Our blog
Our website has been a long time in coming together; it has taken a lot of time and effort and although we're still getting the bugs out, we're very happy with the result. We thank all our friends and the Squarespace counselors who have helped us in getting this far. Here's to good friends who helped make this site kinda special!
... and there is a slow, slow train coming up around the bend...
Peacock
Mayurasana: the peacock. This is an advanced position, requiring a good sense of balance and strength in the arms and back.
Start in Vajrasana, diamond position ('seiza' in Japanese martial arts). Join the arms at the elbows and hands, placing hands on the floor, palms down, fingers pointing towards the toes. Keep the hands and elbows firmly in place during this asana. Lowering the forehead to the mat, bring the abdomen down against the elbows, supporting the body. Slooooowly stretch the legs backwards. Inhale and raise both of the legs from the floor as you balance on the hands. Now raise also the head, by rolling the eyes to the sky. Keep breathing! Exhale, putting the knees back on the ground and come back to Vajrasana.
Excellent for strengthening stomach muscles, wrists, and shoulders. The blood circulation in the internal organs is increased, improving digestion. Aids in eliminating toxins from the body. This is an excellent pose for invigorating the entire body.
Forward bend
Paschimottanasana: one way of performing this asana is to sit on the floor with legs straight in front of you. Lean forward slightly and wiggle so you feel that you are sitting on the buttocks as you would on a chair. Now sit erect and, inhaling, stretch arms straight above the head palms touching. Exhaling bend forward reaching for the toes. Let the head come down towards the knees: knees are kept straight. Hold this position several seconds. Inhaling, come back to the sitting position. Once we are comfortable with this position, we can also hold the position longer while breathing comfortably. This asana can also be performed from a standing position, then sometimes referred to as "the storck".
This asana (posture) restores elasticity to the muscles, makes the spine flexible, tones abdomen and inner organs. Relaxes and makes the mind more flexible. Also a good posture for diabetics.
Crow
I took a ferry to the highway
Then I drove to a pontoon plane
I took a plane to a taxi
And a taxi to a train
I've been traveling so long
How'm I ever going to know my home when I see it again
I'm like a black crow flying
In a blue, blue sky
Joni Mitchell
Stand straight and bend from the waist, placing both palms on the ground, pointing ahead, bending the elbows slightly. Bend and lift the the knees, keeping the eyes turned skywards (!) and place them on the upper part of each corresponding arm, as close into the armpits as possible. The feet should be in line with the elbows and below the hips. While we stay balanced on the hands, we keep breathing normally, while holding the position as long as is comfortable with effortless effort ! Exhaling, we put the feet back down.
This asana improves concentration and balance, strengthens the wrists, arms and chest.
Mas Kailash Art Studio
"To see the world in a grain of salt 
and heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in one hour."
William Blake (1757-1827)
This little poem by the visionary painter William Blake expresses perfectly the essence of Chinese Aesthetics, which is the inspiration for the Art Studio of Mas Kailash.
Amanda invites you to join her for intuitive artistic expression and initiation in Chinese calligraphy. Creativity is present in each of us. We learn how to intuit our individual creative source and we allow our inspiration and imagination free and spontanious expression in forms and colours. We go beyond representation to create images of the mind.
Learn more by clicking on 'Art Studio' in the sidebar.
About Yoga
"Union of the physical and the spiritual" is one way of defining Yoga. It is the art of relaxing the body and silencing the mind to open ourselves to the universal energy in and around us. It is a way of life in which the body and the natural world are experienced as an expression of the Divine. We honour and respect the Divine by respecting our body and the world around us, through awareness of our breath, thoughts and body.
At the core of the many different kinds of Yoga is awareness and mastery of our vital energy to live a healthy, peaceful and joyful life.
The practice of pranayama (breathing exercises), asanas (postures), relaxation and meditation maintains or regains flexibility of the body allowing a free flow of vital energy (prana, qi or light), in harmony with the world around us.
Yoga is a gentle way of moving the body which is suitable for all ages.
Yoga Center 'Mas Kailash' in Provence takes form....
Our Yoga, Health and Art Center in Bargemon, South of France is in the final stage of realization. We are looking forward to receive guests.
We have charming accommodations for 4 persons. We like to practice in a small group because we value individual attention and follow-up. Quality is wat counts for us.
Mas Kailash is nestled in an enchanting Olive Grove where graceful olive trees, like dignified immortals, are guardians of peace and well-being. A Garden of Eden, it is.
An art workshop with large windows has been constructed amidst the magnificent old olivetrees, overlooking the valley below. A perfect place to allow our creativity to grow, flow, expand...
Love and Gratitude
Happiness is your nature.
It is not wrong to desire it.
What is wrong is seeking it outside
when it is inside.
Ramana Maharshi
The Blackberry Connection....
Late summer is the blackberry season.
In the afternoon we collect fresh berries from the garden
for a delicious smoothy.
The recipe is as simple as
a generous portion of blackberries
mixed with 150 g. of yoghurt.
Chill it in the freezer for about 15 minutes …
simply irresistable.
Wheel
From shavasana (total relaxation or corpse pose) we bend the knees, feet resting flat on the floor close to the hips. Hands are placed at shoulder level, elbows up, palms flat on the floor, fingers pointing towards the feet. We inhale and exhale, relaxing in this position. While inhaling, we use head, hands and feet to slowly push up in a backward bend. We maintain the position, breathing and relaxing. With every inhale we push the backwards stretch just a little bit further, gently, without forcing. Exhaling we lower our head and body.
This exercise confronts us directly with our fears. We easily bend forwards but to bend backwards is uncommon and causes fear and apprehension. With this exercise we build our self-confidence and willpower and we learn to see the world from another perspective.
This exercise tones the back and the legs completely. It strengthens and makes flexible the chest, stomach and waist, as well as the neck, hands, legs and feet. It gives excellent control over the body.
'Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence'
"Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence"(Quoting Patanjali, Indian sage who lived more than 2000 years ago)
Standing in mountain pose, the back straight, as if connected by a gold thread from the crown chakra to the heavens, the head slightly inclined in Jalandhara bandha ( chin lock ) proud and humble at the same time, we pay our respects to the rising sun. We greet a new day and rejoice gratefully.
Bicycle Kora
An exhilarating way to discover the beautiful surroundings of Bargemon is by bike. A 30 km loop or kora passes through Seillans, Claviers & Bargemon.
Starting from the Mas, a 5 km steady climb up and 5 km whirling down, at the speed you yourself control, takes you down to Seillans. Spectacular panoramas, as far as the azure blue sea, roll before your eyes.
From Seillans a former railroad track makes for easy riding to the charming village of Claviers, offering a superb view of Bargemon, the target of return.
After a tough final climb back up to Bargemon, Pieter, making the kora for the first time on his birthday, felt reborn - after catching his breath!