Black Dog Riders reaching out
A group of 35 motorcycle riders and their support crew made their way through Atherton and Mareeba as part of their Brisbane to Brisbane trip last month . The group of men and women come from different towns , backgrounds and age groups , but they have one thing in common – They ride for The Black Dog . The Black Dog Ride is part of a not-for-profit organisation raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention . Each year rides are held to raise funds for Lifeline Australia Chat Line and Mental Health First Aid Australia . Many of the riders have sponsors , but a lot of the time people come up and have a chat and donate money to the cause along the way . Rider Charles Linsley said while raising funds is a big part of it , it ’ s certainly not the sole reason for the rides , “ It ’ s incredible really , we have strangers from the street who will come up just to chat because they ’ ve been affected by depression , or may have lost someone to it ,” Charles said . “ It ’ s really about more than raising funds , by taking a part in The Black Dog Ride , we are helping to take away the stigma surrounding mental illness .” Anyone can join the ride , with no obligation for distance , “ Some people will join us for a short trip , some for a full one . There are rides that go across Australia , it ’ s about what each rider can commit to .” Next year , with a bit of help , The Black Dog riders may visit the Tablelands a bit longer so the community can have a chance to say hello and cheer the riders on their way , “ If we have some local organisations involved , we can schedule a longer stay . “ We ’ ve visited schools before , and also teamed up with Mental Health at various locations along the way .” To find out more information visit www . blackdogride . com . au , or mhfa . com . au . If you ’ re feeling down and need to reach out visit www . lifeline . org . au .
Malanda Theatre Presents . . .
Venus in Fur
Directed by Graham Harrington
7.30pm Oct 6 , 7 & 8 Majestic Theatre
Tickets : Thurs $ 20 , Fri & Sat $ 25 . Groups of 10 + $ 20pp Available online at malandatheatre . org Tableland Books Atherton , Elders or ECHO in Malanda Dinner Deal – Malanda Hotel & Malanda RSL
By David Ives
DIRECTOR
Yoga for all
With Christina Balabin - Foundation Level Yoga Teacher Training , Intermediate level Yoga Teacher Training , Pregnancy Yoga , Chair Yoga
BEGINNER CLASSES Held Thursdays at 4pm Aiming at beginners all shapes , sizes , ages & fitness levels .
“ Once you step on the mat you become aware of what you can do , can ’ t do and where you ’ re at . It ’ s about progression .” - Christina .
It all began when I attended my first yoga class on my 39th birthday ( 17 years ago ) as a special gift from my closest friend . My twins were 3 months old - my big boy 15 months at the time . It felt like the first day of my life ... I could breathe ! It was from there I started my journey climbing up the ranks of accreditation , discovering as much as possible . My 1st , 2nd & 3rd yoga teachers were all accredited through Knoff Yoga in Cairns . From that first class , I was hooked on creating an hour and a half daily to be with myself ... to look at all the work I needed to do to improve myself physically and emotionally , and committing to a process that would allow myself to evolve . I easily became addicted to yoga and year after year committed to extra classes . In 2006 after my marriage split I knew the next step was to do the Knoff Yoga Foundation Level Yoga Teacher Training . I was attending 4-5 classes a week . It happened to be the last year the program was run as an 8 week intensive ( it ’ s been reduced to 4 weeks now - so I was very fortunate ) - at least 5 hours physical training daily with Anatomy and Physiology and Ethics and Philosophy , Breathing Techniques ( Pranayama ) and Meditation as well , vital to the process . I remember on day 4 every muscle in my body was screaming and I wept through 34 of the 36 of the postures practiced . The following day I had passed through that barrier and moved on . After surviving the training and becoming accredited , I still didn ’ t have the confidence to teach yoga and ask people for money so donated free yoga teaching time to Redlynch State College ( where my boys went to school ) working with special needs children and a year 4 class for a year . It was fantastic , and not long after started a group for teachers after school and they paid me ( and loved it - almost as much as I loved teaching it !). My yoga teaching journey had begun and as I grew stronger and weller , my thirst for higher yoga learning needed to be satisfied . 2 years after the first course I completed the Intermediate , Pregnancy , Chair yoga and Therapy Yoga ( now renamed Holistic Healing for insurance purposes ) accreditations . A rollover in my car led to a blood clot in my arm just 4 or 5 months after this training . Major vascular surgery followed , the specialist in Brisbane declaring that he had never ever observed a person of my years recovering so quickly after such complex surgery . I had been advised in Cairns prior to my RFDS flight to Brisbane that I was less than 2 hours away from having my right arm amputated - so severe was the clot ! My arm still intact , I continued my yoga journey and last year reaccredited my Intermediate and Holistic Healing Certificates and just a few months ago the Chair yoga ( for people with diminished capacity for whatever reason ). I am passionate about doing the best I can do with what I have , and yoga is my tool for improving myself further . The teaching qualifications allow me to pass that knowledge on consciously and ethically to others . It is an absolute joy to be an observer of this process through my committed students . I have taught young , old an in-between , my youngest regular students 9 years old , my eldest 91 . I have taught the leanest of the lean to bigger people . The truth is yoga is for all ! Yoga embodies body , mind and spirit ... and most of all breath . It ’ s about doing the best we can with our breath ... and learning to breathe and live better . Breathing is our life-force . Don ’ t be scared ! Come and have a breathe with me .
CLASS TIMETABLE Monday 4pm - Level 1.5 General Monday 5.30pm - Level 1.5 General Tuesday 5.30pm - Level 1.5 Wednesday 4.00pm - Level 1.5 General Wednesday 5.30pm - Level 1.5 Thursday 4.00pm - Absolute Beginner L1 Thursday 5.30pm - Level 1.5 General Friday 9.00am - Level 1.5 General * Christina will be away from Sept 15th to 27th .
Classes held at 13 Hastie Road , Atherton . Bookings essential 0456 651 264 . Classes $ 15 , or 10 for $ 120 , 15 for $ 165 , 20 for $ 200 . BYO waterbottle and towel only . Payment options & plans available . Ask Christina if you would like a tailored private or small group classes .