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Our thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and Russia. Politics aside, it saddens us all to see people lose their lives unnecessarily. We are a one-world family. These are dark times for many people, who are in the midst of extremely challenging circumstances they may have experienced in their lifetime. Human-made disasters also cause havoc for plants, animals, and nature. Our hearts go out to all beings.
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Fires, tsunamis, pandemics, floods, wars, health, housing, and economic insecurities, have been brutal on our emotional energy. Struggling to keep our heads above water, and to breathe into all of our sorrows and joys, anxious for our safety, worried about the future for ourselves, our loved ones, our children, and the world, we rearrange our lives at home and work. It’s exhausting and scary, and with the stress and anxiety building and building every year, we seem to have lost some of our sense of self and happiness.
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As we stop ourselves from slipping into resignation, isolation, and despair, we realise that beyond the difficulties and things going wrong, comes the gift of deepening. More than our physical birth, we find ourselves spiritually born a second time. The spiritual alchemy of this transformation brings with it the mystery of the ocean’s fullness, it’s buoyancy, and inevitability a process that yields insights as we surface, like waves in the ocean, reminding us that we are alive. Through our challenges and difficulties, and the labour of a lifetime, we develop into more fully realised beings.
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True meditation is being awake and alive to this precious, present moment. The Universe holds us and tosses us about, only to hold us again. The universal dance is not performed for an audience. Transiency is a mark of spirituality. The more permanent a thing tends to be, the more it tends to be lifeless. The universe poses the question. You are the answer.
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Some challenges we don’t solve. We carry them with us, and we transform. Some challenges we do solve. Recent challenges have brought about much unity amongst us. Counterintuitively, we know that there is wisdom in these tragic circumstances that are yet to be uncovered. We bow to the wild, uncontrollable, unplanned, unexpected moments of existence, the life that cannot be contained in any form, yet contains all apparent forms. Education is not preparation for life. It arises from actual living. Looking out into the universe at night, there don’t appear to be right and wrong stars. When we steadfastly trust in our not knowing, in the surrender, we are met by our strength. What lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
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No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen. We learn that we must wake up to the grace inherent in every moment with infinite kindness to ourselves and each other. We can’t always have a ‘good’ day, but we can face a ‘bad’ day with simplicity, patience, and compassion.
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Hold peace, courage, and renewal in your heart. As national and global events unfold, the light of your prayers reach those who need them most, empowering every single person who may be experiencing sadness and a sense of helplessness in their lives, Your heart is a powerful source of energy. Giving something of yourself back to the world, you make it a better place in the coming year.
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With great love and respect.
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COMING UP IN APRIL 2022
Discussions - Talks - Celebrations - Yoga - Meditation - Retreats.
for Relaxation, Awareness, Energy, and Rejuvenation
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If you are familiar with Shantiji’s work, you know how healing and effective her teachings are. You know what makes the Shanti Yoga approach so unique, is its incredible, comprehensive, and inclusive nature. If you haven’t yet enrolled for the 2-hour Pranayama Masterclass, you are invited to take the next step, and deepen your understanding and practice. This masterclass will enable you to safely and confidently do pranayama, Shanti Yoga breathing practices at home for your health, wellbeing, and spiritual growth. We are very fortunate to have this masterclass offered to us at this time, and we encourage you to avail yourself of this opportunity. We hope you decide to join us, and if so, we look forward to seeing you in the training.
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Saturday, 2nd April, 10:30 am -12:30 pm
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Facilitator: Shanti Gowans
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Please book early so that your Certificate of Attendance can be prepared for you upon completion.
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Retreats present a wonderful way to go more deeply into the non-dual experience and deepen your connection with a community of like-minded retreatants. In these days of worldly turmoil, it can be difficult to process our varied emotions, thoughts and stress. When we look to nature, we come upon glimmers of hope and transition for us to tap into, bringing us into greater alignment with something bigger than ourselves.
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Come and connect on the Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat campus, a dedicated, purpose-built retreat and learning centre, on a 70-acres property in the Scenic Rim, voted as one of the top ten places to visit in 2022 by Lonely Planet. The venue is a vegetarian, non-smoking, no alcohol or drugs, ego-friendly sanctuary, encouraging a wildlife habitat. The retreat is not a ‘marketplace’ resort, that needs to churn ‘numbers’ in and out, and we do not have a dedicated sales team, with quotas to fill, we don’t chase sales or bookings. As the spiritual home of Shantiji and team, retreats are offered as a gift to the cohort of learners who study with Health Institute Australasia and at the Shanti Yoga centre. They are also open to those human beings who are committed to lifelong physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
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From the moment you enter and feast your eyes on the stunning views, and experience the wholesome calmness within yourself, your transformation has begun. Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat is perfect for your journey of healing and renewal.
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Included in your stay is your accommodation (single or twin-share ), three daily delicious, all-natural Ayurvedic vegetarian meals from the Nirvana Kitchen. From the daily sessions of yoga, meditation, deep relaxation, community conversations and post-class discussions, the delicious meals, to the grounds and views, you will absolutely love it and won’t be able to wait to return. Treatments must be pre-booked.
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Mindful Living, Mindful Being
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Mindful Living, Mindful Being is a 10-day, 9-night residential retreat, conducted by Meditation Master Shanti Gowans.
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From 9-13 April, we explore and discuss THE YOGA SUTRAS. Let us discover how together we can each become whole. Daily gentle, healing yoga, deep relaxation, meditation and discourses, and personal space will allow you to further absorb and put into practice newly explored ideas and themes, offering a new paradigm for thinking and acting, so needed at this critical time. When deep in a crisis, we know what we need, and ultimately it won’t be found in an app or a bottle of pills. The answers are found within the human heart and are accessed through love. It is time to take action.
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Then, from 14-17 April, enjoy RADICAL PEACE, in noble silence. mindfulness and Vipassana Meditation. Give yourself permission to rest, let go of thoughts and concepts, be silent, and rediscover who you are beyond the carefully constructed facades of a lifetime.
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Spiritual awakening is not a search for a new experience, or a way to avoid the messiness of life, or some sort of head trip, or a reward for goodness. It is the absolute freedom that arises from the pure fascination with this moment, exactly as it is. It does not involve zoning out, numbing yourself to the pain of living, or trying to become spiritually enlightened. The accompanying noble silence at the silent meditation retreat, allows you the experience that arises from true meditation, where you come to trust in the greater intelligence of life, and discover that you are perfect, exactly as you are, a masterpiece in the making. You are life, inseparable from the power that grows the flowers and gives birth to galaxies.
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The stress of the past few years has led many of us to crave connection with the natural world. Nature has given us so much, and this planet and its inhabitants are precious. Whether it’s strolling through the gardens, sitting and looking out at the mountains, or witnessing the sunrise, starry, starry skies, or wildlife, nature is a sacred source of joy, peace, and healing. Nirvana’s Touch the Earth eco-friendly days are a renewal treat. There are 70+ acres of our stunning part of the world to explore and breathe in the fresh, wild air. Come to Nirvana and offer four hours of seva (servive) in the garden, and join us for either breakfast or lunch on the house. It would be great if you can bring your own gardening equipment, such as gloves, gumboots, sunhat, pruning shears, etc. if you have them.
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Yoga Teacher Training - in 3 parts
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Our Yoga Teacher Training program is education for transformation.
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Formed into the everyday ventures of our lives, towards a larger and continuing life.
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In 3 parts, covering the inner work, the outer work, and the interpersonal work
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• Yoga for Life, the foundational teaching
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• The Courage to Teach. Diploma of Yoga Teacher Training
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• Therapeutic Yoga Teaching
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Face-to-face, on-campus, next intake 19 April 2022.
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Shanti Yoga Community (sangha) Arts outing
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Car pool from a couple of locations.
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Chanting, Chai, and Samosas
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Friday, 29 April 6 - 7:30pm
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Tonight, put on your singing voice, BYO musical instruments and join us for some fun.
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COMING UP IN MAY 2022
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Ayurvedic Treatments Practicum Training
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Shirodhara and Kati Basti
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Free for Ayurvedic course students 1st year
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Letting Go. Training the Mind in Emotional Intelligence
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More than those who hate you,
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more than all your enemies,
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an undisciplined mind does greater harm.
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more than all your family,
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a well-disciplined mind does greater good.
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A weekend of gentle, healing yoga, deep yoga relaxation, meditation, and discourses about spiritualising emotions and so much more.
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$795 single room, shared facilities, delicious vegetarian meals, program
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Children’s Yoga Teacher Training Weekend Intensive
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This weekend is the training tutorial for a 6-month, self-paced course in Children’s Yoga.
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Free for Yoga course students 1st year
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With blessings and Namaste,
The Shanti Yoga team
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