The first step to letting go is to STOP and recognise how much is being held. What is holding you back? a belief, a habit, a behaviour, a conditioning, a relationship, a context, a job?
Sonic Alchemy | the healing power of music | w Linda Coral
Talalla Retreat | That's a wrap
One week on the southern coast of Sri Lanka changed our lives for the good. Once a mind has been stretched by a new experience it can never go back to it's old dimensions. Minds, bodies and hearts expanded at our Talalla Yoga retreat and we certainly emerged replenished, deeply connected and radiant. Huge gratitude to the 27 amazing souls that co-created this experience.
The ugly side of yoga
body geometry // chaturanga
Even in classes when there is no OM-ing to be heard or talk of tradition, this pose always gets its Sanskrit name and it always shows up in one way or another in a vinyasa class. That’s because, It’s one of the most foundational asana that helps us to strengthen both core and upper body, which then goes on to empower all our more advanced asana.
body geometry // downward facing dog
food alchemy // turmeric latte
exploring + evolving || w Tess Barretto
I first met Tess when I was teaching yoga at her workplace many moons ago and I knew right away she just GOT IT. Tess has since fallen in love with yoga herself and is sharing the love with students all over Perth! We are so lucky to have her at alchemy, her smile is the ultimate 'Good Morning' or mid-day pick me up!
Why you need to know what Herbal Ice is
Many people are unaware of the specialty area within Chinese medicine known as 'Dit Da' medicine. This translates literally as 'Hit-Fall' medicine and is a field of practice that developed alongside the Chinese martial arts. 'Dit Da' medicine was initially aimed at dealing with the types of musculoskeletal injuries that occured as a result of martial arts training - bruises, contusions, strains, sprains, cracked ribs, dislocations, bleeding and so on - at all stages of their presentation.
Yogis guide to Tokyo
It’s no secret I love to travel, with my eyes wide, ears and heart open I feel alive. According to resident yoga teachers that I spoke to in Japan, yoga is well loved but not always prioritized in Tokyo. Eating healthy and finding enough space to roll out a yoga mat can be tricky so here are a few gems that can keep you in the flow while roaming TYO.
The most harrowing week of my life / Pranayama 101 + permission to quit trying to 'quiet your mind'
This is has been one of the most harrowing weeks of my life.
I experienced acute anxiety where I learned the meaning of feeling like your stomach is in knots.
On Sunday morning, after a peaceful night camping in the bush, we turned on our mobile phones and discovered that there had been a huge earthquake in Nepal. My youngest brother is currently in Nepal, on day 7/20 hiking in the remote Himalayas. The same trek I had also done about 4 years ago.
exploring +evolving || w Phoebe Jones
Mudra 101: how to obliterate overwhelm
Meditation 101 + why I couldn't stop crying
Let me tell you a little story.
I was alone, in the Western Australian bush. Crying my eyes out. It was my first silent meditation retreat and we were barely half way through the first day. We had begun ‘noble silence’ just hours before and after a group meditation session I took myself for a peaceful little bushwalk. It was then, that the tears started flooding in, sadness so heart wrenching, it felt unwarranted by anything I’d experienced in my ‘real life’
exploring, experimenting & evolving | w Stuart Watkins
exploring, experimenting & evolving || w Claudia Scalisi
This wild, wonderous woman walked into my life almost exactly 12 months ago, it was one of those moments where you just CLICK, you speak the same language and sing the same songs. Claudia has an infectious passion for yoga and has inspired literally hundreds of students through our Beginners Courses.
If you want a taste of this Italian Bella, you can catch her Monday 12 + 7pm and Tuesday 6.30am.
Here's the scoop from Claudia Scalisi...
Autumn Ayurvedic must-do's
It may not feel like it quite yet, but autumn is just around the corner. There’s a stack of things we can do to make the transition into dewy mornings and falling leaves a little smoother. Yoga teaches us to unite our attention to not only our bodies but also to the body of our Earth so let’s take a leisurely stroll down Ayurveda lane.
1. Stop eating on the run! By eating mindfully and seasonally, we can quickly balance excessive Vata, which dominates autumn and can cause us to feel rushed, scattered or flighty and makes skin and hair brittle and dry. So it’s time to start phasing out cold, raw foods and bring more warming foods into the mix. Go for root veggies and indulge in pots of chai or Vata tea.
2. Make your yoga practice a nurturing time to listen inwardly and move at a meditative, rhythmic pace. After the warm months our bodies can feel stronger and more flexible than ever, it’s important to refrain from pushing as we transition into a new season muscles and joints become less mobile more susceptible to injury. Although I love to use oil year round, this is its prime time! Organic Sesame oil is great for balancing vata dosha. Practice self-massage to keep body tissues super supple and moist.
3. Time to cease multi-tasking, sorry ladies! Write down your ideal daily, weekly or monthly routine to balance sleep, eating, yoga, love and work. Get in the groove of loving your mini rituals (they don’t have to involve chanting or incense, can be as simple as a sunrise cuppa) and embrace going slow. When Vata gets out of balance we can easily feel anxious and worried but when we take time to move mindfully through the day spontaneous inspiration bursts forth and creativity flourishes.
Enjoy the grounding effect of intentional routine; enjoy time in nature, bear witness to the magnificent changing face of our collective home, enjoy nourishing your body and those you love with abundant gratitude, compassion and delight.
What are your fave rituals to enjoy autumn? Share with us the comments below!
exploring, experimenting + evolving | w Nianna Bray
RE-BRANDING COMPASSION
I feel like Compassion needs a total brand overhaul. It has all sorts of sad connotation attached to it, Compassion isn’t soppy, martyr-like or for the faint hearted. It’s a joyous celebration of the fact that deep down, underneath all our stories, we are made of the same stuff. Being compassionate is essentially being a nice human, which sounds simple, but requires huge commitment, the capacity to laugh, not at but with each other.
