into play
many elements and practices which aim to be personally challenging, reassuring, enlightening and fun.
Event Requirements:
The usual mat etc you are comfortable using, sealable water container if desired,
and cover for rest periods.
Derek is happy for students
to make notes etc during sessions as long as this is not intrusive to other members.
For any other information Derek can be contacted on 07791 182085
Format of the day:
Morning:
Establishing
our `place` as a group and an individual
Developing awareness and focus
Applying awareness to physical exercises, including resting poses. (N.B some of these may be strong and challenging when it is important to recognise
our own limits, but all can be adapted for personal limits).
Afternoon:
Bringing the mind into the equation:
combining concentration and thoughtfulness with simple physical exercises.
Questions and discussion
Closing relaxation, yoga nidra
and meditation.
Tutor:
Derek Osborn (also known as Swami Shiv Giri Baba) has studied and practiced yoga for over 55 years,
in that time he has studied with many well known yoga teachers with particular emphasis on the teachings of BKS Iyengar, Astanga
Vinyasa Yoga, Sivananda and the Bihar school. Derek has taught at all levels of yoga since 1969 (BWY Dip
1974), including weekly classes, day and weekend schools over much of England and Wales, and summer schools in the Dordogne,
and at the ashram he visits in Tamil Nadu. At all points along the way Derek has recognised the importance
of the spiritual as well as the physical aspects of yoga. Today he continues to teach in a sensitive but
vital and at times strong form. His website: www.yoga-sadhana.org
provides a clear indication of his approach to yoga.
On his pilgrimages to India; the source of the river Ganges in the Himalayas, and Tamil Nadu in the south, he met
and was initiated by his naga baba guru into the order of the Giri brotherhood. Following his initiation
Derek made a commitment to enabling the planting of one million trees in his lifetime. He is now halfway
there and all proceeds from this workshop will be donated to the charity Tree Aid.
This workshop will bring into play many elements and practices which aim to be personally challenging, reassuring,
enlightening and fun.
Event Requirements:
The usual mat etc you are comfortable using, sealable water container if desired,
and cover for rest periods.
Derek is happy for students
to make notes etc during sessions as long as this is not intrusive to other members.
For any other information Derek can be contacted on 07791 182085
______________________________________________________________________________
FINDING THE SPIRIT OF YOGA
Morning:
We need to become aware of all our levels of existence –
Through the koshas:
Annamaya – physical body.
Pranamaya – life force.
Manomaya
– mind.
Vijnamaya – awareness.
Ananadamaya – bliss
The chakras provide
us with body locations to experience and understand these.
As we become aware
of the stages of our physical body we can move up through the chakras.
The
morning physical programme will help to ` warm up` these centres.
Warming up – lying,
sitting and standing to include Surya Namaskar
Leg exercises –
Utkatasana etc
Muladhara – triangle variations
etc
Svadhistana – cat etc
Manipura – abdominal postures etc
Diaphragm and breathing the Gateway to the thorax
Anahata – chest opening
exercises
Vishuddha – neck exercises
Ajna and Sahasrara – inverted poses
Relaxation based on Yoga Nidra
and visualisation of a Personal Sacred Space.
Lunch
Afternoon:
5 minutes rest.
Mantra and chant singing with
instruments
Talk on Ajna and Sahasrara
Om sitting circling meditation
Ajna Third eye breathing
Yoga nidra leading to
Silent meditation
Farewells.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR MOTORWAY - THE SPINAL ROUTE
Workshop Programme
Investigating the many levels on which we
operate.
the physical spine and its associated nerves and muscles
the chakras
the nadis
the connection of Shakti with Shiva
______
Welcome
First session
Lying, developing awareness of the back through gentle
movements and breathing
Loosening and warming,
The low back and its connection with the pelvis - exercises to
mobilise, free and strengthen
Middle back
Upper back and its connection with the shoulders
Neck and skull
Mainly practical working singly and with a partner
Second session
The three principle nadis- symbolism and fact
The chakras and their significance in our lives
Breathing to strengthen and liberate the back
This session will be a combination of talk and practical
exercises, working singly and in groups
Meditation
Closing
_____________________________________________________________________
WHAT YOU SEE YOU BECOME
Personal
Preparation - Ritual cleansing and honouring the body focus awareness.
Establishing the Sacred Space
- Clear your space. Fix the 4 cardinal points with suitable symbols and candles. Cleanse
with smoke or other means.
Namaste - Greet and honour others, and the Divine
Grounding - Take
time to establish relations with the earth. Develop heaviness.
Centring - Bring your awareness
into yourself.
Body work - Warming and preparing for exercise.
Becoming - postures to take us out of ourself. E.g. - cat, lion, stretching tiger,
dog, tree, hero, archer, sphinx/cobra, flying pose, Shiva`s Dance.
Moving Inwards - Postures to reassert self awareness. Inverted postures, child
pose. Bandhas and mudras. Lotus. Ujayii pranayama. Relaxation.
Visualisation - Based on green,
the colour of balance, centredness and the heart chakra. See your perfect self.
Lunch
Externalising forces in our lives -
The senses and how we use
them – or they use us.
Meditation.
_____________________________________________________________________
WORKSHOP 4
THE SPIRIT OF YOGA
Aim: To encourage a deeper personal awareness of Self
through the practice of yoga.
Setting: Ganesh and Shivlingam hangings.
Coloured materials
Large candle
Incense
Flowers
Prasad
CDs
Programme:
Create
our sacred space
Mingling and meeting – smile and name
Read
from the Avadhutta Gita
Talk
about the aims of the day.
To realise the spirit within us physically, mentally and spiritually
Realising our social position and responsibilities
Creating awareness of our physical limitations and blockages and abilities,
breaking down physical barriers.
Recognising the importance of the conscious mind and intellect.
Spritually looking beyond dogma and social conditioning.
Practical:
Grounding/Centring - physical
senses/ pratyahara
Standing Tadasana
feet and legs, Utkatasana
Groin/ Pelvis - long stretch
etc, pigeon, frog, squat
Hamstrings - Mahamudra
Low back - Forward
stretch legs bent
Abdominals - pull in
abdomen, boat
Upper back / shoulders - Cow
Face
Ha Breath
Breath
Ujayii
Listen to sound in throat and hum
Bramhari
Aum
Relaxation
Feeling
the spirit within us
________________________________________________-
PM.
Rest
Questions or discuss Avadhuta Gita
Walking meditation around room
Breathing into SolarPlexus - = alt nostril, extending, retention
For each stand and circumambulate room
Final - Breath focus on outside, nostrils, Ajna,
inner space.
Goodbyes
Derek Osborn
2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Workshop 5
YOGA SADHANA
The aim of the day workshop will be to help us to clarify:
WHY
we are practising yoga
HOW we can improve our practise, and
WHAT we might hope
to achieve.
Morning
Greetings and getting to know
each other
What is Sadhana? Path
or goal?
Paths available in yoga. – koshas,
chakras etc
Pratyahara Centring
– going inwards lying, sitting, standing using
Practical work with breath awareness
Balancing for awareness - Extending
and developing postures
Creating `new`
asanas
Moving in sequences
Developing stamina by repeating
Strength
through holding
Flexibility
using modern techniques
Relaxation with visualisation
Afternoon
Rest
Talk – mantras and their uses.
Aum meditation in three parts
Sankalpa – thoughts and discussion in groups
Final question time and farewells.
Feedback:
`Thanks for encouraging Derek to lead our workshop; brilliantly refreshing, energising + relaxing all at the same time.`
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Workshop 6
LIVING
THE DREAM
WHAT IS THE `DREAM`? -
And how do we achieve it?
LIVING THE DREAM
WHAT IS THE `DREAM`? -
And how do we achieve it?
A `Dream` has to be more than a mere desire –
`Rise above the cycle of unhappiness, desire, acquisition, excitement and unhappiness again` Sw
Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Think about the nature of existence. Can
the concept of `maya` as `illusion` help? In the Bhagavad Gita and Shvetasvatara Upanishad it is used as
the creative force of the gunas – sattwa, rajas and tamas. Concepts of God, and our place in creation
take us beyond the mundane. Forms of religion, philosophy and yoga can provide answers or reassurance.
TANTRA is the form of yoga which may be of most help in our modern age. The yoga of webs,
looms, warps and wefts, threads and the bringing together of practical and philosophical teachings from the ancient dharma
to modern interpretations. Tantra provides the many small steps which can lead to Self Realisation.
The Tantras are the writings which describe the teachings.
METHODS TO USE
Ritual, mantra, yantra, mudra, the `eight limbs` commonly ascribed to Patanjali, kundalini,
and psycho-spiritual exercises, ayurveda and vastu, astrology and magic and more. In
fact any method which develops our awareness of the Self – atman, and the ultimate Reality - Brahman.
The other `aim` of yoga is to understand the relationship between the static potential of Brahman, and the dynamic
power of Brahman known as Prakriti. Brought together they are known as Ishwara – the God who acts
through the three forces of creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu) and destruction (Shiva). This model
is more commonly known by yogis as Shiva at the crown of the head being activated by the kundalini power of Shakti rising
through the body. In Hinduism a form of god known as Ardhaneswara combines Shiva (on the right) and Shakti
(on the left) in one body.
For tantrics the body becomes a temple of and for the
Divine, and so worthy of care and love.
This begins to make our `dream` of health, wealth and
happiness` seem almost trivial.
SESSION 1
1 ESTABLISH A SACRED SPACE
2 MANTRA PUJA (ritual
and prayer)
3 PRANAYAMA AND MUDRA to focus and prepare the mind and body.
4 REALISING THE PRESENCE OF ENERGY through warming/loosening exercises.
5
DEVELOPING THE ASPECTS OF SUPPLENESS, STRENGTH, STAMINA using asanas etc
6
RELAXATION WITH SENSE AWARENESS AND CENTRING using positive visualisation.
7 CARING
FOR THE TEMPLE by cleansing, diet etc.
SESSION 2
1 REFOCUSING
2 SATSANG Reading from the Bhagavad Gita and Avadhuta
Gita. Discussion of questions.
3 POSITIVE ACTION, POSTURE, MENTAL ATTITUDE
by `releasing` exercises, balance and mantra balance.
4 MEDITATION seeking the inner Self.
5 QUESTIONS
6 CLOSING PUJA and farewells.
Derek
Osborn / Swami SHIV GIRI Baba 07791 182085 derek_osborn1@btinternet.com www.yoga-sadhana.org
