How yoga helps us ride the storms of life

Going within

They say that some of the most stressful events in life include the following: renovating selling a house relationship breakdown pregnancy job uncertainty moving Of course, there are plenty of others. But these are just the ones I'm experiencing right now. Yep, life is kicking my butt. I should probably be curled up in a corner dissolving into a puddle of tears. But I'm not. I feel more calm, more centred, and more me than I've ever felt in my entire life. One reason is … [Read more...]

How to connect to other people while holding your centre – a new loving-kindness sadhana

Hugs at Paekakariki

Perhaps my biggest discovery this year has been the power of sadhana. I started my new years with a Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya. It took me a bit longer than forty days to finish it, as I missed a day at day 35 and had to start all over again... but boy was it powerful when I finally finished. I was super excited when I started my next sadhana - all about accessing infinite energy and prosperity. Unfortunately, I had to stop that one at Day 15 because I discovered I was … [Read more...]

Why it’s important to have friends that share your vision for life

Yoga community

One of the joys of being serious about yoga and meditation practice is the community of like-minded friends I've built up around me. Traditionally, a serious aspirant on the spiritual path would have a teacher or guru to turn to for help, guidance and assistance. Life in Wellington means that this teacher or guru usually shows up in my life in the guise of friends and family. Walking a spiritual path is not easy. … [Read more...]

Enough of the doom & gloom! We are in a time of great transformation, can we grab the opportunity it represents?

Open your eye

At any one time, many possible futures are available to us as individuals and as a whole. Times of great change represent both times of great challenge and times of great opportunity. This is one of those times and it makes me excited. Yes - all the financial upheavals, and the crashing and burning of our current model of economic reality, has me seeing opportunities for creative and innovative change left, right and centre. From my perspective, I see that this so-called economic crisis … [Read more...]

Day 15 to 21: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya

Kara-Leah in half lotus, looking less than relaxed

Read the first posts in this series here: Committing to a Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya Day 1 to 7: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya Day 8 to 14: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya I'm over halfway through this sadhana, and the results have been incredible. Last week I shared some of the burning away process, whereby the movement of prana in the body releases old samskaras. This can be a painful and at times bewildering process, yet ultimately it … [Read more...]

Day 8 to 14: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya

Committing to a daily practice allows one to flower

Missed the beginning of this series? Catch up here: Committing to a Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya Day 1 to 7: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya There have been so many "ah-ha!" moments this week, brought about by a combination of this sadhana, but also an amazing book I am reading called Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, by Stephen Cope. Regular practice of yoga transforms us form the inside out - psyche and all. It's a process I've largely done by myself, … [Read more...]