"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 remember. To acknowledge the quiet ripples the year has left in me.
The truth is, a lot has happened, even if you haven't noticed just yet. Whether this year felt expansive or sticky, joyful or just plain strange, I invite you to take a moment and honour it all. Because you showed up. You lived it. You felt things. You learned, even when it wasn’t obvious.
And that matters.
The Yoga of Looking Back
In yoga, we call it svadhyaya - self-inquiry, reflection, getting curious about the journey inward. It’s not about picking ourselves apart or tallying accomplishments. It’s about sitting in the richness of our experience and gently asking:
✨ What did I learn about myself this year?
✨ Where did I surprise myself?
✨ What am I proud of, even if no one else saw it?
✨ What am I ready to release before the year closes its eyes?
You might like to pour a cup of something delicious, light a candle, and sit with these questions.
Write. Breathe. Be still. Cry or laugh or both.
This kind of reflection is like savasana for the soul, it gives your year time to integrate, to settle, to become part of you.
Simple Rituals to Honour the Shift
You don’t need a dramatic ceremony or a 20-step plan. Sometimes the most powerful rituals are the simplest:
- A walk by the ocean or under the trees, letting nature hold what you’re releasing
- Clearing a drawer or a room to make space for fresh energy
- Burning a list of “things I’m letting go” (safely, of course, preferably in a cauldron 🤣)
- A candle-lit yoga nidra or deep restorative rest
- A whispered mantra of thanks for the lessons
These acts send signals to the soul: I’m paying attention. I’m closing this chapter consciously.
You Are the Thread Between Then and Now
One of the greatest yogic gifts is the reminder that we’re not separate from the seasons, the endings, or the beginnings. We are woven into them. We are the ritual. We are the sacred pause before something new begins.
So before you rush into resolutions or “new year, new me” energy, take a little time to settle. Breathe with your year. Bless it. And bless the You who walked through it all.
I see you, and I appreciate you.
Thank you for being part of my world and the amazing Yoga Pantry community, whether you are near or far, big hugs and loads of love to you ♥️🙏
What's happening in The Pantry? 🧘♀️
We will be holding our very last class of 2025 THIS Saturday, and Francesca and I will be tag teaming! So come and join us for a celebration of yogasana, meditation and YOU!
If you have a Fast Track pass, a standard membership, or a monthly pass, your pass will be put on hold between those dates.
VIP Memberships will not be put on hold unless requested; instead, our VIP members will receive regular yoga videos (almost daily) from Tash with various kinds of yoga that you love, including some special "you've probably never done this before" stuff: :)
Plus, you also have access to the video library, which will also have some of your favourite classes for this year soon...promise!
Need a present? Have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do?
How about a yoga pass or a Beginner Yoga course for your favourite person 😉
The first Beginner Yoga Course for 2026 are now available to book on our website, woo hoo!
BOOK IT NOW and secure a coveted spot in this amazing course that has been running since 2014!
Perimenopause anyone? Karryn and I will be running a 6-week course on coping, or dare I say thriving with Perimenopause and celebrating the wise woman (Sage) you are becoming.
Starting on the 5th of Feb. More details and registration for that will be coming soon, so do watch this space, and if you want to gift that as a gift to a fabulous woman in your life, hit me up and I'll get you sorted :)
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes. There are only a few more classes to go this year!
Remember, you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you, with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't, you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day, or every day, until the next session :)
Your YouTube class of the week
Skinny Tash coming at ya from 8 years ago with this stress-busting session 😂🤣😬😉
Enjoy.
As always, sharing is caring, so please do share these videos with someone you think will benefit.
With love, ritual, and reflection.
Have a fantabulous holiday season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and blissful relaxation to you all!
Tash x
P.S If you wish to receive these amazing Yogi Notes straight to your inbox, sign up HERE
You can also catch up on previous Yogi Notes right HERE
P.P.S Don’t forget to share your Yoga insights on social media with the hashtag #TheYogaPantryLife #Yogaislife
Let’s spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you. You are awesome x
