December contents

Thoughts

Interview with Mark Forstater & Jo Manuel

The spiritual teachings of Yoga
- Mark Forstater & Jo Manuel

Siddhasana or Perfect pose
- Liz Lark

Rose of the heart meditation
 - Angela Paskins

Passing of a Yogi
- Prem Anjali

Our need for solitude
- Jane Armitage

Keep your pet safe & happy over Christmas
- PDSA

Mark Forstater & Jo Manuel: “By the time most of us come to yoga, our bodies have been damaged, sometimes quite badly, by life and civilisation. Modern life, with its car culture, sedentary yet frenetic life style, stressful workplaces, polluted air, water and processed food contributes to produce bodies that are stiff, inflexible, often overweight and generally unhealthy. Our bodies also harbour the lasting effect of negative emotions like pain, sorrow, grief, fear, loss and anger. Physically, mentally and spiritually strained, our bodies are just waiting to incubate the diseases of the West - cancer and heart disease... This distorted state of body, mind and spirit is characterised by the Sanskrit term ‘dukha’ which is usually translated as suffering or anguish... The sages believed the cycle of eternal pain and frustration could only be broken by gaining ‘moksha’ or liberation... by which the cycle of samsara, of birth and rebirth, is broken.” Beth Irvine: “This video (Yoga for Healthy Mother and Child ) was made to share my personal experience and knowledge in achieving great health. I believe mothers and children throughout the world share similar stress related problems. Just a few small steps in the right direction are often the key to success and that is why I have offered a combination of ideas to get one started. Good nutrition, positive self esteem, increased body awareness, breathing techniques and yoga build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.” Yoga & Health readers can purchase Yoga for Healthy Mother and Child at a special rate. See magazine for details.

Right to be free
- Swami Shivapremananda

40th anniversary of Argentine Yoga Centre

Experiment in New York
- Janet Aschkenasy

Yoga & children
- Beth Irvine

Vegetarian Christmas cuisine
- Mridula Baljekar

Christmas
- Miranda Innes & Clay Perry

Natural baby
- Sarah Merson

Gluten free foods

Yoga in the ‘real’ world
- Sandra Niven

Holiday in Lesbos
- Mandi James

In the Yogi/ni’s garden
- Janita

Ask Ruth: Sinus & catarrh problems
- Ruth Gilmore PhD

The Column: The journey
- Sarah Mackintosh