The Yoga Factory Sydney

We are coming to the end of our third week of the Strength Intensive. 

It’s been nothing short of amazing to see all these people commit to a 6-day-a-week practice, to commit and to actually see it through. 

There’s something powerful in the simplicity of repetition, in trusting the process, putting the hard work in and noticing, witnessing the quiet, steady improvements each day.

To those who keep at it - your progress is incredible🤍Believe us. There is newfound grace in your effort, mindfulness in the way you move and that special twinkle in your eyes, signaling the state of pure bliss that the practice gives us. Sometimes it is hard to gauge improvements because yoga is a practice of small gains. If you are after instant gratification, then you’ll be disappointed. This makes it all the more special. 
 
You all are now witness to the fact that if we start our day regularly with some yoga, then our days, lives, relationships and outlooks are so much better. 

Yoga is a shift in perception🌀

After years of talking, plotting, and promising, Mick is finally heading to Europe🌏💚Portugal, September 22—29.

There’s not much to say except there is no doubt this week will be incredible. A location that is nothing short of divine, meals that nourish the soul, Mick’s presence and guidance that defies description. Expect epiphanies, laughter, hard work on the mat, and lessons on how to truly enjoy yourself.

This chance to reunite with those we haven’t seen in a while and meet some new faces at this mindblowing 18th-century baroque manor that will be ours for a week, and enjoy yoga, warm evenings under the stars, the good feelings and fun times is truly priceless.

He promised he would and now it’s real. Be there, you know it is worth it. We only live once.

~

September 22— 29 🏰Lima Valley, Portugal
taught by Mick Barnes

~

bookings via website 🔗
early bird ends June 23 — get onto it

There is absolutely nothing arbitrary about the 8 limbs of Patanjali’s yoga.

The path begins in our world, all the things we touch, smell, name, and interact with. Our world being a reflection of internal machinations. Once we get on the 8-limb path and practice, things shift, they change. The most obvious change is the quietness. With each practice, with each interaction with the limbs, particularly the first four, we start questioning, more and more, the internal machinations, the views, the knowledge, the sounds, and just about everything else. There is a realization of how grossly material we are and how with each day, month, and year, we become more separate from each other and more out of touch with our spiritual self. It is here on the path we encounter a subtleness of thought, a pause in the automatic responses and impressions we are so engrossed in.

There is a proof to the science of yoga. It is not random. The practice, the teachings, and the limbs reveal a bold new world. We do actually move from gross material thoughts, feelings, views, names, and labeling towards a more subtle way, a simpler way. A way of unity and care for fellow beings. Love. Within the enormous circular whirlpool like 8 limbs is hope for you, us, and everyone.

We are spiritual beings. We have lost our way. The limbs are our way home.

We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch our world go to s**t.
✨Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi✨
For yourself, for everyone around you, and the world you know what to do.

At the next Friday Night Special class, Mick will guide us through the experience of Pratyahara, the 5th and often overlooked limb of yoga. Pratyahara is a Sanskrit word meaning withdrawal of the senses. What does sense withdrawal mean? Can understanding our senses and the stimuli they constantly seek impact our overall peace and well-being? How often do we respond to the arousal of our senses and react without the slightest contemplation as to their nature?

All we can say is this will be a very unusual class in which we will try to understand the dilemma of our senses and the impact of sense indulgences on our lives. Just take a chance, come, experience it for yourself.

~

Friday, April 19
6pm — taught by Mick

~

booking is essential — spots are limited

Years have passed since MS wrote those words, the contemporary yoga has been through countless metamorphoses. But still, like everything else, it is stuck in a vicious circle of the fear of sameness. It keeps trying to reinvent itself in the race for the survival of the ego. The phenomenon of partaking in the sharing of yoga for all the wrong reasons remains.

Think about what you see around: beginners in regular classes, launching straight into sun salutations / keeping up with the rest; copied sequences / no clue of how and why; teaching advanced asana to students wrapping their heads around fundamentals; teacher trainings taught by people who have barely taught any classes themselves; online yoga / no presence or guidance. This simply is a contribution to the demise of yoga, not the future in which it remains strong, flourishes, and is given time and space to do what it does best — change people’s lives.

All of us, contributing to the present and the future of yoga, need to ask ourselves: Are we in the business of yoga? Is profit more important than the essence, the depth of teaching? Are we trusting the tradition, the practice and just letting it do its thing or are we terrified of the systems and the market and in this fear and attachment to instant gratification, just end up following the next best marketing strategy?

We often say that we are a school, not a business; and yoga doesn’t need accessorising, it does okay on its own, just as it has for hundreds of years before liberal capitalism has swallowed it along with everything else. This mindset requires patience, unshakable belief and trust, a true passion for teaching stronger than societal pressures; it requires absolute dedication to the practice stronger than a desire for a glam career. But it is the sole true way of partaking in sharing these teachings with the world.

If as a student, you’ve been lucky enough to have been selflessly taught gradually, properly, patiently, to have been shown that yoga’s beauty is in its slowness, in consistency, make sure you thank your teachers. Not without sacrifices, they are doing a hard job, keeping things real in this juggernaut of a world.

Not long till this incredibly special escapade.

You’ve heard us say it’s magic. It is extremely rewarding, it is soul-soothing, it is fun. A week of absolute rest, rejuvenation, and a spiritual tune-up. If looking after yourself and living life at its fullest is on your to-do list for the year, stop pondering, join us.

~

29 April — 7 May🪷Canggu, Bali
taught by Mick Barnes

~

limited spots remain — bookings via website 🔗
special offer is available for this week only — reach out for more info

Yoga’s beauty is its simplicity.

We are asked to practice regularly because it’s a good thing for us complicated humans. The problem is we do often find it hard to accept simplicity. But if we just get on the mat and move any which way, mindfully, with breath at the fore, a wondrous event takes place - the now. This now is free of past and future. The now just is. Isn’t that really simple? Isn’t that really beautiful?

Over time, we realize, that most of our suffering and sorrow is associated with a fickle wandering mind and is, in fact, mind-made. So just try this: practice, breath, practice, breath; no agendas, simple.

Friday nights are now for all kinds of special gatherings and time spent as a community.

For the first one, Mick, Tim, Paul and Julian will teach a 90-minute workshop-style class.

We will go to the very basics and look at extremely profound elements of the practice that if not overlooked or regarded as too obvious, make our practices what they should be - pure bliss.

We will break down a few asanas and look at not only the functional anatomy of those postures but also the importance of transitions and how we can carry the sweet spot of concentration and not lose that connection to the practice whilst moving.

Join to learn something new, expand your view on your asana, and witness the chaos of four great minds trying to work together.

The class will be followed by a gathering at The Lady Hampshire to share some food, a beverage, experiences and laughs.

~

Friday, February 2
6pm — taught by Mick, Tim, Paul and Julian

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booking is essential — spots are limited

if you cannot make it to class, you are most welcome to drop by The Lady Hampshire, say hello from 7:45pm onwards.

As promised, from Monday, Jan 22 our timetable will be getting a shake-up: some minor changes and some cool additions to freshen things up.

New Classes:
Monday 10am Level I with Julian
Monday 7:30pm Meditation, Breathwork, Gentle Movement with Liza

Wednesday 6pm is now Level II with Julian
Wednesday 7:30pm Level I with Paul

Friday nights are now for all kinds of special gatherings. Live Music Classes, Scripture Study, Asana Technique Labs, Movie Screenings and much much more. Some in-school gatherings will be followed by out-of-school time spent locally, together, as a community. This Friday night idea is just a continuation of sharing yoga in different environments, building the relationships between students and teachers and bringing us all together to ensure we keep on keeping on.

🫶🏼First Friday Night Special will take place on Friday, February 2. This will be a 90-minute Techniques class taught jointly by Mick, Paul, Julian and Tim.

It will give you an opportunity to hear and learn lots of good stuff from the shared experiences of our teachers. It will reveal so much useful info about transitions, postures and the anatomical positions of fundamental asanas. 🥦✨ The night will be followed by a post-class gathering at our beloved local, Lady Hampshire, to share some food, a beverage, experiences and laughs.

~

please don’t forget to book online if attending
and cancel if plans change

~

🫶🏼see you on the mat🫶🏼

After experiencing absolute bliss last year, it is no surprise we are going back. Rave reviews from everyone ensured that.

This one is about working hard on our mats and enjoying life to its fullest. It is about enjoying each other company and truly connecting, about feeling every muscle in our bodies and learning to let ourselves be, about getting out there into the chaos of the streets and returning to our little corner for peacefulness. It is everything and the best reminder that life is beautiful in all its forms and manifestations and should be lived not just moved through.

Something very special happens in this paradise, so don’t miss out.
Your only job is to get onto it, then get on a plane, arrive in Bali, and leave the rest to us.

~

29 April — 7 May 🌺 Canggu, Bali
place is small, spots are very limited
more info via 🔗 in bio

Digging deeper — Dipping toes in Yoga Sutras

Despite being written around 2000 years ago for ascetics and people living alone in forests and caves, as Yoga has spread around the world, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras have become the go-to text for modern practitioners. This could be for a variety of reasons. Perhaps because the human mind that he wrote about has not changed that much and therefore the ways to transcend it are the same. There’s a pragmatism to Patanjali’s work, it is practical and he isn’t overly dogmatic about the path to Yoga.

There’s also an allowance or even a necessity for interpretation when reading the sutras. Sutras are their own genre of texts that condense knowledge systems into very succinct language like an instruction manual. So succinct, in fact, that one relies heavily on the commentaries and exegesis that have been part of the Indian intellectual tradition since its inception. There are LOTS of commentaries on Patanjali. Some we’ve found more helpful than others

To quote Edwin Bryant, these sutras are like asanas for the mind. We can study them daily to gain a deeper insight into our practice and the nature of who we are.

As a follow-up to the most recent workshop taught by Tim and Julian, here are the selected few, carefully considered, thoroughly studied, and highly recommended by our very own in-house Sutra enthusiast, Julian.

🤍📖

A little is a lot. Really, how often do we even pause to get to the depth of what this means?
Life for most of us is doing a lot but not stopping to acknowledge the myriad of relationships that are occurring. You can say: “Ah well, such is life.” But no, this is not life, and we should never be so dull about our time living.

Can we flip our attitude around all the things we do in a day? Can we be present? Do we see beyond the immediacy and the familiarity that comes with so many *nexts*?

We can! At Crescent Head, we are to remind and teach ourselves to live as simply as humanly possible. The beautiful land is there to encourage us to spend most of our waking time outdoors. The time away from our homes, with the least amount of things possible, will show us that, really, we do not need much at all. Our locally sourced, organic, plant-based food, prepared mindfully, and with the best intentions, will show us that feeding ourselves is a way of nurturing and a ritual in itself. Our twice-a-day asana practice will show us a practical way of keeping our attention on the present. Additionally, we will use tools such as meditation practice and mindful walking, to cultivate an even deeper connection with ourselves, each other and the land we find ourselves in.

Removed from our familiarity we will make it our business to observe, understand and reevaluate our connection to the very basic, very important fundamentals: where we live, what we do, what we eat, our bodies, our minds and our spiritual life.

Come with us. This all begins with you. A gathering of like-minded people, willing to keep exploring, questioning, asking, seeking, sharing, connecting with others in the hope of a life richer in simplicity. Where we don’t settle on the mundane but reach and stretch and bend into places that simply allow us to live our best life, together, not alone and make even the most routine daily occurrence one of wow.

Less can be more. Simplicity asks us to explore. Come in awe, come in wonderment, and together, we will share a moment or two of joy, revelation, connection.

~

1 — 5 March
taught by Mick — meals by
a couple of spots remain

What does it mean to let go? How do we do it?

Letting go of a particular thought we are stuck on, an idea that won’t come together, an opinion that we won’t budge on, a judgement that is not serving us anymore, or even the very things we like or dislike, is exceptionally hard as these things become seemingly hard-wired in our being. When we realize something is causing us pain and we try this let-go thing, we fully realize it’s not so simple.

One of the magical transformative powers of a regular yoga practice is that we finally see, acknowledge the change. That constant ebb and flow of the endless cycle of coming and going. We begin to act with humility. Rather than be the all-powerful, all-moving force that fights change, we act with wisdom and understanding and see change as part of nature, not some vendetta against us. When we humbly move with the flow of change, even what we see as good or bad occurrences in our lives can be flipped. We are not so rigid, our perspective is more subtle, and our knowledge of change changes. In our practice, we are learning to let go. Rather than grasp and try to work it out, we settle.

Yoga is an amazing thing. It can change our whole world. As our perspectives shift, so do our old ways. Harmony and equanimity become our friends and we become masters of letting go.

And here we are, at the very start of 2024, letting go of what was, embracing what is, welcoming anything that might be.

🤍✨

On Saturday, December 23, the morning after summer solstice, we will once again return to our 108 sun salutations ritual. 

A special way to circulate some major energy, farewell the year, welcome the new one and cleanse off everything that no longer serves us.

~

Saturday, December 23
8am — taught by Mick

~

booking is essential — spots are very limited

if you are far away and can’t join in-person, there will be an option to join via Instagram Live (believe it or not!)

Every year all sorts of people turn up at the yoga school in an attempt to begin their practice. Sadly though, 90% are gone before they even get to start. 

Why? If you ask anyone who has practiced yoga continuously over a long period of time, they’d all agree that their lives have changed immeasurably. They do life and *being* better, they no longer get tangled in thought. Past and future are not the worlds they roam in often, and if they do, it’s with intelligence. They realize that with this vehicle that propels them through time and space, nothing is impossible. So they invest in it and life becomes an experience to be lived and enjoyed, rather than a rush to the finish line. So many things to inspire attempts at yoga and make a better, more connected existence a reality, but still most people just give up. Because yoga is not instant gratification, whilst life now is. Technology and systems we find ourselves entangled in have made us a special lot: privileged and impatient. We want it all and we want it now. 

Yoga is so slow, at times painfully so. Healing our stiff bodies, breaking through conditioned responses, changing thinking habits, and standing tall. It certainly is a profound leap from the world where instant gratification is a normality. This leap though IS the reason for schools to teach our children yoga, for companies to make their employees practice it, for prisons and other institutions to make it compulsory. In this perpetual rush to some non-existent destination, yoga is a way of slowing down, not getting caught up in distractions, focusing on the task at hand, and doing the work that actually makes a difference.

The world needs it. So, if you are healthy and you have an opportunity to practice, please try it. Do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones, do it for the world. If you used to practice and stopped, then come back. It’s just your ego that might contest. If you want to start but are caught up, like most of us, with more and more bills and less and less money, then reach out to us, we will get you on the mat regardless of the money. 

Did we say it makes us sad to see so many people give up before the magic happens?

Spiritual practices are a way of gaining access to the inner realm where we all can find our form of god. To be bestowed with love, hope, peace, joy, humility, compassion, and grace is to be close to god, not the god that is outside of us but the one that is within. These practices though do require effort. Sitting around waiting for god to knock on our door is futile. Whatever is that we are looking for is and always has been within and available.

Effort, on the other hand, is that elusive beast. Because without effort, it is difficult to find and get back to grace.

You see, yoga does not work via instant gratification. There is no quick fix. The effort we speak of is in practice. The practice is done continuously, unbrokenly, over a long period of time - there is no other way. Passively waiting for grace to re-enter our being is, again, futile. If you’re feeling disconnected, out of step, lonely, and life’s sweetness has faded, then believe that yoga can guide and illuminate that brightness again. It is not gone, it has just faded and retreated behind the veil of self. One small step, one downward dog can and will make all the difference between an ordinary life and a life fulfilled with grace, selfless service, and joy.

In all seriousness though, all these lofty words aside, life is very cool when grace is in your corner. Just get the dust off your mats, that’s a good start.

🤍🌀

Next Beginners Course starts on Tuesday, October 10, at 7:30 pm.

There is a common misunderstanding that yoga is just a physical practice, a mere performing of the asana with the goal of maintaining physical fitness and developing an ability to tie yourself in knots. This couldn’t be further away from what yoga is about. And if that was it, why would one bother starting a practice if there are other physical activities that could get you into shape faster and probably are much more fun to pursue?

What is lacking is psychological understanding in yoga communities. Yoga is, first and foremost, an investigation into who we are and what we are. The physical part is just a tool, to help us open up our hearts by revealing patterns of grasping and inflexibility. It teaches us to become flexible enough — not *only* in our bodies but primarily in our minds — to have our preconceptions and our tendencies interrupted.

If yoga is understood beyond its physicality and practised in a disciplined and properly designed manner, it teaches us to see clearly our conditioned ways of living and let go of those patterns. Simply put, whether you choose to believe it or not, it teaches us to deal with life better.

It all might be a little much to comprehend for someone who has never had a chance to reap the benefits of the practice, but this in itself is a reason to join the upcoming beginners’ course and see for yourself if your relationship with yourself, the world, and those around you changes for the better.💚

All that is required is your trust and commitment.

Join the course or make someone you know join it!

theyogafactory.com.au/beginners-yoga

In March 2024 will be retreating from complexity and saturation and reminding ourselves that the real magic is found in grounded simplicity.

Surrounded by the lush bushland, with the river and the sea on our doorstep, we will practice twice a day to experience the bliss that is the present moment, and endeavour to strip away all the frills associated with living to get back to our nature.

Straight from the earth, cooked in clay pots, and infused with positive vibes only, simple but sublime food will be prepared for us by . We aren't selling enlightenment from the practice but we swear this food could open a different portal for deeper connection to the universe🍄✨.

Come roam barefoot, leave unnecessary stuff at home, turn your phones off, and reconnect to yourself and nature.

~

taught by mick barnes
early bird finishes October 1
more info via 🔗 in bio

Next Beginners Course starts on Tuesday, June 27, at 7:30 pm.

Leading to the course, we always face the task of writing a post or some other form of material that communicates its value. It usually is about motivation, the benefits of yoga, what you get from your investment, etc. Isn’t it strange though, that something as beneficial as a regular yoga practice has to be sold? You would think that things like physical health, peace of mind, a bounce in your step, and pure love for life would be on everyone’s top of the list but no. Why?

Yoga is first and foremost thought of in terms of tying your body in knots and feats of athleticism. The whole way it is perceived in our contemporary times is wrong.

Yoga simply is time out. Time for you to learn to be and develop a better relationship with yourself, time to gain a different perspective on an already busy overwhelmed conditioned life. It places you at the smack centre of the moment. And if you’ve ever found yourself in the present, you’d know that in it, ninety-nine per cent of your problems are gone.

Hey, here is a good slogan for marketing beginners yoga: Problems staying present? Overwhelmed by stinking thinking? Let us demonstrate how most of what you perceive as problematic is in your head. It’s not even real!🌀

Anyway, enough of this nonsense. Join the course or make someone you know join it. It’s the best thing ever.

Saturday, July 1 ✨ Join Mick for the journey deep to the center of our being.

So much of our lives to this point has been stored like a holographic record within our bodies. Residues of past experiences leave a mark on us and can manifest in emotional, mental and physical imbalance, leading to sickness and disconnecting us from ourselves and the world.

In this day-long workshop, we will take a journey from our most outer layers inward, to the core of our being. We will attempt to unlock the secrets of our subtle bodies and understand how we work on a deeper level. We will focus on finding balance and bringing optimum vitality through our yoga practice which is much more than just asana. Understanding the layers of being and our vast energetic systems will give us an entirely different view of our practice and what other than asana should be the focus to improve our zest for life 🌱

8am - 3pm
Suitable to all levels of students.

Cost: 135$
Register via 🔗in bio.

The laze and toil of our Bali retreat Part 3🌀🪲

Post retreat, there was that profound realization that it was an absolutely sublime experience, on and off the mat. It reaffirmed that this community of solid, down to earth, kind, caring, real, and dedicated people we’ve got, is truly exceptional.

Thank you everyone who joined us for this week. Thank you to all the usual suspects, the newbies and those we are yet to meet. You’re all main players in this not so easy quest of keeping yoga real.🫶🏽

The laze and toil of our Bali retreat Part 2🐛

Amazing time had by all, balancing and relishing the opposites. For all the effort there is equal time for frivolity, indulgence, new friendships and the odd party or two.

The laze and toil of our Bali Retreat Part 1

On Saturday, 30 yogis came together to sweat through 9 positions of Surya Namaskar A x 108 times.
It might seem such an insignificant event but no, it was a huge one on so many levels. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. We committed and conquered sweatily together. For 90 minutes we were all one. Moving, breathing, listening, bound together through our efforts. It was powerful. And how beautiful to do such special things along with like-minded people.

Big thank you to everyone who was involved. We are beyond grateful for such a great community and hope you’re too!🫶🏽

✨Join us as we attune ourselves to the rhythms of creation by completing a practice of 108 rounds of Surya Namaskar A.✨
If to believe the ancient yogic and the mystics, such practice will allow us to align ourselves and our thoughts with the Divine Source. This is followed by a change in our whole nature and attitude, making us more generous and altruistic benefactors of the world. We thought we should try and see what happens!

The day we chose for this little ritual is 22 of April, a celebration of Akshaya Tritiya. For Hindus and Jains it is an auspicious day, when the sun and moon are most beneficially aligned and all the good efforts give manifold results.

So triple magic is bound to come our way!🔮

Even the most rational minds amongst us would not want to miss out on this little bit of auspiciousness.
Don’t miss out!

~

Saturday 22 of April — 8am
Taught by Mick

Booking is essential. Spots are limited.

🐚Time for the ears is approaching!

We are delighted to have Megan Alice Clune back for our next live music class! Ambient sounds attuned with breathing rhythms will guide us deeper as we move through 90 minutes of restorative asana.

~

Megan is a composer, musician and artist based in Sydney. She has presented her work around the world and currently lectures at the Conservatorium, Sydney Uni and UNSW.a.c.m.a.c.m.a.c

~

✨April 16, 4:30pm ✨
Book in early as spots are limited and you certainly don’t want to miss out!🪐

*no additional fee applies to monthly pass holders
*30$ drop-ins

🎂Saturday the 18th of March | 3:30pm | Petersham Bowling Club!

Everyone is invited to celebrate 16 years of our beloved Yoga Factory.
We don’t do this often but this year we feel it’s important. So all of you — students past, present and future, colleagues, friends — come! If you have ever crossed paths with us or wanted to but never did then we want you to be present, get together with us and cheer, share stories, catch up, eat cake and be grateful.

🤍🤍🤍

If you know you will be coming RSVP through the link in bio so we can start getting excited about seeing you:)

Bali Retreat is happening in May!

Due to an unexpected cancellation, 2 spots have become available. What a blessing for someone who would like to join!

This will be an amazing week filled with many yogic discoveries and good company.

You can choose to make it a quiet bliss or a loud and fun whirlwind of an adventure.

Our base will be a stunning property in Canggu, close enough to the hustle and bustle but hidden away to allow for a blissful time out. It is not a typical commercial yoga retreat centre but a property filled with character and with many stories to tell. For this week we will make it our home and create many great memories on and off the mat.

If you’ve been thinking about some time out or about immersing yourself into the practice, this is a sign it’s meant to be!

4th-12th of May

You can find more information on our website.

To inquire or book, email [email protected]

👂🏼Get your ears ready🐚

The Next Live Music class is coming up on Sunday the 5th of March, 4:30 pm.
This one is not to be missed!

It will be a restorative class taught by Julian and accompanied by Sam Lockwood’s enigmatic sound.

~

Sam Lockwood is best known for his work as one-quarter of internationally renowned cinematic/melodramatic pop/rock band The Jezabels. Alongside Jezabels co-members, Sam recorded award-winning albums and performed in venues such as The Sydney Opera House, The O2 Arena (London), Webster Hall (New York) and at festivals such as Lollapalooza (Chicago), and Glastonbury (UK).

Outside of the band, Sam has had input into diverse areas of composition and production. He co-composed the score for two Australian feature films directed by Heath Davis – 2016’s ‘Broke’ & 2018’s ‘Book Week’ in addition to creating theme music for various industry podcasts and highly popular entertainment shows. 2019 saw Samuel's debut as an emerging contemporary music producer.

Sam's works are arresting and multi-layered. It would be an understatement to say that we are delighted to have Sam in the space of our yoga school, sharing his talent to create a unique experience for those in the room.

Do yourselves a favour, book in early, and don't miss this one. 

~ 

*bookings are essential as spots are limited
*no additional fee applies to monthly pass holders
*30$ drop-ins