by Lucinda Staniland Meet Leslie Kaminoff, a Yoga educator with forty years experience in the study of Yoga and the breath. Leslie studied with T.K.V Desikachar, a teacher renowned for his emphasis on the therapeutic aspects of yoga, and he is the co-author of the bestselling book Yoga Anatomy.In Leslie's conversation with Kara-Leah Grant, I was struck by his particular brand of what I would call respectful realism.This is a man with a deep belief in the power of the work that he … [Read more...]
Has Modern Yoga Been Dominated By The Masculine?
by Lucinda Staniland It's interesting what happens when you ask a difficult question.You'll note that there is only one man featured in this edition of The Community Speaks, our roundup of perspectives from influential people in the NZ and Australia yoga communities.This is not for lack of trying on our part—at least 11 men were invited to be part of this, but the majority of them didn't reply to emails. Perhaps it's an indication of how uncomfortable and challenging this question can … [Read more...]
The Inside Story on Yoga Nidra & Restorative Yoga Instructor Training at Anahata Yoga Retreat
by Lucinda Staniland When you’re contemplating which Yoga Teacher Training is right for you, one of the best resources can be speaking to someone who has already done that training. Of course, it can be hard to track down former trainees, so we’ve done that hard work for you.In today's world, there is a great need for restorative practices like Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga, so I was delighted to hear that Anahata Yoga Retreat is offering a Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga Instructors … [Read more...]
Sarsha & Sandi of Nadi 200 Hour Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training on the Incredible Intelligence of the Body
by Lucinda Staniland Sandi Murphy and Sarsha Hood are two passionate, intelligent and, most of all embodied women.These are characteristics that serve them well as co-leaders of the Nadi 200 Hour Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training, an immersive month-long training for dedicated yoga students.Watching their interview with Kara-Leah Grant, I was greatly struck by the incredible synergy and resonance between them. Sarsha and Sandi are the epitome of the saying 'on the same wave length'— … [Read more...]
This is What Happened When I Combined Yoga with the KonMari Method
by Lucinda Staniland It was a small book that made a big promise.I’ve grown to be suspicious of such books, particularly when they make prominent use of phrases like ‘life-changing’, but there was something about this one that I couldn’t shake off.It was simple, it was sincere—very sincere, in fact—and it was practical too. Maybe, just maybe, I thought, this little book might be offering something true. Maybe, just maybe, tidying up might just turn out to be as life-changing as it … [Read more...]
Amy Ippoliti on Why 60-Minute Yoga Classes Might Be Watering Down Yoga
by Lucinda Staniland Meet Amy Ippoliti—yoga teacher, author, earth activist and founder of 90 Monkeys, an online professional development school for yoga teachers. One of the first things I noticed when I watched this video interview with Amy was her irrepressible enthusiasm for the practice of yoga. Yes, there's no doubt in my mind that this woman loves yoga, and loves sharing it with the world.And yet, while Amy is incredibly open hearted and enthusiastic, she also cultivates a sharp … [Read more...]
Cathy Gamba on Mindfulness, Deep Rest & Teaching Yoga in New Caledonia
by Lucinda Staniland Every yoga teacher brings a unique constellation of skills, interest and life history to their teaching practice, and Wellington yoga teacher Cathy Gamba is no exception.Cathy's on her way to becoming a clinical psychologist, has deep roots in the practice of mindfulness and is acutely aware of the connection between physical health and mental health.She's also French, and is stoked to be teaching an upcoming yoga retreat in New Caledonia, a French-speaking Pacific … [Read more...]
The Community Speaks: How Has Yoga Changed Your Relationship With Your Body?
by Lucinda Staniland Bodies are strange things. They are our home—our only means of experiencing and connecting with the world—and yet many of us are profoundly disconnected and cut off from the lived experience of the body.Add to that our collective obsession with the superficial experience of the body, and the relationship becomes even more confusing and complex.We wanted to know how the yoga community are responding to this challenge, so we asked a group of NZ and Australian yoga … [Read more...]
Is It Normal To Feel Tired All The Time? How I Embraced Darkness & Found Deep Rest
by Lucinda Staniland I’ve been practicing yoga for eight years, and while I’ve experienced many benefits from a regular practice, deep sleep hasn’t been one of them. Despite my daily home yoga practice—and the deep relaxation and release that it enables—until recently, a really good night’s sleep was an elusive thing for me. Let me get this straight; I've never been an insomniac. I've never experienced the terror of a full blown sleep disorder or extreme sleep deprivation. But I do know what … [Read more...]
The Simple Trick That Transformed My Meditation Practice
by Lucinda Staniland I'm a perfectionist. I love getting things exactly right. So when I got interested in meditation, I had a lot of questions about how I should be doing it: How long should I meditate for? Eyes open or closed? Should I focus on the breath or chant a mantra? Visualise chakras or empty my mind completely? I tried all these things. But somehow, no matter what I did, I felt like I was never quite getting it right. Meditation always felt like hard work to me. It was … [Read more...]