Fresh out of 4 days of community, expansion and absolute joy of Wanderlust festival, I went straight into a 2 day immersion with 'Off the Mat into the World' – lead by the equally dynamic Suzanne Stirling and Kerri Kelly. I uncovered truths and limiting self beliefs that I knew were still in me rearing their ugly little heads in moments of self doubt, but I had no idea just how much my soul needed to do this work and reclaim my voice that had been suppressed through childhood.

I have found my voice in teaching but still struggle in some of my intimate personal relationships to speak my truth. I have told myself the story that I can't sing, I have covered my voice behind shame and fear, fear of not being enough, fear of abuse and confrontation. As I fully surrendered to the work of the past to days I felt deeply held tension and repression unravelling from the tissues of my body, as I moaned, sighed and sang I dropped in to a deep physical relief that I haven't felt in years. As I fully own my traumas, pains and heartbreaks I allow the richness of those life experiences to connect me deeper to my purpose, to live more from my authentic truth and share that whole heartedly, to create dynamic change in myself and the world around me. I am deeply filled with gratitude in being supported to uncover the deepest parts of my self the shadows and the light. 

Kerri shared this poem, it touched me deeply...

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

 

Summer lovin!

Yoga on liquid- stepping off the comfort of my mat!

Oh sweet summer you have captured my heart this year and showed us all of your glory!  I have been constantly reminded of natures beauty and just how perfect it is, nature adapts to climate change and evolves organically, unfolding at its own pace, to reveal its true beauty. Summer allows us to immerse ourselves in nature and connect back to our grounding force.  Simple barefooted walks on the beach not only fires all our proprioceptive muscles but reconnects us to our earth element and the natural rhythm of life.

What I've learned so far this summer...

Walk on the beach more

We are spoilt for beaches in Auckland even a half hour walk frees the mind, stimulates the energy flow in the body and feeds the soul.

If you've ever wondered why we always sleep more soundly after spending the day on the beach, it's because of the sea air. Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions also balance levels of seratonin, a body chemical linked with mood and stress. Which is why after a holiday you feel more alert, relaxed and energised.

Create time and space to just BE

Switch off the phone, log off the computer and really be with yourself or the people around you.  Social media can creep into our day at any given moment and suck us into it's vortex, completely pulling us away from the present moment.  This leaves us more scattered and fragmented then ever, although we are 'connected' we can end up feeling more isolated, depleted and waste hours of time!  I still do need to run a business so being realistic it's phone free Sundays and more healthy boundaries around my phone use for 2015.

Travel not just to go somewhere but to simply see what you see

Getting out of your normal environment not just for new inspiration and experiences but to return refreshed with renewed zest for what you love to do.  After spending the last two years healing from the loss of my Father and setting up Urban Ashram this year is time to travel, to spread my message wider, but most importantly to return to the place I love with more to share.

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” 

Find your tribe

When we choose to live from our authentic truth we start to connect and find our tribe, those fellow journeyers that are on the same path.  Being a single Mum I'm quite often "out on my own", spending time with members of my tribe has a feeling of ease, support and love- somethings that are not always present in our family relationships.  I feel blessed to have such amazing people around me, I wouldn't be able to do what I do with out their love and backing.

Step out of your comfort zone

Challenging ourselves to uncover our potential involves enquiring into what makes us feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, it's often in acknowledging this, that we release the fear that is holding us back. Some days it's small and subtle challenges, other days it's more profound.  When we are invested in our self growth, we start to realise that we, ourselves are the only ones holding us back.

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.

Maybe it takes summer to remind me of the the things that are always there, or maybe it's simply taking the time and space to see them. With Wanderlust festival just around the corner I'm so excited to spend more time with my tribe and the experiences we will share!

Buddha bowl

I could honestly eat this bowl of goodness for lunch and dinner every day, the dressing is so simple and divine. The best thing is, there are no rules, throw in what ever you've got and experiment with your favourite combo's – I'd love to hear what you come up with!  Make sure you eat this with great gratitude, whether alone or with family, be present for each and every mouthful, that presence and enjoyment will flow into other areas of your life. x

Here's what I mixed today:
- Quinoa and wild rice blend
- Kumara
- Sautéed kale
- Avocado
- Grated carrot
- Sauerkraut
- Tempeh
- Wakame seaweed
- Sesame seeds
- Toasted walnuts

Miso dressing
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Urban Hippie Miso paste

Mix all 3 ingredients together so that the paste is smooth then use those chaturanga arms and shake really well in a glass jar tip it's nice and blended. Pour over your bowl of goodness and enjoy!

 

Coconut chia parfait

I was so excited to wake up this morning to have this for breakfast! I make the coconut chia mix the night before and leave it in the fridge, it normally last me a few days.

Mix 1 can of coconut milk
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 t macca powder
Leave to soak in fridge over night
In the morning:
Layer chai mix with
Mixed berries (I used frozen)
Caramel bukinis
Mango
Drizzle of maple syrup
Top with berries, mango and toasted coconut flakes.

Omnomnom enjoy! x

Authenticity

"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen."

From my favorite Tedtalk by Brene Brown, the power of vulnerability. I hit a transformational time about 2 years ago, I had been trying to be brave and strong for so long that it was exhausting. Once I found the courage to allow myself to be vulnerable and authentically me, I took off I whole load if pressure that I'd been putting on myself. By taking off my masks and owning my story, there was nothing anyone could take away from me. It felt like a giant leap to take at the time, but once I did I had no idea that I would find a deeper strength within myself by being my imperfect beautiful self.

"Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance."

I thought that I had a pretty healthy self love thing going on, but I most certainly was just scratching the surface. Through my yoga practice, meditation and reaching out for guidence in the areas I needed help, I started to embrace vulnerability as my greatest strength. Brene Browns talk resonated with me at the time so much that I felt I wanted to share.

Namaste x

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path."

Pick-me-up smoothie

I admit that I have quite the sweet tooth, so sometimes 3pm rolls around and I want to reach for peanut m&m's!
Instead this smoothie gives me a natural sweet fix and packed with goodness to keep me charged for the rest of the day. The best thing about this is that 2 of the key ingredients are produced by local women following their bliss and creating great healthy products.

250ml Carew kitchen fresh almond milk
2 Medjool dates
Half a banana
Handful frozen raspberries
1 teaspoon macca powder
2 teaspoons raw cacao
Kimmithgone hemp seed oil

Blend, enjoy then bounce into your afternoon!

You can email : carewkitchen@gmail.com for delicious almond milk. kimmithgone.com vital omega 3's to give you that wellness boost.

Carrot cake porridge whip

I started my day with this dreamy whip for breakfast, but it could equally be a delicious desert! Soaking your oats breaks down the phytic acid in oats plus saves time on busy mornings.

1/2 cup oats
1 T chia seeds
1 1/2 cup coconut milk (or any other milk)
1 t vanilla powder
1 large carrot
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
Pinch nutmeg and Himalayan salt
1/2 banana
2 T crushed walnuts
2 T coconut flakes
Coconut yoghurt or yoghurt to top
Extra walnuts and coconut to top also

Blend everything but toppings in a high speed blender until smooth. Pour into two jars and leave overnight in the fridge. In the mornings pop the toppings on and you're good to go.

Enjoy!

*Inspired by Sarah Wilson's 'I quit sugar for life'

Who looks after the body?

It's so easy to look at someone from the outside, especially when they may appear to be doing a beautiful asana and long for a body that does that!  It looks so open and free right?  That person must feel amazing and have no pain or discomfort we may even tell ourselves.  The truth is our human experience is so unique and what may 'look' a certain way ,may feel vastly different for the person that inhabits that body, hence why it is useless in yoga to compare ourselves with others.  We all have different joint structures, range of motion, tissues and holding patterns, these can be hereditary, bio- mechanical or lifestyle induced. 

To me as a yoga teacher what makes a yoga practice beautiful or inspiring isn't how deep into a posture someone can get or how advanced the asana is, instead it is the presence of how precise and mindful each action is, how clear and focused the mind is and how this allows the spirit, the light within to radiate..... that is what makes a practice beautiful and awe inspiring.   It is that which motivates me to practice and keep exploring my whole self throughout he practice of yoga.  My practice has helped heal me from injuries and develop more strength than I knew possible, but I too need direction from other like minded practitioners that help me to see, feel and reveal more about myself so I can travel deeper in understanding to heal myself and guide others in their own exploration.

Finding the 'right' people to help you on your journey to wholeness and better health is a godsend and listening to my body's needs, I also now know who I need to see and when.  So I've decided to share with you my amazing body workers that keep me healthy, happy and sane! 

 After hours of handstand practice and nudging my boundaries I sometimes need physical realigning, so I only trust the expert hands of Nigel Peek who is conveniently located across the road in Brown St, for adjustments and acupuncture dry needling.  Nigel's skill combined with great wit and humour keeps me in check and on top of my game!
www.peekpractice.co.nz

I made a commitment to myself to improve my level of self care at the beginning of this year, as it is way too easy to spend all my time looking after everyone else and forgetting myself (hello, common mothers problem!) I soon found the delightful and talented Cheri Inoue at Health 101, the way Cheri understands the human body is on the same wave as me, I value her insight and wisdom as much as I value her unravelling my fascial tightness and helping mer release deep stored tensions.
http://health101.co.nz

When I feel like I need my nervous system to be brought into balance I take a blissful journey out to Greenhithe to see Dianne Saville.  Dianne is a Biodynamic craniosacral therapist, a very gentle treatment that works on the central nervous system, spine and brain and the fluid that bathes them. On an emotional layer it helps me to shift deep primary patterns and opens my doors of self perception and understanding.  I am going to bring Dianne in to Urban Ashram to take a day of bookings for the city dwellers... coming soon! 

www.linkedin.com/pub/dianne-saville/34/a0b/456

So I've actually seen all three of these amazing practitioners this week, needless to say I'm feeling full, happy and balanced. Thank you to each of you for looking after me mind, body and soul.

Protein power grawnola

This is a great start to the day! I pre make my Grawnola so it's super quick to assemble, which for a busy Mum is essential.

2 Cups of:
Chopped almonds, cashews and walnuts
Bukinis
Coconut flakes
Goji berries
Dried cranberries
Pumpkin seeds
Melt 1/4c coconut oil
2T loving earth raw cacao
1T macca powder

Lay the nut mixture out in a baking tray then pour over oil mix, pop in the oven at 125 and cook til toasted approx 40min. Store in an air tight container.

In the morning mix:
1/4 c coconut milk
1 scoop of Clean Lean Protein (vanilla)
Layer up, grawnola, berries and coconut protein milk for a super yummy crunchy start to the day, pop on your super hero suit and head out into the world!