House of Calm

30/09/2020

Keys dangling from the door...

Keys that once opened a door to a dream three years ago...

Keys that opened to opportunity and possibility...

Keys that opened to an urban sanctuary, a space for healing...

Keys that allowed many lessons and love in...

Keys that allowed energy to unblock and flow...

Keys that connected and built friendships...

Keys that today have closed and locked the door for the last time...

Today, house of calm officially closed and locked her doors with the very key that opened and created her. Today, our lease expired and we chose to end this chapter. What does the future hold? The opportunities are endless, but today we say farewell.

Deep and heartfelt gratitude to each teacher, tenant, student, patron and employee. Thank you for your time, effort, creativity and love in building this beautiful community of like-minded souls. I am so honoured that our paths have crossed and the exchanges we have shared in this journey. 🙏

May you all be filled with Lovingkindness
May you all be happy
May you all know a deep and natural peace
May you all be well
May you all be free

Namaste beautiful souls 💚

29/06/2020

opportunity

/ɒpəˈtjuːnɪti/

noun

a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.

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If there is just one lesson we can learn from our current global situation is the unpredictability of life. There is a lot that we are unable to control and a lot we can learn about acceptance. But no matter the situation, there are always doors being presented. Doors to close and doors to open. Opportunities all around us to move along our paths.


During this time, opportunities have presented themselves as different doors.


If you have dreamt about owning an urban sanctuary we have an opportunity for you. House of Calm is opening the door for someone new to make it their own. To walk through to grow, nurture and continue to love it unconditionally. If you are interested in purchasing this beautiful home away from home, please contact us on hello@houseofcalm.co.za.

02/06/2020

10/05/2020

Happy Mother's Day!


Wishing all those we consider to be our mothers, a very happy day! It may not be possible to spend this day with them, but we send all our love and most deepest and heartfelt gratitude for all their love, their sacrifices, their support and encouragement, their reliability and courage and mostly just for being. Thank you 🙏🏼


We love you. 💚

30/04/2020

SCHEDULE | Online .

Our phenomenal teachers have been creating beautiful practices online for you to share over the past month and we will continue to do as lockdown is extended and studios will only be opened during the last level. Teaching online is not the same as seeing you beautiful souls and connecting with your energy (we really miss each of you! 🥺) but we will continue to hold space for healing and guide you through movement, breath and meditation. .

Please see images for our regular live online classes with each of our amazing teachers. There is so much to choose from and hopefully you will find something that suits your needs. *please note* We have not specified the style of yoga that will be taught. .

Please follow each who will provide you with the relevant login details for either zoom or facebook live. .

brim

hickey

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Or DM us with your number to join our WhatsApp group. If the class times are unsuitable you can subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have a few classes uploaded (link in our bio). .

Teachers dhana/paywhatyoucan/donations are most appreciated and should go directly to the teacher. Please message them for their banking or zapper details. However, we are all aware of the current struggles and we would love for you to continue practicing even if payment is not feasible at this time. Please discuss your exchange with the teachers. .

We always look forward to seeing you on the mat, even if it is in the virtual space. We love each of you and hope that you are staying safe and healthy and sane. .

Namaste beautiful souls. .

@ My Home

27/04/2020

FREEDOM DAY 2020


An unusual way to spend Freedom Day, locked in our homes however a day never to be forgotten for our beautiful country.


During this time, many of us have had an opportunity to become more introspective. And while we are trying to juggle many of our life roles, we are also becoming witness to things that we used to take for granted that we may no longer have access to; things we may not like and are now becoming things we love or things we truly hate. We create awareness around our little environment taking moments of reflection of what we need and how we can connect back to the self, learning about how we cope in uncertain times and already planning what will be the first thing that we do once lockdown is lifted.


Maybe you begin to learn that your freedom is only what you can control... maybe if you have a moment today, sit down quietly (not an easy option for some of us), take hold of a pen and paper or journal, and jot down freely what does freedom mean to you? You may be surprised by what you express...


We wish you all a happy Freedom Day in the safety of your homes. And an enormous and heartfelt thank you to those who are on the frontline, supporting and helping all those in need.


lockdown2020

22/04/2020

Earth Day 2020


Today, we take time to honour Mother Earth. For all that she provides and nurtures. Thank you. Grateful that she has the opportunity to heal during this time.


As Thich Nhat Hanh says,

"You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer."

16/04/2020

DAY 21 | MY YOGA INSPIRATION


YOU!

What motivates and inspires me, our tribe, our community and our healing space.


I am so privileged to have had some of the most phenomenal teachers cross my path that have inspired me and continue to inspire me daily. Plus those teachers that I have not met in person but have created the path of yoga for all of us to learn and share. My most deepest and heartfelt gratitude for guiding me, for inspiring me and for passing on your teachings.


I am so inspired by our tribe who show up and meet us on their mats. Watching them transform not just in their physical practices but seeing how they are applying yoga off the mat, approaching life with a new perspective and overcoming many fears. They are why the space was created, our urban sanctuary, a space for healing. Whatever that may look like for you. I am so grateful and love each and every single beautiful soul that has honoured me with their practice, with their time, with their continued love and support.

15/04/2020

DAY 20 | THE POSE I AM WORKING TOWARDS


I wish it was just one pose but I have many and have been uncertain which one to actually choose. I was thinking of Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel) but I tend to still keep avoiding it than practicing it 🤔... def need to work more on the mindset with that one...


So instead I have chosen one that I find myself practicing often. And it is a variation of how to get into a headstand (sirsasana). Lately my headstand game has not been it's usual self but like everything somedays it is amazing and other days I can barely lift feet...


I initially used to kick up into headstand and then began working towards first bringing knees in (which is the safer way to enter headstand as kicking up has its dangers, I sometimes learn things backwards! 😜). I have achieved drawing knees in first and then extending the legs straight and now I am working towards lifting the legs straight which requires a very strong core (working on that too). I did try taking a pic of myself attempting it and ego was too embarrassed to post it 😳 so found a beautiful pic of Kino McGregor in transition into headstand by lifting the legs together.


Why you may ask... hmmm good question... just because I want too... 😊


However, physical asana aside, I am honestly working more towards learning how to love my body, love and accept my experiences and just love me. Probably the hardest thing I have ever had to work towards.


Let me know what you are working on?

14/04/2020

DAY 19 | THE MUSIC I LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHILE I YOGA


Traditionally yoga is practiced in silence with the exception of your ujjayi breath. However as yoga has become more westernized, most of us play music during practice.


I am not so much a music aficionado but what I do like to listen to is mostly instrumenta, modern variations on chantsl or artists such as East Forest, Ólafur Arnalds, Trevor Hall, Guy Buttery, Vanessa Forbes, Ty Burhoe, Max Richter and Garth Stevenson.


During this lockdown, I have found myself practicing more gently, more about just moving my body versus pushing my body and so my music choices have been pretty slow and soft.


What do you listen to?

13/04/2020

DAY 18 | I COULD BE STILL IN THIS YIN POSTURE FOREVER


Reclined butterfly all the way! I like to prop myself up on a bolster, however being at home, I have used two pillows on top of a block (which is placed near the top to create an angle for the upper body and head). This added support under the back brings gentle spinal extension. Drawing souls of the feet together and knees wide allows the external rotation of the hips and we stretch into the groin and inner thighs. Depending on the angle of the props used and the position of the arms, you might be able to get a nice opening across the chest and front of the shoulders. Practicing this pose can help increase circulation to the pelvis and hips.


From the Yin perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, sensation along the outer thighs suggests stimulation of the Gall Bladder Meridian lines while a sensation along the inner thighs stimulate the Liver Meridian Lines. A bolster underneath the back can gently compress and stimulate the kidneys.


I really could lie in this pose forever! What is your fav?

12/04/2020

DAY 17 | MY GO TO OF PATANJALI'S SUTRAS


For me, Pantanjali's first sutra 1.1 is the one that I always turn to because all we have is now and yoga is always teaching me. That old saying of when the time is right, the teacher appears and that was yoga for me.


अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥१॥
atha yoga-anuśāsanam
Yoga in the here and now: an introduction to the study and practice of yoga

atha = and so, now (often used to introduce explanations)
yoga = yoga, unity, oneness, harmony with yourself
anuśāsanam = introduction to the experience; instruction, discipline


Life provides us with many lessons and experiences and it prepares us to pursue the depths of self-exploration, the journey directly to the center of consciousness, Atman, or Self, our eternal and True identity. And this is why the sutra connects with me as despite the preparatory experiences of life, this journey of yoga has endless lessons and teaches me something new, or deeper, about myself on a very regular basis.


To practice Yoga requires cultivating discipline and following a systematic method of learning (anushasanam). This has more to do with the quality or intention in one's practices than it has to do with the quantity. This is explained further along the sutras.


You can only attain the state of yoga through your own practice and experience of yoga.