Guest Post by Jane: I Just Want To Be Sure
October 10, 2010
The following is a guest post written by Jane Brown, who regularly teaches Vinyasa yoga on Mondays and Tuesdays and will be teaching the new Meditation Workshop starting in November. She’s a retired high school teacher/councelor with a long-time meditation practice.
Walking through Wall Space Gallery in Westboro Village I notice a lovely hand built pot. On its surface is a drawing of a laneway leading to a little house and the words “I JUST WANT TO BE SURE” stamped into the clay. Yes! All my life I have wanted some certainty, something I could count on, something sure.
It was that same feeling that brought me to the practice of meditation in my late twenties. Absolutely nothing felt solid: home with two young children, a strained marriage, moving to Boston….. I had always been a worrier and had a strong sense that I needed to stay vigilant; if I didn’t, something bad would certainly happen. The uneasy feeling in my belly translated into being super organized and super capable but generally feeling on edge. The Cambridge Zen Centre was just around the corner (fate or happy circumstance). I started to attend sittings there. Meditating with a belly full of unease was not always a pleasant experience. But I began to know the pattern of thoughts and feelings that was robbing me of the ability to enjoy my life.
And so began the daily practice of coming into stillness, observing the multitude of thoughts and feelings arising, returning over and over to the breath and to the spaciousness of the moment. Breathing in and breathing out, opening my heart to my life as it is.
The practice of meditation is so simple and transforming but so difficult to put into words. Here is my attempt:
Stillness,
The core of my being
I come into stillness
To know who I am
Observe,
The thoughts and the feelings
Without attachment
Know they’re not me
Breathing,
Into my body
Enter the space
Of peace and of calm
Allow,
All that arises
Have no resistance
It is as it is
Open,
Into this moment
Coming from stillness
Be who I am
Express,
All that is in me
Let it come freely
Let Life live me
Let Love live me
Thanksgiving on a Vegan Diet
October 8, 2010
Thanksgiving is upon us and what is someone committed to a vegan diet to do, when most people associate the Thanksgiving meal with meat. When I’m invited to a festive dinner that will most certainly include “the bird”, my approach over the years has been to totally enjoy the company, bring one or two kick-butt veggie dishes and engage in great conversation with family and friends. I never discuss my views and no one makes a fuss if I don’t have turkey on my plate (more for everyone else).
What do I serve when I am hosting a Thanksgiving meal? I’m glad you asked! Below is a menu that I have prepared featuring recipes from my all-time favourite cookbooks and chef authors. I built the menu around a Thanksgiving Tart, which includes walnuts, cranberries, chickpeas, spinach, parsley, and thyme, and Pumpkin Pie & Chocolate Truffle Mini-Tarts for dessert. Roasted veggies are a must, as well as a rice dish – wild rice, cranberries and hazelnuts just scream festive. I chose a salad to add greens and a lightness to the menu and the ingredients in the salad are easy to find – substitute baby greens for the spinach if you want, walnuts for the pecans and apple for the pear. I love mushrooms and the soup is rich, earthy and loaded with flavour, it’s not heavy so it workd perfect as a starter and it’s easy to make. The cranberry sauce and the scones add another festive touch and I love including a recipe from a friend.
- Porcini Mushroom Soup
- Thanksgiving Tart
- Cranberry Sauce
- Roasted Winter Veggies
- Baby Spinach Salad with Bosc Pear and Pecans
- Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Hazelnuts
- Maria’s Sweet Potato Scones
- Chocolate Truffle Mini-Tarts
- Pumpkin Pie (can use store-bought crust or crust for the Thanksgiving Tart)
Choose one or two recipes, or make the entire menu; my hope is that these recipes inspire you and allow you to see how delicious and satisfying a vegan Thanksgiving meal can be. Thanksgiving is about family, friends and gratitude; food prepared with loving-kindness and compassion for all completes the picture.
Enjoy!
Gratitude Movement
October 5, 2010
This Thanksgiving, join our Gratitude Movement!
As of Monday, October 11th, take 1 minute in the morning and 1 minute at night to express gratitude.
How to: Buy yourself a nice journal and some colored gel pens (optional) and place this journal by your bed side. When you rise, take a minute and write what comes to mind. Before going to bed, do the same.
Why?
- Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools to awaken to the beauty of life.
- Gratitude teaches us to see the potential available to us when we are faced with challenging times.
- Gratitude nourishes the soul and calms the mind therefore bringing more ease to the body enabling a deep release of accumulated tension.
- Gratitude releases inner peace, opens our hearts, and opens our eyes to the gift of life.
How do I know all of this? I experience it!
If you have any doubts in its power, don’t let that doubt cloud your willingness to give it a try. Use that doubt and put it to the test.
Be the expert of your life and Be Elation.
15 Seconds of Fame – Part 2
October 4, 2010
/A\ Channel Ottawa will be pre-taping their Thanksgiving special on Westboro in front of Mountain Equipment Co-op on Wednesday, October 6th, between 11:00am and 3:00pm. The Newport Restaurant will supply pizza and /A\ will be giving away prizes like Sens tickets to audience members.
They are taping a 4 minute segment on Elation Centre at 12:10pm. Donna and Sylvie will be explaining who we are, talking about why we love Westboro, and doing one or two yoga postures. Please come to celebrate our fantastic neighbourhood and to show your support for Elation!
The Elation segment is scheduled to air on Thanksgiving Monday, October 11th, at 7:10am.
15 Seconds of Fame
October 2, 2010
We are creating our first TV commercial, to be shown as part of /A\ Morning on Monday, October 11th.
We would love for you to be a part of it.
It will be filmed Tuesday October 5th 2:30 PM. If you would like to join us, be at the studio at 1:45 pm (no later) for rehearsal. If you have an Elation yoga shirt, please wear it and bring your yoga mat.
The 15 second commercial will feature Donna and Sylvie talking and you performing Sun Salutations behind them. Please note that you do not have to be a Sun Salutation ‘expert’! Please come and be part of the experience.