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!

 

Sacred Activism & Self-Care

Sacred Activism & Self-Care

by | Nov 17, 2018 | Health, Wellness & Lifestyle, Podcasts & Interviews

Trauma-Informed Yoga & Sacred Activism

Interview with Atira Tan
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Listen to the Podcast Here:

You can also find our podcast on GooglePlay, Spotify, & Itunes!

 

 

Atira Tan is truly a force of love and good.  She is empowering and inspiring the world through Sacred Activism and Feminine Embodied Spirituality.

In this inspiring podcast episode, Atira shares her journey of Yoga, the Path of Service & Awakening, Sacred Activism, Self-Care and being in Pure Flow,  and her way of navigating life’s challenges..

Atira shares some wisdom and insight about the practices of Karma & Bhakti Yoga, as well as Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Trauma – informed Yoga & Mindfulness practices for resolving trauma that gets lodged in our nervous system and therefore within our bodies and minds.

She shares her main 3 Practices of Self-Care, her passion for empowering people to embody their power to become leaders of healing and change, and the importance of being curious.

 

About Atira

Atira Tan is Founder and Director of The Art2Healing Project, a non-profit organisation supporting the healing and well-being of trafficked women and children in Asia. She has worked internationally for anti-trafficking NGOs in Laos, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Nepal, supporting women and children at risk through movement and art therapies, yoga, ayurveda and meditation.

With almost fifteen years of experience working with trauma – informed approaches alongside art therapy, yoga and mindfulness, Atira has a deep commitment and passion in empowering and healing women and girls globally from the inside out.

An MA graduate in Art Therapy from Latrobe University in Melbourne and a Somatic Experiencing practicioner,  Atira has also been featured on TED X, and is a published author of the chapter: Surviving Shame, from the book Art Therapy in Asia, published by Jessica Kingsley (2012).

 

Show Notes: Atira’s Recommendations & Inspirations

 

What was your favourite part of this podcast?

Let us know in the comments below!

I'm ready for my 200 Hour Training!

Watch Atira Tan’s Ted Talk Here:

 

Pssssst…..

Did you know that  when you register for a Yoga Retreat in Paradise with us, $15 from each participant goes to support Yoga for Freedom? How awesome is that? And if you join our YTT, we aim to give $150 for each student registered to Atira’s charity as we all our other giveback partners.  Since 2015, Yoga for Freedom has raised a total sum of $35,000 in 2 years, and supported 2,365 women and girls

 

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?

 

 

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:

 

 

 

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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

Join me for a 1:1 Coaching Session
Join our upcoming Live Virtual Retreat!