YOGA with Stef

Some Move & Connect magic 🏝️ see you in Brisbane for our next workshop https://www.yogawithstef.com/commit/p/zenthai-shiatsu-workshop-with-linda

Woodford Folk Festival 2024/25 Programme Is Live Now! You will find me:

6am Friday 27th @ Halycon

8:30am Tuesday 31st @ Bazaar

Get involved✨ https://woodfordfolkfestival.com

How much of our contemporary postural practice is ancient? How can we honour the sacred origins of yoga in a modern postural practice?

Svarga Dvijasana itranslates to: Svarga is “paradise” referring to the bird’s tropical South Pacific origins. Dvija “twice born” born once as an egg and again as the bird of paradise. Despite the gorgeous Sanskrit name, I cannot find reference to this pose in any classical yoga literature. I can only deduct that this is pose has been added relatively recently to this vibrant and ever-evolving practice... The study and practice of yoga is infinite and infinitely humbling.In the spirit of Hatha yoga, can we purify through posture? Could a strategic sequence of movements prepare our mind for pure consciousness? What makes makes a practice yoga?

In our journey toward Bird of Paradise pose we will open our sides, shoulders, hamstrings and hips with a series of progressive binds, twists and forward folds building up to the fully blooming Bird of Paradise. Structurally, this pose is not too different to a Bound Triangle standing strong on one leg. The form is a tribute to the plumed crown of the tropical bird of paradise blended perfectly into the landscape of foliage and flowers. Perfectly at one with the jungle. Cycling through lifetimes to transcend polarity and attune to infinity. While bird of paradise is not a position you will often find yourself in daily life, the journey toward bird of paradise pose, cultivates a strong core structure and flexible joints. Sthira Sukham Asanam is the softness and the steadiness to face everything as it is. We practice to remember our role to bridge heavenly ideals with earthly reality. Come and explore the Bird of Paradise with us in the studio!✨

This week in class✨Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Up-ward facing bow pose in English and also referred to as chakrasana (wheel pose). Beyond the physicality of the backbend this pose is an embodiment of symbolism:

The ‘bow’ represents, is the weapon of Arjuna, the main protagonist of the Bhagavad Gita. The scripture contemplates the purpose and meaning of life through the context of a mythical battle. Arjuna must choose whether to fight a war against his very own family to gain land, or retreat and refuse war. After some consideration, he casts down his dhanu or ‘bow’ and refuses to fight. The 700 verses of text follow a conversation wherein Krishna explains Dharma (life purpose) and Karma (action). Whilst mythological, the text holds important lessons on how to live our potential, and gives solace the existential and moral challenges inherent to human life.

Being attached to the outcome of the battle leaves us continually reaching for imagined victories. Whether it’s land, a house, relationship, or the ‘perfect’ pose, happiness contingent on wins is fragile. ‘I’ll be happy when….’ will always be out of reach. If we can find contentment in the moment of action without grasping for the result, there is contentment. Whether the action is in work, exercise, laundry or studying, being in the fullness of the present is a gift in itself.

So how does all of this relate to a single posture? Can you stay in your practice. As you are now? Not as you were or hope to become, not like the person next to your or even someone you saw on the internet but in participating in right now, beyond success or failure...

Join me in class this week. Alive in exploration, curiosity and being human with bow pose✨

Tittibha (टिट्टिभ, Ṭiṭṭibha) has a story honouring the righteous resilience of the "underdog".

Just as the tiny Tittibha bird defeats the formidable power of the ocean, so too the yoga practitioner learns tools to transcend the turbulence of the mind through unwavering practice.

Each practice is a tiny victory against the vast ocean of illusion, ignorance, and the ever-shifting nature of the mind (चित्त, Citta). Join me this for an adventure of unwinding hamstrings, balancing arms and ultimately taking the mind toward stillness. Timetable in about✨

What is all the study for if not to enrich our lives?!?

Bharadvaja was one of the great “seven sages” said to have brought the wisdom of the Vedas down to earth from the heavens. He spent lifetimes studying in solitude. After three lifetimes of being a recluse, Shiva finally visited to recognise him as a great scholar, but gave a harsh reminder that wisdom does not live as theory but it must be embodied and shared to be meaningful. Bharadvaja took Shiva’s advice and spent the next lifetimes fulfilling his dharma as a teacher in service of others.

This week in class we look at Bharadvaja’s pose: A seated twist with two variations and numerous ways to approaches for any level of ability. An invitation to bring wisdom with you as life turns form one direction to another.

Photo gratitude to .photography 😘✨

Vishvamitra’s pose is an arm balance, twist, hamstring opener, hip opener and shoulder opener all in one. To prepare, you will need to mobilise your hips and shoulders, whilst maintaining core strength and a steadiness of mind. Just like the journey of Vishvamitra becoming a sage, it takes time, patience and a few lessons from Vasista’s pose side plank help you to build Vishvamitrasana. With consistent practice, things progress naturally. Tissues can adapt gradually with minimal stress, and the mind can adapt one idea at a time. Using force rarely gets us to where we need to be.

Last chance to join me for some effortless effort with Vishvamitrasana. Link in "About" for my public class timetable.

Photo gratitude to .photography

Moderation invites a balance between vitality and serenity, balancing steadiness with softness: “Sthira Sukham Asanam”. Continuing on the middle way… this week in class we are deliberately crafting equanimity by balancing the internal hip rotations of Eka Pada Koundinyasana A last week with the external hip rotations of Koundinyasana B this week. Join us for an integrated experience of moderation. DM for help finding public and private classes🙏

Nataraja’s pose is a deep backbend with a strong balance symbolising the precarious balance between creation and destruction in the cycle of life. Our practice is in our ability to remain steady until we fall and start again. Nataraja embodies Shiva’s dance of destruction that liberates us to start again. Shiva destroys with courage to prepare fertile soil for creation.

Nataraja (dancing Shiva) is depicted with four arms and carries the the drumbeat of time, the light of understanding, an open hand to give and a closed hand to take away. He is classically depicted dancing on top of ignorance through a ring of flaming transformation. Nataraja calls us to take solace in the cyclical ebb and flow so that change is not feared but taken as a blessing to help us evolve out of ignorance.

Join me in class for some moving mythology!

Up to date timetable in "About"

Some non-yoga related trivia because it is nice to share who is the person behind the screen…

I am from Brisbane Australia. I have also lived in Canada, the UK and almost a few other places but nowhere could be better than close to my family.

Uber drivers always ask if I am German. My mum is German but how do they know?!?

I love dancing. I started ballet when I was three and I think Ballerinas are real-life superheros. I think the world would be a better place if we all danced more. Please get me dancing!

My favourite sport is sailing. I raced little boats through school and lived on a boat as a part of a science project for nearly two years.

I drink more tea than water and eat more potato chips than you might imagine...

My favourite essential oil is geranium.

Can you guess my favourite colour???

Now drop in, say hello and tell me something about yourself…

The internet is a beautiful place where swami's and Upanishads meet the eloquent existential questioning of philosophy and rational quantum mechanics ✨🙏✨

Eastern and Western lenses to Analytic Idealism with Bernardo Kastrup and Swami Sarvapriyananda ...

Celebrating with my whole heart there is finally a website that encapsulates this playground where mindfulness meets embodiment. Thinkers Theatre have already done so much and I cannot wait to contribute more www.thinkerstheatre.com.au

A special gift for students from the QUT Guild ✨

Join us for free weekly yoga classes at QUT Kelvin Grove campus! This one-hour yoga session will be guided by holistic yoga instructor , who also teaches at West End Yoga studios. 🧘

Shout out to Paulina the Welfare Officer for bringing this initiative to life. See you there!

Register your attendance with the link in our bio or with the QPay app.

Please bring your own yoga mat if possible, as we have limited mats available in the class. Spaces are limited to 30 people per class.

Yoga Training: Radiant Spirit | Bumi Cinta, Bali, Indonesia

Jun 24 - Jul 9, 2024

The self-reflective nature of yoga combined with shamanism and hands-on, sustainable living practices of permaculture will be profoundly transformative.

This Yoga Alliance Certified 200 hour training offers a unique blend of traditional yoga teachings infused with the wisdom of the elements. Nested in the embrace of nature, explore the deep connection between yoga and the natural world.

Bali presents a unique and immersive environment that can deepen your understanding of living in ceremony with a spiritual connection to nature. Les Valley is a stunning natural landscape between lush rice terraces and pristine beaches. Our venue, Bumi Cinta has been designed for yoga practice and learning directly from nature.

Find out more here: www.thekulacollective.com/200-hr-bali-june-2024

I HAVE A DREAM✨

I dream that we will put the United Nations out of a job. There will be no wars. There will be no strangers, just friends that haven't met yet... every time we host a MOVE & CONNECT workshop I feel we get a little bit closer to the dream. A room of "strangers" walk away laughing, hugging and smiling. Move with us toward connection✨

Take meaningful action this remembrance day Saturday 11/11 11am .end.yoga with .nature.within

Booking link in bio ✨