The first time I really consciously experienced gratitude in my life is when I became a yoga teacher. I can clearly remember feeling so overwhelmed at what had been given to me, it used to make me cry spontaneously for no reason. I had been taken out of a life that I didn’t want to live anymore and existence had … Read More
Don’t limit your challenges – challenge your limits
“Psychologists tell us that by the time we’re in our mid-30s, our identity or personality will be completely formed. This means that for those of us over 35, we have memorised a select set of behaviours, attitudes, beliefs, emotional reactions, habits, skills, associative memories, conditioned responses, and perceptions that are now subconsciously programmed within us. Those programs are running us, … Read More
Why go on a yoga retreat
A yoga retreat is so much more than just a holiday. A retreat is about clearing some space. A time to disconnect to reconnect – physically, mentally and emotionally. It gives you the gift of time…time to slow down and focus on your health, yourself, go more inward and properly relax. If you are going through a change or transition … Read More
Community – common unity
Being part of a community can really help to buffer the stress, struggles and chaos of modern life. Particularly if that community has at its essence the purpose of making their lives healthier, finding greater balance and becoming more conscious. When people come together and connect through a common thread, so much more can happen than when doing it alone. … Read More
Tapas – the fire of transformation
Yoga is a process of transformation – on every level. It begins with the physical practice of postures but eventually, ultimately it becomes so much more. It changes you from the inside out. The element of transformation is fire and in yoga philosophy this is TAPAS. Tapas is one of the five niyamas, or principles in yoga philosophy, that give … Read More
Dealing with challenges
Doing a 30 day challenge can bring up all sorts of things so its good to be prepared for obstacles along the way which you might not be expecting. How you manoeuvre around these obstacles is going to be essential to making it through the 30 days. The challenge is a valuable opportunity to observe what happens when faced with … Read More
Self care for summertime from an acupuncturist
by Myles Glover Dip Ac, Dip Tui na Traditional Chinese medicine is very clear on how we should treat ourselves differently within the different seasons for optimal care. Summer months are related to the fire element, which govern the heart and mind. The fire element is the most yang of the elements and is associated with getting outside (particularly to … Read More
The Inner Critic
“Judgement isn’t bad or good … it just isn’t true” – Adyashanti I’ve put the picture here of me falling on my arse while trying to do an arm balance. When this picture was taken I was feeling pretty silly, especially as the other two were doing it great. My inner judgement then and even now when I look at … Read More
What are you focusing on?
When I first started doing yoga I was a fidgeter. The sweat, the heat, the energy racing through my body, the uncomfortable sensations, my moving towel, wanting to drink all the time… fixing my shorts….all got my attention. What yoga taught me was the art of mental focus. By learning to feel all these things without reacting to them and … Read More
Can yoga help with addiction?
When you shut down emotion, you’re also affecting you immune system, your nervous system. So the repression of emotion, which is a survival strategy, then becomes a source of physiological illness later on. — Gabor Maté We live in behaviour patterns and rituals. They are so intimate to us that we are unable to see them most of the time. … Read More