Kindred Being

30/05/2025

5 years in the making…
✨ Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist✨
as my typical style, I applied to do this extensive
training without fully contemplating the workload and commitment 🫣
alas I’ve made it out the other side, excited and curious to see where I take it…
feels like the general population is just starting to wake up to this type of healthcare and form of therapy
International Association of Yoga Therapists
Guru Ram Das Center for Medicine and Humanology

27/05/2025

Such a great step forward for Yoga Therapy and Kundalini Yoga ✨
Kundalini Yoga Therapy building on its evidence-based benefits here in Melbourne, Australia.
Facilitated by the skilled and inspirational Siri Bhagvati ~ Billie from Kundalini House - Yoga, Massage and Acupuncture, a friend and mentor 🥰

🌿 Groundbreaking Kundalini Yoga Research Study Begins May 2025 🌿

We’re proud to announce that our very own Siri Bhagvati / Billie Atherstone, faculty member and Kundalini Yoga Therapist, is leading a world-first, NHMRC-funded research study on trauma-responsive Kundalini Yoga for survivors of sexual violence.

This historic project brings together top experts in trauma recovery—including Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa (Harvard Medical School) and Prof. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score)—in partnership with leading universities.

🧘‍♀️ The 12-week program, based at Kundalini House Melbourne, is designed to
support survivors through:

✨ Grounding mudras
✨ Pranayama & kriya
✨ Trauma-informed sequencing
✨ Meditation & mantra
✨ Weekly insights from neuroscience, psychology & yoga therapy

This study is comparing Kundalini Yoga with Cognitive Processing Therapy to explore its potential as a healing modality for complex PTSD.

🙏 A powerful step toward recognizing yoga as a complementary path to trauma recovery, resilience, and reconnection.

Learn more @ https://www.grdcenter.org/exploring-the-healing-potential-of-kundalini-yoga-for-trauma-recovery/

27/04/2025

snapshot of life in Thailand 🇹🇭
*in reverse chronological order
3 weeks away and feeling goooood ☺️

27/04/2025

An article I just wrote drawing a parallel between Rick Rubin’s creative process and Kundalini Yoga.

"Yoga is not merely a practice of the physical body, it is a way of attuning ourselves to a deep and profound way of being.

What has fascinated me most is how this mystical approach to being doesn’t belong to Yoga alone. I’ve noticed its echoes in places outside the traditional yogic world. I see these currents flowing not only within the walls of the yoga studio, but in conversation, in art, in the restless hum of our modern day. One particular reflection came recently when I began reading Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being. In his view of artistry, I recognised the same principles at work — sensitivity, awareness, attunement to unseen forces — all central elements of the yogic path I have been observing and walking for years.

This realisation inspired in me the deep connection between what we cultivate through yogic practices, and what great artists cultivate through their creative processes, I saw this parallel..."

click below to read more

https://medium.com/.kindredbeing/the-invisible-antennae-artists-arclines-and-the-art-of-tuning-in-74ff84a3848b

25/03/2025

Words are Vibrations
⚡️
~ currently feeling into the words we speak and our energetic imprint ~ how do I speak to myself and others?

Have you considered the impact that your words and what you say makes on your level of vibration and energy?

In Yogic philosophy, everything in existence is seen as a manifestation of vibratory energy, including thoughts, emotion and words/ speech.

Every word we speak or think about ourselves and others, creates a vibratory imprint that affects our own energy field and the world around us. Each word and our expression of communication carries an energetic frequency that can either uplift or diminish our own consciousness and that of others.

Modern science aligns with this understanding where sound frequencies affect matter, such as in cymatics, where sound vibrations create geometric patterns in physical substances.

The throat area, Vishuddhu, is the fifth energy centre in the chakra system. It is associated with communication, self-expression, truth and sound. When the energy here is open and balanced:
• Words flow effortlessly
• Truth is spoken without fear
• Communication is clear and harmonious

When there is an imbalance or misalignment of the throat chakra, it can manifest as:
• Difficulty in expressing oneself
• Fear of speaking one’s truth
• Gossiping, lying or excessive talking
• Physical symptoms of the area like sore throats, thyroid issue or neck stiffness/ tension

Sat Nam (सत् नाम)is one of the most common mantras we utilise in Kundalini Yoga, which aligns with the throat chakra. It can translate as “Truth is my Identity” and vibrates into the realm of speaking authentically and truthfully.

The throat chakra is the bridge between inner truth and outer expression. Through conscious speech, mantra/ chanting, pranayama and other Yogic practices we can refine our vibratory presence allowing our words to become vehicles of truth, healing and higher consciousness.

16/03/2025

Feedback from the last Yoga Therapy for Chronic Health Conditions course - 8 x group classes plus 2 x 1:1 holistic health consultations 🥰

In Yoga Therapy, the aim is to empower the individual, to demonstrate that they have autonomy over their health, mind and body, introducing tools and techniques to meet them where they’re at.

A Yoga Therapist aims to provide support and highlight results so the individual becomes aware of their progress and continues to improve.

There is a need for collaborative care, or an integrative model of healthcare, in our society that sees a multidisciplinary team (MDT) manage an individual’s health condition — Yoga Therapy is a valuable component of this model.

13/03/2025

Yoga therapists have in-depth training to help them assess and keep clients safe.
They work with you to address your specific goals while considering any limitations you might be experiencing.
The practices your yoga therapist recommends could include:
• movement ranging from gentle to vigorous
• breathing techniques
• meditation or visualisation practices
• physical postures that address specific areas of discomfort or musculoskeletal imbalances
• any combination of tools like these

*taken from yogatherapy.health/what-is-yoga-therapy/

11/03/2025

Laughter 😂 and play 🤸 have significant physiological benefits for our health. Here’s how they impact the body:

1. Stress Reduction 🤗
Laughter decreases the production of cortisol and adrenaline, the body’s primary stress hormones, which helps reduce overall stress levels.
Play and laughter stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and recovery.

2. Cardiovascular Health ❤️‍🩹
Laughter improves blood flow and vascular function, leading to better heart health.
It can lower blood pressure and increase oxygen intake, reducing the risk of heart disease.

3. Immune System Boost⚕️
Laughing increases the production of antibodies and T-cells, enhancing the immune response.
It reduces inflammatory markers, helping the body fight illness more effectively.

4. Pain Relief 😅
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which help reduce pain perception.
It also increases pain tolerance and improves mood, making chronic pain more manageable.

5. Brain Health & Cognitive Function 🧠
Play and laughter boost dopamine and serotonin, improving mood and cognitive function.
Engaging in playful activities strengthens neural connections, enhancing memory, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

6. Muscle Relaxation & Physical Tension Relief 💪🏾Laughter causes muscle relaxation, reducing tension and stiffness in the body.
A good laugh can relieve physical tension for up to 45 minutes after the laughter stops.

7. Social Bonding & Longevity 👯‍♀️
Play and laughter strengthen social connections, which are linked to lower stress and longer life expectancy.
People with strong social networks tend to have lower levels of inflammation and better overall health.

10/03/2025

Yoga therapy has been shown to enhance physical and psychological recovery, alleviate distress, and improve overall quality of life for cancer patients.
The interventions of Yoga therapy help manage common challenges such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and treatment-related side effects.
By promoting relaxation, emotional resilience, and physical well-being, yoga and similar therapies play a valuable role in cancer care, aiding patients in coping with the uncertainties and difficulties of their journey.

These three articles emphasise the benefits:

1. Yoga Therapy as an Intervention to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Adults After Treatment for Cancer (Brunet et al., 2024)

• This study evaluates the impact of yoga therapy on patient-reported outcomes in adults post-cancer treatment.
• Findings suggest yoga therapy can improve physical and psychological well-being.
• It highlights yoga’s role in enhancing overall recovery and quality of life after cancer treatment.

2) Distress Management Through Mind-Body Therapies in Oncology (Carlson, 2017)

• Discusses the effectiveness of Mind-Body Interventions (including yoga) in managing cancer-related distress.
• Identifies common psychological challenges faced by cancer patients, such as loss of control, fear of recurrence, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
• Supports the role of these interventions in improving mental health and coping mechanisms for cancer patients.

3) Yoga Therapy for Improving the Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients: Literature Review (Fibriansari & Azizah, 2023)

• Reviews existing literature on yoga’s benefits for breast cancer patients.
• Concludes that yoga significantly improves quality of life by reducing pain and treatment-related side effects.
• Highlights yoga’s role in enhancing physical and emotional well-being in breast cancer patients.

31/08/2024

I don’t want to keep analysing
I don’t want to be critical of myself or other
I want to be in a neutral mindset whilst enjoying my life day by day
I don’t want to be stuck in a cycle of what’s right and what’s wrong - I don’t want to assume this means that etc.
I want to dwell in my own high vibration, not swayed by what-if or what-should-be
I want to focus on feeling good about myself and my life
I want to remain anchored to my truth, my power, my spirit
I want to show love for myself and be kind to those I cross paths with
I want to wake up happy and excited for the day ahead, and go to bed content and grateful for all that occurred
I want to remain in my radiant body
I don’t want unmet expectations I’ve put on others to control my mood
I want to release the grip on what I can’t control and enjoy making progress on the things I can
I want to rise above the trauma, wounds, triggers and love from a place of calm, openness and peace
I want my friends and family to be healthy and well
I want to keep following my path and remaining curious as to what’s still out there to discover
I want those that are in alignment with my frequency to vibrate here with me
I want to feel the light, and feel the shadows just enough to seek the light again
I don’t want to carry the heaviness of anger, shame, fear, or rejection
I want to live in acceptance of the moment, acceptance of self, unburdened, unshackled, un-afraid
Infinite and intuitive
I want to stay connected to my environment, to nature, to the oneness
I want to surrender to the Divine flow whilst staying committed to my goals and daily practice
I want to taste each flavour, smell each scent, feel the texture, hear the song and see every detail exclaiming wow (Wahay Guru)
I want to be grateful for each sunrise, each choir of bird sound in the morning, acknowledge my body as it moves through the day and connect with my breath and the life force it strengthens me with
I don’t want to waste another day, another night, another moment feeling stuck in a state of constriction, paralysed and confused
I see the great mystery of life before me as a beautiful, beautiful thing to be alive for
For you and for me

17/07/2024

~ the whole picture & holistic health ~
“We are intricate, fascinating beings influenced by an array of inter-connected factors which represent our state of health. Treating holistically is to authentically explore all of these factors, helping to uncover our potential for living well and harmoniously.
I aim to provide a nourishing and collaborative space for this exploration and uncovering.”
— Joanna

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