Love & Inspiration #25

Love & Inspiration #25

by | Jun 27, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Here are your fresh Love & Inspirations for the week ahead:

 

1) Quote

  • “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

    ― Rumi

 

2) One of the Best Motivational Speeches Ever 

I love this. I had no idea of the depth and intelligence of Jim Carrey.  I knew he was hilarious but….Wow! I’m totally speechless.  “Many of us make decisions through fear disguised as practicality”.  A huge topic on our retreat this week has been LOVE vs FEAR, and Jim Carrey addresses this incredibly.  You can watch the whole speech on Youtube as well. 

 

 

3) Read the 4 Agreements

This book changed my life, and I’ve been revisiting these key agreements as a way to engage more gracefully with myself, with life and with other people.  Currently I’m working deeply with #2 – Take nothing personally.  I tend to.  So it’s been wonderful to revisit this and remember that often, if there is disharmony in relationship, it is stemming from suffering or unhappiness, either in myself, the other person, or more likely, both of us. 

The Four Agreements are:

  1. Be Impeccable With Your Word.
  2. Don’t Take Anything Personally.
  3. Don’t Make Assumptions.
  4. Always Do Your Best.

 

 

Which agreement do you feel you could benefit most from working with?

I’d LOVE to hear from You. 

 

4) Inspiring Reminder

 

 

Yesterday on retreat, we did some epic ecstatic dance and vocal activation.  For most of the students, it was one of the highlights and breakthroughs.  It was also one of the biggest challenges.  At first, the students were tentative, they felt awkward, I felt the looks of mistrust distrust….but then every single person cracked open a new layer of letting go, of freedom,  We were all reminded that in fact, the magic, the growth, the evolution, the proverbial lotus growing from the mud, arises when we take the leap outside of our comfort zones.  Woo hoo!

 

 

5) Music Video

What can I say? I’ll probably always LOVE anything and everything created by Radiohead.  Deep, powerful, incredibly well-produced and created. They are still one of my favourite all-time bands and this is a beautiful short film.

 

 

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Love & Inspirations

***What’s your favourite inspiration this week?

I’d Love to Hear from You. Please let me know!***

 

 I hope you enjoyed today’s selection of Love & Inspirations.  Please let me know which of the above inspirations is you LOVE the most?

If you could wave your magic wand and have me share anything in particular, what would it be? Help me Help You!

 Please et me know on Instagram, Facebook, or simply send me an email.

 
 

 

** Pssst….Wanna Co-Create?**

 

We love collaborating with our beautiful community.  This summer (until August 31st) we are inviting you to come share!  If you’re a photographer, videographer, marketing maven, blogger, v-logger, storyteller, influencer or have another special talent, skill or passion that you want to SHARE,  please reach out and send an e-mail to francie@pureflow.yoga.  If it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to come stay for an intimate, magical and inspiring week FREE @ Pure Flow Yoga, Koh Phangan Thailand

Love at first Yoga

Love at first Yoga

by | Jun 21, 2019 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

Love at First Yoga

“I do” – Love at First Yoga – My Journey

 

Becoming a student of Yoga

Once upon a time, I was backpacking in India and decided to try a 10 day silent meditation retreat at Tushita in the Himalayas.

I thought that such a feat would be nearly impossible for such an incessantly talkative, extroverted, enthusiastic person such as myself.

It was surprising to me how easy it was to melt into the Simple Life.

I knew immediately how important this experience would be for my life.

It was challenging at times, don’t get me wrong, but I was in deep gratitude everyday for having discovered this practice of Being in my early 20’s.

On this retreat, they offered Yoga practice everyday.  

From the first downward dog I ever took, I knew:  This was it.  FULL YES.

I fell head over heals in love with Yoga.  Everything about it. The movements, the breath, the philosophy, the community of truth-seekers.

Truly, madly, deeply in LOVE.

As soon as I started loving and practicing Yoga, I felt openings and awakenings in my body and almost instantly the mind benefits started to creep in.

With more space, flexibility and awareness of my body, I learned to heal 16 years of chronic pain in my IT band – in my outer knee and thigh.

I also began to feel a lifetime full of indecision and the dances with depression begin to loosen their grip.

Resilience continues to grow strong all the time.

 

 

Poly-Yogamous

The next move on my travels was Thailand, where I met Lily of the Blooming Lotus.  Again, instant Love.  We kept in touch and I always knew that I wanted to learn more from this incredible embodied and wise Yogi.

Over the next many years I became a true Yogaphile: I really gave time to and tried Anusara Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini, Satsang, Yin, Restorative, Bikram, Hot Yoga, Ashtanga, Mysore practice, Iyengar. 

You name it, I tried it. Mostly…

Travelling for Yoga, taking as many classes and workshops I could, reading all the books.

I studied thousands of hours with countless teachers, masters, took endless trainings and workshops…

We know that life isn’t always easy.   Buddha’s first noble truth state that “all beings suffer”.  Its part of the package of being gifted this embodied life.

Yoga always helped make things better.

Yoga started to make my life easier and more enjoyable. 

It started to help me become more resilient and to help me overcome the bouts of depression that have been a signature part of my life throughout my child and adulthood.

 

 

Becoming a Yoga Teacher

After living for some time in Bali, teaching Pre-Kindergarten at the Green School (I’m actually a qualified and certified Primary school teacher!), 

I decided it was finally time to take my Yoga to the next – level with a Teacher Training course.  Of course Lily was top of my list of who I wanted to study with, even though I had only met her for a few days 6 years before.

The teacher training blew my mind and my teachers invited me to assist and work with them.  

Shortly thereafter, I moved to Thailand and started running classes, then retreats at the Blooming Lotus.

Dream come true.

For me, despite the statistics that share that there are anywhere from 2450-650,000 Registered Yoga Teachers in the US alone, I’ve always know that if its my dharma, or sacred purpose to teach, the universe will guide me.

I guess I’ve become a little woo-woo like that.  But it’s proven true.

A few years later, my teachers decided that it was time to move to Bali and open a beautiful new centre and world there.  We parted paths.

 

 

Becoming a Yogi-Preneur

This transition invited me to step up in to a new role – as a Yogipreneur – a Yogi + Entrepreneur, to take over the space in Thailand and create my own flavour of offerings.  

Another dream come true!

This has been a really challenging part of the journey. 

The beginning of our paths with Yoga is often a lot of Love + Light.  Which is great.

Eventually though, we need to sustain the practice, sustain the learnings, integrate the lessons…

So, it’s been 3 years now of running a business, and I’d say its been mostly rewarding.

I’ve learned sooooo much.  I’ve made countless friends, connecting with incredible people from all over the globe, I’ve help ed to positivly impact the lives of thousands of people. I’ve been able to live in paradise and practice Yoga and meditation in peace.

Running a business is no piece of cake. Its been very demanding and at times, I even forget that I’m a Yogi first. 

I’m doing my best, and definitely feel like I’m earning the equivalent of a Masters degree in Spirituality and Business.

Mostly though, having a business demands that I step out of my comfort zone and learn things that are not in my so-called “Zone of genius”.

For this I am grateful…and challenged.

 

 

What’s next for me?

No matter what happens in terms of my career or trajectory as a human being….Yoga and Meditation are next for me. 

If life has taught me anything, it’s that everything changes.

So I don’t know that I’ll be teaching Yoga in this way for the rest of my life, and I don’t know if it’ll be here in this paradise.

Yoga teaches me to be present, to be grateful and  love what is, and to accept change with grace.

Again, not always easy. 

Yoga is a practice.  It’s not something you do, then tick off the list.  

I think of showers in the same way.  Great! I had a shower today – that doesn’t mean I won’t need one again tomorrow or in a couple days right?!

Yoga is something you show up to in every moment, day after day after day.

Teaching Yoga does not mean that I have mastered it.  It simply means that I am dedicated to being a student of life, dedicated to facing my shadows, to learning, to growing and to evolving

Yoga is my forever teacher,  in the good times and the bad.

Yoga always helps to remind me of who I really am, beyond the stories and emotions.  It helps guide my way home.

I feel beyond blessed and grateful to dedicate my life to practicing and sharing Yoga, opening my heart, discovering deeper dimensions.  

And I vow to continue to evolve and grow, and become a more balanced and diverse person,  teacher and entrepreneur along the way, so long as that is what feels like the highest good for all, 

 

Til death or beyond…do us part Yoga.

Thank you for all that you give me.

 

 

In a nutshell, Why Yoga?

Hatha Yoga combines movement, conscious breathing, and mindful awareness and presence to offer physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual practices that connect us to the deepest aspects of our selves and our true nature.

The Benefits of yoga are boundless and include alignment, balance, strength, flexibility and connection to nature, community and our highest selves. 

Yoga helps me so much to navigate the reality of what presents in each moment. Its help me to know what the “highest alignment” is in each given situation, and it helps me to the see a true reflection of the roots of my suffering more clearly.  It improves each present moment most especially when I am in a really dedicated space of active practicing.

Life is still life. Up, downs, waves, emotions, times where I feel alone, time where I feel not enough. But every time an emotional fluctuation arises, it lasts less long and I can see the progress and resilience, I can feel it…

Yoga is the one thing I can absolutely commit to for the rest of my life. And I love nothing more than sharing this passion for the Practice, for being a student of life ever-after, and for living the ever – evolving dream of sharing this love with you all!

Yoga literally means “union” or “to yoke” our everyday selves with our highest most divine selves. Yoga is a powerful tool that teaches us how to live a life of balance, peace, harmony, strength and flexibility on all levels. The practice of yoga helps us become stronger, more open, free, happy, flexible and balanced, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Through yoga, we open ourselves to the infinite possibilities of life, allowing us to connect more deeply with ourselves, nature and community.

 

A Discipline Practice

A Disciplined Practice of yoga has the transformational benefits of deepening our connection to the body, mind and spirit, supporting us in living and loving long, vibrant, happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

 

Yoga teaches us the art of letting go, letting grow, letting flow.

 

We move our bodies to move energy and restlessness to ultimately still the mind and enter the bliss of meditation, wherein our individual consciousness can merge with the ultimate or spiritual oneness consciousness, leading to our remembrance that we are not separate from that which appears to be outside of our own minds.

In practicing yoga, we become humbled and cultivate our trust in the body of wisdom that is sacred and vast and greater than our individual selves.

 

The Shift

We are invited through our practice to look at the reflections life shows us in the form of experiences, the people we come across, emotions that enter.

We practice the art of receiving, giving, continually striving for an open heart especially when it wants to close.

We come to believe seemingly impossible to be possible and begin embracing feelings of gratitude for the perfection of it all either way

From wherever we are at,  breaking through our somewhat uncomfortable comfort zones of who we think we are, the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves that we believe – “I’m not good at yoga”, “I’m too stiff/ old/ etc.. allows us to have the biggest heart, mind and body openings and shifts in our attitudes, mindsets, behaviours and thoughts.

Becoming more consciously aware, more mindful, in the choices we make everyday, from diet and lifestyle to the company we keep, so that we are living in full truth, love and integrity, is another great ripple effect of the practice.

Yoga helps inspire a deeper connection with mother nature and her cycles.  Perfectly orchestrated symphonies of synchronicities and coincidences being to more readily flow and stream through life.

And most importantly,  at the end of the day, Yoga is simply a practice.

So all you really gotta do is show up.

Be present.

Allow.

Let go

Breathe

and

Be.

 

Do you love Yoga as much as we do?  Let us know in the comments section! 🙂

 

 

Enjoy this short practice that explores a simple standing sequence to build strength in alignment, flow with the breath and movement and openness in the hips and heart.

Francie is an experienced life-transformation expert from the Yoga perspective, having curated and led more than 150 + retreats, workshops and programs with over 500+ students from all walks of life from all over the world.  She is a passionate and free-spirited Yogi, hula hooper, musician, social entrepreneur and world-traveller dedicated to uplifting, inspiring and empowering people to live embodied and awakened lives.

She is the inspired founder of the award-winning Pure Flow Yoga, True:Nature Experience and Hoop Love Tribe.  Francie is currently living her dream between Thailand, Bali and the rest of the world, sharing intimate, magical and life-changing experiences, including her signature Retreats in Paradise, as well as festivals and community gatherings.

Receive her weekly Love & Inspirations when you Sign up for the Love letter- music, playlists, blog posts and more.T o follow Francie’s personal calendar, to r like her Facebook page: Francie Fishman :Yoga Hoop Music Love

Francie

Founder , Pure Flow Yoga

Love & Inspiration #25

Love & Inspiration #24

by | Jun 21, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy International Yoga Day!

Yoga totally changes lives!

 

How awesome that the United Nations has officially declared the summer/winter solstice as International Yoga day to raise awareness worldwide of the benefits of practicing Yoga.

 

Today we celebrate the importance and value of Yoga as tool for connection to ourselves, and how that affects the way we connect with others and the planet

 

I wonder, How has Yoga changed or improved your life?

Hit Reply – I’d love to hear from You!

 

 

We remember with love, one of our mot loyal students, devoted friends and helper, Kyle Keeber who passed this week.

 

“Thank you francie!!!! ! I really can’t be grateful enough for what a big difference you’ve made in my life. Hearing all the wonderful and beautiful things people have said to me and about me this past week and how much people have recognised this new positive energy I carry with me has really made me realise what a big evolution I’ve had in the past year and all this really wouldn’t have been possible without you and pure flow” – Kyle, USA

Here are your fresh Love & Inspirations for the week ahead:

1) Quote

  • “If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.” — Tim Ferriss

 

2) What is Aum / Om?

  • “Om or Aum of the Vedas became the sacred word Hum of the Tibetans, Amin of the Moslems, and Amen of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians.” -Paramahansa Yogananda

 

Aum, sometimes spelled Om,  is the most universal of Hindu symbols and its sound is used in most yoga traditions to promote body-mind harmony. We often begin and end each yoga asana class with 3 Aums, to bring each individual and the collective into this. The sound of Aum spans the full range of the human voice, beginning at the base of the spine, moving up to the navel and slowly vibrating up to the 3rd eye chakra and beyond.

Aum is said to be the primordial sound of creation; the sound of all things in the universe vibrating simultaneously. Aum is used to symbolise the universe and the ultimate reality, representing the three aspects of God: Brahma – Creator (A), Vishnu – Sustainer (U) and Shiva – liberator/destroyer (M). Aum is a also said to be a prayer of protection, representing: “a” –the waking experience, “u” – the dream experience, “m” – the deep sleep experience. Many traditions use this sound to seal or confirm a prayer, for example “Amen” is used in Judeo-Christian cultures and “Aho” in Native American tradition.

 

3) Join Global Om TODAY – June 21st!!!

This is happening TODAY and I encourage you to join – Click the Link for Time Converter to sync up.

From this article…”Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning “union”, and therefore yoga is a perfect antidote to our divided world. Recognising the popularity and health benefits of Yoga, on the 11th of December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. This year’s theme for Yoga Day is Climate Change and it will take a unified global effort of individuals with healthy bodies, clear minds and open-hearts to avert our planetary crisis. Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that influenced cultures in Asia and Europe, and OM is the root syllable from which the language originated. Unify.org is hosting a Facebook Live webcast of a globally synchronised OM to honour Yoga Day and inviting people to join for 15 minutes on June 21 at 10:30 AM PDT wherever they are on the planet.”

 

4) Guided Meditation – 20 mins

My friend Rita, who has been a devoted meditator for many decades now, turned me on to this meditation to help me de-clutter the mind and find more relaxation.  I find the visualisations they offer pretty helpful, and could see how coming back to this again and again could be very helpful.

 

5) Song – To Let Myself Go

I’ve loved this song as long as I can remember.  This is a fresh more danc-y version that is helping to bring me into my embodied practice on the mat and remember the mantra …to let myself go.  Do you dig?

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Love & Inspirations

***What’s your favourite inspiration this week?

I’d Love to Hear from You. Please let me know!***

As always, I hope you enjoyed today’s selection of Love & Inspirations.  Please let me know which of the above inspirations is your favourite?  Anything in particular that you want more or less of? Other ideas or suggestions? Please et me know on Instagram, Facebook, or simply send me an email.

 
 

** Pssst….Wanna Co-Create?**

We love collaborating with our beautiful community.  This summer (until August 31st) we are inviting you to come share!  If you’re a photographer, videographer, marketing maven, blogger, vlogger, storyteller, influencer or have another special talent, skill or passion that you want to SHARE,  please reach out and send an e-mail to francie@pureflow.yoga.  If it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to come stay for an intimate, magical and inspiring week FREE @ Pure Flow Yoga, Koh Phangan Thailand

Love & Inspiration #25

Love & Inspiration #23

by | Jun 13, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Here are some fresh inspirations for your week ahead:

 

1) Quote

  • The journey of true discovery lies not in finding new lands but in looking through new eyes. – MARCEL PROUST

 

2) Song Pre-Release, just for You Guys!!!

  • Karina’s Song – by Mel Dobra 

Feel so honoured that Mel is sharing her pre-release with our tribe.  That’s me singing her backup vocals too 🙂 Hope you enjoy it and let us know what you think!  Mel will be joining us for the Sacred Sound Retreat in a few weeks:  Yoga, Sound Healing, Vocal Activation, Singing, Kirtan and practices to unlock your creative potential.  It’s gonna be epic.  Secure your place here.

 

 

 

3) My favourite Gaia Video Series: 

Are you a Yoga nerd too? This has to be one of my favourite Yoga series ever.  The Yoga Nerd in me is just so so sooooo satisfied.  I particularly love Ep. 7: Sound and Technologies of Consciousness.  If you are looking to get a deeper understanding of the Yoga path, this is a no-brainer go-to to give you the feeling, the wisdom and the information to inspire and inform you. Check it out!

“Filmed across India, this 9-episode series takes you on a journey through mystical Indian landscapes and never before seen ashrams to explore the many branches of yoga.

While the practice of physical postures called asanas is most well-known in the West, understanding the full scope of this rich and varied tradition gives meaning and power to the yoga we know today. An incredibly honest and deep exploration of yoga, Yogic Paths is a docu-series of thoughtful interviews that touch the heart and encourage self-discovery, reminding us how deeply we are all connected.

Featuring Geeta Iyengar, Christopher Hareesh Wallis, Krishna Das, Krishna Kaur Khalsa, Anand Mehrotra, Dr. Jim Mallinson, Sally Kempton, Chris Chapple, and more.

 

4) Full Strawberry Moon Update

“So far this year,  disruption and big decisions have ruled the day. As you head into mid-month, expect things to come into sharper focus as you set your eyes on a new goal…you can expect extra focus, optimism, and feelings of security as you pursue your goals.You can also expect an extra dose of optimism and a sense of expansion from moon conjunct to Jupiter…”

 

 

5) Productivity & Organisation hack

  • Passion Planner – An appointment calendar, goal setting guide, journal, sketchbook, gratitude log & personal and work to-do lists all in one notebook.

This week I was gifted, by Randi Schiffman, who I interviewed this week for an upcoming release of a podcast episode, a passion planner before setting off on her summer tour.  No joke – it has literally changed my life. I’ve always been a pen and paper kind of girl, and yet I’ve got so much so many notes in so many different online places in apps, on my computer on my phone…Now, I finally feel like I’m getting organised with intention, and I’m super grateful for the structure and clarity that the format of this passion planner offers. For those of us who tend to get scattered or leave things to the last minute, a planner like this can really help. Highly Recommend.
 
 

** Pssst….Wanna Co-Create?**

We love collaborating with our beautiful community.  This summer (over the next 3 months) we are inviting you to come share!  If you’re a photographer, videographer, marketing maven, blogger, vlogger, storyteller, influencer or have another special talent, skill or passion that you want to SHARE,  please reach out and send an e-mail to francie@pureflow.yoga.  If it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to come stay for an intimate, magical and inspiring week FREE @ Pure Flow Yoga, Koh Phangan Thailand

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Love & Inspirations

***What’s your favourite inspiration this week?

I’d Love to Hear from You. Please let me know!***

 

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #21

by | Jun 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Love & Inspiration #21
Balance – Be – All – And – See

Hey lovely,

Do you feel balanced? Do you feel your life has equal parts effort and surrender?

This week I feel very blessed to be student-ing on Bex Tyrer’s course “Unwind the Feminine”.

(You’ll get to hear and learn more from this incredible woman in the coming weeks from the podcast interview I just did with her..)

Travelling with purpose, learning more & deepening my personal practice, and connecting with community – these are such high values for me, and ones that bring me so much joy and balance.

And for me as a teacher, student-ing is such an important aspect of maintaining my excellence as a leader and facilitator.

You can read more about my personal journey with Solo Travel & Yoga Retreats Here >>>

Click here to Read…

I’m only halfway through the course, but already I feel I am learning a radical and new approach to leadership, creativity, and my spiritual life based on the menstrual cycle and want to share a taste with you.

In Yoga we often talk about the need for balancing or bringing into union, the energies of shiva – divine consciousness – the masculine principle, and shakti – the creative principle – the feminine,

We are all of it – We all have both qualities within us.

Be All and See – this is the key to balance.

I think oftentimes, there’s a great misunderstanding about what healthy/unhealthy masculine and feminine aspects are, and how these qualities manifest within us, whether we are women or men.

What I’m learning is that, for those of us that are women, this balance of shiva and shakti energy needs to be considered in relation to our cycles.

There are four phases to the menstrual cycle which can be likened to the seasons of the year. Within each season there are different powers we can tap into .

For example (take from Alexandra Pope’s Red Power Cards)

  1. Menstruation/inner winter – stillness, surrender, vision
  2. Preovulation/inner spring – play, explore possibilities, assert
  3. Ovulation/inner summer – connect, do the work, generosity
  4. Premenstruum/inner autumn – lose it, insight, meet the critic

We are such powerful beings, and even more so when we have the knowledge and awareness to truly honour where we’re at in our cycles,

to really tune in and listen to when we need to effort and when we need to surrender.

Instead of trying to push through what’s arising for us in each moment – moods, emotions,, desires – to GSD (get shit done), its more important to instead learn to honour the cycle to create more balance and tap into even greater aspects of our feminine power.

Does that resonate with you? Feel a bit woo-woo?
I’d LOVE to hear from you.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful movement.

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings,

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Our 15% Flash Sale is on for another week or two. Book Now to SAVE on our retreats.

P.P.S What’s you’re favourite inspiration from this week’s Love & Inspirations shared below? Please hit reply and let me know! I LOVE hearing from you,

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. IT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO US, If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, if you could refer us to your community, forward this e-mail to a friend, and/or leave us a review.


Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

1) Precious Human Life: Daily Prayer by HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama


“Everyday, think as you wake up:

Today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive,
I have a precious human life,

I am not going to waste it,
I am going to use all my energies to develop myself.

To expand my heart out to others,
To achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings,

I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,
I am not going to get angry, or think badly about others.

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

~ H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama

2) *NEW* Blog Post – Dream of Solo Travel? This post is for you.
Why Yoga Retreats are the Perfect way to Travel Solo – Top 5 Reasons Why a Yoga Retreat is the Perfect Way to Make your Solo Travel Journey Deep and Meaningful
Traveling alone can be one of the most rewarding experiences of our lifetime. Traveling to a new part of the world can also be an intimidating experience, especially if you’re going alone, and especially if it’s your first time. You may wonder – Is it safe for me to travel alone? Will I feel lonely? How will I know where to go or what to do? Coming on a Yoga Retreat in is the perfect mix of combining your call to travel solo to an exotic destination, with your desire to invest in your health and well-being, and travel with purpose.

3) *NEW* Music Playlist for You
Forca Feminina Flow
Last week I help to create an epic event here in Bali which we called Forca Feminina, where our vision was to co-create a deep and inspirational space to celebrate the spectrum of beauty and power of the feminine force. Here’s an awesome compilation of the cool songs that I compiled for the Yoga class! I’m especially getting in love with the Lux Moderna – Ek Ong Kar track

4) Video / Broken Brain Podcast – 90 mins
How to Redesign the Subconscious Mind from Limitation to Freedom with Peter Crone.
Who would you be if you weren’t defined by the limiting dialogue of your own mind? We exist within mental constructs that dictate our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Suffering is a byproduct of these mental constraints. To create an extraordinary life we have to reveal the limiting framework of our perceived reality and shift the perception we have of ourselves in order to become limitless.

5) Quote

“The journey of true discover lies not in finding new lands but in looking through new eyes”. – Marcel Proust

Find more Love & Inspirations Here!

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Come flow with Francie this summer☀️Don’t miss your chance to practice with this free-spirited and inspirational Canadian yogini who started the pure flow magic💫Francie has led hundreds of transformational retreats and teacher trainings in Thailand, Bali and beyond🌎She’s also a meditation lover, hula hooper and talented musician with the voice of an angel 😇 Join her on a retreat in June and July 🧘‍♀️ Sign up now & get 15% off all retreats⚡️This sale won’t last long! So book your retreat and save 💵

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Upcoming Retreats & Events

July 7 – 13, 2019 – Sacred Sound – Yoga + Music Retreat with Francie Love & Mel Dobra
May 26 – June 1 – Retreat in Paradise with Emma Lowe
June 2 – June 15 – Retreats in Paradise with Daphne Chua
June 16 – August 3 – YACEP Credit Available – Retreats in Paradise with Francie Fishman & Sophie Sharp

I’m Ready!


Let’s Go!

Yoga Teacher Training Super EARLY BIRD on Now!

 

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #20

by | Jun 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Love & Inspiration #20
The Healing Powers of Music

Beautiful,

What is your relationship music, and in particular, singing?

Are you comfortable expressing yourself fully? How do you feel about singing? Do you sing in the shower or in the car? How do you feel singing in front of others? Do you keep quiet cause someone told you to once upon a time?
—

As my friend Malaika always says, “If you can talk, you can sing”.

As many of you know, the past few years for me have really been about finding my voice and connecting more with music and sharing songs.

After some serious heartbreaks and set-backs a few years back, I started losing my voice every couple weeks for a year and a half. It was a really devastating and challenging time for my heart.

After a million ginger lemon honey teas, licorice teas, salt water gargles, days in silence, steams…I finally went to see some specialised doctors, where I got lots of tests and opinions.

While the doctors could see inflammation in my throat, they couldn’t see what was deeper, and therefore were unable to help me beyond treating the symptoms.

Frustrated, I knew I had to look deeper within.

I realised that when we don’t fully allow ourselves the space to fully express what’s in our heart, the energy that was meant to come up and out into the world,

actually moves down and gets lodged in the body, where it causing dis-ease. For me this manifested as this chronic loss of voice.

A big huge part of my healing journey has been all about music and singing – opening this sacred channel of the throat that connects the heart and mind.

For me, finding the path of sacred music and mantra singing has become a really key aspect of my healing journey, helping me to access what’s in my heart.

As a result of being able to connect more deeply within, I feel more confident to take up space, to express my authenticity, and explore my creativity.

Singing helps me to strengthen my sense of self-worth, and find the confidence to communicate from my heart and share my messages with the world.

Here’s what I know:

While I still have a long way to go on this path, I could not be more grateful for the gifts I receive for showing up to music:

This path of music continues to offer me insights into myself, my emotions, my self-worth and confidence, and it also brings me and those around me a lot of healing, joy, peace and connection.

In the the coming weeks I look forward to opening a deeper conversation with you about the voice, singing and the healing powers of music…

and I’m really looking forward to sharing my passion for this fun, powerful and healing practice in our upcoming Sacred Sounds Retreat in July. Please come if you feel called.

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to my dear friend and co-creator on this powerful and profound retreat – Mel Dobra.

Mel is an incredible musician, recording artist, performer, and performing arts educator and workshop facilitator based in Australia.

Click here to discover what Mel shares with us about her personal journey with music and it’s healing powers…

Click here to Read On…

Pure Flow Yoga News

Pure Flow Yoga has won Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2019 for the 2nd year in a row!!! YAY!!!

THANK YOU x a bazillion to everyone who came and shared a yoga retreat experience with us here in Koh Phangan this last year and left a review.

This really makes a world of difference to us and others who this experience can help benefit.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful movement.

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings,

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Our Yoga Retreat 15% Flash Sale is still on. Book Now to Join an Intimate, Magical & Life-changing retreat in Paradise

P.P.S What’s you’re favourite inspiration from this week’s Love & Inspirations shared below? Please hit reply and let me know! I LOVE hearing from you,

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. IT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO US, If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, if you could refer us to your community, forward this e-mail to a friend, and/or leave us a review.

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

1) Quote
“Do you know that the words meditation and medicine come from the same root? Meditation is a kind of medicine; its use is only for the time being. Once you have learned the quality, then you need not do any particular meditation, then the meditation has to spread all over your life. Only when you are meditative twenty-four hours a day then can you attain, then you have attained.” – Osho

2) Book I’m Revisiting
The Presence Process by Michael Brown
Why is it so difficult to respond consciously when we are upset? Why do we instead resort to hurtful, repetitive, unconscious, reactive behaviours? When we are upset, like programmed organic machinery, we automatically resort to reactive and unconscious behaviours that arise from unresolved emotional charges, often from childhood.

Throughout this 10 week guided process, we learn and practice to stop running from or projecting onto others our unresolved emotional charges, and consciously identify, be with, and integrate these shadow of ourselves that keep presenting in our lives. From here we can discover how to take full responsibility for the quality of our experience and release an victim-victor-saviour mentality

I’ve just started re-reading the first section of the book and will start Week 1 of the process next week. Let me know if you want to join me in the Presence Process. I’d love to share the journey.

3) Blog Post to Inspire You
The Healing Powers of Music by Mel Dobra
Mel Dobra, an acclaimed devotional music, recording artist, performing arts teacher and workshop facilitator shares her journey with music and it’s power.

The beautiful Mel will be co-facilitating the music and yoga retreat with me in July/ We would LOVE to have you there! You can book here. 🙂

4) Song I’m learning on Guitar
My Sweet Lord by George Harrison
An absolute classic. Enjoy!

5) Poem that I’m thinking about a lot alot

Autobiography in Five Chapters by Portia Nelson:
—

Chapter I

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in. I am lost… I am hopeless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I’m in the same place. But it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in…it’s a habit My eyes are open; I know where I am; It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.

—

HIT REPLY: What does this evoke in You?

Find more Love & Inspirations Here!

Instagram Post of the Week

What are you grateful for?

Did you know that gratitude has been proven to increase production of dopamine and serotonin, creating feelings of contentment & peace 🧘‍♀️ Other benefits of gratitude include: feeling more connected to others and less lonely, stronger immune system, improved emotional equilibrium, better sleep, increased energy, deeper relaxation and increased creativity💕
Today I’m grateful for: 💧clean water to drink 👣a morning walk in nature 🥗a yummy salad for lunch 💗hugs with loved ones

Let us know 3 things you’re grateful for today…we’d love to know!

#gratitude #abundance #appreciation#lawofattraction #awareness#lifeofayogi #yogavibes #yogajourney#yogaretreat #yogaholiday#yogachangedmylife #adventuretravel#solotraveller #offthebeatenpath#tropicalnature #amazingthailand#kohphangan #islandlife #seasunsand#practiceandalliscoming #manifestation#liveyourdream #paradise
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Upcoming Retreats & Events

July 7 – 13, 2019 – Sacred Sound – Yoga + Music Retreat with Francie Love & Mel Dobra
May 26 – June 1 – Retreat in Paradise with Emma Lowe
June 2 – June 15 – Retreats in Paradise with Daphne Chua
June 16 – August 3 – Retreats in Paradise with Francie Fishman & Sophie Sharp

 

Love & Inspiration #25

Love & Inspiration #22

by | Jun 8, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

1) Quote

  • “Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” – Zhuangzi

 

  • “I want to stay as close on the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center. Big, undreamed-of things — the people on the edge see them first”. – Kurt Vonnegut

 

  • “Sometimes your higher self will guide you to make mistakes so you can learn lessons.” Gabrielle Bernstein

 

 

2) Article I’m Featured in 

In this article, I am featured alongside superstar Yogis, Janet Stone, Rachel Zinman & Annie Au to name a few, offering excellent insights and tips on how to market your holistic wellness or retreat business.

 

***This week, 5 of my friends asked me to look over their websites and offer them feedback and advice.  It was amazing.  They got so much value and I loved it. WIN-WIN  All 5 of my friends really encouraged me to put myself out there and charge for my offerings! Turns out after 3 years of running a business (7 years if you take into account my previous work), researching, doing online courses and gathering tonnes of information and knowledge in the realm of spirituality and business, I have actually qualified myself to help people THRIVE in their offerings.  So, now after spontaneously putting myself out there to my friends on FB,  and having a really full-power response, the universe seems to be indicating that I just try – and simply communicate with you what I’m doing.   

 

******Holistic Business Mentoring now available, first-come first-serve to help 3 more people get more clarity, purpose and direction with your Yoga or Wellness business and website. This could be especially beneficial to you if you are in the first 0-3 years of creating an online presence,  If this is you,  please e-mail me – francie@pureflow.yoga

 

 

3) Epic Song created @Inspirit Music Production Retreat

Shoutout to my friends Josh Wise for producing an epic first release.  Also a big shoutout to Baptiste Sejourne who recently created In-Spirit – first ever holistic music production retreat in the jungle of Bali close to Ubud. The idea behind the retreat was to combine the technical side of music production with the practical side of channelling divine inspiration trough meditation, qi gong, breath work and voice embodiment with the goal to create music that is a unique soul expression, inspiring and healing and has the power to uplift the frequency of the planet. The result of this magical co-creative experience can be heard on this compilation. Most of the participants have had little or no music production experience at all before but thanks to a very efficient schedule and passionate teachers they each ended up with a fully finished unique track.  For more information on upcoming retreats check www.inspirit.love!

 

 

4) #LessPlasticMoreFantastic Short Film- 15 mins

Last year I got to be a part of really cool beach-clean up project and trashion show.   More and more we are being called upon by pacha mama, mamma Gaia, Mother Earth. the next generation…to step up our game and become more aware and accountable of how we are consuming, using precious resources and living on this crying planet.

Check out this awesome full length BTS Documentary (behind the scenes) documentary on the making of the short film I am Ocean, an artistic commentary, on the dire ocean-plastic issue that is clogging our planet’s oceans.

and Please & Thank You – SAY NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC  #LessPlasticMoreFantastic 🌺

 

 

5) Podcast I’m Enjoying

I’ve been on a bit of a podcast binge this week and came upon this raw and real, inspiring, connected, vulnerable and authentic interview by Elena Brower – Super star Yoga teacher, author and speaker with with Gabrielle Bernstein,  the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back, five additional bestsellers, and featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday as a “next-generation thought leader,” among other accolades. 

Upcoming Events

[et_bloom_inline optin_id=”optin_20″]

Love & Inspirations

***What’s your favourite inspiration this week?

I’d Love to Hear from You. Please let me know!***

 

 

** Pssst….Wanna Co-Create?**

We love collaborating with our beautiful community.  This summer (over the next 3 months) we are inviting you to come share!  If you’re a photographer, videographer, marketing maven, blogger, vlogger, storyteller, influencer or have another special talent, skill or passion that you want to SHARE,  please reach out and send an e-mail to francie@pureflow.yoga.  If it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to come stay for an intimate, magical and inspiring week FREE @ Pure Flow Yoga, Koh Phangan Thailand

 

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #19

by | Jun 1, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Love & Inspiration #19
Checking out of the Morning
Phone-Check Cycle to Reclaim your Day

How are you?

Question – Do you check your phone first thing in the morning?

If you do, you are in good company.

According to research by IDC and sponsored by Facebook, more than 80% or 4/5 smartphone users check their phones before brushing their teeth or getting out of bed in the morning.

This week I tried out an experiment on myself: I would check my phone in the mornings only after I had already finished my meditation and yoga practice.

Here’s what happened…

Click here to Read On…

Hope you have a wonderful day and beautiful weekend ahead.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings,

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Our 15% Flash Sale is still on. Book Now to Join an Intimate, Magical & Life-changing retreat in Paradise

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, please forward this e-mail to a friend, leave us a review, and / or take 2 minutes now to become a part of our awesome referral program.

LOVE & INSPIRATION

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

1) Quote

“No one succeeds without effort… Those who succeed owe their success to perseverance”. – Ramana Maharishi

2) Blog Post

Reclaim your Day: 3 Tips to Help you Checking Out of the morning Phone-Check Cycle

3) Song: Remixed Classic
Leonard Cohen: The Partisan (MK Remix) – Electronica Massive Edit

4) Inspiring Video Talk
Thich Nhat Hanh talks with Oprah Winfrey

5) Thought Provoking Image

Find more Love & Inspirations Here!

Francie’s Upcoming Offerings

May / June 2019 – Bali

Awaken your Voice: Wednesdays @ Sayuri Cafe, 6pm

Sound Medicine Journey: Thursdays @ Yoga Barn, 3-4:30pm

Wanna make magic where you are (or where you wanna go)? Let’s talk. I’m now offering private retreats and trainings in Bali, Canada, USA and beyond in 2019/2020 and I’d love to connect with You! 🙂

June / July 2019

Yoga Retreats in Paradise @ Pure Flow Yoga

Yoga Alliance – YACEP 30h & 60h – Continuing Education Credit for Yoga Teachers – June 16 – July 26, 2019

Upcoming Retreats

Instagram Post of the Week

Yes we do! Who’s with me ladies?

✨#wild #wildwoman#solotravel #solofemaletravel#travel #thailand #thailandgram#yogainparadise #pureflowyoga#yogaretreatsthailand#yogaretreats #yogaretreats2019#offthebeatenpath#offthebeatentrack #kohphangan#adventuretravel #tribay #yoga#yogainspired #essentialnature
Follow us on Instagram

Upcoming Events

Early Bird on until April 30th

Join us in Paradise!

Super EARLY BIRD on Now!
Copyright © 2019 Pure Flow Yoga, All rights reserved.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #18

by | Jun 1, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Love & Inspiration #18
Let go to Let flow

Namaste beautiful,

First of all, just wanna let you know that we are doing a
FLASH SALE – 15% off all Retreats NOW
So if you’re thinking about coming soon, now is the time.

Did you catch my Instagram LIVE this week I wonder? I started sharing a couple weeks ago my personal musings on life and what’s present for me and Pure Flow, and I’d love to see you there.

Mondays @ 3pm Bali Time / 2 pm Thailand / 8am UK Time / 5pm Australia / 3am NYC (if you miss the LIVE, you can catch a reply on our instagram stories for 24 hours only!)

—

This week, on the instagram live, I bared my soul and shared very vulnerably with you about where I’m at and the struggle I’m having to keep the business side of Pure Flow Yoga…flowing.

I’m in a place where I’m coming into a lot of questions of how can i make this project work. How can i keep it all flowing and supporting? What if I have to let it all go? What does that even mean? Who would I be if I let it all go?

How can I lean into trust more.

When life is not unfolding in a state of pure flow of synchronicity, ease, and joy, what do you do?

For me, I notice that my tendency at first, is to fight the current, work harder, stress more, and try to control the situation to make things work. I hold on for dear life.

Generally, I do this until I become aware that I’m caught in the illusion of believing that I am ultimately in control of everything. Slowly I realise that I’ve gotten caught in an attachment of thinking that what i do is who am I.

What I do, the relationships I have, the likes and dislikes that I have, these are ever-changing aspects of my personality, my ego if you will. They are not the essence of who I am.

In other words, I will still be me, even if my outer world, my work, my relationships, my georgraphy etc completely change.

So what to do in these moments where life is not in full flow?

Practice the life-long art and practice of letting go.

While I’ll continue to do my best, and show up to the challenges that present,

and while I’ll maintain my commitment to the path of Yoga,
this commitment to cultivate my strength, balance and flexibility
of not only my body, but also my mind,

I let go of of how it’ll all unfold moving forward.
So that I can relax into a deeper state of trust in the unknown,
and remember that the great mystery,
the infinite intelligence that flows through life,
is far greater that i can ever fully comprehend in this moment.

So, I don’t yet know what will happen next with the business. Let’s see…

But, Here’s what i do know:

  • I can do my best and keep showing up to do #allthethings,
  • I can keep showing up to my practice of Yoga, meditation, prayer, asking questions, and deep patient listening
  • I can actively practice letting go into the great mystery and divine unfolding
  • I can control my relationship to this moment
  • I can cultivate more trust and knowing that whatever does happen next, is in the spirit of rising up and evolution.

    Today I invite you to take a minute and ask yourself, where in your life can you surrender to more trust and letting go?
    Please hit REPLY and let me know – I love hearing from you always, and always give each person an individual reply.

    ———-

Here are some fresh inspirations to help you let go:

1) Quote

  • “We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
  • “Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” – Hermann Hesse
  • “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need.”– Lao Tzu

2) Video

3) Music for Letting Go

  • Nourish by Hanna Leigh
    I seriously love this song and all the beautiful lyrics that flow through this incredible being. I had the chance to live with Hannah, once upon a time in a conscious community in Hawaii, and the resonance and frequency of what she shares is pure crystalline beauty. Hope you love it as much as i do!

4) Poem for Letting Go by Saffire Rose
Tip: Take the time to Read this out loud to yourself or to a friend.

She let go.
She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear.
She let go of the judgments.
She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.
She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice.
She didn’t read a book on how to let go.
She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back.
She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go.
She didn’t journal about it.
She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.
She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.
She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyse whether she should let go.
She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.
She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.
She didn’t call the prayer line.
She didn’t utter one word.
She just let go.
No one was around when it happened.
There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.
No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort.
There was no struggle.
It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.
A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her.
And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…

5) PFY Practice Podcast

———-

Pure Flow Yoga News

Join us weekly on Instagram Live

Mondays @ 3pm Bali Time / 2 pm Thailand / 8am UK Time / 5pm Australia / 3am NYC
What questions do you have about Yoga, Retreats, life and/or everything in between?

I’d LOVE to hear from you and will share in the live. Please hit reply and let me know your question and also the time that might work best for you where you are.

Yoga Alliance – YACEP 30h & 60h
Continuing Education Credit for Yoga Teachers
June 16 – July 26, 2019
Are you a Yoga teacher? Do you want to become an even more skilled, confident and effective teacher and leader through deepening experiences and having rich individualised feedback? You can earn Continuing Education credit when you participate in one of our life-changing Yoga Retreats in Paradise in Koh Phangan with Pure Flow Yoga’s founder Francie Fishman

Please send me a personal email or book a discovery call here.

Sacred Sound Retreat: Yoga & Music
Awaken your Voice and Connect to your Song
July 7-13, 2019
with Francie Love & Mel Dobra
BOOK NOW

Francie’s Events in Bali
May / June 2019

  • Awaken your Voice: Wednesdays @ Sayuri Cafe, 6pm
  • Sound Medicine Journey: Thursdays @ Yoga Barn, 3-4:30pm
  • Wanna make magic where you are (or where you wanna go)? Let’s talk. I’m now offering private retreats and trainings in Bali, Canada, USA and beyond in 2019/2020 and I’d love to connect with You! 🙂
    ———-

Hope you have a wonderful day and beautiful weekend ahead.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S Check it out! We’ve just redesigned some of our website. What do you think? Is it easier to use now? Let us know what you think

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, please forward this e-mail to a friend, leave us a review, and / or take 2 minutes now to become a part of our awesome referral program.

Instagram Post of the Week

Mandala magic🌺✨ #mandala #creativity #community#connecttonature #beauty #barefoot#abundance #appreciation #dailyrituals#flowers #leaves #junglelife#mamaearth #islandvibes#sharingcircle #love #yogaretreat#yogaholiday #yoginis #yogainspiration#thailand #kohphangan#practiceandalliscoming #paradise
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Upcoming Events

Early Bird on until April 30th

Join us in Paradise!

Super EARLY BIRD on Now!

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #17

by | Jun 1, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Love & Inspiration #17
New Moon Yin-spiration

Blessings to you for New Moon in Taurus this Sunday Lou,

New moons are a naturally more yin – reflective, introspective and intuitive – time.

Do you feel that?

As we approach this new moon, we are being invited to review how we go about our day-to day life, and reflect on how/where we can create more space, more presence, more love, more joy.

New Moons offer us the perfect opportunity for fresh starts and inspirations,

as well as support and nourishment for the seeds of the intentions we plant with this new cycle,

whether that’s to be more healthy, do more yoga and meditation practice, or simply to bring more gratitude into our days.

What seeds or intentions are you planting for this new moon cycle?
Please REPLY – I’d love to hear from you
(Otherwise be sure to tell a friend – so valuable to have a witness / accountability partner)

———-

Here are some fresh inspirations to help inspire your presence for your week ahead:

1) Quote

  • “I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in the silence, and the truth comes to me”. – Albert Einstein
    (shared by Kyle Gartlan Close – one of our amazing YTT Grads)

2) Pure Flow Yoga Podcast

Emily is a true seeker at heart, and has journeyed from her humble American roots, to becoming a prominent international Yoga teacher based in Bali and offering her Self-Care, Woman & Feminine Sexuality work as well as her Taboo exploration workshops worldwide.

Emily has a passionate curiosity for exploring the big questions of life (and death), and also how can she be best be in service to humanity a teacher. Emily is known for her skills and passion teaching Anusara Yoga, Embodied Flow, and now the more juicy and unexplored topics of sex, death & wealth, which we explore a bit in today’s conversation. Hope you enjoy!

Pssst. Did you know you can now support us to keep creating awesome content for you.
Click here to learn more.

3) 12 Minute Meditation Practice on Insight Timer

Our very own Daphen Chua, who will sharing @ Pure Flow Yoga this June offers this meditation…

Somatic education is an exploration into waking up the internal senses to uncover our own physical and subtle mind-body mapping, to help us determine the way we inhabit in our environment and respond to elements and people around us.

This is a short somatic reset practice, working with a simple body sensing, breath and subtle movements to cultivate awareness, restore mental clarity and ease of breath.

This can be practised anytime, anywhere. Just find a comfortable seat to begin.

4) Ask and You Shall Receive

Thank you x infinity to those of you who have been reaching out in gratitude and appreciation and asking for more. For more inspirations to fuel your flow, you can now visit our L & I archives on our blog right here

5) Music – Pure Flow Yoga Soundcloud Playlist

Enjoy 20+ curated heart-melt tracks to help you drop into to your Yin Yoga or simply your chiill-out flow.

Listen and let me know, What’s your favourite song?

———-

Pure Flow Yoga News

NEW! Let’s Connect LIVE!
Fuel for your Flow – Instagram Live

Mondays @ 3pm Bali Time / 2 pm Thailand / 8am UK Time / 5pm Australia / 3am NYC
What questions do you have about Yoga, Retreats, life and/or everything in between?
I’d LOVE to hear from you and will share in the live.

Yoga Alliance – YACEP 30h & 60h
Continuing Education Credit for Yoga Teachers
June 16 – July 26, 2019
Are you a Yoga teacher? Do you want to become an even more skilled, confident and effective teacher and leader through deepening experiences and having rich individualised feedback?

You can now earn Continuing Education credit when you participate in one of our life-changing Yoga Retreats in Paradise in Koh Phangan with Pure Flow Yoga’s founder Francie Fishman

Please send me a personal email or book a discovery call here.

Sacred Sound Retreat: Yoga & Music
Awaken your Voice and Connect to your Song
July 7-13, 2019
with Francie Love & Mel Dobra
BOOK NOW

Francie’s Events in Bali
May / June 2019

  • Sister’s Singing Circles: Thursdays @ 11am – 12:30 pm
  • Sound Medicine Journey: Thursdays 3-4:30pm
  • Wanna make magic where you are (or where you wanna go)? Let’s talk. I’m now offering private retreats and trainings in Bali, Canada, USA and beyond in 2019/2020 and I’d love to connect with You! 🙂
    ———-

Hope you have a wonderful day and beautiful weekend ahead.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. FEEDBACK PLEASE We’re busy-beeing behind the scenes to try and create an even better retreat and booking experience for you. Will you please check out this retreat-builder and let me know what you think.

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, please forward this e-mail to a friend, leave us a review,and / or take 2 minutes now to become a part of our awesome referral program.

P.P.P.S We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:) This is exclusive to LOVELETTER subscribers only!

Testimonial of the Week

“Before coming, I was feeling guilty for taking this time for myself…now after 5 days on this wonderful island, in this wonderful retreat, it’s exactly what I needed and can really help anyone – my co-workers, family, everyone”.
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Upcoming Events

I’m Ready for this Epic Life-Changing High Vibe Retreat!


I’m Ready for Paradise!

Super EARLY BIRD on Now!

Why Yoga Retreats are the Perfect Way to Travel Solo

Why Yoga Retreats are the Perfect Way to Travel Solo

by | May 31, 2019 | Retreat & Travel Info

Why Yoga Retreats are the Perfect way to Travel Solo

;

Top 5 Reasons Why a Yoga Retreat is the Perfect Way

to Make your Solo Travel Journey Deep and Meaningful

 

Traveling to a new part of the world can be an intimidating experience, especially if you’re going alone, and especially if it’s your first time.

 

Some thoughts that may go through your minds – Is it safe for me to travel alone? Will I feel lonely? How will I know where to go or what to do?

 

And yet when we feel that call to explore the world, we know in our bones that traveling alone can be one of the most rewarding experiences of our lifetime.

 

Often when we begin our travels into the world it’s to honour the calling to create more adventure, balance and wellness in our lives.

 

While there’s definitely a magic in traveling for the sake of travel, when we have a passion to tether our interests to, like Yoga, it empowers us to meet like-minded people and to develop ourselves and our skills to have a more fulfilling journey.

 

Coming on a Yoga Retreat in is the perfect mix of combining your call to travel solo to an exotic destination, with your desire to invest in your health and well-being, and travel with purpose.

 

A yoga retreat is a disciplined space in which to cultivate more connection, presence, health, wellness and awareness of our bodies, minds and hearts.

 

It is also a deepening journey to whatever healing process you may currently already be on.

 

—

 

The Beginning of My Solo – Travel Journeys

 

My first solo travel was at the age of 18, when I was young, naïve, and adventurous. At the time, my thirst for the world and its people was unquenchable and I was so happy to just go with the flow, figure out the next step of my travel on the fly, sleep in hammocks under the stars or out on the beach in the wild.

 

I met incredible people from all over the planet, expanded my horizons a lot, and really started the journey of knowing myself a lot more.  

 

As I move into my late 30s now, I notice that my preferences are changing, and I now feel called to travel with a deeper purpose.  

 

I still crave adventure and to meet like-minded people from all over the world, but more important for me now, to travel with purpose, to be learning or to be in service, to be investing in my skills, knowledge, and well-being.

 

My life changed forever after I attended my first meditation and yoga retreat.  I really tasted the magic of Yoga, and its benefits for my mind, body and spirit.  After the retreat, I felt more clear, more balanced, more open, and some of the people that I connected with there, I’ve now travelled with or have visited in different parts of the world.

 

After that retreat, Yoga became the central organising focus of my life, work and travels.  Anywhere I go, I know that if Yoga is at the heart of what I do, that I am investing in my education, my happiness and well-being and my connection to community, nature and like-minded equally impassioned people.

 

Top 5 Reasons Why a Yoga retreat is a perfect way to Make your solo travel journey more deep and meaningful

 

1) Connect with international community & Create lifelong friendships with like-minded people

 

Coming on retreat is a powerful way to make new life-long friendships and connect with new like-minded people, at different stages of their lives – people who have come across different challenges and breakthroughs in their careers and in their relationships –  from all over the planet.  

 

What becomes so apparent in the shared experience of retreat, is that despite all of our individual differences, we are all so much the same. We all just want to be happy and we all want to be free of suffering. And we all do suffer with our own challenges and fears. This is something that we all have in common.

 

2) Get Inspired and Create new travel plans from like-minded people

 

Often your new retreat friends are also solo travellers, and oftentimes in Yoga they are women  who travel with a passion for adventure, yoga, and new experiences, and they are excited to share with you their experiences and insights.  

 

People who come on our retreats often make new travel plans and have lots of local and international adventures together.

 

New retreat friends often meet up in other parts of the world, open up their homes to each other, and also come back the next year to our retreat to meet again as well.  

 

3) Retreats can help your Connect deeper to a Community or Place

 

A retreat offers a perfect way to connect deeper with the place you are visiting.  

 

When we are in travel-mode, sometimes we stay just a night here, or 3 nights there.  

 

While this can be an awesome way to see the planet, when we allow ourselves the opportunity to stay in a place longer, we can drop-in to our daily rhythm, drop-in with the local community, and create a home-away-from-home.  

 

Staying a little bit longer allows us to unfold more more depth and connection with a place and the people that call that place their home.

 

Our experiences and connections become richer.  We feel like we are a part of something.

 

Our location in Koh Phangan, is in a magical hidden gem of a community where there are no cars and no roads.  It is accessible only by boat which makes it an incredible off-the-beaten track find.  

 

The community here is from all walks of life and from all over the world.  One of the greatest things that unites us is our love of this place and the experience of transformation it has had on us all as individuals.  

 

We all feel we are a part of something bigger, and for this reason, we keep coming back year after year, deepening our friendships and making new ones.

 

4) Retreats are an Investment into your own Happiness, Well-being and Self-Love

 

Within a Yoga retreat, you give yourself the space to transform and integrate your life and travel experiences.  

 

You give yourself the experience to take a pause, reflect, integrate and drop in deeper with yourself and whatever experiences you are having in the moment.   

 

This opportunity to reflect and connect through being in nature, slowing down and practicing meditation and yoga is incredibly nourishing for your body, mind, and spirit, and is a worthwhile investment into your wellness and happiness.

 

In this way, you come to know yourself more, where your blockages, challenges or areas of self-growth are.  You get to practice discipline, gratitude, self-knowing and self love.

 

 

5)   Retreats can help you begin the ritual of a daily practice to help support you throughout the rest of your travels

 

Retreats are an awesome way to begin the ritual of a daily practice.

 

Having a daily practice when you’re traveling is a really awesome way to ground and center your energy so that you can move into the mystery of each day with more confidence, grace and ease.

 

A yoga retreat can help you to develop you balance, strength and flexibility both on and off the yoga mat.

 

It can also help to set you up with the skills and tools to navigate the rest of your travels with more confidence, clarity, decisiveness, depth, and meaning.

 

On our retreats for example, we offer lots of tools and techniques to help you establish your commitment to a daily home practice and resources, like our free 21-day post-retreat practice program, to help you continue developing and practicing once you leave.

 

The qualities of flexibility and openness that we foster on retreat offer so many rewards in the present moment, but also help you navigate your travels moving forward with more grace, ease and magic.

 

—

In the end, one week is not such a long time, and it goes by in a snap of the fingers. But when you create time out of time to really invest in yourself, the experiences that you will have can be utterly life-changing, and can help you to step even deeper on to the ever-winding path to self knowing, self mastery, and ultimately to self love.

 

So if you’re looking to bring more depth, meaning and purpose to your solo travel, please consider coming on a Yoga Retreat in Paradise @ Pure Flow Yoga.  Our retreats are affordable, intimate, magical and life-changing.

Book your Retreat in Paradise NOW!

Now I’d LOVE to hear from you!

Please leave a comment below:

Have you travelled Solo?

What have been your challenges and breakthroughs?

If you haven’t travelled solo but want to, What’s holding you back?

 

E-RYT 500 Yoga Alliance | Post-Grad Dip. Education, Queensland University of Technology | BA Psychology / Philosophy, McGill University 

Francie is the inspired founder of the award-winning Pure Flow Yoga in Koh Phangan, Thailand.  She is an experienced life-transformation expert from the Yoga perspective, having curated and led more than 150 + Yoga Retreats, teacher trainings, workshops and programs with over 500+ students from all walks of life from all over the world.  

She is a passionate and free-spirited Yogi, hula hooper, musician, social entrepreneur and world-traveler dedicated to uplifting, inspiring and empowering people to live embodied and awakened lives.

Francie is currently living her dream between Thailand, Bali and the rest of the world, sharing intimate, magical and life-changing experiences, including her signature Yoga & Meditation Retreats in Paradise, as well as festivals and community gatherings.

Sign up for her Love-Letter here to receive her weekly Love & Inspirations, filled with inspiring quotes, blog posts, podcasts, music, practice playlists, and more!

Francie

Founder of Pure Flow Yoga

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Love & Inspirations

Healing Powers of Music

Healing Powers of Music

by | May 23, 2019 | Guest post, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

The Healing Powers of Music 

by Mel Dobra

 

Music has the ability to transcend cultural barriers,

 

Music has the power to soothe and heal emotional wounds.

 

Music has the power to unite communities, nations and even the world. 

 

In a society so focused on deadlines, keeping busy and getting ahead, the healing powers of music can often be overlooked, forgotten, and even dismissed as we strive forward on a never ending quest for the urban dream. 

 

About ten years ago I started playing music, and it was one of the biggest blessings of my life.

 

Through first hand experience, I quickly became aware, of the benefits that music can have, on ones well being, psyche and soul. 

 

 

 

 

My Story of how Music helped bring me back to Balance:

 

When life dealt me my own mental health challenges last year, it was music that played a big part In restoring me to good health.

Its not only the vibrations and the feelings that music elicit, but also the connections to community that music brings, creating shared experiences that we remember. 

I’m sure we can all recall a moment where a beautiful piece of music has been used to unite friends or family in love at a wedding.

I personally have been deeply touched by the music at a friends funeral, allowing us as a community to grieve together, to feel our own sorrow and sadness. 

As an early childhood educator I have researched and witnessed the power that music has in different areas of the education system, especially supporting students with ASDL and other learning difficulties, bringing about both greater educational outcomes, and wellbeing.

 

 

Experience it for Yourself

 

Sound healing, singing, kirtan (or call and response singing), expressing, communicating and sharing are all beautiful ways we can explore the healing powers of music.

Step into this shared experience of music, to heal, create memories, activate your voice and share songs with us in paradise on our upcoming retreat @ Pure Flow Yoga Thailand this July 2019.

And stay tuned by following me on Facebook…I’m about to release my new album Smoke and Flame. 

 

 

About Mel Dobra

 

 

Mel Dobra is a performing arts teacher, a recording artist, and a workshop facilitator who uses the power of music, and creativity to create spaces where people can find a deeper connection to themselves, the community and the planet, through the shared power of sacred music. 

Follow Mel’s Journey on FB: https://www.facebook.com/meldobramusic/

Listen & Buy Mel’s Music: https://meldobra.bandcamp.com/

 

Upcoming Events

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Love & Inspirations

Join us for this joyful & profound Yoga + Music Retreat this July!

Reclaim your Day – Checking out of the morning Phone-Check Cycle

Reclaim your Day – Checking out of the morning Phone-Check Cycle

by | May 17, 2019 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Retreat & Travel Info

Reclaim your Day

Checking out of the morning Phone-Check Cycle

 

Question – Do you check your phone first thing in the morning?

 

If you do, you are in good company. 

 

According to research by IDC and sponsored by Facebook, more than 80% or 4/5 smartphone users check their phones before brushing their teeth or getting out of bed in the morning.

 

This week I started an experiment on myself: I would check my phone only after I had already finished my meditation and yoga practice.

 

—

Here’s how I did my experiment: 

 

3 Tips to Checking Out of the Morning Phone Check Cycle

 

1. Charge your phone across the room, and put it on airplane mode

If you charge your phone, or keep it next to you in the bed, the temptation to reach over for a even just a quick check can be just too much. Forcing yourself to physically get out of bed to check your phone, brings this habit into much more conscious awareness and control. Make it a conscious choice to check your phone, rather than a habit on auto-pilot

 

 

2. Choose a Habit to start instead: Meditate, Read, Do Sun Salutations, Journal, Exercise

 

Choose something that your highest self would like to do every day.  This could reading, writing, meditating, exercising, staring off into space…Do it consciously for 5 mins, 30 mins, 90 mins….choose something that is easily attainable for you,  so that you are setting yourself up for success.

I use Insight timer in the most simple way possible. I put a timer on for 30 mins everyday.  Once I complete that time, it tracks my progress and celebrates me and the hundreds of thousands of others who are meditating at the same time as me old over the world.  Knowing others are doing this as well is also motivating for me. 

 

 

3. Hold yourself accountable: Tell other people about your experiment

This week I told everyone in my community house about what I was doing.  It helped us all to reflect on our somewhat unconscious morning habits.  It also became a but of silly joke and conversation topic.  But in reality, what it did, was help me keep me accountable to my commitment to this experiment.  I highly highly highly recommend that you do this with a friend, partner, or at least share with people you care about that you are trying this as an experiment.

 

—

 

Here’s what I  found:

 

1) It’s hard to break this cycle

Honest truth -t it was actually really hard. 

Its become a daily habit to scroll my phone first thing in the morning, For 30-45 minutes sometimes. 

I want to connect, to see what I’ve missed, to know what’s been happening with the world around me, and to be in the know about what I need to do, respond to and/or catch up on. 

and i get joy out of it.

It’s a dopamine hit and I know it.

There is definitely an addictive quality to the relationships most of us have with our phones.  And this is a worldwide phenomena.

Taking a break from this habit this week has felt truly overwhelming at times. 

 

2) The benefits of breaking the cycle far outweigh the cost

Persisting with my commitment to this experiment has been well worth it:

The most stand-out benefit is that I began to reclaim my day.  

I often begin my days feeling like I’ve fallen behind.  I get stressed and overwhelmed by the things I’ve got to do, by the things I’ve missed out on or haven’t done yet. and if I’m truly honest with myself, by other people that I’m comparing myself with.  

I often feel like I’m in a hurry, late or need to rush to catch up.

This week instead of beginning my day with this feeling, I began my days feeling more relaxed, present, spaciousness, slow and at ease.

Taking a break from the rush of streaming notifications and messages, has helped me to spend more quality time in dedication to my practice, my thoughts and my plans for the day ahead.

I feel like I am more in alignment with the person who I want to become.

I’ve learned that just because my phone lights up, does not mean that something super important or un-missable is happening.  I can let it be.  

Essentially, I’ve been able to move from a more reactive approach to my day to a more proactive one.

and if I can do it, then so can you.

 

This week, I invite you to try the experiment with checking out of the morning phone-check cycle with me and let me know how it goes? Easy? Hard?

Please feel free to reply or comment below.  I’d LOVE to hear from you

Book your Retreat in Paradise NOW!

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #15

by | Apr 30, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy full moon beautiful,

How are you? What is present for you right now?

There is always deeper and further to go in this work we are doing to love and know ourselves more.

Sometimes life can feel fully flowing, and sometimes life can feel like a relentless fury of pounding waves in the infinite ocean of our lives..

In other words, life can feel really hard, confusing, overwhelming, stressful, unfair even, sometimes or even a lot of the time.

We all have our unique shoes we walk in, our uniques patterns of behaviours, emotions, and dynamics we play out…

The first thing we do to transform our experience in any given moment is to come into awareness of this moment:

—

At the beginning and end of our Yoga classes at Pure Flow we invite you, our students, to scan the bodymind, to come into a conscious awareness of our present moment experience.

Let’s take a moment now and try:

  • How am I feeling in the body right now? Is there tightness? Is there pain? Is there openness?
  • How am I feeling in the mind? Is it busy? Full? Fast? Slow? Am i scattered? Am I present? Am I in the future? Am I in the past?
  • How am I feeling in the heart? Is there emotion? What’s present?

At the end of each practice, we scan our bodyminds again, notice the contrasts in how we feel, and then practice the fine art of “marinating in the goodness”. of the practice.

What does that mean?

—

Marinating in the Goodness

Marinating in the Goodness, is a simple 2 minute practice to help integrate shifts, clarities, openness, flexibility, peace of mind, presence, and love into our lives.

It allows us to fully witness, see and marinate in the feeling of love and gratitude.

When we do this after our practice, we get to feel into the power of how simple breathing, moving and feeling into the bodymind for 90 mins (or more, or less) can really help us shift our vibration and energy field and integrate transformation,

so that we can carry the goodness off the mat and into our everyday lives.

Marinating in the goodness is just one simple gratitude practice that we can all work with in this moment to grow the good and increase the flow of love and joy in our lives.

—

As we come to the peak and completion of yet another full moon cycle, I invite you into a few moments of scanning your bodymind, and “marinating in the goodness” of your life. Ask yourself:

How can I marinate in the goodness of my life? What is flowing in my life? What does feel good and spacious? What are three things that I can be grateful for in this moment?

Hit REPLY and let me know

—-

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

Quote
Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it’s a memory” . – Dr. Seuss

Video Poem by Rinpoche
Rest in natural great peace by Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche

Rest in natural great peace

This exhausted mind

Beaten helpless by karma and neurotic thought

Like the relentless fury of the pounding waves

In the infinite ocean of samsara.

Francie’s Tip: Do yourself a favour, and take 4 single-tasking minutes to be present with this prayer and poem.

Pure Flow Yoga Practice Podcast

(#8) 🙏 Gratitude Flow 💕 – 90 minute Flow
What are you grateful for? Purna = fullness. Life is full. The more we can appreciate how much we have in life the more we cultivate contentment, or Santosha. Join me in this practice today to cultivate the feeling of enough-ness: remembering that there is Enough love, enough money, enough time and space for every one.

Francie’s Tip: Even if you don’t do the whole practice, I promise, that even if you just start and do a few minutes practice, you’ll feel some benefits!

Fresh from our Award-Winning Blog
Our Body is our Brain: What is Somatic Yoga by Daphne Chua
What if Yoga isn’t about touching your toes or forcing your body into odd shapes or being able to look good in Lululemon gear, to get a glimpse into enlightenment?

What if it is actually a practice centred around cultivating awareness, using different toolkits, to better connect body and mind?

What if it can be fun, accessible, engaging? What if it can offer you insight into how you carry your beliefs through your body so you have more choices?

What if it helps you to understand more about your relationships with self and others so you have more confidence, clarity and empathy in your interactions?

Join Daphne and learn more about Somatic Yoga on Retreat @ Pure Flow Yoga from May 26 – June 28, 2019

Beautiful Music
The Divine – by Mel Dobra
Have a listen to a beautiful melodious mantra with the beautiful Mel Dobra who will be co-leading the Sacred Sounds – Awaken your Voice – Music & Yoga Retreat with me this July.

Home Practice Meditation App
Insight Timer
I love this app and know that I have yet to discover it’s full potential…I use it most days to time and track my meditation practice. You can also do this with friends!

Insight Timer offer the largest free library of guided meditations on earth and the world’s most loved meditation Timer, for free.

—

Pure Flow Yoga News

Sacred Sound Retreat: Yoga + Awaken your Voice
with Francie & Mel Dobra | July 7-13, 2019
This unique retreat will help you align to a higher vibration, shift and transform any stagnant emotion or energy that isn’t serving you, and will help you to awaken to the true potential of your voice and expression.

10 MORE DAYS FOR EARLY BIRD!!!

BOOK NOW

  • Francie’s Events in Bali
    This Sunday @ Zest Cafe in Ubud, Bali, from 6-9PM, come join me, Francie Love & Friends for Cosmic Heartsongs & Mantras
  • If you are interested in private retreats or trainings in Bali, Canada,USA or beyond in 2019/2020 please let me know…. I’d love to make global magic happen with You! 🙂

—

Hope you have a wonderful full moon and week ahead.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:) This is exclusive to LOVELETTER subscribers only!

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, please forward this e-mail to a friend, leave us a review., and / or take 2 minutes now to become a part of our awesome referral program.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #12

by | Apr 30, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Gorgeous beautiful,

Epic love from the Bali Spirit Fest.

Gush.

It’s so beyond magical, heart-opening, inspiring, and uplifting. The music, the workshops, the people, the atmosphere….oh my!

Feeling an overflow of inspiration and gratitude flowing through my every vein, and filling me with so much nectar goodness.

Check out the vibe a bit here and catch a glimpse of my favourite new kirtan singer Sivani Ma Francis. The music she shared helped transport me into another dimension with her melodious devotional trance sounds. Wow.

This year, the theme of the festival is “Restore the Balance” and I’ve been reflecting on how important balance really is in our individual lives, as well as in the collective.

Are you feeling balanced? What do you need to feel more balanced?

For me, this festival has so far been an incredible journey of sharing, but mostly it’s been a balancing time of receiving and taking in the abundance of awesome that is all around.

After 14 weeks straight of leading and holding space on our Pure Flow Yoga retreats and teacher training, this experience truly is helping me to “restore the balance”, and juice up on all the teachings I’m receiving here, to be able to give again to you all from a totally full space.

I’m excited to share billions of inspirations for you from here in the coming weeks: music, projects, podcasts interviews I’m doing with incredible people…so stay tuned!

What do you need to restore the balance in your life right now?
I’d LOVE to hear from you!

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

—

Quote
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” – Victor Hugo

Song you will LOVE
Gajumaru – Yaima
I LOOOOOOVE this track.
Try to get this one out of your head.
I dare you! 🙂

Book
Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli PhD
This is the #1 book on my read next list, and considered required reading, by many contemporary yoga teacher friends from here and all over the world.

This week I’ve had the absolute privilege to participate in some workshops with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, and I am beyond inspired to study and learn more of what this incredible woman is sharing in relation to feminine cycles, menstruation consciousness, the maha vidyas – wisdom goddesses, and post-lineage Yoga. Expect more from me on this ….

Cacao Ceremony
Elah & Ausierra
No one does an 800 person cacao ceremony quite like Elah & Ausierra! I love these guys. They rocked such an incredible ceremony of transformation, intention and joy that I’m sure we’ll all remember for years to come. Check out the awesomeness they are sharing with the world here.

—

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Last week we decided to raise our prices to be able to continue offering our love sustainably and to be able to properly match the value of our offerings. We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:)

P.P.S Have some inspirations you wanna share with us? Hit Reply and share! If we share here on L&I, we’ll be sure to credit you!

P.P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit.

Yoga & Taboo: Sex, Death & Wealth – Interview with Emily Kuser

Yoga & Taboo: Sex, Death & Wealth – Interview with Emily Kuser

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Podcasts & Interviews, Retreat & Travel Info

Yoga & Taboo

Sex, Death & Wealth

with Emily Kuser

Listen to our conversation with Emily Kuser here:

 

<

 

——-

“Whether something is filled with pleasure or pain, can you be with it?” – Emily Kuser

it ‘s a true honour and pleasure to welcome the wise, accomplished and fascinating Emily Kuser to the Pure Flow Yoga podcast.. Emily is a true seeker at heart, and has journeyed from her humble American roots, to becoming a prominent international Yoga teacher based in Bali and offering her Self-Care, Woman’s work and Taboo exploration workshops worldwide. Emily has a passionate curiosity for exploring the big questions of life (and death), and also how can she be best be in service to humanity a teacher. Emily is known for her skills and passion teaching Anusara Yoga, Embodied Flow, and now the more juicy and unexplored topics of sex, death & wealth, which we talk a bit about today.   

——-

In this Episode, Emily shares about:

  • How she literally followed her dream to come to Bali and start a life here
  • Yoga as a way to bring order to the chaos of iife
  • The importance for both women and men to explore spirituality for the female psyche, to understand our cyclical nature
  • What is Self-Care and why she’s offering teacher trainings and workshops in this area
  • Business as a great spiritual path and teacher, and the importance of refining our communications, agreements and contracts
  • Tantra as a nature-based teaching and philosophy, and how to allow your self to perceive the world through body and senses 
  • Why she’ inspired by those working most closely with birth and death 

 

——-

About Emily:

Emily Kuser– Founder of High Vibe Yoga 

Emily has spent a decade on teaching, research and personal experience to create the highest level courses possible. She has a sincere curiosity about healing methodologies and spiritual systems and wholeheartedly investigates their practicality for everyday people with everyday lives. Emily has studied with masters around the world in Asia, Europe and North America. Her work is deeply influenced by teachers Sally Kempton, Tara Judelle, Layla Martin, Lorin Roche & Mark Whitwell and the fields of Classical Tantra, Hatha Yoga, Somatics and Integrated Sexuality. She is dedicated to offering a fresh and honest approach to spirituality.  Emily has lived in Ubud, Bali for over 10 years and teaches her courses internationally.

 

Learn more about Emily:

Website – High Vibe Yoga

Instagram – @highvibeyoga

Facebook – High Vibe Yoga

 

Show notes:

 

 

  • Ibu Robin Lim –  Natural birthing midwife offering courses, retreats and disaster relief in Bali. 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #16

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

How are you?

My bestie, from when I used to live in Japan in 2005, and who came to live and teach with me at the famous Green School here in Bali in 2011, just gave birth to her 2nd child.

I got to love and adore this magical baby creature when he was just 24 hours old and wow,

Just wow.

I’m feeling really inspired by the great mysteries of birth, life, death, creation and everything in between…

This baby needs so much love, presence and care to have his basic needs met, so he can thrive, grow and flow in this world.

and he doesn’t need to do, be or have anything other than he is: a crying, pooping, chilling being, for us all to LOVE him with all our hearts.

We forget that we are so much the same as this tiny being.

We need love to grow.
We need presence to thrive,
and, as cliche as it may sound,
we are perfect as we are.

We don’t need to play any roles, or be anyone other than we are,
nor do we need to have the perfect house, car, job, relationship, {fillintheblank].
nor do we need to do, achieve, or accomplish anything to be worthy of love and presence.

You know, presence is a form of love that truly is both the simplest and greatest gift that you can offer yourself and others.

Today I invite you to reflect: How can you offer your presence today in service of love?
What is one thing you can do to practice more presence today?

Please REPLY – I love hearing from you!

———-

Here are some fresh inspirations to help inspire your presence for your week ahead:

Quote
“This moment is not life waiting to happen, goals waiting to be achieved, words waiting to be spoken, connections waiting to be made, regrets waiting to evaporate, aliveness waiting to be felt, enlightenment waiting to be gained. No. Nothing is waiting. This is it. This moment is life.”
― Jeff Foster, Falling in Love with Where You Are

Music
4 hours of FREE Yoga & Mediation Music by Moby
“I’m not doing yoga because I want to live to 500 years old and be young and beautiful for the rest of my life. It’s simply because, I enjoy it. It makes me feel good and I think it increased my chances for having a happier, healthier life. And creatively I get a lot more work done.” (Interview: The Deepak Chopra Channel]

What a gift! Musician, DJ, author, photographer, restaurant owner, and activist, Moby shares this beautiful, quiet, calm, ambient music for free download and streaming. You can learn more Moby’s new release and personal Yoga practice in this interview here.

Blog I’m Reading & Thinking about…
Why Busyness Is Actually Modern Laziness by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter
Busyness is a choice. By being busy all the time with deadlines, projects, errands, to-do’s, are we avoiding facing life? The busier we keep ourselves, the more we avoid being confronted with questions of life and death. As we keep ourselves occupied with tasks, important or not, we keep a safe and comfortable distance from the issues that are sometimes hard to look at…

Any reflections on this? Sound like you? I’d LOVE to hear from You!

Home Practice Meditation App
Headspace – A personal meditation guide, right in your pocket
Are you ready to try meditation? Do you need help staying with the practice?

Headspace is a truly AWESOME resource to help you learn the basics and develop a strong foundation of meditation.

it’s science-based, non-woo woo, and visually appealing guided meditations, lessons, podcast and videos to help you eliminate stress and anxiety from your life, ad help you find more clarity, purpose and calm.

When you sign up for FREE, you’ll get 10 days of 10 minute mediation and lesson. Try it and let me know how you go! 🙂

Introducing…
Michael Ewertz – Our lead Yoga Retreat Teacher from April 28 – May 31st on our Pure Flow Yoga Retreats in Thailand.
We are so honoured and excited to welcome Michael to Pure Flow Yoga. Michael is an incredible, wise, friendly, and experienced 700hr Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher and Owner of Sun-Surya-Yoga, Ambassador and Retreat Manager for Sri Jasnath Asan| Thai Yoga Practitioner, Acupressure Therapist, and Yin & Yoga Nidra adept.

His teachings, with their strong focus on meditation and loving compassion, are known to help people find peace of mind and deep relaxation, to help find harmony in our fast paced society.

Join Michael for an intimate, magical & life-changing experience NOW!

———-

Pure Flow Yoga News

Sacred Sound Retreat: Yoga & Music
Awaken your Voice and Connect to your Song
with Francie & Mel Dobra | July 7-13, 2019

BOOK NOW! There’s only a few days left of our Early Bird Special
{closes April 30th}

I’m really truly truly excited about this powerful and magical offering, and would so love to see you there! Music is the universal language that really unifies, uplifts and resonates our souls.

This unique retreat will help you align to a higher vibration, shift and transform any stagnant emotion or energy that isn’t serving you, and will help you to awaken to the true potential of your voice and expression.

Francie’s Events in Bali

  • Sister’s Singing Circles: Wednesdays @ 11am – 1pm
  • Sound Medicine Journey: Wednesdays 7:30-9 pm, Thursdays 3-4:30pm
  • If you are interested in private retreats or trainings in Bali, Canada,USA or beyond in 2019/2020 please let me know…. I’d love to make global magic happen with You! 🙂

    —

Hope you have a wonderful full moon and week ahead.

Thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love, Gratitude & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:) This is exclusive to LOVELETTER subscribers only!

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! If you enjoyed this Love & Inspiration, please forward this e-mail to a friend, leave us a review., and / or take 2 minutes now to become a part of our awesome referral program.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #14

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Lovely, How has your week been?

I’ve just come back from a couple nourishing days in nature at the beach with some of my old-school besties here in Bali.

I left my computer behind for the first time in ages, and let myself spend quality time with my friends, practice yoga as a student, be in the moment, simply be…

It was powerful.

I feel like a totally upgraded version of myself.

Our students say that all the time, and it’s just so true.

Every so often, tt’s so important and necessary to take some time out for some time in.

For me, this sacred pause is so necessary for self-care.

What I notice, when we stop ,and press pause on busy,

we relax and unwind, and naturally things start to fall in place:

we become more receptive

fresh perspective on our challenges are revealed,

creative treasures start to flow through,

gratitude arises for what we do have

and most importantly perhaps, that space we’ve intentionally created allows for a deeper openings,

more connection with ourselves, with those we love, with the moment,

and with the wonder of nature itself.

When was the last time you took a sacred pause? How did you feel after? I’d LOVE to hear from you!

—-

Pure Flow Yoga News

Sacred Sound: Yoga + Music retreat with Francie & Mel Dobra | July 7-13, 2019

Early bird pricing ends APRIL 30. BOOK NOW to avoid missing this transformative embodiment and vocal awakening experience.

Francie’s Events in Bali

For those of you in Bali, keep checking my personal fb page to stay tuned on upcoming offerings.
Starting next week I’m so excited to be sharing Sound Medicine with Kirtan master Punnu Wasu, Wednesdays 6:30-9, and Thursdays 2:30 – 4:30.
I’ll be sharing a concert soon @Zest cafe, so stay tuned!

—-

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

Quote
“When people come to me and they ask, ‘How to meditate?’ I tell them, ‘There is no need to ask how to meditate, just ask how to remain unoccupied. Meditation happens spontaneously. Just ask how to remain unoccupied, that’s all. That’s the whole trick of meditation – how to remain unoccupied. Then you cannot do anything. The meditation will flower.’ – Osho

Watch
How to Receive Revelations From Nature – Uplift TV
In this 2 minute video, Ecologist,Stephan Harding, shares with us a simple practice on how you can transform your relationship with the natural world.

Following on Instagram…
@eatpraynewyork – I want it. You want it. George Costanza wants it (“Serenity now!”) So I’m taking one step a day towards inner peace in the world’s most chaotic city.

Check out Sabine’s new insta-project @eatpraynewyork, where she gives step-by-step insight on finding serenity in the city.

Here’s one of my favs…

Step 19: DIGITAL DETOX. I’ve read that the average American sends 3,400 messages a month from bed, and checks their phone 200 times a day. That’s once every six and a half minutes. One in four people spend more time online than they do asleep. Our attention span has dropped over the past decade from 12 seconds to a mere eight – shorter than the attention span of a goldfish. Not surprisingly there is a direct correlation between my happiness and reducing my screen time so I’ve started digitally detoxing for periods of time that are getting longer and longer, mostly around sleep. I just spent a couple of days in a remote national park that had no power after dark, which led me to turning off my phone during those periods. The change in my experience was palpable. I’ve also turned off my push notifications, and will be more mindful of putting my phone away during meals.

How do you limit your screen time?

Reading

The Soul of Money: Transforming your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist
What I’m loving about this book is the invitation to examine and confront our attitudes towards money – earning, spending and giving it away, and demystify our challenges, fears, addiction, attachment, remorse, regret, and hurt around money, so that we can align our relationship with it and embrace it all to transform our lives.

“Our relationship with money can become a place where, day in and day-out, we can engage in meaningful spiritual practice”.

Listening to…
Ah Ni Kuni (Mose Remix) – Lindsey Wise
I pretty much love ANYTHING this magical woman creates and shares. and I’m loving this new remix EP. Check it out the EP here.

The Lindsey Wise remix EP is an offering of devotional medicine music reworked into beat driven dance journeys. The three remixers Intiche, Mose, and Binder each add their own signature touch to the already beautiful voice and message of Lindsey. Intiche offers his sunny joy filled take to Ah Ni Kuni in addition to Mose’s more subdued slow journey approach and Binder brings his playful groove into the celebratory
energy of Stardust.

—

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:) This is exclusive to LOVELETTER subscribers only!

P.P.S Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, I’d recommend you bookmark this message, and also please consider and sharing. SHARING IS CARING! We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #13

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy New Moon and Vedic New Year!

Today is considered a very auspicious time in the Vedic calendar to reclaim and renew your power.

“The Sun Moves into Aries to start the Tamil New Year, and there is so much transformational energy available during this transit. You can empower the Sun within you. This is the time when you can alter time, succeed in your business as well as personal life and affect a change in your destiny.” ~ Dr. Pillai

Today is considered a powerful day to move forward with your dreams and aspirations, moving through obstacles so that you can have prosperity, good health and abundance.

How will you empower the sun within yourself for this new year cycle?
Or in other words, how will you push forward with all your dreams and aspirations for 2019 so you can have a year of success and fulfilment?

I’d LOVE to hear from you!

—-

BSF Wrap-Up:

I’m finally starting to find my own personal rhythm after an incredible but highly full and stimulating week at the Bali Spirit Fest.

There are so many highlights:

I loved all the music, and the workshops i was able to attend. I loved the art, and the vibe.

It was such a treat to run into so many of the Pure Flow Yoga family, and to hear about everyone’s journey’s since their retreats with us.

I loved connecting with the community from all over the world as well as making so many new beautiful connections.

I especially loved sharing vocal activations and a concert with the incredible Lindsey Wise. and I was so honoured to share live music for a Yoga Nidra class with the amazing Cathy Pearson.

Of course, a big highlight was being able to step out of my own way and show up to share music at the Coco Love Stage. I invited a number of friends to play with me, and that felt super supportive and nourishing, especially at these beginning stages of me sharing myself more with the world.

What was so special about this particular moment for me, was that I was sharing a song from the rainbow family. These are kind of folk songs that people from all over the world sing around fires and in circles, and often we don’t know who wrote them or when.

The woman who actually wrote this song in the 70’s, when she was living with Osho, Maha Laxmi, happened to be front and center at the Coco Love Stage, spinning and dancing with utter glee. She was heart-blasted to hear her song shared decades later in this wild tropical land. It was such a beautiful and synchronistic connection, for which I’m beyond appreciative.

—-

Pure Flow Yoga News:

For those of you in Bali:

I love being invited to share, and since doing the show at Bali Spirit, I’ve been invited to share on some sound medicine journeys around town, and i’ll be doing a live acoustic show next week.

Feeling really grateful for these opportunities to learn and grow.

I’m also gonna start doing a weekly singing circle soon, so for those of you in the Ubud, Bali area, please follow my personal page on facebook here to learn about my offerings!

For those of you in North America:

I’m starting to think ahead to my trip home to Canada & the US this August/September and would love any invites to share Yoga, meditation, workshops, singing circles, vocal activations…

If you are interested, and have a studio or connection to a space and a group of people that would benefit from these offerings, please get in touch by replying to this email, and hopefully we can arrange something awesome!

For those of you joining / wanting to join us this month in Thailand:

Yay! Please meet Nadia Moon, who starts sharing her magic this week. She is an incredible Yogi and teacher, who will be teaching alongside our beautiful Sophie, and you can learn more about her here.

—

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead:

Quote:

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but thought about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral. It is as it is”. – Eckhart Tolle

Sacred Sounds:

Here in the Now – Murray Kyle [Temple Step & DJ Lo Qi Remix

Murray Kyle is one of the most uplifting and inspiring sacred musicians I know. Check him out and discover more of the gold he shares.

Bali Spirit Festival Highlight

Porangui LIVE @ Bali Spirit Fest

I was super blown away by this epic performance by multi instrumentalist and ceremonialist Porangui. You can check out more of his transformational music and healing experiences here.

Reading:

Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness by Rick Hanson PH.D
I tend to read a number of books at the same time to match my mood of the moment. I’ve just started this book and I’m already getting so much out of it. It’s all about resilience.

It’s not about what happens, but what happens next…

In this practical guide, and with his trademark blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive psychology, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Rick Hanson shows you how to develop twelve vital inner strengths hardwired into your own nervous system. Then no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be able to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity.

Conscious Clothing:

Tao Muse Designs
Meet my friend Pavitra. I LOVE what this sister is creating – love-infused earth-friendly, organic, sustainable and stylish clothing from beginning to end. Hand-crafted in Bali. And guess what? She’s been so kind as to offer our community 10% off with PROMOCODE – PUREFLOWMUSE

—

Happy new moon and new year again.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We appreciate you so much. Until the end of the year 2019, use promocode “lovelovelove” for $75 off your next retreat with us:) This is exclusive to LOVELETTER subscribers only!

P.P.S Have some inspirations you wanna share with us? Hit Reply and share! If we share here on L&I, we’ll be sure to credit you!

P.P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #11

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy Full Moon & Equinox Magic from Bali beautiful,

How are you?

I’m transitioning from Thailand to Bali, and just sitting in a place of awe, wonder and gratitude.

It’s amazing how quickly everything can suddenly seem to change.

One minute, I’m full power in our beautiful teacher training in Thailand, and the next minute I’m in Bali, rehearsing for Bali Spirit Festival, which starts this weekend.

—

This year at the festival, I’ll be sharing mantra and music on stage for my first time ever going on a stage as a solo project.

I’m feeling all of my shadow self rising….

I’m feeling self-conscious, nervous, apprehensive, self-doubt…

all the things really.

What if I’m not ….enough?

What if they don’t like me? What if I fail? What if I get too nervous or haven’t practiced enough? What if I forget all the words or chords to the songs? Why am I even doing this anyway?

—

Today, I want to dedicate our love and inspirations here to courage.

Did you know that the root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart?

Somewhere along the lines, when I said “I do” to Yoga, I committed myself to a life-long journey of showing up to discomfort, fear, evolution and change.

I’ve made myself a promise to develop courage, an open heart, to keep showing up to my fears, my tears, my edges, my comfort zones, to keep working towards an opening my heart, especially in the face of fear.

Not always easy, but always worth it.

So my plan, my prescription for courage:

  1. Prepare as best as possible for that which we are summoning courage for.
  2. Know that we will likely feel challenged/self-doubt
  3. Accept that we may not be perfect and trust that that’s okay, and ultimately
  4. Surrender to whatever happens, and trust…

    Wish me luck/courage!

When was the last time you summoned the courage to move out of your comfort zone and into the magic? How did you feel before & after?

I’d LOVE to hear from you

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

—

Quote:

  • “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” Mark Twain
  • “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Book:

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown

I love this book. It almost feels like an essential read to help us embrace worthiness and open-heartedness and to better navigate the paradoxes of courage: that we become strong by embracing vulnerability, how we dare more greatly when we acknowledge our fear.

Ted Talk:

The Power of Vulnerability | Brené Brown

Classic ted talk. Also Brene Brown. Such good insight and reminders.

Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

Music

Wise in the Way – Francie Love

Courage to share this raw recording of myself with you. Hope you can sing with me!

Oracle Card:

“Courage” – From the Osho Zen Tarot

This is one of my favourite of the Osho Zen tarot cards:

“The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that he has the potentiality to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed.

Nothing can be guaranteed. Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls–and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving.

Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many. There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the dangers. But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why.

Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves. The same is the path for man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed”. – Osho Dang Dang Doko Dang, Chapter 4
—

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Announcing LAST MINUTE SPECIALS, HERE and ONLY here. Sign up for our spring season with promocode last-minute-deal-march-2019 until the end of the month, and receive $50 off 🙂

P.P.S Have some inspirations you wanna share with us? Hit Reply and share! If we share here on L&I, we’ll be sure to credit you!

P.P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #8

by | Apr 15, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy Friday beautiful ,

Sending lots of love of you on this lovely first day of March 2019.

Here are some fresh inspirations for you!

—

Sing with Me
Om Namah Shivaya GuruDev Sat Chit Ananda Murtaye | Namastasye Namastasye Namastsye Namaha

My highlight this past week on our Yoga Teacher Training was sharing Kirtan, or call and response singing with the group.

Kirtan is one of the beautiful ways that we can practice Bhakti Yoga, or Yoga of the heart, to loosen our mental chatter, by repeating a mantra over and over and over again, to come into the heart.

For many of the students, it was their first time trying this practice, and despite thinking beforehand that they did’t like singing, or that they would feel uncomfortable, all the students left feeling “surprised”, “open”, “softer”, “released”, “alive”, “grateful”, “more connected” and “happy”.

I invite you today to sing with me, and let me know – how do you feel after?

photo by Margit Selsjord

Quote:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. ~Albert Einstein

Oracle Cards I’m playing with:
Isis Oracle by Alana Fairchild
Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly amused and informed by divination, and I happen to love this among other decks. Everyday I ask: What do i need to know today?

Pretty much every culture throughout history has turned to some sort of divination, whether it’s, tea leaves, palm reading or divination.

Divination is pretty much just a way of looking inside, and communicating with the subconscious.

Do you have a favourite oracle card deck that you use? I’d love some recommendations!

Sacred Dance Music I’m LoVin’:
Walkerji @ Sundaydance – Ecstatic Dance Set

Profound and sacred ecstatic dance journey, connecting inner and outer worlds, from one of my favourite sacred music dance producers, Walker Barnard.

Pure Flow Yoga Video:
Spiral into the Flow – 10 min Practice

In this beautiful dancing warrior flow, we move through any stagnancy, any stuck energy to increase the feeling of flow in our bodies, minds, and hearts.

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Ready to dive deep into Yoga, Nature & Community? Sign up for our spring season retreats with our epic new teachers Nadia (April), Michael, (May) and Daphne (June), and receive a FREE NIGHT before or after your retreat @ Bamboo Huts with promocode “hellospring” 🙂

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week

Most yogis twist in a variety of ways during their practice-while sitting, standing, lying down and even standing on our heads! So why do we twist so much in yoga and why do twists feel so damn good?…Because these poses provide an abundance of amazing health benefits✨ Twisting improves digestive function by compressing the digestive organs, stimulates circulation, helps restore the spine’s natural range of motion, helps to increase detoxification, reduces stress and lessens back pain💛

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #10

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

How are you beautiful?

Happy Friday!

You know that feeling when you fully and finally complete a project that you’ve been working so hard on, for so long, and that you love so much, yet that’s been so challenging and resistance-full at times?

This is how I’m feeling right now.

Grateful. Satisfied. Proud. Excited. Inspired. Uplifted. Transformed. (excited to rest!)

I’m also feeling a lot of mudita.

This is one of my favourite words in the Yoga tradition. It roughly means, sympathetic joy, or the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being.

Tomorrow at Pure Flow Yoga, we celebrate!

It’s the last day of our Yoga Teacher Training here in Koh Phangan, and we’ll be having a well-deserved graduation ceremony celebration for this incredible group of teacher trainees.

I am truly in awe of the perseverance, hard work, dedication, progress and transformation I’ve gotten to witness and experience this past 4 weeks.

It’s not easy to keep showing up, day after day, for 4 weeks of 8 hours a day, 5.5 days a week, saturating ourselves with new information, powerful practices, and ongoing invitations to step outside of the comfort zone…

Atira and I have been truly blown away with joy and pride these past few days as we’ve witnessed and experienced our students gracefully, powerfully, and beautifully step up and into the role of teacher, sharing yoga classes with the world for their first time ever. Truly amazing.

The feeling of mudita for our students is strong. We are so happy for these beautiful people to be moving into the world with more self-trust, self-love, confidence, skills, passion and purpose.

Please send them some of your love if you feel inspired..

When was the last time you felt mudita or sympathetic joy?
How much do you love that feeling? Hit reply and let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

—

Quote:
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fresh from our Blog :
Drishti: Find your Balance in Life by Nadia Moon
Our drishti, or point of focus, is an important aspect of the Yoga practice both on and off the mat, to help us find balance in our bodies and in our lives. Read the article here.

You can practice Yoga with Nadia in our upcoming retreats this April!

Song :
Good Harvest – Clocks (Coldplay) – Live Session
Such Pretty harmonies. Such a lovely song.

Article:
Sorry to bother you, but do you say “sorry” too much? What to say instead
This is great. As a Canadian, I have the tendency to over-apologise. When we needlessly apologise, says sociologist Maja Jovanovic, we end up making ourselves small and diminishing what we’re try to express.

This word “sorry” has been coming up a lot on our teacher training, as the trainees dip their toes in to the waters of teaching. We are all noticing how often this word slips out, and one of our students Mirco, shared this awesome article with us.

This is part of TED’s “How to be a Better Human” series.

Celebrating:
Best 9 Yoga Retreats in Thailand
Feeling grateful and honoured. Pure Flow Yoga has been voted one of Thailand’s top 9 Yoga Retreats. Come and find out why…

—

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

We truly LOVE and APPRECIATE you! being here,

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Have some inspirations you wanna share with us? Hit Reply and share! If we share here on L&!, we’ll be sure to credit you!

P.P.S Ready to dive deep into Yoga, Nature & Community? Sign up for our spring season retreats with our epic new teachers Nadia (April), Michael, (May) and Daphne (June), and receive a FREE NIGHT before or after your retreat @ Bamboo Huts with promocode “hellospring” 🙂

P.P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week

The sweet guys at Bamboo Huts💛 Bringing us the biggest smiles and the best food everyday 🙏🏻 #smiles #joy#yummyfood #healthybodyhealthymind#yogafood #yogaretreat #yogaholiday#yogateachertraining #yogacommunity#yogavibes #thailand #thaifood#bestrestaurantever #kohphangan #islandlife#radiatelove #paradise 📸 @izaviola

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #9

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy New Moon & Friday beautiful,

How are you doing this new moon?

New moon can be a great time to be quiet, to sit with yourself, reflect and introspect.

—

Did you know that Yoga is not all love, light and unicorns?

True story.

It’s also about persistently showing up to our practice, and being with whatever arises, including our shadow sides.

Our shadow includes all our resistances, our challenging moods, excuses, and all those aspects of ourselves that we don’t fully love, accept, or that we judge or feel shame about.

The parts that we often want to hide from other people or even our own conscious minds.

—

This week, we had the privilege and honour to welcome Malaika Darville, a true master of shadow work processes to our Yoga Teacher Training. (Just one more week to go!)

With love, wisdom, experience and 5Elements Dance Activation, Malaika helped to crack our students hearts, bodies and minds wide open. She helped hem to break down their ego barriers, limiting self-beliefs, and helped empower them to create and re-shape the stories they tell themselves about who they are, to support more confidence, clarity, and most importantly, self love and acceptance.

(You can learn more about her work in the podcast below)

Not easy work. Yet so powerful, and so worth it. Wow. Gratitude.

Whether you’re a yoga student, a teacher-to-be, or just a person in the world committed to personal growth, I do believe shadow work can truly benefit you. It is a necessary process of awakening, and can really help you find more clarity, self-honesty, self-compassion, and self-confidence..

There are many ways to go about it, and nothing beats working with a pro, or in a safe container with a trained facilitator.

Today I invite you to do one very simply form of shadow work:

– Make a list of 5 negatives – things you don’t like about yourself. Be honest with yourself.
– Make a list of 5 positives – take those 5 things and transform them into positive statements about yourself.
– One list at a time, read both lists aloud to yourself several times.
– Notice the sensations, and where you feel it in the body.
– Notice how it make you feel in your heart and in your mind.
– Journal the experience: What comes up for you? is it surprising? Interesting? Empowering?

When you’re done with the activity, BURN your negative list! This will help bring that energy to a close, and help support that energy of transformation. Plus it just feels soooo gooood! 🙂

What kind of work do you do to be-friend your shadow? How does it feel? I’d love to hear from you.

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

—

Quote:
Wisdom is knowing I am nothing. Love is knowing I am everything., and between the two my life moves”. – Nisargadatta Maharaj

Song on Repeat:
All Related – Nessi Gomes – Temple Step Remix

Interview with Malaika:
Malaika Darville: Walking the Beauty Way

In this episode of the Pure Flow Yoga podcast, Malaika explains:
the Rise of the Feminine, Shiva & Shakti principle, Ecstatic Dance & Community healing,, Emergent Culture and the rise of festival and retreat culture, the Importance of Ancestors, Tribe & Ceremony, Indigenous Wisdom – Ho’oponono – conscious relating to bring freedom from the trauma / drama cycle, Elemental Awakening and the benefits of planting seeds for exploring our shadow as well as our light, Going with the Flow & why we need to have experiences timelessness for our inner evolution

Podcast for YogaTeachers:

Upward Facing Yoga Career Podcast – with Alanna Kaivalya
Helping Yoga Teachers Make More Impact and Step into their Role as Spiritual Leaders.

Yoga teachers and Yoga teachers-to-be, you are going to love the simplicity, wisdom and tools shared o this podcast: from myth and philosophy to teaching and the business of Yoga, Alanna has got us covered.

Film / Documentary:
Samadhi: Part 1- Maya the Illusion of Self / Part 2 – It’s Not What You Think

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe,

and inspiring us to inspire you!

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? Sharing is Caring. I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it.

P.P.S Ready to dive deep into Yoga, Nature & Community? Sign up for our spring season retreats with our epic new teachers Nadia (April), Michael, (May) and Daphne (June), and receive a FREE NIGHT before or after your retreat @ Bamboo Huts with promocode “hellospring” 🙂

P.P.P.S Know someone who needs a break? Check our our awesome referral program. Your friend gets $25 off their retreat, and you get $25 USD cash. Win win win!

Instagram Post of the Week

Come flow with our YTT students as they blossom into teachers! 💛 Next week our teacher trainees will lead Vinyasa Flow at 9am Monday-Friday, by donation🙏🏻 ✨@izaviola@claudia.mclellan @martin_malmstrom

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #7

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy Friday beautiful,

Sending lots of love of you on this lovely first day of March 2019.

Here are some fresh inspirations for you!

—

Sing with Me
Om Namah Shivaya GuruDev Sat Chit Ananda Murtaye | Namastasye Namastasye Namastsye Namaha

My highlight this past week on our Yoga Teacher Training was sharing Kirtan, or call and response singing with the group.

Kirtan is one of the beautiful ways that we can practice Bhakti Yoga, or Yoga of the heart, to loosen our mental chatter, by repeating a mantra over and over and over again, to come into the heart.

For many of the students, it was their first time trying this practice, and despite thinking beforehand that they did’t like singing, or that they would feel uncomfortable, all the students left feeling “surprised”, “open”, “softer”, “released”, “alive”, “grateful”, “more connected” and “happy”.

I invite you today to sing with me, and let me know – how do you feel after?

photo by Margit Selsjord

Quote:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. ~Albert Einstein

Oracle Cards I’m playing with:
Isis Oracle by Alana Fairchild
Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly amused and informed by divination, and I happen to love this among other decks. Everyday I ask: What do i need to know today?

Pretty much every culture throughout history has turned to some sort of divination, whether it’s, tea leaves, palm reading or divination.

Divination is pretty much just a way of looking inside, and communicating with the subconscious.

Do you have a favourite oracle card deck that you use? I’d love some recommendations!

Sacred Dance Music I’m LoVin’:

Walkerji @ Sundaydance – Ecstatic Dance Set

Profound and sacred ecstatic dance journey, connecting inner and outer worlds, from one of my favourite sacred music dance producers, Walker Barnard.

Pure Flow Yoga Video:

Spiral into the Flow – 10 min Practice

In this beautiful dancing warrior flow, we move through any stagnancy, any stuck energy to increase the feeling of flow in our bodies, minds, and hearts.

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this beautiful growing Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Ready to dive deep into Yoga, Nature & Community? Sign up for our spring season retreats with our epic new teachers Nadia (April), Michael, (May) and Daphne (June), and receive a FREE NIGHT before or after your retreat @ Bamboo Huts with promocode “hellospring” 🙂

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week:

Most yogis twist in a variety of ways during their practice-while sitting, standing, lying down and even standing on our heads! So why do we twist so much in yoga and why do twists feel so damn good?…Because these poses provide an abundance of amazing health benefits✨ Twisting improves digestive function by compressing the digestive organs, stimulates circulation, helps restore the spine’s natural range of motion, helps to increase detoxification, reduces stress and lessens back pain💛

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #6

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Happy Friday lovely,

How do you deal with the space-between moments in life? Between day-to-day moments or experiences, travel destinations, jobs, relationships…?

In this present moment, I am settling back home after my big little trip to India, and am really cherishing these present moments of the in-between zone,

reflecting with gratitude overflowing for the experience I just had being a student this past week in India. and preparing for the upcoming Yoga Training that starts on Sunday. 🙂

I left the retreat in India feeling fully juiced up, inspired, and more connected than ever to the path of Yoga, and my dharma, or purpose, as a teacher.

And now the space between.

These are the moments that really test us humans,

How quickly will we fall back into routine patterns of being, into being busy and thinking about what comes next?
Can we keep up the practices outside the retreat setting? How?!

These in-between moments, challenge our ability and willingness to stay consistent with our resolutions to keep showing up to the practices we cultivate on retreat.

I feel myself already slipping back into old patterns: checking my phone more often, and having less time for meditation and asana practice.

So, what’s the best way to integrate all of the beautiful feelings, lessons and learnings that we have on retreat?

# 1 – Self-Compassion:
Less guilt, more love. For me, there is an important element of self-compassion. Without the disciplined structure of a conducive environment and retreat container, teachers, a schedule, space from our devices and work, of course it’s going to be more challenging to keep it up. Better to love ourselves, and celebrate all that we are doing, giving, sharing… than to find yet another reason to feel guilt or shame about something we are not.

#2 – Keep Showing Up – 5 minutes a day
Showing up. This is the hardest part. There is really no short cut to doing the work of taming the mind. It’s takes A LOT of practie over time. Our commitment to the practice, can be as simple as 5 minutes a day. Add it to your morning routine. Put on a timer and just close your eyes for 5 minutes, or journal for 5 minutes, or whatever you want to practice. We all have 5 minutes. And the rewards are just so flipping worth it.

#3 – Celebrate all Wins
Every time you do show up to the mat, the meditation cushion, the practice – celebrate! Compliment yourself. Make yourself feel good. As I just mentioned, showing up is really the hardest part. Some would say that 80% of “success” in life is just about showing up. The more we can associate good habits with with good vibes, the easier it will be for us to flow and exist along those deepening neural pathways.

How are you going to show up today?

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

—

Quote:

“There is a place in the heart where everything meets.
Go there if you want to find me.
Mind, senses, soul, eternity, all are there.
Are you there?
Enter the bowl of vastness that is the heart.
Give yourself to it with total abandon . . .
Once you know the way
the nature of attention will call you
to return, again and again,
and be saturated with knowing,
‘I belong here, I am at home here.”

― The Radiance Sutras

Poetry for your Soul:

The Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight by Lorin Roche
This modern classic, will keep coming back again and again. For Yoga and meditation students everywhere, the Radiance Sutras is an invitation to experience directly the ecstatic depths of yoga as revealed by the divine partners Shiva and Shakti, and their breadth of human experience. In it, we explore:

The divinity that is permeating your body at this very moment
The alchemical power of Sanskrit
Yoga meditation—harmonising all the elements and levels of your being
The depths of your connection to the energies of life

Book:

War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Do you have a project, idea, or dream that you’ve been thinking about, feeling into and procrastinating from for a long time?

This Week, as our first ever 200 Hour Teacher Training approaches on Sunday, I come back to this classic, War of Art. The biggest challenge and teacher along this journey has definitely been RESISTANCE, in all of its infinite myriads of forms; fear, self-doubt, procrastination, perfectionism. No book that I’ve come across, does this topic better justice than “the War of Art: Break through the Blocks and Win your inner Creative Battles. (Pssst. It’s not the art of war)

Song:

Shiva Nataraj – Desert Dwellers, Remixed by Drumspyder

Classic for the dance floor + your Yoga mat.

Video Practice

Flow for Transformation
What are you transforming in your life? – Join me for 9 minutes of building heat and fire in the body for the purposes of purification and transformation.

—

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

See you next week when I reveal our all-star cast of guest retreat teachers for April, May & June!

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. The Bali Spirit Festival is just a few weeks away – March 24 – 31st. Did you know that you get 10% discount on your ticket when you enter promocode “Francie”. See you there!

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week

One the amazing benefits of living in our little paradise is being able to walk barefoot👣Connecting our feet to Mother Earth everyday 🌎 as we walk through jungles 🌴and on sandy beaches🌊 not only feels amazing but also brings grounding to the body and calms the mind💚

Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #5 {India Edition}

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Namaste from Mother India!

Hope all’s well, beautiful !

I’m here in India now, being a student, for a short Yoga course with some incredible teachers. I’m feeling grateful to focus on myself for this moment. That being said, anytime we leave our comfort zone and verge into the unknown mysteries of life, to a new place, a new rhythm, a new environment with new people, our sense of security and predictability gets challenged.

India is said to be the land of the unexpected, and I can assure you, my short journey here so far has been no exception. They didn’t let me on my first plane because of a spelling mistake on my reservation (their bad!), on the 2nd flight they lost my baggage, and then at the airport carousel waiting for my lost bag, I magically ran into my SEO website helper. We talk on the phone all the time and this was our first ever meeting! It was like connecting with long lost family. In a sea of billions of people, how is that even possible??!

In the face of the challenges, the frustrations, the tiredness of travel…I realised I had a choice. I could get angry, cry, feel upset…or I could just laugh and see the humour and beauty in the imperfect perfection of it all. I mean, How can I / we ever truly know or understand the bigger picture…?

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend ahead!

See you again next week when I’m back home in Thailand!
—
Quote:
”A grand adventure is about to begin”.- Winnie the Pooh

” We are all deeply flawed. We are all deeply beautiful. We need to know that”. – Vidya, Classical Indian Musician on retreat with us

Just a Few Questions I’m Pondering:
Journal, Discuss or Reflect Upon:
What is synchronicity? How does it work? Is there a greater meaning to it? Is it random? Is there meaning to life? What is the meaning of any of this? How am I supposed to live? Especially, how shall I live knowing I will die?…. Do you have stories of interesting or amazing coincidences or synchronicities? I’d love to hear from you!

Music I love:
DJ Dakini Chill-Step Mixes

This is a ridiculously amazing resource of music from one of my soul sisters DJ Becca Dakini, an Aussie based in the US. Here you’ll find over nine 3-hour Sacred Chill-Step DJ mixes that are perfect for Yoga, dance and flow meditations. I’ve been listening to the HeartSong Mix 2013 mix on repeat for 6 years and counting! 🙂

From Our Award-Winning Blog:
5 Qualities of the World’s most Exceptional Yoga Teachers
Being a great yoga teacher is so much more than making fancy yoga shapes with our bodies. It’s much more about walking the walk than talking the talk- living with humility, openness to learn, self-love and compassion and walking the walk rather than just talking the talk.

Our Yoga Teacher Training is just 9 days away now, and we’d so love to have you! There’s really no better way to Invest in Yourself, Deepen your Practice, Develop and Refine your Home Practice, while building the confidence and skills to share your passion with other. We have just a couple spaces left now, so be sure to book now!

Video I’m Thinking about from UpliftConnect:

The Maharishi Effect – 2 mins

Did you know meditation can have effects beyond the individual? As individuals, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of the world’s current problems. Alone, we feel helpless often to change what is. Some of us numb ourselves with addictions and distractions, or don’t undertake our responsibility to change our consumer and lifestyle behaviours because of a diffusion of responsibility – hey if other’s aren’t doing it, why should I? So if there’s one thing you would be willing to do for global change and upliftment, why not join together with some friends and meditate?! Fascinating research shows how meditating as a group can lower crime rates and create more peaceful cities.
—

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, & thanks again for being a part of this Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We have a couple spots left on our upcoming teacher training. It begins in 9 days! So if you’re ready to invest in yourself, Sign Up NOW!

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. Did you like this e-mail? What was your favourite part? I’d LOVE to hear from you! and If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week

‘True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are, it requires you to be who you are’~ Brene Brown ✨
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Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #4

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

How’s it all going?

I’ve been wondering for a while if I should send these e-mails to you post-retreatees, as not all of you are signed up to our Loveletter. After talking to lots of students, the answer seems to be a resounding YES PLEASE! So from now on, unless I hear from you, I’ll start sending you these weekly Love & Inspirations. Is that cool?

I’m great. I’m super full these days to be honest. (I try to avoid the word “busy” if I can…). I’m working super hard to dot my “i'”s and cross my “t”‘s, and put the finishing touches on our first ever YTT manual (only 16 days away!!!) Next week I head off to India for some moments of self-care and to do a Yoga course with a teacher who I’m really looking forward to studying with.

For me, in order to keep my cup full so that I can keep giving and holding space on these Pure Flow Yoga retreats and trainings here in Thailand, it’s so important for me to allow myself the time to be a student, and to let someone else hold space for me. I’ll tell you more about it all next week (provided I can get some good internet access!)

Here are some fresh inspirations for your weekend!

—

Quote:

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

– Jack Kerouac, from On the Road

This quote was shared by one of our beautiful retreat participants, Sanjit, in an ongoing post-retreat, post-”Pabuk” (the crazy storm that almost hit us in early January) e-mail thread.

Beautiful Song I’m Loving:

La Luze del Bosque – by Issa-Elle

Book I’m Re-Reading:

Maps to Ecstacy – the Healing Power of Movement, by Gabrielle Roth
I am revisiting (and also highly recommend) this beautiful book, by legendary 5 Rhythms dance creatrix, Gabrielle Roth, who in this work, teaches us how to transform daily life into sacred art.

Blog:

Yoga & Sacred Activism: How to Stay Light in the face of Dark
Did you know that we’ve just been voted one of the top 15 Yoga Blogs on the Planet?! Amazing! Check out our latest blog post.

In this article, Atira Tan, one of our beloved Pure Flow Yoga teachers, and the founder of art of healing and yoga for freedom share about what sacred activism is and three ways to stay light while dancing with the dark.

Video to Inspire You:

I am supported – Root down to Rise up!
Enjoy this beautiful grounding sequence to help you feel supported, within and without. In this short dynamic flow asana practice, we connect meditation, breathing and asana in dedication to all the people, experiences and to the Earth that supports and nourish us

—

Have a wonderful weekend & thanks again for being a part of this Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. We have a couple spots left on our upcoming teacher training, Feb 17 – March 17, 2019. It begins in 16 days! So if you’re ready to invest in yourself, Sign Up NOW!

P.P.S What is your favourite inspiration from this e-mail? What would you like more or less of? HIT REPLY and please let me know!

P.P.S Sharing is Caring. If you enjoyed this little inspiration, please consider sharing it. We also have an awesome referral program if you know of someone would love and benefit from joining us in paradise.

Instagram Post of the Week

🌅 Sunrise Gayatri Mantra @whynambeach.
.
Mantra chanting and sacred music has become a huge part of my personal journey towards bringing more peace, contentment, joy, and clear authentic expression into my life. .
It’s truly a journey: I always know how I feel in relation to how open my voice is. And I always know that if I want to bring in more openness, more love, I simply need to sing more and offer my song and prayer in devotion to the great mystery…
.
Originating in the Rg Veda, the oldest of the 4 Vedic texts, the vibration of the Gayatri Mantra, said to be one of the oldest mantras known and beyond translation is said to significantly effect the consciousness of the chanter who repeats the mantra.
.
Ga – to sing Yatri – Protection
dhi – sound that indicates Buddhi, the illiuminated ultimate state of the Yogi consciousness that arises in pure awareness
Savitr – the force of the sun’s light that brings each day into being from total darkness – avidya (also known as ignorance)
Sun is the metaphor for the light of our own awareness
.
Om bhur bhuvah svah
Tat savitr vernyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
.
Earth, Air, Heaven
We meditate on Savir, giver of light,
May he illuminate our consciousness
.
Want to sing and learn more about Mantra? Join @meldobra and I in a very special Yoga and Music retreat this July! More info on our website calendar.
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Love & Inspiration #21

Love & Inspiration #3

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Love & Inspirations

Did you know that Koh Phangan is considered one of the top 3 places in the world to watch the full moon rise?!

Getting to watch the big orange moon sparkle across on the ocean is so magical. Such a delight. This full moon has been inviting me into a more quiet space with a lot more introspection.

How’s it been for you? High energy? Low energy? Clarity or fullness of mind maybe? Reply and let me know – I’d love to hear.

Here are some fresh inspirations for you to help kickstart your weekend. 🙂

—

Quote I’m thinking about:

“On this path effort never goes to waste

And there is no failure. Even a little effort

Toward spiritual awareness will orotect you

From the greatest fear. (2:4)

– The Bhagavad Gita

Book I’m Reading now:

Sacred Sound: Discovering the Myth and Meaning of Mantra & Kirtan – by Alainna Kaivalya

Excellent bite-sized short stories of gods and goddesses, to help us understand and love the fascinating depth and mythology behind 21 of the most popular mantras.

Yoga Playlist I’m Loving:

Morning Breath Dance – Vinyasa Flow Playlist

Loving this Yoga Flow playlist curated by Gentle Techtonics , aka Jonny Rose. Jonny is an incredible being and also one of the Sanctuary’s main Yoga Teachers.

Blog I’m Reading:

4 Lessons Learned on Koh Phangan
Nicole Barton, a Yoga Teacher and Well-being blog writer, shares with us her fully informative and interesting blog about her journey to reconnection on our 2 week Bliss retreat last year., She shares 4 big lessons she learned here along the way, which I think you’ll find very illuminating.

Pure Flow Yoga Practice Podcast:

(#22) Balance Flow – Be All And See – 90 mins Energising Jungle Flow
Build core strength and enjoy an expansive heart opening and balancing flow with us all in the jungle.

TEDx Talk to Inspire You:

The surprising habits of Original Thinkers – Adam Grant
I’ve watched this at least 3 x now. I often find myself in a state of procrastination. I know my deadline is ages away, and I endeavour to use this wisdom, to try and avoid stress and prepare for it with ample time. Time and time again, I find that despite my efforts and intentions, I pretty much only buckle down and get ‘er done just before the deadline. Turns out I’m not alone: Some level of procrastination, giving ideas and projects time to gestate, is actually a key ingredient to creativity and original thinking.

—

Have a wonderful weekend & thanks again for being a part of this Pure Flow Yoga Tribe.

We LOVE you!

With Love & Blessings

XOXO

Francie

P.S. Did you enjoy this e-mail? What is your favourite inspiration that I shared with you today? What would you like more or less of? HIT REPLY and please let me know!

P.P.S We have 23 days left til our first 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and we’d love to have you. Please feel free to reach if you’d like some support to make this investment into yourself.

Instagram Post of the Week

In a world filled with thousands of yoga retreats 🌏it can be confusing to choose 🤷‍♀️ This is what makes Pure Flow unique:

1.No roads! no cars! 🚘Our paradise is only accessible by long tail boat⛵️ The secluded natural environment and incredible tropical beauty 🌴provides an ideal opportunity to let go and just listen to the waves 🌊

2. Yoga teachers that are highly experienced in facilitating retreats 🤸‍♀️ While many teachers lead a couple of retreats a year, we do this every week for many months of the year and love it💖

3.A strong focus on meditation and yoga philosophy📖 We love teaching students about the entire system of yoga🙏🏻 This yoga stuff is so much more than bending yourself into crazy shapes🧘‍♀️

4.Community, connection, mutual support and encouraging each other on the yoga journey💕Many of our students meet life long friends on retreat and it’s beautiful to witness✨
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2 week yoga retreat at Pure Yoga Flow
I had the chance to participate in the 2-week yoga retreat and it surpassed my expectations. Not only I got to deeper my yoga skills and practice, but I became familiar with mediation philosophy and learned many new tools. The atmosphere and energy of the place really helped to connect with others and to focus on the moment. The teachers impressed me with their competencies but also with their openness and care for all of us. They can adapt to any kind of yogis and explain concepts so everyone understands. I loved everything about this retreat, including the food and beverages available on this part of the island. – Laurence, Quebec, Canada

Somatic Yoga – Our Body is our Brain

Somatic Yoga – Our Body is our Brain

by | Apr 8, 2019 | Guest post, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

Our Body is Our Brain:

The Basis of Somatic Yoga

by Daphne Chua

What is Somatic Yoga?

The notion of practising yoga might in itself present itself as a scary concept for some. 

I’ve heard many utter… 

 “I’m not flexible enough!” 

“ Are you kidding? I can’t bring my legs behind my head,” 

“ It’s a practice for women” 

“ It’s too boring”

“ I will break before I start” 

etc.

Contemporary yoga presents a svelte, slim, flexible, bikini-toned, model-like poster image of what a modern yogi (yogini) should look like.

The power of glossy marketing have certainly encouraged many to take up this form of fitness modality as it is now a modality practiced by over 36 million people*. However, it has also turned away many others who might have the notion that Yoga is an exclusive club for social media savants.

 

The accessibility of Yoga has often been mistakenly positioned as a practice for:

1. those who are hyper-mobile enough to pick up the practice easily,

2. those we are determined enough to put themselves through the ordeal of contortionism, or

3. those who thick-skinned enough to suffer through the humiliation of being “stiff”. 

 

The yoga landscape is really diverse now with a gazillion choices on styles and lineages.

It can be overwhelming to even get started! There is Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, HIIT Yoga, Yin Yoga, Barre Yoga, even Beer Yoga, Dog Yoga… and the list goes on…

 

But what if, just what if, Yoga isn’t about touching your toes or forcing your body into odd shapes or being able to look good in Lululemon gear, to get a glimpse into enlightenment? 

What if it is actually a practice centred around cultivating awareness, using different toolkits, to better connect body and mind? What if it can be fun, accessible, engaging? What if it can offer you insight into how you carry your beliefs through your body so you have more choices? What if it helps you to understand more about your relationships with self and others so you have more confidence, clarity and empathy in your interactions? 

 

For me personally, Yoga is first and foremost, a somatic practice to arrive into the present moment.

What does that mean?

Soma comes from a Greek word connoting “The Living Body” – pertaining to the consciousness of our living body, experienced and regulated from within. It is an exploration into waking up our innate senses to uncover our mind-body mapping. The practice shines a light on our habitual but mostly unconscious neurological patterning that will show up in how we breath, how we move, how we react to circumstances. These are manifested through pre-dispositions, deep seated patterning, and years of conditioning.

 

The practice of Somatic Yoga is thus a process of inquiry into how consciousness inhabits the living body. 

Somatic Yoga brings together mindfulness through movement, meditation, breath work, touch, visualisations, sounds, creative expressions etc, to dive deep into our consciousness and our embodied biological processes. Through sensory-motor education we can also improve motor control, coordination, and change learned muscular patterns. This approach to yoga is highly effective in relieving chronic pain, improving bodily function, and recovering from common musculoskeletal conditions.

 

What are Somatic Principles?

  • It is body centred to improve awareness of the body-mind connection
  • It is a sensory approach (rather than cognitive approach) to learning / unlearning / relearning
  • It is exploratory in nature, based on the premise that the body is shaped by the mind, and that the mind can be reshaped through the body
  • It is focused on the internal experience of the movement rather than on the end result.

 

A Body-Sensing Approach

  • It is calming & restorative. It regulates our nervous system from the constant Fight – Flight – Freeze mode, to a Rest – Digest – Engage mode.
  • It brings together somatic, mindfulness & movement principles to guide better movements.
  • It is an embodied learning approach based on neuroplasticity (the brain can be rewired, i.e unhealthy, deep conditioning patterns can be shifted_
  • It helps us to develop kinesthetics and spatial intelligence by working through the whole body’s myo-fascial connections.
  • It helps us embody how the various systems (e.g circulatory, digestive, endocrine systems) of the body work in unison to achieve balance and homeostasis. 
  • It is based on how moods & language influence physiology
  • It improves fascia health, immunity, and overall body and mind integrity

 

So how are we shaped?

  • Via communication – the exchange of information between body and mind, through the nervous system – central, autonomic, enteric (gut).
  • It influences how we breathe, our digestion, body chemistry, and energy levels
  • Our moods & emotions lie at the heart of this communication as it shapes our physical body, i.e stress & anxiety can lead to poor posture, pain, inflammation, dis-eases.
  • How we feel, think and behave is a biological process that is embodied through fascia health and body chemistry
  • Interoception – how we are being informed by our body – is linked to the myofascial system. 

 

The Benefits of Somatic Yoga

  • Helps to uncover movement patterns / habit (Samskaras) that are built on misalignment, inhibitions, co-contractions, and compensations.
  • Awaken sensory motor amnesia
  • Helps lubricate joints, nourish and hydrates tissues, create ease and increase range of motion
  • Interoception will regulate our nervous system and reduce pain sensitivity.
  • Variety of movement creates better coordination and neuroplasticity. It helps us to adapt better to our environment physically, mentally, and emotionally.
  • “Subtle is how the body works. Gross is how the mind works.”  Paying attention to small changes can create profound impact on the way we think, move and relate.
  • Motion is powerful to Emotion. Movement can be used as a gateway to explore emotional regulation

 

“The mind is like the wind & the body is like the sand. If you want to know how the wind is blowing, you can look at the sand.” 

~ Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Founder of Body Mind Centering

 

* Figures quoted from ~ http://media.yogajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016YIAS-Release-Final.pdf

 

 

 

Daphne will be offering Somatic Yoga & Movement Therapy at Pure Flow Yoga Retreats in gorgeous Koh Phangan from May 27 to June 28, 2019. 

Join her on this journey of self-exploration into uncovering your very own healing through movement, breath-work, hands-on techniques, and creative expressions to unravel our innate intelligence to nurture our body, mind and spirit. 

Book your Retreat in Paradise NOW!

As a yoga therapist, a movement educator and bodyworker, Daphne has been practising yoga for the last two decades in a multitude of yoga styles &amp; movement disciplines. Her studies include are grounded in philosophies as well as in anatomy and physiology. Some of her biggest inspirations have come from Richard Freeman – who has had a deep impact on the way she sees Yoga as a profound embodiment practice for the body, mind,spirit – as well as Donna Farhi, Tom Myers, and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen (Body Mind
Centering®). 

In recent years, she has delved into the study of neuroscience, somatic movement, combined with the holistic framework of Yoga Therapy tools to deepen her knowledge in the connection between mind and body. She uses an inquiry-based, body- sensing approach to bring about greater transformation and healing into the way we relate to ourselves and the environment. She has also recently completed her Graduate Certification in Yoga Therapy.

Daphne is trained in the art of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang (TCM Abdominal Detox Massage), Tai Chi Massage and Reiki, all of which she infuses into the alchemy of her integrated bodywork and evidence-based yoga therapy. Her therapy sessions, classes, workshops, retreats, and trainings are known to focus on breath, mindfulness, and embodiment to create the moment-to-moment balance
in nurturing the body, mind and spirit.

for more info on Daphne, you can visit her website here – www.yogawithdaphne.com

Daphne Chua

Certified Yoga Therapist | Teacher Trainer | Bodyworker | Movement Educator | E-RYT 500 & YACEP Yoga Alliance | GCYT – Yoga Australia & AAYT

Want to share your story? We LOVE hearing from past students.

 If you’d like to share comments, feedback, or if you’d like to submit your own post for us to share, let us know  by contacting us!

Drishti: Find your Balance

Drishti: Find your Balance

by | Mar 13, 2019 | Guest post, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Practice: Yoga & Meditation

 Drishti: Find your Balance in Life

by Nadia Moon

 

Find Your Drishti and Balance in Life

The Sankrit word for Yoga is translated in English as “union”. Yoga is indeed the practice that unites body, mind, spirit and beyond. Beyond duality there is yoga, union.

If I look back at my personal yoga journey, I have to confess that the reason why I started practicing yoga in the first place was mainly to keep my body fit.

I was not interested in spirituality and very sceptical about the whole idea of it. I was very much body-only focused – probably also reflecting the society I was living in. I had no awareness of how powerfully this practice would have transformed my entire life very soon.

However my body knew it. The body is very wise and it knew that it was just the beginning, so I kept going.

As I increased balance, strength and flexibility on the mat (through yoga asanas and pranayama) I started to notice those changes off the mat as well, in all aspects of my life.

After 5 years of yoga practice (including meditation) I quit my toxic corporate job, I quit an unhealthy relationship I was stuck in for over 10 years and I started a journey of listening to my soul and following my higher purpose in life.

Yoga has certainly been the tool I needed to break through my conditionings and find balance.

Now I can share with you the beauty of yoga in all its universal benefits.

Everything we learn and master on the mat influences the way we show up off the mat in our everyday life.

Let’s look at one of the qualities we often seek for in our lives: balance, and how the yoga practice can help us achieve it more deeply.

 

Drishti

The balance in a yoga asana (a body posture) can be reached by finding our drishti.

Drishti is a sanskrit word for “point of focus”.

We can’t balance in an asana by focusing on the whole wall in front of us. We need to chose a precise point on that wall, stick with it with full awareness and commitment and let go of the rest. That point on the wall is our drishti.

Once you find your drishti, the invitation is to commit to it and to let the breath be deep and smooth.

And every time you fall, honour that.  Honour the commitment you have to get back up again, and again.

Let’s remember that it’s not about how many times we fall, but rather how many times we are willing to rise up once again. Enjoying the process is the real goal.

Likewise in life, to be balanced, we need to develop the ability to chose to focus only on the things that are beneficial to us and let go of that don’t serve us.

Following our dreams, our true desires, our soul purpose in life – that’s our Drishti. It requires determination and practice; it demands to believe fully in our dreams and to drop the resistance or attachment towards what doesn’t serve our purpose. We are capable of the impossible if we only believe in it.

Yoga gives us the tools to find that drishti, that balance on and off the mat.

 

Practice: Balance your Breath

Beside yoga asanas (body posture) we can practice the principle of balancing with the breath as well.

Set aside 5 – 10 mins now, or longer if you can, to practice this gentle breathing meditation and increase your awareness on balancing:

Find a conformable sitting position or lay down in savasana.

Take few moments to tune in into what balance means to you.

What is the quality of balance you wish to bring in your everyday life?

Breath in your intention with full awareness. Stay here for few moments as you plant the seed of your intention. Water it with your breath.

Then let go of your intention for now, drop any story in your head and shift your mind from whatever is drifted to, to watch the rise and fall of your natural breath. Without changing it, just bring awareness to it for few minutes.

As you inhale you receive energy, as you exhale you give energy. Pay attention to whether your inhale is longer then your exhale or vice versa. Notice if that is also true in your everyday life. Is it probably time for you to receive more? Or to give more?

Then start to bring balance to your breathing. Feeling that the inhale and the exhale become equal length. Counting the breath may help. Breathing in for 5… breathing out for 5… noticing the gap in between each breath. That tiny little pose at the bottom of your inhale and the tiny little pose at the bottom of your exhale.

Continue for few minutes and then release.

What have you noticed?

 

I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share and comment,

Enjoy the process!!!

With Love, Nadia

 

Nadia will be sharing her passion for Yoga on our upcoming Yoga RetreatsThailand @ Pure Flow Yoga, in April 2019.  Learn more about here or on her website @ www.NadiaMoon.com

Learn about our Retreats with Nadia

Yoga & Sacred Activism: 3 Ways to face the Darkness and stay Light

Yoga & Sacred Activism: 3 Ways to face the Darkness and stay Light

by | Jan 30, 2019 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Practice: Yoga & Meditation

Yoga & Sacred Activism:

3 ways to Look into the Darkness and Stay Light

The world these days is like a dirty house. It’s been sullied with injustice, cruelty, selfishness, and greed. But just like a dirty house, it has every capability of being righted. We, as its inhabitants, have the choice of sitting in its filth, or being the ones to help clean it.

There are three ways to address the darkness in the world around us.

  • One, we can pretend we don’t see it so that it doesn’t bring us down.
  • Two, we can let it break our hearts and lock us into a state of depressed inaction
  • Three, we can be honest about its existence and understand it as a place asking for attention, action, and change.

 

 The Path of Service

Stepping up to the wrongs of this world is not an easy task for anyone, but it is the task worth doing. Atira Tan, founder of Art to Healing (www.arttohealing.org) and Yoga for Freedom (www.yogaforfreedom.org.au), first heard her call to action in Cambodia in 2004.

After witnessing the on-goings of a child sex slavery ring in the street below her hotel room, she was faced with a choice. She could look away, board the plane to her next vacation destination, and move on with her life. Or she could stay, step into the discomfort of a painful situation, and try to help these 9-10 year-old girls being sold by their family so they could survive.

Atira stayed. She spent the next four years living in Cambodia and working for a non-profit to prevent and heal the trauma of child sex slavery. She took the time to speak with these girls, girls who had experienced an unimaginable devastation of spirit from the trauma they’d undergone, and she chose to believe that there was still life within their deadened eyes that could, and needed to be, revitalised.

Today, Atira continues to follow her path of service and seeks to encourage others to do the same. In 2005, she founded Art to Healing, a non-profit that incorporates art therapy and yoga to help both women and men affected by sex slavery to foster a healthier relationship with themselves and their bodies. Furthermore, she launched Yoga for Freedom yoking the yoga community with social change, a world-wide fundraising event that taps into the billion-dollar yoga industry to raise money for women and children who have experienced child sex slavery in Asia.

 

Yoga & Sacred Activism

“Yoga is such a powerful tool for source energy,” Atira explains. “It helps me to connect with what’s true, to move beyond the notion that we are separate from each other. We can take time to tap into our practice and fill up and open up to be a vessel of love and light and that affects our actions and what we do in the world.”

 

Atira Tan uses yoga in her own life to keep her firmly on the path of service and sacred activism.  So, exactly how can we use yoga as a tool for social activism?

 

1. Don’t take time to worship, make your life worship.

 Yoga does not end in the studio. Yoga is a practice of union that is cultivated just as much on your mat as in the waiting line at the DMV. Be present in each moment. Dedicate your life to something more, whatever more is, and remember that it flows through you in everything you do, in every breath you take.

When we attach ourselves to something bigger than us, our actions become more in line with what we are incited to do, rather than what we think we should do.

 

2. Let go of your egoic notions of success, and surrender to the infinite

We are incredibly attached to our egos and outcomes; it’s a part of our culture to want to be successful.  The work is the only thing that matters and it is the only thing that exists. Activist burn-out does not come from the work itself; it comes from expectations.

The truth is that none of us know the outcome of anything. Let go, surrender. Act for the sake of action, act because you feel incited to do it. Let life take care of the rest. It’s going to do that whether you have a prediction or not.

 

3. Dedicate your life to being in Service

Dedicating one’s life to service is the quickest practice to kick us out of our egos. When we attach to something more and when we act for something more, we become something more.

When you dedicate your life to service, you must find something you feel purposeful about. You may care about the environment, but if that work doesn’t light you up, let it go. Find something that gives you meaning, that makes you feel alive when you connect to it. “When I work with women and children,” Atira says. “I know from the inside that I’m meant to be doing this work and I couldn’t be doing anything else. There’s an energy that is bigger than my mind. That is what sustains us in this work of activism.”

Sacred activism is not a “rescue” mission and it cannot be done through the mind. As activists, we cannot approach the work as the “rescuers” who have come to save the “victims.” This is not sustainable, and it is not true. Sacred activism is about coming together as one and learning from each other as human beings. It’s about discovering what we all have to offer one another.

The “call” to service is not always a pleasant one. It can be uncomfortable and frightening, even daunting. Our egos fear what will happen if we fail, or how we too may become hurt if we get involved. Yet, we all have the power to overcome our ego and attach ourselves to our life’s purpose.

After witnessing the horrors of the earthquake in Nepal, Atira Tan received an idea for a new endeavor during her meditation. It was an immense project to take on, and despite misgivings at the onset, she decided to set the idea into action.

Three years ago, Atira Tan held the first Yoga for Freedom movement in Australia, previously named International Yogathon for World Peace, alongside Off the Mat, into the World Australia and NZ. Her vision was to create a global yoga and social change movement that tapped into the 27 billion-dollar yoga industry and filtered that profit to the birthplace of yoga, a place that rarely saw the financial gains of the philosophy it shared with the world. The event invited yoga teachers to teach a Yogathon in 3 cities that donated its proceeds to the earthquake recovery effects through Art to Healing. The event was incredibly successful and raised over $16,000 in one day.

Now, Yoga for Freedom is a week long international yoga movement, will be held annually across 4 continents between 40 yoga ambassadors. All proceeds will go towards providing food, shelter, and safe accommodations to women and girls in need, as well as education and therapeutic programs to heal the trauma they’ve endured.

“The intention is to come back to the heart and dedicate our thoughts and practice in meditation back to the world,” Atira explains. “It’s to turn the focus from Instagram and Facebook and getting in perfect in shape – yoga is meant to be something that uplifts us all, that uplifts the planet. It’s a practice that can shine light within ourselves in the darkest place of shadow and we have to help others find it too. We have to use this practice to shine light on the darkest corners of humanity.”

To get involved with Art to Healing, visit arttohealing.org. To become involved with Yoga for Freedom, please visit www.yogaforfreedom.org.au

Learn about our Retreats & Teacher Trainings

Malaika Darville – Walking the Beauty Way

Malaika Darville – Walking the Beauty Way

by | Jan 16, 2019 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Podcasts & Interviews, Retreat & Travel Info

Walking the Beauty Way

with Malaika Darville

 

“In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited or depress, they would ask you one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?”

– Ageles Arrien, from the forward to “Maps to Ecstasy”.

 

 

Listen to Malaika on the Pure Flow Yoga Podcast Here:

 

 

It is my honour, joy and privilege to introduce to the show today, my friend, teacher and community-mate Malaika Darville, a powerful shaman-ness, ceremonialist, Yogi, musician, community elder, 5-elements Ecstatic Dance facilitator, and DJ, with her basket FULL of life-experiences.

Malaika is committed to walking the beauty way: she has been travelling and living in indigenous and tribal cultures, and has been sharing her earth wisdom worldwide for over 25 years.  She has walked the shamanic path for a lifetime, and is known across the globe, for her ability to re-connect individuals with their inner body spirituality, helping all who practice with her to access to higher realms of consciousness and authenticity.

Her mission is to create sacred space through ritual and ceremony to bring personal and planetary awakening, restoring balance to our distorted and over-civilised culture.

 

 

In this Episode, Malaika shares about:

 

  • the Rise of the Feminine and why we need to balance and heals the wounds of the Shiva & Shakti principle within each of us
  • Embodiment, Movement, Ecstatic Dance & Community‘s for Healing ourselves and our planet
  • the Beauty Way – Emergent Culture and the rise of festival and retreat culture
  • the Importance of Ancestors, Tribe & Ceremony for initiating people and bringing people together to heal,
  • Indigenous Wisdom – Ho’oponono – conscious relating to bring freedom from the trauma / drama cycle
  • Elemental Awakening and the benefits of planting seeds for exploring our shadow as well as our light
  • Going with the Flow & why we need to have experiences timelessness for our inner evolution

 

 

About Malaika:

 

Malaika’s accreditations include being a qualified ISHTA yoga teacher, Qualified Water Dance Practitioner, African Dance performer and teacher, Dj, Ceremonialist, Creatrix of 5Elements Dance Activation™ a shamanic dynamic meditation dance journey embodying the five cardinal elements, earth water, fire, air and spirit. She is a Wisdom Keeper and inspirational facilitator who has been at the forefront of the consciousness movement.

Malaika shares her wisdom and magic at the world’s top events including Burning Man, Symbiosis, Festival of Bliss, Tantra Festival Thailand, Woodford Folk Festival, Bellingen Global Carnival, Peats Ridge Festival, Ibiza Tantra Festival, Bali Spirit Festival, BOOM Festival and numerous private events.

 

 

 

Show notes:

 

Website – In my Elements – Malaika’s website with complete list of dates & offerings

Instagram – @inmyelements

Soundcloud – DJ Ma on Soundcloud –  FREE Ecstatic Dance DJ Music Sets

6 Ways to Nourish your Immune System this Winter

6 Ways to Nourish your Immune System this Winter

by | Dec 18, 2018 | Guest post, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Practice: Yoga & Meditation

6 Ways to Nourish your Immune System

this Winter

by Ellanah Fawcett

For those in the Northern Hemisphere the phase of winter within our yearly cycle is beginning to settle in. With it comes the gift of our annual time to really go inside, reflect on the cycle that has been, bring light and love to our deep inner world and generally get really yummy and cosy.

 

Sometimes though we can forget that behind the clouds and blankets of cold there is a burning, radiant sun still shining its light into our world; the days can feel heavy and dark, our heart energy turns inwards as we tense and hold our bodies against the cold and our immune system can begin to struggle if we are not cultivating our inner fire and working with the internal sun of our heart.

 

So here are 6 ways you can tend to your heart fire and nourish your immune system to feel radiant, balanced and filled with vitality this Winter time:

 

1. Chant Mantra

 

 

Mantra is one of the most beautifully, powerful ways to balance our entire body-mind-being. It works so viscerally within our physical body all the way to the subtlest expressions of our self.

 

When we chant mantra we are inviting our mind to align with the essence of the heart. As this re-alignment and reprogramming gently occurs the immune system gets a huge boost. Our thoughts begin to take on a much more peaceful and loving energy transforming our whole entire energy field, which leaves not much space for any winter lurgy to live and thrive within us.

As little as 15 minutes of chanting a day can have profound effects on your whole being, those around you and the energy of your home; give it a try!

 

A beautiful mantra to explore this wintertime is the Gayatri…chanting to the Goddess of the Sun and the ancient wisdom of the Vedas.

 

You can find many recordings online to listen to the pronunciation, a beautiful recording is by Deva Premal & Miten (you can find on Spotify or YouTube).

 

Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi

Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

 

Really see if you can savour each syllable and invite the essence of peace to be experienced through the mantra, embodying the essence of the mantra; this will permeate your entire being, helping to transform your thoughts, emotions and physical being.

 

There might even be mantra chanting circles or Kirtan in your local area, have an explore online and see what is near to you so that you can share and connect with others.

 

2. Embodiment Practices

 

Dancing fun

Dancing fun

 

Movement fans the flames of our inner fire. When our outer weather is cold we can balance this by keeping our body-home warm. We can’t control our outer environment but we can create the most nourishing inner environment.

 

When we are embodied within our self the immune system naturally functions at a higher level. Our awareness expands throughout our body and this awareness is essentially warmth and love; thus creating the conditions for more peace and joy to flourish.

 

Find a movement practise that brings joy to your heart and warmth to your body, whether it is Yoga Asana, dance, shaking, running, jumping, climbing…if you like to move alone, find a space where you can let your whole self be free or if you like to move with others find a class or group or start one yourself.

 

Activate the heart, feel it beating as you move, beating warmth and life into every corner of your being.

 

3. Metta Meditation

 

 

 

Anahata, our heart chakra, is directly linked to our Thymus Gland where T-Blood cells are produced that are an integral part of our immune system. When Anahata is in balance our Thymus is able to work efficiently, creating a healthy immune system for us.

 

Metta Meditation is one of the most powerful ways to activate and balance our heart chakra; opening the doors to the compassion that is innate within all our hearts and inviting our love to flow to the world around us, our loved ones, those we are struggling with and to ourselves.

 

You can find a Metta Meditation on our Pure Flow Podcast and plenty on YouTube and Insight Timer.

 

4. Ayurvedic Golden Milk

 

 

In Ayurveda winter time is associated with Vata Dosha (cold and dry), which means to balance this we need to invite warmth into our system. Ayurvedic Golden Milk is a beautiful way of doing this, working with the immune superfood Turmeric.

 

Turmeric is a magic herb that has been proven to be highly anti-inflammatory for the body, supports healthy liver function, boosts immune system, reduces the risk of cancer, balances hormones, manages arthritis pain and many many other beautiful gifts.

 

To make this warm, Ojas boosting, turmeric-based drink is lovely and simple:

  • Bring one cup of organic cow, almond or coconut milk to a gentle boil.
  • Add a teaspoon of fresh grated turmeric or turmeric powder, a small amount of ginger, a pinch of black pepper and a teaspoon of coconut oil.
  • Gently stir or whisk
  • Pour into a cup adding honey to sweeten
  • You can also get creative and add other winter warming herbs to this mix such as cinnamon, clove or nutmeg

 

 

5. Creative Free Flow (Journalling, Drawing, Crafting…)

 

 

The natural essence of energy is to flow. When energy becomes stuck or stagnant (held by a thought form or by not allowing our emotions and bodies to flow and move) it creates the conditions for ‘dis-ease’ to manifest in our physical reality. We can keep the mind and emotional body flowing through some form of creative outlet.

 

Each morning put a timer on for 5-10 minutes and invite your pen to flow across the pages of your notebook without stopping and without censoring. This may express in the form of words or drawings or paintings.

 

If you are someone who resonates with sound, then for this time you can explore and allow sound to flow; be curious with how sounds feel in your body, where they come from and which sounds different parts of the body want to express on any given day. Find your outlet and invite in a sense of flow and grace.

 

6. Making space for rest and relaxation

 

Our bodies need down time in order to regenerate; this means making sure we are getting an adequate amount of sleep and enough time spent just simply being.

 

Some favourite ways of gifting these precious spaces of silence and healing are: Yoga Nidra, Meditation, time spent simply being in nature and restorative or yin yoga. These deep states of silence refill our cup so abundantly and invite us home to the peace we seek that’s always available inside.

 

Create a technology curfew each evening so that you can disconnect to reconnect and set aside an amount of time each day that feels manageable to really gift yourself space to simply be.

 

When we nourish our heart and really awaken a deeper sense of self-love our body and surroundings naturally come into alignment and vitality. Let us know what your Heart nourishing winter practises are, we love to hear and share!

 

An adventure loving soul, Ellanah is forever exploring new ways of connecting to our true self and the magic of everyday life. Her sunshine infused classes explore the flowing dance between breath and movement; cultivating greater space, peace, and presence in both body and mind. A nature loving Reiki Master with an eclectic background in performing arts and Anthropology, and a love for all things dance; Ellanah draws from a creative mix of inspiration, always exploring how we can come deeper into awareness and move deeper from love. She is an avid believer that each individual’s yoga mat is an inspiring microcosm for life itself, encouraging us to flow with freedom and compassion both on the mat and out in the world.

Check out Ellanah Yoga on Facebook 

Ellanah Fawcett

Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, "Life is a Gift, Let it Flow" - Yogi Bhajan

Want to share your story? We LOVE hearing from past students.

 If you’d like to share comments, feedback, or if you’d like to submit your own post for us to share, let us know  by contacting us!

What to Expect: 7 IMPORTANT Things to Know Before Coming {Magic Bay Hacks}

What to Expect: 7 IMPORTANT Things to Know Before Coming {Magic Bay Hacks}

by | Dec 9, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Retreat & Travel Info

What to Expect: {Magic Bay Hacks}

7 Important Things to Know Before Coming

We are so excited and honoured to welcome you to our beautiful jungle home. I, myself have been living in this completely unique community for almost 7 years now, and its amazing. Here, you’ll connect with the elements, sand between your toes, sunshine on your face – in epic nature, with a friendly and open community all around. We know that you are going to love this off-the-beaten track gem of a community.

 
To help you feel fully prepared, to ensure you have a comfortable and easeful journey here,
we’ve consulted with past students, and here’s what we all want you to know before you come.

 

Please Read through this Carefully

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: 

 

Getting Here: The Final Leg

Taxi Boat guys & the Walk Up to Bamboo

 
From the mainland of Koh Phangan, you will need to take a taxi boat from Had Rin to our location at Haad Yuan.  If you are in Thongsala you will have to take a 40 minute tuk tuk ride to Had Rin.
 
You can often get a taxi boat right outside of where the ferry drops you off, although sometimes you will need to walk across town to get a boat from the full moon party beach.
 
Typically, the cost is 300 baht. That being said If the waves are big, or if you are the only one, you may be charged anywhere from 1000-1500 baht.
 
They may also say that they cannot take you to Haad Yuan, but only to Tad Thien. This is okay too. You can pay one of the Sanctuary staff 100b or so to help you carry your bags up and over the hill to Bamboo. It about a 5-minute uphill jungle walk to get to Bamboo Huts from here.
 
Once you arrive on Haad Yuan, you will be dropped of on the beach.  If you need help with your bags, you can tip the taxi drivers from Peace and Love Bar 1-200Baht and they will help you carry your bags up.   Its a 5 minute walk up a hill and across a boardwalk to the Bamboo Huts.
 
How to prepare: This negotiating process with the taxi drivers can feel really frustrating at times. It’s a good opportunity to remember that we are guests here and to put things into perspective. We highly recommend managing your expectation by knowing that this may happen.
 
 
 
 

Internet

 
At the time of writing, Bamboo Huts and Whynam now have Free Wifi.
 
There are severally places on the bays to connect more reliably with Wi-Fi with paid services at the Sanctuary and big Blue, 
 
How to prepare:
 
If you feel you need connection in your bungalow at Bamboo Huts, we would recommend getting a DTAC or TRUE MOVE SIM card wit ahead of time, with a 4G data package. The best and easiest place to get this done is at the airport in Samui.  You cannot buy a SIM card here on the bay.
 

 

Off the Grid:

No roads, no motorbikes, no ATMS

 
One of the things that make our bays so magical is that we are truly off the grid. This means that our electricity is run by generators. Also because we are so remote, this means that there are no main roads, no motorbikes and on ATMS. There are a few shops with basic things you may need, but otherwise, come prepared.
 
How to prepare: Take out as much money from the ATMs as you think you may need for the week. Come prepared with all other odds and ends that you might like to have with you while you’re here.
 
 
 

Weather:

Rainy Season

 
We live in a beautiful and warm tropical jungle rainforest. So expect that in November – January,/February it can be rainy. There are still long and beautiful periods of sunshine and blue sky, but definitely know, that if you are coming at this time, to expect some fluctuations in the weather.
 
How to prepare: Bring a rain jacket or umbrella, bring a good book for the hammock on those rainy days
 

ONCE YOU”RE HERE

 

Jungle Life

 

Amongst the many new friends you will make here, there are also some jungle friends: Gekkos, spiders, cockroaches, cats, dogs, mosquitos, and more rarely to be seen are the monkey and snakes. Most buildings have at least a family of Geckos living in them. We love them as they help eat mosquitos, and their “hello” sound often echo’s a deep truth that has been uttered in the room. Nothing is really dangerous.
 
How to prepare: Bring natural mosquito repellant. Know that you will be sharing your space with jungle life. If you want to upgrade your package, then we invite you to self-book at nearby Pariya or Sanctuary. Both places have rooms that are 2-3x the price, but have AC, hot water and are less rustic.
 
 

 

The Bathrooms @ Bamboo Huts

 

Bamboo Huts are a favourite amongst locals, for their delicious restaurant with world-class views and excellent service, and also the beautiful simplicity and awesome location of the huts. That being said, they are simple, comfortable and rustic huts.
 
The bathrooms are very very simple. At present, there are only cool water showers that are open to the jungle, and bucket flush toilet.
 
 
 

Weekend Parties

 
If you are planning to stay longer than 1 week with us, you will most likely encounter one of the all night parties nearby that this island is famous for. Even though its only a 10 minute boat ride away, the full moon party itself feel a world away.  That being said,  there are 2 main parties that do run most weekends: Guys Bar and Eden. Koh Phangan has that yin/yang thing going for it. People come here to expand their consciousness in one way or another…The music can get loud on Saturdays.
 
How to prepare: We recommend bringing earplugs if its hard for you to sleep with loud music. We also recommend having fun and going for a dance!
 
—
 
 
Hope that helps and please feel to reach out to us or to the community if you have any questions.
With Love
 
 

 

—
 
 
For those of you who’ve been here before,
 
We’d love if you let us know in the COMMENTS below 🙂
 
Were there things you really wish you knew before you came here to the bay for your retreat?
 
Thanks for sharing!
 
XOXO

 

 

Francie is an experienced life-transformation expert from the Yoga perspective, having curated and led more than 150 + retreats, workshops and programs with over 500+ students from all walks of life from all over the world.  She is a passionate and free-spirited Yogi, hula hooper, musician, social entrepreneur and world-traveller dedicated to uplifting, inspiring and empowering people to live embodied and awakened lives. She is the inspired founder of the award-winning Pure Flow Yoga, True:Nature Experience and Hoop Love Tribe.  Francie is currently living her dream between Thailand, Bali and the rest of the world, sharing intimate, magical and life-changing experiences, including her signature Retreats in Paradise, as well as festivals and community gatherings. To follow Francie’s personal calendar, to receive her music, playlists, blog posts, like her Facebook page: Francie Fishman :Yoga Hoop Music Love

 

E-RYT 500 Yoga Alliance |  Post-Grad Dip. Education, Queensland University of Technology | BA Psychology / Philosophy, McGill University 

Francie Fishman

Life-Change Expert, from the Yoga Perspective, Pure Flow Yoga

Want to share your story? We LOVE hearing from past students.

 If you’d like to share comments, feedback, or if you’d like to submit your own post for us to share, let us know  by contacting us!

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

by | Dec 6, 2018 | Guest post, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

by Faith Hill

 

Forgiveness has always been part of our human society and is featured in multiple historic religious texts but many people do not realise its powerful healing powers for inner peace and personal growth.

 

When someone wrongs us, they will usually apologise to us. However heartfelt or not, we will accept their apology but we don’t always move on. We hold a grudge or create a grievance and don’t practice true forgiveness.

 

Forgiveness is a choice

 

Holding a grudge or creating a grievance – big or small – is not good for our mind and body health. It creates anxiety, stress, emotional pain and even depression.

 

By choosing to forgive, we open ourselves up to more self love and love for others. Forgiveness frees us from these emotional ailments and allows us to move forward.

 

It is a process of healing which builds our strength and resilience by helping us to identify negative behaviourial patterns, in turn allowing us to learn and grow.

 

Be a hero not a victim

 

More often than not, when we create a grievance or grudge, we put ourselves into a position of victimhood, when in fact if we reframe the situation and forgive, we become the hero instead.

 

It is important to remember that forgiveness does not condone bad behaviour or excuse intentional hurt such as lying or cheating. You probably won’t forget the experience but you can forgive it; you can let go of the heaviness and pain to feel light and free again.

 

Why we need to forgive ourselves more

 

Self forgiveness creates a more loving and positive relationship with yourself and therefore others. It enables the same benefits as forgiving others – releasing stress and anxiety and allowing ourselves to breathe deeply and easily in our learning and growth.

 

How to forgive yourself

 

  1. For self forgiveness to be genuine and for you to truly benefit from the process, you have to be ready to forgive. Sometimes we need days, weeks or even months in extreme circumstances to feel ready. There’s no point pretending or rushing into the process.

 

  1. Firstly, look at what caused your issue; your upset, anger, shame or guilt. Be specific about it; generalising won’t work. It’s like setting a goal; something general is unachievable but something specific is in reach.

 

  1. Own your mistakes, errors and misjudgments. Recognise when you incorrectly place blame on others for your own actions, for example ‘I said that because she did this’.

 

  1. Then see what negative story or stories you have created around the issue. Ask yourself do I really want to be carrying this heaviness around with me? Realise how lighter life will be without this story. Know the past is the past and re-focus on the present.

 

  1. Take your power back. Giving your energy and attention to a grudge or grievance means you have given away your power to the ‘perpetrator’. By transcending the grievance to forgiveness, you regain power over your life and your experiences.

 

  1. Find a quiet place and do what you need to to feel calm. Say out loud to yourself ‘I forgive you’ or ‘I forgive myself’ ‘it’s okay’. Repeat as many times as you feel necessary to truly feel forgiven. Notice any resistance that may arise and be aware of what messages you are telling yourself to create this resistance.

 

  1. If someone else is involved in your self grudge and you feel it will cement your self forgiveness, apologise – genuinely – to the person involved. It will aid your healing process. They may not accept your apology but that is their story.

 

  1. Implement the learnings from each self forgiveness process to improve your future behaviours and reactions. See how it positively enhances your character and existence. Over time, this will become natural.

Faith Hill is an online life coach and NLP practitioner.

Why not take her new 1-hr online course ‘Positivity Made Easy: How To Think & Live Positively? Get the course for just $9.99 when you use the promo code: POSITIVE19

Find Faith’s course here on Udemy,

 Also, friends of Pure Flow Yoga can enjoy a 20% discount on coaching sessions with Faith. In the first instance, book a free 30-minute Strategy Session on Skype (no obligation required) to get to know each other by emailing faith.hill@sparkescapes.com

 

Faith Hill

Spark Escapes

Want to share your story?

We LOVE hearing from our community and past students.

 If you’d like to share comments, feedback, or if you’d like to submit your own post for us to share, let us know  by contacting us!

 

Optimise your Life with Ayurveda

Optimise your Life with Ayurveda

by | Nov 16, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Podcasts & Interviews

How to Optimise your Lifestyle

with Ayurveda

With Kimmana Nichols

 

Yoga nerds, this episode is for you!  Grab a pen, and some paper, cause your’e gonna wanna take some notes!  In this episode, Ayurvedic expert and Naturopath Kimmana Nichols shares wisdom from traditional systems to create holistic models for a balanced and happy life.

Listen here, or find us on Apple Podcast, Google Play and More!

 

In this episode, Kimmana shares about:

  • Ayurveda & the 3 Dosha System for balancing the body
  • Yin & Yang, and how we can incorporate these understandings in a practical way
  • the Trinity of Vedic Sciences – Yoga, Ayurveda & Jyotisha – to align the mind with the divine
  • the Trigunas – Sattva, Rajas & Tamas
  • Practical tips for balancing Vata
  • Dinacharya and the importance of routine and regularity
  • Indecision fatigue and how to manage stress
  • Value Defining Process and how to prioritise and balance what’s important to you

 

Kimmana has been studying traditional systems for developing holistic models of health, wellness and balance most of his life. He is the 3rd generation from an entire family of holistic healers and educators; now holding qualifications in more than 20 healing modalities including Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Body work.

Kimmana is the.co-Founder of the ThaiVedic Systems and Holistic Nomads which is an online portal designed to help empower people to discover how ancient wisdom and modern science can help you to have more clarity and energy, so you have the freedom to create your dream life.

What I love about Kimmana is his incredible ability to share ancient wisdom and complex concepts into easily accessible, common-sense  and actionable nuggets of wisdom in a short period of time for us to incorporate into our every day lives. 

For example, a conversation I had with him a few months ago about vata and indecision fatigue has drastically help to improve my decision making ability thus freeing up time to work on the more important aspects of life. You can listen to this episode to learn more about what that means and more. In this episode he discusses

 

Show Notes:

 

You can learn more about Kimmana here:

 

Inspirations and Influences mentioned:

 

*Bonus*- FREE Downloads:

Kimmana has generously shared some awesome downloads, Click on the images below and learn more! 

Let us know in the comments what you think.

What are your take-aways from this episode?

Please let us know in the comments section below!

 

Pssst…..

Kimmana will be sharing his presence and wisdom at our upcoming YTT in Thailand, Feb 17 – March 17th. 

Are you coming? We hope so.  It’s gonna be intimate and epic! 

I'm Ready!

What makes an Exceptional Yoga Teacher

What makes an Exceptional Yoga Teacher

by | Aug 17, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Tips for New Teachers

Want to become an Exceptional Yoga Teacher?

5 Qualities of the World’s Top Yoga Teachers

Ready to start teaching?

Or, are you ready to refine how you already share?

First, Think about your life and the favourite teachers that you’ve had.  

What are the attributes that set these teacher apart for you?

 

From the moment I fell in love with yoga, I started a journey of traveling and study with a vast range of teachers and styles to try and deepen my own practice of course, and also to see what works and what doesn’t, what resonates with people and what makes an exceptional teacher.

Having great teachers is so necessary for our development as students and as teachers alike.  When I meet a teacher whose style I truly resonate with, someone who knows their stuff, and cares about my progress, it sparks a remembrance in me of who I really am.  It inspires me – it literally fills me with spirit –  and the lessons and feelings that I glean from these people, I carry forward into my life and beyond.

There are many qualities that set exceptional teachers apart, and

Here’s just a few of the key qualities I’ve discovered:

 

 

1. Depth – The Practice goes beyond Asana:

 

Contrary to popular belief,  an exceptional yoga teacher may not necessarily be the most advanced Yoga asana practitioner.

 

While asanas are awesome for challenging the bodymind with the discipline of practice, and for releasing stuck energy in the body so that we’re more open and flexible, being able to do a fancy arm balance or an impressive advanced pose is in and of itself not an indicator of someone who is an avid yogi or someone who has unlocked the key to peace and love.

 

What’s inspiring for me in a Yoga teacher, so far beyond any spiritual costumery on the outside, is seeing how they LIVE Yoga Philosophy on the inside.  Seeing how they incorporate the ethics and disciplines (yamas and niyamas) of Yoga in to their everyday lives, helps remind me that to be human is to be on a journey, and one that is full of sufferings as well as breakthroughs.

 

Humility, Willingness to practice, to learn from every experience, and to try and live from LOVE vs FEAR is one of the aspects that really endears me to a great teacher.

 

 

2. Passion, Lifelong learning & deep knowledge

 

In my heart, the best Yoga teachers have an absolutely insatiable passion for the path of Yoga and it’s practices.

 

The teachers who inspire me the most, truly walk the walk of Yoga and only teach what they have first learned and considered within themselves.

 

Their commitment to ongoing learning and exploration to their own yoga practice is what allows their teaching to be authentic, relatable, and engaging.

 

 

3. Creating & Holding Safe & Supportive Space

 

An exceptional Yoga teacher knows how to create a safe and sacred space in which her students feel welcome, invited, comfortable, resepcted and able to  completely relax into the moment, let go, come into their bodies, become present and breathe.

 

An exceptional Yoga teacher has high expectations of her students and lovingly encourages everyone to do their best.  She helps her students see that every moment has the potential to teach us something about ourselves.

 

 

4. Excellent communication

 

Being able to effectively and clearly communicate is another quality of exceptionally teacher.

 

There’s a big difference between being passionate about yoga, and sharing that passion in a way that is in service to our students.

 

Being able to clearly articulate alignment cues, breath and intention reminders, weave relevant stories, anecdotes, and examples into the narrative flow of a class is key to helping people feel connected and cohesive.

 

When communication is crystal clear, students can focus on their own practice, looking within without too much distraction, or trying to figure out what other people n the class are doing.

 

I find it most powerful and effective, when a teacher speaks in simple accessible and positive language, effectively uses praise, individuals names, and avoids using negative trigger words such as don’t never etc.

 

When people feel positive and connected, they are more likely to take the goodness of the practice forward with them off the mat and into life.

 

 

5. Pleasant Personality & Emotional intelligence

 

An exceptional teachers meets their students where they’re at, and guides them with warmth, love, and compassion.

 

Our roles as Yoga teachers are fluid: Sometimes we need to support our students through emotional moments, sometimes we need to offer them deepening intellectual experiences, and sometimes we need to challenge our students on a physical level.

 

Being able to tune into the mind of the room, and working out what students need most, both individually and collectively in the moment, is an important skill for an exceptional teacher.

In conclusion,

A great Yoga teacher not only talks the talks, but also walks the walk.

They have passion for the depths of Yoga and its practices,

is a lifelong learner, has an engaging personality and ability to hold space,

and has an effective teaching and communication style,

leading classes that help students to

feel better at the end of the class then at the beginning.

 

 

Now I wanna hear from you: What are some of the qualities of the greatest Yoga teachers you’ve practiced with and Why?

And if you’re ready to take the leap, we’d love YOU to join us for our Upcoming Yoga Teacher Training! 🙂

 

Yes! Save my space please!

Join our Yoga Teacher Training List to get exclusive resources for teachers

and info on our upcoming teacher trainings and continuing education experiences!

Francie is a multi-passionate and free-spirited Yogi, hula hooper, musician and lover of all things Magic. She has led over a hundred retreats over the past 6 years, and is the inspired founder of Pure Flow Yoga & True:Nature Experience in Koh Phangan, Thailand where she spends half of the year offerings daily Yoga classes, workshops and ongoing transformational Yoga Retreats in Paradise. Check out some of Francie’s Music on Bandcamp and like her Facebook page: Francie Fishman :Yoga Hoop Music Love  to stay tuned in about Francie’s personal travel & teaching calendar, music, playlists, blog posts and more.  Want to invite Francie to teach near you? Contact here

Francie Fishman

Founder, Pure Flow Yoga

We’d love to hear from you in the comments below: 

What are some other qualities Yoga teachers that stand out in your life?

My Top 5 Favourite Yoga Poses & Why!

My Top 5 Favourite Yoga Poses & Why!

by | Apr 17, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Practice: Yoga & Meditation

My top 5 Favourite Yoga Poses

For Anytime & Anywhere

On your mat, get set, flow….

Developing a home practice can feel intimidating at times.  Often we have blurts flowing through the mind – I don’t have time, Where do I start? What comes next?…

A home practice can be as simple as sitting in your mat for 5 minutes and stretching, breathing and witnessing.  Ultimately our practice of Yoga is designed to guide us inside, to listen to our inner wisdom and to the body, to be able to feel what feels stuck, tight or tense, and thus what we could benefit the most from next.

Today, I invite you to try these 5 simple yet awesome poses and their variations with me.  Feel free to do these poses anywhere and anytime you have a few moments to open your bodymind!

Give yourself 10-15 minutes, put on some nice music, roll out your mat, light a candle and some incense,  lay out your altar, or even just a flower/something beautiful to feast your eyes upon, and spend 5 or 6 full breath cycles in each pose, and see how you feel after. Make sure you have some props around; a cushion or block to support you to completely relax into these shapes so you can go deep.

With the right support, these simple and accessible poses are available to all levels and bodies, .

 

1) Supta badokonasana – Reclined bound angle pose

This is one of my favourite poses to start and end of class with, and anytime I find myself in the horizontal.  This is a beautiful hip opener,  groin softener,  heart and chest opener  Energetically,  we are cultivating an energy of letting go, allowing, receiving, and surrendering  I like to practice this pose with a cushion or block underneath the back of my heart, and maybe even some blocks to support underneath my knees.

Hang out in this pose for a few minutes. Feel the support of the earth below you as it holds you, receives and transforms that which you are releasing, that which no longer serves you,  with each exhale.  Feel how nourishing it is to surrender to the knowing that you are supported.

2) Kapotasana – Pigeon Pose

Another beautiful grounding, and supported pose – PIgeon pose, and all it’s variations. is my favourite go-to Hip-Opener  I practice this pose every day.  Many of us hold a lot of tension in the hips – The hips represent our ability to move forward in the world with grace and ease.  In this pose, enjoy the yummy external rotation of the hips, stretch to the hip flexors,  release of tension in the hips and increasing range of motion in the legs.  Hips are also famously known in Yoga to be the place where we store stuck energy. It said that the cellular memory connected to grief and sadness holds in the hips. Go to your edge,  breathe there,  and enjoy the softening, opening,  surrendering and relaxing. 

This first pic shows the “sleeping swan”, forward fold variation of pigeon, and the second pic shows a more engaged heart opening “king pigeon” variation”.

 

 

 

 

3) Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing dog.

The classic resting pose. As Yoga teachers often remind students,   this can be a resting pose if you have the right alignment of attitude and body: Find the alignment of your hands – spread wide, shoulder distance apart, the alignment of the feet hip distance apart.  Let your knees have a soft bend as you lengthen the tailbone, bringing belly to spine, rolling the shoulders away from your ears.  Let there be an even weight between hands and feet and explore the openings possible as you breathe into the body and tune into where the body is tight.

Play around with the concept of dynamic stillness – allowing each inhale to create more length in the spine and space in the body, and each exhale deepening and expanding.  Play around with 3-legged dog, lifting one leg at a time and opening the hip into scorpian tail.

 

Variation – 3-Legged Dog

Variation – Scorpian or Fire-hydrant Pose

 

4) Wild Thing

 

Backbends are heart openers and energising poses.  Many Yogis would agree that this is one of their favourite poses.  It’s so fun, beautiful, strong, fierce, and open.  It’s just so energising and satisfying to stretch that whole front line of the body, the front of the thigh,  the side body and the throat.When I practice this pose I feel vibrant and alive. If ‘m fully warmed up and open in the spine, I’ll play with bringing this pose into a full wheel.

 

 

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5) Balasana – Child’s Pose

 

Forward folds are calming poses.  You can gift yourself this pose anytime throughout the practice, anytime you need a rest, anytime you wanna come back to the breath, anytime the mind gets lost in a labyrinth of thoughts.  Play with different variations: Knees together or knees wide, forehead or chin to the earth, arms lengthened forward, or walking to each side for a side stretch.  Play with the ams alongside the body, or your elbows rooted in the earth next to your shoulders with your hands in a prayer towards the sky.

 

 

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Hope you enjoy your practice today!

Please comment below: What’s your favourite pose?

 

 

Day 21 – Congratulations!!! You did it!!

by | Mar 12, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 21: Congratulations!

 

Lokah Samashta Sukhino Bhavantu

 

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

 

We close our course together, by chanting this beautiful mantra, moving from our personal egoic small selves, with our limited world views,  to radiate a prayer of love for the world and global well-being.  In chanting this mantra, we remind ourselves that we are part of a vast universe and we have the power to positively impact all of creation.

Often chanted at the end of yoga practices, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu is a potent Sanskrit prayer and invocation for personal and collective peace that has been used for centuries to invoke greater states of awareness, love, compassion and peace.

lokah: location, realm, all universes, seen and unseen, ancestors, future generations, plants, animals etc. existing now

samastah: all beings sharing that same location

sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering

bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence

antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu used as an ending here transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge)

At first, the blessing is for ourselves to help us cultivate self-love. Once we can easily forgive and accept ourselves unconditionally, we can see the light and are able to readily offer this love and compassion to others.

 

 

The great saint Amma – Sri Amritananadamayi Ma – the famous Hugging Saint, uses this mantra as a daily prayer for the world, and I invite you to as well!

 

May all beings be happy
May all beings be free from affliction
May all see auspiciousness everywhere
May none be sorrowful

May the spring of happiness prevail
May peace continue to prevail in the world
Let us remain without desire and be selfless
May we progress towards you

May all be happy in the world
May everybody see the divine in everyone
May the flame of love burn in our minds
May everyone ever live in harmony

Let us worship together,
Let us desire the same goal
Let us chant together:
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

 

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

Chant the ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu” mantra a minimum of 9x

Make a plan: Moving forward, how would you like to keep your home practice flowing? Take 5 minutes and journal NOW.

Comment & Share on the FB Group,

How did it go for you? Harder than you thought? Easier?  We wanna hear from you – Please make sure to leave us some feedback!

RYT-badge-yoga alliance

Sign up to receive our news and updates.  As a thank you you will get our free guide to Yoga for beginners… 

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Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude

by | Mar 10, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

Attitude of Gratitude

Wanna be Happy? ♥ Be Grateful!

 “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein

Gratitude is wine for the soul. Go on. Get drunk” – Rumi

Gratitude is a powerful and transformative practice that can increase our happiness levels 25% according to Robert Emmons, PhD–one of the world’s foremost experts on gratitude – in his book, “Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier”

Gratitude helps to shift the focus away from what you don’t have, to the abundance of what you do have.

It helps us to see where we have taken things for granted, or how can we bring more sacred presence into the mundane.  Even something as ordinary as the moment of stillness before you get out of bed in the morning, can be such a window into bliss and appreciation of this precious life.

Gratitude can help us shift our perspective after what feels like a negative event.  We remember that contained within each difficulty is the seed of an equal or greater possibility: the jewel in the lotus flower!

Make a commitment to keep going with your gratitude journal.  Or to take a few moments each morning to reflect on 3 things that you’re grateful for.  Moving forward, you will be grateful you have a gratitude practice!

Today I Invite to share a full live recorded 90 minute practice with me, Your body will thank you!

 

 

 

♥ ♥ ♥

 

 

Some awesome talks on the power of Gratitude:

 

 

 

RYT-badge-yoga alliance

Sign up to receive our news and updates.  As a thank you you will get our free guide to Yoga for beginners… 

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Day 19 – The 3 Jewels

by | Mar 9, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 19:

the 3 Jewels of Buddhism

The 3 Jewels of Buddhism

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

the teacher, the teachings, the community

 

“You alone are the author of your future—experience teaches you that. Your behavior is not an unchangeable law of nature.  At every moment, you have the opportunity to change—to alter your thoughts, your speech, your actions. If you train yourself to be mindful of what you do, and ask yourself whether it’s likely to lead to positive results or negative, you’ll be guiding yourself in the right direction.” ~ Bhante Gunaratana

 

With just a few days left of our challenge, our thoughts may be turning to the big “what next?” question.  How will I keep this daily practice of Yoga alive within me?!

Buddhism offers us a framework for integrating, known as the 3 Jewels, or 3 refuges:

 

Buddha

Each one of us has the potential to wake up from the dream of separation.  The word, “Buddha” translates to “awakened one”,  and the invitation of this jewel is to remember that awakening is our essential nature.

Waking up from the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and

from the fears that limit us.

We each have the potential to be free from suffering in this moment, here and now,

even though it can be hard, and situations will challenge us.

Anyone, from Mother Thesesa to Hitler, …..anyone can wake up.

And it’s not a simple meritocracy.

Being in full alignment; thoughts, words and actions, is ideal for setting up all the conditions in which waking up occurs., but so much more is involved.   Just because you do good in the world, doesn’t mean you will wake up or realise yourself.

Yoga reminds us to close our eyes. Look inside. Everyday. For as long as you can.

This will help connect you to your Buddha-nature.

 

Dharma

Dharma is the path, or the teachings of Buddhism.

The sacred and ancient practice of Yoga, offers us many tools, many scriptures, many masters, many philosophies to help keep us on the path of going deeper within.

Ancient scriptures and modern books share with us the essential teachings of the wisdom traditions: be here now, be love, forgive, allow, surrender, let go, this too shall pass, freedom is taking full responsibility for yourself in this moment, and so on…

Yoga offers us the 8 limbs to freedom – the Ashtanga Yoga system , which includes the yamas and niyamas, asana, prananyam, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana and Samadhi. We can model our lifestyles on these points.

We can read and immerse ourselves in dharma books or books by contemporary teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, the Dalai Lama….

We can spend time with living Masters and teachers.

You will find a lot of repetition on this path. Repetition is said to be the mother of all teachers. Even after a decade of devoted yoga practice, I am still amazed how the simple reminder from a yoga teacher to breathe in any given moment, can take me so deep.

Sadhana,  the practice, is always there for you to take you home to your true nature.  If you miss a day, a week, a month – no worries!  Your practice is always available and ready for you when your are.

Sangha

 

The Sangha is the community of truth seekers. That means all of you.

People need people.  We are social creatures and social learners.

People of all ages and backgrounds are coming to Yoga these days, all wanting more happiness, more freedom and joy.

To really help us rocket forth on our journeys, it helps to surround ourselves with people who are also working on themselves to awaken.

At the end of the day,  we actually all have a lot more in common that not – The first noble truth of Buddhism – all beings suffer.

We are united in our suffering and we are united in our desire to be happy and free.

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

Comment & Share on the  FB Group,

 

RYT-badge-yoga alliance

Sign up to receive our news and updates.  As a thank you you will get our free guide to Yoga for beginners… 

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No Mud. No Lotus

by | Mar 7, 2018 | Practice: Yoga & Meditation

No Mud,  No Lotus.

No Mud. No Lotus.

Om Mani Padme Hum – Mantra for Inner Peace

 

In many ancient cultures and traditions,  the lotus flower is considered a symbol of purity, enlightenment, awakening, perfection, and rebirth and serves as a metaphor for life,

Rooted in the mud, the lotus draws energy from the muddy waters below and grows towards the light,d transforming into a beautiful flower

The journey of the lotus from the darkness of the mud to the light of the sun is a perfect metaphor for the human condition,. We often forget that we are divine beings with seeds of infinite potential waiting to blossom within our hearts.

The lotus begins it’s journey rooted in the mud of our beings: the judgment, criticism the conditioning, jealousy, the anxiety, all of the shadow elements. The power of the sun’s light encourages the lotus to grow up and out of the swampy murky waters, to surface into the clean air above, finally freeing itself from the harsh conditions below, and blossoming in the light of warmth, truth, love and compassion

We can all relate to that feeling of being stuck in the mud.

The lesson of the lotus is to look at our obstacles, struggles and challenges of life, and see that they are the fertile soil of our being that prepares us for transformation and beauty. 

When we realise that we can pull something from every experience, from the mud, this can help us grow.  When we can see life this way, we can awaken to the remembrance that we choose to grow towards the light and bloom.

OM MANI PADME HUM – Mantra of Compassion

The first word Om is a sacred syllable found in Hindu/ Vedic Traditions

The word Mani means “jewel”

 Padme means “lotus“

 Hum represents the spirit of enlightenment

Today I invite you to sing, chant along, or simply bathe in the vibes and notice how you feel after.  Chant this mantra at least 9 x.

The benefits of chanting Om Mani Padme Hum are said to be infinite: When we recite this mantra, we invoke the energies of the lotus, and It helps us purify mind, body, spirit, and cultivate deep love and compassion and bring more meaning to our lives, bringing us to the highest blissful state.

As your chanting, bring your awareness to it’s meaning: Om is the sound of the universe, and helps us to align ourselves with the frequency of the universe Mani, means jewel, the jewel of love,  Padme, means the lotus flower.. the flower of wisdom, Hum, helps us to keep all the negativity and suffering away.

Kirtan / Rainbow Song Version

12 hour Mantra Meditation Version

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Chant or bathe in the mantra ” Om mani Padme Hum” at least 9x

 

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

Can you see the challenges of your life as gifts?

Think of some of the less pleasant things in life that you’ve gone through?

How have they helped you to grow towards more light?

 

 

Please add your Comments Below

Day 15 – Progress on the Path

by | Mar 5, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 15:

Progress on the Path

Progress on the Path

What does it mean to be “Good” at Yoga?

We are all works in progress, still in progress.

Everyone can practice Yoga and everyone can make progress on the path.

Our progress in Yoga, has less to do with opening our hips, and more to do with opening our hearts.

In Modern Yoga, many students come to the practice hoping to achieve a shape, or perfect their headstand, or master an arm balance.  Our culture often tells us that success is marked by these outer acheivements

In fact, some of the most remarkable changes that Yoga offers are often invisible, unacknowelged and far more ordinary and important, such as greater kindness, more respect, more compassion and forgiveness, strengthening of presence and awareness. 

Instead of how many hours did I practice, or what did I physically achieve, ask yourself, how am I living Yoga today?

Today I invite you to take 5 minutes and mediate / journal on these questions:

  • Am I making progress on the path? 
  • What does that look like? How did I know if I’m making progress on the path? 
  • Have I or has life evolved since starting this challenge? How? What are the side-effects of my daily practice?

How do you know that you’ve been making progress?

Please Comment Below:

Ask yourself the following questions: Do I feel…

Transformed, More aligned, Refreshed, Invigorated, Relaxed, Calmer, Softer, Kinder, More warm, Brighter, More spacious, Lighter, More slowed down, More connected to the self, More creative, More embodied, Less stressed, A more clear mind, Strength to overcome new challenges, More Resilience and ease to bounce back to joy after a set-back,  A heightened sense of flexibility, both in the body and in the mind

 

 

“Instead of measuring success in practicing a yoga posture by how far we go, we can ask how present we are in each moment. How aware are we of the movement of our breath, the sensations in our body, and the thoughts that pass through us? Instead of judging the correctness of a yoga posture by how we look, we can inquire what positioning makes us feel most integrated and honours rather than injures our unique physical body. If we are ill or emotionally overwhelmed, how skillfully can we make this challenge grist for the mill? Instead of, “How many hours did I spend meditating today, ” we can ask, “How did I live my practice in every moment of the day?” Something is tragically missing in our spiritual practice if through our most diligent efforts we manage to become a perfect yoga posture, rather than a person”. – Donna Farhi

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

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Day 14 – Flow: the Path of Happiness

by | Mar 4, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

 

Day 14: Finding Flow

the balance between effort & surrender

 

 

 

Finding Flow: The Path of Happiness

the balance between effort & surrender

 

Flowing through our lives with ease and grace, requires a balance between effort, showing up to our practice and discipline and surrendering to what is and how that can unfold.  This is the balance between practice & non-attachment, or allowing the moment to be as it is.

 

When we’re in flow, we drop out of the thinking, judging, comparing, rational mind and tap into a timeless state of simple be-ingness, of flow.

 

“Flow is the process of achieving happiness through control over one’s inner life. The optimal state of inner experience is order in consciousness. This happens when we focus our attention (psychic energy) on realistic goals and when our skills match the challenges we face”. – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

 

When we feel out of flow, we have a choice:  We can struggle against the current, we can resist, we can fight or flight our way into a temporary shortcut.  Or we can use those obstacles as fuel,  to show up to the element of fire, the practice of discipline, the fires of transformation and purification. 

 

A balanced practice of Yoga contains equal measures of Abhyasa, effort / practice,  and vairagya, non-attachment. We can compare our Yoga practice to the wings of a bird.  We need equal parts of abhyasa and vairagya, effort and surrender, to keep the bird flying free. 

 

We need persistent effort to know ourselves, to evolve and harness our challenges of life to realise the goal of freedom, and a corresponding level of surrender of how this can unfold in our external reality.

 

This is one of the reasons our school is named “Pure Flow Yoga” – to serve as a reminder: When you’re not in flow, the recipe is to purify – Fire! : find your discipline, your focus, your willingness to transform yourself so you can get back to that sweet element of water, of connection, fluidity, and adaptability that are the nature of flow.

Flow, the Secret of Happiness

Today I feel inspired to share 2 powerful and excellent talk to broaden your flow:

 

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi asks, “What makes a life worth living?” Noting that money cannot make us happy, he looks to those who find pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of “flow.”

 

 

 

What would Water do?

How do we find fulfillment in a world that’s constantly changing? Raymond Tang struggled with this question until he came across the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. In it, he found a passage comparing goodness to water, an idea he’s now applying to his everyday life. In this charming talk, he shares three lessons he’s learned so far from the “philosophy of water.” “What would water do?” Tang asks. “This simple and powerful question … has changed my life for the better.”

 

 

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

 

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

What does “go with the flow” mean to you?  How do you find flow? How can you cultivate more flow in your life?

Today I invite you to spend time finding flow. Choosing one activity that you love doing that helps you tap into that state of timelessness and do that!  It could be Yoga, dancing, writing, cooking…..anything!

 

Comment Below & Share on the  FB Group,

 

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Tips for Living a more Sattvic life

Tips for Living a more Sattvic life

by | Mar 2, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Retreat & Travel Info, Tips for New Teachers, Yoga 101: Yoga for Beginners

The Gunas

10 Tips for Living a more Sattvic Life

Book a 1:1 Yoga Coaching Session & Find more Balance Today!

Living in Balance: Introducing the Gunas

 

Welcome. Before we get to the tips on how to live a more sattvic and balanced life, let’s have a look at what that means.

 

First of all, Finding and maintaining Balance is key to Yoga.

 

There are many reasons people come to Yoga: Some people come to Yoga to build more strength, some people come for more flexibility and some for more balance clarity and calmness.  We are ever-fluctuating beings, and Yoga is a kind of adaptogen that has the capacity to really meet us where we are at in any given moment to give us what we need.

 

In Yoga philosophy, all matter arises from the fundamental substance of the universe, called Prakriti. From Prakriti come the three primary gunas (qualities) that create the essential aspects of all nature—energy, matter and consciousness.

These three gunas are tamas (darkness), rajas (activity), and sattva (beingness).

 

All three gunas are always present in all beings, fluctuating and varying in their relative amounts, and the balance of the three Guna’s is vital for our health and our happiness.

 

We want to be tamasically grounded to the earth so that we can rest and sleep and connect, rajasically passionate and fired-up about our work and what we do, and sattvically calm and at peace to realise our goal of freedom, of our true nature.

 

Humans have the unique opportunity to consciously alter the levels of the gunas in our bodies and minds, through our interaction with external objects, lifestyle and thought patterns.

 

Essentially, through our practice of Yoga, and finding more balance, we want to cultivate as much Sattva, as possible.

 

Our basic nature is Sattva  – clear, calm, creative, positive, creative force,  with just enough Rajas – dynamic force and Tamas – negative force,  to make things happen.

Sattva – Light & Purity, Equilibrium, knowledge, (associated with creation)

 

is a state of balance and harmony, peace, tranquility, sattva is the naturally arising state originating from being true to your inner teacher, guru, god. By purifying body, senses, and mind, the yogi can experience natural self.

 

Rajas – Activity, Passion, Action (associated with preservation)

 

When we identify ourselves with actions, with the roles we play in life, with praise received from others, we are in a rajasic state when the mind is identified with the concepts of karma, that which we sow and what which we reap.

 

Tamas – Darkness, Inertia, Lethargy, Ignorance (associated with destruction)

 

Darkness, ignorance, lazy nature of the mind or body, a force that tells us to take a break and relax when we are near to completing a project whose deadline is approaching – as a result we do not finish the race.

10 Tips for living a more Sattvic Lifestyle:

To experience being established in health and in oneself, we need to follow a sattvic lifestyle with a deep connection to our lifestyle, diet, physical & mental exercise.

 

1. Eat foods that are organic, fresh, in season, vegetarian, locally produced.

According to Yogic philosophy, the mind is formed of the essence of food. If food eaten is pure then it brings inner peace to the body in and encourages spiritual progress.

2. Live in harmony with the rhythms of the day and seasons.

Regulate your daily events, eating at similar times each day and sleeping at regular times to ensure that you have enough sleep 6 – 8 hours usually. “There is no possibility of one to become a yogi… if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough” – Bhagavad Gita

 

3. Meditate/ pray as first and last events of the day

Even spending  just a few moments to center yourself each day can have a profound effect on your overall state.

Click here to try some of our free guided meditations here.

4. Sleep early, Wake and Rise before the sun to

Capture the high vibrational prana, or life-force energy, that is present just before and after the sun rises, also known as the brahma muhurta. Delight in the glorious display of colours and vibrations that are present at this magical sunrise time of day, when the veils between dark and light are said to be at their most thin.

5. Develop Sattvic states of mind.

Peace, calm, positivity, presence, clarity, enthusiasm, joy, happiness, honesty, humility, flexibility, moderation, balance, gratitude, inner silence – these are the sattvic states to cultivate through our practice.   Yoga, meditation, journalling, being in nature – these are some examples of activities that can help cultivate these states.

Click here to Join us for a Yoga retreat in magical paradise to get you started on your journey!

6. Engage in conscientious hard work that contributes good and service in the world.

Engaging in work that is in alignment with your heart and with the good of others and the planet helps to in turn nourish you with more of the aforementioned sattvic states.  If you engage in work or daily habits or behaviours that leave you feeling anxious, dread, doom or gloom in anyway, this is an indication that change may be necessary.  If you need help getting clarity, taking a step away from your everyday life, and joining a Yoga retreat in paradise, can help offer you some much needed support, instruction and perspective.

7. Always tell the truth and avoid hurting anyone’s heart

“The truth will set you free” – famous quote from the bible that gives such excellent life instruction.  There is clarity, and lightness in speaking truth and in speaking love.  Gossiping, neglecting to be honest or leaving out truths, and telling non-truths even in the spirit of avoiding hurting someone’s heart, always has the tendency to rear it’s ugly head at some point, and often does more harm to the communicator than anyone else.

 

8. Study spiritual text and educational, inspirational and uplifting words

Malcom Gladwell in his book “Outlier’s” has famously shared his theory that to become expert in anything we need to spend 10,000 hours in dedicated practice or study.  Similarly, if you want to live with Sattva as your baseline state of being, it is important that you input as much of all of the above points in to your life as often as possible.  Books, podcasts, videos from great masters are all great ways to immerse your self in in positivity, clarity and insight.

Click here to check out our awesome book recommendations for you here.

9. Listen deeply when spoken to and offer compassionate words

Presence is the greatest gift we can offer ourselves and others.  When you are with someone, offer them your full presence.

 

10.  Live mindfully and in the present moment

Be awake to the emotions, feelings and mental and physical states that are present to you this NOW.  Each moment can be our teacher if we allow it to be.  There is so much information in each moment that can help us know ourselves more, and cultivate more calm, presence and sattva.

 

Ready to bring more sattva into your life?

I can help.

Phentermine

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Day 17 – This is your Brain on Meditation

by | Feb 28, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 17: 

 This is your Brain on Meditation

Why Meditate?! 

Why do we bother spending time alone with ourselves?!

 

Most of us have tried meditation, or else we’ve heard many reasons about why we should try it, and it’s potential benefits for our mental health and well-being.

Meditation allows us to have a complete, simple and direct relationship with who we are. The power of introspection allows us to cultivate our witness, strengthening our ability to see things as they are, without masking or veiling our ego’s fear and hopes, preferences, likes and dislikes.

More than something we effort to do, the practice of mediation is more about subtracting the things we do so that we can come into a place of stillness.  Meditation is a uninterrupted flow of concentration.

People have been using mediation for thousands of years, as a way to transcend the suffering borne from the ceaselessly thinking monkey mind and emotional upsets, to move more into peace, clarity and present moment awareness.

There are seemingly infinite meditation techniques and traditions, from simply focusing on the breath, to prayer, mantra chanting, self-inquiry (who am I?), Vipassana, metta, chakra, yantra, mandala … Essentially all techniques serve the singular purpose of cultivating awareness, mindfulness and expanded consciousness

The gifts of meditation are many.  Whether you come to meditation seeking relief from painful, fearful thoughts,for stress reduction or other health benefits, or simply for greater self-understanding, intuitive powers and increased concentration power, a regular practice of mediation can inspire profound physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits.

Science and direct experience share with us countless benefits of regular meditation:  From neuroplasticity ,to a more alert and relaxed brain, to increased resilence and life-span,

 

Neuroscientist Sara Lazar’s amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress

 

“The human body and mind are veritable battlegrounds for the war between wisdom and the conscious delusive force manifesting as vidya, ignorance. Every spiritual aspirant, aiming to establish within himself the rule of King Soul, must defeat the rebels, King Ego and his powerful allies”.  – (Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita, p.24)

Gifts of Meditation

 

Meditation reduces stress, improves focus and concentration, encourages a more balanced and healthy lifestyle, increases Self-Awareness. increases happiness and longevity.  Meditation allows us to have a complete, simple and direct relationship with who we are:

The power of introspection allows us to cultivate our witness, strengthening our ability to see things as they are, without masking or veiling our ego’s fear and hopes, preferences, likes and dislikes. Seeing more clearly through our daily habits, our stories, our illusions, Maya, leads us to a life of wisdom, peace & equanimity.

Meditation leads to intuition, inner awareness of our true self and a state of peace and bliss. Meditation helps us focus the mind and keep it positive, helping us transcend fear, desire, longing, negative emotions and ever positive attachments.

Meditation opens the metaphorical 3rd eye, or Ajna chakra, allowing us to see that the spiritual world and material world are not separate so that we can transcend the ego to concentrate on a broader awareness of the universe and one’s relation to it. It gives us the immediate knowledge that unites the individual soul, jiva atman, with the Supreme Soul, atman.

Meditation is a practice of finding balance between effort and surrender; balancing the will power to sustain concentration and detachment from distraction to remain in the heightened state of awareness, and the ability to relax, surrender and let go of all expectations and desires. There are many simple techniques for meditation to bring the mind into focus, returning it to stillness; Slow and steady Pranayama can always be engaged to refresh and revitalise the mind if it’s feeling tired, fatigued or unfocused.

Key Meditation Practice Points

  • Be Consistent and Create a Habit
  • Create a Sacred Space and/or Alter Space
  • Time – Most ideal for practice is dawn and dusk, especially Brahmamuhurta between 3 – 6am when the atmosphere is most clean, charged and unruffled by the activities of the day
  • Establish a comfortable sitting position
  • Be mindful of the Breath
  • Commit to the Present Moment; give up dwelling on the past or worrying about the future

 

Today I invite you to spend some time in meditation. 

Set your timer for a minimum of 5 minutes, sit upright with a nice long spine, eyes closed, bringing your awareness to the breath.  Spend some time noticing how you feel, tuning into the rhythm of the breath, and set an intention or say a prayer if you like.

What effects do you notice within yourself from even just 5 mins of meditation?

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

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Bhakti Bliss

Bhakti Bliss

by | Feb 27, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle

 Bhakti Bliss

Yoga of the Heart

Bhakti Yoga / Mantra Yoga

Yoga of the Heart 

“The power of mantra lies in the vibrations, and these vibrations work on many levels, whether the sayings are pronounced out loud or silently …The simple act of saying a mantra will still bring the heart and mind into alignment with its subtle goal, which is to bring heightened self-awareness and a deeper sense of peace and calm.” – Alanna Kaivalya

Bhakti Yoga

Today, I invite us to turn our awareness towards the heart and explore the sweetest of the Yogic paths; Bhakti Yoga.

In Bhakti Yoga, or the yoga of devotion, we surrender the ego, our intellect, our doubts, judgments & fears, and we harness the power of our emotions to help fuel our connection with the divine.

In opening our heart in this way,  we create relax into a flow of universal love and trust, a greater awareness and understanding of our true nature, bringing us into deeper levels of contentment, sweetness, compassion, light and energy.

One of the main practices of Bhakti Yoga is Chanting, Singing and Mantra Yoga.

 

Mantra Yoga: “Man” – thinking mind, “Tra” – to protect or expand.

 

Mantras are powerful sound vibrations that have the ability to alter consciousness.

Through the practice of chanting, we center consciousness on Spirit through the repetition of powerful incantations and seed sounds of universal sounds. The power of mantra lies in vibrations, and it works on many levels, both subtle and overt. We can invoke an intention or the quality or essence of a particular deity.

 

 

Chanting – Chants are uplifting compilations of vibrations that can be used as prayers for peace, health, wellbeing, to focus the mind and empower whatever we want to give energy to. Chanting has the power to awaken our physical and energetic bodies. It can be used to loosen mental chatter to still the mind, becoming one-pointedly focused, and bringing the heart into alignment.

In kirtan, or call and response devotional singing, we lift our voices to heal our spirits and raise our vibrations by repeating mantras over and over, shifting our awareness from our heads to our hearts. Singing reminds us of our essential nature: joyful, openhearted, centered, and blissful

 

Bhakti Bliss: Music as Medicine

When we sing, we open the throat chakra and allow a free flow of energy to groove through the passageway that connects heart and mind.  This allows us to bring balance and a free flow of energy to the heart and mind, so that we are not too caught up in mental chatter or emotionality, When we sing, we rise in Joy, Freedom, Peace and Connection.

I Invite you to take a moment now, PRESS PLAY, closer your eyes, and use whatever emotions or energy present within you to fuel your voice in opening and singing this beautiful mantra with me:

Jai Sri Ma Kali Kali Ma Jai Sri Ma

Ananda Ma, Durga Devi

Jagadambe Sri Ma

 

“If you want to find the secrets of the Universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration”. – Nikola Tesla

 

P.S. Check out this incredible video on Cymatics, the study of visible sound vibration that effectively shows us how sound affects matter:

 

 

We Love Hearing from You!

Do you have a favourite mantra? What do you love about it and why?

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Day 11 – Consciousness – ABCs of Yoga – Part 3

by | Feb 27, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 11: Consciousness

Abc’s of Yoga – Part 3

Who am I?

Know thyself: the Path of Self-Inquiry

“You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you. Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it. All that you have to do is to give up being aware of other things, that is, of the not-self. If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains . . .” – Ramana Maharishi

Once we’ve aligned our bodies through asana, and connected to the breath, we can bring our awareness into consciousness it’s self.

At this stage we understand that we are far more that just our bodies. We know that our body’s cells completely replace themselves every 7 years.  We know that the body we had at age 3 is a different body that when we are 73.  Our bodies, are more like the temple of our souls.

We know we are not just the breath, the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink.. Our breath is moving through us without a conscious effort keeping us alive and in rhythm with the pulsation of all things in the universe.

As we slow down the breath, and begin to witness each thought  arising, existing, and falling away, we also begin to recognise that we are not our thoughts. Thoughts, feelings, and sensations are but fleeting moments to which we sometimes get attached or identified. 

When we let thoughts come and go without attaching our emotions and personal interpretation to them, we see that we are the witness of thoughts.  We are the like the clear blue sky, the thoughts are like the passing clouds.

So who are we? Who is the thinker of these thoughts? the perceiver of these sensations? The witness of these experiences?

 

 

This is the question that Ramana Maharishi went to the caves for 17 years to contemplate. Ramana Maharishi taught the practice of self-inquiry, as a method of following the “I” – thought in order to find it’s source.

It requires practice, effort and discipline to keep watching the thoughts and rest in our true nature, pure awareness itself.  It takes continual and consistent practice to overcome the strong habits of of the monkey mind that likes to jump from thought branch to thought branch, the mind that loves a good dose distraction, attachment, and identification.

“When we begin to see through the illusion we once took to be “me”, there is a simultaneous emergence of our true nature from the background, where it has been waiting patiently for us to sober up from the intoxication of seeking”. – Bob O’Hearn

 

Learn more about Ramana Maharishi & Self-Inquiry:

 

 

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice  – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

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Day 10 – Breath – ABCs of Yoga – Part 2

by | Feb 26, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day10: the Breath

ABC’s of Yoga – Part 2

Pranayama: Art of Breathing

“For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.” ::Sanskrit Proverb

 

“When the Breather wanders, the mind is unsteady,

but when the Breath is still, so is the mind still”. – Hatha Yoga Pradipika

 

Pranayama is the extension of life force energy in the body, which supports health and longevity. Pranayama is the breathing practice of yoga and is the disciplining of our life force energy (prana), to remove blockages within our physical and energetic system, to clear illness and pain and ignite the spine to help regulate the nervous systems, so that we may achieve higher states of consciousness and awareness.

 

Understanding and controlling prana is the key to health mind/body balance. Conscious breath control is the key to realizing the benefits of asana as it brings us into a deeper connection with our inner self.

 

“Prana” is the subtle energy or life force that links matter and spirit, the astral and the physical. This vital energy or life force, located in the body’s nadis or energy channels, is in all life forms and is central to all yoga practices. Prana is a subtle force of energy carried in food, air, water, sunlight, the atmospheres we spend time in, the people we surround ourselves with, and it animates all form of matter.

 

“Ayama” means extension, expansion, to stretch, lengthen, prolong, regulate

 

Benefits of Pranayama – Pranayama helps reduce stress, quiets the mind, enhances concentration, memory and focus, and invigorates, heats and purifies the body.

Once we’ve connected with the breath, and started sending the breath towards any part of our bodies that’s holding tension or tightness,  we can turn our awareness towards awareness it self, to explore the deeper layers of consciousness,  our inner world, and who we really are.

 

Take a few moments now to breathe with me:

 

Path of Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice – Enter your “Yay” or “Nay”.

Journal  / 3 Gratitudes

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Day 9 – Abc’s of Yoga- Part 1

by | Feb 26, 2018 | 21 Day Challenge - Finding Flow

Day 9: ABC’ of Yoga

Part 1: Attitude & Alignment

ABC’s of Yoga

Part 1: Attitude & Alignment 

 

 

Yoga chitta vritti nirodhah

Translation: Union or yoga arises when the fluctuations /waves of thoughts in the mind /consciousness cease.- From Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras

 

The word yoga literally means “to yoke” or “union”. Beyond the practice of physical exercises, Yoga is the coming together of the individual self or consciousness, with the infinite universal consciousness or spirit. Yoga is a method of inquiry in to the nature of the mind, which emphasises practice and direct experience. 

The “goal” of yoga is to align to the universal consciousness in order to experience joy, freedom, FLOW and the stillness of full consciousness. Alignment, is related to mind and body, and refers to how various parts of us are integrated and interconnected.   The world is what think and believe it to be. It is subjective in essence – a projection of what we feel it is, based on past experiences and conditionings. What we see in others is what we have inside, like a mirror that is only projecting what is inside.

How we carry the body is how we carry the mind.

 

Attitude’s of Yoga

 

Willingness

Transformation is a reflection of our willingness to connect, to let go, to aspire to realise oneself. In other words, you get out what you put in. Use this challenge as an opportunity to go deeply into self-reflection so that you can empower yourself to recognise and begin shifting patterns that no longer serve and integrating ones that do.

 

Beginners Mind

According to Zen Buddhism, when our rice bowl is full, so to speak, there is no room for more. Thus in order to stay open and keep learning, we must continually empty our bowls, so to speak. See if you can meet each moment with a child-like sense of awe and wonder, in a spirit of openness, curiosity and playfulness as we explore and discover our personal patterns and edges.

 

Mindfulness

Be conscious and mindful in your thoughts, words and actions. Honour and listen to your body’s messages, using this as an opportunity to be mindful and discerning of the food and substances you consume, remembering that attitudes and behaviours ‘off the mat’ are just as important, as those on ‘on the mat’.

The Obstacle is the Way

Everything in life the presents can be seen as our teacher.  If we allow everything that presents to reflect to us how we can expand, grow and expand then we evolve.  How can you see the anger, the frustration, the impatience, the jealousy, the criticism, the rain, the bad meeting….as your teacher?

 

Physical Alignment

Shrtire Sukham Asanam

 

This is the prescription for how all poses should be practiced from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: Asana (posture, seated position, physical practice) is steady (strong; steady, stable, motionless) and comfortable (ease filled, happy, light, relaxed). Performed with willingness as well as acceptance. Firm as well as pleasant. Strong as well as relaxed. Maintained with effort as well as ease. Avoid pushing yourself or damaging the body.

There are many principles of alignment in yoga asana from many traditions. Here are just a few very basic ideas to keep in mind throughout your practice: 

 

Spine:

Yoga asana focuses on elongating the spine and increasing its range of motion. Because Yoga is ultimately of practice of working with subtle energies, maintaining alignment and length in the Spine is of the utmost importance in yoga asana alignment.

 

Hands /Feet: Our foundation:

We begin by setting up and aligning the foundation of the poses. Spread your hands / feet wide to create the most stable foundation possible to support our being, plant down through the 4 corners of your hands and feet, especially the big toes, then draw the energy in and up through the body though the domes or “nostrils” of the hands and feet. Mantra: Spread out. Plant Down. Draw in.

 

Soft Elbows / Knees:

There are no straight lines in nature and thus considering we are a creation of nature, this goes for our bodies as well. We can always maintain softness in these joints, ensuring that we are not hyper-extending, as this compromises the integrity of alignment in the pose. Teachers will often remind us to “micro-bend” or to have soft elbows and knees as this helps us to yield into the earth or whatever surface we are upon. Actively yielding to the Earth creates a rebound effect, elongating the body upwards into space.

 

Shoulders / Hips:

These are the gateways for the arms and legs to connect with the torso, and two common areas in which we commonly experience tension in the body. When the shoulders are hugging the ears, the body is being sent messages of stress! So think about relaxing and softening the shoulder, rolling your shoulders away from your ears creating as much space as possible in the neck. Keep the hips level, ensuring that their height is equalized.

 

Neutralize Pelvic tilt:

Think of the pelvis as a bowl filled with water. In standing and balancing positions, we want to keep the bowl level so that we are not tipping forward and hyper arching our low back, spilling the water out the front, or tilting it too far up, as is common in people with tight hips doing seated postures, spilling the water out the back. Make sure the hips and pelvis are level. If you find your low back rounding and your pelvis tipping up, then help yourself to a cushion or two or three so that you can be aligned and comfortable. We also want to make sure we neutralise the front to back placement of the hips so that it rests just atop the legs.

 

 

Neck and head:

In most active styles of yoga asana, the general principle is to keep the head and neck long and in line with the spine, bringing the chin back in if are heads are jutting forward. I know a body worker who tells his clients: “Take the head away from the computer!”.

Soft Face & Eyes:

Make sure your eyes are soft, your jaw is relaxed and soft, and your face is nice and released. Having a soft controlled gaze or focus, or Drishti, helps us to develop concentration, and focused consciousness to see the world as it is. When we are beginning our practice of yoga, we often lose balance by looking around and paying attention to all of the stimulation and distraction outside of ourselves. Focusing the attention inwards, by holding a soft gaze point either to our 3rd eye or our hearts, encourage stability and inward looking.

 

We have the potential, using conscious intentions, thoughts and words, to co-create the life we want, to go beyond our limitations and fears, to surrender and open, to choose the type of person we want to be, to flow with the divine grace, to see the beauty in and all around us.  The key is to ALIGN ourselves so the flow can move through us.

Daily Practice:

Step 1 – Path of  Practice

Do your “Big” or “Small” practice

Celebrate &  Mark your “Yay!”

Step 2 – Foundations of Flow

Journal the Journey – 5 minutes /  3 Gratitudes

What are some attitudes that you want to adopt to bring more FLOW into your life?  How can you align your thoughts, words and actions more so that the flow can move through with more grace and ease?

Step 3 – Reflect & this Connect:

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