return to silence - meditation retreat

5 days of silence, teachings from revered Buddhist Monk, and an existential and spiritual crisis unfolded, solved and unfolded again. Silence is golden, as they say.

soulshine @ the pink ribbon breakfast

Pink ribbon breakfast to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness and research. Funds going to a very important cause that still effects so many of us and our community.

Soulshine was very pleased to be one of the sponsors of this annual event. A little bit of pink never goes astray in my book. (As my art folio of 2nd year uni back in the day would have attested). Thanks also to Kinart for creating the flyers for the goodie packs. And thanks to wonderful Miss Walker for inviting soulshine to help out.

mind body soul away day - with those PWC folk

Gorgeous spring sunny day at Ripponlea Estate, upon it descended some 140 "very content to be away from the office" folk to start their day away from the Price Waterhouse Coopers city tower. The grounds were gorgeous, and the day perfect to start proceedings with an invigorating and for some a little challenging yoga class. Purple mat's lined up on the lawn, apprehensively bare feet were revealed to the open air and a round of surya namaskara's commenced. Hamstrings awakened, hips saying hello, and before you know it a wonderful group in unison, saluting the sun - (quite literally). So lovely to see a group of mostly beginner yoga's being introduced to the practice amongst work colleagues with whom they deal with each other on such a different level on a daily basis. Cohesion and communication in a new setting and medium is a great way to reinvigorate a team. Team sun salutes, wonderful!

world vegan day - should have summoned the courage to do vegan speed dating!

What an fantastic day at the Abbotsford Convent today. So inspiring to see so many people come out in support of the great World Vegan Day fair. Since becoming a Vegan, have done a lot of my research online and in books, which has been great in the virtual sense, but actually attending the event today was just great, seeing that indeed there is a real community of people out there with the same values.

I went along to the event with my friend Jon who is lucky enough to have a great place just near the Merri creek and a hop skip and jump to the Convent. Must say we both left the event kicking ourselves for not having the timing right to do the Veg speed dating, of course walking away from the World Vegan Event with a fist full of numbers was not the anticipated outcome, but could have been a little bonus! However, I do I have a head full of inspiration and renewed energy for the lifestyle and many new websites to frequent. Of course the day would not have been complete with a bit of impromptu yoga photo opportunities, shockingly bent back leg though, I am blaming my jeans and the uneven surface. Right, will be at the speed dating...next year!

World Vegan Day
www.wvd.org.au

Feel the joy, and do it anyway! Graheme & Leonie Northfeild, Ashtanga worshop.

Feeling very inspired in my practice at the moment. Following a 5 day intensive. Graehme and Leonie Northfeild descended upon the Melbourne Ashtanga Yoga Centre to take at 5 day intensive workshop of 5 led morning classes and weekend afternoon workshops. Having heard much about the duo, (as my teacher Eoin was the apprentice to Graehme for some 5 years), I was very keen to experience the teachings of these Mysore veterans. I was certainly challenged, and my experience of the practice was enlightened with new information and concepts on not only keeping the element of joy to the practice, but also ways in which complimentary activities can enhance the strength of ones body once again to "lift" the physical element of the eight limbs.

Back back to that all important joy aspect. I have been coming back to this notion time and again over the past month or so. Now well into the rhythm of my apprenticeship at the yoga school, I must say I did loose sight a little of the joy and the healing of the practice for a time. But now again, I am reminded, come back to the breath, and be in the present moment with the movement and acceptance of the physical limitations of my own condition. It's easy to forget just how amazing the body is, and all that is supports us in day to day. It and the way it works with our minds is to be taken care of and cherished, not punished with our judgment of it.

Whilst it is easy to get caught in the external development of the practice, its so important to remember Yoga is a healing art, and a gift that is available for everyone to use throughout their life. Thanks for that India. And thanks to Graehme and Leonie, I think a trip up to Stradbroke island for the two week could be in order for next year. Dream, dream dream.

Namaste

Vegan Freak

My oh my, how we use the poor little creatures of the animal world for our convenience. I have recently (about 3 months now) decided to turn to the vegan diet, and in doing so have labeled myself “vegan”. As I have done so, I am realizing more and more the implications of this label, it certainly is not a diet, but really more of a lifestyle, and in some ways a choice to be an educator and activist. A bit of an extra bit of energy to speak to those who are perplexed about what in fact you do eat, and why the hell would you want to punish yourself with removing the guilty sins like pastries, cheeses, and other animal inspired delicacies? The answer to which is a complex one, but it’s also quite simple. An ethical decision that removes me from the cycle of cruelty inflicted on animals for our simple pleasures. A decision not only for the safety of beings, but to our precious environment that is punished over and again so that we can maintain outdated farming practices that over use resources with so little respect to what that will mean down the line. There are alternatives, and they don’t have to be cruel or costly to the earth.

Besides the obvious dietary omissions such as animal flesh, milk, cheese, eggs and honey. Oh yes and many beers and wines. We also covet the by products of animals for the comfort of our lifestyle. Wool, cosmetics, shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, footwear, fashion, pharmaceuticals, condoms! Many of which can so easily be replaced with cruelty free alternatives, sometimes I just don’t understand.

I’ve recently been inspired by the writings of Peter Singer, “The ethics of what we eat”, and this crew long term vegans with Ph.D’s Bob and Jenna Torres “Vegan Freak”. Both worth a read for vegans and omnivores alike. Awareness to what we are consuming and how it comes to us.

O.K, I’ll just jump down from the soapbox now. Just felt like sharing.

And, some more food for thought (pardon the pun) http://www.peta.org/

Spring Clean - Spring Fast

Finally the wonderful spring season has emerged and the skies have turned blue, the buds on naked trees are turning into gorgeous pink and white cherry blossoms. Each year without fail, I am delighted by this simple act of nature. The endurance of our environment to undergo the harshness of the winter months, and then an emergence of such beauty. I really need to go to Japan in cherry Blossom season, please remind me next time I talk about booking a trip to another destination! I digress.... Yes it's true spring has finally arrived. Although I feel most fortunate to have missed the majority of the winter harshness, my body and my spirit still found the chill that it has experienced this year to a challenge to it's buoyancy and optimism. Perhaps also due to my readjusting to Australia, post India.

Somehow subconsciously inspired by the spring clean act I decided to take on an internal spring clean, with a simple juice detox. Nothing but fruit juice for 3 days, just as I did a few months back in India. This time around, I did have much more to distract me. Life, reality, and yes I will admit to it, a Television. AND, a juicer of my own. It's such a psychological journey to deprive yourself of the habits we undergo daily, eating and the food preparation rituals being part of these. A fast allows you no food to mask boredom, anxiety, or to aid procrastination. Food is an amazing part of our lives, but taking it out can also help with not only a bodily detox, but a mental one. It seems I am in good company, as my quarterly fast has fallen upon the month of the Islamic faiths Ramadan. I also see a fast and detox as part of my own "Tapas" practice, and extension of my yoga. Mental austerity, and bodily "Saucha" (cleanliness). Now it is over, and my reward was an incredible flowing and light yoga practice this morning. A treat worth the fast.

Welcome Spring, we've been waiting for you!