I have been going to Panther Brook for almost two years on a weekly basis for Integral Yoga. It is hard to express in words how it has truly changed my life. To me, the philosophy and approach seem to be perfect for most people. I see the world around me with more love and understanding.
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My experience with yoga began after I read an advertisement in my local paper for free yoga classes. I was having some personal trials at the time and thought the exercise would do me some good. I had also heard that yoga was supposed to calm the mind, so I made the call and scheduled my first class.
When I arrived at the class, it was not what I expected. Dr. Brooking greeted me with a warm welcome and a lot of handouts. The papers explained both the process of yoga and the scientific reasoning behind what we were doing. The thorough introduction and study guides eased my anxiety.
I mentally break each yoga class into three parts. There are the stretching exercises and poses, deep relaxation, and meditation. Each posture can be performed from the most basic level to the most advanced, and Dr. Brooking assists with leading individual students to their levels of comfort. Although both my balance and flexibility have improved since beginning yoga, the poses have other benefits as well. For example, one pose targets the thyroid and another strengthens the lower back. Yoga and my regular walking routine are good ways to get my daily exercise.
The next part of yoga class is my favorite. The deep relaxation phase consists of tensing and relaxing all the muscles of the body. In so doing, the mind relaxes as well. This technique provides a great respite from the buzz of daily activities in my life as well as helping me go back to sleep if I wake during the night.
The last part of each yoga class is quite possibly the most important, but it has been the most difficult for me to grasp. Students are instructed to sit with "relaxed, focused, uninterrupted awareness" for approximately twenty minutes. This is supposed to relax the mind further and train it to let thoughts flow without reaction. Initially, I found my mind wandering a lot, thinking things like, "My back sure does hurt," or "I wonder if anybody else is doing this right."
I am pretty sure Dr. Brooking knew I was struggling, so he taught me a new meditation technique called "Serenity Meditation". This technique gives me something to focus on until my mind goes into its "relaxed, focused, uninterrupted awareness". This state still does not come naturally to me, but the technique has helped me to combat obsessive thoughts when they come unwanted into my brain. My hope is to eventually train my brain to remain in a more relaxed state all the time and let anxious thoughts flow out as easily as they flow in. Dr. Brooking has assured me that this goal can be achieved with continued practice.
Yoga has been a threefold blessing to me. It helps me stay physically fit, enhances my mental capabilities, and offers spiritual growth. The spiritual aspect of yoga is as important as any student wants to make it, and it is possible for anyone from any religious background to practice yoga. I look at yoga as cleaning out my temple so God will want to spend a lot of time there.
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My life has always centered around outdoor activities; I was married in the woods in my hiking boots.
After 62 years of long distance running, backpacking and day hiking, my lower back and hips are no longer fond of sleeping on the ground. In 2005 I injured my back leaving me with chronic back pain. I have Plantar fascial fibromatosis in both of my feet. That is a big word for lumpy tumors in the arches that affect balance and leg/hip alignment. This physical betrayal conflicts with my wild crazy side that strives to stay active despite the pain and indignity of having to slow down and adjust to old age.
Speaking of my wild crazy side, I suffer from life-long insomnia and an overactive mind that tries to solve all the world's problems. I have never been able to tame my wandering mind that chases daydreams focusing on "if only" and "what-if". I have the attention span of a gnat and I have been described as "high-strung".
I began swimming as part of my physical therapy for my back injury; it helped but it wasn't enough. Friends have been suggesting for years that I might benefit physically and mentally from yoga. I was skeptical. What would sitting on a cushion moaning or trying to stand on my head do for me?
Right out of the blue a friend mentioned that she had been very active in yoga for years and would like to resume yoga classes. She had read about Panther Brook in the paper and was going to check into classes. I made an instant decision and asked if she would mind if I tagged along.
That was the best decision I ever made in my life.
The first day I unfurled my new yoga mat and tried to sit down on it. I succeeded in squatting down but had to settle for a dead-stick landing which startled the classmate to my right. I don't think she had ever seen a stiff, over-weight grandmother try to sit down.
I was very nervous. I never could follow square dance commands. I had purchased a yoga video years ago. The pace was fast and furious. I was soon frustrated and threw it away in disgust.
Right from the beginning I knew that this was my time and my place. The drive into the Spiritual Center along the single lane dirt road was so peaceful and calming. Emerson Brooking made me feel so welcome. I am not an overtly spiritual person and I tend to bolt when smothered by evangelical zeal. Emerson tells you right up front that he has a deep spiritual life but it doesn't spill over and overwhelm.
He reminds me of a warm, fuzzy blonde teddy bear with a kind heart and a bad back.
The class is very small and my classmates are so welcoming. There was an instant acceptance and harmony despite the varying levels of yoga knowledge. The atmosphere is relaxed and not rushed. We begin by warming up our minds and bodies slowly. We stretch, practice breathing exercises and spend time learning (or trying) to calm our minds .
Emerson instructs in a friendly, informative way and is quick to suggest adaptive ways to do moves that won't cause pain or injury. Grandma Sue soon found that using a chair to abbreviate the bending and stooping helped in doing the various positions. My aching back thanked me for it. I had my doubts that I would ever touch my toes let alone stand on one foot in the tree pose. But I practice, practice, practice.
The biggest change for me is the mental exercises. I have always been able to make my body do what I wanted one way or another . But I have never been able to pop that dialogue box that forms over my subconscious mind. This has been hardest for me.
Flash ahead four months - what a difference.
First let me tell you that I can now touch my toes. But more importantly I no longer have to use the chair to assist me. That was like tossing away a walker after a stroke. As long as I don't get carried away I can lunge without plunge, sit without plopping, and I can make like a tree!
More importantly, I find myself meditating and looking forward to doing it. Bedtime often is just a long extension of daytime - time spent lying on my back watching the waterfall of thoughts spilling all over themselves. I still have those kind of nights. But they are far fewer.
As I have spent time in self-reflection, I have forgiven myself but, more importantly, forgiven others.
I am trying to live the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Thank you, Emerson. I look forward to more milestones in my self-development with you as my guide.
I have a long road ahead but I feel like I have taken the road less traveled and I am better for it.
Sue Buak
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Panther Brook has not only helped me maintain my flexibility and balance with yoga but also with my overall health and my spiritual relationship with God. Dr. Brooking's class is very holistic and one of his focuses is on breathing. This has not only helped my respiratory function, compromised by the West Nile virus, but helped me get closer in my meditation/contemplation to God. The class has helped me be more aware but more relaxed, able to let things go, and to breathe in the breath of God. What a wonderful gift!!! And besides, we have a lot of fun.
Pauline Dorman, Clarkesville, GA
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During the past year, I have attended free yoga classes at Panther Brook Spiritual Center.
Initially, I joined the class with the hope that yoga would improve my golf game. I am seventy-three years old and have several health issues, including three heart surgeries, numerous stents, and a spine fusion. I knew very little about yoga and certainly could not have foreseen the many areas of my life that would be impacted by my participation.
The classes are small enough that you never feel out of place. Emerson provides enough personal attention so you know you’re doing things correctly. I enjoy my classmates and we always have a good time together. We share our learning experiences. It’s always nice to hear how others are using what they’ve learned and how it is changing their lives. It encourages me to incorporate more of the practices into my own daily life.
Several breathing techniques are taught during the class, and students are often instructed to breathe through the nose, not the mouth. When I explained to Emerson that I had a life-long problem with my sinuses and that often I was so congested that I couldn’t breathe through my nose, he suggested that I start doing nasal rinses every day. He demonstrated the procedure and gave me a container to use.
The nasal rinses proved to be a powerful intervention and have dramatically improved the quality of my life. During my lifetime I’ve seen countless doctors and spent thousands of dollars trying to correct sinus problems. I've had reoccurring sinus infections that required heavy doses of antibiotics every six months. These infections impacted my sleep patterns, not allowing me to get continuous, restful sleep. Not one of the health care professionals I consulted about this problem ever suggested nasal rinses. This simple procedure has allowed me to live this past year symptom free and enjoy many nights of restful sleep!
Every yoga class includes postures designed to improve balance. When I announced that, at my age, balance couldn’t improve, Emerson just smiled. During this past year my balance has improved remarkably! I started out having to hold on to a wall for support, and now I can do standing poses with no support.
My strength and flexibility have also increased. I use to look at some of my more flexible classmates and think “I’ll never be able to do that.” But now I can do many poses I first thought impossible and hold poses longer than I ever expected.
Every class includes a long period of deep relaxation. In the beginning I found it difficult to totally relax, but, with practice, deep relaxation has become much easier. My only problem now is getting so relaxed that I fall asleep. I’m still working on deeply relaxing without sleeping.
Classes also include a twenty minute meditation period. Initially, I found it very difficult to quiet my mind. Thoughts kept racing through. I asked Emerson to teach me the Serenity Meditation. With practice, I am more successful in quieting my mind.
I feel that my spiritual life, my relationship with God, has deepened during this past year. I feel more peaceful.
In summary, I’ve gotten a lot out of my yoga class and highly recommend you do this. It will enhance your life.
Sadly, my golf game hasn’t improved all that much….
Bob
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I want to take just a minute to encourage you to visit Panther Brook Spiritual Center and discover for yourself some simple things you can do to add quality to each day.
I attended the class on Learning Relaxation / Stress Management Skills and was impressed with how much I learned in just a short time.
The experience of the instructor, Emerson Brooking, is evident by the variety of easy to understand information and illustrations provided. The techniques demonstrated are not complicated and with faithful practice will open new avenues for you to release that built up stress we all seem to occasionally accumulate.
Positive lifestyle changes are demonstrated and explained but there is never any pressure to go beyond your self set boundaries
The facility is situated in a setting that encourages the quiet ways of nature. The building used for holding classes is clean and equipped to encourage learning.
I recommend Panther Brook Spiritual Center to anyone seeking to make positive life-style changes. I am looking forward to attending the yoga classes to continue discovering ways to increase and improve the quality of my life.
Jan, Toccoa
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I have participated in several of Emerson’s yoga classes and have been in impressed with his talent as a teacher. He has been involved in yoga for many years and has had extensive training, some that took place in other countries. He takes much care to insure that his students are learning and remaining safe at the same time. His classes are small enough that he can take time with each student, taking the time to instruct with care in a safe environment. I would feel comfortable recommending him to anyone interested in beginning yoga as well as long-time yoga practitioners.
Beverly
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During my lifetime, I have participated in three different types of yoga classes. I have noted that each has its own distinct personality, making it difficult to compare the three. Emerson's class is a comfortable one. Everyone seems to have a good sense of humor and we laugh a lot. (This is a reflection of the warm spirit of our teacher.)
Although I sometimes get frustrated at my loss of balance and flexibility, and the postures aren't as easy for me as they once were, I can see a slow but sure improvement in that area. One of my goals is to exit the postures more gracefully and with more control!
Meditation comes a little harder, but knowing the benefits I have received from regular practice in the past keeps me trying.
At the end of the class period, I always feel calm, relaxed, and happy to be there. I am grateful for this opportunity to grow. Thanks, Emerson. Namaste.
Patti Hallowell
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I had never been to yoga before I read about Dr. Brooking’s Panther Brook Spiritual Center in my local newspaper. Dr. Brooking taught me asanas and pranayamas that have changed me -- mentally, spiritually, and physically – in profound ways. In addition, Dr. Brooking told me about the Center for Spiritual Awareness in Lakemont. There I have found a treasured spiritual community and a place to learn and practice meditation with Roy Eugene Davis, a well-known teacher in the Kriya Yoga tradition.
I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Brooking for introducing me to people and practices that have greatly enhanced my life.
A Grateful Student
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