How traveling helped me find a deeper connection to the 8 limbs of yoga

I cracked my eyes open. The early morning light was gently casting a soft glow over my dear friend Bela. Quietly, I unzipped the tent and slipped out into the middle of Lamington National Park, where we had set up camp the evening prior. The dappled sunlight was making its way through the trees onto our campsite. Sitting down on the cool earth, I took appraisal of my body. Yesterday we had walked 15miles with heavy 50lb packs on our backs. My body was sore, but happy. It was New Years Day, 2016.

My Homemade Coconut and Lavender Body Butter Recipe

In March 2014, while on a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, I purchased a dreamy coconut oil based body butter. It smelt delicious, and felt like luxury on my hands. As I was getting closer, and closer to the bottom of the jar I was getting more, and more anxious about what I would do when it eventually ran out. Then I realised, I had the recipe in my hands! After a little googling, and some trial and error, I was able to make a perfect replica of my favourite body butter.

Ingredients:

• Lavender Oil – 20 drops
• Coconut Oil – 3/4 cup
• Bee’s wax – 1/2 cup
• Vitamin E Oil – 1 teaspoon
• Castor Oil – 1/4 cup

what I’ve been doing alot of lately

The Carry-On Bag of a Yogi

I like to pack light and live light. Over the years of frequent travel I have curated a list of key items that I reach to any time I’m about to get on a bus, train or plane. For the most part I no longer take checked luggage, so all of these items come with me in my carry on.

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.

~ Cesare Pavese

Meditation March

This year I have been creating a monthly focus for myself – January was Banuary, February was Funuary – which brings me to Meditation March. My current meditation practice is very sparse and sporadic, though it is forever on my many lists of things to do. Studies say that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so by the end of March, my hope is that I would have well and truly solidified the habit with the extra 10 days. I’ve found that making the decision to follow a course of action once takes away the exhausting daily choice of whether or not I should do something; I’ve already decided I would.

Mat Review: eKO SuperLite – My Favourite Travel Mat

I pack like a minimalist when I travel but I never leave home without a yoga mat. It is the first thing I unpack when I get to the hotel. There is nothing like getting a good post-flight stretch in. Unfortunately that means my cushy The Mat, by Lululemon at 5.8lbs, doesn’t really fall into the “packing light” category. There are a few different travel mats on the market, but my favourite is the eKO SuperLite Mat from Manduka. It is 1/5 the thickness of The Mat and folds up into a small handful. It is very versatile and adds less than two lbs to my bag.

Brand: Manduka

Thickness: 1/16″ (about 1/5 the thickness of a standard studio mat.

Weight: ~1.98lb

Length: 68″ long, 24″ wide

Material: non-Amazon harvested natural tree rubber that won’t fade or flake. 99% Latex free. No PVC, toxic plasticizers or harmful dyes

A New Chapter

14 months, 500 hours, countless vinyasa, invaluable teaching, and many beautiful friendships have brought me here today. Today marks the last day of my 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training. I am excited, happy, nervous, sad, and partly relieved that it is over.

First Sunset of 2015

First day of no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, no caffeine, no soy, and no alcohol.

First sunset of 2015. Magical moments.

The happiness of Joy

Happiness. It is (almost) everyone’s ultimate goal in life. I find this is true in my own life also. But to be more specific, what I desire most is an undercurrent of joy flowing throughout my life and body in every moment. Joy is my name after all.

I, along with many millions of people, spend countless hours reading, learning and testing about what brings the most joy into my life. In life, it is easy to be happy when the sun is shinning and life is swell, but what about on those dark days when life doesn’t go so according to plan and the Dementors are out in force?

Habitually Changing

Whether you are actively thinking about it or not, everyday you are executing countless habits. From brushing your teeth in the morning to the way you react in certain situations; all our routines are habits that we have consciously or subconsciously created over time. Even if you choose to not do something, you inadvertently choose something else and create the foundation for that habit instead.

The question I pose to you is – do your habits serve you? And if you are trying to replace or change one, what happens when you fail?