Erika Steller Yoga and Mindfulness in Austinmer, New South Wales, Australia | Alternative & holistic health service

Erika Steller Yoga and Mindfulness

Locality: Austinmer, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 427 131 701

Address: Northern Suburbs of Wollongong 2515 Austinmer, NSW, Australia

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• Medical and health
• Alternative & holistic health service
• Meditation centre
• Yoga studio

25.01.2022 I am so excited to announce and share my website. It has been 18 months in the making! I'm so happy with my new website and online booking system :-). Thank you to my amazing, talented friend Louise Manner . You can read about my journey with yoga and mindfulness, learn a bit about Dru Yoga as a style and about mindfulness and benefits, find out what classes/sessions I offer, and book yourself into a class! There is also a section introducing my work in schools - teaching students yoga and mindfulness, which I'm super excited about. Thanks for checking this out! Erika https://www.erikasteller.com.au/

23.01.2022 Breathing Games for Your Child - the benefits of practicing 'breathing'. Breathing into our belly and or, just noticing our breath regulates our nervous system and calms us. It really works - for us AND our children :-). The research is clear - but it can be very tricky to find the time to regularly introduce breathing practices. These ones can be done in a way that's interactive between you and your child. Apps can be great too. At 3:28 in this video Lou describes 'breathin...g a crystal or toy up and down'. I particularly recommend this one. The idea is that their belly moves as they breathe which gives them a cue to notice their breath and a focus to keep them engaged. It could be anything really that they place on their belly - a stone or shell that they have collected... Lou says over and over in this video to keep breathing activities fun and playful, not to force the breath at all - keeping it easy, natural and for very short periods. She says to use times like, just before bed, just before dinner, just before your're going to play a game. I personally recommend bedtime - one of my children relies quite a lot on me guiding her at bedtime. I think it's key to find a time that works to regularly fit in a quick practice - one the child likes, and if it's not as regular as you'd like, don't worry about that. Lou says to play breathing games (do breathing practices kids enjoy) so that the child knows how to feel/notice their breath. Then they know what that feels like in their body, and it will then come more easily at times when they really need it. They'll be more open to you suggesting to them that they take some breaths to help them to calm down, if they are familiar with it. This is the same as with apps - to use them often - they'll get familiar with the feeling of noticing their breath. https://www.facebook.com/louharveyzahraauthor/videos/642750842992019 There's another one I highly recommend called the 'breathing hand' at 3:05. The whole video has good information (it's 5:45 mins), but I have summarised the main points above, so for a shortcut you could just watch the one or two descriptions as suggested above. <3 Erika Thank you Lou at @louharveyzahraauthor

23.01.2022 Yoga and Mindfulness with a view. I'm so grateful to be able to teach at this beautiful venue. Just being in this place is inspiration! "Yoga is about clearing away whatever is in us that prevents our living in the most full and whole way. With yoga, we become aware of how and where we are restricted - in body, mind, and heart - and how gradually to open and release these blockages. As these blockages are cleared, our energy is freed. We start to feel more harmonious, more at one with ourselves. Our lives begin to flow - or we begin to flow more in our lives." - Cybele Tomlinson There are many reasons to let go of the old and allow in the new, including the change of season which is happening at this time. Om shanti - may peace be with you, Erika

23.01.2022 For those of you who have teen or pre teen boys, or for anyone. Many of the messages in this short video can apply to all of us, not just teen boys. Great messages in here - it's worth a watch. Thanks Maggie Dent :-).

22.01.2022 Anxiety in children is so common, and in adults too... It has been a particularly anxiety inducing year. This is a very helpful article for parents. https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-children-metaphor-put-/

22.01.2022 Breath As A Foundation 'Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. No matter what is going on inside us thoughts, emotions, or perceptions our breathing is always with us, like a faithful friend. Whenever we are carried away by our thinking, when we are overwhelmed by strong emotions, or when our minds are restless and dispersed, we can return to our breathing.' Thich Nhat Hanh. Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash

22.01.2022 Here is the link for this evenings yoga class - the last of our January Wednesday evening classes for helping us begin 2021 in an inspired and empowered way. This evening a celebration of the full moon and our intentions. All welcome. Bookings required. Book via the link below https://events.humanitix.com/dru-yoga-and-mindfulness-class With very best wishes to all for the full moon Erika

22.01.2022 My adults classes are meditative with flowing movements and focus on the breath, and my children's classes are lots of fun, with a focus on togetherness while learning calming breathing and mindfulness practices. For bookings or enquiries, please message me below. Erika

21.01.2022 This is an interesting read on the history of modern mindfulness, its rise with Jon Kabat-Zinn's lead, and including how mindfulness could help us politically as well.

21.01.2022 It's a beautiful day. Come and join us this evening for an energising practice. It's about connecting with your inner fire. It's still an accessible/gentle practice. Bringing intention to what it is you'd like to bring energy to in your life. Message me on 0427131701 to book. Photo by Mor Shani on Unsplash.

21.01.2022 Would you like to learn how to 'work with' your breath to improve your wellbeing? Come along to my yoga class this evening in Austinmer at 6:30pm and see how we work with breath in my classes. Bookings required, ticket link below, and more info in the FB Event above. This is a weekly class, enquiries welcome. <3 Erika

21.01.2022 Have you noticed the beautiful, nearly full moon? Full tomorrow/Sunday. It's a blue full moon (2 full moons in this month of October). Sooth and calm your mind and emotions and balance your endocrine system with this gentle Dru Yoga Moon Sequence. One of my favourite Dru sequences - great for practicing leading up to and around the time of the full moon. Thank you Meggie Moon Yoga again for this video. I've shared it before. Enj-JOY the silvery moon rays and your weekend all

21.01.2022 Discovering Heartfulness within Mindfulness was the best discovery! I was coming from the Dru Yoga style/tradition-a heart based practice-sometimes referred to as yoga of the heart. Mindfulness also, has heart-full-ness behind and within it-as an integral part. Do you connect with the messages/intuition of your heart? Ive learned to do this more and more .

21.01.2022 Thank you to Lisa Flynn at Yoga 4 Classrooms for this series of mindful, yoga activities. This Balloon Breath is a wonderful and foundational breath for children (and adults!) to practice for bringing calm. Let me know if you practice it with your child! I'd love to hear how they like it. Give it a few tries. The more we can bring breathing or mindfulness practices into our routine or our day to day lives, the more we are likely to feel the benefits. It can take time :-)

20.01.2022 Join us this week in Austinmer Wednesday evening 6:30-8pm for yoga and mindfulness. There is so much busy-ness. So much information, so many things to do. Do you connect with a sense of stillness inside yourself? A place within you that feels like home? "At the still point of the turning world...at the still point, there the dance is..." T.S. Eliot.

20.01.2022 Join us for Dru Yoga and Mindfulness (adults) Wed eves 6:30-8pm Austi, or Fridays 9:30-11am Coledale. Children's Yoga and Mindfulness 4-5pm Austi - starts Wed 21st Oct. Message me below to enquire. Bookings required. I look forward to meeting you or your child soon. <3 Erika

20.01.2022 Yoga at Coledale Surf Club tomorrow - so great to be back at this venue! There are a couple of places still available in tomorrows class. Join us for Dru Yoga and Mindfulness tomorrow - Friday 23rd Oct 9:30-11am. This is a meditative style of yoga, gentle and flowing and suitable for those new or those experienced with yoga. It is particularly effective for bringing mind-body connection, and calming our mind and nervous system. Bookings required. Message me here for more info/to reserve your place. If enquiring after 9pm this evening, or tomorrow (Friday) morning text message me on 0427131701 :-)Erika

19.01.2022 For those interested in mindfulness and its positive impact, join John Shearer of Mindfulness Master for this 15 minute talk. It's enlightening, entertaining and inspiring. Thanks for your work John!

19.01.2022 Family Yoga and Mindfulness. Bring your kids! Or are your kids asking you for yoga? :-). Sunday 22nd November in Coledale. Grab your tickets soon - click on the ticket link below. There are a smaller number of places available this time. Message me here for any enquiries. I look forward to meeting/seeing you and your child/ren at this family session! Erika

19.01.2022 Do you know what I mean by 'monkey mind'? The affectionate term for a busy mind that jumps all over the place, and maybe up and down. I'm sure there are many of us who can relate to this...This video is a fun but informative description of the 'monkey mind' and what meditation is about. This light-hearted perspective is helpful when approaching meditation... What is your experience of 'monkey mind' or meditation? Erika Steller

18.01.2022 Happy Winter Solstice - A Winter Solstice Blessing for you all. Now is the time to honour the re-birth of the sun. To remember the light in the darkest part of the season With hope of good things to come, And the promise of a renewed life.... May peace be with you, Erika

18.01.2022 Yoga classes for teens - after school, Wollongong, with the amazing Kathy Gaudiosi of KinKou Yoga. See more info below if you are interested for your teen. She has some spaces left for students to join next term.

17.01.2022 Thank you to my wise, kind, ever positive, joyful, grounded, resilient and motivated to do great things 12 year old daughter for taking these photos for me. Ah I am so grateful to have her in my life. These were taken at the Moore Street Yoga Room, for the purpose of new photos of yoga teachers for their website and instagram which you can follow @moorestreetyogaroom. I'm just not sure about the quality/file size...

17.01.2022 I hope some of you enjoy this amazing music by beatboxing buddhist monk as much as I just did :-). Thank you for sharing this dear friend Megan Gilbert of MG Yoga <3

17.01.2022 For Mums looking for a baby/toddler/pre schooler yoga session, I highly recommend Nancy McLean doula yoga massage and her Yoga Playgroup in Wollongong. See more info below, bookings available for the remainder of term 3 now <3

16.01.2022 Reframe your thinking about emotions. All emotions are relevant with an equal right to be. Yes to this. Thank you Allison Davies - Music and the Brain for always advocating for this.

16.01.2022 R U OK? Today and every day, can we take the time to check on how are friends, family and those around us are going? On how they are REALLY going. On how we are REALLY going. I'm sharing this post from The Sensory Studio Australia (a fantastic little shop in Fairy Meadow), and these words below by Dr Lauren Tober of Meditation, Pure + Simple with Dr Lauren Tober. Today is R U OK Day in Australia. It's a national day where we check in on people and ask them how they're REALLY... going. Not just in the conversational 'how are you?' kind of way, but in a real and authentic way. A way in which we actually listen to the answer, and encourage them to keep talking if they need to, instead of rushing on with our busy lives. If you have a have a feeling that someone you know or care about might be struggling, try asking them one of these questions: "How are you going lately? It seems like you have a lot on your plate right now." "Things are crazy with all this COVID stuff right now, how are you coping with it?" "How are you going? I mean, how are you REALLY going?" "Do you need to chat? I'm here if you need me."

16.01.2022 Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things. Lao Tzu

16.01.2022 For anyone with a teen or who knows a teen, I highly recommend Kathy Gaudiosi of KinKou Yoga as a yoga teacher for teens. Details of her classes are below

15.01.2022 A powerful and beautiful video by these kids about mindfulness/breathing. It's just 3 1/2 minutes - have a watch! ' "Just Breathe" features kids speaking candidly about anger and how they cope - something for all ages to ponder...' Filmmaker Julie Bayer Salzman. Thank you also to Mindful Schools for this video and for their incredible and inspiring mindfulness training especially for schools. I love the Mindful Schools approach and am proud to be able to share their mindfulness teachings with children.

14.01.2022 Such a beautiful weekend and day today with the sun shining and sparkles on the ocean. Being in nature is such good medicine. I'm so grateful to call the Illawarra home. I hope you got to enjoy some sunshine and time outdoors too.

14.01.2022 Would you like to assist your child to practice mindfulness? I highly recommend this collection of children's meditations/mindfulness practices. They are by an Australian practitioner, Isabelle Mary Fitzgerald of My Peaceful Universe. Note the Australian accent :-). The individual practices ie. 'Bubble Meditation for Kids' etc are about 7 mins - perfect. Plus there is a 10 day program of mindfulness sessions 'Overcome Your Monkey Mind' (these are longer sessions - about 13 mins).

14.01.2022 Yoga at the Coledale Surf Club - are you keen to join us for Dru Yoga and Mindfulness tomorrow Friday 19th November 9:30-11am? Bookings required - text message me on 0427 131 701 to book or enquire about this class. This is a meditative style class with a focus on the breath and working with mind-body connection. It's also a super inspiring place looking out over the ocean for class Erika

12.01.2022 Gratitude opens the door to the power the wisdom the creativity of the universe.... You open the door through gratitude. - Deepak Chopra. See more

12.01.2022 This post and message is so valuable. Have a read and take some time out to breathe and go slowly for a bit. Thank you Isabelle Mary Fitzgerald at My Peaceful Universe once again for this reminder. <3 Erika

12.01.2022 How do we practice being present? This yoga term we are exploring 'how to be present' and its benefits. Do you feel that your mind is often thinking of the future or the past when you could be enjoying (or being attentive to) what's happening in the present moment? Being more present takes practice. When our mind is racing or jumping around all over the place, and we notice, we could feel annoyed or anxious about it. Could we meet ourselves with kindness? It's a wonderful thing to be able to practice self-kindness as often as we can. To be our own best friend. To accept our emotions. We work with these things in yoga class and will be working a little with our emotions in tomorrow evenings class. Bookings are required so please book your place via this link. Erika https://events.humanitix.com/dru-yoga-and-mindfulness-class

11.01.2022 Storm coming. How is your internal weather today? "Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." Thich Nhat Hanh. I can vouch for yoga and mindfulness helping to weather life's emotional storms. To be able to ride the waves (the waves continue!) but to not get dumped.

10.01.2022 Peace Day. It's the United Nations International Day of Peace today. What is your wish for peace? What can you personally do to help make that wish come true? Today is a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. Get your children involved with this project - Footsteps for Peace - a virtual 'World Peace Walk'. It is educational and helps us to contribute to creating a world in which we can all experience peace. https://www.worldpeaceflame.co.uk///22/world-walk-project/

10.01.2022 A really useful explanation of the 'fight or flight' part of our brain and using mindfulness or breathing to calm us. This is great for kids! :-)

10.01.2022 How amazing is the positive impact this one young woman is making? How incredible if we really believe in our power to make a difference in the world, in our own community or family? If we tune in to what is really important to us, and believe in our abilities to dream and contribute to the beauty and connection in our world, or in our own world? If we empower others to do the same? This is such an inspiring story and young woman. Thank you for sharing Madeline Agnew. Erika Steller

10.01.2022 Thinking of coming to yoga class or yoga for your child? I have places available for adults to do a one off class to trial my class over the next 2 weeks, then we'll be starting a new term afresh for Autumn, with new practices and inspirations. I'm feeling the season of autumn, and the feeling of change. Like how leaves drop their leaves in Autumn, is there something you are ready to let go of? Message me below for interest in my adults or children's classes or for booking details. Erika

09.01.2022 A better measure for sure. I wonder what success means to you?

08.01.2022 My great teacher once said to me, "We are human beings Erika, not human doings". And I realised I didn't know how to just 'be'. I've been practising... This is a wonderful quote by Thich Nhat Hanh about this. Thanks to Sue at Yoga for Everybody for sharing it.

08.01.2022 Dear Parents, I have a few places available for my Children's Yoga and Mindfulness Classes this term (for 5-10 year olds) 4-5pm in Austinmer. Bookings required. Book your child in for a trial class for this Wed 29th via the link below. Or contact me by message or email to enquire - [email protected] . I look forward to hearing from you, and meeting your child :-) Erika

08.01.2022 Sunday evening light, and kindness - what does it mean to you? Chatting to someone who may need a chat? Welcoming or including someone? Daily acts, big acts? Self-kindness? Thoughts?

05.01.2022 'What is yoga?' This yogi and psychology professor describes the depths and power of yoga so well in a down-to-Earth way. He talks about the benefits of a yoga practice that allows for going beyond yoga for the physical body and how yoga works on other levels. Yoga as a way of life and to be transformed. To dissolve our internal chatter (monkey mind!), and patterns that are not of benefit to us. Im inspired by this talk! It's only 16 mins long, and I think it's insightful regarding understanding yoga. I'd love to know if it makes sense to you too... Let me know if you watch it, and share your thoughts

04.01.2022 Yoga in Bulli this Friday 9:30-11am-3 spaces available. This Dru Yoga and Mindfulness class is gentle yet potent for assisting mind-body connection and bringing calm as well as a sense of aliveness. Message me below or direct message or PM me for more info (before 9pm Thurs eve). Erika

04.01.2022 Vagus Nerve Key to Wellbeing - I've been learning a lot about the vagus nerve recently and how yoga and breathing deeply (or consciously) activates it. Activation of the vagus nerve connects mind and body and brings mental calmness, as well as physical benefits. Excerpts from the article below include : Breathing deeply... immediately relaxes the body because it stimulates the vagus nerve, which runs from the neck to the abdomen and is in charge of turning off the fight or flight reflex. Stimulating the vagus nerve...activates your relaxation response, reducing your heart rate and blood pressure. Deep breathing turns on the vagus nerve enough that it acts as a brake on the stress response. This article is an easy read and helps in understanding the role of the vagus nerve.

04.01.2022 I hope everyone had a lovely Easter, and found a break from working/busy-ness. Being in nature is so good for the soul, and I'm so grateful for the sanctuary of nature for myself, and my family. These are our Easter Buns made with love (after our camping trip), that my family and I are still enjoying. What does Easter mean to you? :-)

04.01.2022 This place is a sanctuary. For yoga and body-breath-heart-mind connection. It may be rainy and cool today but the Moore Street Yoga Room is super warm and cozy. I love this place. Join us for a yoga and mindfulness practice this evening that is uplifting and nurturing. 6:30-8pm at the Moore Street Yoga Room Austinmer. $18/casual class. Text message me to reserve your place 0427131701. <3 Erika

03.01.2022 'Whatever you are experiencing I want you to know that all your feelings are ok... ' Thanks once again for your post Isabelle at My Peaceful Universe. Please read Isabelle's post below, I share her sentiments, and hope they help.Erika

03.01.2022 Yoga in Bulli tomorrow - Friday 24th 9:30-11am. Join us for Dru Yoga and Mindfulness - these classes are gentle yet potent for assisting mind-body connection and bringing calm as well as a sense of aliveness. Bookings required. Message me here or on 0427131701 to book/enquire. Text message to my mobile number if after 9pm this evening. Erika

03.01.2022 A week ago, I received an exciting package in the mail. A beautiful book written by my dear friend and fellow Dru Yoga Teacher @Gini Eagle. I sat for nearly an hour at my letterbox reading/skimming through her book 'Awaken' as the kids played. I was captivated. Here are some of Gini's words about her book, I want this story to be a guide which illuminates pathways for you to be inspired by and be able to follow and read when your energy is blocked that is, when youre feel...ing out of balance, she says. And she touches on a world she believes is also out of balance, drawing on her experiences of Indigenous cultures to encourage people to think at the very least about their guardianship of the planet. Lets slow down, live more simply and learn to respect ourselves and all living things, says Gini. https://aboutregional.com.au/a-tale-of-one-womans-journey-f See more

03.01.2022 Such a sparkling day today in the Illawarra. I'm so happy to see the sun after so much rain. Thinking of all those across eastern Australia who've been impacted by the floods. Sending thoughts of strength and hope for recovery .

02.01.2022 What are you grateful for today?... Today I am grateful for - the sunshine! - time in nature - my yoga practice... The view/place in this photo is constant inspiration to me. Practicing gratitude is a humbling and powerful practice that brings us into the now. What is it that you already have, that you already are, that you are already doing? And how good does it feel to notice it? Om shanti - may peace be with you. <3 Erika See more

02.01.2022 Yes to the power of gratitude in bringing us into the present moment. Cultivating gratitude for simple things, which then allows the beauty and joys in life to appear brighter and more visible. Connecting with these moments of being grateful within our challenges and busyness.https://druyoga.com/yoga-online/video/gratitude

02.01.2022 This is one of my favourite quotes ever. 'Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Consciuous breathing is my anchor.' - Thich Nhat Hanh. The power of the breath is incredible. I look forward to sharing some of the gifts of the breath, Dru Yoga and Mindfulness with you this Wednesday evening (especially after a covid break from teaching!). Bookings required via https://events.humanitix.com/dru-yoga-and-mindfulness-class... Thank you to Gavin Hartley for sharing this feedback recently, 'Erika is awesome -- I had ONE class with her and was hooked -- Join her here if you can and you will definitely have an awesome experience.' See more

01.01.2022 I love the sentiment of this Christmas to-do list. Good to reflect on as we celebrate. This time is busy with the Christmas 'to-do's' we place on our list and this can be stressful. I acknowledge the challenges of this time for many. I wish everyone joy and peace this Christmas, and heart-to-heart connection with those we love, even if we can't physically be together. In gratitude to all of my family, friends, students and those who support me, sending thoughts of thankfulness and warmest, heartfelt wishes to you, and thinking of all those who face challenges at this time.

01.01.2022 I'm enjoying getting back to teaching yoga after the school holidays . In Dru Yoga we aim to connect with all of the layers of our being - physical-the body pranic-our energy emotional- our feelings wisdom-our inner knowing and ... bliss-that state of connectedness with all things that yoga is known for. I start the beginning of terms with a focus on connecting with the body, but we always access a number of the other layers in Dru for a sense of expansiveness. <3 See more