Whole Heart Yoga

Today, on the day of the winter solstice, it’s the International Day of Yoga 🌌🌅

Yoga brings an inner lightness, and light, to so many as it has for me and I’m eternally grateful I took that beginners class 20 years ago!

Today think about the light within you and the light that radiates from you. ✨✨✨

To those I’ve shared yoga with, talked about yoga with, learnt yoga from and been inspired by, thank you ❤️

I’m not being a Pollyanna about this - there isn’t only light - but today is a day for focussing on the light and celebrating that.

It’s also a day for celebrating a practice that brings more light into you and your life 🧘🏼‍♀️

I see the light in you and I honour that 🙏🏻

✨ Goodbyes ✨

I’m no longer teaching after five wonderful years.

I’ve absolutely loved sharing the benefits and joy of yoga with pregnant women, women and their children and women at the odd yin or slow flow, and in the divine weekly Unwind class.

And gee, women know how to honour and show gratitude. The team surprised me with a card with so much love inside, as well as gorgeous flowers. Thank you and and all at team eve.

And over the last week women have reached out to share the impact I’ve had on them. Yep, I’ve been in tears every day!

It’s been a reminder that we never really know what another is experiencing, and how powerful breath, movement, meditation and yoga nidra can be.

It’s been a joy, an honour and a big oxytocin feast each week. I’ll miss it, but I won’t miss venturing out in the cold at night.

Go forward with my love, my familiar faces at Unwind. 🥰 And to the team at eve, you’re awesome and thanks for seeing me and honouring me with your kind and thoughtful words. ❤️❤️❤️

✨ Kids Yoga School Holiday Program
🔅 6 AND 7 July, 9 to 3:30
🎉 Bookings are now open!

Due to popular demand I’m running another school holiday program!

This two-day yogic immersion into the seven major energy centres of the body will explore the energies within us and around is.

Across the two days there will be yoga, breathing, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, chanting, and deep, guided relaxation.

There will also be a tie-dye workshop! Each child will create a wearable piece of art using the colours that resonate the most!

There is more information on my website (link in bio).

✨ Retreat people ✨

Believe it or not, I’ve saved the best bit till last. ❤️

The women were absolutely divinely wonderful and totally real and normal all at the same time.

We laughed and cried, we shared parts of our stories and we listened to the stories of others. And when I say ‘we’ I mean each of us over the weekend.

There was a short opening ceremony and closing ceremony 🥰😍 but no other group sharing activities.

Women shared what they wanted when they wanted with whoever they wanted.

And what a group! ❤️❤️❤️

All but two of them had met me, some knew me a bit from yoga or my local community, and a couple knew everything about me 😯

But none of them really knew anyone else - except Suzy who came with her Mum.

None of them had been on a yoga retreat before but several had done retreat type things before kids aka up to 20 years ago.

Most of them had done yoga before - even if was just a bit with me before lockdown. I would describe them as infrequent yogis, women who yearn for the benefits but don’t have space or time to do it often. Or who haven’t found the right teacher yet.

I don’t own a yoga studio so there wasn’t one dominant group. These were individual women who decided it was right for them.

And the women who chose to come were warm, open, wise, smart, and there to spend time as themselves - away from the roles of their everyday lives.

I’m finding it hard to put into words exactly how magical the connection between us was, so I’ll share two quotes from the retreaters that come to mind:
- “the connection between us is almost spiritual, there’s such warmth and acceptance of the person in front of us and it doesn’t matter, where they live, what they do - none of that seems to matter”.
- “I knew you would be kind and warm - I had no doubt about that, but I had NO IDEA how strong you are. When I realised you were so friggin strong I knew I could just chill and relax.”

So if you’re thinking of coming to the next one, know that you’ll be ok no matter what your history is with yoga, or where you’re at in life.

Oh ladies ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for being my light bearers on my first retreat. I’ll remember this forever.

✨ Retreat food ✨

Women, food and the wellness industry … what a minefield to walk through what is often a mix of emotions and knowledge and habits and preferences.

In thinking about the food for the weekend I was clear this wasn’t a health retreat, yet I wanted the food to be as supportive as the other elements.

So my brief to our wonderful chef Steph was for the food to be delicious, nutritious and plentiful.

There was dessert, there was coffee, there were snacks. And there was indeed delicious, nutritious and very yummy food.

The food was plant based which gave us a rest from gluten, dairy, sugar and meat for the weekend.

And Steph kindly gave each guest all her recipes 🎉 I know her GF yoghurt flatbread will be on high rotation at our house!

If you’d like to learn more about making your own plant based food check out

And just imagine what a weekend would feel like if you didn’t need to think about food once … with an added bonus that no one asks you what’s for dinner 🤣

Just a tiny bit more retreat spam to come 😉

✨ The actual yoga ✨

For a weekend yoga retreat I better share about the actual yoga! 😂🧘🏼‍♀️

I don’t have any photos of it - and that’s a conscious decision. I don’t take photos while I’m teaching because I’m holding space. And I want women to feel safe to calm their nervous system and relax - which is difficult if the teacher is taking photos every now and then. I know - I’ve experienced it.

All that said, the yoga was wonderful! It’s achievable - gentle in one way, demanding in another as we stretch and open our bodies, and our self belief in our bodies.

Over the weekend we:
🔅meditated - using a variety of techniques and anchors to help find one that appeals or sticks
🔅practiced Gita style hatha yoga, a rhythm of exertion and rest, and strong held poses. And oh the massive highs for me as I witnessed women delight in their capable bodies - getting comfortable with a menopausal body, doing a shoulder stand when you thought your body couldn’t, doing a headstand when you’ve never done one before, feeling limber and comfortable in your body … so many highs, so much body confidence.
🔅experienced yoga nidra and progressive yoga relaxation - deep, deep guided relaxation; releasing tension in the body and mind while warm in a room glowing with firelight.
🔅 had fun! Yoga isn’t all serious and inward, we tapped and slapped and woodchopped through our tension 😁
🔅 journaled, meditated in nature, got gonged with a beautiful Tibetan bowl, cleansed with sage and other lovely things to shift and clear energy.

What I’m sure of is that each woman found comfort and strength in her body and space in her mind which has me glowing ☺️

And the room had me chuckling - it started off nicely lined up and by the end of the weekend l looked at the space and thought “how higgeldy-piggeldy and how absolutely beautiful”.

All of us beautiful, all of us yoga women with yoga bodies - mmm… let that sink in!!

To the women who came , I’m so proud of you! And to me - I’m proud that 20 years of yoga practice and more than 15 years of teaching got to support these women with practices I KNOW work, because they’ve transformed my life.

🎉🧘🏼‍♀️🎉🧘🏼‍♀️🎉🧘🏼‍♀️🎉🧘🏼‍♀️🎉

✨ Retreat accomm ✨

Oh me, oh my! The houses were divine. Stylish without being stiff, comfy without being cottagey and spacious, so so spacious.

As women, to have quality bedding, aromatherapy bathroom products, fluffy white towels, quality crockery and good tea mugs, and comfy couches and chairs - it’s as if the houses gently whisper “I know what you’ve been through and I want you to stay here ”.
co has much better photos if you’re curious but on my first retreat, this has opened my eyes to the role of quality and aesthetics in how we feel safe to unwind and rejuvenate.

And that elephant in the room ❄️; the houses are warm - many heating options and we laughed at the thermals and winter woolies we’d packed but didn’t need to use.

Casa Allegra and Casa Adante and our sweet little yoga studio, I hope to see you again one day 😘

✨ Retreat location ✨

Trentham love is running high ❤️ at the mo. It’s a small town just over an hour from Melbourne - and it was just the perfect spot to retreat to. Quiet but not isolated, immersed in nature with good coffee and a few boutique shops nearby 😊

There are delicious food places too and a handy IGA. Some of us ate at the .general while others got something from the bakery.

And nature is everywhere. We walked the Wombat Trail, saw kookaburras, delightful mushrooms and a family of ducklings. The autumn colours are intense and the air is clear and crisp.

Trentham is super close to Daylesford, Kyneton and Woodend. So several of the retreaters took the chance to catch up with friends at the end of the retreat - adding heartfelt connection on top of a weekend of heartfelt connection. 🥰🎉

And the elephant in the room here: ❄️ Yep, Trentham is in the Macedon Ranges and it’s cold which was actually ideal if you want to retreat and rejuvenate.

Dear darling Trentham, you’ve got a friend in me 😍

✨ Retreat joy ✨

My weekend yoga retreat is over, and I’m riding a high 💃🏼

It was a weekend of courage - only one of the women had been on a yoga retreat - and only a few had done much yoga.

Yet they left their homes and families and comfort zones and came adventuring with me on my first weekend retreat. We were a group growing together ❤️

And oh boy - what an amazing weekend.

I’ll share more pics later but couldn’t resist this joyous one of Suzy and her mum Rosie, celebrating Rosie’s 80th. Both strong, wise, fun and beautiful, I was honoured to have them.

Thank you to all in my world for your support. I felt so held in light by friends and yogis wishing me well and checking in.
co your houses and grounds are divine - truly nourishing for every sense. Instantly relaxing. Endlessly uplifting. 🇫🇷

to plan, shop, cook, serve, clear up and even set the table for us, nourished our group more than words can really express. Thank you. 🙏🏻

And now for me, I’m planning to float for as long as I can! 🥰

And I’m off … retreat ready and rearing to go 💕

🥰🍁🙋‍♀️ In just over a week, a small group of women will immerse themselves into my weekend yoga retreat in beautiful Trentham.

We'll connect by the open fire, eat delicious, nourishing meals prepared by our private chef and practice gentle yoga and deep relaxation.

It's all designed to nourish and restore balance to the nervous system. Leaving you feeling calm, spacious and strong.

You just need to turn up (and dress warmly!)

Is it time to take the plunge and choose to be nurtured; your spirit as much as your body?

I have two rooms left, and all details are on my website (link in bio).

I'd love you to join me ❤️



.co

Kids yoga school holiday program ✨

There are just a couple of spots left in my kids yoga school holiday program!

It’s on next Wednesday and Thursday from 9-3:30 in Fairfield. Best suited to upper primary aged kids - I have boys and girls booked in aged between 10-13 years.

I’m delighted to share we’ll have a educator coming to share insights into the Merri Creek 🎉 because in the same way water flows, so too do our emotions 💕

This isn’t little kid yoga where they’ll be asked to jump around like kangaroos or anything similar. It is yoga for tweens with growing minds and bodies that need to be strong and flexible and well as they navigate life and grow towards being the greatest version of themselves.

This two- day program will include yoga, breathing techniques, meditation, mindfulness, some art, fire pit activity, sound bathing, reflective activity, affirmations - all through the lense of the earth, fire, wind and water within us and around us.

Bookings through my website (link is in the bio) or DM me.

I’d love to have your child join me for a very two day program that will strengthen and inspire them.

🎉 Kids Yoga School Holiday Program ✨
I’m delighted to be running a two-day program for upper primary aged children, aged around 8–12 years.

This is going to be FUN !! We’ll be moving and connecting to the elements within and learning about these same elements in our local environment.

Earth 🌏 Fire 🔥 Water 💧Wind 💨

We’ll explore the magic of the Darebin and Merri Creek waterways, we’ll see fire transform (in an outdoor fire pit), we’ll dance like the wind, and eat nourishment from Mother Earth.

And with warmth and care, the children will deepen their connection to themselves and the natural environment around them.

Perhaps they’ll know they grew up just North of the Yarra, between the Merri and Darebin Creeks. With breezes from the Bay protecting our gardens from frost.

And perhaps when they look at fire, they’ll be reminded of the fire within and the power of it to transform goals and dreams. 💕

This is going to be a very special two days for 15 children.

Bookings are now open and details are on my website - link in bio.

Please share this post if you know children who’d enjoy a magical two days with me.

Are you keen to enjoy the benefits of yoga but fear the yoga will be too hard for you?

Trust me, you will be ok. We don’t do long, fast series of moves. We move slowly from pose to pose. With time to find what works for you. Some of the time you’re just lying on the floor!

And if you’re not calm or your mind isn’t still - let me guide you through yogic practices that are all about calming your nervous system and unwinding from stress.

My next retreat is on Sunday 1 May, I’d love you to join me! Bookings now open x

🎉 The best feedback after my Sunday afternoon retreat yesterday!

Join me on Sunday for an urban yoga retreat to truly soften into the space and stillness within.

The retreat will include gentle yoga, guided breath work, meditation, deep deep relaxation as well as humour, connection, yogic perspectives and inspirational poetry or readings.

I know I know, Sunday isn't far away but life has been busy and I'm just up to sharing this offering now. If you're a busy working mum, I think you'll understand :)

If you get covid or have to isolate I'll refund your money.

And if you are wondering if you could do this - please feel very welcome. My students are (mostly) not hard core yogis. They are real people doing yoga every now and then because it makes them feel good.

I am experienced in teaching yoga suitable for pregnancy, nerodiversity and all manner of hip/ knee, back/ neck/ etc challenges. I am woman-positive, trauma aware and very real about life itself!

The retreat runs 1:30pm - 4:30pm and is $60. It's in Fairfield with freely available parking nearby.

Please join me and don't let me teach to a pretty empty room because I've been stoking the family fires!!

Bookings through my website or just comment or DM.

xx Carolyn

15 years today ❤️

I can’t say it feels like yesterday 😯 but the love and softness I felt in this moment is still a crystal clear memory 💕

Oh the ups and downs of it all, we’ve been through so much - but at least Jason no longer mentions a roller coaster in his cards 🤣

✨ I’m so excited to be hosting my first weekend retreat on 13-15 May✨

Join me for a restorative weekend in the country at stylish, luxury accommodation. 😊

Immerse yourself into yoga and mindfulness practices that nourish the body as much as the spirit and bring a sense of spaciousness to your mind. 💕🙏🏻

There will be conversation and laughter, delicious nutritious food, walks in nature and time to enjoy the tranquil gardens of our accommodation and the village of Trentham. 🌿🍁

Bookings are now open and you are invited to join me. ❤️

More information through my website - Link in bio.

Every week, like clockwork ⏰ pushes the door open during pranayama, sits on my lap during meditation, then sprawls out for shavasana ❤️🐶❤️

Happy student feedback 💕

Unprompted, it just landed in my email 💃🏼

Ahhhh … what a day! I recorded guided relaxations today - and a couple of divine meditations. Different length recordings to suit the time you have available 💕

I feel so grateful to the amazing for bringing this to life with her techno know-how and belief in me ❤️

Stay tuned and I’ll offer them when they’re fully hatched. But for now it’s time for a rest x 😘🥰

I’m home alone today for the first time since … MAY !!!

Unprompted feedback is so gratifying 💕 I know yoga is transformative - and it fires me up to know time and time again that it brings benefits to others.

Other feedback I got this week was from a woman who had some difficult meetings last week and quietly used 4-4-8 breathing to calm her nerves and clear her mind. We’d done it the week before and it was new to her toolkit. Awesome!

Has opening up got you yearning for peace? ❤️ Take some time out for yourself and connect with the peace and stillness inside you.

I’m thrilled to be able to offer yoga IRL 💃🏼 at this 3 hour yoga retreat.

Move mindfully, breathe and enjoy deep guided relaxation. You leave feeling better - peaceful, clear and calm are often words women use to share how they feel after yoga with me.

It’s in Fairfield with easy parking and plenty of space. I am DV and you need to be too. ✨🌿

Bookings through my website or DM me. I’d love you to put yourself first for a few hours. X

Birthday celebrations re-entry style! A small gathering at the park, simple party food and gentle chat among the adults 💕 The children’s birthday parties haven’t always been so peaceful for me but with growth comes new experiences. Today I felt relaxed, peaceful and grateful.

Happy 10th birthday darling Sarah ❤️

Hello x Give yourself the gift of self-care each week. Take time for yourself, knowing all you need to do is log in. I’ll do the rest!

Gentle yoga to nourish the nerves and release tension as we re-emerge into this next phase of life.

I’d really love you to join me (book through link in bio) and please ask any questions - here, via DM or using the links in bio.

And note the testimonials are all real but I’ve not included women’s names because they’ve all come to me privately and I respect that.

❤️🧘🏼‍♀️❤️

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month ❤️

If you feel grief and sadness you’d like to sit with, I really recommended this podcast episode. In it, Clare shares her story of loss gently in a beautiful long conversation.

Through listening to this, I was able to access and sit with the sadness and grief I feel about my own two losses. One of those bubs I laboured for hours at home already knowing he or she had no heartbeat - it’s one of my saddest feelings, yet I rarely sit and shed the tears I have and connect my heart to those tiny darlings.

Thank you for the opportunity and to you and Clare for sharing your stories so I could honour my own ❤️

❤️❤️❤️

This poem stopped me in my tracks. I was struck by it’s gentleness.

Life is amazing and awful and mundane and boring. And it is astonishingly beautiful.

I’m grateful for the way yoga has given me the tools to see life in all its forms as beautiful. Not always easy or pleasant, but still breathtakingly beautiful.

Enjoy your day and see the beauty in all of it. ❤️❤️

Gentle yoga - it’s not too late to join my 6 week course!

8pm tonight - please join me for gentle movement and practices that support the nervous system to calm. It’s a class to help you connect with the inner stillness that always there - really!

After the first class last week, women shared with me that they slept really well, that they woke up feeling fresher and more optimistic, and they they felt truly held and able to let go and chill out.

I rarely take photos in my adult classes and don’t feel comfy sharing the texts, what’s apps messages and calls from women - but trust me, this is a lovely class ❤️

Booking through my website (link in bio). Or DM. Questions welcome.

Kids yoga in the school holidays - what a joy it was! 💕

15 beautiful young yogis joined me for a week of lessons that incorporated all the good things. Fun, movement, poses, breath work, stillness, gratitude, mindfulness.

I’m so proud of them - they gave 100% and were fully engaged which is such a credit to them.

Special thanks too to the mums and dads and grandparents who I saw joining in or supporting their yogis. 🙏🏻

I’ll share some of the lovely feedback on my stories.

Stay tuned for next kids yoga offerings (aka I’m still pondering what’s right as we transition back to school and all the other things).

PS Thanks to Charlie and his family for this lovely photo of him getting into tree pose. 🌱