Mark O'Brien: Yoga teacher | Sports & recreation venue

Mark O'Brien: Yoga teacher

Phone: +61 410 334 899

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24.01.2022 An Attitude of Gratitude The Yogis realised a long time ago that the way you think makes the difference between happiness and misery. For many of us our thoughts just run wildly around and literally "create our reality" as if we have no choice over what we think and how they make us feel. In this normal, unaware state we are the hapless victim of our thoughts, buffeted about on the ride. This is the "hopeless/helpless" spiral.... But the real starting point for Yoga and meditation is to realize that since we can all easily observe our thoughts (i.e. we know what we are thinking) then at least a part of us is separate from our thoughts and can help us interrogate or even change what and how we think. This faculty is often called the Observer or Witness. In Yoga it's called Perusha...literally awareness. By shining a light on our thinking, we can then achieve a measure of choice over how we think, even changing our attitude to what we experience if we practice hard enough. One simple way to effect this change is to cultivate a sense of gratitude. This does not mean a new-age "Pollyanna" (it's-all-good) kind of deluded positivity, but instead it's a deliberate practice to seek out things for which we feel fortunate and can feel grateful. After a year like 2020, it might be easy -even reasonable- to feel fearful, grumpy or miserable about the state of the world and the havoc caused by the virus. But alongside those thoughts, if we choose to relish a sunrise, the cup of tea made by a caring friend, the buses running on time, or myriad small things that DO actually go your way, we can become deeply aware of those many things that make us feel better about life and ourselves. We just have to choose to notice them. Many traditions ask us to write a "gratitude journal" recording at least 3 things for which we were grateful today. Not that hard is it? But over time we attune to those kinds of things and notice them more, even if much of our life might still be challenging. So as this challenging year draws to a close, I remain grateful for staying healthy and well, for the incredible freedom we have in NSW to meet up and live almost normally. I'm grateful for the environment around me and the beauty I can find in the smallest things, music that I love, friends and colleagues who share my passions, and grateful to all my students who continue to do the work and support me along the way. And when I'm grateful I feel fortunate and happy. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Xmas and new year. See you on the mat soon.

23.01.2022 This course is the reason I live and breathe yoga...it teaches us a way of living which is extra-ordinary but available to anyone. If 2021 is your year of transformation, of making sense of the world around you and the infinity inside you...this is for you.

16.01.2022 Since my NYE plans changed -like most everyone- I decided to offer a last minute community yoga class in my Narara Ecovillage this morning. I shamelessly borro...wed a theme from a yoga friend: "Resolve to Evolve" and expected no one to turn up due to short notice and being generally busy with chaos. Not only did 15 lovely neighbours (almost everyone present in our wonderful little community) show up, but the amazing Candy Disch offered FREE coffee or chai to everyone who came to celebrate the community nature of what we do together. So as we let go of the turmoil and disquiet of 2020 together and resolved and hoped for a kinder 2021 in our meditation, I bathed in the warmth of knowing I am not alone, that so many people around me have a kind heart, and that whatever our differences we all essentially seek the same thing: Happiness (with a sneeky coffee thrown in for good measure.) See you next year... See more

10.01.2022 Ahhhhh...one of my favourite workshops has been renewed, refreshed and reborn for the new year. Get some more Wonder in your life in this uplifting practise.