Yoga with Gabrielle

Yoga and Poetry

On May 11, 2017

For those who attend my regular yoga classes, you will know that my favourite poet is Danna Faulds. Her words so often marry beautifully with my intention or theme for the week’s teachings. For me, richness of experience is deepened when the many aspects or layers of who I am are touched in the practice. Movement and breath liberate held tension and energy in the body, which gives rise to feelings and emotions. When we give space for these feelings and emotions to be met and accepted as they are (without trying to fix or change anything) new levels of freedom become available to us. Listening to poetry as part of a yoga class, gives us space to simply BE, to rest quietly and listen. As the words meet us, something awakens, stirs and moves through the body and mind. This is my experience…..may it also be yours. X

autumn yoga

Whatever Doesn’t Serve by Danna Faulds

What weight can you put down right now, willingly relinquishing the pointed quills of guilt or judgement?

What burden of the heart can lift, what dark corner can be lit, the candle flickering at first, then burning bright?

With the next breath, let it go, that old story you’ve told yourself a million times.

Whatever doesn’t serve you on this path of truth, leave it behind.

Offer this one gift: the simple sacrifice that in the giving sets you free to fully live.

“It is worth doing nothing and having a rest”.

By admin

On August 12, 2016

In Inspiration and wisdom, Musings

I remember the first time I heard this wonderful piece from The Curly Pyjama Letters by Michael Leunig. I was enjoying relaxation at the beginning of a yoga class with my dear teacher Lyn Colenso and she read the letter (see below) to us like a bedtime story; the sentiment stayed with me for a long time after. The Curly Pyjama Letters is a collection of correspondence between lone voyager Vasco Pyjama and his friend and mentor Mr Curly of Curly Flat.

michael-leunig-the-curly-pyjama-letters

Dear Vasco,

What is worth doing and what is worth having?

I would like to say simply this. It is worth doing nothing and having a rest; in spite of all the difficulty it may cause you must rest Vasco –otherwise you will become restless!

I believe the world is sick with exhaustion and dying of restlessness. While it is true that periods of weariness help the spirit to grow, the prolonged ongoing state of fatigue to which our world seems to be rapidly adopting is ultimately soul destroying as well as earth destroying. The ecology of evil flourishes and love cannot take root in this sad situation. Tiredness is one of our strongest, most noble and instructive feelings. It is an important aspect of our conscience and must be heeded or else we will not survive. When you are tired you must act upon it sensibly – you must rest like the trees and animals do.

Yet tiredness has become a matter of shame! This is a dangerous development.

Tiredness has become the most suppressed feeling in the world. Everywhere we see people overcoming their exhaustion and pushing on with intensity—cultivating the great mass mania which all around is making life so hard and ugly—so cruel and meaningless—so utterly graceless—and being congratulated for overcoming it and pushing it deep down inside themselves as if it were a virtue to do this.

And of course Vasco, you know what happens when such strong and natural feelings are denied—they turn into the most powerful and bitter poisons with dreadful consequences. We live in a world of these consequences and then wonder why we are so unhappy.

So I gently urge you Vasco, do as we do in Curly Flat—learn to curl up and rest—feel your noble tiredness—learn about it and make a generous place for it in your life and enjoyment will surely follow.

I repeat it’s worth doing nothing and having a rest.

Yours Sleepily,
Mr. Curly XXX

As we learn to witness and welcome whatever arises within and around us, we gain insight and understanding into what is required to live harmoniously with ourselves, others and life around us.

Looking for Happiness

By admin

On June 11, 2016

In Inspiration and wisdom, Musings

I often come across images, poetry and stories that inspire me in the work I am doing (and I have one below to share with you). They can be gentle reminders of what we already know, or ignite a new spark of knowing or curiosity. In a world that pulls us in different directions with so much stimulation and on offer, it can be really helpful to come back to what is simple and grounds us in present moment reality. For me, spending time with family, friends and animals, being in nature and connecting to beauty, all bring me deep peace and happiness.

Here are eight ways to connect with happiness –

1. Express Gratitude

Never let the things you WANT make you forget about the things you HAVE.

2. Savour life’s joys

The real beauty of life is in each precious moment. Stop and smell the roses.

3. Commit to your goals

Most people who fail at reaching their dream, fail not from lack of ability but from lack of commitment.

4. Cultivate optimism

Stay Positive. When it rains look for Rainbows. When it’s dark look for stars.

5. Stop over thinking.

Thinking too much only complicates your life and creates a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.

6. Avoid social comparison

Most of our insecurities come from comparing our behind the scenes life with other people’s highlight reel.

7. Increase flow experiences

Flow is a state where you are so focused if feels like time stands still. Doing what you love and challenging yourself is how you get there.

8. Nurture your relationships

The happiest people have deep, meaningful relationships. Nurture them and watch them grow.

hugs

“There is nothing I want but your Presence. In friendship, time dissolves” ~ Rumi

If this resonates with you, perhaps choose one area to focus on each week then use this focus to form an intention. Set your intention at the beginning of the day; for example….today I am grateful for……..OR ……today I will have lunch with ……….

with love, Gabrielle

Yoga: Opening from the inside out

By admin

On February 24, 2016

In Inspiration and wisdom

I recently attending a session on Yoga and Body Image presented by Janet Lowndes and Sarah Harry, community partners for the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. I have always taught yoga from the perspective of connecting inwardly (thanks to my wonderful teachers), and this presentation affirmed the importance of this approach. When we consider body image in terms of a yoga practice, this may include body weight, shape, gender, age, flexibility and strength. For many, the way we view ourselves will stop us from ever entering a yoga class.

I love this quote from Rachel Brathen, a New York times best seller, motivational speaker and international yoga teacher.

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Yoga should be a practice that invites us to look inwardly, connecting with how we feel rather than how we look. “What’s happening inside my body”? There are many benefits to developing this interoceptive awareness: self compassion, a positive mental outlook, emotional coping, attention to self care and wellbeing.

In yoga, the process of turning our attention inwardly is called pratyahara. We naturally explore pratyahara in relaxation and meditation, but do we turn our attention inwards as part of our physical practice too. Do we listen to the constant messages from our body (whether to deepen or relax into a pose), are we guided by the quality of our breath and a steadiness of mind?

Here are some ways to bring more inner reflection and peace into our practice.

Radical Acceptance – seeing things clearly as they are, in a way that is self-compassionate and non-judging. “I am already enough”.
Meditate.
- Learn to be at peace with ourselves and the world around us.
- Discover we are more than our thoughts, emotions and life experiences.
- Learn to respond, rather than react to life.
Learning to listen to our bodies rather than fighting against them. Be kind and gentle with yourself.
LOVE YOUR BODY. Love it, nurture it, respect it, be kind to it, be grateful for it, celebrate it’s strengths, and befriend it.

For more details on the wonderful work Janet is doing in terms of Yoga and Body Image, visit her website www.mindbodywell.com.au

Peace is This Moment without Judgement

By admin

On November 18, 2015

In Uncategorized

At times when we are challenged to find peace within ourselves, with others and the world we live in, I choose to turn towards beauty, nature and the wisdom of others.

Enjoy this beautiful poem by Dorothy Hunt.

Peace is This Moment Without Judgment

Do you think peace requires an end to war?
Or tigers eating only vegetables?
Does peace require an absence from
your boss, your spouse, yourself? …
Do you think peace will come some other place than here?
Some other time than Now?
In some other heart than yours?

Peace is this moment without judgment.
That is all. This moment in the Heart-space
where everything that is is welcome.
Peace is this moment without thinking
that it should be some other way,
that you should feel some other thing,
that your life should unfold according to your plans.

Peace is this moment without judgment,
this moment in the heart-space where
everything that is is welcome.

Beads of Light

By admin

On October 19, 2015

In Meditations & relaxations

I love working with the chakra colours. In this relaxation/meditation, I have weaved the colours and an affirmation associated with the 7 main chakras into a creative visualisation. You could practice this in savasana (lying on the floor) or seated upright. Ensure your body is supported and comfortable to allow for a deeper experience to unfold. When we support our body in meditation, our energy and attention is drawn away from the physical layer, opening to higher levels of consciousness and a spacious enquiry.

You may choose to rest in stillness and silence after the guided relaxation, allowing your attention to open to all that is inside and around you. Let your focus be relaxed and open, aware of everything but nothing specific. As your attention is drawn to and lingers on a specific thought, sensation, emotion, sound, memory or image, open your attention out – be expansive and spacious.

As the energy of Spring draws us out into the world with new projects, time in the garden, clearing out cupboards and drawers and generally being more active, remember to also cultivate the inner “garden” through relaxation, meditation and other mindfulness practices.

Out of Hibernation

By admin

On August 14, 2015

In Musings, Yoga asana

Wow! I cannot believe it’s been almost 3 months since my last post. It wasn’t intentional but it seems I have been in hibernation. I did recently celebrate my 50th birthday (no grey hairs yet) and have just returned from a beautiful relaxing retreat in Fiji, so I have also been a little preoccupied.

I was fortunate to attend a 7 day silent retreat with my spiritual teacher, Richard Miller on 20 April and it has profoundly changed my life. As part of moving deep within and letting go of the busyness, I found that my priorities changed. I live more in the moment, allowing myself to be guided by what brings me happiness and peace. Even the mundane tasks can be pleasant and satisfying if done with awareness and purpose. I take more time in the “in between” moments; after a job is done, when I arrive somewhere in my car – time to pause, breathe and simply be in the moment. I have found that when I make space for myself, I create more space in my day. How cool is that?

Meditation has been part of my mornings now for just over 12 months and it really has made a difference to how I see, experience and meet each moment. I am more content than I have ever been and feel deeply connected to all of life.

With the days getting a little warmer and the wattle and blossoms beckoning, I feel a gentle pull to look outward again, to become more active, start planning and looking forward.

I would love to share with you a beautiful sequence called the Goddess Vinyasa. It’s beautifully warming, opening the upper body while strengthening the lower body. The combination of stability, movement and breath is wonderfully uplifting. You will feel great afterwards! Thanks to my friend Gina for the inspiration and recording below. As we approach Spring and the warmer weather, this would be lovely outdoors.

Goddess Vinyasa

With love,

‘Mind Wanting More’ by Holly Hughes

By admin

On May 18, 2015

In Uncategorized

Only a beige slat of sun above the horizon, like a shade pulled not quite down. Otherwise, clouds.

Sea rippled here and there. Birds reluctant to fly.

The mind wants a shaft of sun to stir the grey porridge of clouds, an osprey to stitch sea to sky with its barred wings, some dramatic music: a symphony, perhaps a Chinese gong.

But the mind always wants more than it has—

one more bright day of sun, one more clear night in bed with the moon;

one more hour to get the words right; one more chance for the heart in hiding to emerge from its thicket
in dried grasses—as if this quiet day with its tentative light weren’t enough,

as if joy weren’t strewn all around.

Busyness robs us of the gift right in front of us

By admin

On March 16, 2015

In Inspiration and wisdom, Musings

It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Rushing from one thing to the next, racing through life and feeling there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. I find myself at times saying “I’m super busy!”, as if being busy is a good thing; I’m being productive and contributing to life. What I am being is stressed, tired and disconnected.

“Busyness robs us of the gift right in front of us.”

One of the great things about being a yoga teacher is I practice and teach presence and mindfulness almost every day. When you practice doing just one thing at a time (such as breath awareness), you sharpen your ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate. When we practice one-pointedness, we are developing our ability to remain with a task for as long as it is necessary to accomplish a particular goal. If we are to succeed in any endeavour, be it bringing an end to insomnia, anxiety, busyness, accomplishing a job at home or work, or awakening to our True Nature, the mind needs to possess the ability to remain one-pointed for as long as is necessary to accomplish our goal. The more you practice these skills, the easier they become and before you know it, you are more mindful in other aspects of your life. So when you become busy or rushed, you notice you are busy and when you notice you are busy you have an opportunity to make a choice. You can stay busy (and at times this is necessary and appropriate) or change your behaviour. We can choose also to be calm busy or chaos busy.

When we change our behaviour, the outcomes and consequences of our actions change too. I know this sounds simple and it is. The hardest part is noticing; being present enough to ask ourselves, “Is this behaviour or choice bringing me closer to contentment, happiness and peace or further from it?”

Tips for practising presence / mindfulness at home.

1. Do one thing at a time. one-pointedness

2. Eat slowly and mindfully (away from TV’s, computers and smart phones)

3. Focus on what can be done today. Think about tomorrow, tomorrow.

4. Plan your day before it begins. Ideally the night before or early morning.

One word to support action and inspire change

By admin

On January 1, 2015

In Uncategorized

In the busy and often unpredictable nature of our day, it can be often challenging to stay centred. We may become reactive and behave in ways that don’t align with our higher self. Ideally we create space between what life offers us and how we choose to deal with it; what we say, what we do. When we are mindful and present, we learn to respond rather than react to life.

Harmony flows within us when we operate in line with our higher self, our inner truth. We may find within this space, a conflict free environment that cultivates peace and wellbeing: a space from which clarity may arise and creativity can flow.

Several years ago I was asked by my mentor at the time to choose one word that would move me in the direction I wanted to go and grow. This word came easily : SPACIOUSNESS. The next task was to chose one action that would support my word. This too came easily: to chose a regular time each week to sit and write articles for my blog. What followed next was really interesting: spaciousness flowed into many areas of my life without effort. I began creating more physical space around me; in my office, around my home, at the studio and immediately felt more relaxed and content. What one word comes to mind for you? A word that moves you towards your dreams and goals. A word that immediately feels right and inspires you to make change. Consider, when we change our mindset, we must feel ready in our heart and be prepared for necessary change in behaviour to follow.

So what can we do to help cultivate the space required to know what we truly want and where we want to go. For me, I chose my breath and stillness. When I find my breath and hold it gently with my awareness, connecting with its natural rhythm and flow, I feel soothed. It is a balm for my nervous system that radiates out to fill my entire being with space; a space that opens to clarity and inner wisdom. Simply sitting quietly in meditation for 5 – 15 minutes is enough. Ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Who am I?

2. What do I want?

3. What is my dharma (life purpose)?

Asking these questions will plant a seed into the fertile mind. Don’t dwell – plant the seed and let it be. Each time you come back to these questions in meditation, you are watering the seeds and they will grow. Be open to life around you and any opportunities that arise that align with your intentions.

Another way to create inner space is to find stillness through rest: stop what you are doing and lie down somewhere comfortably. In a yoga practice, we find this space within savasana, however we can reap the benefits of stillness anywhere that is comfortable where you will not be disturbed. Just a few minutes of focussed stillness can move one from feelings of anxiety and tension to a place of calmness and clarity.

Here are some simple tips for a rejuvenating rest :

1. Once comfortable, close your eyes and connect with the natural heaviness of your body; the weight of your bones and muscles. Release the weight of your head, backs of the shoulders and hips into the support of the earth.

2. Scan your body for areas of holding and tension and let your breath create space and ease around any areas found. Allow time for resistance to melt away: this is a process of undoing.

3. Look within and connect with the natural rhythm of your breath. You don’t need to change the breath, simply watch the natural rise and fall. Feel your body open to receive the breath and surrender as the breath is naturally released. Stay with it; become aware of the space at the top of each inhalation and the bottom of each exhalation. Don’t create the space or hold, simply notice what is there.

4. If the mind wanders, simply begin again; heavy body surrendering to the natural rhythm of the breath.

Great if you can stay with this for 5 – 15 minutes then stretch gently and reenter your day with more clarity and ease.

In a few days, I’m off camping with my family to Echuca. Here in the quietness of life, I will consider my one word and action for 2015. On the banks of the beautiful Murray river I will go within and listen to my heart, not my head for guidance and wisdom.

Blessings for a wonderful and spacious 2015.