Intentional Rest -  is something many of us take for granted, or put off until later...but sometimes later only comes if we are forced to rest because of our health, or because we burn out. 

There is a saying - listen to your body whisper so you won't have to listen to it scream...and I think this is really true.

Intentional rest - like taking time out for yoga, meditation or guided deep relaxation, is really something we have to commit to and make a habit of, in order to keep your light shining brightly. Burn out can leave you feeling numb, dull, without any energy or with a dimming life force. From my own experience it can take weeks, months or even years to replenish our mauri/  life force.

By practicing yoga and yoga nidra this is really taking that special time to just focus on you, and it's not selfish, it's necessary.

There are many pressures on us today to constantly be showing up, constantly striving, to be busy or achievement...

Mānawatia a Matariki - New year greetings!

During our yoga this term we spent the last two weeks setting intentions- called a Sankalpa in the yoga tradition I am trained in. This was to honour and mark the beginning of Matariki, before the re-emergence of the star cluster known as Matariki or Pleiades. To harness the energy of this powerful time, the power of the stars and ritual, to bring our desires and wishes from our hearts and minds into fruition...

The kaupapa involved focusing on one of the nine stars-

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi - The Wishing Star... 

... sending our wishes, hopes and dreams to the stars ...that is one of the roles of Matariki wā, when the star Matariki rises she brings with her her children, one of which is Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the wishing star...so now is the time to release your wishes and dreams for the coming year.

In yoga we use the power of Sankalpa - a resolve or intention for that which you wish to bring into your life - this...

More and more people are coming to yoga for help with stress management... 

What is it about yoga that makes it an option for helping with stress ? 

Some of the ways yoga helps with stress are;

1. Breathing 
2. Movement 
3. Meditation 
4. Relaxation 
5. Meaning 

Today we are looking mostly at breathing to alleviate stress. This starts with becoming aware of your breath. This is simple yet profound and often enough for many people to feel calmer. 

There are two parts of the autonomic nervous system, the parasympathetic- “rest and digest “- and the sympathetic- “fight - flight -freeze “. 

Our bodies respond to life threatening events by releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol , blood is pumped away from the centre of the body to enable the limbs to run, or fight the danger, it is all about survival and an important part of the survival mechanism. However our bodies don’t...

A home practice will transform your yoga and self in many ways...

For many it is the next step in their yoga journey, for some it has been an unwelcome necessity during this pandemic, but either way, you CAN develop a beautiful home practice that will have many benefits for your wellbeing.

A yoga practice with intent is called Sadhana, and it's powerful, personal and may even change your life!  (Your Sadhana is of a spiritual nature and the focus is not only on doing poses to gain physical mastery. It's about what's on the inside as well.) 

But there can be many obstacles along the journey, and initially it can be helpful to have some guidance and to know that although there maybe barriers, there are also solutions.

Here's some of what I've heard and may have even said myself sometimes in my 21 years of yoga teaching - 

• I'm too busy/  I don't have the time to practice any other time than when I come to the studio

• I...

Ngā mihi o te tau hōu ki a koe! - Happy New Year to you!

And welcome to Kohitātea - or the eighth month ( January at the time of writing ) according to the maramataka māori.

The Maramataka is the moon phases that māori lived by pre-colonisation, and also today many māori and non- māori are turning back to it's wisdom, for planting crops, fishing and hunting, and doing other activities such as hui, or resting verses being active. 

To me, as a wahine, it makes perfect sense to be in tune with the moons subtle yet powerful energy and flow. That energy which effects our environment, the oceans, the plants and animals, us,  as we are a part of the environment, and so it is natural to be in rhythm and harmony with it.

So whether you consider it to be the 1st month of the year, or the eighth, a way that I like to combine the two systems (because we are all living within the Gregorian calendar too), is to think of this time as a time to take stock,...

I have often been asked what do I receive from my yoga practice? It's a great question because it reminds me of the reasons why I practice, and teach, so that others can also receive the gifts yoga has to offer.

Different people receive different gifts from their practice, but it is definitely worth reflecting and asking - what do you receive?

Over the years I have been teaching and sharing yoga, many people have experienced some form of healing through yoga. Sometimes subtle, sometimes profound,  so it is not an easy question to answer, because it is different for many people.

I feel like there is always so much we are going through as human beings. And it can't be avoided if we are living, breathing, interacting, working, raising families, caring for ourselves and others. 

We have had things happen to us throughout life, positive experiences and negative experiences, some that helped us to grow,  some that...

"Hā ki Roto - Hā ki Waho"  -" Breathe in - Breathe out"

Sometimes this simple instruction is all we can do in life and yoga!

"Don't forget to breathe", as a great teacher once told me many years ago.

Sounds simple, but it is the simplest things that can sometimes be the most profound, both in practice, and in practice off the mat- also known as - life!

A simple way to tell how you are doing in yoga is- to be aware of your breath.

āroa hā = breath awareness ( see how close this is to aro-ha )

In our classes the awareness of the breath, the Hā in Māori ( also sometimes known as hau, ngā , manawa and tā to name a few of the words to describe the breath ) is all important, as important as what you do with your body, if not more.

Hā also means your essence.

The breath is the bridge between our bodies and our mind in yoga. It contains the life force, and links us to our divine nature.

The...