One day work shops with Angus Ford-Robertson

 

As you know, we are very excited to welcome London-based, international yoga teacher Angus Ford-Robertson to Australia.

As well as the week long retreat in Yamba, Angus will also be holding workshops in Yamba and in Sydney.

The Yamba workshop will be for one day, and held on Saturday 7th of December, 10.30am until 4.30pm at Star of the Sea Convent.

The Sydney workshop will be over two days, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of December, 10am until 4pm. They will take place at The Bay Room in Double Bay. The workshop will be structured so you can attend one or both days.

Both workshops will cover aspects of Hatha yoga, mindfulness and Non-violent communication.

Physical/body work in will take place in the morning, with more breath, mind, meditation and energy work in the afternoon. In Angus' words - Mindfulness and Non-violent communication are hot topics in the UK at present!

Make the most of this fantastic opportunity for you to explore a number of techniques for deepening self awareness and to living mindfully and consciously.

Angus has a keen interest in helping his students to  experience the joy of mindfulness. We hope you can join us for a weekend of inspiration!

Please contact me if you would like to know any more information or to secure your spot.

ABOUT ANGUS 

Angus began teaching meditation in 1999 when he was invited to teach in UK Prisons by the Prison Phoenix Trust. In 2001 he qualified as Yoga teacher in Canada, trained by the Sivananda Organisation. Since then, he has been founding Director of Battersea Yoga, a thriving Yoga and Meditation Centre in London; and taught internationally at spiritual centers around the world.

Much of his teaching is informed by his time spent with Eckhart Tolle and Ajahn Sumedho at Amaravati in the UK; two spiritual giants on the world stage.

With regards to the physical practice of Yoga, his style has been influenced by Donna Farhi, Faustomaria Dorelli and Scaravelli.

Angus is a qualified practicing Clinical Hypnotherapist and holds a Diploma with the London College of Clinical Hypnosis. He is a Member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis and specialises in the treatment of stress-related conditions.

He is employed by the National Health Service in the UK to provide specialist meditation and mindfulness courses.

Fermented foods #2. Milk Kefir

Have you heard of kefir? An easy way to describe it is that it is similar to drinking yoghurt. Like all fermented foods, it has been around for a very long time, and was used as a method of preserving milk.

As I mentioned in the previous fermentation post, this traditional method of food preservation enhanced the goodness of the food, as opposed to modern methods which are detrimental.

Milk kefir is made using fresh dairy milk and kefir grains, which act as the starter. Kefir grains aren't grains at all, but a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). They look like little cauliflower florets made from jelly!

The benefits of kefir are numerous. The beneficial bacteria in kefir helps to restore the inner ecology of the body. While it is similar to yoghurt, it contains completely different micro organisms and many more strains of bacteria as well as yeasts. While they are both helpful with keeping the gut healthy, kefir is far more potent so more beneficial. Kefir also is a great source of calcium, B vitamins, protein, enzymes and amino acids.

amino acids, enzymes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus - See more at: http://bodyecology.com/digestive-health-kefir-starter.html#sthash.6JhvRagf.dpuf

amino acids, enzymes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus - See more at: http://bodyecology.com/digestive-health-kefir-starter.html#sthash.6JhvRagf.dpuf

Although milk kefir is made from dairy, some people with an intolerance to lactose can consume kefir. This is because most of the lactose in the milk is consumed by the live cultures during fermentation, converting it into lactic acid.

There are many studies supporting the benefits of fermented foods and the health of the gut, which in turn means the health of the whole body. These range from skin health and digestion through to autism in children and cancer prevention due to it's immune enhancing and anti inflammatory properties. The latter is very interesting - but also a big promise and a very lengthy and in dept conversation! Let's get to that one later!

Kefir is particulary beneficial for people who have been taking anti-biotics as it restores the natural (and beneficial) gut flora which are harmed by antibiotics.

The consistency is thicker than milk but not as thick as yoghurt. More like a milk shake! It has a lovely tart refreshing (but acquired) taste. It can be made more tart and almost effervescent  depending on how long you let it ferment and dependent on your taste. I think it's best plain, but kefir can also be blended with fruits, honey, vanilla or other natural sweeteners if you wish.

Yoga in Yamba starts next week!

Just a reminder that yoga classes are back on for a little while in Yamba next week!
I will be taking yoga classes on Mondays and Thursdays at 5.30pm at the Surf Club. The first one is next Thursday 10th of October and will continue until Thursday 15th of November.
I will be back and forwards over Summer so will let you know my Summer timetable closer to the time. See you soon!