09/12/2025
My December Newsletter!
It's been a while since my last email. As some of you are aware, last month I fulfilled one of my dreams by going on Pilgrimage to India and Sri Lanka. Such an amazing experience! I am still digesting so much...
Our first week was spent in Rishikesh, on the banks of the River Ganges. Rishikesh is like no other place I know - it is a destination for many yogis. It is filled with Temples and Ashrams and Yoga Teacher Trainings.
Every evening, on both banks of the river, there are many large and smaller Ganga Aarti ceremonies taking place. This ceremony of light is offered in devotion to the sacred river and is offered to dispel darkness. It is a spectacular sight and amazing to experience.
The second week of our Pilgrimage was spent on retreat at the Ashram of Anandamyai Ma's - a 20th century female Indian Saint. Again, this was on the banks of the sacred river. This was a beautiful, nurturing, meditative week with morning yoga practice on the roof terrace.
On our final week we travelled to Sri Lanka to visit the Heart of Living Yoga Foundation's charity project in the north of Sri Lanka. The island is tropical and very beautiful, but this is a poor country and the Tamil region in the north is particularly disadvantaged and still traumatised by decades of civil war. There are many unsupported elderly widows, and children appear malnourished with poor access to schooling etc. Houses were more like my wood shed.
The charity supports a village called Padmalokah where a community food growing project has been developed. We planted more trees whilst we were there.
We visited 2 schools supported by the foundation and another charity in order to enable families to escape the cycle of poverty created by poor educational opportunities. Our visit obviously meant a lot to the community who gave us such a warm welcome. It was deeply humbling.
Within days of my return, Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka bringing severe flooding to to the island including Padmalokah. Fortunately, now the waters are subsiding, it appears that the land has not been too badly damaged. However, rice that had recently been planted has been lost to many. Now comes the hard work of clearing and rebuilding.
In our small ways of supporting this work, there are a couple of fundraising events coming up I would like to share with you.
Friday 12th December 8.30-9.15pm Online Yoga Nidra for Peace & Healing
Fundraising for Heart of Living Yoga Foundation (see https://www.heartoflivingyoga.com/charity for more details) & the Red Cross Gaza Appeal
Join us for a deeply restorative Yoga Nidra session as we come together in compassion, unity, and hope.
The session will be recorded so even if you cannot make it you will receive an audio recording to use again and again.
Donation £5/10/15/20/25 - you choose... Go to www.maggiemckeen.com/booking
Light in the Dark - A Winter Solstice Candle Walk
Join us in saced community as we welcome the return of the light at this fundraising event on Sunday 21st December 4-7pm at The Garden Studio, Falkland Estate.
On the longest night of the year, we gather to turn inwards, honour the quiet beauty of the season & kindle the inner flame that lives within each of us.
Cost: £25
Funds raised go to The Heart of Living Yoga Foundation & The Red Cross Gaza Appeal.
Book your space at www.maggiemckeen.com/booking
Should finances be a challenge please email maggiemckeen@gmail.com to book.
Other Upcoming Events:
Monthly Satsang - Sunday 12th December 2-4pm The Garden Studio
The word satsanga is derived from Sanskrit where ‘sat’ means “purity or truth” and ‘sanga’ meaning “in group or association.
“A group of like-minded committed spiritual seekers looking to awaken and uplift themselves by finding a deeper truth or meaning to life”
Roger Gabriel
All donations go to The Heart of Living Yoga Foundation
Booking at www.maggiemckeen.com/booking
Usui Reiki 2 Refresher Course
Have you completed your Reiki 2 training but feel a bit rusty with the symbols, distance healing, or your confidence in sharing Reiki with others? This day is designed to help you reconnect and strengthen your practice.
For more details see www.maggiemckeen.com/events
Yin Yoga Class Waiting List Open - Monday's 7-8.15pm at the Garden Studio, Falkland Estate
If you are interested in the above class please email me at maggiemkeen@gmail.com to be added to the waiting list.
Wishing you a wonderful festive holiday when it comes and a happy, healthy, abundant 2026!
Thank you for taking the time to read this message.
Maggie
Maggie Prasanna McKeen
Email: maggiemckeen@gmail.com
Website: www.maggiemckeen.com
https://www.facebook.com/maggiemckeenyoga
