Our End-of-Year Retreat is a cherished time for our entire Yoga Teacher Training cohort. A weekend to step away from everyday life and immerse deeply into practice, community, and nature. This year, we gathered at the Glen Eden Estate in Broke, a breathtaking property nestled in a valley embraced by mountains. Thirty of us, teachers and soon-to-be graduate teachers, shared the space together.
The land held us with its quaint cottages, a large farm shed that became our yoga shala and ceremonial space, curious goats wandering past from time to time, and warm evenings filled with the sounds of insects, frogs, and an endless canopy of stars.

When we arrived on Friday, the air buzzed with both nerves and excitement. After settling in, our first students stepped forward to open the weekend teaching their yoga class. These classes bring together the whole year of learning, inner growth, and personal expression. Over the three days, every trainee taught their class, each offering a radiant expression of who they are and the wisdom they’ve grown into.
Something truly powerful happens in this moment: students who weren’t sure they could ever teach a full class stand before the group with confidence, heart, and clarity. It is one of the most transformational parts of the year, and we are always in wonder and awe to witness this unfolding for each student.

Here are a few of the amazing classes that were taught over the weekend:
✨ Melissa shared her connection to Country, guiding students with wind-like chanting, an interconnected tree-pose sequence, and rhythmic use of clapsticks to connect her class to Prana, sacred land, and its traditional custodians.
✨ Jade spoke about her journey as a new mum and her search for balance. She helped her students find balance in breath, in postures, and in the mind.
✨ Olena expressed her passion for accessible yoga through a Chair Yoga class exploring strong poses like warrior and side-angle, alongside gentler twists and forward bends.
✨ Kerensa guided her group through a journey of the Chakras, weaving each energy centre into yoga poses and closing with a beautiful meditation.
✨ Alessandra dedicated her class to her “Aussie mum,” honouring their bond through a Lakshmi-themed practice connecting to the divine feminine.

These are just a handful of the 23 beautiful and heartfelt classes taught throughout the retreat. We are immensely proud of every single student. Each class was a testament to the profound transformation they’ve undergone, arriving at the start of the year unsure, and emerging now with newfound awareness, confidence, and inner light.

Alongside the classes, the weekend held many deeply meaningful moments. On the first night, Sarah and Maranda offered a nourishing yoga nidra and sound healing in the shed, acknowledging the spirit of the land and grounding us into the earth. Following, Deepa opened our retreat circle as each student placed a sacred item on the altar, honouring who had supported them through the year and anchoring themselves into the space.

Beyond the ceremonies, students braved their very first ice bath, whilst others enjoyed sunrise sauna sessions or cooling off in the pool. One of our students, Olena, lovingly created an art station where we could drop in throughout the weekend. In her words:
“Dabbling in water colours feels like a quiet meditation &#8211; soft washes, gentle accidents, moments of light. An experience of daydreaming with a brush &#8211; watching pigment bloom and dissolve on wet paper.”

We were nourished by the incredible vegetarian meals cooked by Renee, a beloved Yogic Wisdom graduate who pours her heart into the food she creates for us each year. As always, every meal was absolutely divine.

To close the retreat, we gathered in a final circle. Each student shared the transformation they had experienced over the year. We had stories of personal hardship eased by the support of the cohort, of learning far beyond the physical practice, of unravelling layers of the self they didn’t know were there. Many shared how confronting yet healing the journey was; how the training held them through challenges; how they discovered their voice, their gifts, and their path. Some already have teaching opportunities waiting for them as they graduate.
It was an outpouring of gratitude, connection, and love and the perfect closing to an extraordinary year!

A Beautiful Weekend of Practice and Ceremony

I recently came back from a silent meditation retreat and had a wonderful and sobering opportunity to look at how anger shows up in my body, breath, and mind. It is an emotion that I have spent decades trying to avoid, deny, and will away 😛, but it was such a relief to give it some space and attention it had been demanding for so long.
I have found that anger carries a lot of taboo in our society, similar to sex, where our relationship with it tends to be out of control, suppressed, or in denial. We rarely see the deep intelligence of this emotion and end up becoming its servant instead of allowing it to serve and support us toward deeper wisdom and freedom.
It is a topic that is surprisingly discussed very little in Yoga spaces. I think this is a real missed opportunity, where we could be supporting and modeling to our students a healthy way of relating to anger and being guided by its wisdom. It is surprising because Yoga teachers spend a lot of time talking about light and tending to ourselves with care, but our anger is often one of the biggest reasons we struggle to access that light, and is an emotion that calls our attention to something that is in deep need of care.
So how do we start? First, we need to notice its presence.

Step 1: Learning to Notice Its Presence
In my observation, anger is a slippery emotion that is quite tricky to detect. The mind can have a deflective relationship with this emotion and easily get lost in one of the following habit cycles. We might:
<ul>
<li>Pretend it isn&#8217;t there, we lock it up in the basement, cover it with a rug, and put a cabinet over it;</li>
<li>Explosively express it with feelings of blinding righteousness;</li>
<li>Scramble to fix the discomfort and make it go away; or</li>
<li>Let it simmer over a flame of repetitive stories filled with resentment or shame.</li>
</ul>
One of the things I love about the Yogic tradition is that instead of trying to navigate the mind with the mind, we have the opportunity to build a loving awareness of our mind through the body and breath.
Yoga Sutra 1.31 helps us understand this relationship between our breath, body, and mind. It says:
“Dukkha Daurmanasya Aṅgamejayatva Svāsapraśvāsāḥ Vikṣepa Sahabhuvaḥ.”
“Suffering, negative mental states, discomfort or instability in the body, and irregularity of the breath are the distractions that accompany the hindrances on the path of Yoga.”
This Sutra helps us see that we can start to notice the presence of anger, by noticing our breath and body, before we move on to examine our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

It is smoke that alerts us to fire.
I love the analogy of a house on fire. Usually, the first indication that a house is on fire is not the fire itself, but the presence of smoke. If we notice the smoke, we can infer that there must be a fire somewhere and then set out to detect the source of the fire to put it out (if it is safe to do so!).
So what is the smoke that indicates the fire of anger may be present?
Physically, we may notice an immediate feeling of rising heat, shallow or short breaths, tightness and tension in the body, trouble feeling connected to the lower parts of the body, or an increased heart rate due to activation of the sympathetic system. In the medium term, we may notice trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or certain habits with eating, drinking, sexual stimulation, or media consumption that we unconsciously turn to as distractions when anger is present.
Once we are able to notice the physical symptoms, then mentally we may also notice:
<ul>
<li>Repetitive stories that focus on the behavior of others</li>
<li>Vivid memories and painful emotions from times when we felt our boundaries were transgressed or needs weren’t met</li>
<li>A judgmental narrator that critiques the behaviors of the “offenders”</li>
<li>A judgmental narrator that quietly critiques our own experience, actions, and reactions</li>
<li>A sense of numbness or complete disconnection from feeling altogether</li>
</ul>
Reading this may feel heavy. If it rings true and you have been stuck here for a long time, it can feel helpless not knowing how to move forward. But don’t lose hope as this can be worked with!

Step 2: Seeing Our Anger as a Guest of God
How would we feel if we showed up at the home of a loved one and they did not invite us in, kept us at the door, criticised us, and then slammed the door shut? That is what we often do to anger. It comes lovingly, wanting to show us something about a hurt we have experienced, and we reactively turn it away as quickly as possible.
One poem that has helped me a lot in reframing my attitude to anger is The Guest House by the Sufi saint Jalaluddin Rumi:
This being human is a guest house. 
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, 
some momentary awareness comes 
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all! 
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, 
who violently sweep your house 
empty of its furniture, 
still, treat each guest honorably. 
He may be clearing you out 
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 
meet them at the door laughing, 
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes, 
because each has been sent 
as a guide from beyond.
I also love the teaching from the Taittiriya Upanishad that says Atithi Devo Bhava — “Guest is God.” I try to see each emotion as a guest from the Divine. When I am able to hold this deeper wisdom and reframe what anger truly is, my attitude shifts toward generosity, hospitality, and affection for this emotion.

Step 4: Welcoming our Anger with Hospitality and Love
If we continue with this analogy, then what actions can we take to welcome this guest? These are the steps that I follow:
<ul>
<li>Distinguish the feeling from the story: I give space to the anger itself. I notice its sensations in my body, distinguishing it as distinct from the narrative that triggered it.</li>
<li>Create space around the feeling: I feel and visualise the anger as an energy with a particular size, texture, colour, and shape, and imagine it sitting within a larger space. This helps my heart experience space from the story. The same way I would not sit on top of my guest, but would offer them space and a seat of their own.</li>
<li>Soften towards and welcome the feeling: Rather than fighting or turning away from anger, I allow myself to soften toward it with compassion, and if possible breathe with it. I try to welcome it like a guest who cares for me.</li>
<li>If I cannot access the feeling, I soften toward the reaction: When there is a big trigger, there is often numbness, a wall, or another layer of reactivity. I soften with compassion to that reaction instead. As I lovingly make room for the more surface layer reactions, eventually the space arises to welcome the anger itself.</li>
<li>Compassion for the pain beneath anger: At its core, anger is bringing attention to a deeper hurt that wants love. It may be grief, fear, or shame. All of it is looking for unconditional acceptance and compassion, which I then work to create space for.</li>
</ul>

Step 5: Creating Loving Space for Shame and the Inner Critic
One of the biggest barriers to welcoming our angry guest is the quiet ‘Inner Critic’ that smothers everything we notice with a thin film of “not good enough.” We may notice feelings of shame and beliefs about why we “shouldn’t” feel angry. We may even feel that the thing we are hurt about is somehow our own fault. Both the inner critic and shame too can be welcomed as a guest.
Shame is simply the tender innocence of the heart craving unconditional love, the way a child craves a parent’s unconditional love. When we can separate the story, and witness the shame with warmth and patience, the heart begins to soften and transform, receiving the love it always craved.
We can also create space for the inner critic by understanding that the inner critic is a product of the mind trying to help and protect us. The intentions of the inner critic are noble, but its stories are misguided. The stories of the inner critic are simple “good” vs “bad” stories, as if narrated from the perspective of a child. This voice is unable to see the nuanced layers or complexity of our human nature. Hence the inner critic is incapable of the forgiveness that arises from a more mature awareness that can understand a situation clearly and compassionately .
It is when we befriend the inner critic that we begin to see all the societal taboos we have internalised from society about anger. We finally gain the opportunity to release all these misguided taboos, and allow ourselves to be authentic with our own selves about what is really going on. Welcoming the inner critic, and making friends with shame, anger and fear, is the beginning of becoming free from the control of all these emotions and narratives.

Step 6: Forgiveness arises naturally
I&#8217;ve had to learn the hard way that forgiveness cannot be forced. When we are able to soften toward our own experience and give kind space to all of our feelings, we naturally begin to soften and become curious to the experience of those who hurt us (personally or more societally). We begin to see the causes and conditions that lead to their actions. We also realise that in some cases there may be more positive regard present then we have had the ability to let in.
As this understanding begins to develop we naturally come to a point where we receive the invitation to let go of the story that has fueled our anger. In this moment we have to make a choice to let go of an old identity that was fed by this story. It can feel tricky because it&#8217;s unfamiliar emotional territory – who are we if we aren&#8217;t defined by the grievance we held on to for such a long time? If we can take this leap, then forgiveness arises and we experience another step towards freedom.

Step 7: Creating the Conditions for a Clearer Mind
All of this becomes much easier when we support ourselves to relate more clearly to our heart and mind. A healthy diet, plenty of water, exercise, rest, nourishing activities, Yoga, and meditation all assist us to look honestly at emotions we are not in the habit of facing. It also helps to spend time in nature and in the presence of people who embody the qualities of calmness and compassion, their steadiness reminds our nervous system of its own capacity for peace.
Side note: Getting Help with Trauma
If you are dealing with a traumatic experience or are new to working with your emotions, it is always wise to seek support from a professional, this could be a therapist or a skilled teacher. Having a skilled and compassionate guide can help you navigate the intensity of these emotions safely.

Anger that illuminates
Anger, when seen through the eyes of Yoga, is not an enemy to be silenced or a problem to be fixed. It is a messenger from within, a sacred guest sent to reveal the places within ourselves where love is still needed. When we stop resisting it and start listening, anger ceases to control us and instead becomes a wise guide.
Through practice, patience, and gentleness, what once felt like fire that could destroy us, reveals its quality of warmth and powerful illumination. Happy Diwali, may the fire illuminate the places that have yet seen the light.

Anger Seen Through the Eyes of Yoga

Tomorrow, October 2nd, is the birthday of one of the most prominent Yogis of the past century: Mohandas K. Gandhi, more widely known as Mahatma Gandhi.
While most remember him as the leader of India’s independence movement, Gandhi’s conviction for political freedom was inseparable from his conviction for personal liberation and the dignity of all people everywhere.
His birthday comes just a week after the UN General Assembly. It feels like an important moment to pause and reflect: what does it mean to be a Yogi engaged in the affairs of the world?
For Gandhi, politics was simply the outer expression of his inner practice. He drew his deepest strength from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, as well as from the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels.
For those who have forayed into the Yoga Sutras, you’ll know the Yamas and Niyamas are the ethical foundations of yoga. Gandhi built both his personal discipline and his political movement on the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Brahmacharya (self-restraint), Aparigraha (simplicity), Sauca (cleanliness), and Tapas (discipline). Two principles stood out for him above all others: Ahimsa and Satya.

Ahimsa – Love at the Core
Ahimsa is usually translated as non-violence, but to me at its core it is Love. In Yoga, the ultimate goal is to realise who we really are. To see who we are when we strip away the labels and roles that cover our essential nature. As our practice deepens, these excess layers begin to dissolve and we begin to touch our love-centered core. We start to feel our oneness with other people, cultures, animals, and the natural world.
This universal love was at the heart of Gandhi’s political work. He was clear, he and his fellow freedom fighters could not respond to oppression with the same closed-heartedness that drove the British colonisers.
For Gandhi, Ahimsa was not only a refusal to strike back physically, it was about kindness in thought and word to everyone, including his oppressors. His opponents, too, were expressions of the same oneness. He insisted that his followers cultivate goodwill toward their adversaries, believing that only through this deeper discipline of the heart could true change take place within a spiritual aspirant, and for transformational social change.
Gandhi was deeply inspired by the Sermon on the Mount: 
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; to the one who takes your coat, give also your shirt.”
Seems like a tall order! But it wasn&#8217;t about being weak and capitulating to those who hurt you. It was a response of great strength that was built on deep self love, dignity and compassion for all parties. It came from the understanding that when we hurt others, we do so due to a constriction of love in the heart, and this constriction can ultimately only be released by Love.

Satya – Truth in Action
Equally central was Satya, truth. For Gandhi, truth meant more than personal honesty. It meant naming injustice and refusing to comply with laws that violated human dignity, no matter the cost. His campaigns of civil disobedience were acts of truth. To obey an unjust law, he said, was to participate in untruth.
Satya demanded both transparency and courage, the willingness to speak truth to those with power, and then to stand steady in the consequences.
When Ahimsa and Satya were combined, Gandhi called it Satyagraha, “holding fast to truth.” 
Satyagraha in Practice
One of the most powerful examples was the Salt March of 1930. At the time, the British forbade Indians from collecting or selling salt, forcing them to buy heavily taxed imports. Gandhi led tens of thousands of people to the sea to make their own salt, defying the law. Protestors of all backgrounds joined in, and thousands were beaten mercilessly by police. The protesters however were trained to endure violence without retaliation or hatred. Around 60,000 people were jailed during that campaign.
Why endure such suffering without striking back? Gandhi’s answer was simple: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” He trained his followers in love and non-violence as soldiers are trained for the military. But instead of training them in violent combat and to maintain loyalty to a tribal identity, he taught his fellow freedom fighters to endure suffering and respond with dignity and compassion.

Reflections for Us
I find this history remarkable. Having worked in social justice, I’ve felt anger and despair toward those who drive war, environmental destruction, and human rights abuses. Gandhi challenges me to ask: what does it mean to confront violence and injustice with courage, while holding no animosity toward those inflicting harm? How do we stay empowered and hopeful in the face of Goliath-sized national and world issues? It&#8217;s easy to talk about big ideals, but quite demanding in practice.
What I love about Yoga is that it asks us to practice these same questions in our personal lives. We start where we are at. As we learn to practice these principles in our own relationships, we naturally extend them outward. The path of Yoga ultimately leads us beyond the narrowness of personal identity into service, into Karma Yoga, where our practice is offered to the wider world. 
We don’t have to live in a country at war or under oppression to understand this. Each of us has been hurt through betrayal, discrimination, and unfair treatment. And our habitual responses are familiar: anger, shame, fear, denial, or bypassing our pain.
But when we can remain steady and clearly speak the truth about the hurt that has been inflicted upon us, and simultaneously face our pain with compassion for ourselves and the person who hurt us, a new freedom opens up.
Those who hurt us may still cause real material consequences, but they no longer hold the same power in our minds. By giving ourselves the dignity, compassion and affection we seek, we are no longer psychologically hooked. We can now respond to the harm inflicted by others, not from a place of us feeling inadequate, but from a place of equanimity where we can see the other person&#8217;s limitations.
This doesn’t mean we don’t hold boundaries, respond with fierceness or demand accountability, because sometimes that is what is necessary. It simply means our response is no longer driven by bitterness, which weakens the heart, but by love grounded in truth.

Extending Our Practice
It is heartbreaking to see the major human rights violations today in Gaza, Sudan, Venezuela, Ukraine, and many other parts of the world. But instead of sinking into despair, Yoga calls us to clear up our mind, ground ourselves in positive intention and take action without attachment. To me this means to be informed, to dig deep to see what we can do within our capacity (which often is more than we realise!). And to keep our hearts open with compassion for all our fellow beings &#8211; because we are all connected at the level of the soul.

Ahimsa and Satya: the Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

A transition in season is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and come into harmony with the rhythm of the universe. But what does this mean? Is it just about a shift in our food habits, leisure activities and clothing, or is there more to it?
When we hear the word rhythm, most of us think of music or sound, a steady beat or the pulse of a song, or the cadence of movement. But we usually don’t think about the rhythm of the cosmos itself, nor how our personal life circumstances are affected by that rhythm.

Rhythm, Rhythmos, Rtam
The English word Rhythm originates from the Greek word “Rhythmos” which is said to share its root with the Sanskrit term Rtam (ऋतम्). In the Vedas, this beautiful word is often translated as truth or cosmic order. My favourite translation is “truth in movement”. It is a reference to the dynamic principles of the universe that guide the movement of the sun, the moon, the planets and galaxies, down to our very lives. In Greek it has a similar meaning, emphasising the characteristics of flow, order and measured movement in the human expression, such as in language, dance and music, and in nature.
This underlying principle of Rtam, guided the ancient Yogi&#8217;s understanding of astronomy, astrology, the seasons, cycles of day and night, patterns in nature, the Gunas, and creation itself. It also guided their understanding of Dharma (our purpose and duty), Karma (the principles of cause and effect) and how we can harmoniously live with an awareness of the universal rhythm.
While we don&#8217;t need to understand or agree with all the ways ancient Yogis applied these principles, we can benefit from a deeper reflection, svadhyaya, in our own life on this profound and fundamental Yogic principle.
So how does one live in harmony with the rhythm of the universe? How do we even know what that rhythm is when we are so tiny and the universe is so vast? Well the trick is, we don’t need to be boss and know everything, we just need to listen to the messages that are for us.

Step one: Try to listen to what the universe is telling you
Does the universe&#8217;s language talk to us in words? Sometimes, though mostly we cannot rely on the chatter in our head that is full of our likes, dislikes and to-do lists. Once in a while when the mind is very quiet, a word, feeling, image or vision may drop in, where we know it hasn’t come from us.
However I like to use a cross verification system to make sure I’ve heard things correctly. The universe usually speaks through multiple channels to make sure its message is heard clearly (like a digital marketing agency haha). So I find it helpful to look out for the message in other ways too. I often find them in books, lectures, bumper stickers, jokes or social media posts. Or it might be through life experiences where certain doors keep closing, while others keep opening. For me, it usually accompanies itself with a feeling in the body, like a deep breath of fresh air, body tingles, and an opening in the heart.

Step two: Synchronise to it’s signals
Once I’ve got a sense of the message, I need to be open and follow what I’m hearing. This is easy enough to do when things are hunky dory and the messages are something I like. But boy does it become tricky when it interferes with my carefully laid plans that I am adamant will bring me happiness.
For example, this past season my family and I kept falling ill, passing sickness back and forth until it seemed endless. At first, I was frustrated. I had deadlines, projects, and ambitions that I was clinging to, activities I wanted to enjoy and people I wanted to see. The illness felt like a thief stealing my time. I grew resentful towards my loved ones for not being more careful, and even let myself quietly harbor frustration at the universe itself for not wanting me to be happy. And while one layer of my mind could see the childishness of these feelings, another part of me clung to it, because I was very attached to the things I wanted.
But eventually, I remembered once again, that my happiness was not in external circumstances but in turning within. And in one of the peak moments of my illness, when I was struggling to feel happy with the world around me, I allowed myself to turn inward. To my surprise (it&#8217;s always a surprise! :P) I could feel joy and bliss even in the midst of fever, fatigue and major sinus congestion.
The universe was orchestrating a timing far wiser than mine. In hindsight, I saw the grace: the projects I was pushing hard to launch in winter have unfolded naturally for spring, when the energy of renewal and growth has made their birth so much more aligned. What I thought was a delay was simply the rhythm of the season itself.
And while I couldn’t appreciate the big picture while I was in the midst of it, relaxing into the flow made my life easier, and once I did, I was shown the bigger pattern and grace of it all.

How can we trust the universe?
Trusting the flow of life can seem like a tall order or even impossible when we are exhausted, overwhelmed, or struggling to stay afloat. And yet, these very moments hold the greatest transformation towards a deeper peace and happiness. Can we gently ask ourselves: What exactly am I resisting? Could there be a deeper intelligence at play? What is the invitation towards a deeper alignment with my highest good?
Perhaps the thing that helps me the most, is my love for the universe itself. This magnificent source that has made the incredible stars and our beautiful planet, that is the spark in all of the beings I love, and is the source of love itself. If it’s capable of such incredible and intelligent design, then perhaps those same principles are governing my life as well.

An exercise for you
Since we are at a turn of the season, with spring gently opening its eyes, I invite you to notice your own rhythm.
Keep a space in your mind where you can just observe what&#8217;s going on, and suspend judgement for a while. Life often speaks in patterns: recurring experiences, repeated challenges, familiar lessons returning until we finally notice. And these patterns frequently align with the seasons of the year, cycles of the moon or special days of the year. By noticing such rhythms, we are guided towards a deeper understanding of harmony in our life:
<ul>
<li>What old patterns did winter expose within you?</li>
<li>Where do you feel the stirrings of new growth?</li>
<li>What wishes to emerge in your life right now? In relation to your Dharma and purpose, and life more broadly?</li>
</ul>
I really encourage you to relax and lean into trusting the intelligence of this rhythm, both in the wonderful and the ugly. And see if you can open yourself to trusting the flow of the season, and where it wishes to lead your heart and body (and hopefully the mind too! But that is a slippery little bugger!).
Feel free to email back and share, I would love to hear from you.
Deepa xox

Rhythm and Rtam: synchronising with the cycles of the Cosmos

We’ve just crossed a major milestone, the halfway point in our 2025 Yoga Teacher Training!
Term 2 ended with a burst of courage and celebration as each student stepped up to teach their first 20-minute Asana class, presenting in pairs before their peers and teachers. There was a palpable mix of nerves and excitement as they rolled out their mats not as students, but as teachers in the making.

With no notes in hand, each trainee led their class from memory, offering thoughtful modifications, integrating the breath, and guiding their classmates toward a chosen goal posture.
The class sequences were carefully designed, demonstrating an understanding of a safe, intelligent sequence that appropriately prepared the body, and then cooled down from that goal posture. This is an important skill for our trainees to keep their future students safe, when they teach Yoga.

This moment was a culmination of months of dedicated study, practice, and transformation ?. In first two terms, our students have explored:
<ul>
<li>Every Asana from our Level 1 curriculum, including their benefits, contraindications, and accessible prop-based modifications.</li>
<li>The importance of the breath and how to integrate it in a practice, to deepen the effectiveness of Yoga.</li>
<li>Intelligent sequencing based on the effect a teachers wants a student to experience.</li>
<li>Chanting, anatomy, and Pranayama for a deepening in their experience of Yoga.</li>
</ul>
We’re back this week for term 3 where they will dive more deeply into Philosophy, Meditation, and begin to learn specialty subjects such as Kids Yoga &amp; Pregnancy Yoga.
If you’re interested in joining Yoga Teacher Training next year, you can <a href="https://www.yogicwisdom.com.au/yoga-teacher-training">learn more about it here.</a> Our 2026 intake will open soon ??!

Half way through Teacher Training 2025

In May this year, alumni from Yogic Wisdom’s Yoga Teacher Training courses, spanning from 2017 to this year’s cohort, came together for an evening of shared stories and warm laughter at The Bhakti Tree in Mayfield.
We filled three tables at the restaurant, plates brimming with nourishing vegetarian and vegan meals made with love. Conversations flowed with some who hadn’t seen each other since their training, while others were meeting graduates from different years for the first time. Stories were shared on where people are at now on their life path and the deep impact that their yoga journey has had on them since graduation.

Some have gone on to teach in studios and community spaces, while others are integrating yogic wisdom into family life, careers, and personal practice. What united us all was the shared experience of how Yoga Teacher Training transformed each of our lives.
This alumni gathering is just the beginning. As we look ahead, we are excited to create more opportunities for reconnection!

Yoga Teacher Training Alumni gathering at Bhakti Tree

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः 
Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha! 
Om I bow down to Ganapataye.
I’m so delighted to share about Ganesh in our first ever newsletter. As a kid growing up, every new beginning always started with a prayer to Ganesh. Whether it was someone&#8217;s wedding, a housewarming, a new car, a new job, a new baby, you name it, we always started with bathing Ganesh, offering tika (red vermillion) and white rice to invoke his presence and offering him our prayer. I always wondered, why Ganesh? He looks cool and all, but why is Ganesh’s presence so special?
There are two ways to understand it, one is through Hindu mythology, and the other through Yogic principles. My favourite place to start is in mythology, because stories are so delightful, and this one is linked to the birth of Ganesh ?!

The story of how Ganesh was born
One day, up on Mount Kailash, Goddess Parvati was about to bathe. Not just a quick rinse, but a proper divine self-care session. Oils, turmeric, flower petals, the whole deal. And she was not in the mood to be disturbed (Goddesses want privacy too!). So she looked around for someone she could trust to guard the door while she was in the tub.
Now technically, her husband Lord Shiva had plenty of fierce and loyal followers, Nandi the bull, Bhṛngi, and all the Gaṇas. But the thing was… they were all really loyal to her husband. Not her. And when push came to shove, they’d let Shiva walk in, whether she was in the mood for his visit or not!
Like any Goddess, Parvati had two close girlfriends Jaya &amp; Vijaya who she explained her predicament to, and like besties do, they shared their thoughts on how to help their frustrated friend. “Sister! You deserve your privacy! I know Shiva says that all his attendants are yours too, but it looks like they respond to him over you. What you need is someone for whom you&#8217;re their first priority.”
So Parvati scraped the dirt and sandalwood paste from her body, and molded it into clay with her hands into the shape of a beautiful boy. Then, in full Goddess style, she breathed Prāṇa (her life force) into him. And like that, her son was born.
She dressed him in fine clothes, gave him a solid stick for guarding, and said, “You are my son. You are my own. Don’t let anyone through that door, no matter what they say.”
And so the boy took his job very seriously. He stood tall and proud outside the bathing chamber, fully committed to the role.
Right then, of course, Shiva came home. In his usual style, he strolled right up to the door, expecting to walk in. But this new kid wasn’t having it. He blocked Shiva and said, “Sorry sir, my mother is bathing. No entry.”
Shiva blinked. “I’m Shiva. This is my house.”
But the boy stood firm. “Not without the Goddess&#8217;s permission.”
Now, Shiva may be the Destroyer of Ego, but at this moment… his own ego got the best of him. He was furious. “Who does this kid think he is?” And then, because divine tempers are a thing, Shiva called his attendants, the Ganas, and told them to remove the boy.
But the boy defeated the Ganas. Infuriated Shiva started to escalate, and one by one Ganesh defeated Shiva&#8217;s armies of Goblins, Ghosts and Gods with the likes of Indra and Lord Visnu . One by one, he sent Shiva’s entire army packing.
This was no ordinary kid. His strength was divine. And he was being supported by the power of the Goddess herself.
Eventually, Shiva had enough. He didn&#8217;t want to be seen as subservient to his wife. He had a reputation to keep up. In a rage, he picked up his trident and, in a single stroke, severed the boy’s head.
The Ganas, Goblins, Ghosts and Gods were all jubilant and celebrated. But then…
Parvati emerged and saw what had happened, her beloved son lying lifeless. She lost it.
Her grief became fury. Her fury became power. The skies darkened. The earth shook. She created armies of Shaktis, Goddesses of unimaginable force, and sent them everywhere, devouring all who had attacked her son. The gods panicked. No one could stand up against her. Even Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu knew: the universe was hanging by a thread.
They begged her to stop. In response she made one thing clear: “Bring back my son. And not just that, he must be honored as the chief of all Gods.”
Shiva, now fully sobered by the situation, agreed to her demand. He sent out his Ganas with the instruction: “Bring me the head of the first living being you find facing north.”
They returned with the head of a wise, peaceful elephant.
Shiva gently placed it on the boy’s body and breathed life into him. The boy stirred. His eyes opened.
Parvati rushed forward and embraced him. “My son!”
As she adorned him with her blessing and gifts, Shiva joined her as well, saying, “You are my son too. From now on, you will be known as Ganapati—the Lord of the Ganas. And you will be honored first, before any other deity, whenever a prayer or ritual is performed.”
And so, the boy born of sandalwood became Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, the God of new beginnings, and the most beloved elephant-headed god in the world.
This retelling is adapted from a translation of the ancient text, the Shiv Purana, translated and edited by J.L Shastri, 1950.

Unpacking the story as a Yogic Parable
The story of Ganesh reminds us that when we set a clear, heartfelt intention, like Parvati did, the universe responds with great power. Ganesh was born not randomly, but from her devotion, need and clarity. This is the yogic principle of Sankalpa, intention rooted in a higher truth.
But even with strong intention, we often face resistance. Shiva, who was caught in his ego and could not recognise Ganesh, becomes the obstacle. In yoga, these blocks are often our own doubts, fears, or limiting beliefs. They challenge us to stay committed towards our goal.
Ganesh holds his ground, not out of ego, but out of devotion to his Dharma. That is his power: he removes obstacles because he refuses to abandon what he’s been entrusted with. Yogically, this teaches us that the obstacles fall away when we stay steady in our purpose.
That’s why we invoke Ganesh at the beginning of any important undertaking. To provide strong energy behind our new intention or beginning, to help us be guided by Dharma, and to clear all obstacles that hold us back from that Dharma.
Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha!

Why Yogis Invoke Ganesh first

In early January we had a beautiful group of purpose driven women who were ready to step up in how they offered their gifts in the world. Landing into the bustle and fog of Delhi our group was full of excitement and openness to connect with places of great significance for the Sikh, Bahai and Islamic faiths. Our group was surprised by the immense warmth and welcome they experienced from the practitioners of these different faiths. We found connection with these traditions’ commitments to serving others, devotional surrender, and openness to different perspectives.

Stepping into our first busy Indian market our ladies learnt to haggle with local vendors. We tried new Indian snacks (mostly tasty, some very unexpected flavours), and were overtaken by our inner child when we saw the vibrant range of locally made fabrics and handmade clothing.

We then traveled by train up to Rishikesh, the foothill of the Himalayas. Welcoming the cleaner air and quieter atmosphere, the group was able to drop into a deeper, more subtle space. We did practices dedicated to Shiva the Lord of Destruction, the heart of the mother Shakti, and connection with the immense Prana in this elevated town. In line with our practice we visited Neelkanth, Shiva’s temple dedicated to the release of inner poison, to Kunjapuri temple, the place where Goddess Sati’s heart is said to have fell, and had many moments by the gorgeous Ganga river, getting to pray, play and just admire her majesty.

Our inner children were out again as our ladies oggled at the adorable fluffy cows and cheeky monkeys who were able to persuade (and sometimes force) us into sharing our snacks.

We wrapped up our retreat on the banks of the Ganga in the ancient city of Varanasi. As is typical of Varanasi, the theme of death and renewal was very present. We got to view the oldest continuous cremation ghat in the world, Manikarnika, visit the temple of Kaal Bhairav, Shiva as the Lord of Death, and connect with the energy of saints and Yogis such as Trailanga Swami, Lahiri Mahasaya and Babaji.

We also did a beautiful day trip to Sarnath, the site of Buddha’s first sermon, and had the privilege of connecting with the profound teachings of Gautama Buddha. We saw many amazing Stupas, ancient sites and appreciated the simplicity of the Buddhas teachings.

It was a beautiful journey with lots of tranformation, people finding more clarity around their purpose and how they wish to serve in the next phase of their life. If this kind of journey speaks to your soul, we’d love to welcome you on our next retreat ❤️.

Our 2025 Retreat to India: Pilgrimage of Saints & Yogis

Yoga Therapy Training Freebie ebook

Prana is everywhere. It is the life force or vital energy that exists in all living things. With each breath we take, we bring this life force energy into the body. As we influence the flow of prana in our bodies through our breath, we can influence the state of our minds and the health of our bodies.
In yoga, pranayama is the “extension or expansion of the dimension of prana”. It is the act of conscious breathing where the breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. Pranayama techniques can therefore bring clarity to the mind and balance to the body through the awareness of the breath.
When there is not enough prana within the body, we can feel stuck and lack motivation and drive and we may experience physical illness in the body. When prana is flowing easily and is contained within the body then we can feel balanced and in good health.
In yoga philosophy, there are five areas of the body that prana moves to, known as Prana Vayus. They are:

<ol>
<li>Udana vayu – sits around the head and neck area and controls our senses and communication. It relates to the throat chakra (vishuddha) and the element of ether and assists in responding to the outside world.</li>
<li>Prana vayu – sits around the chest area and is associated with the heart and organs of respiration. It relates to the heart chakra (anahata) and the element of air and is where prana is drawn inside the body.</li>
<li>Samana vayu – sits between the heart and navel around the stomach region and is responsible for digestion and assimilation of food, nutrients, emotions, and experiences. It relates to the solar plexus chakra (manipura) and the element of fire and is where our inner fire (agni) sits.</li>
<li>Apana vayu – located in the lower abdomen region and is key to the elimination of waste and toxins from the body. It relates to the base chakra (muladhara) and the element of earth. It is the force that expels prana from the body and if this does not flow easily it can cause feelings of sluggishness.</li>
<li>Vyana vayu – this circles the whole energetic body and regulates and controls all movement and coordinates the other prana vayus. It governs the passage of prana through the muscles, joints, veins, and the circulatory system. It relates to the sacral chakra (svadisthana) and the element of water and helps us to feel integrated.</li>
</ol>
It is important that all five prana vayus are in balance and flowing through the body. When one area of the body is lacking or in excess of prana it will lead to an imbalance in the body and mind.
Lifestyle choices such as how we eat, sleep and work will all affect the flow of prana in the body, as well as our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions.
Through the practice of pranayama, we can balance the flow of life force energy, reduce toxins and impurities, and reach a place of homeostasis in the body and mind.

The Power of Prana

Sharing the teachings of yoga with others is a wonderful and rewarding path. As teachers, you get the privilege of holding space for others and facilitating their well-being and personal growth. Doing so not only fills up the cups of your students but also fills up your own cup.
The journey from student to teacher on the yogic path is a fulfilling and enriching process that deepens personal awareness. Many come to yoga teacher training to step out as a teacher, but the biggest and sometimes unexpected reward along this path are the insights that are gained about the self in all areas of life.
Through the asanas, you learn about how your body moves, where there is tightness, where there is softness, and where you might need to modify. You gain acceptance of how different and unique every body is. You go even deeper when you study yoga anatomy and find fascinating information about the joints, muscles, and systems of the human body and how yoga can benefit it in its entirety.
You learn how to breathe, and I mean really breathe. This one thing alone can have far-reaching benefits in your life. This goes further when you learn all the many pranayama techniques and how you can direct prana, the life force energy, in and around the body to go beyond one’s normal boundaries or limitations and attain a higher state of vibratory energy and awareness.
Adding in meditation, relaxation, and yoga nidra you start to embark on the ultimate goal of personal integration of the body, breath and mind to something much deeper and greater within us. You might begin to have more awareness of those habits and belief systems that are no longer serving you or moments of complete clarity when your mind comes to stillness.
Underpinning all of this are the philosophical teachings of yoga in the ancient texts of the Yoga Sutras. This is where a deep internal journey really starts to begin. From our attitudes to personal disciplines, actions, and distractions, and what disturbs our minds. Not a stone is unturned on this journey to the self. It is through the teachings in the Yoga Sutras that big transformations can formulate and lead us on a more aligned path.
There are many more enriching and fascinating topics that you learn during the study of yoga, more than can be said here. Starting a yoga teacher training course is just the beginning of something that will last a lifetime. As they say, “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self” (verse 6.20 of the Bhagavad Gita).
At Yogic Wisdom, we offer a 350-hour diploma course in yoga teacher training and further study in yoga therapy. In these courses a deep understanding of the rich tradition of yoga is gained and you are taken on an inspiring journey inward to the self.
Further information is available on the website.

The journey of the self through yoga teacher training

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and wrapping up the year that has just gone is a time for giving and receiving, gratitude, reflection, and joy. We can look to the yoga teachings to guide us in these practices.
The Yoga Sutras is one of the most significant yogic texts dating back nearly 2000 years ago and consists of the ancient teachings and practical advice on the path of yoga. Amongst the 195 aphorisms or sutras within the traditional text are the Yamas and Niyamas, which are principles for living soulfully.
There are five Yamas or social attitudes that we can all reflect on at this time of year. The first is Ahimsa, which is doing no harm and showing compassion to all. Around Christmas time this can translate to the act of spreading goodwill among others, particularly those who might not have a secure roof over their head or family and friends to spend this time with.
The second is Satya, which is being truthful and considering what we say and how we say it so not to affect others. It is thinking, acting, and speaking all in alignment with your truth and without inflicting harm, as Ahimsa teaches us. This Yama may come to light when coming together around the table for Christmas celebrations and being mindful to interact with those around you with honesty and truthfulness.
Asteya is the third of the five Yamas and relates to non stealing or taking something that has not been freely given. This Yama can relate to the act of giving at Christmas time. There are two types of giving; the act of giving with no expectation of receiving anything in return or an exchange where an expectation of equal or greater value is present. The latter can take away from the joy of Christmas and leave people feeling disappointment. This Yama reminds us that the act of giving is the gift in itself. As Nicolai Bachman says in The Path of the Yoga Sutras: “Being generous with others without expecting anything in return nurtures our heart-mind and promotes loving-kindness.”
The fourth is Brahmacarya which teaches us to do all in moderation. I’m sure we can all relate to this at Christmas time and is a reminder to not overindulge on the food and drink when celebrating, or overspend on materialistic things during this time.
The final Yama is Aparigraha which is taking only what we need and not being greedy. One aspect of this relates to material things and the possessiveness of these things that we accumulate in our lives. At Christmas time we can get caught up in the need to shop and buy things that we don’t really need. The materialistic focus at Christmas can also take away from what’s important at this time of year, that is coming together, thinking of others, showing compassion, reflecting, and celebrating the previous year and being grateful for what we have.
That brings me to the Niyamas which are five personal daily disciplines or rules. One Niyama in particular relates to this time of the year and that is Santosa. This is being content with where we are right now and grateful for what we have. This is different to the feeling of happiness when we have achieved our life goals or obtained the possessions we want. It is accepting who we are and what we have been given in this life and having complete satisfaction in our heart. It is being grateful even when life throws us curve balls, it is being grateful even for the little things in life.
So as this year comes to a close, we can take the advice from the Yoga Sutras by showing compassion to all, speaking our truth, gifting for the pure joy of giving, doing all in moderation, taking only what we need and bring grateful and content for where we are and what we have.

Tis the season for giving

On the first weekend of November our 2022 yoga teacher training students had their final yoga retreat. This retreat is held at the end of every yoga teacher training, where each student will teach a 45-minute yoga class that puts together all the skills and learnings they have had throughout the year, which they teach to their yogic teacher training group. This was a wonderful opportunity for all to grow together and go deeper on the yogic path.
The retreat in 2022 was held at the Dolina, a beautiful guest house and barn in Lovedale, Hunter Valley that sits on five acres of bushland and opposite the picturesque Wandin Valley Estate.
The weekend started on the Friday afternoon, where students and teachers met with a mixture of nerves and excitement. The retreat began with an opening circle, acknowledgement to country, and gratitude to the lineage and the teachers who have come before us. Two students shared their class on the Friday afternoon which ended in an abundance of joy, gratitude, and excitement.

Friday evening started with a delicious Mexican meal (oh that guacamole!!) cooked by the amazing Renee, a former Yogic Wisdom graduate yoga teacher and vegan chef. After dinner everyone settled in for a group meditation where loving energy flowed in abundance.
Saturday was a jam-packed day of more yoga, relaxation, and glorious food. Students taught classes created around the senses, and strength and confidence. By the end of the day most of the students had taught their classes so it was time for a celebration. Out came the party tunes for a dance and another amazing meal. The night ended with herbal teas in hand and another group meditation, the mood was joyous, and the space was filled with love.
The final morning started early, with a gratitude meditation and our final student teaching their yoga class to the entire room on celebration of community. The weekend retreat came to a moving close with all coming together in circle with tears of excitement and joy.
The transformation that was experienced by each and every student as they embark on this journey throughout the year is incredible.
Feedback from some of the students was …
“I feel lighter than I have ever felt. My retreat experience and the whole year of yoga teacher training 2022 has opened my heart to a life in yoga” – Caroline.
“When I first began this course back in January the thought of putting together and teaching a 45-minute yoga class was a frightening prospect, and something I did not think I could achieve. Yet, somehow over the next nine months, our beautiful and inspiring teachers guided us on this journey of self-discovery, self-love and ultimately to getting closer to finding our true selves.” – Mimi

A wonderful weekend had by all, where we watched students step confidently into their true yogic selves, bringing their uniqueness and personality to each of their yoga classes. It was beautiful to see the love and friendship students have for one an another as they supported each other through their final assessments. We are so excited to watch as this year’s class graduate and share their learnings with the world.

2022 Teacher Training Yoga Retreat

As many of you are aware, the practice of yoga is a very ancient science. It might surprise you though that yoga was never classically taught in a group. Traditionally this practice was taught to an individual student by an experienced teacher who would reveal the techniques to the student as they demonstrated readiness.
One of the aims of yoga is to reduce old negative habits and attitudes that do not serve the student. In Sanskrit (the root language of India) these habits, thoughts, words or deeds are called a samskara.
According to the Yoga Sutras, the traditional yoga teachings, to enable the old samskaras (bad habits) to be replaced with more powerful new samskaras (good habits) the practice of yoga is to be done each day.
Now you might be thinking there is no way I could add in a 60-90 minute yoga class to my schedule each and every day. Well, this daily practice does not need to be long to reap the benefits. For example, a daily 10-minute practice will yield much greater benefits than a longer practice done twice per week.

The Art of a Personal Yoga Practice

In Australia, mental health problems are on the rise and can have a significant impact on a person’s life and those around them. In a recent national study on mental health, it was found that over two in five Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their life – that is a significant number.
As yoga teachers we can therefore expect that potentially half of our students will fall under this statistic. Being aware of this and adapting our teaching to ensure we plan and teach our students in a way that supports and is accepting of mental ill-health is critical.
That is what our 2022 class of yoga teacher trainers have been learning at a recent weekend intensive in Newcastle. Our trainee teachers have been exploring the signs and symptoms of common mental health disorders and how to support students coming to a class with these disorders, including what to do if a student is suicidal.
They have also been learning about the significant role yoga can play in helping someone experiencing mental ill-health. Yoga can help reduce or balance the stress hormones in the body. An imbalance of these stress hormones has been associated with anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and substance abuse. Through the tools of yoga, such as asana, pranayama, meditation, relaxation, mantra, and chanting, we can support students in the management of these disorders.
The trainee teachers also learnt some practical tools when setting up for a class and teaching a class to ensure they can create a safe space for all. A space that is inclusive, without competition, and non-judgemental to ensure that everyone can access the benefits of yoga.
Towards the end of this year Yogic Wisdom will have a group of yoga teacher graduates who are aware of the importance of mental health and can support those students coming to any of their classes with care and compassion.
<a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing</a>

Why is mental health awareness so important for yoga teachers?

There is a big difference between coming to a class taught by a yoga teacher and seeing a yoga therapist for a session. Yoga therapy is specifically focused on helping an individual to find relief, alleviate symptoms, and improve function relating to a health condition.
A yoga therapist will meet an individual where they are at and will fundamentally focus on their needs and requirements. The tools and techniques of yoga are used and adapted to the individual and the health concerns that they would like to address. The aim of yoga therapy is to help students to overcome their challenges and gain independence and wellness.
A yoga therapy session will be completely different to a yoga class. The therapist will meet with you one-on-one where you will discuss your medical history, current symptoms, daily exercise routine, food, sleep, and anything else related to your health goals. A personalised practice will then be formulated to suit the individual. This practice is not your typical one-hour yoga sequence, it is modified asana’s (yoga postures), pranayama (breath work), bhavana (visualisations), chanting, meditation and relaxation that might only be 10 minutes per day. All of which is focused on you and your health concerns.
So what can yoga therapy help with? Yoga Therapy can help with a wide range of health concerns. One of which is working with people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Unfortunately, cancer is extremely common in Australia with one in two men and women diagnosed by the age of 85. It is also the leading cause of death in Australia. Being diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment is highly stressful and puts a lot of strain on the body. This is where a yoga therapist can support an individual with yoga techniques to alleviate that stress, improve the immune response, reduce inflammation, and help with sleep and mood – all of which can assist the body in its healing process.
At a recent weekend workshop, our current yoga therapist trainees supported several individuals with cancer. Each module we kindly have volunteers come and share with us their lived experiences with dealing with various health conditions and in return we offer them a personalised practice and support them on their journey to wellbeing.
This most recent weekend we had some truly inspiring people who are battling different types of cancers, such as skin cancer, ovarian cancer, and leukemia. We also had a special guest this weekend, Simone Hollier a Naturopath, Nutritionist, and Massage Therapist from the Newcastle area talking with us about how she can support those living with cancer. We are so grateful to learn from them all and help them on their journey with yoga therapy.
At Yogic Wisdom you can train to become a Yoga Therapist and help empower students who have injury or illness to improve their health and wellbeing.
<a href="https://www.yogicwisdom.com.au/yoga-therapy-teacher-training">Further details are available here</a>

What is yoga therapy and how can it help those with cancer

You may have already heard that yoga can help manage the impacts of stress. It is one of the most popular reasons people flock to yoga classes. Especially with our modern day of living that is fuelled by stress. But how exactly can downward dog and funny breathing exercises help in reducing stress in the body?
Well, it all starts at the Autonomic Nervous System. This is a system in the body that is responsible for a whole range of bodily functions, from slowing and accelerating our heartbeat to secreting hormones such as adrenaline. It is a pretty important system and does what it needs to do, working away in the body, most of the time without us even noticing.
There are two divisions of this system:
<ul>
<li>the Sympathetic Nervous System – known to many as the fight or flight system</li>
<li>the Parasympathetic Nervous System – known as our rest and digest.</li>
</ul>
These two systems work continuously to try and achieve balance in the body, known as homeostasis. We need the Sympathetic Nervous System to give us energy and turn our thinking caps on. Likewise, we need the Parasympathetic Nervous System to make all the repairs in the body, just like an anti-virus software.
However, in modern day living we can find ourselves stuck in first gear, in the fight and flight state, and potentially struggling with the impacts of stress and overwhelm on the body. The common analogy here is that we are wondering around in the woods and come across a tiger, the Sympathetic Nervous System kicks into gear and enables us to make a run for it. When we are safe our Parasympathetic Nervous System switches on and calms the body back down. But if that system doesn’t switch back on, we stay in a heightened and agitated state – the body literally goes into overdrive. Although walking into tigers is not commonplace in modern society there are other things that can trigger this response, such as trying to meet a work deadline, or someone cutting you off in traffic.
If the body stays in that fight and flight response for long periods of time that is when chronic stress can begin. Here our adrenal glands will continue to secrete adrenaline which can result in long-term side effects such as digestive issues, suppressed reproductive system, fatigue, low immunity and increased inflammation in the body.
This is where yoga can help. The tools of yoga specifically target the Parasympathetic Nervous System, such as asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation.
The key here is the breath. When we take a breath in, we activate the Sympathetic Nervous System. When we take a breath out, we activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System. In yoga, we learn how to breathe properly and then how to match this breath with movement. In doing so we are slowing down the breath, we are regulating our inhale and our exhale, and balancing the Autonomic Nervous System.
Meditation and relaxation techniques, such as yoga nidra, also help to activate our rest and digest system by slowing down the heart rate, relaxing the muscles, and reducing blood pressure. Here we are bringing awareness to our breath and body and softening the mental chatter, turning on the Parasympathetic Nervous System.
So the next time someone says to you that they are off to do yoga to manage their stress you now know the ins and outs as to why – there is a method to our madness!

How can yoga help you with stress?

In late 2015, Deepa went for a casual swim and felt her arms seize up. What began as a single point of pain quickly spiraled into a debilitating condition that would soon reshape her life.
At 28, Deepa found herself navigating overwhelming fatigue and pain that spread from her arms to her neck and eventually her entire upper body. What started as a diagnosis of tendinitis soon became a confusing widespread condition. Doctor after doctor kept prescribing physiotherapy and rest, but nothing helped. Within two months, she was forced to take a sabbatical from work, holding onto hope that the break would offer healing. It didn’t.

The struggle to find a solution 
After months of dead ends she went to see a neurosurgeon. After a series of MRIs, blood tests and nerve conduction tests, the doctor found nothing in the reports, and gave the diagnosis: fibromyalgia &#8211; a chronic condition with no known cure, only ‘management’. Deepa was handed some medications and gentle exercises, and then she was discharged.
Deepa felt disheartened. Nothing she tried brought meaningful relief. Ayurvedic treatments, acupuncture, trigger point massage, physiotherapy, allopathic medication or even rest. The emotional toll began to mirror the physical. A vibrant young woman who had once worked full-time in charity and serving others, now struggled to get out of bed and needed others to support her.

A Glimmer of Hope 
Six months into the condition her yoga teacher and founder of Yogic Wisdom, Kym, introduced her to Dr. N.C., a Yoga Therapist based in Chennai, and student of Desikachar. With little left to lose, Deepa agreed to meet him.
He gave her a personalized Yoga Therapy practice. Within just two days, something astonishing happened: the pain eased. The relief was small, but it was a tiny window in what had been 6 months of continuous pain. This motivated her to practice. Many days all she could do was lay on her mat in Shavasana. But she got on the mat almost every day.
She was given two practices. The morning practice was designed to generate energy, open up the Prana and release physical tension. The evening practice focused on calming the mind and quieting the nervous system. This was the idea that pain isn’t just a physical experience but deeply tied to emotional and mental states, and was reflected in the quality of the breath.

The Long Road to recovery 
Even though she struggled with consistency, especially in the evenings, her body began to shift. Slowly, she reclaimed small parts of her life. Preparing her own meals. Shopping for groceries. Taking short car rides. And eventually, flights and long-distance travel.
It took years, but she re-entered the workforce in small steps, casual small projects at first, then part-time, and finally, almost a decade later, full-time again. Today, she channels her experience into her own Yoga Therapy work through Yogic Wisdom.

A Whole-Person Approach 
One of the most profound discoveries Deepa made through Yoga Therapy was understanding that Fibromyalgia wasn’t just a physical condition. While it manifested in the body, it had its origins in the mind and deeper psyche.
Before the pain started, she had been under immense stress. Overworking, overgiving, and never feeling permission to rest. In Yoga’s framework, this relates to the Manomaya kosha, the mental-emotional sheath. As she began to work with relaxing the mind, her Prana (life force energy) started to flow more freely, bringing energy back into her system and reducing pain.

From Doing to Being 
Deepa’s healing also touched a deeper layer: her identity and self-worth. Working with the Vijnanamaya kosha, the deeper psyche or personality sheath, she began to question old beliefs. Most notably, the idea that her value came from productivity and helping others.
Her work in nonprofit and community sectors had shaped her identity around service. When she fell ill and could no longer “contribute,” she felt hopeless. This internal collapse was perhaps the hardest part of her journey.
But Yoga Therapy invited a new truth: that her worth was intrinsic, not dependent on what she could do, but who she was. Her healing deepened as she made peace with receiving, with resting, and with being. This wasn’t easy. She had to learn to start making peace with many deeper parts of herself to get there.

A Final Reflection 
Deepa still lives with fibromyalgia, with occasional flares, affected by her diet, rest, activity, stress and seasonal impacts. However she is able to live the life she wants.
If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, or find yourself living with chronic fatigue, burnout, or stress-related illness, know that your story doesn’t end here. Yoga Therapy offers gentle, grounded tools to support you to manage symptoms, and slowly rebuild trust with your body, mind, and spirit. Reach out to us for <a href="https://www.yogicwisdom.com.au/private-consultations">support here</a>.

Healing Fibromyalgia Through Yoga Therapy

When Britt first walked into her first Yoga Therapy session, she already had a love for Yoga. A 44-year-old school teacher, mother of two, and acreage-dweller who loved horse riding, Britt wasn’t new to moving her body, but she was ready to learn how to listen to it more deeply.
In her mid-20s, Britt suffered a horse-riding accident that left her with ongoing hip and lower back pain. Over the years, the issue worsened. By her early 30s, her back would regularly “go out,” leaving her in pain and unable to stand straight. The only relief she found came from lying on her stomach with a heat pack &#8211; a short-term fix at best.
Prior to Yoga Therapy, she had been receiving osteopathic care, which brought some improvement, but Britt felt intuitively that more could be done. When she began Yoga Teacher Training, she was introduced to the deeper layers of yoga and its therapeutic potential, which led her to book a Yoga Therapy session that same year.

Listening to the Body, One Step at a Time 
In that first session, Britt’s alignment and patterns of physical compensation were examined. The weak point in the back was her lumbar spine which is a very common issue for many people. This appeared to be a likely contributing factor to her lordosis (exaggerated curve in the lower back), along with a muscular bulge on her right side and pain presenting on the left. This whole-body approach, observing posture from the feet up, is a key aspect of Yoga Therapy. We aim to look beyond symptoms and understand why the imbalance is showing up.
Britt’s yoga therapy plan focused on building core strength gently to support the lower back and improving spinal alignment and posture through safe, functional movement. We introduced calming breathwork with long exhales and chanting the mantra AUM to support the nervous system and reduce pain perception. The goal was to gradually strengthen the pain points in Britt’s body and offer tools she could use herself anytime, anywhere.

Small Steps, Big Shifts 
What made Britt’s healing journey powerful wasn’t just the practice, it was her commitment. She showed up to her morning and evening Yoga Therapy routines with consistency. Short practices that were steady, with mindful movements and the focus on the breath to bring prana (life force energy) into the areas that had felt stagnant or tense for years.
As her body grew stronger, her Yoga practice was gently progressed. Postures that once felt out of reach (like supported inversions) were now becoming available to her. Britt noticed in her Yoga Teacher Training that she could now do Asanas (postures) that had been challenging before due to her back pain.

An Unexpected Shift 
Then came something unexpected: Britt began to lose weight not through strenuous exercise or dieting, but as a side effect of her practice reducing stress and restoring hormonal balance in her body.
From a Yoga Therapy perspective, this makes sense. Stress increases cortisol, a hormone linked to stubborn fat storage, particularly in the abdominal region. Yoga Therapy practices, especially those focused on Apana Vayu (the downward-moving energy in the body), use strong exhalations, sound, and grounding postures to help regulate the nervous system and metabolic processes.
By reducing stress and increasing pranic flow, the body begins to burn energy more efficiently and store less fat. But more than the physical change, Britt was finally feeling empowered in her own body again.

From Student to Therapist 
Britt’s journey didn’t end with personal healing. After graduating from her Yoga Teacher Training, she went on to study Yoga Therapy. With her lived experience, personal dedication, and hard-won wisdom, she is now preparing to step into the role of a Yoga Therapist herself.
Her journey is a testament to what’s possible when we listen to our bodies, approach healing with compassion and patience, and trust in the power of small, consistent steps.

Interested in Yoga Therapy? 
If Britt’s story resonates with you, and you’re curious how Yoga Therapy could support your unique body and journey, learn more about our <a href="https://www.yogicwisdom.com.au/private-consultations">one-on-one consultations here.</a>

Rebuilding Strength and Trust in Her Body Through Yoga Therapy

When Kate first came to Yoga Therapy, she was 33, deeply yearning to start a family. She and her partner had been trying to conceive for over two years. She had a history of painful periods, an underactive thyroid, and a body still recovering from endometriosis surgery. Kate felt burdened by stress, confusion, and a quiet fear that maybe her body was broken in some way.
Kate’s story is one that so many women can relate to. Having experienced painful periods early on which she had to manage with the pill, it wasn’t until later that she discovered deeper issues. Through a persistent and long-drawn out health journey, it was finally discovered that she had stage 4 endometriosis. The invasive surgery that followed helped, but it also left her feeling physically and emotionally raw. She faced the complex world of fertility treatments, and it was just before starting her first round of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) that she came across Yoga Therapy.

The Healing Begins: A New Approach 
When Kate began her Yoga Therapy journey, she was doing everything she could and often doing too much. Her nervous system was overloaded, her body pushed beyond its limits with intense exercise, and her mind filled with the heavy noise of “shoulds” and “not enoughs.”
In the first session, Kate shared that she felt she needed to be “fixed.” But the truth she gently explored through the session was this: her body was not broken. It was already whole, already wise, and deeply deserving of love.
Yoga Therapy gave Kate more than stretches and breathwork, it gave her a new relationship with her body.

A Practice Designed for Fertility 
Kate’s practices were carefully designed to support both her physical reproductive health and her emotional well-being. In Yoga Therapy, we don’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, every practice is suited to the unique needs of the individual. Kate was given both a morning and evening practice.
Kate’s sunrise morning practice was designed to increase prana (life force) and direct it toward the womb space (apana region). Gentle sun salutations invited warmth, vitality, and light into her body to call in new life. Kate focused on the inhale breath to bring more energy into the lower abdomen and support the clearing of stagnation. Supported inversions and restorative postures soothed the nervous system and encouraged hormonal balance.
In the evening, Kate’s practice focused on the exhale, deep rest, and the sacred feminine. She was given the mantra “Ma” &#8211; a gentle, grounding chant invoking the archetype of the mother. A deeply calming bhavana (visualisation) helped her imagine her womb as a lush, abundant garden full of her favourite plants and flowers, ready to welcome a seed. Breath and movement continued to bring warmth and prana to the belly, while encouraging deep letting go.
Each night, Kate would end her practice with the Gayatri Mantra. This sacred chant invokes the radiance of the sun and illuminates the mind and heart. It became a source of strength, faith, and inner light for her.

The Mind-Body Connection 
Kate’s healing wasn’t just physical. Her mindset, like so many navigating fertility journeys, had become clouded with guilt, fear, and self-blame. Through the Yoga Therapy sessions, she explored tools to shift her relationship with herself. Letting go of the inner critic and the harsh “shoulds.” Learning to rest without guilt.
She was supported to reclaim her joy by being encouraged to be outside surfing, in sunshine, and with more laughter. We also gently adjusted her nutrition toward fresh, easily digestible foods, meals that were light, prana-filled, and nourishing, to support both digestion and vitality.

The Turning Point 
For eight weeks, Kate committed to her practice morning and night. It became a sacred container, not just for fertility, but for healing, self-love, and surrender.
The day before she was due to begin IUI medication, Kate got a surprise: a positive pregnancy test. Her son, now a joyful two-year-old, is the living embodiment of that journey.
And the Gayatri Mantra? Kate still sings it to him today. It remains, for her, a song of hope, light, and transformation.

A Final Reflection 
Kate’s journey is a beautiful reminder that fertility is not only a physical process but an emotional and spiritual one too. Yoga Therapy gave her tools to restore balance, connect deeply with her body, and make space for life in all its forms.
If you&#8217;re on a fertility journey and feel overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure of what your body needs, Yoga Therapy can be a gentle, powerful ally. Your body is not broken. You are not alone. Please reach out to us for support with Yoga Therapy if you feel curious to try it. <a href="https://www.yogicwisdom.com.au/contact-us">Learn more about our consultations here.</a>

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