August 31st 2018

As winter draws to an end, dormant life awakens with a determined goal to grow towards the sunlight. Ecosystems emerge, well rested, and demonstrating a co-dependency, surviving by constantly adapting & collaborating with the world around, leading to an innate ability to co-exist.

This force in you is the striving towards your goals, the different paths you choose to take, your successes and your scars, your battles and your times of peace. In short, the experiences that shape you into being truly unique.

Yet although you stand alone in your individuality, you also stand deeply connected to the world around you. This inherent sense of belonging is the source of true empathy. The knowing that your body and its systems, the thought patterns of your mind are yours to care for. Your family of relatives, friends and loved ones, and your local & wider communities belong to you to care for. Your environment belongs to you to protect the balance, before passing on to the next generation.

This practice of co-existence and kindness, is the practice of yoga for those on this hemisphere as we come out of the internal hibernation of winter.

August 6th, 2015

Winter is a time of self-recollection, filling of our reserves, & gathering strength for the year ahead. We can use the energy of this season to move deeply inwards and discover the essence of our self.  

Winter is a time of peaceful stillness, nature’s energy has turned in: trees in winter look skeletal, the sap has sunk, days are colder & darker. There is work going on, but inside. The energy of winter is potent:  energy is collected and held in reserve. It is this concentrated, internal force of winter that enables a seed to burst forth in spring growth.

Reserved strength within, give us courage and strength of will. Lacking these reserves, we manifest the emotion of fear. In appropriate amounts fear is essential; caution in recognizing our limitations preserves life: But the emotion of a distressed Water element is fear of not having enough of what it takes to meet the challenge that lies ahead: as if we don’t have enough stored away to survive the winter.

Allowing ourselves to simply be still and quiet, containing our energy within ourselves, is to stand in the energy of winter. Living in a society of continual striving and exertion, we expect instant results and immediate answers. But within nature are already all the answers, we just have to be quiet enough to listen and be empty enough to be filled. This is the wisdom of water: the effortless response to its environment by taking the exact shape of whatever contains it and yielding to every unexpected change.

April 20th, 2015

‘The Shiatsu therapist is trained to feel the body's condition in order to find the imbalanced areas in the body. By skillfully stimulating the imbalanced meridians, the therapist attempts to restore the balanced flow.

From the Western point of view, shiatsu works directly to calm the autonomic nervous system, which has the effect of calming nervous distress and increasing resistance to stress. By helping with blood and lymph circulation in the body, shiatsu helps to maintain and improve muscle tone and healthy internal organ functions.

It is believed that shiatsu can also strengthen the immune system. Regular and consistent shiatsu treatments can become an important aspect of preventive health care as well as treatment for existing symptoms.’

‘Zen Shiatsu, The Legacy of Shizuto Masunaga’ by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine

17th March, 2015

Fruit, acorns, pinecones fall as seeds for the next generation. trees release their leaves providing an enriching blanket for the soil in which the seeds lie. Nature is preparing for a restful winter, letting go of what is not essential so less effort is needed to preserve that which is essential.

To prepare for your restful winter you too can lay the seeds for a strong foundation of health. For this you need clear judgement to recognise what to release and what to keep. It may simply be clutter in your home, or creating space in your diary, giving up activities that serve no purpose providing rest time for the slowing down of these colder seasons. In your emotional world, maybe grudges or physical reminders of the past that weigh heavily can be released now.

From the vibrant, increasing growth of spring and summer comes the decrease and slowing down of Autumn & Winter. Some feel loss, sadness or grief during this season, others enjoy the more introspective tendencies of the colder months. Activities should not cease altogether, exercise encourages flow of life force, being outdoors allows us to embrace the season. Being conscious of your breath can be powerful & effective; letting go of tension while breathing out & enriching your cells with oxygen while breathing in. With strong lungs you have a strong immune system & general vitality.

Even your cooking should slow down enjoying long cooked roasts, casseroles & curries. Root vegetables that grow down into the earth are in season now and occasional warming & spicy food such as ginger, garlic, cinnamon can encourage circulation. It is traditional to preserve summers harvest by pickling, this balances the culture in your gut contributing to a strong foundation of health for the year ahead.

January19th, 2015

Shiatsu is a holistic therapy, a practitioner considers how the person conceives the world around them, the way their organs & body function through the changing rhythms of nature. It is an artful practice of listening to someone’s entire being.

Shiatsu works on both a physical and energetic level to stimulate realignment in body, mind and spirit. A practitioner affects the way energy moves through the body, clearing blockages & nourishing areas of weakness.

The massage and rhythmic compression of Shiatsu produces a deeper level of relaxation which in turn reduces stress and strengthens the body's natural healing ability. Shiatsu is an effective way of strengthening your resistance to illness.

December 2014

 Christmas Special:

One Shiatsu Treatment & one gift voucher for $100

(Bookings must be made before the end of the year.)

October 21, 2014

With the warmth and vibrance of summer, nature grows & flourishes. The strength of the sun creates an expansive force, the element of fire is prolific, days are long, active & warm.

In Taoist philosophy, the word for heart  (“Xin”) also means 'mind'.  It encompasses a much broader understanding than we have in the west.  The heart is the ruler of the emotions, thoughts and spirit.  If the heart is disturbed nothing else will function well. A calm settled nervous system is important to feel grounded and in control. You are then free to open up, express, create & grow during these warm months, without feeling vulnerable or out of control. Out of balance, you may grow weary with over-riding emotions such as anger, desire or anxiety.

25th September, 2014

Taoism encourages taking inspiration from the cycles and rhythms of the natural world.

Spring shows the active awakening of flora, the wood element. In the longer warmer days, new shoots emerge & buds appear. This force shows determination to grow towards a single goal; the sunlight, but adaptability in its direction, giving each plant its unique shape. This force in you, gives a sense of direction, striving towards the goals you set &, when in balance, patient and present on the path leading you there.

During spring, you can observe co-existence; the interdependency of large & small ecosystems, the moss sharing space with fungus that depends on the shade of the tree, that depends on the dampness of the moss. In the Yoga Sutras, a text written by the Sage Patanjali, he believes that when our minds our quiet & completely present, the interconnectivity of all life is clear. A realisation of this inherent intimacy naturally leads to empathy. This practice of empathy can allow us to co-exist peacefully.

It is a time to grow as an individual on a path unique to you, while knowing that you are not separate from the world around you. This is your body to care for, your family, your community to heal when problems arise, your environment to fix, your land to protect.

6 September, 2014

Sat 6th September, 9.30am to 1.30pm
(Cake & Chai included. Bookings essential, $50)

Ki Yoga class;
Bright, expansive yoga to improve flexibility & strengthen joints, spiralling up from the hibernation of winter, .

Taoist & Yoga philosophy;
Understanding the directional force of Spring; a time of renewal & growth.

Food as medicine;
Light, vibrant recipes to cleanse the liver & energise the spirit.

Zen Shiatsu;
Learn shiatsu & pressure points to help others.

 

25th June, 2014

Winter is a time of self-recollection, filling of our reserves, & gathering strength for the year ahead. We can use the energy of this season to more deeply discover the essence of our self.  

Winter is a time of peaceful stillness, nature’s energy has turned in: trees in winter look skeletal, the sap has sunk, days are colder & darker. There is work going on, but inside. The energy of winter is potent:  energy is collected and held in reserve. It is this concentrated, internal force of winter that enables a seed to burst forth in spring growth.

Reserved strength within, give us courage and strength of will. Lacking these reserves, we manifest the emotion of fear. In appropriate amounts fear is essential; caution in recognizing our limitations preserves life: But the emotion of a distressed Water element is fear of not having enough of what it takes to meet the challenge that lies ahead: as if we don’t have enough stored away to survive the winter.

Allowing ourselves to simply be still and quiet, containing our energy within ourselves, is to stand in the energy of winter. Living in a society of continual striving and exertion, we expect instant results and immediate answers. But within nature are already all the answers, we just have to be quiet enough to listen and be empty enough to be filled. This is the wisdom of water: the effortless response to its environment by taking the exact shape of whatever contains it and yielding to every unexpected change.

Feburary 7th, 2014

Japanese yoga is a dynamic practice; inspired by Taoist philosophy, it adapts to the changing rhythms and cycles of nature. Inspired by martial arts, it is strengthening & the breath work is energizing. Inspired by Hatha yoga, the practice encourages present mindfulness & unity of the body/mind.

During spring or in the morning, yoga focuses on waking up the body and generating vitality with light movement. An evening or winter class is calm, with deep, enriching breath, restoring & resting the body.

With practice, you feel strong, empowered and able to move fluidly & effortlessly through the changing seasons & challenges of life. This yoga provides you with the tools to align imbalances and strengthen weak areas.

December 10th, 2013

Health comes from the Proto-Germanic word ‘hailitho’. So does Wealth, whole, and holy. So health truly means variety & being receptive to all that nourishes us in the world we live. An idea of wealth as a state of mind, that ability to appreciate simple, beautiful moments that are so often taken for granted.  

Summertime, where nature is at its most abundant and open, reminds us that being healthy is being all embracing, open hearted, open to offers & experiences. Not; liking some, but excluding others, or fearing & therefore declining experiences, but rather drinking up experiences as though each lesson in life enriches us.

November 7th, 2013

Shiatsu is a holistic therapy, that is to say a practitioner considers the whole story of the person; how they feel & conceive the world around them, the way their organs & body function through the changing cycles & rhythms of nature. It is an artful practice of listening to someone’s entire being.

Shiatsu works on both a physical and energetic level to stimulate balance & realignment in body, mind and spirit.

Techniques include palm & thumb pressure, gentle rotations, and stretching and to affect change in the way energy moves through the body, clearing blockages & nourishing areas of weakness.

The massage and rhythmic compression of Shiatsu produces a deeper level of relaxation which in turn reduces stress and strengthens the body's natural healing ability. Shiatsu is an effective way of strengthening your resistance to illness.

September 1st, 2013

The quiet, storing, hibernation of winter is followed by the active, more opening expression of Spring. We see new life; buds begin to sprout, trees blossom.

From the reflective inward season of Winter, Chi is activated. Spring is a time of generosity, giving and nurturing life.

Yoga is practiced with a quicker, flowing pace, opening the heart/mind to our true selves. From the richer diet of winter, we eat lighter, cleansing the liver, shedding the winter coat, & moving with a spring in our step..

June 22, 2013

The emerging cold of winter encourages all life to sink deep into the earth. To preserve energy, everything in nature goes into hibernation; Seeds in the ground build and store nourishment ready to spring out of the earth in the following warmer season. we sleep for longer, activity is reduced, the expense of stress and fear is reduced. 

We are influenced by the force of the water element; yielding, flowing, deep sinking, soft yet resilient, courageous yet fluid. We swim with the current, not against it, living life with ease. 

Water naturally flows downward, and goes calm and still when not disturbed. When water is still, the sediment settles and it becomes clear and reflective, like a mirror. It is a time for self reflection, for old patterns, emotions and memories that lie deep under the surface to be rediscovered and made peace with.

The kitchen becomes the heart of the house with roasted or slow cooked meals radiating warmth from the oven all day. Bones are the deepest part of our body, so we use food to restore minerals to our bone marrow, and warm us deep to our core.

In yoga, we practice balance asanas, as they require focus and stillness, forward bends restore and settle the para-sympathetic nervous system. Awareness is given to the flow of the breath, allowing its gentle rhythm to settle our minds.

Winter is celebrated through the warm glow of a fire, the intimate connections with friends and hearty meals. Enjoy!