Testimonials

- energy, clarity & harmony through yoga & meditation

Text Box: Karen Kooken, 60:
I have always admired people who meditated but could not possibly imagine how they actually did it. I read about it in theory but couldn't get serious about actually practicing it. So I really like having meditation guidance and being given some techniques for calming the mind.
I am entering young old age, having been fairly athletic all my life. I never really paid attention to the intricacies of my body; I just did whatever I wanted - skiing, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, running - without conscious effort. I always looked on Yoga as static "poses" that looked pretty for celebrities and people who were not really "serious" about exercise and looked good in Spandex - in large classes taught by and demonstrated by people who also looked good in Spandex and enjoyed showing off their abilities. Certainly it didn't seem like legitimate "exercise". Well, I have changed my mind.
I have been practicing Yoga through the Shraddha - Yogic Lifestyle Education Trust for only a few months. But I have readily learned that I can give my body the strength, flexibility, and balance it needs and deserves with this practice. And I can actually remember the movements to do in "real life" on my own. I appreciate the small class size and individual treatment that I receive as I know that I will be getting it right.
But the physical practice is not the total practice. I am also learning to focus my mind. Meditation (or relaxation or calming the mind or whatever one names it) is integral to the guidance provided here. I am learning to just sit and observe myself - body, mind and spirit. And the whole experience is challenging (sometimes difficult) and it feels good.
Oh, and it's fun.

For Feedback from the Choices Program, 17-6-09, click here.

"I have now been practising yoga for two terms and it has become
a highlight of my school week. After a stress-filled day I find that
Yoga is a fun and effective way to relax and clear my mind. Yoga
with Samadhimurti incorporates more than dynamic exercises (as
well as less dynamics ones, which require a lot of concentration)
because it involves breathing and chanting etc. and truly creates
the whole Yogic package. One of my favourite parts of yoga is at
the end of every session when we practise what is called "Yoga

Nidra", a relaxing exercise which truly relieves all stress, and sends

the class away ready for the days ahead and eager for the next class.

Yoga is definitely one of the highlights of my week and I recommend

it to everyone." Tim (16)

Some excerpts from the feedback forms for the General Yoga class taught at Shama, Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre were:

"Yoga class was a nice class. When we do Yoga, we feel relax. No tension. Concentrate on body thinking about good things."

"Excellence! The teacher is very nice and it's a good way for exercise."

"It is a good programme and the instructor is very good. She speaks slowly to explain the various movements and positions."

Text Box: (Maree, 42 years):
I have been doing Yoga for the best part of two years.

I started doing yoga because I have a chronic pain condition, and had not seemed to make progress / improvement with more orthodox treatments (unless I were to take some fairly heavy medication, which I was unprepared to do).

I figured this 'Yoga' can't do any harm…and may even do some good!
At first, it took a little getting used to, sitting still and concentrating, and some of the chanting was a very new concept.

I did not actually feel immediate benefits, as I was always of the opinion that my pain condition was too big to make a dent in. (And it often 'hurt' to even do the yoga!) I had to start to learn to trust in
myself, that if I did a pose, nothing would snap or break. And also learned that I had to 'observe' fully whilst 'doing' … to have my entire being involved, mind and body fully concentrating on the now ... on the pose.

And gradually /consistently I began to look inside myself for answers ... and realised that I had a lot more ability to be master of all things "Me" than I had ever realised in my life before.

I had never stopped to take the time to be still and, well, just "to be".

Our minds need practice of concentration and discipline; our bodies need strength and exercise.
Meditative Yoga fulfils these needs.

Although some days the pain I have is worse than others, I have learnt not to have an aversion to it, to simply obverse without judgment, and move on. Nothing is permanent. :-)

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