New! Yoga Chant group in Glastonbury

I invite you to join me at a new weekly session taking place in Glastonbury as follows:

Yoga Chant

Thursday 11am - 12pm

The Miracles Room, Glastonbury Experience,

High St Glastonbury

Starting 1st March

Contribution £5/£4

Chanting is a powerful way to create joy. To balance, heal and accelerate inner transformation.  As such it is a useful part of our yoga and a yoga in its own right.

For millenia, yogis and rishis of India have passed on sacred formulas through vocal repetition, aspiring to higher states of consciousness and to preserve and transmit wisdom. I have been blessed to spend extended  periods in India studying mantra and sutra and have incorporated chanting into my personal yoga. I offer these sessions so that you may benefit as I have.

Such as :

- Calmness and relaxation Standing down from the stress response, soothing the adrenals, regulating heart rate, blood pressure and hormones.

- Quiet mind Thoughts are stilled while we are chanting.

- Empowerment and confidence It  feels good to use the voice with awareness, focus and intention.

- Energizing the spiritual body Chanting clears the nadis (channels where life energy flows) and bathes the cells of the body with positive energy.

- Healing and re-balancing Mantras act as prayers; as we recite them we create a  powerful intention of healing. In ayurveda, mantra is regularly prescribed to heal physical symptoms.

- Creating and manifesting Mantra can be directed to specific areas of life where we might wish for improvement, they are the original positive affirmations!

- Inner peace  Many mantra are formulated specifically to create inner peace within the practitioner.

- A gift to humanity As we become more peaceful, we radiate peace into the fabric of the universe so assisting the whole of  humanity.

- Eternal wisdom and liberation We may not understand the subtleties of the Sanskrit, but we are imbuing ourselves with ancient yogic wisdom which percolates through to the subconscious level. Overtime, this creates conditions for moksha or enlightenment.

- The joy of sharing Positive energies generated by chanting are amplified in a group and there arises a wonderful feeling of wellbeing from sharing and belonging.

We will chant a selection of short, simple sanskrit verses that I use myself and have been authorised to teach, from the classic texts of India including the yoga sutras of Patanjali, the Vedas and the Upanishads. 

These will be relaxed, informal sessions, and all are warmly welcomed, no previous experience of yoga and/or yoga chanting is required.

I provide written sheets with the chants and meanings and we will progress at a pace that supports everyone.

The Miracles Room is a lovely venue; spacious and tranquil, flooded with natural light and conveniently located on Glastonbury High  Street, close to the Market Cross.

Sessions are drop-in, so no need to book in advance, however you are welcome to call  me on 07779 807089 or email jennifer@divine-yoga.org with any enquiries.


I look forward to chanting with you!

Om shanti, shanti, shanti

Jennifer

New! Quiet yoga class at Shekinashram, Glastonbury

I am very pleased to be offering a new yoga class in Glastonbury this spring, in one of my favourite venues: the lovely Shekinashram on the slopes of Chalice Hill.

Tuesday 2:15pm - 3:30pm £6/£5

Shekinashram, Dod Lane, Glastonbury 

All levels welcome 

Starting 21st February 2012

Drawing on my study of the Scaravelli tradition, the Quiet Yoga class will be a safe supportive space to explore the body, breath and movement from a mindfulness perspective, respecting  the needs of the body rather than imposing outcomes, a yoga of undoing rather than doing. It is a deeply restful practice, soothing the nervous system and reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.

We will work together to become quiet and very present with ourselves, with this focussed awareness
witnessing the breath and the responses of the body to release tension and create internal space.

Relaxing progressively, allowing the breath to cleanse, purify and rejuvenate cells, tissues and organs and energising the subtle body. Areas that commonly hold tension; such as the hips, shoulders and the pelvis become lighter; and authentic joyful movement becomes possible.

This is a wonderful liberating approach and suitable for all ages and body types, over time the practitioner develops calmness, clarity and self-acceptance.



I look forward to sharing yoga with you, you are welcome to call ahead of class  07779 807089 or email me with any questions.


Jennifer

- Mats, blankets and cushions are provided at this venue.

- Wear loose comfortable clothing, we will be barefoot.

- Please arrive on time for a prompt start.

- Contact me before class if you have an active medical condition that you are receiving treatment for.

The streets of Glastonbury are paved with Love

Snowdrops in Glastonbury Abbey

Early spring in Glastonbury; I have flown back from India but return nightly in my dreams to Auroville and Tiruvannamalai.

A close friend shared a confidence, that upon her return from an extended visit to south Africa, she asked Glastonbury to show her whether or not she still belonged in the town. A good question, and although I didnt consciously voice it, it was seeded within.



The wintry weather of recent days has been a challenge, a snow storm greeted me at Heathrow, I understand that I was fortunate to have travelled home smoothly and safely with no delay or inconvenience - an act of grace that I give gratitude for.

Mornings are sharp and cold, with the sun sometimes breaking through for an hour or so and temperatures resolutely sub-zero.

I've been taking the cue from Kitty, who seems permanently welded to the duvet and giving myself all the sleep and rest my body is asking for. So when I received a facebook message yesterday suggesting a 9:30am walk,at first it seemed quite unreasonable.
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Healing sound circle

I swiftly reconsidered, it was after all St Valentine's day and I had been invited to spend time with a fabulous friend.

We meandered around the Tor and made our way slowly into town, stopping at the wholefoods store for carrots, kombucha and raw chocolate, which we shared contentedly on a bench in the Abbey grounds, facing the ruins with the sun in our faces, surrounded by snowdrops.



I took a full hit of the potent superfoods, boosted further by a generous measure of Horny Goat Weed elixir. I was feeling elated, giggly and excitable and so as midday chimed we scrambled back into town and gathered outside St John's Church on the High St as part of a sonic love circle; uttering the cosmic sound ahhh in unison. It was perfect, our individual voices blending and merging, an expression of harmony and oneness.

We hung around afterwards chatting with friends and catching up, it was great to be welcomed back on such an auspicious day. More elixir was administered and someone produced a batch of  funky homemade hats that were passed around and tried on, it was a very Glastonbury moment.

The hemp master adoring his creation

In the afternoon I visited Free Love Cannabis who was handing out cake and truffles from Hemp in Avalon, his Valentine offering. Free loves an audience and with a full shop he felt inspired to perform some of his poetry and speaking on the subjects of divine consciousness, Gaia, forgiveness and purification, a kind of impromptu satsang.

I took my guitar along and occupied a corner of the floor beside an indoor water shrine and played a set of songs on the theme of love, mostly from the Osho ashram in Pune.

Everytime the shop door opened, more and more familiar faces would enter, I started to feel bliss rising as I acknowledged my happiness and how good it felt to be seeing so many friends in one day that was unfolding magically.

As the sky darkened and dusk arrived, the merriment in town continued with talented poets and story tellers performing during the evening. There was a clear understanding that we were celebrating St Valentines day not just on the level of romantic love between couples, but also the greater love, the divine cosmic consciousness that daily is becoming more apparant in our lives.

Walking home I basked in satisfying positive feelings and contemplated my good fortune.
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Soul family

I remembered  how Glastonbury comes to life in the spring, how there would be planned community celebrations as well as spontaneous happenings that would lead up to the crescendo of summer solstice and beyond.

Our community is powerful, connected and possibly unique. I gave myself credit and acknowledged that I too was one of the talented creative people I admire and respect and that moreover Glastonbury was clearly showing me that  I did belong - so many friends manifesting on one day to welcome me home was the proof of that.

I feel so honoured and happy to be received so lovingly in the bosom of Avalon and excited about making my contribution in service to the town in the coming weeks and months.



May we overflow with love in all forms and frequencies 

Jennifer

Cyclone in Auroville

The first rains

Thursday 29^th December 2011: there was talk of a cyclone all over Auroville and it was in the air. At Pour Tous co-operative food store a French Aurovillian joked with his friend, in the produce queue; 

Tu te provisionnes avant le cyclone?

Actually, there was no sense of panic buying amongst the shoppers. I doubled my apple and curd rations nonetheless.   

Later that morning, I cycled to La Piscine as usual for my daily swim. I was disappointed to find the gates closed and locked and rattled them pointlessly, in annoyance. 

The sky above was grey as it had been in recent days and true, there was a discernable breeze, but everything seemed as normal. So I continued on, to use Aurelec’s,  wi-fi hotspot. I took an outside table. A fierce swirl of wind loosened dry leaves from an overhanging jackfruit tree, they clattered and skittered across the ground. I thought it prudent to leave to protect my techonology.

As I cycled back to my guesthouse, the sky darkened and fat plops of warm rain began to fall. Inconvenient but unremarkable, the north east monsoon which started at the end of October had persisted through December with several days of downpours.

As dusk fell, I donned my waterproofs to fetch a tiffin dinner from the Solar Kitchen. Rajaveni, my hostess kindly suggested we go together on her scooter. There was a light rain, nothing remarkable.

Back at Douceur, we feasted on salad, soup, pancakes and tomato sauce, we could not have known then that this would be our last hot meal for a few days.

The electricity was cut later that evening, an official decision, with health and safety in mind. So after some reading by torchlight, I closed my eyes to sleep early, around eight pm. 

The cyclone winds arrived that night and persisted through much of Friday. I was quite safe in my room, all I could do was lay I bed and listen to the extraordinary sounds of the storm.  The unrelenting rain, gushing from the skies, the fierce wind ripping through trees and structures, I could only guess at the damage being caused.

As dawn arrived, the rain and winds continued well into the afternoon. I sat with others in the guest house, watching the extreme movement of trees as trunks and branches thrashed and fell.  We were fortunate enough to be housed in a very secure building with brick walls, a tiled roof and double screened windows.

At around four pm, the worst of the weather had abated. I waited a while to be sure and then put on my waterproofs and walking sandals, I needed to survey the scene and take in what had happened as the experience thus far had a very unreal quality.

Trees and branches everywhere

I stepped out of the guesthouse and gaped; the landscape was completely unrecognisable. So many of the large trees that created privacy had fallen, exposing neighbouring houses. 

The paths and roads had disappeared entirely, as the ground was now covered in a carpet of greenery; leaves and branches everywhere. 

As I tentatively picked my way along, I had to keep checking where I was, everything was unrecognisable. 

I crawled through a tunnel of fallen bamboo to reach the main road, which was criss-crossed by tree trunks, huge root balls caked in red earth exposed to the air.  The roads were completely impassable and I noted other damage; collapsed roofs, fallen power cables. 

It was eery and still, no traffic, and just a few people such as myself tip-toeing around, exploring.  Softly, the rain began again, it would continue into the next day. Back at the guesthouse I described my findings and we began to speculate on what was happening in the rest of Auroville. 

I felt a particular concern for low impact communities such as Sadhana Forest, that I had visited the previous week. Surely their keet (coconut frond) and bamboo dwellings would have been completely destroyed, I wondered whether or not they had got away in time. Equally the beach community of Repos, metres from the shoreline would have suffered the full impact of the cyclone.

That evening we shared a quiet supper by candlelight, not much was said, there was so much to be absorbed. During the coming days, the scale of what had happened would reveal itself and we would all have our personal interpretations and conclusions. For now, I knew enough to be thoroughly grateful that I was safe, well and had suffered no physical injury to myself or my possessions.

OM

Jennifer

Further information and updates from the official Auroville website
www.auroville.org/cyclone/

Arrival in Auroville

I’m riding the bus back from town, Pondicherry. The driver deftly navigates the heavy traffic on the East Coast Road, a major highway. 

A merry dance of all kinds of transport happens noisily outside: pedestrians, handcarts, cycle rickshaws, autos, mopeds, motorcycles, taxis, private cars, trucks, buses and coaches. Cows, dogs and chickens take their chances too.

Inside, I feel snug and happy and safe. I turn to the open window and catch the breeze on my face, the air flows fast and cool. Closing my eyes I take in the familiar smells of India: vehicle fumes, jasmine flowers, street snacks frying in hot oil, cow dung, incense. 

It’s not a regular bus.  AUROVILLE proclaims the permanent lettering on the windscreen. Aurovillians and guests, such as myself can be conveniently shuttled into Pondy and back, a daily service with drop off points across the township. I boarded at the Solar Kitchen, which looked to be the most popular stop. 

I took the bus today out of curiosity, to spend a couple of hours in Pondicherry would be useful, sure, but mostly for the feeling of being on the Auroville bus. Last Saturday I was enjoying an early coconut at the busy crossroads by the State Bank of India ATM. The bus whooshed past with a loud parp!  I caught a glimpse of the travellers, cool and relaxed in colourful cotton separates, shopping baskets on knees, smiling and chattering. It looked enticing; I wanted to be on that bus!

The Matrimandir- iconic symbol of Auroville

It’s a typical Auroville experience: decades and now generations of ex-pat Europeans and Indians working together to provide a living experience that is clean, safe, comfortable and communal. 

Here in Auroville you can buy chic clothing from fair trade boutiques. Select your favourite blend of organic coffee beans and have them ground to order. Choose golden, buttery croissants as well as chappatis. 

Most days I get asked Are you working?  Auroville is a serious place, peopled by serious individuals with a serious collective agenda:

The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity. Auroville wants to be a universal township where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony.

To which end innumerable communities, projects, collaborations and businesses have been conceived and realised, spanning all realms of human endeavour: food and farming, transport, architecture, education, health, the arts, spiritual development. The scale and breadth of the vision is impressive and I like what I see. The sense of a structured, dynamic, international enterprise that takes its relationship with the local communities very seriously too.

It’s my second visit to Auroville, I spent a month here in 2007. A hot and humid March, a two hour daily session of ashtanga vinyasa yoga, supervised by Monica Marinoni and Chad Herst (who has since left to establish the Mission Ashtanga studio in San Francisco).  We practiced outside on a rooftop at Quiet, Auroville’s beach side natural therapy centre. Afterwards I would snooze in a hammock until lunchtime, enjoying the sound and movement of ocean air through coconut palms.

Guest capsules - Aspiration Community

Then I had little time or energy for anything outside the practice, Auroville was the final stage of my South Indian ashtanga yoga odyssey that had carried me from Mysore to Kerala to Goa. 

I couldn’t handle the climbing temperatures and spent most afternoons sprawled in a star shape under the whirling fan in my room at Gaia’s Garden guest house (extremely comfortable with a great communal kitchen). 

I had barely touched the surface of Auroville and knew that there was so much more to explore and hoped I would one day return. Through grace, this has been possible.

Two months into my current trip, I had settled in Gokarna but was feeling dissatisfied. One morning as I practised yoga on my verandah, overlooking a small farming plot I understood what was missing. I watched the villagers breaking the soil with heavy hand made tools, sweating under the sun. It was back breaking work, but they were engaged in something purposeful, which was what I needed. And I wanted to be in an environment where people had come together expressly to live and work together, a shared intention – a community.

Being early December, this was the start of the guest season at Auroville. It was likely that most guest houses would be fully booked. Nonetheless I logged onto my email with the intention of fielding some enquiries. I gasped, there blinking on the screen was a message from Aspiration Community, whom I had tentatively contacted back in September before leaving the UK.

Capsule interior

Incredibly, they were holding a place for me for and wanted to know if I was coming. Was I coming? Such a powerful synchroncity could not be ignored, I was coming! I made my way via the overnight train from Mangalore.

Since then I am exploring with delight some of the many activities on offer. I have membership of La Piscine and am enjoying daily dips. I have joined the Om Choir which I am finding profound and transformative. 

I have sung Earth songs by firelight under the full moon, discussed the metaphysical philosophies of Sri Aurobindo in French, cycled to the Solar Kitchen during a monsoon downpour and begun to read the works of the Mother, the spiritual creatrix who birthed Auroville as a model of social evolution.

My excitement and enthusiasm for Auroville sits alongside a growing sense of homesickness which is difficult to ignore, I am missing Glastonbury, my friends, my cat, my home and my community.

So as the days and weeks unfold I look forward to an active participation, journeying deeper into the Auroville experience, whilst holding loved ones in the UK in my heart, knowing that I will be with them again soon.

Blessings of light from the City of the Dawn

Jennifer

www.auroville.org