Jamie Stewart

Crediton, United Kingdom

Retired University Lecturer, now nurturing self with, Japanese garden creation, Sumi-E painting, Japanese woodcut printings and much more
Image for the badge 3-Day Devoted Seeker.
3-Day Devoted Seeker earned for a 3-day streak!
Image for the badge 7-Day Steadfast Practitioner.
7-Day Steadfast Practitioner earned for a 7-day streak!
Image for the badge 15-Day Master of Consistency.
15-Day Master of Consistency earned for a 15-day streak!
Image for the badge 30-Day Luminous Leader.
30-Day Luminous Leader earned for a 30-day streak!

When no wall improvise. 
 so end of a bed post one side a desk edge the other great for all moves except butterfly as there was a void so dragonfly it was. So I got my fig 4 in up the bed post with neck nestling on my 3” memory foam block - what a relief for my neck. It took a while at the end to sit up from the final star as my body won out this time saying just chill no hurry to sit up. Thank for tonight’s session

Reply

28 Jan 14:56

Well tonight confirmed it for - butterfly on my cushion has to be the pose that satisfies my body the most, that was confirmed when a few days back you had us do an upside down butterfly - very satisfying to touch my soles together in mid air. I now have to work out how to love my Nemisis Fig 4 ( what and how do I best support my neck which screams to stop it). Dragon’s tail without lifting my shoulder eases the neck and that pose becomes comfortable maybe I will try different neck/head props to find one that works - so Devi bring it on - more fig 4s please so i can find the solution

1768843993098_image_picker_A6D4CEDF-7788-405A-88C0-F14C1A32DD4F-5451-0000082C3691F13E.1768843993.jpg

In my little studio in Devon - South west UK. Came to Devi’s practices at first on YouTube then the APP. Tried to keep up with all the challenges even when on my travels around Europe with my Labradoodle in a micro camper van - fantastic places found to do my practices both outdoors and indoors as long as I had some WiFi. Like Suzy I also actually got into Yin doing QiGong tending to be my evening activities in the morning it is Hatha yoga, Pilates and strength all of which have been therapy since retiring post stroke in 2023. Well have managed 114 day streak since you set that little goal Devi and looking forward to completing the 9 day challenge when it kicks off again on tonight’s calendar.

19 Jan 09:10

This brings to mind the Japanese saying ichi-go ichi-e ‘one life one encounter’ - walking in the Alps you see number of butterflies dancing above a puddle in the sun, just that one encounter and a brief life. In that moment stunning beauty - a tonic for the heart as you say a gift left in that fleeting moment. Maybe a memory to recall when next doing a supine butterfly in Devi’s practice.

Reply

Was it really 12 months ago I last did this practice. Well i have worked on giving myself permission to use my cushion in seated poses, and the difference is profound, and today i have being playing with using my small cork blocks under my hands for downward dog, heals touch the ground and a great satisfying stretch had then the next pose when leaning forward the pressure that was distracting on my arms and wrists was so much more reduced with the lift of the blocks again letting me sink into the pose and stretches in the right places shoelace right over left was not good for left knee so flipped onto my back for fig 4 to get the stretch - advice slowly sinking in Devi, thank you

Commented on Calming Yin Stretch

31 Dec 13:27

Well last one for 2025. Happy New Year to all may it me healthy and Peaceful . Nice practice to ease my body into a resting state thank you Devi

Reply

In the UK getting a little tied up with my strap. My head said use the strap when lying on my front to reach my foot, I just couldn’t get the strap around my foot, so my body then naturally reached out with my right hand to hold the foot to enable my left hand to put the strap on - that was when my brain and body came together to say “I can do this without the strap”. The later poses I did use the strap and gave many of those areas targeted a really great stretch enabling me to drift off to my bed really relaxed - thanks Devi

Reply

A great antidote to holiday excess, for my body, thank you Devi. Through out the practice my body seemed to push each pose to my edge then ease back and let it go, it felt quite wonderful. That was the very present in the moment physical detox, i now need to work on the mind somewhat which desperately needs a detox, how do I use the metaphor of your twist as in ringing out the flannel and take that into my mind? Something to ponder perhaps take it into my nex Nidra session. Breathing is a theme to keep in mind as a help to my exploration it may also require another session of this practice to get my head to start ringing itself out - me thinks.

Reply

Tonight it was two of my soft yoga blocks that I sat on to attempt saddle at the end there, it worked for me not a peep out of my knees what a joy. Happy holidays to all. Thanks Devi

Reply

24 Dec 13:08

Whilst rummaging around in a draw looking for some of my book binding stuff, I found a Japanese binding sketch book I had made, which I had almost completed practicing my calligraphy writing out the Heart Sutra, so new intent for the new year is to finish it. Another book started and need to keep reading segments is a book I think you recommended some while back, the Tibetan book of living and dying. Another sketch book I had made and not finished writing is my ‘A Haiku a day’ I had written one a day on my travels around Europe. I need to continue - another intent- and a book again to finish a bit at a time is Stephen Pearson -Whispers of Algorithms (Haiku unveiled by chat GPT). Can AI really be this thoughtful? I feel a need to follow up on Devi’s recent Mexico experience. And finally in intents not readings, I too will continue leaving some legacy trees in my paddock/woodland, mine being named trees of dear close friends, I have two of the Chinese fir Cunninghamia Ianceolta, then my family, the Stewart’s I had a few species once before moving so need to find them again. The next is actually based on my meditation ‘drug’ ( Eucalyptus) or essential oil should I say. Particularly the peeling snake skin bark variety. Back to books, I also have open and reading slowly and play around in my head in my Yon practices and meditation’the sound of one hand clapping’ Yoel Hoffmann. I am fascinated my the Koans - do I try and solve or let them revolve around in my head as I ‘ melt further into my yoga mat?

Reply