Often life has interesting ways of letting us know when we are not standing in our full power!
Just an observation I've made in my own life...

If you've been on this journey with me for some time, you will know that I've dabbled with videos off and on for the past year. Not because I want to be a video super star (though that could have some advantages). Yes, because I want to share with you the amazing things that have changed my life. But more so, because I have always shied away from cameras  and cringed at the sight of myself in videos... and when you're on the path to soulful heart centred living, you realise that there must be something in this. It's like Svadhyana, self study, in yoga.

You see, the things we are most afraid of, 
are often the things that will bring us the most learning and growth.

The resistance to be on video and be seen is perfectly described by beautiful Michelle Marie McGrath from SacredSelf.com in her recent post. Why do we hold ourselves back and fear being seen? For me it's the usual, fear of rejection, not being enough, failure…you name it, there is an element of that in it for me. Even with writing blogs, these fears linger there in the background {if only you knew how many times I re-edit a post before I share it}.

But when you're in business or have dreams of making a difference in the world, 
you can't really do that whilst hiding out in your Cancerian crab shell now, can you?! as Michelle so kindly reminded me.

So, from lessons learnt in the past I know that to take the power back I needed to face these fears head on to dispel the magnitude that they had grown to in my mind. Along with Michelle and a handful of other courageous women {and one man}, I enrolled in the amazing Andrea Glazier's Video Fame Academy.  In which she has been most generously sharing all her expertise and holding our hands as she guides us to show up on video. 

It's enlightening to observe the unrealistic fears and dramas that arise that hinder the path forward, when you decide to put yourself "out there", be vulnerable and seen. In the first week I had a mouth full of ulcers preventing me from talking. Then once you get over it and just get on with it, move past the self doubts, and step up to speak your truth, there's a sense of achievement and it is empowering.

The thing is that we all have a story and experiences to share. 
We are all teachers in some way. Who do we serve by not sharing it, or not shining in our own way. I'm not suggesting everyone needs to be on camera, but rather be ourselves, the unique being that you are! 
As Marianne Williamson shares in her powerful poem from A Return to Love, 

"And as we let our own light shine, 
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 
As we're liberated from our own fear, 
Our presence automatically liberates others."

 And what would you know, I made a video I am kind of proud of. Well, it is officially only my second one, but I can already see the vast improvement that Andrea has helped me achieve. But most importantly, I hope it's message helps to inspire even just one person on this journey of Life as I share another journey to take the power back, this time over my hormonal health. So here it is...

And if you're hormones are driving you crazy you'll definitely want to watch this short 3min video ;)

As I've found, 
most lessons in life are often just letting us know 
when we are not standing in our full power!

So I'd love you to watch it and let me know what you think in the comments below. 
Why not share if there was a lesson you too took away from my video that you can apply to your life? 
Or do you have an experience of a turning point that led you to take the power back in your life?

Whether you have a hormonal issue or not, may there be something there for you. 

Thanks so much for taking this journey with me.

Shine on lovelies!

In love and light, 
 Tash x

PS: 100 days of Gita Update: going stronger and stronger as the days roll by. And happy to say the filming quality has improved 10 fold since joining VFA. So here is the compilation of my practice for week 5. The sun has been shining which means more yoga in the park, and my most enthusiastic student makes an appearance again :)

PSS: If you'd like to join me for classes in the parks of Perth, happy to say my campaign was a success and we are STARTING THIS SATURDAY 8th NOVEMBER. Might have been my first video which helped do the trick. Really can't wait to start sharing the Gita love!

Last week I had a flying visit to Melbourne.

I was honoured to be asked to teach at The Spring Urban Retreat which gave me the perfect excuse to pop over and get my fill of Gita Yoga and the motorcycles at the MotoGP :)

And boy, did I make the most of it!

In 6 days I managed 4 Gita classes, one general yoga class at the Theosophical Society, a meditation class, a philosophy class and I saw the movie, The Connection {all of this on top of my own daily practice - see the videos below}!

I was well and truly filled to overflowing by the time I headed home Tuesday night, especially when you add to all this the joy of reconnecting with some of the beautiful friends and students I've missed over the past 4 months.

The one realisation I had was, though I miss the city and the people, I DO have a new city to distract me and I CAN keep in touch with the people. However, one thing I CAN'T do is simply walk into a Gita class whenever I feel like a top me up. 

Don't get me wrong, my personal practice does so much for me, but what my visit to Melbourne and all the Gita yoga classes I did reminded me of is the amazing sense of coming home I get from doing a class with a Gita teacher. 

I've said this many a time, and I may one day eat my words, but despite all the wonderful classes in other styles I attend, none have left me with the same feeling I get from a Gita yoga class. 

And once you get that feeling, the beautiful thing is that the magic of Gita hits you even before you begin the postures.
You feel the deep sense of ease flow into your body as you walk into the building or the class, for you know exactly what is coming and that sense of familiarity and knowing allows the body to relax even further. A switch is flicked. 

You've come home!

My first night in Melbourne, I had the pleasure of doing two Gita classes in a row with my favourite teacher Penny. 
I drew the henna doodle above straight afterwards in the post class blissful state. Then just as the universe works in it's miraculous ways I was lucky enough to be in town for the showing of The Connection movie at Gita the next night.

If you get the chance, do yourself a favour and watch it. 
It's a brilliant movie bringing together the growing evidence of the mind - body connection. What this movie did was reaffirm for me why Gita has this affect on me and so many others. Though it did focus on meditation for most of the movie, they did mention that yoga works in the same way. Plus meditation is one of the 8 limbs of yoga ;)

You see, in this modern world, our busyness is only increasing by the minute and this has a detrimental affect on the body due to the negative impact of stress. Our minds don't know how to switch off as a result, we spend way too much time in our minds and are disconnected from our bodies.

Craig Hassad MD, in the movie likens the affect of stress on the body like driving your car constantly at full speed. You will wear out the parts before you know it at that rate. The same goes with our bodies, for our body responds to the thoughts we have in the moment, whether they are reality or not. 

Hence, our ability to quieten the mind, detach from the thoughts and spend growing amounts of time in that space in-between is being shown to have major benefits for the health and wellbeing we experience due to this mind-body connection. 

And this is why the Gita practice works!
All of the parts of this practice work together to quieten the mind and reconnect us with our bodies. From the synchronisation of the breath with movement, to the synchronisation of left and right side of the body, and the particular order of the postures we practice, as well as the familiarity of the poses we work with.

Each works to deepen the quiet and connection with the body that we experience in the moment.
Turning off the stress response, and switching on the relaxation response. 
This is where the healing and repair takes place.

Add to this the benefit of balancing the endocrine gland system and steadying the nerves and you can start to see why there is a deep sense of coming home when you practice Gita Style yoga!

This is why I keep coming back to this practice time and time again.

It's just a formula that works! 

My wish is to be able to share this experience with others.
So I have started a campaign to get some classes up and running over here in Perth, Western Australia.
{I have plans too to have some uploaded in the future for those of you not here}

If you're keen to try it or would just like to support the campaign, I've created some one time only introductory offers whether you live near or far which you can click here or the image below to find out more about.

Thanks lovelies! 

Until next time, may you find the space in-between that nurtures and restores you,
Tx

PS: Here are my practice compilations for  Week 3 and 4...

I found a little yoga friend in week four and took a little trip over to Melbourne, as you do! :)

It's 19 days into my 100 days of Gita journey and I find the bumpy days have lessened as I am reminded each time I take to the mat why I keep coming back to this powerful practice. 

So I wanted to share with you my top 8 reasons for practicing Gita style yoga.

1. Get out of your mind and into your body

I am first to admit that I am a worry wart and an over thinker. 
Practicing yoga acts like a circuit breaker, making the mind focus on the body.
Our body is always in the present moment, it is our minds that wander into past and future. 
This is where we find stillness and clarity away from the monkey mind's chattering. 
As Eckhart Tolle made famous, it is The Power of Now.

2. Balance Hormones 

What makes the Gita practice different to other styles is that it focuses on balance the endocrine glands of the body in particular. These are the glands that produce the hormones of the body, such as the ovaries and thyroid. And its these hormones that influence how we are and how we interact with the world. From how we age, digest food, what we think and how we feel.

3. Cleanse the Chakras

Chakras are vortexes or wheels of energy in the body. The energy body that is the basis of practices such as acupuncture. There are 7 chakras starting at the base of the spine up to the crown of the head that we work on. Each has it's on energy and organs that it influences and, no coincidence each of the glands is connected to one of the 7 chakras of the energy body. The glands are seen as the physical manifestation of the chakras. So as we work on the glands we are also working on these energy centres. This is what also drew me to my meditation practice with Belinda Davidson. Both practices are based on the premise that by changing your energy and you will change your life.

4. Steady Nerves

The Gita practice has a specific sequence that no only works to balance the hormones but also aids in strengthening the nervous system and the brain itself. As we are all energy, it is our nerves that determine how we cope with the energy around us. Living in an information rich society it is easy for our bodies to slip into over drive or become highly strung.
 So steadier nerves, greater resilience, better ability to cope under pressure. 

5. Set a Intention

As I mentioned in my last post, it is the intentions woven throughout the Gita practice that drew me to it.
The Gita 10, as the particular Gita sequence is affectionately called, involves 10 poses that systematically work to balance the respiratory system, the nervous system and endocrine gland systems of the body. Each holds its own intention. But the very first pose of the 10, is where we consciously set our own intention. Yoga Mudra, is our Seal of Intent, which allows us to weave our own intention into the poses ahead. And as you often hear in yoga, energy follows thought!

6. It's Accumulative effects

One of the beautiful things about practicing Gita style  yoga regularly is that it's affect is accumulative. Each time you balance the glands, it's like strengthening a muscle, the balance is maintained for longer. I've heard many students commenting how their weekly practice benefits them. Imagine what it would be like when you practice daily!

7. Connect to the bigger picture

It's super easy to get caught up in the little dramas of our lives and forget that we are a part of something so much bigger. Gita style yoga connects us with the overview as it reminds us that we are a soul with a body, rather than just a body with a soul. And it's our soul that reminds us we have a purpose. So the more we tune in to this part of ourselves the greater our ability to see the purpose of our lives and the connections occurring every moment of everyday around us as part of that purpose.  

8. Make a Difference

 Another maxim you may have heard is, as above so below. This suggests that what  see in the world around us is a mirror for what is going on within each of us. One of the 8 limbs of yoga {more about these another time}, includes the niyama svadhyana, which is self study. So as we practice yoga we learn about these inner relationships with our outside world and as we consciously create a change within it makes a positive difference, first in Self, then in our relationships with others and then in the world around us!!

And there you have it, 8 reasons to practice Gita style yoga!
I know there are heaps more, but hey, 8 is my lucky number ;)

So now it's your turn, what do you get out of your practice that makes you get on the mat each time?
Would love to hear from you in the comments.

Happy practicing, 
Tx

PS: Here is week two of 100 days of Gita, including a lazy sunny morning PJs session and an ant attack mid practice ;)

So today is the 2nd last day and I wanted to re-introduce you to the Gita Style Sun Salutations. 

I say re-introduce as I have a "previous life" video which I made. 
{It's quite interesting to watch and compare how much I have learnt and changed in my video production} 

So today I have a new and "improved" video for you.

Sun salutations are a great way to start the day and I always encourage students to see if they can incorporate 3 rounds first thing in the morning. After your bed stretches, of course ;)

As my teacher always said "if you can't find 5mins to do 3 salutes to the sun, then someone else is running your life." 

The great thing about Gita Style Yoga is that it focusses on the endocrine glands in particular. These are the hormone producing glands of the body, and the hormones control all of the functions of the body and how we relate with the world. That is, how we feel, what we think, our digestion, heart rate, metabolism and more.

So, the Salutes are 12 postures in one sequence, making it a mini class for you. 
Add all the other practices from previous days and you start to have a decent sized yoga practice for yourself that moves and opens up most of the body.

Do be aware though if you do these first thing that the body is not as flexible, hence it is good to start warming up the body with some lying "bed" stretches at least and always move slowly through the first round.

If you are finding that you are not managing all the transitions smoothly, I have posted a second video with variations where you can get some ideas for how to adjust the sequence until you develop more flexibility and strength.

So, will you find 5mins for you today to work with these?

I hope so ;)

Enjoy & I'll see you here tomorrow for our last day,
Tx

PS: Didn't realise it's our last day tomorrow, you can read why here.