Happiness is…Yoga Workshop - A fund raising journey for the soul.

Yoga... means union, connection, and universals spirit. It is thought of as personal consciousness connecting with global consciousness. Yoga is a journey to the soul, which is the source of all happiness and self realisation, and it was born in India too, which made it even more perfect as the basis for my fund raiser this year.

Many people practice Yoga in my community, including myself, and I wanted to choose a Girls on Top experience for me that would also benefit my community by enhancing the participant’s well-being and happiness. As it turned out, the rewards came immediately and were even greater than I imagined.

This is what happened.

My husband, Wayne, friend Olivia, mum and yoga teacher, Bonnie, were the leading team for my yoga weekend. Together we woke up to a very rainy Friday..which put fear into my soul...Brisbane being in drought, I really didn't expect it to pour. We spent the day running around in the rain, doing last minute planning and Friday night the Brookfield Centre looked wonderful; bright yellow and purple flowers everywhere, pictures of the Indian Guru Yogananda, Gods such as Shiva, candles, incense burning, Tibetan wall hangings, prayer flags, budda's, it was really here and happening.

I took bookings for my event, so I had a rough idea how many might come. I worried about not having enough, then having too many, to back to not enough, but by the time the day came I had stopped counting. People came with yoga mats under arms and left with contented hearts.

Saturday I was up very early (not much sleep) and out to the centre for the first class at 8am with Bonnie. It was a glorious day after all but we lit the fire in the yoga hall for effect. The hall was humming with the sound of Ommm. Olivia and I positioned ourselves at the sign on table out the front, and everyone did their thing around us.

Throughout this whole process, I had to drop alot of my need to organise and control everything and I learned alot about faith, which I didn't put much value in until now. Bonnie would tell me during her meditation that she saw it was going to be a sunny day, with lots of people about. However, I was thinking, "I cant dream it, I have to get out there and get those people". She had 100% faith and trust in me to do what I needed to do. Our journey together started many months ago when she said Yes and sometimes this is all one needs, a YES.

By Saturday night, the Kirtan started and chanting radiated out of the centre and warmed my heart. All I could think was, "these people are here because of me", but I also knew that without Bonnie, I would never have even know what Kirtan was. As the Kirtan went on, Bonnie and I spent some time in the kitchen, she showed me how to make Chai (properly) and we taste tested it. I think, of the whole weekend, I enjoyed this moment the most. I was so exhausted and my eyes red but we made the perfect team.

I might have organised all the people, stalls, therapists and classes, but she gave the weekend its special touch. She knew the best vegetarian cooks, the right teachers, even which incense fragrance is the most loved by yogis. When she lost her wallet I knew where it was. When she asked me to do something, it was already done. But Bonnie knew the right people to ask, and she created the special touch.

I had a few hiccups...as you do, the TV wouldn't work, some teachers ran overtime, the hall got really hot during Kirtan, the Hare Krishnas cancelled last minute, one teacher got mad at me, these things happen.

I also learnt about Karma...Those who gave out, got back and it presented itself over and over again. One example was the winner of our raffle (the $1200 Yoga asana sculpture). Of all the teachers, Bonnie knew them all and had personally asked them to teach, except one. This one...Natalie came to us and offered to help out for the cause. I only met her on the day. She won and not only did she love the sculpture but will go up in her studio for many yoga students to admire.

I am still to sit down and work out the budgets but roughly we raised $3500 from the Yoga workshops. I raised around $1000 in donations and shirts. So I am hovering around $4500, with a few costs to come out. I will go to the markets and sell left over things from the workshops and I have a few baskets of yoga clothing to sell also.

I was very concerned about raising the money and I hate to push people. But beside the goal of $5k, I had other goals for my event. I wanted my community to come together for a peaceful, compassionate day, to relax and enjoy the company of others. To learn about the yoga world and the benefits it brings, to try vegetarian food, to try different classes and teachers, for them to feel humble and have an opportunity to contribute to a great cause which I feel strongly about. We acheived this!!!

I'm very proud of what was achieved and so very grateful for the help I had and the generosity of people on the day. Above all, to know that the event brought people joy is most rewarding. I cried on numerous occasions and still do when I think about it, perhaps I was tired, perhaps that sounds silly, but there was this great feeling...that good things were taking place on many scales.

Take Care, Good Luck, Best wishes and if I can quote Akash (our Kirtan leader)...

" Be a living example of generosity, compassion and servicefulness. The rewards that will be yours are immeasurable"

love
Chelsee