In This
Issue |
Student Profile: Jan Beekman
The Mandela Portrait Timeless Quotes: The Buddha Current Yoga Schedule Website Posture Flows Business Profile: Flavours of Life Fair Trade Business Profile: Spa in the Woods Local Happenings Private Lessons |
| Student Profile: Jan
Beekman - artist, yogi and friend |
Perhaps it is not so rare to witness or experience the manifestation of a
dream since our every thought, word and deed is in fact the cause and the
effect of karma. An event during this past week reminds me that one
person can provoke people to action and change the course of history. In
this case, Nelson Mandela, prisoner 46664 for 27 years when he emerged
from prison with the composure, dignity and beatific appearance
reminiscent of the Buddha.
Jan Beekman, artist, yogi and most passionate about peace and justice, was awake in his Chicago home at 4:00 a.m. on February 11, 1990 to watch the televised release of Nelson Mandela from 27 years in prison. What Jan saw launched a 3 year quest to capture on canvas what he witnessed. Jan painted 15 portraits of Mandela and on the 16th, found the exact representation of the expression and soul that he witnessed on that day in 1990. On March 1, 2007 this painting was officially received by the United Nations in New York City. It was presented by Johan Verbeke, the Ambassador of Belgium, Jan's native country, and Jan Beekman. Dignitaries included: South African Ambassador Dumisano Kumalo, Asha-Rose Migiro of Tanzania, deputy secretary general of the United Nations, former New York Mayor Daid Dinkins, as well as many local friends and supporters. The arts committee of the UN found the perfect location for this painting. The portrait titled "The Liberation of Mandela" will hang on the wall in the middle of the corridor leading to the UN Security Council chambers, the place were global issues of peace and conflict are discussed and voted on. This location was considered the most auspicious and relevant. The face of Nelson Mandela will be looking at each of the delegates as they pass through the hallway. From the Beekman Foundation website: "Mandela was a symbol of hope for many people. The UN building in my opinion is the only place where this painting could hang. It represents a call for tolerance, at a time when racism is gaining ground." As for Jan Beekman, this is one of the most significant events of his career and a testament to his commitment, skill and determination. I feel great joy for him that this lasting achievement may in fact be a reminder and catalyst for peace. Jan's wife Gillian once told me, in defense of art and music in public schools, that to be involved in your craft - as a painter, as a musician, or any other art - teaches discipline and focus. Jan has tremendous artistic discipline and focus. He painted this portrait 16 times before he knew it was the one. In the painting is the meditation. Jan is an example of one who lives his dharma with vision, patience, and deep respect for the object of his craft. You can view the UN event by visiting this website: www.un.org/webcast/2007.html Scroll down to: March 1, Special Event: The Belgian Mission to the United Nations will present a gift - a portrait of H.E. Mr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, painted by Mr. Jan Beekman, a Belgian artist - to the United Nations. [Webcast: Archived Video - English: 23 minutes] There's a little glitch in the middle of the South African Ambassador's speech when some other audio comes in - then it continues correctly. p.s. The young woman standing next to the painting at the very end is my daughter Rebecca! |
| The Mandela
Portrait |
Read more and see larger view at www.beekman-foundation.com
Also, see the article on the front page of the New London Day on Friday, March 2, 2007. |
| The Buddha |
The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its way with care, And let it spring from love Born out of concern for all beings. --The Buddha We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart... Speak or act with a pure mind And happiness will follow you As your shadow, unshakable. --The Buddha |
| Current Yoga
Schedule |
|
New sessions starting soon in Ledyard, Gales Ferry, Preston and Old
Saybrook!
Details at http://www.yogahealsus.com/services.html ~~~~~ Teaching Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis Early bird deadline March 6, 2007 for Rhode Island training. If you are a Rhode Island yoga teacher and have an interest in working with students who have MS, this training not only offers information and techniques but also support for initiating and marketing adaptive and therapeutic classes for people who have MS. The chapters that sponsor this program maintain a database of teachers who have taken the training for referral purposes as well as chapter sponsored wellness events. The Friday evening program has generated so much interest from people who have MS that we had to wait list some of them. I've received several calls from people who were wait listed requesting information about local yoga classes. Details at http://www.yogahealsus.com/about4teachers.html |
| Website Posture
Flows |
New! Check it out.
Seated series at http://www.yogahealsus.com/posture_flow_seated_series.html Balancing series at http://www.yogahealsus.com/Balancing_series.html |
| Flavours of Life Fair
Trade |
This place is great! Here's what they say about themselves:
Flavours of Life offers you the opportunity to value the sights, sounds, tastes & feel of other cultures whilst respecting individuals, their culture & the environment. What about Our Mission? Flavours of Life will develop a sustainable business through fair and transparent practices in order to provide enduring support for disadvantaged producers and will seek to expand fair trade throughout SE Connecticut. We will serve to enhance cross-cultural understanding and respect between North American consumers and producer-communities throughout the developing world through the retailing of fair trade (FT) goods sourced from recognized FT wholesalers. We will promote an awareness of history and an appreciation of culture through the provision of art, crafts, food, and music. We will encourage our customers to become involved in the improvement of both the living conditions of producers and the global environment. We will adopt the principles of fairness, respect and openness in our dealings with producers, suppliers and customers and seek to share these business values with others through federation and cooperation. Located at: 86 Bank Street New London, CT 860-444-9428 info@flavoursoflife.com http://www.flavoursoflife.com/default.asp |
| Spa in the
Woods |
Southeastern Connecticut offers some amazing places for retreat. The Spa
in the Woods is one such place. Located in the woods of Ledyard and
surrounded by the quiet sounds of nature, Lee Moore has created a
beautiful sanctuary to sooth the body, the mind and the spirit. The Spa
offers a variety of massage, wraps, exfoliating and detoxifying treatments
as well as FAR infared sauna to melt away stress and fatigue.
Contact Lee at: The Spa in the Woods 777 Shewville Road Ledyard, CT 06339 Phone: 860.572.4957 E-mail: Lee@Spa-InTheWoods.com http://www.spa-inthewoods.com |
| Local
Happenings |
There's always something interesting happening in southeastern
Connecticut. When I find out about them I always want to share them with
you. Since this newsletter goes out about once a month, you are likely to
miss out on something unless you go directly to the source.
There are links to local yoga and other holistic locations from my website. Check out: Blissworks Yoga & Healing Arts at http://www.blissworksyoga.org Dragon's Egg at http://www.mysticpaperbeasts.org Mystic Yoga Shala at http://www.mysticyogashala.com Also, download a monthly desktop calendar from Kripalu. The photos are great views from Kripalu. http://www.kripalu.org/be_a_part_of_kripalu/41/ |
| Private
Lessons |
* Is your schedule too busy for regular yoga classes?
* Do you have therapeutic needs that make traditional yoga classes too challenging? * Do you have specific poses that you want to improve with individual attention? * Do you have specific goals that you want to reach with personalized yoga? * Do you want to explore yoga philosophy in the context of life transitions and personal coaching? Private lessons focus on you, just you. Private lessons can be scheduled at your home, saving you valuable time. Private lessons can provide a much needed boost that re-directs your attention, jumpstarts your new direction, offers mental clarity and personal focus. Private therapeutic lessons can help you move your body, mind and spirit toward health and healing. Lessons can be short or long term. Contact me for more information. Karen O'Donnell Clarke http://www.yogahealsus.com/about2.html yogahealsus@yahoo.com (860) 204-0797 |
