Westbrook - The five Tibetans yoga workshop : tone your body and transform your life

PRAISE FOR

THE FIVE TIBETANS YOGA WORKSHOP

It takes vision, courage and the dedication of a true seeker to travel thousands of miles to take a course she could have taken in her hometown, so I knew Susan was special from the first time we spoke. What I didnt know was that my willing student was to become my wise teacher. I am so grateful to Susan for shining her unique light on the Five Tibetan teachings in a way that will inspire people worldwide to try these fabulous techniques and find their lives changed in positive, meaningful and significant ways. This work is important and Susan has made it accessible to everyone in this inspiring, authentic and compelling tapestry of personal stories, clear instruction and insightful wisdom that I am eager to use in all my Five Tibetan classes from now on.

ELIZABETH HARLEY , (Meramma Naia), Burghead, Scotland Reiki Master Teacher, Ascension therapist, Five Tibetans Yoga teacher, Master Teacher of the Diana Coopers School

Discovering the Five Tibetans and contemplating the corresponding mantras helped me to acknowledge and release negative patterns of thought and behavior. This book is an enjoyable and practical guide to some very lofty ideals, and provides a guided path to personal growth and transformation.

CATHERINE DOWD , 200 RYT Writer, Yoga Instructor, and Perpetual Student

I was fortunate to find out about this program a few weeks after it began. This meant I had to be okay with being behind on the info and behind on the practice! Ive done a lot of yoga in the past, yet this approach found me at a time in my life when I was ready for its simplicity and gentleness. I have been amazed that inside of these simple 5 postures I have discovered some new possibilities for myself. The postures alone dont get the credit, however. Its the simple focus on things such as vulnerability and surrender. For anyone who wishes to have a deep, yet simple experience of themselves, a cleansing one, without extra hoopla, Id recommend getting this book right away. Perhaps the power of this is the authors own vulnerability and surrender. Im grateful to have been guided to it.

ROBIN HOLLAND , CEO Robin Holland International

The Five Tibetans Yoga Workshop provided a daily practice of discipline and meditation. The self- focus time allowed me to sit with my own contemplations and ponderings about subjects that were part of the content of the workshop. The exercise of the actual Five Tibetans provided physical discipline, and the mantras of each pose helped me expand my awareness of the impact on my body, mind, and spirit. I found the work to be profoundly intimate, calming, soothing, and deeply satisfying. Anyone who has an opportunity to read this book and/or participate in the workshop would be treating themselves to a hugely beneficial experience.

MARGO E. BEBINGER , CPCC, Leadership and Life Coach, Bigger Game Trainer, Akashic Records Practitioner

THE FIVE TIBETANS
YOGA WORKSHOP

Tone Your Body and
Transform Your Life

Susan L. Westbrook, Ph.D.

Susan L. Westbrook, Ph.D., 2014

The right of Susan L. Westbrook to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998.

Published in 2014 by Findhorn Press, Scotland

ISBN 978-1-84409-197-3

All rights reserved.

The contents of this book may not be reproduced in any form, except for short extracts for quotation or review, without the written permission of the publisher.

A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library.

Edited by Nicky Leach
Cover design by Richard Crookes
Illustrations by Ben Harley
Interior design by Damian Keenan
Printed in the USA

Published by
Findhorn Press
117-121 High Street,
Forres IV36 1AB,
Scotland, UK
t +44 (0)1309 690582
f +44 (0)131 777 2711
e
www.findhornpress.com

To Jenny and Aaron
Your persistence and amazing
resilience inspire me!

DISCLAIMER

The information in this book is given in good faith and is not intended to serve as a substitute for informed medical advice or care. As with all forms of physical exertion, if you have any major health concerns, you should first contact your health professional for medical advice and treatment before you start performing these exercises. Neither author nor publisher can be held liable by any person for any loss or damage whatsoever which may arise from the use of this book or any of the information therein.

Contents

Gratitude

T he first lesson I learned on the path to this book is that such a venture takes a villageor an army. There may be one name on the cover, but many people contributed to the process. For a leap such as this, I needed nurture, encouragement, money, housing, and consultants for writing and yoga practice. My gratitude to the people who helped bring the book from a vision on a bench at the Berkeley Marina to the manifestation you now hold.

To Laura and my father, who funded the two adventures in Scotland and provided the foundation for this book.

To Alice, Vivian, and Elena, who lived with me and supported me in the year of my discontent while the book was coming to life within me.

To my beloved Reiki Master/Teacher Meramma Naia, who gave me the gift of the Five Tibetans one afternoon on the floor of her sitting room in Burghead, Scotland.

To Deborah, Lianne, Gordon, John and Alison, Caroline, and my mother, for providing housing at various times in the process.

To Linda, Freya, Maggie, Nick, Bibi, Amy, Caroline, and Meramma as readers of the earliest writings you helped me gain the courage and desire to move forward.

To the people in the Findhorn community who offered me friendship and connection.

To my writing coach, Harula Ladd your guidance in the beginning and the connection you arranged with Sabine created the foundation for the success of the project.

To my editor, Sabine Weeke thank you for seeing the potential in that rudimentary proposal and for trusting me with the project.

To the original Five Tibetans Workshop group at the Lauvitel Lodge in La Danchere, Venosc, France: Caroline, Maggie, Nick, Pat, and Peter thank you for your love and commitment. You helped bring the Five Tibetans to life.

To Paula and Hillsborough (NC) Yoga and Healing Arts thank you for providing space and advertisement for the Five Tibetans Workshop Preview in the US.

To the final reading group: Bibi, Maggie, Nick, and Catherine thank you for being my support system at the end. You read chapters for a month, stayed with me, and gave me a sense of connection and continuity while so many things were shifting under me. Thank you for your pure expression of friendship.

To Catherine Dowd you were not only the yoga consultant but also took on the job of chief editor at the end. Thank you for your commitment to excellence.

To Laura and Beth thank you for your tireless work to create the website platform for me and the book.

I am sure there are others. It has been such an amazing leap. Thank you all for your parts.

Introduction

I was a few days shy of turning 50 years old. I had just climbed 35 feet of ladder and tree studs up a giant California redwood and had hoisted myself onto a platform about two feet square. I lay there, sprawled across the tiny wooden deck like a bear splayed over a tree limbmy legs spread apart and my arms grabbing hold of the far edges of my refuge. I spent several seconds catching my breath and willing myself to crawl to my feet, grateful that the redwood was there to hold onto. Ahead of me was a walk along an eight-foot-long, two-by-six plank suspended in thin air. I knew that once I had conquered that challenge, I would be jumping into space, trying to grab a tiny triangle hanging several meters away. My reward? A fall of more than 30 feet, with nothing to trust in but the harness and four of my peers on the other end of the belay ropes.