“Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life.”― B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life

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If I ruled the world I would definitely be a dictator. I would ensure that everyone got at least one day a week where they could have space to do what they really wanted to do, which for most of us is just to LIVE and BE.

I desperately need those days, especially the little gaps to breathe and think and daydream. It's part of the reason I had a stress breakdown a few years ago - I had no time or space to process my life in a meaningful way.

It strikes me that here we share the most extraordinary things about our knowledge and our learnings that we don't often get a full picture or a day in the life of - just ordinary lovely days. I mean, I'm probably not going to share the most mundane days with you either - the ones where I stay in bed all day or do nothing but work - and you probably won't want to read about them!

But since I rearranged my work life balance my days are so much better. Some days I'm just so happy I had my stress breakdown in the first place, or I would never have days like these at all and I would still be wrapped up in a crazy chaos that never made sense to me.

Give me spaces to breath, please. And may everyone on this beautiful earth find those spaces too, so that they might be whole and the best they can be.

The other lovely poetry of this day was when I reached the end of it, someone said it was International Yoga Day. And here I was thinking it was just an ordinary yoga day!

5 am (Sneaky Steem)

I haven't been sleeping well of late, so I've been spending my nights in the spare room so as not to disturb Jamie. Last night, after my damiana tea, I sleep really well, but woke up super early. So, I snuck quietly into the kitchen to make a cuppa and returned to steem in bed, pumping out my damiana post before jumping in for morning cuddles with the man. It was incredibly hard to get out of bed.

7 am (Who says ya can't have soup for brekky?)

I was starving this morning, and it was so goddamn cold. I'd made a pot of lentil soup yesterday, so we thought well, we haven't ever eaten soup for brekky, so let's give that a shot - parmesan cheese, sourdough toast, the works. And it was absolutely delicious. Maybe it's our new winter breakfast.

7.45 (Far OUT it's cold out there)

3 degrees and icey windscreens and icy fingers and icy grass, crystal edges and crispiness. I'm so glad we're headed for Bali this week. Also feeling grateful for J. who scraped the ice off my windscreen with his debit card.

8 to 11 (Work)

Teaching students is awesome sometimes. Actually most of the time - I'm just not keen on the system or the bureacracy. However two lessons involved starting them off on holiday reading, which involved me reading to them (what a treat to read Malouf's words out aloud - he's so poetic and lyrical) and then they hit the floor for a yoga nidra treat, courtesy of me, who felt they'd had far too much learning this semester and could probably do with switching that side of their brains off. Seriously, they FLOATED out of the classroom. So did I - as I only teach two classes, I was feeling goooood about having the rest of the day to clear my head.

11.15 to 1.15 (Yoke of the Heart)

Yoke of the Heart in Torquay, Victoria is the studio I practice most at and Thursday lunchtimes is one of my favourite teachers, Jo Buick, who teaches from a trauma informed position and has some lovely sequences. If you are a yoga teacher, you might be really interested in her latest podcast here.


Today she gave us a really interesting way to get into Warrior 3 which was fun. I was so tired I actually fell asleep in savasana, which I very very rarely do! I stayed for chats for about half an hour afterwards - it's a really welcoming space and I love the people there so it was good to catch up since I won't be back for a few weeks.

Yoke is owned by Chris Wilson who opened the studio about 2 years ago. The studio is full of heart and whilst the teachings have a traditional base and involve trad teachings, there's also modern yoga interwoven into the classes. No barre or core classes - just pure yoga. Wilson always gets me into the infinite field of consciousness and leads me through an amazing anatomical exploration and pranyama, so I really relish any time I can steal to go there.

2 to 3 (Lunch)

I treated myself today to a yellow curry with some fresh coconut yoghurt which was homemade, and a turmeric latte. I know J. is at work having soup for lunch (again) so I felt marginally guilty about that. Nevermind, I'll get over it. Like in ten minutes or so. SurfCoast Wholefoods is a good bet for a decent healthy lunch, plus I like to lather myself with the testers of eco creams and lotions and perfumes. Oh, and @holisticmom - I bought a tub of natural sunscreen!! Thanks for the reminder.

3 to 4.30 (Daydreaming and Beach Snoozing)

How nice that the morning sun had burnt off the iciness. I thought I'd go for a surf but there really was none to be seen, and I was so tired that I decided to do something I NEVER do, and that's fall asleep on the beach. I'm not sure it was a decision, really, just a slipping into a daydreaming unconciousness with belly of curry and post yoga sweetness.

5.30 pm to 6.30 (Community Yoga)

The studio I did my teacher training at has free yoga classes on Wednesday nights as both a dhamma service and to give new teachers a chance to practice their thing. I've taught there quite a bit this year and I love the community class. It's a real privilege to teach there, in front of the altar where Shiva dances, and as it gets dark early, the fairy lights and the lamps make for a really beautiful and atmospheric space. I had fun teaching this sequence as I've been playing around with invitational language, rather than direct instruction, and they really enjoyed it. As there were only ten in the class and I had a bit of time left over, I gave everyone a little head massage with my hands bathed in rose essential oil, which was really lovely for both me and them. How special it is to be touched, and to touch back. I could feel them melting into the earth and see tiny smiles play across their lips as I held my thumbs reverently on their forehead, and breathed. Sometimes there's such a beautiful connection in the yoga room, as if we are all completely one, and I felt that in this moment and it warmed my heart. It was also humbling to hear people's smiling gratitude as they left. How blessed am I to be able to share this ancient practice with the community!!

7 - 9 (Yogi Catch Up)

We haven't got together as a group since teacher training and whilst it's impossible to do that, it was really nice to catch up with four of my fellow sadhakas for Thai and wine. We had a good laugh and a natter about yoga and all things in between. Feeling pretty blessed to know these folk.

9 - 11 (Home Again, Damiana and Brandy)

Honestly, this stuff is the bomb. I really wanted to share a little sacred space with J. tonight as it was solstice, and was feeling neglectful of my man. It was nice to sit in front of the fire and chat and drink tea and feel heart warmed.

What a beautiful day today was. It will be odd posting this tomorrow as I just realised I wrote it all in present tense even if it was actually yesterday but I guess as I'm re-living it here, just before I tidy the house and do the last minute packing for Bali, and it feels really close and immediate to me.

It was such a simple day, but such a blessed one - and full of good food, good down time where I nothing but the sound of the waves and the beating of my heart (plus a few seagulls) and love from friends and my lover. Simplicity rocks.

I invite you to tell me about your perfect day, whereever you are - I'd love to hear about it.

With all my heart extending into your world, with smiles and love and sparkles on this solstice week... xx May some of the bliss of this day filter through to yours xx

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