The Beauty of Yoga

27/10/2025

A retreat? Leonie says, "You've got to do it!"

What you learn on retreat
enables you to continue
thriving
even when you return home

27/10/2025

Such a beautiful location to hold our second Calm Living Retreat - friendly, helpful & attentive staff made our week long experience extra special!

Twice the gratitude, twice the joy! Thank you for returning to our retreat venue for the 2nd time your energy and trust inspire us always.

Photo by The Beauty of Yoga

26/10/2025

Do you think the act of
journaling has been lost to this modern, technology saturated society?

Not on a retreat.

Women are invited to put pen to paper & practice daily journaling.

They're given prompts and have the time & space to
reflect on their days
release past experiences (that unconsciously weigh them down)
get clear about how they show up in their life (moments to dream & create)
and truly meet themselves with forgiveness & compassion

The 5-10 minutes is often enough to shift the focus from
negative to positive
choose a state of gratitude
& it quickly becomes a favourite part of our daily ritual

Quiet moments captured by Vivian Gasperotto Photography

23/10/2025

✨️TOP TEN ✨️

As I close my 10th international week long retreat,
(since 2019)
I am reflecting on all of the incredible women that I have met
who have trusted me to hold these spaces for them,
enthusiastically shared in these experiences,
chosen to be the favourite version of themselves
& travelled from all over Australia, Canada, Europe & the UK

You, your stories,
the way you show up so authentically & wholeheartedly,
our connections - truly mean the world to me 💖

I choose this life, but I also have the most wonderful support & encouragement from my family & friends

Blessed feels like an understatement

🥰🙏🌴

22/10/2025

Mel had watched ALL the testimonial videos

other women have shared

before she booked her spot on a retreat

and now she's here telling You

"Book It! Do It! Do It For You!"

Already looking forward to sharing another retreat with you Melanie Finch

Want to know more?
Link in bio
🌴🙏☀️

20/10/2025

Every moment of mindfulness leads to another moment of happiness...

and we shared plenty of both this past week!

Each day on retreat was an opportunity to act more consciously,
to observe our thoughts
yet not be bound by them

The world looks a little different now

The outside noise no longer clouds the mind
instead the essence of calm emanates into our lives

I am in awe of these inspirational women & their commitment to the practice

12/10/2025

It's essential
that I am feeling
rested, healthy & centred
before I hold a week long retreat space

No better way than
slow days
nourishing food
time in my own company
reflection
pampering

All the things I am about to encourage the women to do when their retreat begins tomorrow!

10/10/2025

Picture it..
I'm awake for 14+ hrs
in transit for 11+ hrs
eagerly looking forward to a 90min restorative yoga class (clearly stated on the studio schedule) within minutes from my accommodation - the previous years/visits I loved melting over bolsters to prepare for sleep after a day of travel
the teacher, who's beautiful, authentic restorative style I loved, has moved on from the studio so instead I met a new teacher
He described the class as restorative/yin (not a thing - they're different practices)
He said we would feel pain (um, no thanks)
He squeezed in approximately 16 poses 😭 (IFYKYK) randomly holding them for various amounts of time,
when led out of the pose & asked to rest we were then told (in the very next breath) to move onto the next pose (noooo....where's the rebound .?! 😢)
He rang a bell continually (yet randomly) throughout the class so I was never sure if that was marking a time period, telling us to hurry up & move or he was accidentally bumping it (but the nervous system was not loving it)
With 20 mins to go he told us it was time for savasana so thank goodness this class was going to be saved by a nice long (hopefully quiet) rest...
Well wasn't I the fool...five minutes. Five minutes is all we were given to rest...
We sat up did some bee breathing & finished 8 mins early...😳
My intention for attending this class was to deeply rest my mind & body but
instead I was reminded to be patient, forgiving & compassionate, oh & of course that I am incredibly blessed to even be here & a student of yoga
My bed is comfortable, the gardens are lush & my dreams will no doubt be sweet
& tomorrow I'll wake up in Bali
🌴

27/09/2025

🌸Spring Qigong + Yin Yoga

with my friend, fellow teacher & guide

Edita Hill
Akira-Ki

Mindful movements, stillness & quiet
Yoga nidra & beautiful sounds
made for a delightful afternoon

The Spring energy invites us to
let go of all that no longer serves us
plant seeds of intention
sink our teeth into new projects &
follow our desires

Thank you everyone,
for sharing this seasonal offering with us
🙏🪷🙏🪷

Beautiful space The Station Pilates Bli Bli

21/09/2025

Research reveals that the hardest part about a yoga practice is getting on your mat

Whether it's rolling it out at home
or
Stepping through the door of a yoga studio

There are numerous obstacles that can get in our way (many self created)🤔

So when you do arrive,
please take a moment in recognition
for your courageous, awesome Self 🙌

- priortising your mental wellbeing so you can keep showing up as the favourite version of You!

19/09/2025

⭐️News Flash ⭐️ Did you know

that people who bring their heels to the floor in Downward Facing Dog are not more enlightened that those who can't?

Did you know that some bodies will never even get their heels to the floor in DFD?

Not without losing alignment that promotes safety, stability & optimal energetic flow.

Along with tightness throughout the calves, hamstrings or hips, which over time may ease,
- anatomy & individual skeletal structures will have the final say.

Your experience may be

one of tension (excessive contraction in the muscles) which can ease over time or

one of compression (bone hitting bone when the ankle is in dorsiflexion) & there's no changing that!

Oh, if enlightenment was that easy, huh?! 😂

📷 Vivian Gasperotto Photography