Pause for Thought

The TTCSGB blog is going to be put on hold for a while, to await further developments in the Society's presence on the internet.

Cultivating Rose and Heather on a Voyage of Discovery

Wol Gilbraith, Chair of our Scottish Regional Committee, reports on an event linking two of the Society’s locations in a very special way:

First let’s tease some sense from the title of this blog entry. Rose and Heather Garden are not twin sisters from Canada, but are features of the landscape at our International Centre at Orangeville, in Ontario. And, as anyone from Tayside will tell you, Dundee, City of Discovery, and its close neighbour Broughty Ferry, are not the same thing – but they are taken together for the purposes of this entry.

The ship RSS Discovery, on display at Discovery Point in Dundee, was central to Captain Scott’s explorations in the regions of the South Pole over a hundred years ago. St Stephens Church Hall in Broughty Ferry was the venue for the exploration of an inner pole, the human spine, one weekend in August 2009.

Although weekly classes have been running in the Dundee area for over five years, it’s taken until now to hold an Intensive class there. And it was worth the wait. Over 70 people turned out on a fine summer’s day. One third were local, one third were from nearby Forfar, and one third were from Perth and elsewhere in the Scottish Region, principally Aberdeen, Linlithgow, and one brave soul from the Glasgow area.

The day started, as many of the best ones do, with eating together, this time a rather expansive pot-luck lunch. Then down to business.

over 70 members of all ages practising together

For many people, this was their first Intensive. Let’s not be deceived by the name; it needn’t be that Intensive, particularly if you’re new to the idea. But, to quote the European Region’s Instructor handbook: “Intensives are classes which last for more than two hours per session. They are intended for students who wish to work harder and develop their form. The purpose is to ‘smooth’ out the set so that students can acquire a solid foundation and increase flexibility and strength, with the emphasis on dan-yus, tor-yus and lots of sets”.

turning and stretching benefits young and old alike

For the longer-standing members, a three-hour class such as this provides a welcome focus to work that bit harder than is possible at a regular weekly class, and quite a bit harder than is normally possible with home practice. The other 70 people in the room give you strength, you see. And for the newer members, attending a first Intensive is a useful introduction to sustained practice, and a helpful stepping stone between a weekly class and a first workshop.

The tea break was most welcome, with a mouth-watering array of cakes to choose from. And in different corners of the room, no fewer than three raffles were running. All were raising funds for the Rose and Heather Garden, and this brings us back to the point.

One of the most enchanting aspects of the International Centre at Orangeville is its surroundings. The gardens and wooded areas are a source of delight to the senses and provide a place for people to rest their eyes and spirits in a beautiful and tranquil setting.

the dormant garden in February....

by May things are starting to get going....

The Scottish Region supported the design and planting of the rose and heather garden at the entrance to the Health Recovery Centre adjacent to the Quiet Cultivation Centre. Selecting appropriate plants which will thrive in the extreme climate there, from heavy winter snowfalls to baking summer heat, has been a challenge. Some advised that no roses or heathers would tolerate the soil and climate, but after a great deal of work preparing the soil and selecting plants, a range of stunning bushes provide blooms and heady perfume for many months of the year.

and in September, still looking glorious.

The maintenance and restocking of these gardens require continuing support from members of the Society in GB. At present this support is provided through donations at classes and events, mainly in Scotland.As anyone who has visited Orangeville will testify, the grounds are a source of joy and serenity at all times of the year, and it is nice to be able to provide an opportunity for people to "stop and smell the roses".