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.