Creative Flow with Julie Peters: Articles, poems, bellydancing, anger, and more from JulieLand
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Julie Peters
Jun 1, 2012, 12:50:30 AM6/1/12
to creative-flow-w...@googlegroups.com
I think the tendency to internalize cruelty masquerades within a yogic lifestyle as “compassion.” Many people think that because they are not standing up for themselves, they have won the war against their inner “other guy.” If we don’t think critically about what yoga philosophy is telling us, we start hearing it wrong:
Just stay quiet, stay calm. Breathe. Relax. Open your heart. Trust us. Don’t worry little sheep. Go to sleep. Big Brother will take care of you.
Doesn’t it remind you of when Derek Zoolander is getting hypnotized?
~
I had, let's say, an interesting week. I have been dealing with a lot of anger, and the yogic cliches just weren't working for me (they never do!). I've also been reading this mind blowing booked called When The Body Says No by Dr. Gabor Mate, and it basically says that repressing anger causes cancer. So I wrote this article on channeling your anger and your inner Incredible Hulk: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/05/in-defense-of-anger-or-life-lessons-from-the-incredible-hulk/ I'm quite proud of it, really.
Further to that, my most recent Spirituality and Health blog post is on the Yoga of Critical Thinking: something we really need in the world when we keep getting told our feelings aren't valuable. http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/blogs/jc-peters
In completely other news, I'd like for you to imagine a collaboration that involves spoken word, yoga, and bellydancing. Having trouble? Naomi Joy Gallagher and I have stirred up the magic potion, and you can see it in action with other collaborative artists at the Interplay Project this June 1st and 2nd at the Moberly Arts and Cultural centre, near Fraser and 59th. It's either going to be really cheesy or really awesome or both, and something you must see with your own eyes. Actually I'm pretty sure it's mostly awesome and very little cheesy. Really awesome. Naomi is especially amazing.
Interplay Project
June 1st and 2nd
8:00pm
7646 Prince Albert Street
(Fraser and 59th: the #8 bus takes you right there)
$15
This is the poem we are 'interpreting':
And here's a little taste of the kind of dance Naomi does:
This is TOMORROW folks!
I recently competed in the Vancouver Poetry Slam Finals, and I managed to squeeze myself onto the team as Alternate. I'll be travelling to Charlotte NC and Saskatoon this year to hang out with them, provide moral support, and possibly even do some poems! Here is a poem that I competed with, my favourite poem of the night (Lisa B is a good friend of mine, and darn awesome), and a couple more favourites for your listening pleasure.
Julie Peters - Apologize
Lisa B - How To Avoid Being Named as a Perpetrator of Sexual Assault
Fernando - Man vs Entree
Rupert Common - Born Rappin'
If you're more into downloading something you can listen to on your ipod and take with you on your bike or the bus, I did an interview recently with my friend Stacey Fenske who has a new project called the Yoga Voice in which she candidly interviews Vancouver yoga teachers. My talk is here: http://yogavoice.podhoster.com/index.php?pid=31673 and you can listen to many other interesting conversations, including with my friends Danielle Hoogenboom, Daniel Shaw, Coco Finaldi, Jodie Neault, Nathalie Saunderson, and more on her website here: http://theyogavoice.blogspot.ca/
My schedule is changing this summer! I'm sadly leaving South Granville YYOGA, but I'm still at Highgate, and I have new classes at East Side Yoga and at Semperviva Yoga. I keep my updated schedule (with subs) here: http://www.jcpeters.ca/yoga-teaching-schedule/
I am so excited to bring back my Teaching as Storytelling 25 hour Vinyasa Teacher Training. It's my favourite thing ever.
Learn to sequence your classes creatively and safely and create a story with every class you teach. Learn the Art of Sequencing and the Science of Sequencing, including Asana Algebra for all the nerds out there. We will also do lots of work with refining language and finding your own voice. More detailed information and to sign up go here: http://eastsideyogastudio.com/studio/Teacher_Training.html
My friend Ann gave me this beautiful poem this week. She said that she heard it for the first time in the 1970s, when she was going through a big change in her life, and she wanted to share it with me now. It meant a lot to me, and the more folks I share it with, the more I get asked to send it on!
I said to the wanting-creature inside me:
What is this river you want to cross?
There are no travelers on the river-road, and no road.
Do you see anyone moving about on that bank, or nesting?
There is no river at all, and no boat, and no boatman.
There is no tow rope either, and no one to pull it.
There is no ground, no sky, no time, no bank, no ford!
And there is no body, and no mind!
Do you believe there is some place that will make the
soul less thirsty?
In that great absence you will find nothing.
Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a solid place for your feet.
Think about it carefully!
Don't go off somewhere else!
Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of
imaginary things,
and stand firm in that which you are.
~Kabir, Trans Robert Bly
Peace everyone, hope to see you soon!
love and unicorns,
Julie
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages