As we come into a New Year I hope we can forge a new way forward and not accept the status quo. It is time to challenge our very way of life. It is easy to deflect responsibility onto our politicians and leaders, but we all have the power to make choices that are better for our planet. It is easy to give in to a sense of powerlessness, but when we stand together for the country and planet we love we can be very powerful.

This has been evident in the response of communities, indviduals and organisations to this catastrophe.
Like many of us, I feel deep grief and a sense of anger at this terrible unfolding of events. These unrelenting bushfires that are wiping out billions of animals, an unfathomable amount of land, peoples live and homes. I feel paralysed. However, I will not give up. It has inspired me to consider the choices I make even more carefully. 
I have written a piece about this, hopefully there is something in there to inspire you too.
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Our planet does not need us, it has never needed us.
It is us that so desperately needs our planet, 
depending on her for our survival.
Yet recklessly, selfishly, we destroy her.
Our planet has survived for billions of years, 
slowly spinning through space and time.
Through infinite cycles of birth, life and death.
Our lives have been a whisper of time, a heart beat.
Yet we roar.
Desperate to make our mark, marvelling at our cleverness.
Yet not too clever, 
we haven’t learned the greatest lesson of all.
To respect our planet, our home.
To work with her, not against her.
To share the many fruits she provides.
Like tiny spoilt children, "I want, it is mine, give me more".
Endless desires, placing our needs above all
in an attempt to fill the void. The emptiness. 
When we recognise that we are one, 
one with all that is, each of us an expression of the infinite, 
there is a shift.
Where we were hollow, we are filled. 
There is a comfort.
We are not alone, we are all connected.
Connected to each other and to all that is.
Our oneness is our enduring strength, our power.
The great power of drawing together as community.
We are large, not small. 
As one our actions become a reflection of love, kindness and hope. 
And we can roar, loud and clear,
to pave a way for a better future.

In ancient yogic philosophy we find tools that are very relevant in today's world. The Yamas are considered to guidelines for living and the first Yama is Ahimsa.

Ahimsa translates as non-violence. It is the practice of kindness and compassion to oneself and others. When we think of kindness in relation to how we treat ourselves and others we rarely think of our thoughts. However, many of us have a tendancy towards automatic negative thoughts.  Our words or thoughts can impact how we feel about ourselves and other people. What you think is what you project. 

Watch your thoughts, your thoughts become your words.
Watch your words your words become your actions,
Watch your actions your actions become your habits
Watch your habits, your habits become your character
Watch your character, your character becomes your destiny
 ~ proverb, author unknown.

In yoga we use a  "Sankalpa" in our practice or a positive statement or resolution made with conviction, usually an "I am" statement. Such as "I am worthy", "I am calm". You let your inner voice be your guide and allow it to help you take a step towards the person you are. Honour what is true to you and what you need in this moment.

So we must be mindful of our thoughts. In order for me to be the best version of me I honour myself, respect myself and love myself. By doing so I feel more abundant and more energised.

Feeling more abundant allows you to give more generously to others. Be compassionate to yourself first. Treat yourself with loving kindness, then watch it spread to those around you.

This image came into my horizon today and I just had to share.  I have to be honest, winter is not my favourite season, so I have to keep reminding myself to embrace the beautiful things about winter. Learning to dance in the rain. Of course, this is a metaphor for finding the inner strength to embrace all of the elements of your life and finding not only acceptance for the circumstances you are in but joy.  Being thankful for all of life's colours.
This reminds me of mountain pose, Tadasana. When we connect to that inner strength and resilience, just like a mountain, we can weather all seasons. Even if the storms, wind and rain create some instability on the surface, we remain who we are at our very core. Unmoved, stable, connected.  We are often challenged by our own emotions and thoughts that arise when are going through a rough time. Thinking of these emotions as passing bad weather and not getting caught up or attaching to them helps us to remember that "this too shall pass".

So here we are, thrust into the middle of winter. How did that happen? Yesterday was the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere and today here in Melbourne we are reminded of how cold winter can be in these southern parts!  
So what does winter mean to you? It can be a lovely time of reconnecting with our families, over hot cups of tea or hot chocolate and maybe a DVD. Or snuggling up in a warm bed with a good book. Trying to snatch a sleep in or two.  I relish the opportunity, if it arises, to channel my inner cavewoman and stoke an open fire.  I also cherish the invigorating feeling of sharp, cold air in my lungs and on my cheeks and the kinship I feel with nature when I go for a bush walk. 
Winter is a time of self reflection, it gives us a chance to go inward and let go of busy-ness. For recuperating and preparing for the rest of the year. 

Give yourself permission to be slow. Allow yourself to retreat into your cave and take some time for you. 
Our winter yoga practice helps us connect to a place where we allow ourselves to be slow and let go of all the doing so we can be with our inner selves. It also helps create a little heat or inner fire, agni to burn up all the stale energy to make room for new possibilities. And personally, I feel particularly in this season my yoga practice stops me from going quietly mad! 

What do you love about winter?
Looking forward to seeing you on the mat.
Namaste, Kate x

The union of mind, body and spirit.  The spirit means different things to different people.  It is not bound to any religion. It is a sense of who we are at our core, our true nature. Who we have always been and always will be. Some call it the soul, some call it “the observer”.

The practice of Asana or physical practice, Pranayama or breath practice and meditation helps us to awaken this connection, this union of mind body and soul.

We become more aware of our bodies, our breath, our thoughts and this place of the observer.

Yoga provides you with the tools to maintain this connection and recognize what you need in any given moment. It empowers you to make better choices for your mind, body and spirit.

It is not just what happens on the mat, take it off the mat and into your daily life. Stay connected to your needs. Treat yourself with loving kindness and watch it spread to those around you.

Many students wonder about the meaning of the term Namaste.  Often used to close a class Namaste simply means "I honour you". It is used as a respectful greeting in India and used in yoga to acknowledge the place inside us where we are all one.

"I..... honour the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells. 
I honour the place in you which is of Love, of truth, of light and of peace.
 I honour that place in you which is the same as that place in me.
 We are one....."