The Yoga Pantry

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus Hey lovely, It’s winter in Aotearoa. The days are short, the air is cool, and if you’re anything like most of us, there’s a part of you that has quietly contracted, pulled inward, turned the electric blanket on, and started wondering if spring will ever actually come. I, for one, wondered if I would ever gain access to my emailing provider so I could finally get another Yogi Note out....

"The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one's being to be experienced, explored, enriched and, thereby, educated." — Thomas Hanna Hey lovely, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to write about, so it's been a few weeks since I last popped into your inbox and then I realised that with the change in temperature and season plus the departure of Steph from our regular timetable and the arrival of Kat, our newest team member, a little note about somatics might be just the...

"In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still." — Pico Iyer Hey lovely, Does this sound familiar? “I’m fine,” we say, phone in hand, jaw clenched, cortisol quietly through the roof. But are we, though? Let’s be honest. Most of us are living at a pace that would make our grandparents weep into their sensible dinners. We wake up and before we’ve even said good morning to ourselves,...

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." — Desmond Tutu Hey lovely, Here we are! The final path in our little journey through the four yogic ways. We’ve opened the heart with Bhakti. We’ve explored inner wisdom with Jnana. We’ve cultivated stillness with Raja. Now we arrive at Karma Yoga - the path of action. But not just any action. Conscious action. Selfless action. Action without attachment. And honestly? This might...

"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." — Bhagavad Gita Hey lovely, Now that we’ve wandered through the heart-opening sweetness of Bhakti Yoga and the deep inner inquiry of Jnana Yoga, it’s time to explore the third path, Raja Yoga, often called the Royal Path. Why royal? Because Raja Yoga is the path that brings everything together, the body, the breath, the senses, the mind, the heart, and guides them gently toward stillness and inner mastery. It’s yoga in its most...

"The real teacher is inside. Everything you seek is already within you." — Sri Ramana Maharshi Hey lovely, After sinking deeply into the heart-opening sweetness of Bhakti Yoga last week, I thought we could wander together into a different kind of intimacy, the intimacy of knowing yourself. This week, we explore Jnana Yoga, the path of wisdom, inquiry, and insight. But don’t worry, this isn’t the kind of wisdom you memorise, study, or force. It’s the kind that gently rises from within when you...

"Your heart is the size of an ocean. Go find yourself in its hidden depths." — Rumi Hey lovely, After briefly exploring the four paths of yoga last week, I promised we'd dive a little deeper into each path, and today we are digging into Bhakti Yoga - the path of devotion, love, and heartfelt connection. There’s something beautifully soft and nourishing about it, especially in a world that’s constantly pulling our attention outward and stretching our energy thin. Bhakti reminds us that the...

"There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same." — Hindu Proverb Hey lovely, I was wondering what to write about in this next instalment of our Yogi Notes and realised (I'm pretty sure) that I've never, ever, in the last decade, written about the 4 paths, even though this was a huge part of my yoga teacher training. Something beautiful about yoga, something I wish more people knew, is that it’s so much bigger than the poses we practice on the mat. Asanas are...

"And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." — Meister Eckhart Hey lovely, happy new year! Here we are, another brand new year stretching out before us, full of possibility, softness, adventure, and a little mystery. I always find this time of year a bit magical. Not because everything suddenly becomes perfect on January 1st (wouldn’t that be nice!), but because the air feels thick with potential. It’s a gentle invitation to begin again… not...

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." — John Dewey Hey lovely, Can you believe we’re here already? The final few weeks of the year. A soft exhale after a long inhale. That beautiful, slightly surreal liminal space where time feels stretchy and reflective and full of gentle endings. I don’t know about you, but this time of year always invites me to pause and turn inward, not necessarily to plan or resolve or get ready to conquer the world, but to...