Dear Beautiful Souls,
How have you been? So, where are you at with your Resolutions? How is it going? Pretty good or damn, I forgot about that! Oh yeah, my New Year's Resolutions!!! Don't you worry, I'm not here to judge; mine are also "work in progress" ...
Actually, I am kind of proud of myself to be able to practise my daily morning meditation routine and when I don't, I do actually feel that something was missing during the day. Meditation helps me feel balanced, emotionally or mentally stronger! Meditation is like an invisible 'Warrior Shield'; indeed, it protects my heart and my mind from the world's BS... #unapolegeticallyFrench! That's just to make all my friends, who read me, smile...
You guys make me so happy, too, it really means a lot to me when my friends are telling me about my newsletters because, to be honest, I did find it challenging to keep up with the newsletter. I don't know if I got less inspired, less energy or less time, or whether I was in alignment with why I created The Ojas Centre initially; especially not long after I started working with Refugees at the college... I do miss the therapeutic side of my life. When I created The Ojas Centre, I was working mainly for the Mental Health Hospital with my multi- disciplinary teams from the Consultant Psychiatrists, to the Occupational Therapists to me, Movement Practitioner. Whatever therapeutic approaches we came up with, they have always been to benefit the Patients; while in the position I am in- right now- sadly does not reflect that, so I have felt conflicted the past few months; I suppose with who I am and how to stay authentic to how I have wanted to support others wholeheartedly. And during this reflecting period, my friends started appearing and allowed me to vent or made me realise my aspirations. It is so important to be surrounded by like- minded people. Just like a Mountain, you are never alone, other Mountains are by your sides. Yes, you can look at the snow, complain it is cold and be miserable-and that's a choice- or you can look at the horizon and project for a warmer future... What counts is to plant the beeja, the seeds, and to nurture them; so thank you, Friends for your Warm Metta, your active listening, mindful advice and active support!! And thanks again for reading me and giving me positive and constructive feedback; wholeheartedly appreciated!!
As you can see from today's picture, end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, I have actually been more busy in terms of delivering movement group classes!! I am so sorry I have not been able to keep you updated on where and when I have been delivering classes. I suppose my focus has been not to work in the office until the college closes, there is so much admin, that it feels that I am more an Administrator rather than a Lecturer. It is simple: I do more admin than planning my classes which I've never ever experienced in 20 years of teaching!! So, last term, I would have to stay until 9pm to complete my workload. And as you can imagine, I wanted this to change. I signed up back to my dance classes as a participant and also made myself available to cover classes after work (yes, I know what you're thinking... hold on, is she saying she is still working from 9m to 9pm...?) Ok, you got me... the point is that I wanted to be more physically active but also to connect with potential new participants so to welcome them to the upcoming classes and to expand our community.
I am still unsure whether we have a Yoga team for the weekly Sunday Yoga class at the Croydon Buddhist Centre; so I am more and more thinking of delivering a Full Moon Yoga workshop i.e. monthly workshop with the Shamanic Drum, and perhaps the Crystal Balls and the Gong...; I am also more and more thinking of having a Summer Dance Programme, as it seems I don't have "normal" school holidays with my college in February, April and May -period during which I wished to recruit dancers, so Summer seems to be the best period for me ; which would allow me time to recruit dancers and to work on the Dance programme, so Dancers, stay tune!! In the meantime, we are still working on the funding application for the Sunday Performing Arts School for Refugees!!
If you wish to deepen your Meditation practice and cultivate friendship, here is an invitation from the Croydon Buddhist Community of Women:
That's it for me!! I know some of you have been really diligent to your New Year Resolutions as I have been seeing and moving with you every week!! Keep up the amazing work!!
Thank you, all, for your kind and generous support, you truly are Beautiful Souls!!
Stay safe, stay active; stay healthy!!
With Loving Kindness,
AWA!
Lecturer & Movement Practitioner
Founder of The Ojas Centre
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube: @theojascentre
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