Have a think about what your “normal” mind feels like. We are constantly processing obscene amounts of information and in single day we can have up to 60,000 thoughts. No wonder the mind keeps whirring when we take the time to slow down or sit to meditate.
Read MoreEver listened to a familiar song and heard the lyrics differently, so much that you suddenly sense into a whole new meaning? Seen something, or someone in a totally new light and realised the change isn’t in them, but in you?
Read MoreIt is easy to focus on what is hard. Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed by what seems to be going wrong. Turn on the news and it seems that greed, abuse of power and discrimination is the way of the world. But whenever I make time to focus on the things in my life that are simple and sweet, I widen my perspective and reset my thoughts.
Read MoreThis past week in my classes we have been exploring a breathing technique called kumbhaka, which is simply the practice of noticing and gently expanding the natural pause between your inhalations and exhalations. Developing this practice slowly we can enjoy moments of spaciousness where the body-mind becomes more still and clear.
Read MoreIt is easy to focus on what is hard. Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed by what seems to be going wrong. Turn on the news and it seems that greed, abuse of power and discrimination is the way of the world. But whenever I make time to focus on the things in my life that are simple and sweet, I widen my perspective and reset my thoughts.
Read MoreRight now I am reading A Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris. It is a compilation of short life advice from a selection of eclectic mentors including Brene Brown, Rick Rubin and Tony Hawk. Through a series of questions he pulls out their tips for success, happiness and meaning. Their felts and figured outs.
Read MoreOpening a small business can be scary at the best of times and doing it in 2020 was a real doozy. Through it all, I have been lucky enough to have some good people offer me some really valuable advice.
It really stuck with me when a fellow small business owner told me to be sure to make the time to celebrate the wins along the way, as well as looking forward to where you want to get to.
Read MoreAnyone else fall into the trap of taking life too seriously? I care so deeply about things and I like to always give my best to the task at hand. But when it all starts feeling heavy, overwhelming or too much like hard work I know I need a (self) intervention.
Read MoreOne of the principles I like to explore when I practice yoga is how I am spending my energy. Sometimes when we are in a challenging posture, we notice we are clenching our jaw or trying too hard. If we relax where we can in our body and soften our mindset, all of a sudden we are struggling less.
Read MoreSeva is a Sanskrit word meaning service and is an important part of any spiritual practice. The idea of service can seem immense when there is so much in the world that needs fixing, so many people that need our help. Rather than being overwhelmed we can begin right now, with small and simple acts of kindness to whoever is alongside us.
Read MoreLike it or not, the main way we learn is by falling flat on our face. No matter what happens, how many times we muck up or how far we fall short, every moment is a fresh start. This very moment is a chance to clean the slate and begin again.
Read MoreSometimes life just hurts. So, when the chips are down, what are our options? Generosity, ethical discipline, patience, enthusiastic effort, concentration and wisdom are known in Buddhism as the six paramitas or “perfections.” They are the daily practices that, when put into action, reduce our pain and suffering and move us towards better relationships and a more joyful life.
Read MoreOne of our teachers (the wonderful Kayla) shared a post on her social media last week listing her wins for the year that was. It inspired me so much that I wanted to share it here with you.
It is no secret that 2020 threw us all a huge curve ball and there's so much that didn’t go to plan, got cancelled or uprooted. How uplifting to reflect on what was achieved.
Read MoreWhat if we could trust life, like we trust the breath? Each day we let go of up to 20,000 breaths without ever doubting the next inhale will come along to take its place. We don’t cling to our exhale, instead we let go and trust the process to unfold. With people, experiences and things we tend to do the opposite. We hold on tight, unwilling to let go until we can be sure what is coming next.
Read MoreMantra is a powerful sound or vibration that we use to enter a state of meditation. When we chant, we give our busy mind something to focus on as well as deepening our exhalation, which supports a state of calm and relaxation.
Read MoreHasn’t the pace of life suddenly sped up once again? As we hurtle towards the end of the year I am amazed how quickly old habits are asserting themselves even after months of stripping back and vowing to never revert back to “how things were before.” As the pace of life picks up I am cherishing my yoga practice more than ever as a way to slow down and practice the art of stopping.
Read MoreThis weekend was unusually normal. I went for lunch at a bustling CBD restaurant, watched a swarm of kids play cricket at our local park and dropped my daughter off for her every first sleepover. But this “normal” weekend felt far from ordinary and I held each of these experiences with awe and wonder.
Read MoreIf you are anything like me, you take some comfort in the predictability of life. I like it when things go to plan. A surprise here and there is great, but generally I prefer life to unfold pretty much how I’ve decided it should.
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