For anyone who has followed my book reviews will know that I absolutely love the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. His simple yet profound teachings often guide me back to my truth when I loose my center; they are also great teachings to share in class with my students. His four pillars of Toltec wisdom are:

• Be impeccable with your word,
• Don’t take things personally,
• Don’t make assumptions,
• Always do your best.

This small bite sized book can be read in a couple of hours, but it is definitely one of those keep safe books you reference regularly as a gentle reminder to keep you on track. If you haven’t read the Four Agreements its ok, they are summarized in the first half of the book before the father and son team up together to share the Fifth Agreement based on the power of doubt and how it can transform your life:

• Be skeptical, but learn to listen.

I really liked this new edition to the agreements as it encourages us to ask questions and question everything. But at the same time to be truly present in listening to the messages being spoken and unspoken, as the truth will be revealed on many levels if you are really receptive.

This practical guide to self-mastery also highlights the 3 levels of attention from victims, to warriors, to masters. But what I loved was when we dived deep into the possibility of becoming a seer, which gives us a wonderful new expansive perspective on reality than we have the potential to truly be… the artist, the creator of your life.

Latest studies from the Australian Psychology Society have shown that we as a nation are feeling higher levels of stress and distress, and depressive and anxiety symptoms than ever before in history. Older Australians (66-75 years old) prove to have much higher levels of wellbeing compared with younger
Australians (particularly the 18-25 year age group). With almost one in seven Australians suffering severe depressive symptoms and one in ten Australians suffering severe anxiety symptoms. Highlights how important it is for us to learn the art of disentangling from the destructive capabilities of the mind.

Causes of stress
Financial issues remain the leading cause of stress amongst Australians with more than half of Australians identifying finances as a cause of stress. Family and financial issues were the tied leading sources of stress for women while the leading source of stress for men was issues related to personal finance. Women carry the responsibilities of trying to balance both the working and family responsibilities and end up suffering from the superwoman syndrome.

Strategies for managing stress

1. Breathe deeply & slow down
2. Focus on the positives
3. Exercise: move your energy
4. Meditate
5. Listen, sing or play music
6. Spend time in nature or with animals
7. Spend time with supportive friends or family
8. See a life coach, spiritual healer, health counselor or psychologist
9. Get a massage
10. Have a holiday or short weekend away.
11. Avoid stimulants like sugar and caffeine
12. Get a good nights sleep

Life will always have an element of stress, its natural and normal, what is un-normal is how much of it we create for ourselves. It is vital that we learn to manage life’s never-ending challenges and not sweat the small stuff for our own peace of mind. Let go of the past and don’t worry about the future, just be here and now and take one-step at a time so you don’t go into overwhelm. The do to list will never end; even when you die it will still be there!

Everyone on the planet has hardship and challenges but what separates us from each other is how we handle those obstacles. It’s actually easier initially to be the victim but in the long run you will feel like your drowning. The courageous roll up their sleeves and get on with it, moving through the difficult conversations and situations that life presents. Don’t run away from your fears, as they will only get bigger over time. Face them headfirst and move through the mud one step at a time.

“Like a lotus flower that grows out of the mud and opens it’s petals to the light blossoming above the muddy water surface, we too can rise above the darkness and challenges of life and blossom into our full potential.”

Destress at Essence of Living studio and sign up to our regular newsletter here.

I have finally had the opportunity to dive into some long awaited books over the last few days, as I have just had eye surgery removing the sun damage that has developed on one of my eyes. Years of my youth were spent floating in the ocean watching the sunrise, surfing pearly blue waves day after day. My naturally fair skin and blue eyes now show the years of my sunshine and salt water loving lifestyle. I absolutely loved growing up by the seashore and I feel extremely blessed and grateful to have such a naturally abundant upbringing in nature.

Seven months ago I travelled to the motherland India and during this time I had a lot of work that needed to be done for my business which didn’t allow me the privilege to sink deep into her womb and loose myself in her greatness. Luckily for me I could still go on holidays and could take my work with me and do it in a beautiful enchanting location practicing yoga with my teacher and sister every morning before knuckling down and moving through the daily duties of a business owner. Because I have been to India a few times I didn’t feel completely robbed of the experience. Plus sometimes in life we have to the work that needs to be done and we don’t get to choose when that happens. However there is an amazing bookstore that I visit each time I go to India which is filled with inspiring books that lift your vibration. This book review is based on one of the books I collected during this trip.

In the small dark bookstore hidden down a little ally I found Siddhartha by the famous Hermann Hesse published by Penguin as a Modern Classic. To be honest I had never heard of this great philosopher before but from reading the description on the back of the book I knew it was for me. The Times refer to Hesse as ‘A writer of genius’ and he is the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, which is such an honorable award. Siddhartha was originally written in the 1920s and was first published in the United States in the 1950s. It wasn’t until the 1960s that this little book really took the world by storm, 40 years after it was originally written.

This great tale follows a young Indian man Siddhartha’s journey towards self-realization. Born as a Brahmins son, he is of the highest caste of priests who value intellect and knowledge. He feels that this is not his path and has a calling to leave his lineage to becomes a Samana which is a person who abandons the conventional obligations of social life in order to find a way of life more ‘in tune’ (sama) with the ways of nature. After many years of suffering the practices of the Samana and being no closer to self-realization he hears of the teachings of Buddha the O Illustrious One and leaves the Samana in hope to learn the path to self-realization from the Buddha. Here he is not convinced that this is his path either and decides that he may find realization through the practices of the ordinary man.

He looses himself to love, sex, money, power and gambling for many years and is no longer the spiritual man he once was but rather a sad suffering old man. He awakens to his haze of delusion and abandons his worldly possessions and duties and once more renounces everything only to become a ferryman learning from nature. It is here immersed in nature that he learns how interconnected we all are and that we are all one. That no one or nothing is superior to the other but rather we are energy expressed in different times, places and circumstances. That LOVE is ultimately the beginning and the end. That we are all on the journey of birth and death, we are all traveling through the cycles of life known as Sansara. Reading this book for the first time made me feel very blessed for the teachers I have had and the journey I have walked as I too feel the power of LOVE and that we are all equal, no one better than the other.

I highly recommend every spiritual seeker to curl up for a day and immerse themselves in the magic of Hermann Hesse’s tale of Siddhartha. You will be transported to a far off land filled with riches beyond the material and capture the very essence of life.

Contemporary yoga classes are taught around the western world in hip health clubs, gymnasiums and studios with each practice originating from the great guru Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Varying styles of Hatha yoga are being introduced across the globe and are causing immense confusion over the authenticity of each practice comparative to the more commercial style of yoga being presented.

The definition of hatha is “force” with reference in yoga to one who willfully works towards balancing their energy channels (sun/moon, male/female, yang/yin) in order to create peace of mind and ultimately lead towards a state of oneness. Generally speaking, Hatha yoga could be both seen as an asana and pranayama based practice where you breathe and perform different postures. Therefore all yoga styles such as Bikram, Power, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Yin, Vinyasa, Anusara and alike could all fall under the Hatha Yoga umbrella.

However the question still remains; ‘which method is the correct or right method for me to practice?’ The answer to this question continues to erupt heated discussions amongst serious practitioners who are all attached to their own style and understanding of the benefits in which they have witnessed through their own particular practice.

With literally millions of practitioners and teachers around the world expressing Hatha yoga differently, this can cause a melting pot of conflicting ideas. Due to the many different languages, cultures, climates and seasons, yoga is being expressed and developed in even more colours of variation as each individual experience depends on where and when they practice. Yoga can sometimes be expressed as diluted by purists of the practice, but ultimately the most common styles of yoga

practiced today stem from the great guru Sri T. Krishnamacharyas whose students are among the well-known Indra Devi, Sri K Pattabhi Jois (Ashtanga Yoga), BKS Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga) and TKV Desikachar. These particularly influential students all shine a different light on the yoga asana practice however they all come from the same source. This is because each teacher perceived the teachings in a certain light that was right for them at the time.

Two people can both receive exactly the same teaching and yet walk away with a totally different interpretation of the experience! Who is right or wrong doesn’t matter as long as they both reach the desired outcome.

My personal belief is to find the practice that feels right for your body and then find a teacher that will inspire your nature and shine a light that encourages you to return to your true authentic self. If you have the teachings and

a teacher then you have a real chance of finding your truth. Finding the right teacher can be challenging however and like they say; ‘when the student is ready the teacher will appear’.

I suggest if you are serious about yoga and it means more to you than performing happy handstands to read the legacy of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and go deeper into the essence of the practice as you will find in his book, he embraces all methods of practicing yoga to suit the individual, time, place and circumstance. He was a remarkably wise scholar who equally emphasised the importance of the philosophy studies so the read is well worth it.

From the moment we stepped off the plane, both Brad and I felt a massive shift in energy between where we boarded in India, to where we had just landed in Sri Lanka. There was a softer, brighter energy than what we had felt in India and as soon as we walked out of the airport it was evident that Sri Lanka was going to be a very special place and one in which we were both excited to discover. In my mind Sri Lanka is a fusion of Bali and all the best parts of India combined as it possesses the rich culture of India yet combines itself with the beauty of Bali. The lush tropical flora and fauna will take your breath away as you travel high into the hills covered with tea plantations and banana trees. The beaches in the south were equally as beautiful and I feel Sri Lanka still maintains an authentic vibe as Westerners are yet to over commercialise the picturesque country. We spent most of our trip in Hikkadua which is a great surfing spot filled with white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. We stayed at a cute beachfront hotel called Moon Beam where a perfect peak break pumped straight out the front of the hotel all day long with only a dozen surfers enjoying it.

Sri Lanka is also very reasonably priced so it’s a very affordable holiday location for both young and old. There is a great variety of accommodation ranging from boutique up-market hotels for those who want the extra luxuries, to the budget non air-conditioned rooms. The only issue we found was that the main form of transport was by road which meant we spent a lot of time in the car and on average about 5hrs each day to get between places of interest on below average roads. If you are planning on having a non-stop adventure similar to ours, I highly recommend hiring a driver and a minivan, as like us you may end up journeying all over this lush island. The scenery is beautiful and I enjoyed the driving which is surprising for me as I am usually one to suffer from car sickness. Tourists be aware however that there are no service stations for bathroom stops on these long drives so always travel with tissues and disinfectant wipes as you will have to use far below average local restrooms when in need.

Waking at 3am one morning we adventured on a 7km hike to reach Adams Peak; a sacred Buddhist site, where in absolute darkness we trekked the vertical climb in two hours in order to witness the stunning sunrise at the very top.

We were not alone on this journey as hundreds of Sri Lankan people also arrived at the top of the little temple huddling together in the freezing cold all hoping to witness the remarkable sunrise in this sacred space.

Unfortunately on the descent however, Brad came down with Typhoid Fever! As we hiked our way up in the dark early hours of the morning there were no visible signs along the journey so following the view of sunrise we rushed back down the peak hoping to leave before all the locals as we didn’t want to get stuck behind them on the descent. After half an hour trekking back down Brad and I had conflicting memories of the best route to get us back down to the start of the mountain. I remember Brad commenting that he thought we were going the wrong way, yet I stubbornly and confidently replied feeling positive I was leading us the right way back down. After an hour and a half descent, I realised Brad had been right and we had definitely gone the wrong way and unfortunately the only way to make our way back down was to head back up the mountain again! Brad was already sustaining a significant hamstring injury that he has been living with for over 5 months and that vertical hike was very painful for him but it wasn’t until we started back down on the right side of the mountain that I knew Brad was in serious pain.

What would normally only be a two hour descent ended up taking us five hours as Brad started to feel really unwell and we had to constantly stop as his head was spinning and he was suffering from acute nausea. I have never seen anyone in so much pain and with every step I thought he was going to fall over. Seeing Brad unwell like this made me consider the thought that perhaps he had severe food poisoning as he is usually super fit and such a strong man that I knew he was unwell. Once we eventually got to the bottom we quickly jumped in a tuk tuk and headed back to our room where he went to bed with a blazing fever fuelled with sharp pains running through his body and numbness in his extremities. Now I knew this wasn’t just food poisoning so against his will I managed to get him into the back of our minivan and I rushed him from doctor to doctor then hospital to hospital trying to work out what was wrong.

Thankfully I managed to grab the pillow and blanket from the hotel as these hospitals were every person’s worst nightmare and did not have either of these for their patients. There wasn’t even toilet paper, soap or running water in the bathrooms so you can only imagine the state of the rest of the hospital and because we were high in the hills, we ended up in a very old hospital – the 2^nd oldest in Sri Lanka in fact

at over 200 years old built even before the British arrived. Fortunately for us, we had a fantastic young doctor who had lived and worked in Singapore and was very familiar with Brad’s condition and she managed to get him in a stable condition within 18hrs.

Due to Brad’s sudden sickness we were unable to see all the other wonderful sights we had planned to see, however this just means we are both super excited to go back to Sri Lanka in the future to complete our adventure. I highly recommend Sri Lanka for those travelers that aren’t particularly interested in a shopping or partying style holiday, yet would rather immerse themselves in nature and explore a tropical island in which I imagine would be exactly what Bali used to be 50 years ago.

I have recently returned from the best part of 5 weeks in India where I immersed myself in Yoga and meditation sitting at the feet of my beloved teacher Dena Kingsberg at the Purple Valley Yoga Retreat followed by a journey to Chennai where I connected with my divine at the Oneness University. India is always an interesting experience…to say it’s dirty and chaotic would be an understatement and to be completely honest India is far from what I would call a desirable holiday destination, however the country’s deep roots in spirituality is what keeps drawing me back again and again.

This trip was going to be my gorgeous sister Clare’s first time in India so my parents were delighted when I spontaneously said I would go along to support her on her journey. India is certainly not the easiest or safest place to travel alone as a foreign female with blonde hair and fair skin and I felt better that I could go with her. I

highly recommend anyone, especially females who are interested in traveling to India to go with a travel buddy. There is also is a high probability of getting sick so it’s always useful to have a friend to support you in the event of an emergency. Even on this trip my partner Brad contracted Typhoid fever in Sri Lanka and it hit him so hard that we ended up staying in hospital overnight.

This trip for me wasn’t an exploratory trip of the vast land of India but rather an internal exploration through asana and meditation. The first couple of weeks I spent on retreat at Purple Valley Yoga Centre in Goa with my beloved teacher and her family and it was truly inspiring. She is a massive role model for me as she continues to follow her passion and share her knowledge whilst also maintaining a successful family life. It’s a unique balancing act as a female to be able to manage and juggle your family along with a thriving career as you share all your energy with your students whilst sustaining your own daily practice and keeping on top of daily life. Of all the teachers I’ve learnt from she is the only one living this elusive balance of life. It is one thing to have the knowledge and it’s another to practice it! It is always wise to look for those teachers who live a life that you aspire to live and take the time to learn from them. Dena has a happy husband and two healthy kids and this is what I want for myself when the universe decides the time is right.

After spending an incredible three weeks in Goa I ventured to Chennai to the Oneness University where I met up with my boyfriend Brad and we immersed ourselves in the practical tools on living a spiritual life connected to God. Both Brad and I loved the experience so much that we have planned to go back later this year to immerse ourselves in the 108 process; an accelerated process in both Awakening and Transformation. The Awakened state could be said as ‘one who is living authentically’ and the Transformed state as ‘one whose heart is blossoming and lives from a place of love’. One of the best things that came out of this experience for me was when one of the dasa’s (holy monks) said he would connect with me every week so I am able to continue learning the practical spiritual teachings that I can then share with my students.

All in all my time in India was amazing! Once you get beyond the superficial layer of dirt and grim, you discover the richness of spirit and allow yourself to begin your connection to the divine in all its’ shapes, sizes and forms.

I had heard of this magical little book called The Prophet many years before my beautiful friend Shelly kindly provided me with a copy to read. For me 2013 was a very busy year where I found myself juggling the completion of my studies in Holistic Health Coaching through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, fulfilling my general work commitments and maintaining my personal practice on the mat, and although rewarding this meant that my daily ritual of reading was pushed aside.

Since I have been residing in India – the motherland of spirituality for nearly 6 weeks immersing myself in yoga and meditation, I have had the time and space to relax and read. It’s the simple pleasures in life that make me happy as I love to get lost in a good book for hours on end. I’m going to make the promise to myself this year to make sure I do not over commit and maintain a healthy work/life balance so I can continue my

love affair with reading.

This inspiring read was first published in 1926 and is such a beautiful timeless novel where you truly appreciate the poetic author’s clear connection with God. With his wise words of wisdom he could lift the veil of illusion from anyone’s eyes willing to go deeper into the philosophy of life.

The Prophet is filled with compilations of teachings from a wise man providing his last words of advice before he moves on to the next life. It is a must read for anyone interested in philosophy as it offers so much insight and clarity through a range of topics from marriage, teaching, death and freedom.

I particularly loved the chapter on love. Being a real love bug myself I love to read about this topic. His illustrative view on love rang so true for me that I’d like to share some of his words with you and recommend you find the time this year to immerse yourself in this beautiful book.

When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

Often in our lives we mindlessly move from point-A to point-B without being conscious about WHY we are doing what we are doing. Sometimes we do things because it’s become a habit or a routine in our lives to perform the same tasks over and over on autopilot, while other times we do things because we have been told to or have an expectation to fulfil for someone else. We also find ourselves performing certain tasks we think we are ‘meant to be doing’ rather than what we want to be doing as we become conditioned to following external influences such as media, family, friends and cultural beliefs rather than listening to our intution.

Imagine how your life would transform if you clearly became aware of the bigger picture, the higher purpose and the grand plan behind each and every action. This may sound a little far-fetched but every action has a reaction and it’s not the big things that make the difference and rather the small day-to-day actions that over time create huge results. It’s the small choices, sacrifices and decisions that may seem insignificant at the time but collectively could be the difference between you retiring at 40 years old opposed to 60 years old. It’s those everyday choices such as getting up, being active and moving your body that transforms it from a couch potato into a fit, flexible human being.

I invite you to visualise the life you want to live, the type of body you want to have, the relationships you want to develop with your lover, family and friends, the career you want to achieve, your financial status, and most importantly the contribution you would like to make to the world. For many people they dream half heartily about what it is they would like to have or create and end up disregarding it before their consciousness can even register it! It’s as though they don’t believe they are capable of achieving it so naturally the universe provides exactly that…. Nothing!

A few years ago in New Zealand my beloved and I went to a great seminar facilitated by the Christopher Howard group and I learnt a very valuable lesson that has kept

me in good stead ever since and I’d like to share this golden nugget with you. BE who you want to be right now and this will allow you to DO what you need to do in order to HAVE what you want to have!

So many people say they want to have an amazing Yoga or Pilates practice or have this desired physique in mind and yet never achieve their goals because they still see their dreams as something in the future as opposed to the present. This is the biggest mistake anyone can make because one must live every moment as if they have already achieved the goal right now. So if you are wanting to succeed in having an amazing practice or body ask yourself these questions;

Who would I need to be right now?

What type of mind-set would I have to have?

How would I live my life?

What type of choices would I make?

What type of sacrifices would l have to make in order to HAVE what I wanted to have?

I often refer to this type of thinking as “What would my higher-self do?”

Begin by being clear on your life’s intentions, aims, purposes and goals and be mindful of all of your actions. Take note especially to the small actions and before you know it you will be living a life you love, filled with passion and fulfilment.

Watch your thoughts as they become your words,
Watch your words as they become your actions,
Watch your actions for they become your habits,
Watch your habits as they become your destiny.

Mahatma Ghandi

I absolutely loved this beautifully designed, easy to read self-help Ebook. The pages are jam packed with soulful lessons on clarity, connection and bringing your awareness back home (to you).

Rachel and I have been friends since high school and even though we were in different grades we still connected with one another as we both share a similar vibe. Over the last sixteen years we have managed to stay linked as Rachel gets her spirited booty by participating in either a soulful yoga session or a sweaty, body-burning pilates class. Rachel is the real deal! She walks the talk and has been breathing, bending and blossoming at Essence of Living for nine years.

It’s crazy when I think back at how many

moons ago Rachel and I shared various communication classes together at university whilst we were still so young and filled with unlimited potential. Even then she was an incredible writer with a massive smile that stretched from ear to ear. “Spirited” is co-written by both Rachel and Tara and is a creative, practical, how-to guide teaching readers how to ignite

their spirit so they too can blossom to their full potential. Both girls have taken the leap of faith and followed their passions by manifesting a life they love. I always champion those who follow their heart and turn their dreams into reality. If this is the life you want for yourself I highly recommend this read as Spirited is sure to inspire you to do the same.

The second chapter ‘Fear-Wrangling’ is what I believe to be the most transformational juice as readers move through the ego and the wise self, stillness and surrendering, freedom from self-sabotage, making peace from the inner critic, and kicking the comparison curse. I feel that this single chapter will inspire readers to move out of their heads and into their hearts so they can reconnect with their higher selves and see that we are all one.

It’s when we connect beyond our individualist small self and unite with universal love everything begins to unfold and organically fall into place.

To download a copy of this wonderful read check out In Spaces Between!

People often ask me how I

have been able to do, learn and achieve so much at such a young age and I always answer with honesty, “I’m a massive dreamer!” I love fantasising about new and exciting projects, opportunities and adventures, and I am always entertaining the thought of more study by exploring prospective courses and keeping my options open. I am a keen reader and researcher who can spend multiple hours lost in an inspiring personal development or self-help book or surfing the World Wide Web following and observing industry trends, market leaders and people of influence.

I find local and international inspiration and motivation across the whole fitness and holistic health industry and enjoy learning new methods and keeping up to date with holistic wellness ideals. With so much content available to absorb however it can be easy to lose focus and get off track from my personal purpose and passion. My high energy, enthusiasm and excitement can cause my attention to get high jacked at times and I often find myself being taken for a ride down the yellow brick road of enticement and distraction.

This is why I firmly believe it is of utmost importance to regularly sit down, get clear and crystallise your goals ensuring that your actions are in alignment.

I review my annual goals at least once a month to ensure my actions are in line with my big picture as it’s very easy to get side tracked and focus on getting through the to-do-list rather than knuckling down and focusing on the important tasks that WILL help you succeed in reaching those goals in your bigger picture.

I am extremely organised and disciplined and feel that this is the drive and force that allows me to achieve exponentially more than the average Joe. Being prepared by planning your days, weeks and even months in advance ensures you stay on target and is very important to your success and to be completely honest sacrifice is required as are on-going late nights to guarantee you get to wherever it is you want to go.

I recommend you view your vision boards and goals as though they are living documents constantly evolving and inputting change where required. It’s important to practice flexibility and creativity when developing and evaluating your future plans as life will always present new opportunities and challenges that will cause you to take a detour every now and again. With this in mind some of your goals will be added to the current year and others may move to the following year or be even scratched completely – Be ok to change lanes and take a new path as long as it’s the road to happiness and fulfillment it doesn’t matter what the scenery looks like. Understand that some paths may be uncomfortable and challenge your limits causing you to really grow and develop your character but keep your eye on the higher purpose and all will be revealed.

With all this talk on manifesting your dreams and goals it’s just as significant to mention the power of applying faith with no expectations. I encourage you to try and practice acceptance and if the outcome doesn’t eventuate as you may have visualised it, remember it’s about the journey not the destination! Wherever you find yourself take the time to look back and see how much you have learnt and grown and be grateful for how far you have come.

Happiness isn’t found at the end but rather in the process so enjoy the ride and have fun.