As park yoga resumes again for another 6 months, it's made me reflect on some of the benefits and things I love about practicing yoga in this way. Here are the top 4...

1. Time in nature
In our modern busy lives, we spend a huge amount of time in cars and houses, looking at screens and totally disconnected from the natural world from which we come and are deeply connected to. It's something I really noticed over the winter months and have truly missed, the time outside, under the trees, on the grass, close to water and listening to the sounds of the birds, some of which would visit us during class.

2. Earthing
Connecting with the earth has been proven to have many benefits, such as reducing inflammation and the impact of free radicals and stress, plus increased healing, energy and better sleep, amongst many others. All based on simply spending time each day with our bare feet in contact with the earth to realign our own electrical enery with that of the earth's.

3. Vitamin D
It is recognised that we get vitamin D from the sun, and yet there's also an increasing prevalence of deficiency in our society, most probably due to the growing fear around spending too much time in the sun. However, we need vitamin D to aid many processes in the body, such as the uptake of calcium for strong bones. The beautiful thing about being in the park is that we can choose a safer time of the day to spend some time in the sun, or if/when you prefer place yourself under the shade of the trees.

4. Practicing Gita Style Yoga
Practicing yoga anywhere anytime is highly beneficial, and even more so given the 3 added benefits above. It provides us with the tools for getting out of our heads and into our bodies and hearts. It anchors us in the present moment and it reconnects us with our bodies innate wisdom, nature and ability to heal itself. Plus the Gita style has it's own benefits is the perfect practice for de-stressing the body, clearing the mind, relaxing the nervous system, balancing the hormones and strengthening your spirit all in one hour.

There are so many wins!
I really can't wait to get back out there.

We would love to see you. 
We're down on the South Perth Foreshore every Saturday 7.45am & Thursday 6am.
​For all the details and map, click here.

For much of the last 10 years of my life I have followed my heart when it comes to doing things. 
There have been times more recently where I have been hindered by self doubt, but it really is an innate thing I do, and when I know, I know. This was the case with my Perth park yoga classes. A cousin/personal trainer had mentioned using the parks to me when I returned home to Perth last year in September. The idea lingered and while the weather wasn't too great for me to start immediately, I felt there was something in this idea for me. 

As the weather fined up, the thought kept coming to me. I really couldn't think of anything better than to make the most of the beautiful weather and scenery in Perth, especially after 10 years in Melbourne where anything outdoors would be short lived, so I started to practice in the parks, exploring different spaces and playing with the idea some more.

Once I started to see it as possible it took on a life of it's own and gained momentum. From checking out outdoor spaces, to calling local councils, before I knew it I had made a video and I was raising funds to pay the park fees to begin. 

With two classes in McDougall Park in Como and three on the South Perth foreshore, we began humbly. 

Some mornings I practiced on my own, though I didn't mind. I loved being up at that time of the day, moving my body mindfully in Nature listening to the birds and human life beginning their day.

And before I knew it I found some fellow nature / early morning lovers to join me. 

It has been such a pleasure to witness our little group grow and blossom in the Park. Familiar faces returning week after week and a small park yoga community forming. So much so were we enjoying it that we prolonged our classes in the park, despite the cooler weather beginning to set in.

In April we could hold out no longer with our 6.30am classes and we moved indoors to the South Perth Yoga Shala.

And finally in early May with the end of my park permit and a few chilly classes we made the move to Angelo Street at eh South Perth Uniting Church hall (conveniently walking distance from our regular post yoga breakfast haunt).

Synchronistically, as has often occurred in this journey, we were able to take this picture at one of our last classes on the foreshore. Wish I could say I organised the sign, however it was set up beside us for a wedding to be held there that night.

I truly can't thank those that came down and supported the classes over the last 6 months enough. 

I couldn't have thought of anything better than yoga outdoors enjoying Perth's spectacular weather and these amazing views and it was such a blessing to find others that felt the same and to watch our little group grow.

I will treasure the many amazing moments we shared, and definitely look forward to returning to the park when the warmer weather returns!

Thank you with all my heart. 

I look forward to seeing you in our new classes.

Big love, 
Tx

PS: You can find all the details for the new classes by clicking here.

Just a quick note to let you know class is on this Easter Saturday on the Foreshore if you are in town and have some time to set yourself up nicely for the long weekend ahead with some park yoga. 

Oh and by the way, 630am classes are moving. We have found a new home...

With the shift in the sun's cycle and changes in season, comes changes for our park yoga classes. 

Unfortunately there has been an increase in rainy weather and the temperature has dropped somewhat, so I had to start looking into a new venue for my early morning classes in particular. After teaching in an outdoor style yoga studio in Melbourne for 3 years, I'm not exactly willing to endure the cold weather any more despite how beautiful the views are. 

So I started putting the thought out there to the Universe that I wanted somewhere about half way between the two parks that would be convenient to get to for all students. 

Church halls and community centres came to mind first as they are relatively cheap as well as reasonably plentiful, however they can also be quite cold and unreliable as they are required by other groups at times. 

My folks and I were tossing around a number of possibilities and I also mentioned to the students that I was on to the task at hand. As I started to wonder if there were any yoga studios that might be available I received a message from one student mentioning a studio she had seen recently. I checked out their website and for various reasons felt that it might not be suitable due to the way it was structured. But as intuition has it, it kept at me and eventually after some procrastination, and a particularly chilly morning class, I made the inquiry. 

Though the rent was higher than I was hoping to pay there was something about it that felt right. Like when you walk into a rental and you can see your furniture in the rooms and just know it is to be your new home. The times weren't perfect for me to simply transition from the parks to the studio but I could see possibilities. So I went for a class that night and got that feeling that I get when I know I have to do something. Like when I discovered Gita Yoga and signed up for their teacher training within the week. Not to mention, it is exactly halfway between the two parks as I had wished for.

Then of course the doubts set in, and I wondered if I could make  it work. Anyone in business knows there are always risks. So to minimise the risk, aka fear I was feeling, I sent out a survey to the students with many of them replying that they were keen and willing to make the move with me. With this the excitement started to build up. I could see us really doing it. I went for another class and just knew I needed to teach in that beautiful space. 

So without further ado, all 6.30am classes finished up in the park this week and we're making the move this Tuesday to...

SOUTH PERTH YOGA SHALA
3 Hobbs Ave, Como

Come and join us. I really can't wait to share this new space with you.
We'll be there every Tuesday & Thursday 6.30am - 7.40am. With more classes on the horizon.

As an introductory offer over April, come try a casual class for $17 or sign up for 10 classes for $160.
(prices usually $20 / $170)

But don't worry, if you are still keen for the park classes, 8am Wednesday and Saturday classes will be continuing right through to the 8th of May (weather permitting). 

Really excited about practicing in the new space with you. 


Its perfect with the Easter tidings and energy of new beginnings and resurrection.


Come celebrate with us!

Happy Easter,
Tx