Yoga & The Chakras
Yoga influences our lives and our art.
“There is a great freedom in being able to be who we really are, rather than hiding behind a mask of what we think others expect us to be. It allows us to be more spontaneous, more in tune with our creative intuitive side, and, ultimately, more open to explore the deepest truth of all — Self-realization.” Irene (Aradhana) Petryszak
We are so pleased to be offering yoga and meditation sessions on retreat. We feel that connection to our bodies is a gateway to knowing ourselves a little more and our creative expression stems from our confidence in ourselves. If you are new to the practice or are concerned that you are not flexible enough or out of shape, not to worry, let’s just explore – this is a safe environment.
The integration of yoga & design is perfect. Thank you for the gift of your creation and beauty.
Marlene Lowden will be leading our yoga & meditation sessions. She has been teaching classes on the Sunshine Coast for several years and has worked with people of all ages and all abilities. She believes that yoga is for everyBODY and that the practice is the artist’s companion. She knows first hand what it feels like after several hours of intense art making – forgetting about time & space and our bodies – only to come to with a stiff back, aching hands & feet and a cramped neck & shoulders. She is thrilled to support your art and help you develop simple practices that you can take home to sustain you for a long healthy creative life!
The ability to quiet the thinking mind also gives us access to a felt sense. Word, color, or movement choices don’t come from practical considerations—they come from intuition and a deeper place of seeing. Karen Macklin
Marlene is also a student of the art of meditation. She will share her experiences with you to help you tap into the power of stilling the mind. Full of ideas, full of energy and excitement – have a hard time focussing at times? She knows – again we will explore this together!
Come explore yoga & meditation in a supportive environment with us. Their many gifts will enrich our art making experiences.
The 7 chakras were so lovingly described in daily yoga practice. It opened my body and connected my mind to my heart – even healed some pains. Perfect way to start the day.
The Chakra Connection
“From the great spiral galaxies, thousands of light years across, to the billions of atoms swirling in a grain of sand, the universe is composed of spinning wheels of energy. Flowers, tree trunks, planets, and people — each made of tiny wheels turning inside, riding upon the great wheel of the Earth spinning in its orbit through space. A fundamental building block of nature, the wheel is the circle of life flowing through aspects of existence. At the inner core of each of us spin seven wheel-like energy centers called chakras.”
– From “Wheels of Life” by Anodea Judith
The chakras are thought to be spinning wheels of energy within your body that act as junctions between your physical self and your energetic or magnetic self. They correlate with many of the major glands of your endocrine system and are considered to be different centres of consciousness within your physical body. They cannot be seen, only sensed.
Each chakra spins at the speed of light with its own frequency, corresponding to the 7 colours of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet – the colours of the rainbow. They also correspond to different types of energy, consciousness, and behaviour.
Through my studies of art and yoga, I have discovered there is a strong link between the chakras and the creative process. We will explore this connection during our retreat and reflect on the lessons we can learn from the seven chakras from Root to Crown.
Whether you can wrap your mind around the idea of energy spheres or not, the guiding themes of each chakra act as metaphors for leading a full and harmonious life. And if you’re curious to learn more about the chakras, I have a full explanation on my site: marlenelowden.com/yoga-with-marlene/chakras
Marlene’s Teaching Style
I’m a Big Picture thinker balanced with a keen Eye for the Details.
I bring a light-hearted and creative approach to the practice of yoga. While the practice for me personally is deeply spiritual it is not at all serious, my sense of humour won’t allow for it. Laughter and alignment is what to expect while working with me. I’m a geek when it comes to the study of our anatomy, I find it fascinating and love the challenge of working with and through all our collective quirky imbalances and special requirements. My creativity springs into action when I’m with a student who needs a modification or a challenge!
I am blessed to be the student of Chris Chavez, one the world’s leading yoga teachers for teachers. He stresses that we as teachers, need to find our own voice and teach from our own truths. His simple messaging resonates with me – we practice for freedom in the body, a calmer mind and an opening in our hearts.
New to yoga? My Top 5 Reasons to Practice.
I know if you “google” or research the benefits of yoga online or at your library, you will find thousands of websites, books, studies, and opinions. I’ll share with you my top five reasons why I practice and teach:
- Connection to My Body – I’ve tried all sorts of other “activities” and sports in my life and while I enjoy them, yoga is like no other. It leaves no stone unturned so that my practice mobilizes my joints, (even my toes), strengthens and lengthens my muscles, develops my balance, deepens my core strength and has given me a gateway back to the wisdom of my body – a path to my intuition.
- Conscious Breathing – Nothing fancy here, I’ve just developed a more mindful, slower, and deeper breath that I can turn to even when I’m not on my mat to help me deal with stress and remain centred (even while driving or in the grocery store line up).
- Confidence – I still can’t believe sometimes that I walk around in yoga pants! I just feel so much more comfortable in my own skin! Yoga has challenged me to come face to face with all my insecurities – physical and emotional. Slowly, one at a time, I have learned to let go, accept vulnerability and even become at ease with it. I’ve learned that there is nothing wrong with not being perfect and I’ve come to love being human instead!
- Community – The yoga community is so welcoming. I have met some of the most amazing people, side by side in a class, at teacher trainings and workshops and most of all in our classes. I feel so honoured to lead people through their practice. Our community is filled with people from all age groups and all walks of life, our practice is our common ground. I’ve witnessed amazing friendships develop and well, we laugh much of the time too!
- Commitment – I have always been a bit restless, (I’m a Sag) wanting to try this, taste that, travel here, and I’m often tempted by new and exciting opportunities. Yoga has been my anchor. While I still have the desire to learn and grow, my practice has given me the discipline that I have so wanted and needed allowing the other parts of my life to whirl around – I remain centred. This commitment has grown in strength and spread to my art and my life as a mother, business partner, and wife.
If you simplify all of the above and explore a little deeper, you will find that they all lead back to the same message; knowing myself better, being confident with who I am and what I have to offer and ultimately having the strength and courage to share.
Namaste
Marlene