Tuesday Inspiration

When it comes to being happy, simplicity is the key.

Wishing you a simply inspirational Tuesday,

*Little Lotus*

Ayurvedic Recipes

If you love practicing yoga and are wondering how to incorporate yogic principles into other parts of your life, then maybe it's time to start bringing a little Ayurvedic magic into your kitchen! (And if you're wondering what the heck Ayurveda is, it might be worthwhile checking out my What is Ayurveda? post for a quick overview).

Tuesday Inspiration

Ah the little things in life... a good book, a glass of wine, an extra hour's sleep. How often do we really stop to appreciate life's little pleasures? 


When we overload our lives with frenetic activity, we make it very difficult to enjoy the everyday moments that should be making us happy - we choose the TV over the book, we choose a bottle of wine over a glass and we wring every last minute out of our day, often at the expense of a good night's sleep.


It may not seem important at the time, but a good life is made up of small, precious moments - so today, why not spend an hour with a friend catching up, or browsing through your favourite bookstore. Maybe you've been meaning to catch that one film for ages, or maybe you haven't told your partner how much you love them lately. Whatever those small things are, make time for them today, tomorrow and every day after that and then maybe one day you'll look back and realise that you took care of the big things, even if they seemed like they were only little at the time!


Wishing you an inspirational Tuesday,


*Little Lotus*

Anti-Gravity Yoga

Lately I've been hearing a lot about anti-gravity yoga, a fusion technique that combines dance, Pilates and calisthenics with yoga and claims to relieve compressed joints, whilst re-aligning the entire body. This style of yoga is practiced in a sort of soft trapeze that can be used as a hammock - the type you might see in a Cirque du Soleil performance! It certainly sounds interesting, so I've been on the hunt for some more information...

Pinterest-ing Idea

Did you know that you can now follow me on Pinterest? Just click on the bright red button at the right hand side of my page. Check out my Yoga Inspiration board for some beautiful pictures, guaranteed to get you in the mood for your next yoga session!


Lots of moody mood-board love,


*Little Lotus*

North Coast Dreaming

Today I'm sharing a couple of snaps from my blissful one-week trip up the North Coast of NSW. I was only away for six nights but it felt like weeks - surely a sign of a successful trip! 


There are so many reasons to love the North Coast. The beaches, the hippie vibe, good food, the slow pace and did I mention the beaches?! Long, golden sandy stretches framed by palms and pines, no crowds and blissfully warm water... mmm... Where was I? Oh right, my trip!


Three nights in sleepy Yamba and three in buzzing Byron Bay struck just the right balance between fun and total relaxation. These two towns were the perfect location for my favourite holiday activities: reading, eating, shopping and lazing around on the beach (luckily for my boyfriend the surf was incredible too!). We had a great time exploring all the amazing cafes, restaurants and shops in and around Byron and Yamba so it seems only fair that I share a few tips on where to go and what to do next time you find yourself heading North!

Winter Beauty

Today's post comes from a new guest contributor, Liz Fahey. Liz is a massage therapist at The Body Spot, Bondi, a budding journalist and an aspiring nutritionist. She is passionate about natural beauty, loves practicing yoga with us at Yoga by the Sea and has been kind enough to share her three favourite beauty tips for smooth skin this Winter! Feel free to share your own tips below. Enjoy! *Little Lotus*

Tuesday Inspiration

Why Tuesday? The way I figure it, Tuesday is the day when we’re no longer bathing in the afterglow of last weekend but next weekend still feels too far away! “Tuesday Inspiration” is anything that helps to chase away the midweek blues... 

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a big fan of literary and philosophical quotes! This quote actually reminds me a lot of something my Mum always says (they always say the best things, don't they?). According to her, it's not what happens to you in life that matters, but how you choose to deal with what happens to you.

Sometimes in my classes, I ask my students to concentrate not on finding happiness, love or strength externally, but to go deep within themselves to find it. In doing this, it is possible to understand that everything we need to achieve our full potential is already inside us and that the real challenge lies in overcoming the barriers of fear and attachment that hold us back.

Wishing you an inspirational Tuesday,

*Little Lotus*  

What is Yoga Nidra?

In his authoritative text on all things yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar defines yoga-nidra as:


The sleep of yoga, where the body is at rest as if in sleep while the body remains fully conscious, though all its movements are still. 


If it doesn't sound like your usual idea of relaxation, that's because it's not. Unlike other forms of relaxation, such as swimming, spending time in nature or listening to our favourite music, yoga-nidra has the ability to bring your body into a state of deep relaxation - a state where the mind quietens, physical tension drains away and even your heart beat and breathing slow down.

Deep Sleep and Peaceful Dreams

When I teach my 6:30pm Yin classes, I often ask my students to focus in on the special evening energy around them. As we move through the gentle practice, I encourage them to breathe in the evening, taking in it's calming and restorative effects. At the end of the class we focus on "riding the wave" of our peaceful practice all the way to bedtime and hopefully a sound night's sleep.  

Ideally, every night would consist of some calming, sleep-inducing activity but the reality is that most of us are too busy to put aside an hour for our practice in the evenings. So, what's a stressed-out city dweller to do, I hear you ask? Well, rest assured there are a few simple ways to improve the quality of your sleep with relatively little effort.

Tuesday Inspiration

Why Tuesday? The way I figure it, Tuesday is the day when we’re no longer bathing in the afterglow of last weekend but next weekend still feels too far away! “Tuesday Inspiration” is anything that helps to chase away the midweek blues... 

There really isn't much else to say about this quote, except that you should read it carefully. Reflect honestly on whether or not you live your life this way and if not... well it says it right there - quit your job, open your heart, share your passions, lose yourself, stop looking and start living in the moment - when you relax and go with the flow, life's infinite possibilities open up before you, so what are you waiting for? It's your life!


Wishing you an extra-inspirational Tuesday,


*Little Lotus* 

Yoga for Colds and Flu

With the seasons changing and no end in sight to the wet weather, it's a good time to start thinking about natural ways we can boost our immune system and fight off the sniffles as we head into Winter. A regular yoga practice can boost your immune system, resulting in fewer and less severe colds but once you feel those symptoms coming on, it's time to modify your practice and allow your body to heal.  


Below are just a few ways you can stave off that nasty cold, the natural way!

Yoga by the Sea

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a few pictures from one of our classes down at Yoga by the Sea at Bondi Icebergs, Sydney (taken late last year). At Yoga by the Sea we aim to help our students experience 'the natural soundscape, refreshing breeze and waves of oceanic energy' that 'enhance the harmonisation of mind, body and soul with the elements' and I feel like these photos demonstrate exactly how we do that!

When I reflect on these photos it always strikes me how lucky I am to be able to teach in such a beautiful location. It's not uncommon during our classes to see dolphins or whales or for the ocean to give you a sneaky splash when you least expect it! As Yoga by the Sea founder and owner, Sasha, always says, "when we say Yoga by the Sea, we mean it - no false advertising here!".


Click here for the Yoga by the Sea class schedule.


Wishing you a happy Friday!


*Little Lotus*

(Delayed) Tuesday Inspiration

Dear readers, sorry for the delay in my "Tuesday Inspiration" post, but I'm operating on the proviso that it's better late than never this week!

This week's quote comes from the great peace-maker, Mohandas Gandhi.

The Darjeeling Limited

Hello there my lovely readers! I just wanted to share this little snippet from one of my favourite films, The Darjeeling Limited. It's a beautifully shot tale of three brothers who take a humorous journey of spiritual enlightenment across India (some more willingly than the others!). Funny and light-hearted, it's perfect fodder for a rainy Saturday afternoon, especially if you are like me and daydream about running away to India for an exotic adventure.

The opening scene features the song 'Bombay Talkie', which is actually the theme song to an old Bollywood film. Enjoy!

Yoga and Back Pain

With most of our lives these days spent hunched in front of screens - at work, at home, even on the bus! - it should come as no surprise that one of most common ailments among my students is general back pain. As anyone who suffers from back pain can tell you, it can have significant personal impact on an individual’s health and quality of life and is notoriously difficult to treat. As a teacher, I see all sorts of spinal issues on a daily basis as well as the positive effects that a regular yoga practice can have on my students' (and my own) spinal health.

What is Ayurveda?

Known as the "Sister Science" of Yoga, Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of medicine from India, integrating science with the art of healing.

Remember Me

For the benefit of all my fuzzy-memoried friends and students, I've taken the liberty of creating little pocket sized cards with my website address printed on them. Please feel free to collect one from me at class - or, alternatively, just yell at me from your moving car/bus/across the street and I'll be happy to hand one over! 


See below for the result of the first piece of arts and crafts that I have completed since primary school (it feels good to be cutting out shapes again!).

Tuesday Inspiration

Why Tuesday? The way I figure it, Tuesday is the day when we’re no longer bathing in the afterglow of last weekend but next weekend still feels too far away! “Tuesday Inspiration” is anything that helps to chase away the midweek blues...  

Today's Tuesday Inspiration comes from the mystical Sufi poet, Rumi.

Sexy storm in a teacup!

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me a video of Los Angeles yoga teacher Briohny Smyth demonstrating a powerful, composed sequence that included some incredible arm balances. I marvelled not only at Briohny's strong and healthy body but also at her lovely sense of serenity and quiet confidence. To my surprise, I discovered that the video had created quite a bit of controversy in the yoga community with accusations that the video "sexualises" yoga all over chat rooms and on blogs on the net.

Kundalini Magic

Just a few snapshots from the courtyard at KMYoga, Bondi Junction.

Tuesday Inspiration

Why Tuesday? The way I figure it, Tuesday is the day when we’re no longer bathing in the afterglow of last weekend but next weekend still feels too far away! “Tuesday Inspiration” is anything that helps to chase away the midweek blues...   

When I left for my long-awaited gap year in France at the tender age of 20, one of my very best and most precious friends gave me a card with this quote written on the front. I memorised this quote and have carried it with me ever since. Whenever I feel lost or uncertain it is this simple little semtiment that inspires me to carry on!

*Little Lotus*

No Man's Woman

Good morning! If I'm ever feeling a little flat (especially on a Monday morning) I just pop my headphones in and drift away to another place - preferably somewhere warm and exotic! This mornings soundtrack included Dan Kelly's cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" from the compilation album No Man's Woman. I love the name of the album, it reminds me of meeee!(I've been called a committment-phobe more than once).

See below for a sample of Mr Kelly's sweet, heartbreaking, Hawaiian magic:

Have a happy Monday,

*Little Lotus*

South Coast Dreaming

It's not always possible to jet off on a month long vacation, but sometimes even a little break can help you to recharge and relax. I decided to make the best of the Australia Day public holiday by skipping out of Sydney for a few days of South Coast sunshine, long walks, gentle yoga and a few sneaky treats here and there (yup, even yogis have their weaknesses!).

Early Mornings

These photos were taken one morning during my beautiful Sunrise class at Bondi Beach.

For me, early morning is the best time of day. Starting the morning with a lovely chai, healthy breakfast and some light exercise in the fresh air is a guaranteed recipe for a successful and productive day!


"An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day"
- Henry David Thoreau


*Little Lotus*