Jala Yoga and Coaching in South Golden Beach | Sport & recreation

Jala Yoga and Coaching

Locality: South Golden Beach

Phone: +61 406 090 791

Address: Pacific Esplanade 2483 South Golden Beach, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.jalayogaandcoaching.com.au/

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25.01.2022 Hope to see you on the mat

25.01.2022 What would happen if you made a commitment to yourself? To make time instead of falling back on that oft repeated trickster I don’t have time. The mind fears change and loves to repeat endless variations of excuses as to why something isn’t possible. This is the ego. The small self. Ahamkara. Keeping you stuck in old patterns. What if you decided that you did have the time...that you could devote 3 mornings in a week to delve deeper into your practice? What would happen...? The early mornings would provide a potent spirit to open to new possibilities. Your body would thank you and ask for more.strength, flexibility, stability. Your day would be woven with a magical energy that sustains you until bed. Your mind would have the space to see things more clearly and make choices that need to be made that have been getting pushed aside. This series falls on the new moon. These classes are a call to set your intention for the remainder of spring and harness the energy of renewal to cleanse and clear the winter stagnation and move into the warmer months with life, vibrancy and clarity. Monday 28th Oct, Wednesday 30th Oct, Friday 1st Nov 5:45-6:45am (so you’ll be home by 7am!). Please contact me if you’re interested but the time is too late - if enough are interested in an earlier time I’m all for it!! I’d be up at 3:30am if necessary. Yoga benefits us to the extent that we do it. Take the opportunity to boost your practice this Spring and gain momentum and consistency - know that it will have lasting impact. In addition to the yoga I will provide some coaching worksheets and Ayurvedic tips for Spring for those wanting to make wider changes in their life. There is also the opportunity to take advantage of a special coaching series with me at a reduced rate for those who participate. See more

25.01.2022 Hope to see you on the mat this week - Spring is here!! Time to get movin’...

25.01.2022 Could 2020 be the year you commit to your yoga practice? It’s coming up to 4 years that we’ve been at South Golden Beach Hall joined in Yoga and Community. Many new students are coming each week - why don’t you too? I love this group of yogis with all my heart - they’re funny, committed, caring and inclusive - everyone feels welcome here and we are all practising for the same reasons - peace and freedom in body, mind and heart. We connect each week to that place within us... that is true. I hope to see you this week...don’t put it off any longer. Whether you’re new to yoga, just getting back into it after a long hiatus or looking for a class that offers more the just a good workout - this is your place! See more

25.01.2022 This is the fourth week of our chakra series in class - we now arrive at Anahata Chakra - our heart centre. It is located in the middle of the chest - in the area of the physical heart.This one is a big one for me as a highly sensitive person - I can pick up on many emotional frequencies around me and can easily be exhausted and overwhelmed by it. I find that the energy for me here is over-developed which can see me burn out. This chakra is a place of great learning and growt...h for me over the past few years (and continues to be). The yantra (shown here) is a 12 petalled lotus flower - the 2 interlocking triangles represent spirit and matter or Shiva and Shakti. The yantras (visual representations) are a great focal point for meditation practice. When this chakra is in balance we have a positive view of the world, we think well of others and are kind to others and ourselves. We can be present for what is happening in our lives and have strong emotional boundaries. When out of balance we see the opposite at either end of the spectrum. In class this week we are chanting the bija mantra for this chakra yam (yum), doing poses that impact the heart, lungs, upper back, shoulder blades, arms and hands as well as particular mudras for this centre. The organ of action for this chakra is the hands so this is particularly potent. If you’ve missed the first part of the series that is no problem - join us at the bridge (our heart centre) between the lower and upper energy centres. I hope to see you this week. See more

24.01.2022 Thank you to everyone who has come to a yoga class or workshop of mine this year - it has been a true blessing to serve and support you all in your practice. Final weekly class for 2019 tomorrow morning - hope to see you there! Timetable resumes on the 2nd of Jan!! Looking forward to another year of yoga and community

23.01.2022 This past week in class has been the week of Manipura Chakra - awareness point located at the navel. It’s commonly known as the Solar plexus chakra or navel chakra. This energy centre is associated with personal power, a sense of purpose, the ego, setting goals and boundaries and also your gut instinct. Manipura is linked to the element of fire in all its transformative glory. As a yoga teacher it is a privilege to be connected to my students in their practice but also i...n their daily lives and challenges - this is the true yoga. I have many conversations with many women (and some men) around their personal challenges and struggles off the mat and I am in awe of the strength that I witness in those making big changes or taking leaps of faith in their lives. It also saddens me to experience many women who are holding themselves back from what they really want out of fear or lack of self belief - this was me for many years. This chakra will be most potent for you if this is the case. If you’re yet to connect with your sense of purpose in life - what you were born to do, if you lack direction or live in a fearful way always thinking about the What ifs.....? I encourage you to engage here and observe while practising to open and balance energies of this chakra. So this week (or at a later date) you may like to consider the qualities of the third chakra and how they might be playing out in your life: Do I feel powerful in my life - like I have control of the reins? If not, why is that? Who has the power? Do I feel as if I have a purpose for being alive and am I on track to fulfilling it? (In yoga this is your ‘dharma’.) Do I have a healthy ego (one that sees me put boundaries in place and stand up for myself) rather than one that is too obsessive and driven or conversely one that is too passive and submissive? What changes do I want to bring about in my life that require the courage of this chakra? This coming week we focus on Anahata Chakra - our heart centre hope to see you in class

23.01.2022 Your Yoga class is like coming home for a home-cooked meal... a beautiful soul said to me last week after class - what a heart-warming compliment that was to me. When I think of a home-cooked meal there’s been a lot of love gone into it, it’s nourishing & familiar. You can be yourself there and let everything else fall away. I love the idea that my Yoga classes are this way for someone. There’s definitely a lot of love gone into every class - a love built up over decade...s of practice. I select the ingredients based on the season, the individuals in my class and the general state of affairs in the world around us! You get to nourish the tissues of your body, your heart and your mind & foster connections in a community that are right there beside you - in the flesh. The familiarity part is YOU coming home to yourself. Remembering what it’s like to be in that place of stillness and quiet - the unchanging place within - that NEEDS and WANTS you to remember it. Care to join us for our next meal ? You’ve still got Saturday 7:15-8:15am this week to make it! See more

19.01.2022 A Meditation from me to start your week on the right track https://soundcloud.com/use/flow-of-the-divine/s-fA6agS04lVf

19.01.2022 We said goodbye to our beautiful boy last week. Heart-achingly sad to make the decision to end his journey in this furry body. Most of my life in the Northern Rivers has been lived to a backdrop of his waggy tail, infectious energy and soft coat to bury my face in when life seemed all too difficult. I’d never known the love of a dog before you Chilli and I don’t know if I’ll know anything quite like it again. No other teacher purely lived the lessons you taught me: presen...t moment contentedness, pure joy and utter loyalty til the last breath. The beach is different without you there. It was an honour to be your human and there’s a Labrador shaped hole in my heart travel in peace my boy. Gus is waiting for you x See more

19.01.2022 I waited until the final frontier but I am no longer allowed to run in person classes - as I’m sure you’re aware! Stay safe - I will be putting together some online classes this week (in between teaching at school, house renovations and an anatomy exam ) so I’ll keep you posted! Reach out if you need support - I’m here to help

19.01.2022 Don’t let 2019 go by unacknowledged - even if it’s a year you can’t wait to say goodbye to!! I admit it’s been a tough one for me on many levels but it’s the lessons acknowledged and learned from that help us to grow and move closer to what we do want for our precious lives. Yoga returns us to a place of connection with our body and so too our inner life. The workings of our minds, the longings in our heart. Perhaps 2019 has seen you restless? Fearful? Waiting...for the per...fect time to take action on something - growing a veggie garden, learning to surf, creating...well the time to act is now and signing up for this 2hr session is the first step to take to move in the direction of what you want to bring about in your world. Stop waiting. Look closely. Laugh. Cry. Decide what you want. Act. No more holding pattern behaviours. Our community is such a beautiful one - everyone is welcome and places for this session are already filling as people intuit the potency and relevance of the ending of another year. I hope to see you sign up soon - limited to 20 people - don’t miss out. Message me here or text 0406 090 791 to reserve a place or ask any questions. No more waiting and wishing. Start moving....even just your body through asana - everything else will follow. See more

18.01.2022 This week in class we are practising with a focus on Svadhisthana Chakra - awareness point located at the pubic bone. This energy centre is deep in the belly. This chakra is associated with physical pleasure, fully experiencing your emotions, flowing movement, sexuality, creativity and...the moon! Perfect timing to be tuning into this one right now as we move towards a full moon on Sunday. Svadhisthana is linked to the element of water - my fav! And in the Northern Rivers r...ight now we are surrounded by it after heavy rainfalls over the past few days. We can see the immense power of water in these times as rivers burst their banks and potentially wreak havoc, roads are covered and people blocked in - it can literally sweep anything in its path when there is enough of it. I went for a walk today out on the break wall at Brunswick Heads to look at the sea and gauge what’s going on after the rainfall. There was so much water moving around and it was chocolate brown. The power and danger of water is undeniable but it also has this cleansing quality and the ability to nourish at the simplest level. It also reminded me that there are forces in nature at work ALWAYS whether we notice them or not. Constant movement and renewal. We’ve climaxed in the past months to a mass hysteria in Australia and globally with these fires but watching the water today it reminded me of the inherent intelligence of this living planet. I’m not denying there are massive challenges to that intelligence and its expression but it gives me some peace of heart to trust that our Mother is still most powerful. Our Mother can send the rain to many at just the right time. Her message has not been lost but Her benevolence is ever present and a refuge and hope for us who are panicked and weary. We can’t take right action when we are fearful and lacking in hope. I pray that these blessed rains bring a clarity and a clean slate from which we can make small changes singularly and as communities - day by day. So this week under the light of the full moon you may like to consider the qualities of the second chakra and how they might be playing out in your life: Am I able to feel pleasure in my life? If not, what is blocking it? What brings me joy that I’ve forgotten to include in my daily routine? In what areas of my life do I need to go with the flow more (rather than swimming against the current)? What changes are taking place in my life that I could be more accepting of? May the watery goodness of this chakra and of this phase of the lunar cycle bring you deep cleansing and clarity. If you would like to join my email list to receive weekly guided prompts and reflection based on each chakra as we move through them in class for the next month then head to my website (link in bio) and sign up today! See more

18.01.2022 Much of healing consists of changing the thought forms that dominate our lives. David Frawley And in my own life I’ve found the deeper we go, the more there is to uncover...sheesh! Yoga gives us the space in body first. The space to truly experience what it’s like to live in this particular form. When you create space in the body you have room to breathe. To breathe in - fully and deeply - the sanctity of each present moment. And when you begin to breathe fully you can ...live fully and come to know that you are separate to your thoughts and that you are not your mind. You can witness that YOU are actually much greater than the limited mindscape. That YOU are a landscape of earth, water, fire, air and space interwoven with divinity in all her beauty. You understand that what you KNOW when you allow it to flow forth is of a deep well as ancient as the stars. The thought forms that dominate our lives are not of the stars...but you’ll find the light beneath them. Simply practice. See more

18.01.2022 Book your place! First one for 2020

17.01.2022 Loved reading this list for so much inspiration in terms of making the Yoga & Wellness Industry more inclusive - follow these teachers and their important work. It’s giving me ideas of changes I can make to make yoga more accessible

17.01.2022 This has been a campaign I have followed and contributed to (in very small ways) for a while now. Many Wicked Vans can be seen through Byron and I wanted to help ensure that our local school kids - my daughter and her friends and my students did not have to read disgusting, misogynistic messages as they walked through their town. Congratulations Collective Shout on the amazing work you do for women and girls. Also thank you to our local Greens MP for Ballina Tamara Smith who was very responsive and actioned my email immediately taking it to the Attorney General on my behalf when I expressed my concern for this back in January. Wonderful news. Many voices create change.

17.01.2022 All local friends and students - I’d love to see you at this (be on my team!!). It’s a fundraiser for a friend of mine Karen who has just lost her house at South Golden and has had a terrible run of bad luck lately...let’s show her what our local community is made of by getting behind this event - which is sure to be a fun night. It’s next Saturday - RSVP is on the poster - but let me know if you’re coming because we can team up for sure!! Also if you are business owner and would be able to donate a prize for the raffle we would be thrilled - I’ve donated some Yoga passes myself

16.01.2022 I will continue to run classes this week as usual (stay tuned though) and will be keeping a close eye on guidelines throughout the week as they are possibly upgraded. As I write this, gatherings of more than 500 people are banned and as this becomes stricter I will of course adjust accordingly. I just wanted to make you aware of a few things I am doing and offer my suggestions around coming to class: I have brought all yoga mats home from the hall to wash and disinfect and... will make up a fresh bottle of disinfectant with a variety of cloths to be used once only if you choose to use one of my mats. I would suggest you BYO your own yoga mat though if you can. Wash your hands thoroughly before entering the hall and upon exiting - I will bring antiseptic hand wash but I can’t get my hands on any hand sanitiser (if anyone has any spare to bring that would be great!) If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms please DO NOT come to class. I will not be using the eye pillows or bolsters in class for the next while - please feel free to bring your own blanket or cushion to sit on if you need it. Both of these category of props are used around the face and I just want to minimise any possibility of anyone passing anything on unknowingly. Let’s all commit to practising ‘social distancing’ - no hugging, kissing, hand shaking etc. It’s so sad to have to do this but I hope we will be able to return to warmly greeting and farewelling each other physically in time. If you are feeling strong and healthy and have no one at home that is high risk I see no reason to miss class. Your yoga practice will be an anchor to you during a very unsettling period. There is much fear in the air and your practice will help re-ground you to face the challenges that are coming. Our practice builds an inner strength and resilience (not to mention boosts our immune system) so I encourage you to come. Deep down I feel that this is yet another call to action from the Universe - we can face this with courage and trust and welcome in radically different times. Stay safe.

16.01.2022 Hopefully my classes are a little less condescending so funny!

16.01.2022 Oh how true this rings...we can get so caught up in the methods and strategies for achieving spiritual growth and learning how to be that it can take over each moment of our life and we never truly bring presence to this very moment right here. It’s the practice of many lifetimes and what joy we find when we stop and savour a lonesome birdsong, the smell of the undergrowth, the pitter of raindrops and the salt on our skin...being in the Divinity & mystery of this planet m...oment to moment with an open heart and a readiness to expand into possibility is my practice. I’ve had a young (10 year old) student this week in tears with fear at the thought that there is not a logical explanation for everything. I encouarged her to let go of the need to be able to explain everything...that some things are unexplainable and even unsayable (which is where my love of Sanskrit mantra deepens...) that we just feel them in our heart and we trust that the same force that is breathing us all day long is taking care of things. See more

15.01.2022 I’m feeling shocked and disturbed by the housing commission tower lockdown in Melbourne the past few days - the way that it has been carried out and the lack of communication with residents who are the most vulnerable in our society, many of whom are migrants / BIPOC. I understand the pandemic is forcing the government to take a hard stance and I’m all for locking down to control this thing but this to me is exclusionary and racist and reeks of prejudice and bias that many are not even aware they hold. If you are feeling the same as me sign this petition to call for more support for the residents in those towers: http://chng.it/RmnxbPDGLZ

15.01.2022 Classes back at the Sth Golden hall tomorrow!! Thurs 9:30-11am & Sat 7:15-8:15am. Tuesday class 5-6pm staying online until end of July when Winter Warriors starts July 28th for 5 weeks - message me to book your spot for the block or for weekly classes as numbers are strictly limited. Please note I am away Fri 10th til Thurs 16th July so no classes during that time.

14.01.2022 This week I listened to an incredible podcast episode on Unlocking Us (Brene Brown) with Elizabeth Lesser (founder of Omega Institute in NY) on the power of women’s stories. This quote was by Brene right at the end. She encouraged us to interrogate those stories, see them for what they are and write a brave new ending. I’ve coached many women in the past few years whose stories tend to all be along the lines of not.....enough (fill in the blank) it’s a story I know inti...mately and it continues to rear its head intermittently for me - the life I live each day is the ‘brave new ending’ and the story’s not over...it’s far from over. What’s the dominant story playing out for you at present? Because whether you’re aware of it or not it’s impacting your body, mind, heart, relationships...life. How can you begin to change the narrative from not enough to perfect. You’re whole and wonderful as you are and have a divine purpose for being this way See more

14.01.2022 @universal_seer and @bronte_spicer are holding what is sure to be a magnificent retreat in Oct in the hinterland of Northern NSW. Here’s a taste: Surrender to receive... - WELCOME TO COUNTRY AND ELEMENTAL CEREMONIES (to slow down and connect deeply with our earth Mother)... - KUNDALINI DANCE (an ecstatic tantric shamanic dance practice to create rich shifts in consciousness) - SHAMAN TALK 'The Five Pillars of Medicine' (to reveal the natural patterning for medicine and evolution) - DAILY YOGA AND MEDITATION (to reclaim your sacred nature and connect to the layers beyond the physical) (with me!!) - CACAO CEREMONY (to integrate your teachings and collectively anchor the prayers, dreams and fruits you’ll be taking out into the world) - LIGHT CODING AND EARTH MEDICINE (to embed and activate new light for awakening) - SOUND BATH (to upgrade your cellular coding through ethereal sonic soundscapes) - KIRTAN (divine chanting for expanded heart connection) - SPA HEALING (for clearing, healing and rejuvenation) *Food and accommodation inclusive. The link is in their bios See more

13.01.2022 I’ve known for many years that I’m highly sensitive but until recently really did see sensitivity as a weakness - it’s the opposite of what we’re conditioned to be in our world. My Yoga practice has deepened my sensitivity no doubt - to become aware of the subtle body and feel into the energy of others. Heightened Sensitivity brings with it a fair few challenges that I’m continuing to learn about and navigate. I haven’t been on here much as I’m just coming out the end of... a long period - many months - of intense ‘tamas’...what is described in Yoga as lethargy or inertia - it’s a heavy quality that can settle in Winter for sure but this began for me before Winter. I made the conscious decision to ‘be in it’ - it’s like wading up to your thighs in mud. Without putting things in place to deal with my empathic nature I have found myself there many times over the years. Yoga & Ayurveda give me the tools to get myself out of it and I can feel the clarity returning as I take precise action towards my dharma. My purpose for being here got a little clouded in the midst of Tamas Guna. Sattva Guna is beginning her soulful return to my body and it feels brighter. See more

13.01.2022 Starting soon - the best YTT around!! What a great deal

13.01.2022 So many of us feel the squeeze of modern life. A constriction that comes from over-scheduling, over spending, over doing...in every sense. Our homes are full of stuff we never use, cupboards bursting with clothes we don’t wear and often bellies full of food we don’t really need to eat. I’m not removing myself from these observations - guilty as charged. But between the constant movement and distraction. Between the looking and the listening and the mindless scrolling and ...viewing. Between the inhalation and the exhalation is...that...space. Always here. How often do you pause to notice the vitality and aliveness right here? Nothing to change or improve. Nothing to add. Our life is here, between one breath and the next. There is nowhere more sacred than this space. Through regular yoga practice we begin to notice more readily the sense of spaciousness in the body. We can notice when constriction or holding sets in. We feel how the breath holds a space for us to just BE. Time slows down somewhat and we can look at our life and actions from a solid, elevated standing point and ask Why? Within a sense of spaciousness comes a freedom - to move, to breathe, to notice and welcome the small joys, to dream and believe. To hope. Ways to feel more spacious: Clear and clean your external environment (watch Marie Kondo for Inspo!). Slow your breath and notice the pause between inhalation and exhalation. Practice yoga asana (postures) and hold each one for an extended period (at least 1 minute) for maximum spaciousness in the physical body. Pause between each one to feel into subtle sensations. Sit and listen to the sounds around you. Watch the clouds float across the sky. Get out into nature. Sit in silence daily. Spacious as a word resonates so deeply with us because we’re craving it. I’d love to hear how you bring a sense of spaciousness to your day - comment below! How can you make 2020 a year in which you notice and connect to the spaciousness that’s already present? See more

12.01.2022 As we plan our trip to Japan it’s interesting to watch our different priorities or things each of us is looking for or wants from the trip to make it special. My life tends to revolve around finding peace in nature and making sure I have enough space to release the busyness that I know exists in cities of all kinds - let alone Tokyo!! I know that each day I will need the time to practice yoga (I’ve bought a foldable travel mat)and meditation so that I’m not overwhelmed ...by the stimulating nature of the big smoke. I look back on the travels that Josh and I did in our twenties and there were lots of tears from me (overwhelm) as most of our travelling was in Asia and I didn’t have the awareness around the needs of my nervous system that I do now. Temples, Zen Gardens, Shiatsu Massage, Onsen, Forests and Mountains plus a healthy dose of Japanese Culture are all on my agenda. And for Josh? Beer! Mali? Lollies See more

11.01.2022 YINTASTIC!! This month our Yin Yoga & Mantra Medicine sessions begin - last Saturday of the month. There are many women that find it hard to get to class weekly but these sessions are like a top me up to keep themselves connected to their body and inner life for the month ahead. A guidance back home. Each session begins with Sanskrit mantra - Sanskrit is an ancient language - the language of the angels (Divine word). It is the only language that transmits meaning throug...h sound. You can have no idea what it means but it will still impact you physically, energetically, mentally & often emotionally (many people are brought to tears). It speaks to our soul. To me it harks to a time when we all lived on the land in communion with the Earth. Next comes 1 hr of Yin Yoga - long held seated poses - to open and soften the body of tension, tightness and aches and pains...deeply grounding and nourishing to our tissues on all levels. Breathing practices come next to stabilise the mind and we finish with Yoga Nidra a progressive guided relaxation with intention setting (Sankalpa) for a complete and utterly blissful finale! In the stillness of this relaxation I again play soothing harmonium and chant mantra to stir the heart . I already have people booked in for this one (since Jan!) and they’re counting down the days . Message me here to reserve your place! If you’ve been to these before I’d love to hear in the comments below what your experience has been and why you come - what do you love about them? See more

11.01.2022 Would love to see you all at this!! It’s so powerful to take the time to contemplate where you’ve been and where you’re headed in 2020. Open your body, mind and heart with yoga, meditation, pranayama and mantra and reflect on the challenges and success of 2019 - ooooh there were many!! Message me or text to reserve your spot. Don’t let the new year start without hitting pause....please note it’s a MORNING session!!

11.01.2022 Happy birthday to us!! 4 years at South Golden Hall and going strong. Let’s get together Yogis - Sat 15th Feb after class at Yum Yum Tree! Message me here or text me on the number provided to let me know if you can make it!

10.01.2022 Currently on the couch pondering my mortality!! Went for a skin check today that I put off for a year because the receptionist was rude to me I finally booked in at Ocean Shores Skin Cancer Clinic and left with 3 moles removed for biopsy and a number of stitches...apparently I’m 2x more likely to have skin cancer because I have a lot of moles and 7x more likely because there’s cancer in my family - I didn’t know what high risk I was. I’ve always thought I’ve got olive skin I’ll be right. Add to that a life of surfing and very little sun protection - sheeesh! Just posting this as a reminder to you to go and get your skin checked so you don’t regret it like I do!! I’m crossing everything that I don’t hear from the doc - but this has been a big wake up call. Every 6 months I’ll be in that clinic.

10.01.2022 I’m getting in early with my end of year reflections...I don’t know if it was because 2019 was a strange year for me and I’m eager to enter 2020 but I’ve got a rare day off so it seemed appropriate to reflect on 2019 and plan my 2020 - I’m using @susannahconway ‘s workbook to unravel both 2019 and 2020 The final section of reflection on 2019 called on us to say our final goodbyes to 2019 and it instantly brought tears to my eyes. I ended up writing a letter to the energy o...f 2019 and I thought I’d share an excerpt of that here - you’re not alone if 2019 had its challenges but there’s always lessons learned that make us stronger for the year to come: ...you taught me to back myself, to do things despite the fear, that my head needs nurturing as well as my heart. To rest after stress and to believe that I have something to say worth listening to. You have revealed to me the power of words and sound and that my voice is there to lift others up. You held me in loving refuge when I didn’t want to get out of bed and when my first morning thoughts were shadowed in worry. I felt altogether powerful, weak, excited and fearful, happy and despairing. You were a year of duality and I knew both ends of that spectrum intimately. It was a year of endings and opportunities. Of energy and stagnation. But my beloved yoga practice continues to teach me that one day all will be unified back to complete wholeness beyond time and space. And meanwhile I will cherish the presence I have here in this moment...in this life...as it is...between one breath and the next. See more

09.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/139507350831631/?ref=share As I’ve just announced classes are suspended at South Golden Hall but join my group (link here) to access online content that I will offer for free. I’m also going to create a paid membership site that will give you access to a library of resources and will let you know when this is up and running - your support is so appreciated. Share this with anyone who needs some calm x

09.01.2022 I think we’ve all felt the plea from Mother Earth these past few weeks to take heed and to reassess our paths as individuals and as a society in terms of how we are taking responsibility for the future of our planet. There has been a manic quality to the news headlines and updates we’re receiving. The smoke in the air a constant reminder of the devastation being caused. I hope the winds of change are beginning to blow and will reach our current government so that they mig...ht begin to take serious action for our Earth. But this isn’t something the government can just fix. We all have to do our part on the daily right? I’m currently reflecting on how I can improve my actions to be more Earth focused. It’s a daunting task but necessary. Many people have been coming to class feeling frazzled, fearful and exhausted by what’s going on and no doubt feeling helpless as to what they can do. A disturbance in the air element is apparent and this has a frenetic impact on our mind and nervous system. Yoga is the perfect antidote to these challenging times as we tap back into the primal energy source of all and the wisdom that lies within it. The all-knowing essence that is calm and quiet and can support us to see clearly and take the right action. If you’re feeling overwhelmed I’d love to welcome you to class but particularly the final Yin Yoga & Mantra Medicine session for 2019 on Dec 7th 3-5pm @ South Golden Beach Hall. 25% of profits will go to The Salvation Army Emergency Appeal. Places are filling fast - bookings essential. Message me here to reserve your spot. See more

09.01.2022 Our first LIVE FREE yoga session is happening on Zoom tomorrow morning - set your alarm for 7am, roll out of bed and be on your mat to start at 7:15!! (This is what my students at South Golden do every Sat - they’ll prob set their alarm for 7:14am )!! I hope you can join us - DM me for Zoom link or join our private Facebook group: Jala Yoga Community - Online Offerings (Calm4Covid) (link in comments). This is for anyone and everyone who needs yoga at this time

06.01.2022 If you’re like me you’ve been watching the horror and reality of climate change unfold here in Australia with a mix of grief, anger and utter disbelief at the incompetence of our national leader. A leader that was elected yes but who has continued to dismiss those who elected him (and those who didn’t) as idiots who’ll be quiet and not hold him to account. I was shocked when he got in but have been horrified by his response in this time of greatest need in our country. Whe...Continue reading

05.01.2022 Yeeeeha!! Can literally hear neighbours squealing with delight!!

05.01.2022 Still spots available for this Saturday!! Message me if you want time out to experience total relaxation and connect to your body, breath and heart Sacred Sanskrit mantra to induce total renewal on every level!!

05.01.2022 Another week of classes is upon us I know there’s a number of you who’ve been wanting to come / meaning to come / hoping to come...make this the week of yoga!! Each week classes focus on a particular area of the body (this week it’s the back body) but you will find that the poses bring awareness and openess to the body as whole as well. Each class is different so that you could come to all 3 and still feel a great variety of practices. ... If you’ve hit the ground running in 2020 hit pause and connect back in. We hope to see you starting this evening 5-6pm at South Golden Beach Hall Byron Shire. See more

05.01.2022 Please sign this petition for traditional First Nations place names to be made part of the official address information in Australia. Every area on this continent now known as Australia has an original place name - I feel that by Australia Post making these official and part of our addresses we are acknowledging that this place was already named and accounted for. http://chng.it/89PTLH7XFw

04.01.2022 I LOVE getting message after class - this one was a few weeks ago when Mick decided to come back to class on this particular morning after a long hiatus from his mat due to injury. I think we can all relate to what Mick says about a vicious cycle when we’re injured badly - I totally get it - I’ve had significant rotator cuff injury for a large portion of 2019 (it’s still lingering but it’s SO much better). But my motto with injury is ‘KEEP MOVING’ because otherwise the rest... of your body takes a hit. Even when you can’t practice in the same way you can still get on your mat and do gentle, light movement to keep prana flowing throughout your body - this will aid healing as well. So thrilled that Mick is back on his mat and feeling the benefits one class in. Our bodies remember and we come home to ourselves again. If you haven’t been on your mat for a while - join us this week!! Tues 5-6pm // Thurs 9:30-11am // Sat 7:15-8:15am TIRED, INJURED, TIGHT PEEPS MOST WELCOME See more

04.01.2022 Hello!! Just wanted to post a selfie - I don’t do them that often!! Was just laughing with my sisters on Whatsapp about the fact that I’m going to possibly be 49 by the time I finish my Masters in Osteo Am I mad to start this at 42 and slog it out part-time? Inch by inch everything’s a cinch!! Plenty of working life left in this woman!! And as @abwark said It’ll go quick and you’ll be 50 before you know it

03.01.2022 This summer has been catastrophic, and that's with the 1 heating we've already experienced. Morrison’s government has us on track for 3 of warming a future ...I know I want to prevent from ever happening! Thing is, the science is already here. We can do this! Even the moon landing went from dream to reality in less than a decade. With a rapid, united effort we can avoid climate disaster and create jobs. But it's going to take some big thinking, real leadership and a Green New Deal.

03.01.2022 All Northern Rivers friends - please watch this clip by my wonderful friend Nathan Oldfield and step up to help protect our sacred waters. The Clarence Valley needs our help! The beautiful Clarence River is under threat of mining and damning! This river system is both ecologically and economically important to the region and it needs to be protected. Please also take the time to sign the petition. The local MP will only take this to Parliament if they get 10 000 signatures.... Access the petition via - https://imgur.com/JeB5hid The petition is not on an online platform, it's a bit more old-school than that: you'll need to print it out, sign it, ask your mates to sign it too! Then post it off via good old fashioned snail mail. I will have a petition in my yoga classes and will see if I can set one up at school too.

03.01.2022 Here is the verse I used at the end of yesterday’s class that many people have mentioned to me as touching them deeply...it’s from a book called The Radiance Sutras. I suggested at the end of class that we could use this question Are you here? almost as a mantra to draw us back continuously to this moment so that we can remain in the present, connected to whatever is happening right here in front of us and allowing whatever arises in that moment to arise...and just be with it. We’re all feeling the pressure, sadness, overwhelm and fear - and that’s ok we’re human. Don’t push it away - feel it - but it’s your choice whether you allow it to consume you and your family or not. Take each breath at a time...find that space in your heart through the breath. Have a beautiful Sunday friends.

03.01.2022 What a blessing to guide 18 beautiful, strong women through a hatha yoga practice & guided reflection this morning to end 2019 and welcome the joy of 2020. There was laughter, there were tears, there was the steady sound of breath plus a few grunts and groans and maybe even a wardrobe malfunction - and that was just me . We wrote a goodbye letter to 2019 and clarified how we want to feel and be in 2020 - not from a place of harshness but from a place of self-compassion a...nd lightness. Intentions were set to bring awareness to the coming year - so that we can act from a place of power and purpose. I shared this passage which I found in an old notebook last night. I was waiting for the perfect time to read it to others as I found it so beautiful - today was the perfect time - and I must say it brought me to tears as I read it out. I hope your heart recognises the truth of these words for you: Our task is to refine our hearts and minds. There is so much blessing and beauty near us which is destined for us and yet it cannot enter our lives because we are not ready to receive it. But the handle is on the inside of the door - only we can open it. Our lack of readiness is often caused by blindness, fear and lack of self-appreciation. When we are ready, we will be blessed. At that moment the door of the heart becomes the gate of heaven. John O’Donohue I hope that 2020 is the year that you decide you are ready to open the door of your heart. I know that blessings unimaginable are waiting to be received by you - and you deserve them. All of my thanks to those who joined me this morning or who have joined a class of mine this year. It is a true blessing to me to share my love of yoga within this community. Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. May peace be with you this coming year. See more

03.01.2022 Want a heartfelt way to send off 2019 and welcome 2020? This will be a beautiful way to celebrate 2019 for all that it was (or wasn’t!), reflect on the lessons learned and pave the way for growth and beauty in 2020. Spaces already filling -this will be a lovely way for us to celebrate in community. Please share for me or tag anyone you think could be interested who is in the Byron Shire around NYE!

03.01.2022 Our first few days in Japan have been a sensory bombardment...with very little sleep because of such close quarters, the frenetic movement and sardine-like confinement of the Tokyo trains and interesting vegetarian food choices it only serves to highlight to me the importance of routine and my yoga and meditation practice to keep me grounded when I feel like I can be swept up like a feather in the whirl of the morning rush. We always escape to nature after the business of... the city and this is the view from Mt Takao - about an hour from Tokyo (you can see Mt Fuji on the right). This earth always soothes the frazzled edges. Currently on the Shinkansen bound for the cultural capital of Kyoto & pretty chuffed at our ability to navigate the city’s underground without too many hitches!! Japan has been a country that I’ve felt a connection to since beginning to study Japanese in Year 7 all those years ago. The language is coming back and I feel a sense of at homeness here because of all those years learning the language and culture / customs. It’s like I’ve been here before... See more

03.01.2022 Another week to get on your mat!! For 2020 I’ve come up with a theme for each month for us to delve more deeply into. For the rest of Jan and the whole of Feb the theme is Energy. I will be sharing information about the energetic body from a Yogic perspective including Chakras, Nadis, Marma Points, Mantra & Pranayama with the overall intention of cooling and calming our energy body in order to build prana - our life force. I will be sharing info here too but to get the e...mbodied version come to class! The kids are heading back to school, routine begins again - why not lock in one of my yoga classes to glide more smoothly through everything you need to get done this week - yoga makes everything easier. The busier you are the more you need to MAKE time for yoga. See more

03.01.2022 I GOT TAGGED THE OTHER WEEK... my sign sits at South Golden Beach to advertise my classes and it’s been through some rough treatment over the years but this is the first graffiti (surprisingly). And it got me thinking about the challenges I’ve faced over the 4 years of running Jala Yoga at South Golden Beach and the many opportunities I’ve had to continue to back myself and fight for my business survival... Being in business as a Yoga teacher and Coach has been a journey of... the self like no other so with the intention of giving people courage and determination to go after their dreams even amidst the setbacks I thought I’d recount a few of the challenges I’ve faced over the 4 years: Showing up to class and no students are there (this only happened once but I was fully prepared for this to happen many times over - when you’re starting out expect it & commit. I have had many classes with only 2 or 3 people over the years and I am grateful and ready to hold space for anyone who comes). People attending my class and not paying (I’m not talking about my lovely students who transfer money after class I’m talking about literally doing my class and saying thank you so much for letting us come and simply not paying - the experience of this ensured it never happened again ). Being accused of being unyogic by another yoga teacher whose venue we had hired and who asked to attend our retreat day for free as she didn’t have to go out to work anymore - apparently yogis can’t say No I’m sorry you can’t. That one hit me in the guts - the ultimate insult to me is to be called unyogic. Chasing cheeky tween boys on their scooters off the deck (and one time off the roof!!) of the community hall where I teach - week after week on a Tuesday evening...it’s all sorted now as I calmly stood my ground (I’m also pretty good with kids ) and I called in support from the hall committee who were fabulous. Teaching while in pain with a significant shoulder injury for much of 2019! It never crossed my mind to not show up as I want to be an example of still being able to practice despite injury. Riding the highs and lows of class attendance (and income!) that inevitably occur in any business... Times I’ve had to stand my ground because I believe in being up front and honest and speaking up if I’m not happy about something (like another teacher going over time in her class and stealing my student’s time - over and over). This doesn’t always go down well and requires a certain detachment that I’ve continued to develop over the past 5 years. In all of these challenges there are a few sayings that come to me that keep me going: Don’t puff up, don’t shrink down just stand your sacred ground // What other people think of me is none of my business & Don’t take it personally. I have truly found that all the challenges that have arisen are just a test of how much I want to continue to teach - for many years to come!

02.01.2022 ‘A light shining through the stained glass of our lives’...so comforting to know that beneath the stains and corroded edges of our outer lives at present...behind the confusion and below the fear of unknown outcome...there is a light. One that never goes out. That has been there since the moment of conception, a timeless energy that formed our bones and wove us into being. A consciousness that dreamt us into reality and planned our arrival long before we came...whose hear...t beats our own, to a rhythm that began billions of years ago and will continue to hum long after our bodies are gone. Take this time to connect to that energy that’s flowing to you from the Mother. Sit in your garden or gaze at the sky. Breathe the air that’s reclaiming its purity and trust that the pure light of Divinity within you is rekindling in the stillness - no busyness to dull its glow. See more

02.01.2022 Last session for the year - random date (ie not last Sat of the month as usual) but trying to get one in before the end of the year amidst festivities. Take time out before the holidays to connect inward, open your body and heart and calm your mind and nervous system. What a great year it’s been for these sessions - they are a fav!! I hope you can join us - message me to reserve a spot - spaces are filling.... Cruise into Chrissy See more

02.01.2022 Long before humans arrived on earth there was an ancient music here... David Frawley I’ve never been to Uluru but I feel and have been told of the energy of this sacred place and ancient clay...her sweet hum no doubt soothing those who are within her immediate reach but also the heart beat of our entire country...the beat that matches our own if we care to listen inward and connect the two. It’s been nothing short of horrifying to me to see the amount of people lined up... to climb Uluru these past weeks as the end of climbing approached and quite clearly shows how far we have to go in this country to understand the ancient wisdom and reverence for our Mother of the First People of this nation. A striking example of White Privelege alive and kicking in this culture (if there was ever any doubt). Our soul spends a lifetime seeking unity but that union can be found in nature and a deep respect for other people and their suffering and how actions contribute to that. We’re all connected here but many have forgotten. Closing the climbing of Uluru has taken way too long but it’s a step closer to a united people. Something the whole world is longing for but we lost our way. See more

02.01.2022 Do this, it's so quick! And very satisfying to write all the reasons why you care ... 1. Scroll down 2. Select Climate Change (the second option from the bottom) 3. Untick the box that says "subscribe to newsletter",... 4. Share the link, and these instructions. 5. Wait to enjoy the LNP trying to explain why their own poll tells them climate change is "of paramount importance to Australians." PLEASE click this link. It takes less than 30 seconds

01.01.2022 SO....this has been one of those years I’m looking forward to saying goodbye to. It started out at a cracking pace with me stepping into some amazing opportunities that scared the pants off me but that made me realise what I am capable of when I challenge myself to move beyond my fears. Fears that I’m not enough. Fears that my voice will crack or I’ll need to swallow right at a critical moment of speaking in front of an audience. That my bones will be shaking, that my han...ds will be wet with sweat...that i won’t sleep the night before. Well the fears were there but I trampled them over into ashes where they belong. But what I’ve come to see this year is that fear is life-sucking, draining...that you need to take the time to recover after the event rather than charge onto the next as I always do. I got knocked sideways in terms of energy and my mental health declined as a result and then came the physical pain. And then a vicious cycle of depletion. I haven’t surfed for close to 6 months. If you’re not a surfer that doesn’t sound long. If you know the beauty of riding waves and the soul shining impact it has then you know it’s an eternity. I felt every moment. The sea whispering my name daily and I was stranded on the shore. I’ve been re-habbing my shoulder for months now and the time came this morning to test the waters. My first surf. I was warned not to expect it to be a surf as usual...it would feel different and I would have weakness - and yes the warning was a good one. It prepared me to lower my expectations but I actually caught a wave and feel like I have part of my identity back. I was only in the water 15 minutes but it was epic. I have been so blessed to call myself a surfer for 25 years - to feel more at home in water than on the land actually. So when you’re not doing that thing that you identify so completely with...it’s tough. My yoga practice gave me the space to just be with it & accept it thank goodness but I’m out there tomorrow for sure - little step by little step. May I shout out to Dani @medimove.ep an amazing exercise physiologist who has helped build me back up + my Osteo Sue See more

01.01.2022 Our final evening in Japan - we fly out tomorrow night after a final day in Tokyo tomorrow. It’s been a whirlwind really - seen lots of sights, heard lots of noises, smelled lots of smells and felt all the impressions coming at me at triple the speed of my regular life!! I’ve loved practising the language again, going with the flow of eating what I can (popcorn for lunch??! when I cannot bear another mouthful of rice ) and navigating our way through train stations that ar...e like cities unto themselves (and navigating rather well might I add). I’ve loved the people -so kind and helpful. I’ve loved the Shrines that remind us to offer up our lives to a greater power, to express gratitude for the daily life and blessings that we have. I’ve witnessed what city living is like for a nervous system that is not used to city living - a daily afteroon nap has been a necessity for me here to recover . It’s fairly frightening to me that this pace of life is a daily reality for millions of people who know no different. The inside of a train carriage could be a real respite but most are glued to their phone...I’ve loved the quiet of the train where really the only sound is the clicking of the tracks. I know with certainty what fresh air, space, Sattvic food and time in nature do for a body, mind and heart and look forward to reconnecting to our space and community again soon. Thanks for the memories Japan some wonderful lessons learned See more

01.01.2022 Tattva Mudra- thumbs touching base of the ring fingers - reminds us that the true nature of the Self, our fundamental essence is unchanging, pure and whole. Tattva means truth or reality. Many times over we get caught in the reality of our external environment and forget the truth of our inner life. The concept of truthfulness has played such a role in my own healing over the past 6 years and again is playing out as I face once again the power of the mind and its deeply... ingrained patterns to distract us from our true nature which is peace, joy and love. The past month has seen me have to face some challenging conditions in my body, mind and heart and own up once more to my own part in those areas that I have not been taking full responsibility for. I found out a few years back what it means to be a highly sensitive person and deeply resonated with people’s experiences as HSPs. I haven’t done a whole lot with that information other than consider that I might be highly sensitive. In the past month I’ve felt close to another burn out for want of a better word both physically and emotionally and it has been suggested by a therapist that I may be an empath. When Josh heard the blow by blow description of what an empath is he said You could have written that...that is you 100%. He’s known me for over 20 years so he’s seen it all. And I had to laugh at some of the descriptors - it was like someone had been spying on me . Sometimes we need other people’s help to see or suggest the truth but it is up to us to take that on and own it. It’s time to own it. So now I commit to learn more about what this label entails, how it can be seen as a gift and how to protect myself and my energy so I don’t end up back in the hole that seems to come around every 4 years. I will say I’m mighty good at pushing through - it’s that pitta dosha but I’m keen to really take this on to continue to hold space for other people in a sustainable way, teach what I love and be there for my friends and family without feeling depleted. I’d love to hear below your stories of those times where the light has been shone by someone else where you couldn’t see. See more