What can we say? It was an absolutely brilliant party!

A great venue, fantastic food and drink, a happy and friendly atmosphere, lovely people and an excellent time had by all!

We were so happy to see so many imagine students of the past and present and it was nice to catch up and have a chat with everyone (we were so impressed with how much English was spoken – well done!). We ate fish and chips and shepherd’s pie which was a first for many people – good English grub! We received a gorgeous bouquet of flowers each and some lovely presents and, best of all, an album filled with messages from our friends at imagine. We read them when we got home and were so touched by the kind and generous things people wrote.

I started a blog recently which is about leaving Japan and all the things I will miss. I hope it conveys my strong connection to this country and many of the people I have met while living here. One of the posts is about the Clapham Inn itself so please check it out!

nippontouk : a diary of sorts

We will miss everyone so much but we hope we will see you again the UK – the kettle will be on and the biscuits will be ready!

Take care and all the very best,

xBecca & Ed

「英語でヨガ」の後にビーガンスタイルランチ！

３月の春分の日、ヨガのワークショップをイマジン語学スタジオ内（芦屋市）で開催しました。ヨガの後に Vegan（ビーガン）スタイルのランチが付いて、京都のお茶とともにサンドウィッチをいただきました。大変好評でとても楽しく、健康的で美味しい時間を過ごすことができました。

ヨガ講師の Casey が企画するヨガと食事法を主としたワークショップは、Vegan（ビーガン）と呼ばれる、基本的に乳製品・蜂蜜等の動物性の食品を一切摂らない、食事法を Casey よりご紹介いただきます。ヨガレッスンの後に、ビーガンスタイルのサンドウィッチ等をいただきながらワークショップは進行し、参加者とともにヨガや食について談話を楽しみます。

Casey がビーガンということで、食についての話題は生徒さんも興味津々。ビーガンという言葉を初めて聞いた方もいらっしゃいましたし、生徒さんの中にベジタリアンの方もいらっしゃったので、その話題はつきることがありません。

Vegan（ビーガン）は宗教的なものではなく、食事法のひとつです。Casey は、六年程その食事法をしているとのこと。私は雑食系ですが（笑）、とくにこれといった物足りなさもなく美味しくいただきました。

サンドウィッチの中身は、豆腐ステーキ、アボカド、きゅうり、トマト、レタスが入っていて、味付けではマヨネーズの代わりに、豆乳とオリーブオイル等から作ったソースをパンに塗り、具を挟みます。パンはイツキベーカリーの手作りで、もちろん牛乳等の乳製品は入っていません。
サンドウィッチに添えられたサイドディッシュには、蒸し加減が丁度よいブロッコリーでとてもヘルシー。デザートにはメープルシロップとカシューナッツ入りのクッキーを。
これなら無理なく、月にいち度、一食だけでもビーガンになるのもいいかもしれないと思いました。

次回のヨガ・ワークショップは2012年4月30日（月・祝日、昭和の日の振り替え日！）に開催いたします！　詳細は こちら にて。皆さまのご参加を心よりお待ち申し上げます！
今後のヨガ・ワークショップは、不定期ではありますが開催日が決まり次第、ホームページ等にてお知らせいたしますので、ご興味ある方はぜひご参加ください。

In this day and age, there is so much change happening in the world. There is one path – one state of being – that will allow us to maintain our grace, strength and happiness: The state of compassion.

In this workshop, we will use the energy of the group to go to the depth of our capacity and ignite the core of our heart’s center. The only thing that creates irritability, frustration and friction in our relationships is a lack of compassion within ourselves. Through specific yogic postures that work on the opening of the heart, and a powerful meditation, we will release old tensions, emotions and the stagnant energy that blocks our capacity to feel the higher states of love.

Our external life is a reflection of our internal state of being. Through the science of kundalini yoga and the power of the group we have the ability to create a permanent change in the way we feel, relate to, and love our own true nature. When we can love who we are, we will unite with the path we came here to live.

To finish our afternoon we will share together as we enjoy delicious vegetarian wraps, rice and tea in the company of our friends.

Living in our Heart’s Center: Awakening the Fourth Chakra

Compassion, acceptance, fulfillment and love are all qualities that represent the fourth chakra. The heart chakra is the pivotal point in the chakra system and represents the element Air. In the month of April we will take one step forward into experiencing, feeling and living in our heart’s center.

Life itself is not exciting. It becomes exciting when you put your love, compassion, and appreciation into very breath, every action and every connection that you make.

Our goal is to awaken and experience our everyday life from a different state of being. The element of the fourth chakra which is the gateway between the mind and the body is breathing. When these two are connected we are free to give from our heart, express how we feel, and receive love from those around us.

The hanami season is about to begin in Japan, and I hope you are just as excited as me. I love going to see cherry blossoms, and I would like to tell you about one of my favorite hanami spots. I first went there more than twenty years ago, which may surprise you. My father and I visited this place eight springs in a row, and I have been back a few more times since. This spot is in my home country, of course. In fact, it is in the capital of my country.

From early to mid April, thousands of cherry trees bloom across Washington DC. They are just as beautiful as the ones here in Japan. This is because they actually came from Japan exactly 100 years ago. It was a wonderful gift from the Japanese government, and many American people have enjoyed the classic Japanese tradition of hanami ever since. But speaking of Washington and cherry trees, there is a story I want to tell you. This is a story all children in my country are taught, and it is an old American tradition.

According to legend, when America’s first president, George Washington, was only six years old, he was given an axe. He was very excited, and went around his father’s farm attacking small trees and bushes. By accident, he also attacked his father’s special cherry tree. When his father noticed the damage, he was very angry, and wondered if one of his workers had done it. George realized that he would be safe if he lied, but he decided to tell his father what he had done anyway. The father was so proud of his son’s honesty that George did not get into any trouble.

Ironically, most historians agree that this story, which is supposed to teach American children the importance of telling the truth, is itself false, and never happened. And the cherry tree in this story was from England, a type which does not have beautiful flowers like those from Japan. Still, this old legend made the cherry trees in Washington DC even more significant for the American people, and it became an interesting blend of cultures.

I realize that you may not be able to go to Washington DC this year, but if you are ever planning a trip to my country’s capital, try to do it in early April. I promise that your American hanami experience will be one of the best and most unique you have ever had!

Imagine’s latest exhibition got off to a flying start with one of our busiest launch parties to date. Lots of old friends, Imagine members and friends of the artist came to admire Keiko Asano’s thought-provoking portraits, drawings and flower paintings. It was also a good opportunity for Imagine members to get to know Casey, who has taken over the yoga classes, as well as Brandon and Lulu, Imagine’s new English teachers.

Delicious food was provided by Itsuki Bakery, alongside a tasty vegan dip made by Kochan.

Watch this space for information about upcoming parties and events.

Imagine teacher Becca has won a prize for writing a lesson plan. Macmillan, a major publisher of English-language teaching resources, held a competition for English teachers to submit a lesson plan for their material covering differences between British and American English. We are very proud to announce that Becca’s plan was the co-winner of the prize. Her lesson plan can now be downloaded and used by English teachers all over the world. Well done Becca!

What’s your English | Baba Brinkman vs Professor Elemental Rap Battle Video

イマジン語学スタジオの講師が受賞しました

大手英語教材出版社マクミラン社主催の英語教師向けに行われたコンペにて、イマジン語学スタジオの講師 Becca が賞を取りました。Becca が考案したレッスン内容は、アメリカ英語とイギリス英語の違いについてです。光栄にも、先日そのレッスンが受賞したと連絡をいただきました。これにより、世界中の英語教師によりダウンロードされ、使われています。Becca おめでとう。

What’s your English | Baba Brinkman vs Professor Elemental Rap Battle Video

Date: March 20th 2012
Time: Yoga 10:30 – 12:15 Lunch 12:15 – 13:00

There comes a time when dreams come alive, when our ideas become experience, and our actions call for forward movement. We have spent the winter thinking, planning and cultivating our creations. As spring approaches, now is the time to bring them to life.

In this workshop, we will use an ancient yogic kriya (series of yogic postures), our breath and a powerful meditation to awaken our motivating force. We will focus on the third chakra, which represents the fire element, in order to release fear, blocked emotions and uncertainty of the future. As we bring our third chakra into alignment, we will be connecting with our own personal power. When we own our personal power there are no limitations to what we can experience in life.

To finish our afternoon we will share together as friends and enjoy delicious vegetarian sandwiches, cookies and tea.

Creating a Solid Foundation

A solid foundation is the most essential thing in life. Trees need strong roots to grow; a building needs a strong base so it won’t crumble and fall; humans need to be solid and conscious of both their highest potential and who they are.

Throughout life we are influenced by society and we build a false identity of our “I am” (who we think we are) based on what others tell us. I believe our “I am” is limitless. The foundation of who we think we are reflects every experience we have: the people we attract, the work we decide to do and the dreams we choose to create. We are beautiful, compassionate, powerful, intelligent, creative and loving human beings. Our “I am” is our most basic foundation.

During the month of March we will work to break down and let go of the qualities we carry that do not serve our highest good. We will rebuild and move to align our own personal foundation with the person we choose to be in this moment. Our “I am” is our personal choice. We choose who we are and who we know ourselves to be. The third chakra in your body is where we hold the deepest power of our own identity. When our third chakra is strong we have the knowledge and stability to build and create our life. When the third chakra is strong we have the commitment and discipline to go forward even when challenges arise.

We will unite as a group to do meditations that will help us to clear our minds and change old patterns. We have the ability to create a foundation that will serve our higher good. My goal is for us to be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and say: “I love myself, I believe in who I am and I know I have the power to experience anything I want in life.”

イマジン語学スタジオ（兵庫県芦屋市）では、英会話レッスン以外にも英語を更に身近に感じてもらえればと、英語によるヨガレッスンをおこなっています。ヨガ講師には、LA（ロサンゼルス）でヨガを５年以上指導した経験をもつ Casey。彼女は、LA で６年間プロのスタントウーマンとして活躍していましたが、怪我を機に Yoga（ヨガ）と出会い、自分自身がすばらしく変化したことを実感、ヨガ講師にまで駆けのぼりました。
ヨガは難しいポーズを取るものと思われる方も多いでしょうが、ポーズを取ることを教わるだけでなく、イマジンのヨガレッスンでは元気づく言葉をもらえる場でもあります。先日のヨガレッスン中では、Steve Jobs（故スティーブ・ジョブズ）のスピーチがとてもいいものだったので、ぜひビデオで視聴してほしいと Casey が教えてくれました。

Steve Jobs はアップル社の共同設立者の一人、元 CEO でしたが、昨年10月に亡くなられてから彼の偉大さを再認識した方も少なくないと思います。このスピーチはスタンフォード大学での卒業式式辞で、英語の教材としても素晴らしいと思います。英語だけで聴き取ることは難しいですが、日本語訳の字幕付きビデオを見つけましたので、ぜひ一度ご覧ください。

どんな偉人でも、人生には山があり谷があります。その度に人は考え行動しなくてはなりません。前へ進んでいかなければならないのです。Casey 自身も、いまの仕事と出会うまでに悩んでいた時期があったでしょう。それを乗り越えた彼女だからこそ、メンバーや生徒たちを元気づけ、人を導くことが（指導）できるのだと思います。
“ヨガレッスンを通じながら人生哲学も学べる”、そんなレッスンを提供してくれる Casey に、とても感謝しています。

何度もこのスピーチを視聴しましたが、実はどうしても解らない「stay foolish」の言葉の和訳。「foolish」を字幕では「バカ」とか「愚か」として和訳されていましたが、なんか私には違和感を感じてしっくりこない。そこで、英会話講師の Ed に尋ねてみました。
さすが解りやすい説明でやっと納得。その説明から「foolish」の和訳の言葉は、「無になる」もしくは「無邪気」となるのかな。