Author Archives: annemareerowley

Smile!

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I often reflect upon an experience I had in India a couple of years ago.

I was walking along the street in a small beach resort in Kerala, the south of India, and I noticed a man standing on one leg (he only had one leg).  He was holding a large cluster of balloons for sale.

He shouted out to me “hey, I remember you, you were here last February!”  That was true, but a year had passed and I was so shocked that he remembered, that I was stopped in my tracks.

I went up to him and asked “How do you remember me?”  His reply humbled me to the very core.  He said…”I remember you because every time you walked by you would smile at me”.

Here I was traipsing around the world (on two legs) and here he was limited to a tiny spot and probably had never left this village.

The lesson is in the ‘smile’ and how much they can mean to those with whom you share them.

How do you feel when someone smiles at you?  Just smiles, without any discernible motive, just simply smiles – offering you the gifts of affection and recognition?  You feel warm and for that brief moment, you feel  ‘noticed’.

How do you feel when you smile at someone?  A smile shows for a split second that you care, you share and you acknowledge.  It makes you feel happy too….doesn’t it?

‘A smile costs nothing’ and is of particular value when you know that the person you are directing your smile to – needs it so very badly.  The more desolate a being seems, the more potent and valuable the gift.

Leave a trail of smiles behind throughout your life.  Smile inwardly and smile outwardly. Smile every day for no particular reason. Who knows, your smiles may become contagious. One by one these smiles may be passed on and soon we shall all be smiling.

A SMILE

A smile costs nothing, but it creates much.

 It enriches those who receive

without impoverishing those who give.

 It happens in a flash,

and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

 None are so rich that they can get along without it,

and none are so poor but are richer for a smile.

 It creates happiness in the home,

fosters goodwill in a business,

and is the countersign of friends.

 It is rest to the weary,

daylight to the discouraged,

sunshine to the sad,

and nature’s best antidote for trouble.

It cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen,

for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody

‘til it is given away.

 And if it ever happens

that some people should be too tired to give you a smile,

why not leave one of yours?

 For nobody needs a smile so much

as those who have none left to give.

by Author Unknown

 

Do you hear me?

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“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” Karl A. Menninger

Do you actually listen?  Carefully?  Without  judgement?  Sometimes we are simply too intent upon hearing our own voice and not those of others!

Are we losing our listening abilities?  I think so!

Recently I was out with a group of friends and I realised on several occasions on the day, I wasn’t being listened to at all. I was reminded of how little we actually ‘hear’. I spent the afternoon not being heeded.

When I speak I like to think I am being heard. Don’t we all?  After all this is called ‘communication’.

I notice all the time that people do not wait until others have finished speaking without adding their own ‘broadcasting or grandstanding’.  In fact on five separate occasions on this particular day, I was asked a question and then completely ‘talked over’. At one point I actually said “Are you not interested in what I have to say” and still I wasn’t heard.  There was simply no reaction, just a continuation of the conversation.

As I reflect, I realize I used to ‘butt in’ all the time.  I think we all do.  Our egos get in the way and we want to rule the conversation.  But now, I am so acutely aware of the need to listen to others.  I wait until someone has finished speaking and I am intent upon looking into their eyes as they do speak.  After all, everyone has their story to tell and deserves to be heard. So often these stories expound great wisdom, interesting comment and intelligent perspective. We learn from others, so we need to listen to them.  I fail at this sometimes, but I am practicing!

In my yoga classes, I teach with little visual demonstration but with a great amount of auditory guidance.  At first students look around and are nervous that they ‘don’t get it’.  But within a short time, they learn to be patient with themselves.  They learn to listen to my voice, their bodies, their hearts and minds.  They learn to enter their inner stillness and realize very quickly the rewards of being ‘silent’. They learn to hear again.

According to Julian Treasure, author of ‘Sound Business’ we are meant to spend roughly 60% of our communication time listening but as he states we are not very good at it.   ‘Listening is our access to understanding, he says, conscious listening always creates understanding.  But our world has become scary because no one is listening to one another’.

And what is his first lesson to listen better?  “Silence” he says, just a few minutes a day. How yogic!

He uses the acronmym ‘RASA’ which in Sanskrit means ‘essence’. RASA stands for ‘Receive’ which means pay attention to the person; APPRECIATE what the person has to say; SUMMARIZE so that you are showing you are paying attention and ASK questions afterwards to show your interest.

I came upon Julian’s talk recently.

It is only 7 minutes long.  Sit back and listen….it is fascinating.

http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better.html

‘We need to transform our world into a conscious listening world. ‘A world of connection, a world of understanding and a world of peace’   Julian Treasure.

 

Friends of Mine

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Among Life’s precious jewels, ‘Friends of Mine’ sparkles brightly!

I thought you may like me to share some of the special places in my hometown that I find truly gorgeous.

My writing is from a ‘yogic’ perspective and what could be more yogic than friendly smiles; a true understanding of ‘serving others’; a beautiful ambience; attention to detail; stunning cuisine; and an underlying joyful heart.

I called in for brunch one day.  Two staff at the door were assisting with the inundation of clients pouring through the doors. Queuing isn’t an issue for me but I was advised to come back in 10 minutes.  My name was taken.  (Always a good sign). When I returned I was greeted by name and a very big smile from Melanie.  Rather than dismissively told where the table was located, my friend and I were escorted to it.

Looking down at the menu, I was sold!  “You are beautiful, xo” peeked up at me.

Sometimes businesses just get it!

And as for the food……it was divine!  Generous, affordable and YUM.

I don’t know what to recommend as I fully intend to work my way over time through the whole menu.

In their own words, the concept is simply ‘a collaboration of many wonderful people….. cousins that made our aprons……uncles that supply some of our meats…..friends who designed our lampshades…..mates who helped paint…..’

And…

The kitchen team uses “organic, free range happy and local produce” as much as possible.

By the way, I asked ‘Friends of Mine’ if I could possibly show you the photo on the menu.  As expected, it was sent to me within a couple of days. No pretension, sensitivity or ownership issues.  I shall always protect it and always admire it.  I trust you will too!

Visit the cafe.  You won’t be disappointed.

Friends of Mine,                                                                                                                        506 Swan Street                                                                                                                   Richmond, Melbourne                                                                                                                              P: 9428 7516

Check out the very cool website:  www.friendsofmine.com.au

Grace

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Do you have a favourite word?  A word that inspires you? One that you try to live up to?

I have a friend who always laughs when I say things like “this is one of my favourite songs, or this is one of my favourite artists”, and she always says “but you can only have one favourite. The word ‘favourite’ is absolute”.

My argument is that I can have as many ‘favourites’ as I want.  There are so many things I love – how can one draw a line between them?

And so….one of my favourite words is ‘Grace’.  One to which I aspire and that defines all that is exemplary to me.  It encapsulates the fundamental principles and philosophies of my yoga practice.

This word is owned by those who bestow kindness and compassion upon others and who possess the disposition to ‘serve’.  It defines those who are generous, helpful and courteous; refined, charming and elegant.

And….that leads me to ‘Graceful’? Another favourite word!

I am always saying to my yoga students to enter and release from a yoga posture gracefully; enter a room with your head held high; walk gracefully; breathe effortlessly; waltz with the heart; sing from the soul; glide across a room and smile for no reason.

What about ‘Gracious’?

I am always overwhelmed by the kindness, courtesy, hospitality, and charm that is bestowed upon me in many lands.  That is what the word ‘Grace’ truly exemplifies, and I am often in the company of the most gracious people.

There you are three words all borne from the one derivative…..

Yes, three favourites!

Is there such a place where people embody these words?  I think it might be Bali.  To me, Bali is a land of gentle souls and warm and welcoming faces.  The environment is charismatic. The nature is simply hypnotic.  The people move so gracefully. Alluring smiles reign and the isle offers some of the finest service in the world.

Yes, the more I think about it the more I realize why my clients love it so much.  It is the ‘grace’ that enraptures them.   Grace arises from the core of the land and the souls of its people.

That is why I called my tour to Bali – ‘A Noble Heart’

http://www.coolcalmandcollected.com.au/courses/Bali_tour_Noble_Heart.html

Grace, Graceful and Gracious.

As a footnote: Some time ago, I fell in love with this image which was taken by the Dutch photographer Miki de Best www.debestpix.com.  As a gift, Miki allows me to use his beautiful photograph for my Balinese tours.

How gracious is that!

Expand Your Heart – meditation

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Lie down in Savasana, somewhere warm, light and bright preferably with a gentle breeze flowing around you.

Your feet are separated about hip-width distance apart.

Your legs are long and loose and the little toes are gently falling outwards towards the floor.

Your arms are nestled beside you and your palms are facing upwards in an attitude of ‘giving and receiving’.

Your eyes are softly closed.  The jaw is soft.

Roll the head from side to side as though you are gently rocking to a melody that you love.

Release your ‘chatty’ mind into the ether.

Spread the shoulders broadly.

Soften the lower back.

It is as though the whole body is melting into the earth that supports you.

Inhale, fill the body with breath

Exhale – release all tension and fatigue.

Absorb the beauty of Savasana.

Sense the breath flowing through you like a perpetual wave.

Begin to notice the pauses between each breath.

Within a pause, bring to mind a memory of sheer beauty….an image, an experience, a sound…one that lifts and expands your heart – one that streams joy through your veins.  Ponder upon this vision.

What can you see?  How do you feel?

Focus upon that experience whilst your heart expands and expands….

Do this breath by breath, thought by thought….

Enter the next pause and the next – sensing a gentle pulsing of the heart…

You may sense a flutter like the beating of a bird’s wings, the rustling of leaves in a tree or a gentle wave tip-toeing into shore…..

Sense this beating of the heart and open it to wonder, radiance, splendor, compassion.

Sometimes we can hear the chant of the heart….’Anahata’

A Na Ha Ta    A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta

A Na Ha Ta    A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta   A Na Ha Ta

Balance the heart centre; feel free, empowered, joyful and bright. You will soon cease to crave for  external ‘love’ for you know that ‘love’ exists deep within…that it is your natural state.

Your heart transforms your energy into ideas, dreams and creations.

Dreams and ideas that come from the heart will manifest.

Distractions and diversions soon dissipate, and the noise of desire and attachment subside. All emotional upheaval dissolves and happiness pervades.

Feel lighter, brighter, more carefree…

Consciously choose to feel this peace, this warmth, the intention to share, to give and to connect.

For this is the expansion of the heart….

P.S. As a postscript, my brother Paul recently took this photograph of his brand new bub. A picture like this lifts my heart…for it exemplifies creation, pure love and sheer beauty.

Om connect

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Some years ago when I was in the throes of creating my yoga tour to India, I came upon a little street in the lovely sea-side fishing village of Kovolam.

It was incredibly hot and I would duck into the shops one after the other for respite from the piercing heat.  These little stores would always beckon me as they were intriguing,  colourful and cool.

On this particular day, I met Raja who welcomed me with a smile as broad as the universe, and an act of kindness that I shall remember to my dying day. He noticed I was wearing the symbol of ‘Om’.  I had worn my silver charm for as long as I could remember.  I have no idea from where I purchased it and usually I don’t remove it.

I felt that for a brief instant Raja was looking within me rather than at me as he suggested he polish the pendant.  I took it off and placed it in his hand and as I did so it simply cracked in half. I was flabbergasted and he just smiled.  “I thought that was going to happen” he said.  “You would have lost it at any moment!”

He didn’t try to sell me a new one (and he had scores of them).  He simply said ‘come back one day and I shall have it ready for you’.

And so one day, I returned to share a cup of Kashmiri tea.  As I savoured the brew,  Raja placed the OM in the palm of my hand. The pieces had been soldered together and the OM was sparkling.  No charge….just a smile….and more tea. Lots more tea!

I believe many friendships are borne out of kindness.  This is one of them.

AUM is a sacred symbol; a mantra said to be the primordial sound from which all other sounds have emerged.

I have heard it expressed as ‘The heart of God’ which in yogic terms would probably be better defined as ‘The heart of the universe’, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and infinite,” meaning all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere, and eternal.

There are so many aspects to this beautiful sound.  Sitting quietly, one breathes it out (aa, au, mm) tapering to an infinite finish (like that of a chime or bell).  You may be able to sense a subtle, peaceful vibration flowing through your being.

There are many aspects to the symbol and some that I find most interesting are:

The letter A symbolises the waking state; the letter U the dream state and the letter M the dreamless sleep state of the mind and spirit. The entire symbol, together with the crescent and the dot, stands for the fourth state, which combines all these states and transcends them (Samadhi).

The letters correspond to the three tenses – past, present and future – while the entire symbol stands for the Universal Power which transcends the limitations of time and remains unchanged.

The three letters also represent the dimensions of length, breadth and depth in the human being, while the entire symbol stands for the one whose wisdom is firmly established in the divine.

The letters A, U and M also stand for the mantra ‘Tat Twam Asi’ (‘That Thou Art’), the realisation of man’s divinity within himself. The entire symbol stands for the liberation of the human spirit from the confines of his body, mind, intellect and ego.

Practise meditating on this gentle sound and feel the peace fill your heart!

Source:

‘The Concise Light on Yoga’ by B.K.S. Iyengar and ‘Calm the Mind’ by Shanti Gowans

Think brightly

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We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind
and trouble will follow you
as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.
Speak or act with a pure mind
and happiness will follow you
as your shadow, unshakeable.

Dhammapada, The Buddha

There is one thing about which I am certain and that is we create who we are by how we think!

We are what we think and the person we become over time is simply a summation of our thoughts.

Have you ever noticed that kind people always speak kindly of others and are generous by nature?  Inspirational people are positive and curious?  Interesting people are inquisitive and lively?  All actions are born from thought.  All that is created comes about through thought.

Faces are sculpted by thought.  Anger, anxiety, contempt, jealousy, sadness are clearly identifiable on many faces that surround us. If these emotions, that are sourced from thought, are clutched on to for long enough, they become ‘set in concrete’, defined by frown lines and clenched jaws.

What is the antithesis?  Well, a smile of course.  And smiles come about through a beautiful thought.

One of the greatest influences in my life is a book called ‘As a Man Thinketh’.  It is my bible. Written in 1902 by John Allen, it has sold in the millions. A tiny book with enormous impact, it has been one of the greatest influences for authors and philosophers alike, such as Napolean Hill and his contemporary Anthony Robbins.

John Allen was probably very much influenced by the Buddhist scriptures too.  Philosophers simply pass these thoughts along……

The following excerpt from this tiny treasure could be deemed as my personal mantra:

“A calm, strong man is loved and revered. For when he is calm he ceases to fuss, and fume and worry and grieve, and instead remains poised, steadfast and serene. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence, his power for good”.

Yes, thoughts drive us nuts at times, particularly the very annoying negative ones!  If I observe a negative one appearing, I create the image of kicking it out my head like a footballer kicking a ball. Off you go into oblivion so you don’t annoy me anymore!

What can we do when the shadow takes over?  Smile; be with those who are bright and light; create a project with a great cause; seek more knowledge; read something gorgeous; watch something entertaining or simply do a good deed for someone else – that will soon make you feel better!

Mind is the Master-power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:-
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Enivornment is but his looking-glass.

John Allen

Savasana – (Yoga Corpse Posture)

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Savasana: Die to Live

Letting go isn’t the end of what I know….it is the beginning of what I am about to learn.

I sometimes reflect upon those days when I used to lie on the floor for hours plugged into earphones listening to my favourite music.  Living in a world of ecstasy and delight and away from the burdens of teenage-hood, I would ‘float’ into a state of serenity.

The same calm would overtake me when I ventured down to the beach to watch the clouds manifest their art in the sky and be enraptured by the melody of the waves and the birds.

This is what Savasana means to me now.  I just lie there….just being….not doing.  Tapping into the sounds around me.  Sensing not thinking…..

The yoga posture ‘Savasana’ is translated as the ‘corpse’ pose.  It simply means ‘letting go’ of behaviours, habits, thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve me.

How to:

Lie in a comfortable position on the floor, preferably somewhere warm.  Spread your feet about hip-width distance apart with the little toes falling out to the side.  Your arms are long and loose beside you and the palms are turned up in an attitude of acceptance, surrender, offering and compassion.

If you have difficulty lying on your back, place a rolled-up towel or a bolster beneath the knees. An eye-pad could be good….a soft cozy blanket draped across the body is perfect.

Slide the shoulders down and away from the ears.  Shoulders spreading….lower back releasing.  Drop the jaw and relax the cheeks.  Eyes are softly closed. Feel as though they are falling backwards from the eyelids.  Perhaps you could imagine that you are breathing in and out through the eyes.  Notice what happens to the face when you do this.

Roll your head gently from side to side to release any tension in the neck and shoulders.

Breathe…..breathe…..breathe.  Observe the waves of breath….a gentle rhythmic flow.

As you breathe in, draw in energy, and as you exhale release all fatigue, concerns, strain and pain. Feel as though they are releasing out through the fingertips and toes.

Let go of the ‘thinking mind’.  If the mind jumps from thought to thought just bring your attention back to the breath, or the sensations in the body.  Sink deeper and deeper in to the earth.

Absorb the peace of Savasana.

Release into that sanctuary within, where all knowledge resides and serenity reigns.  Awaken the teacher within.  Retreat into your essence.  Just be.

What Savasana will do for you:

  • Improve concentration
  • Enhance creativity and clarity
  • Release stresses and strain
  • Initiate better quality of breathing
  • Reduce inner conflict
  • Relax the body
  • Calm the mind
  • Restore energy
  • Expand awareness and composure

Enjoy!

Postscript: You may be carrying an injury. Therefore if you would like more in-depth knowledge of what props you can use to lie in Savasana to be a little more comfortable, then perhaps you would be interested in: http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/restpos/shavas/shavas.html

Rediscover wonder

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I have a wonderful friend who is an artist.  She paints and paints, sometimes so furiously and so passionately that she crumbles in a heap for a few days exhausted, weary from creating, and then she picks herself right up again and paints some more.

Apart from being incredibly talented and a gorgeous friend, Joni is also very wise and philosophical.   Determined and tenacious, nothing will get in her way to pursue her dream and she also knows that vision, patience and focus are the keys to success.

Sometimes when you have a vision and you embark upon the journey to manifest it, you need to cocoon yourself for a while in both your imagination and reality and just ‘go for it’.  You will be met with much resistance at times…..not only from your internal chatter but from those around you.

I know when I left a corporate career to pursue my dream to teach yoga and create my beautiful  yoga tours, I overheard some referring to my work as ‘mumbo jumbo’ and ‘she’s into all that new age stuff’!  “How are you going to make a living?” many have asked.

I remember Joni once saying to me “no-one will stand on my dreams”, and I have never forgotten those words.

All we need to do is ‘rediscover wonder’ and the world will again and again become a blank canvas upon which we can paint our masterpiece.

I had tears in my eyes when I saw the presentation given by Janet Echelman on TED.com.  Joni passed this on to me and the picture is one of Janet’s lace works. Give yourself a few moments to rediscover wonder. This says it all.

http://www.ted.com/talks/janet_echelman.html

Be curious

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“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” Ellen Parr

When I was very small, maybe 6 or 7 years of age, I remember telling my father that I was bored!  Big mistake!  He gently clipped me across the ear, like a lion clips her cub, and told me he never wanted to hear me say such a thing again.

I shall never forget his words….”you have too many people to meet, places to visit, books to read and paintings to paint to ever become bored in this world”.    How true could these words be…..  I recall thinking about his message even then.  My eyes opened and my mind expanded – all within seconds.

This world offers so much for us to discover and to learn. I have met some extraordinary people in some extraordinary lands and am surrounded by amazing souls, each with their own fascinating stories.

I never have a book far out of my reach…books educate me, refresh me, send me into a world of wonderment and often challenge me to the absolute brink.   And now we have Google, Facebook, Twitter and the rest to drill down in to – finding more questions, more answers, more stories and more joy!

And….the pictures I paint?  There are many in words, vision and spirit.

Oh, if only I could find more lifetimes in this one…. I feel like my life is a suitcase and I am perpetually packing it with more knowledge.

Whenever, I turn a corner, there is always something more for me to ponder.

I haven’t used the word ‘bored’ since.  Thank you Dad, wherever you may be.