Julia Matheson
I was so fortunate to do Eoin Finn’s workshop when he was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago. He is my all time favourite yogi, but what he teaches goes beyond yoga – he is a modern day hero in my eyes.
He has a way of being that just lights people up inside. He has a true gift of connecting us to ourselves, and to each other. He is just so beautifully HUMAN.
You all know by now my self-professed obsession with water, more specifically – salt water. . . So you can imagine my surprise and delight when I landed myself in a floatation tank on the weekend! #jackpot
Yes that’s right – a tank you float in.
Hi Guys!
I wanted to let you know of 2 amazing events I have happening next Thursday in Melbourne. (And the best bit . . . they’re both FREE 🙂 )
Already forgot what your new years resolutions were?
Feeling stuck, or frustrated at the lack of progress your experiencing so far?
Have a clear vision but have no idea how to bring it to life?
Seeking more meaning, balance or fulfilment in your life?
The new year is the perfect time to tap into YOU. Your desires, your wants, your purpose.
It’s never to late to live the life you have imagined.
All details are listed below (and on my events page).
I hope to see you there!
X Julia
Thursday 5th February, 7:30am – 9am, Core Candy
Thursday 5th February, 6:15 pm, Brighton School House
Spring is all about renewal, new life & fresh new beginnings.
Come turn over a new leaf with Sarah Hunter & I as we take you through an inspiring morning of Yoga and Life Coaching.
This year has been a challenging one for me on a personal level. 2014 has been pushing my buttons, testing my boundaries, it’s prompted me to claim my position, define my values, and rule out my tolerations. It’s been challenging, painful, eye-opening and exhausting. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s provided me with a powerful source of awareness, clarity and growth. Nothing great ever comes out of my comfort zone anyway.
My favourite festival, Wanderlust, has come to Australia for the first time! I was beyond excited to attend and celebrate in my hometown Melbourne yesterday.
WAN•DER•LUST
[n] a strong or irresistible desire to
Travel • Practice Yoga • Listen to Music
Eat Well • Be Green • Appreciate Art
and create a community around mindful living [Read more…]
With Valentines Day on our doorstep, I couldn’t resist writing a little bit about the best four letter word there is – L O V E.
Love is the single one word that has been written about and spoken about in the world for centuries. It is the source of pleasure, pain, comfort and sorrow. It has been the source of creative inspiration for art, poetry, film and literature. Love, I believe, is the reason we are all here. [Read more…]
I think I have enough health food to get us all through the apocalypse.
It’s one of my goals this year to learn a new healthy recipe every week. My interest lies in gluten free, sugar free and raw food. Que recipe researching via my favourite healthy chefs and nutritionists and a looong shopping list to boot!
I spent the afternoon at Fruit Peddlers in High St Northcote, Melbourne. Stocking up on super foods, organic produce, raw treats, and weird and wonderful powders from South America.
This isn’t just any old health food shop. Wandering through the narrow little wooden aisles here is an experience in itself. Shelves packed to the ceiling full of unusual and wonderful goodies. Hipsters, kids, mums and dads, hippies, all negotiating their pathway through the organic goodness carrying big cane baskets (provided by the store). Let me tell you, the line up was nearly out the front door!
I know I feel a big shift in myself when I take care of my body, and eat natural nourishing foods.
This triggers a positive cycle for me, as when I eat well – I feel better, I have more energy, I want to exercise more, and in turn I feel great. And when you start feeling that vitality, only good actions can come from it. When I’m conscious about what I’m putting into my body, it makes me more conscious about what also comes out – meaning my attitude, my actions, my energy. We live better when we eat well. I guess it comes down to mindfulness. It’s not rocket science, fuel your body with goodness, and goodness you will exude.
EAT GOOD – FEEL GOOD – DO GOOD.
Remember what they told us when we were in primary school? ‘You are what you eat’. Well, they were onto something. . .
What the heck is a superfood anyway? Not all foods are created equal – some are so packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and other beneficial substances that they’ve been deemed ‘superfoods’.
Superfoods are considered the most powerful nutrient sources on the planet. How amazing that mother nature produces such potently rich goodness for our health? Not surprisingly, most, if not all of the super foods come from South America – the Amazon rainforest, Peruvian Andes, Chilaen Patagonia – most being the staple diets of the ancient Incas.
“Superfoods have incredible health benefits, packing a powerful nutritional punch that helps protect against cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, protect the organs from toxins and improve digestive health. Some nutritionists even say superfoods can help you live longer.” – Sydney Morning Herald
My wicker basket was full of raw cocao, activated buckwheat, un-hulled tahini, raw almonds and cashews, an enormous bunch of fresh organic green kale, super greens powder (for my smoothies – chlorella, spiralina, wheat grass & barley), maca powder, goji berries, black chia seeds, quinoa, agave syrup and cold pressed coconut oil. Oh and the most delicious raw organic chocolate I’ve ever wrapped my lips around. All items are organic and Australian made. I would have got more had I been able to carry it! (Now I know why people bring their little ones, I’m sure it’s just so they can carry more baskets! ** Note to self, must borrow child for next visit).
Most of these foods I’ve used before, but am really keen to get into the Maca powder, and to start cooking some sugar free goodies with the raw cacao and agave syrup. Once I try new recipes or ingredients, they easily become part of my cooking repertoire. The great thing about superfoods is that you can add them to everything – smoothies, salads, muesli, juices – they are really versatile.
I’m feeling pumped, and ready to start cooking some new and exciting (and super healthy) recipes!
What are you fuelling your life with?
Choose foods that are aligned with how you want to feel.
“Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel.” – Kevin Trudeau
So I completed my first yoga workshop! #goaltick
I’ve done a yoga retreat before, where I delved pretty deep into my physical practice – but this was the first time I really got to expand my mind with traditional yoga ideas and philosophies – notepad and all.
The workshop was an Introduction to Tantric Yoga – and I’ll be honest, the word ‘tantric’ was a little off putting. It immediately brought to mind something sexual, something a bit ‘R’ rated. But, as I learned, it seems this word has lost it’s true meaning.
“Based on ancient Indian and Tibetan traditions, Tantra Yoga is an energy based system that teaches us methods for consciously connecting with the Universe in order to feel, harness and amplify beneficial Universal energies within our own being; aspects such as vitality, creativity and imagination, self-confidence, love and compassion, intuition, mental concentration and spiritual lucidity.”
Tantic yoga actually has two branches 1) Hatha and 2) Kundalini. I never knew these styles were both delineated from Tantric Yoga.
“Yoga, in its authentic form, is a system that allows us to balance and harmonise not only our physical bodies but more importantly, our thoughts and emotions, bringing a state of inner calm and stability that will lead to health and healing, personal empowerment and better relationships.”
I learnt all about traditional yoga; the chakras, correspondence and resonance, asanas, sublimation. But what really stood out to me was the personal transformation aspect of yoga.
In yoga, this personal transformation is called self realisation. It’s the thing that fascinates me, and drives a lot of my work – the question “Who am I really?“. Its an inquiry into ourselves, into something deeper than our personalities or physical existence. It’s that sense of “I”, that is disconnected from our body or our circumstance. It’s the true ‘us’ separate from our state of mind, or identification with our thoughts or emotions. It’s our sense of self that remains constant.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Yoga gives us the tools to start to investigate these questions.
There is a universal intelligence within us, and yoga allows us to tap into this. It can help us decipher the meaning of our lives.
How rad, that simple breath and body work can connect us to universal energy, and ultimately our life’s purpose.
HAPPINESS = ENQUIRY INTO THE SELF
Happiness is not outside us, which unfortunately in our culture we are lead to believe. It’s the ‘when I have’ mentality – “When I get that promotion life will be great.” “When I have the body I want I will be happy.” “When I have my overseas holiday . . .” “When I get that new car. . .” “When I find the perfect partner . . .” “When I save enough money . . .” Can you see how prevalent this way of thinking is? I know I can be guilty of it too.
It’s a perpetual cycle none different to a mouse on a wheel. The problem with this mentality though is that it puts the power outside of us, we are made to be dependant on others, or on things to bring us happiness. Instead of finding happiness within ourselves.
Self enquiry brings us freedom within ourselves. We are free beyond our minds or emotions. In yoga our minds are likened to a crazy monkey. In fact – a crazy monkey that’s been stung by a scorpion! Our minds are constantly throwing bones for us to fetch. For most, it is our minds that rule us, instead of us controlling our minds. So cultivating this enquiry into the self allows us to live mindfully, to be conscious of ourselves in the world, as opposed to constantly chasing the bones our mind throws us.
It ultimately creates a freedom from fear and inadequacy. And it’s when we step away from fear, that we allow our true selves to shine. We become more connected to our driving force, our personal mission in life.
Self realisation is the deeper aspect to our own existence.
“Dare to be free, dare to go as far as your thought leads, and dare to cary that out into your life.” – Swami Sivananda
I’ve always gained a certain sense of peace, power, and connection through my yoga practice – but this was the first time it was really explained as to WHY! Talk about the penny dropping. Wow.
Know who you are and why you are here.
Namaste.
“Know yourself and you will know the Universe.” – Ancient Greeks
PS – For more information on meditative Tantric Yoga – check out Agama Yoga.
Meditation has been on my to-do list for ions. And yes – I DO realise how contradictory that is!
So, for the past 6-weeks I have been incorporating this goal into my life.
With the help of Eoinn Finn and his Blissology dvds, my Duncan Peak meditation cd, and also the nifty little Headspace app on my phone, I have meditated every single day.
Wow, 10 minutes of stillness can really have a profound effect! I must say, it really has become an integral element of my life. My mind and body are calmer, clearer and more focused.
Looking back I wonder why it took me so long to take up this practice? To be honest, I never made time for it, for myself. Yet I’m learning that it’s precisely when I feel I have no time to meditate, that’s when I need it the most.
I’ve heard lots of anecdotal praise for meditation from friends, and there’s also lots of science to back up all that positive talk. Research has found the following benefits of meditation –
Just a few small benefits. Yes, this I must try. (For more info on the benefits of meditation, check out this article on the yoga blog).
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” – Lao Tzu
I have many active forms of meditation – for me it’s yoga, running and swimming. But I have never allowed myself the time and space for still meditation. To just sit, and breathe. To allow for that kind of stillness.
I think it stems from a long held belief that: HEALTH = MOVEMENT.
I took up yoga later in life, because well, I really didn’t know much about it, and I was always focused on getting the best work out in the least amount of time. I clearly remember going to the gym, looking at the class timetable, and completely dismissing yoga – I wanted to workout, not stretch! I wanted to arrive, sweat, and leave. Efficiency was key. (This was clearly before I knew about power and hot yoga!).
I now look at health more holistically, as a body, mind and spirit connection – not just the body.
“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
My meditation has been varied. Sometimes nestled on the sand overlooking the ocean, or sitting cross legged in-front of my tv, others I watched the sunset from my balcony, or floated in the sea looking up into the sky.
It has been a slow process. At first (and much to my frustration), I tried to silence my thoughts and the voice in my head, but then realised that simply being witness to my thoughts is meditation in and of itself. I still find myself getting distracted by thoughts, or noises happening around me – but I’m learning to become more detached. My meditation muscle is getting stronger every day.
I recently finished a book by the Dali Lama – “How To See Yourself As You Really Are”. In it, he talks a lot about meditation reflection. How to meditate on objects, things, philosophy, people, feelings – this opened up a whole new world for me!
What? I dont have to sit there and try to clear my mind, try to empty any thoughts, try to silence myself – instead I can use my thoughts FOR meditation? Now that’s a new concept. I always thought that meditation was trying to rid my mind of thoughts completely.
“Before I started meditating, I didn’t know how to be a non-judgmental observer of my thoughts – letting them float past me like helium balloons and picking the ones I want. I experienced my thoughts as happening to me and ‘real.’ Meditation helps me be aware of the thoughts I’m having without getting lost in the storyline of them.” – Stephanie StClaire
There has been a lot of change happening for me lately, new country, new job, and moving between houses every other day. The frantic pace of Christmas and the holidays only adding to this. I was starting to feel quite unsettled at times. Normally this would send my mind into chaos, leading to stress and irritability. But my new meditation practice has allowed me to connect back to myself and reduce this considerably.
Coming to my mat every day to breathe has kept me balanced and clear headed.
Focusing on the breath brings me out of my head, and back into my body.
I find this still reflection a chance for me to block out all the busy noise, the parts of life that can drown out our pure intentions. The stillness allows the less important things to evaporate away. It leaves me with a sharper focus, clarity around who I am, and how I want to show up in this world.
“The vast majority of my innovations, ideas, plans, and life insights have come from the clarity I get when I stop my barrage of thoughts. Intuition follows from paying attention. Learn to pay attention, and you’ll begin to hear the quiet voice within that will guide you.” -Christine Comaford-Lynch
Do you meditate? How has your experience been?
What is it that brings you stillness in life?
The secret is in the breathe.
“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of because in the silence you hear the truth and know the the solutions.” – Deepak Chopra