Self-Reflection in action at the yoga studio. by Nicole Allan, Raw Yoga Yoga, like most things, was and is heavily influenced by the humans who learn it, teach it and live it. Over my years of learning, practicing and sharing yoga I believe that one of the most important things we can do, whether through yoga or ordinary everyday life, is to strive to be better humans. I believe this betterment happens through regular self-reflection. The amount of times I have been a complete dick in … [Read more...]
Life, Before and After iRest
by Una Hubbard, I'll never forget my first encounter with iRest® founder - Richard Miller. I was in the Gold Coast at the first wave of teacher trainings to come to this part of the world, feeling very much out of my depth and wondering if I should even be there - I mean, who was I to think I could teach people to meditate? But there I was, and so was Richard Miller. I wasn't at all sure what to make of him, but I walked over and, with all my nervousness, the first thing I said was, … [Read more...]
A Review of the Valka Yoga Cork Yoga Mat: Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly
The Elephant Cork Yoga Mat from Valka Yoga. by Lucinda Staniland, As the editor of a popular yoga website, I receive a lot of requests to review various yoga-related products. Over the years, this has resulted in me getting a lot of practice at the all-important skill of saying ‘No’. I’ve learned the hard way to only say yes to doing a review when it’s a ‘"hell yes!" Thoroughly testing a product and writing a review takes a significant amount of time and energy and there’s nothing … [Read more...]
How to Optimize the Fascial System to Move, Feel & Live Better
Fascia encases and entwines every cell in the human body. by Ian O'Dwyer, SOMA It interests me greatly to observe the various types of exercises and programs that are prepared and delivered by physical trainers, therapists, coaches and yoga teachers with comprehensive knowledge in their areas. Experience has empowered me to appreciate the difficulty in trying to create success for a large number of people with varied movement challenges or goals. As a Movement Practitioner, the … [Read more...]
When it turns out Exile was just a Sabbatical • My return to the Yoga World
Photo by Pete Longworth by Kara-Leah Three weeks ago, after a three or four year sabbatical, I stepped back into a Yoga Studio to teach. I’d stopped teaching because my practice no longer resembled a studio yoga class, and it was impossible to teach something I wasn’t doing. It felt contrived, and wrong. Walking away from teaching felt like walking away from a core part of my identity. But sticking it out felt like a lie. So I stopped teaching. And I stopped going to studios because … [Read more...]
Can Yoga Help with Better Sleep? A Q&A with Mark Stephens
by Lucinda Staniland In a restless world, sleep has become something of an elusive creature. Increasingly few of us get enough deep, restful sleep and as a society, we're starting to see the consequences in our declining physical and mental health. My personal experience of sleep has changed dramatically in recent years. After a lifetime of watching TV, using computers and being exposed to artificial lighting in the evening, I started to become conscious of how profoundly this affected my … [Read more...]
Overwhelm: When You Can’t Escape Your Life, Try Mindfulness
by Angelena Davies “Hello Overwhelm my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again, Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping.” I often break into song when I feel her coming again. Overwhelm. With her short breath, her pinched shoulders, her scratchy throat, her distracted conversations (“Mum, are you listening?”) her constant pull to the list, the bloody list, her tumble of thoughts, thinking thinking thinking, her creepy whispers of “That’s … [Read more...]
Teaching the Superpower of Rest & Reset with Pregnancy Yoga
by KeiShana Coursey, Opti-mum I’m awake between first sleep and second sleep. It’s 1 a.m., and for the past week I have been nursing the family through high fevers (including some gnarly hallucinations). My body has succumbed to this viral storm, waking with a sore throat and aching joints, and I’ve just taken a truckload of potions which means I can’t lie down until it’s, well, down. Last night, I dragged myself off to bed as the sun was setting – which I believe is what used to happen … [Read more...]
Yoga as Art, Yoga as Science
by Manmohan Singh, The debate about whether yoga is a science or an art has been going on for a long time. However, if you really know what is science and what is art, then you probably don’t need any explanation to decide what yoga is. Let’s look at the definition of science first: The systematic study of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.Systemized knowledge of a specific subject.A specific branch of knowledge.Knowledge gained through systematic … [Read more...]
When Yoga Isn’t Enough: The Importance of Varying Your Movement
Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash by Lucinda Staniland Movement. It’s a big deal. Humans move often, and in varied ways, and when we don’t do this (like when we sit for 8+ hours a day which is the norm in many countries now) there are consequences. Most of us will have experienced some of these consequences in our own bodies to some extent, whether that's through pain, injuries, disease or other physical challenges. In recent times, yoga has become increasingly … [Read more...]