Pure Essence Yoga

27/08/2015

My beautiful class mate Sally Roe and myself are taking the plunge and hosting a retreat to nurture, sustain and connect you more fully to your inner light and the wonderful moment of now through yoga, meditation, art and sound therapy. Just putting it out there, if you know anyone who would like to attend, send them our way

16/05/2014

Sometimes it's okay...

15/05/2014

As a special introductory offer - new students can purchase a 6 week pass for $45 or 2 classes for $16. You have 8 weeks to use up your pass. Hope you can make it next Wednesday at the Mackie Street, Narangba 9.30am. It can be challenging to stay motivated in the cooler weather but making that extra effort is so rewarding, not only does your body feel better warmer and more alive you are also nourishing your discipline and stoking that inner fire with your committment, creating confidence, and strength from the inside out.

06/05/2014

Wednesdays class will be incorporating the practice of ahimsa into your movements breath and thoughts. To practice ahimsa means to live from a place of kindness compassion and non harming to all things. With everything though it must begin with the self. Being kind gentle loving and accepting with the thoughts and actions for yourself. Filling up your own cup first so that love and kindness may flow outward into the world. Hope you can make it ❤

05/05/2014

Monday Inspiration

04/05/2014

:)

03/05/2014

If you find yourself feeling frazzled ...

Remember this, and enjoy the weekend.

03/05/2014

www.yogisanonymous.com

Once in awhile, I re-tell the story of the scorpion and the frog. If you don’t know it, it goes something like this: Once there was a scorpion on the side of a river bank, and it called out to a passing frog, “Excuse me, could you please give me a lift across the river? I can’t swim, and I’m meeting a friend in 20 minutes.” The frog looked at the scorpion like it was crazy and replied, “I’m not giving you a ride! Do you take me for an idiot? You’re a scorpion, you’ll sting me.” And the scorpion said, “If I sting you, you’ll drown, and we’ll both die. Please, I’m going to be late.” So the frog thought this logic made sense, and he didn’t like the idea of making the scorpion late, so he said, “Okay, climb on.” Halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog. With his dying breath, the frog said, “Why? Why have you done this to us?!” And the scorpion said, “Dude, I’m a f&cking scorpion.”

This tale has always helped me when I’ve felt stung and confused by another person’s actions. When I’ve felt hurt or betrayed or discarded or rejected. None of these things feels good, and it’s very challenging not to take it personally if we’re hurting at the hands of someone we care about. If you’re feeling rejected, it’s natural to think it must be because you didn’t measure up in some way. Depending on your history and your personality, you might really internalize the experience. If you have doubt about your self-worth, if you think there could be something at your very core that is just not lovable, having someone leave you or abuse you or ignore you might look like a confirmation of your own doubts and fears.

But most of the time, it has very little to do with you. Sometimes you’ve simply gotten involved with a scorpion. People can only be where they are, y’know? A person has the tools they have. That doesn’t mean they might not pick up some new tools as they head down the river; a scorpion has the potential to turn into a frog if it works at it. But if you happen to cross paths with someone when they’re in darkness, you’re probably going to get stung. It’s personal only in the sense that you’ll now have healing to do. But it’s not a reflection of your lovableness. You are love. You’re made of love, I truly believe that.

If you’ve been stung, there’s only one thing for it–you’re going to have to bleed out the poison. The fastest way to do that is to lean into the searing pain of what you’re feeling. Instead of running or denying or repressing, you simply say, “This is how it is right now, and it will not always be like this, and it will not kill me.” And you breathe. You hang out with other frogs who love you, and who will take you to the river and help you see your reflection clearly so you can remember how special you are.

I know sometimes it can feel like you’ll never get over someone. I don’t just mean this in terms of romantic relationships. This happens in families, and it happens with the closest of friends, too. Sometimes the only way you can take care of yourself, the only way you can love yourself, is if you create distance between you and the people in your life who just don’t know how to love. Maybe at some point they will know. You don’t have to be hopeless about it. But until that time, your job is to keep your heart open, and you simply can’t do that if you keep allowing people to sting you. Your heart can only take so much before it starts to close in on itself. And that’s just too sad. Your heart is so gorgeous. You are the only one of you that exists, the only one of you the world gets. You’re a gift, and if you allow yourself to drown in the river of sorrow, you rob the world of a gift only you can bring. Hop up on your lily pad and feel the sun on your little froggy face. Wish the scorpions well if you have it in you, but don’t carry them across the river anymore, and don’t mistake the intensity of your feelings of pain as a reflection of the depth of your love. It’s much more likely that scorpion reminded you of another scorpion you knew a long time ago, when you were just a tadpole. Heal that sting, and the other scorpions won’t look so appealing. Sending you love. Ally Hamilton

28/04/2014

Let your light shine

Something to remember.

25/04/2014

www.yogisanonymous.com

Sometimes it's really hard to stay centered. Maybe someone has said or done something hurtful. Maybe you're being ignored, left to figure out what's happening on your own, in the dark. It could be that things are shifting rapidly in your life, or that you're feeling stuck. You might be wildly in love, or going through a heartbreak. Maybe you're under incredible pressure at work, or you're trying to figure out how to make ends meet. You might feel judged, rejected, or invisible. Or perhaps you're the object of someone's intense desire.

My point is, any and all of these situations can throw us off balance. And again and again, it comes back to how much we need reassurance, affirmation and love from other people. There's nothing wrong with wanting connection in life. With wanting to be held and seen and cherished. But if you need those things because you doubt at your very center that you're worthy of love, then you're in trouble. Because if one person says or does something that leaves you feeling rejected or discarded or "stung", you can bet you're going to spin for awhile.

Our time, attention and energy are the most precious gifts we have to offer. We don't get a do-over; there is no roll-over plan for wasted moments in this life. And other people can't make us feel anything, unless we let them. To feel love, you have to be receptive to it, you have to be ready to receive, and to give, to open and to trust. If you feel insecure, ashamed, or rejected based on the actions of another person, some deep part of you is in doubt. Somewhere within you, you must not be sure of yourself. Otherwise why would it bother you so much? I'm not saying it's a minor thing if someone pushes you away, or doesn't bother to treat you with respect, consideration, and compassion. I'm just saying you don't have to receive the insult. If you know you're doing your best and you're trying not to hurt other people, then you can feel centered and at peace. It won't matter so much if other people say nasty things behind your back, or to your face, because at the end of the day, you can face yourself. That's what matters. Of course we care about the opinions of those nearest and dearest to us, and if one of those people tells you it's time to do better, I'd take that into serious consideration. But ultimately, trust yourself.

It doesn't feel good to be held in someone's contempt, and it's even worse to feel invisible. But you are the steward of your own ship, you decide your course each day. You're a human being, so some days you'll come up against the rocks, or the seas will be rough, or you'll be thrown overboard and pulled under by the current. But as soon as you can, grab your compass and get back to it. If you need to dock on an island for a bit so you can explore the source of your pain, fear or doubt, by all means, get on that. Otherwise, try to direct most of your time, attention and energy toward sharing whatever you've got to give. As long as you're approaching life with an open heart, and doing your best to be accountable for the energy you're spreading, you won't have much cause to doubt yourself. Giving feels good. I think the giver receives more than the recipient. I wouldn't let someone rob you of an afternoon, a few days, a week, or more. Time is too precious, and you won't always know or understand another person's pain. But you can bet we all have some.

If you're off center because of great circumstances, enjoy every moment. Just don't lose yourself, and don't forget about your family and friends.

It's not possible to understand what's driving a person unless he or she tells you. People do things that are confusing and hurtful when they're in pain. That's where they are on their journey; it's no reflection of anything lacking in you. So if you're going through tumult around that kind of storm, try to get back on your feet.

We can be rocked by circumstance, thrilled when things are going our way, and depressed when they aren't, or we can keep coming back to steadiness. You might call that steadiness "knowing yourself", or inner peace. Sending you love, and wishing you the strength to stay centered. Use your inhales and exhales ;) Ally Hamilton

22/04/2014

Tomorrow in yoga class we will be cultivating santosha or contentment into our practice and ultimately into our lives. Contentment is one of the outward practices of yoga and is a pathway to peace acceptance and true inner joy . Hope you can join me and if not perhaps just make a choice for the day to rest with contentment with whatever arises and know that true peace and happiness already dwells within you regardless of whatever storms are in your life. Love and light Namaste ❤

20/04/2014

A wise physician said, "The best medicine for humans is CARE and LOVE." Asked if it didn't work, he smiled and answered "Increase the dose."