I reluctantly began attending yoga classes in 2001 at the urging of my partner. At that time I was an avid adventurer in rock climbing, trail running, cycling and adventure racing. Throw surfing and open water swimming into the mix, alongside my academic pursuits and you get a very, very busy picture. How could I possibly fit yoga into my day? Furthermore, I knew nothing about yoga and really questioned whether I could add it into my busy schedule. (Does any of this sound familiar?) To my great surprise and pleasure, yoga was a welcome complement for my body and for my mind, helping me to find balance between strength and flexibility, activity and restoration, thinking and experiencing.
I feel fortunate to have begun my yoga journey by learning Astanga - a vigorous form of vinyasa flow yoga originally taught by the late Sri Pattabhi Jois. Through this practice I learned to view the breath as the priority of the practice. I followed my breath as it led my body into and out of poses, day after day. My body grew strong and flexible, my mind became more focused, and I experienced sensations of intense frustration, distraction and apprehension. Does this sound "un-yogic"? It does definitely fly in the face of our popular perceptions of yoga practice. Yet, this was, and still is, an important part of my experience of practice. It is easy to experience lightness, blissfulness, grace, patience, generosity and energy. But sometimes I don't. Learning to understand discomfort as part of my practice - and respond skilfully - is one of the boundless lessons of yoga.
Our mats are a perfect place to safely observe and experience sensations of the mind, body and spirit in peace and quietude. But how much of our day is spent in this state? Very little. I've learned to use my mat-based practice as a template for my life off of the mat. I became a parent in 2005 and had a second child in 2008. Although I've had many well-known yoga teachers along my journey, (Dillon Cherrett, Maty Ezraty, Aadil Palkhivala, John Friend and Jason and Chelsey Magness have greatly influenced my practice and teaching), my two sons along with my partner, Andy, are my steadfast teachers in life. They are motivation for me to practice off of my mat and become more comfortable with discomfort and uncertainty; what Tarchin Hearn calls "the suchness of life".
I can't talk about yoga without mentioning the mind/body.The literal definition of asana in Sanskrit is "to take a seat" or "he sits". In my humble estimation, asana practice is a form of mindful movement connecting the body and the mind, preparing us to take our seat for mindfulness and meditation. You see, our minds can be anywhere - in the future (to-do list), the past (did I do the right thing?) or on a warm, sandy beach (daydreaming). BUT our bodies can only be in this present moment. Disconnect between the body and the mind can cause a lot of stress and dis-ease. Mindfulness takes us off of "auto-pilot" and brings present moment awareness into day to day experience by intentionally paying attention to what is happening here in this body, now in this moment. I find, time and time again, that what I *think* is happening is not actually the truth of the matter.
I am fortunate to be under the tutelage of Natasha Rix, owner of Mindful Living and co-director of the Mindfulness Education Group. I am also a Pause, Breathe, Smile facilitator through the Mindfulness Education Group. I present mindfulness through courses I've personally created, as well as through Mindfulness Works. I am also honoured to be part of the Rakau Raroa/Tall Trees programme through the Changing Minds and Like Minds, Like Mine organisations.
I am currently studying towards a Masters of Counselling through the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. It is my intention to offer Flourish counselling services in future. I'm very excited with this prospect, as it is another way to connect and serve our beautiful Te Anau community. Watch this space for more to come!
We are all travelers on this journey, stepping gently with mindful movements, developing clarity with mindful thoughts, connecting the body and mind to feel deeply. Together, breath by breath, we flourish.
To contact me, click here.
I feel fortunate to have begun my yoga journey by learning Astanga - a vigorous form of vinyasa flow yoga originally taught by the late Sri Pattabhi Jois. Through this practice I learned to view the breath as the priority of the practice. I followed my breath as it led my body into and out of poses, day after day. My body grew strong and flexible, my mind became more focused, and I experienced sensations of intense frustration, distraction and apprehension. Does this sound "un-yogic"? It does definitely fly in the face of our popular perceptions of yoga practice. Yet, this was, and still is, an important part of my experience of practice. It is easy to experience lightness, blissfulness, grace, patience, generosity and energy. But sometimes I don't. Learning to understand discomfort as part of my practice - and respond skilfully - is one of the boundless lessons of yoga.
Our mats are a perfect place to safely observe and experience sensations of the mind, body and spirit in peace and quietude. But how much of our day is spent in this state? Very little. I've learned to use my mat-based practice as a template for my life off of the mat. I became a parent in 2005 and had a second child in 2008. Although I've had many well-known yoga teachers along my journey, (Dillon Cherrett, Maty Ezraty, Aadil Palkhivala, John Friend and Jason and Chelsey Magness have greatly influenced my practice and teaching), my two sons along with my partner, Andy, are my steadfast teachers in life. They are motivation for me to practice off of my mat and become more comfortable with discomfort and uncertainty; what Tarchin Hearn calls "the suchness of life".
I can't talk about yoga without mentioning the mind/body.The literal definition of asana in Sanskrit is "to take a seat" or "he sits". In my humble estimation, asana practice is a form of mindful movement connecting the body and the mind, preparing us to take our seat for mindfulness and meditation. You see, our minds can be anywhere - in the future (to-do list), the past (did I do the right thing?) or on a warm, sandy beach (daydreaming). BUT our bodies can only be in this present moment. Disconnect between the body and the mind can cause a lot of stress and dis-ease. Mindfulness takes us off of "auto-pilot" and brings present moment awareness into day to day experience by intentionally paying attention to what is happening here in this body, now in this moment. I find, time and time again, that what I *think* is happening is not actually the truth of the matter.
I am fortunate to be under the tutelage of Natasha Rix, owner of Mindful Living and co-director of the Mindfulness Education Group. I am also a Pause, Breathe, Smile facilitator through the Mindfulness Education Group. I present mindfulness through courses I've personally created, as well as through Mindfulness Works. I am also honoured to be part of the Rakau Raroa/Tall Trees programme through the Changing Minds and Like Minds, Like Mine organisations.
I am currently studying towards a Masters of Counselling through the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. It is my intention to offer Flourish counselling services in future. I'm very excited with this prospect, as it is another way to connect and serve our beautiful Te Anau community. Watch this space for more to come!
We are all travelers on this journey, stepping gently with mindful movements, developing clarity with mindful thoughts, connecting the body and mind to feel deeply. Together, breath by breath, we flourish.
To contact me, click here.