and a feeling that the climate catastrophe is upon us and not a thing of the future.  In the past I have started the new year newsletter off with a Happy New Year and words of hope and musings on new beginnings.  This year feels completely different.  It’s hard to breathe in Melbourne, we are surrounded by stories of despair and loss, sometimes counted by those of hope and kindness.  This raises the question, where does our yoga practice fit in with all this?  In answering, I hope that it keeps you steady in times of volatility, that you can find some universal truths in times of so many falsehoods and that your physical body stays healthy even as our environment perishes.  I hope that when you come to class it is a small moment of respite from the demands of our daily lives and that you feel supported by our small Yoga Yamabushi community.  The practice can be demanding but it is a totally different to the pressures outside of class, and the fact that it is strong and taxing by nature gives it purpose and makes it worthwhile.  This year, I hope you can come to class with clear eyes and an open heart, motivated to work hard but to also be kind to yourself and those around you.

There are 2 moon classes this term that coincide with our timetable: Mon 24 Feb 7 - 8.30pm and Tue 10 Mar, 6 - 7am. Feel free to come along, even if they are not your usual classes and bring a friend who might need some time to rest. The classes sit outside the usual Shadow Yoga Preludes and are a full restorative practice that is a very useful practice to know. It is similar to the menstruation practice and can be used, not only to coincide with the moon energy but whenever a more restful practice is needed.

My good friend and colleague Rebecca Marshall is having an exhibition of new paintings opening Thursday 20th February and I would love to see you there.  The exhibition titled ‘Hard Candy’ takes inspiration from the feminine ideal and the digital cultural experience.  Rebecca sources and collects a wide range of imagery, symbols of beauty and femininity – motifs that tap into connection and emotion.  She is also a Yogini and it shows in her work.  I think you will appreciate her use of colour, playful motifs, abstract rhythms and elusive meanings. Rebecca often covers my yoga classes for me so come along and support her other raison d’etre!  And the good news it’s in our hood at Ladder Art Space, 81 Denmark street, Kew, so join us for a drink 6.30 – 8.30pm on Feb 20.

I have decided to pullback from teaching a little this term while I settle my youngest, Ruby, into her first year at VCASS.  Two classes, Monday 9.15 – 10.45 and Thursday 7 – 8.30pm will be paused for this term but I will start them up again in Term 2.  I am hoping to run a few weekend workshops this term as an alternative, so keep a lookout for those and I will also be available for private lessons.

 This term I will also be away March 16 – 20 for training in Adelaide with my teachers Shandor and Emma. There will be no classes that week hence the short 6 week term!  We also have Labour Day Monday 9thMarch, so no class that day either!

To get your mojo back after the long summer break join me for 3 mornings exploring the Balakrama, the first of the Shadow Yoga preludes or preparatory sequences.  This prelude fires up your Agni and builds a solid foundation on which all the following works rests.  

If you are interested in doing a course with my teachers Shandor and Emma there are various offerings over the next couple of months when they are teaching in Australia. Below is a summary of what is on offer. There is more information on their webpage https://shadowyoga.com

Please feel free to talk to me if you have any questions about the courses.

Nrtta Sadhana with Emma.

February 1-2, Adelaide. This is an introduction to the form that we learn after Kartikeya Mandalam practice. It is referred to as ‘the dance’ as the movements are rhythmic and flowing, however, it is the dance devoid of any emotional mood!

Hatha Yoga Lecture with Shandor.

Feburary 7, Melbourne. Open to all those who have an interest in yoga. Bookings via yogamoves.org in Balaclava.

Kapalabhati, NauliKriya & Pavanbasti with Emma.

February 22 & 23, Sydney. A great course for those that have been working with me for some time. You will learn different breathing techniques and cleansing rituals that I am not yet teaching. Bookings via hathayogadesha.com.au

Shadanga Yoga with Emma and Shandor.

March 15–22, Adelaide. An intense course exploring Goraknath’s 6 limbs of yoga. Morning and evening classes. A good course for those who are working or starting to work the bandhas.