As you are no doubt aware the government has announced a shutdown of non-essential services which we are advised includes Yoga Centres from midday on Monday. Therefore, we are reluctantly stopping classes and courses for the time being. 

We understand that this is a confusing and difficult time for all. However, keep in mind that the yoga practice you have been doing is to foster peace, balance and harmony within yourself. Yoga is perfect for providing support to your own health during times such as these, enhancing your wellbeing and reinforcing your immune system.

A healthy Yoga practice, combined with a whole food diet, good sleep, staying well hydrated, and long deep breathes of fresh air all help to bolster our body’s natural defences against illness. 

Lastly some wisdom from yoga’s ancient heritage to keep in mind: 
Vasudeva Kutumbakaṁ - the whole world is our family.

As a yoga community, as a city, as a country, and as a world community we will get through this. It is a time to reach out with our hearts and let love, not fear, guide us. 

Should you need any extra support, whether you are feeling anxious or are self-isolating or anything, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Although we may have to close the doors of the yoga centre for a while, our hearts are always open and ears ready to listen.

We can’t offer you classes face to face, but please find below some online resources to use to keep your practice going at home.

Keep well dear friends & reach out if you need support.
From the Yoga in Daily Life team.

The Founder of the System "Yoga in Daily Life", Vishwaguruji completed his Australian Tour in Queensland with several programs in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and finally at our National Centre in Brisbane.

GOLD COAST
The Gold Coast Yoga in Daily Life Centre was blessed with the presence of Vishwaguruji as he led a captivated audience through an inspiring evening program on Tuesday 25 February. He spoke about the soul's journey from the combination of the elements, through incarnation into the physical body, till the end of life. Many people were meeting Vishwaguruji for the first time.

SUNSHINE COAST
Vishwaguruji was joyfully welcomed at the Yoga in Daily Life Centre in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, with flower malas (garlands) and bhajans (devotional songs). Those who were present listened to the divine words of wisdom and were guided by Vishwaguruji through a meditation.

The following morning Vishwagurji gave a lecture on pranayama and demonstrated the techniques for practice. The final lecture of  Vishwaguruji's stay in the Sunshine Coast was a lovely overview of the yoga journey from the Himalayas to the 'ocean of Gurudev', with many pearls of wisdom along the way.

BRISBANE
The inspirational Australian tour ended in the city of Brisbane, in the beautiful ashram and Shiva temple in Fortitude Valley. The 'Eternal Journey' was the subject along with yoga practice, meditation and darshan – being together with Gurudev, which is a rare opportunity for Australian devotees.

Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar on the 14th day of the waning phase of the moon Falgun (February-March). The ceremony and the celebration takes place on the night between the 14th and the 15th. One belief is that this is the day when Shiva and Parvati got married. Furthermore, it is believed that this is the night when Shiva performed Tandava – the dance of the primordial creation, maintenance and destruction. In Linga Purana it is said that on this day Shiva manifested himself in the form of Lingam.

According to the tradition, the day of Maha Shivaratri is observed with severe fasting, meditation and prayer. The night is observed with the vigil in the temples and ashrams, together with mantra singing, meditations and abisheka performed every three hours.

There are many stories and legends related to Maha Shivaratri, and one of the most popular is the one about Lord Shiva drinking poison in order to save the world, and this is where the blue throat of Lord Shiva comes from – Nil Kant Mahadev, as depicted on many images. Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean to get Amrita - the Nectar of Immortality. They used the Snake Vasuki as the stirring, churning rope. When Amrit was almost at the point of being extracted, the first thing that came out of the mouth of the snake was a deadly poison. Control over the poison was lost, so it threatened to destroy the entire world with its vapors and immerse it into darkness. When they realized what happened, Devas ran for help both to Brahma and Vishnu, but nobody could help them. Finally Lord Shiva drank the entire poison in order to save the Universe. The poison remained in his throat. Even though he was strong enough to neutralize it, he had to stay awake the entire night, so in order to keep him awake, Gods kept him company and entertained Him with songs and dance. In memory of this, on that day the devotees of Shiva stay awake all night and close to their Lord. This story has a deeper symbolic meaning. Devas and Asuras represent different people, the good and the bad ones. The Ocean of Milk represents the perfect world full of peace and happiness for all. Amrit represents happiness, and the poison is human selfishness and greed. Shiva symbolizes Atma – the Self. People do many things in order to be happy and often they are overpowered by their own selfishness and greed that destroy all efforts at keeping the peace and happiness. Therefore the only way to attain peace and happiness and overcome greed and selfishness is to meditate on Atma, the Divine Self, in the night, because it is the only time when a man is undisturbed by the material world.

The second story relates to a hunter who shot many birds and got stuck in the woods in the evening. To protect himself from wild animals and survive the night which came upon him while he was hunting, he climbed the tree called Bilva – bael. In order to stay awake, the hunter was picking leaves one by one and throwing them to the ground. It happened so that under that tree, whose leaves were holy, was a Shiva Lingam, so it turned out that the hunter was doing Pooja to Lord Shiva the entire night. Shiva was very pleased by the hunter and saved him despite the hunter's past of killing so many birds. This story, as all others, has many different versions, but the point is the same – no matter what the sins and the way of life, the one who observes fasts, prayers and pooja in the night of Shivaratri is granted great mercy from Lord Shiva. In memory of this story, the ceremony of Maha Shivaratri includes the offering of bael leaves as well.

With happiness, Good Health

Peace, Prosperity and

Spiritual Development

With the Blessing of

Sri Mahaprabhuji

Paramhans Swami Maheshwaranada