Following the recent Body-Mind Centering Workshop with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, I am keen to share my experience and hopefully a lesson about Ahimsa - to do no harm to your body when practicing yoga.  

Ahimsa "non-violence is on the top of the list of yamas, or ethical guidelines, that form the foundations of Patanjali's eight limbed system of yoga described in the classic, yoga sutras.

“Non-violence" (ahimsa) is not a garment to put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our very being.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Almost all the healthcare professionals attending the Body-Mind Centering Workshop were practicing yoga or yoga teachers themselves. Through gentle breathing and yoga (asana) practice, healthcare professionals are discovering the benefits for healing their patients.

Ms Cohen explained that healing is an experiential process which can be supported through touch, breath and movement. She facilitated the experiential tuning into your body's inner cellular movement such as blood flow or lymph movement and aligning this with the external expression of movement through space. The expressive movements Bonnie talked about were often similar to yoga flow movements.

I believe that meditation at the beginning of each yoga class is so important to give you the time and space to tune in and acknowledge how you are feeling in your body, mind and spirit, before you start your asana (yoga poses). Your yoga practice becomes nurturing and healing once the meditation is there to guide you.  

On Sunday, I went to an early morning advanced yoga class which I often attend. I arrived a bit late and missed the meditation practice before class. Throughout the class, I was neither tuned into my intention nor aware of how I was feeling in my body and mind, having missed the meditation.

On that day, yoga poses that I have done hundreds of times before seemed so much more challenging! 

Meditation followed by warm up stretches are an essential component at the beginning of my classes at Wylies Baths. Mindful meditation and Savasana at the end of our yoga practice also have an enormous role in the healing process - that's a story for another blog..

The gentle yoga and meditation is key to nurturing & healing your body and doing no harm. The importance of meditation before you practice the asana (poses) is vital - so be on time, if not early so as not to miss it out one of the most important part of the practice - meditation.

Try this Mindful Breathing Exercise To Get You Started Here or download the Smiling Minds app. for mindful meditation for kids or adults. 

Looking forward to seeing you on the mat at Wylie's Baths at our Beginners Yoga Class Tuesday 930am or our Foundation Class Friday 9am - both ideal for beginners and gentle yoga.

Join us at our upcoming yoga retreats 7-9 April at Swami's Yoga Retreat and in India for a 10 day yoga journey in October 2017.   India Yoga & Wellness Tour is here.  INDIA INFO NIGHT IS THIS THURSDAY.​

On International Women’s Day (IWD) 8 March 2017, women all around the world united are dedicating themselves to driving greater change for women and moving closer to gender parity. 

Early this morning, I joined hundreds of women as they gathered from all parts of Sydney to be empowered & inspired by women at the largest Women's Yoga & Meditation Class at Sydney's KGV's Recreation Centre. 

President of the International Yoga Teachers Association Marie-Louise Parkinson who led the sunrise meditation devoted to World Peace said, "Peace starts in the kitchen sink and it spreads to your family, friends, your workplace and to all those around you. Once you're peaceful inside than it will naturally permeate out to others.

"There's no use marching on the streets and raising the banner, when you're angry at home," she said.

"The meaning of yoga is to unite and so through our yoga & meditation practice today women in Sydney and worldwide were able to connect physically, emotionally & spiritually to acknowledge the power women have to bring peace to the planet".

​Following this empowerment, recent surveys reveal that women believe that it is more challenging for them to climb the career ladder compared to married men.

Employers can perceive mothers as not fully committed to their job due to other family commitments and women can simply miss out on the opportunity to climb up the career ladder.

Almost 5 years ago, IWD changed my life when I was introduced to a small but powerful advocacy group, Chief Executive Women (CEW) that support Women leaders enabling women leaders. CEW was keen to make a difference, to empower women to connect, to help women climb the ladder in their field.  I had felt the impact of being a working mother and was not recognised as being committed enough to my job.

Only a small number of women knew about International Women's Day back then and its wonderful to see it flourish worldwide impacting women and men of all ages. Both executive women and men addressing issues such as unconscious bias in the workplace - whether its gender equity in pay, board positions or in senior/executive management.
 
Personally I have felt the impact of unconscious bias in the workplace and have chosen to grow my own small businesses, yogarama – taking yoga and mindfulness to the people of all ages 8-80 years, starting with my committed yoga students at Wylies Baths in Coogee. Yogarama students experience most beautiful outdoor yoga studio in Sydney.

Wishing women all around the world a Happy International Women’s Day.