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Illuminartyoga E-News
Issue # 11: September 9, 2003
Yoga is much more than exercise.
Yoga affords an opportunity to gain tools to help us work through life's most challenging experiences.
Perhaps you walk in to the yoga room only to find that someone has taken your
favorite spot. Perhaps throughout the class the person beside you constantly fidgets. Perhaps the room is very hot or too cold and you find it impossible to relax. Perhaps there is a lot of noise outside the yoga room even during final relaxation.
How would it be, if instead of blaming the outside as the source of your irritation,
you were able to use these instances—and others that occur throughout the week—as
symbols through which you could learn?
The Real Meaning of a Crisis
Carolyn Myss explains this in her book
Why People Don't Heal and How They Can:
"Symbolic perception allows us to see that the real meaning of a crisis lies in showing us what we need to learn about ourselves. To blame the other players in our drama for helping to teach us what we need to learn is the height of foolishness.
"If, for example, I need to learn what it feels like to have something stolen from me,
then anyone capable of stealing will do as my teacher.
Spending my life resenting a particular 'Teacher'—waiting for the moment
when I can punish the thief or make him or her feel guilty for all my years of mourning my loss—ultimately interferes with my learning process.
"No one has understood this principle better than the Dalai Lama, who has repeatedly said that he is grateful to the Chinese for forcing him into exile, because it has taught him the value of compassion...
"Working with Symbolic insight is one of the greatest skills we can develop,
because it gives us 'perceptual leverage.'
We enter a more detached state of consciousness,
interpreting the events in our lives as spiritual challenges that are meant to enhance our growth."
On the yoga mat or off, try to see the challenges that present themselves to you as opportunities to discover new lessons to learn along your path of transformation.
Fall Yoga Sessions
Fall classes are starting on September 16, 17 and 18. Please call to reserve your place.
In June, I moved to NDG and it is now easiest to reach me on my cell phone at 577-1963.
I look forward to seeing you!
Vegetarian Recipe
Many of my students are interested in healthy vegetarian cooking.
From now on I'll be including a vegetarian recipe with each newsletter.
Some people find that tofu doesn't have much taste.
Here's a simple marinade to transform your tofu for sautéeing
or to add to any dish including a stir fry or shish kebabs.
I use Horium tofu found in natural health food stores.
Tofu Mariné
From le guide de l'alimentation saine et naturelle par Renée Frappier
1/2 cup Tamari Sauce (I use Kikkoman or a natural Tamari sauce)
1 cup water
1 inch piece of fresh ginger diced
2 garlic cloves diced
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. thyme
One 450 gram package of tofu cut into small or large cubes
Mix the marinade ingredients together, add the cubed tofu,
marinate overnight if possible or for at least two hours.
Use in any dish adding some of the marinade if you choose,
or add about 1 Tbsp. cornstarch to thicken.
Keeps in the fridge for several days.
My favorite vegetarian cookbook is May All Be Fed by John Robbins. The vegan (vegetarian, non-diary) recipes in this book are all delicious and I highly recommend it.
If you know someone interested in trying out a yoga class,
please forward my Web site address to them (www.illuminartyoga.com)
or ask them to call me.
I look forward to seeing you!
Sue-Anne
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