Yoga 4 Living

Dreams, a mysterious analogue watch and a simple wish fulfilled at the doorstep of Tiruvannamalai. Sometimes magic is quieter than we imagine....

"Dreaming of Tiruvannamalai - Over the last few years, the name of the sacred town of Tiruvannamalai kept reappearing … something about walking around a mountain under the beam of the full moon. Then I dreamt I was there. Not just once, but a few times.

Of course, we included it on our next Indian itinerary.

You need to accept invitations..."

It's juicy, magical, read the full blog story by heading to my website

https://yoga-4-living.com/tiruvannamalai-dreams-and-magic/

A gentle practice for body, mind & heart 🤍

My Gentle Hatha classes are an invitation to slow down, ease stiffness, soften tension and reconnect with yourself.

With additional training in yoga for older adults, I thoughtfully adapt each class to honour changing bodies, energy levels and individual needs.

No need to be flexible or fit—just come as you are. And Bean, our gorgeous support dog, may be there to welcome you too. 🐾

Come move gently, breathe deeply and feel at home in your body.

Book through my website or send me a message for details.

Revelation - Feedback - "I had such a beautiful experience at the Goddess Gathering with Monica and Mata Kamaleshwari. They both bring so much warmth, heart and depth to the space, and I felt incredibly welcomed from the moment I arrived.

The chanting !!! - the energy and vibration was amazing and quite powerful. I also loved the meditation. I can sometimes struggle to settle into meditaiton, but this felt so easy and natural that I genuinely did not want it to end.

I left feeling grounded, connected and deeply nourished. Such a beautiful experience, and one I would absolutely recommend."
Amy
🙏
A Gathering with the Goddess. You are warmly invited to Chai with the Devi. A Free monthly gathering with the Divine Mother.

🧘MEDITATION 🌺MANTRA 🔻COMMUNITY ⭕

For those who feel the pull of Her. No experience needed. Once per month, Sundays at 4 pm, Held in Belmont Geelong.

Join us book through: yoga-4-living.com/yoga-schedule
or reach out to us IG: goddessculturemovement OR yoga_4_living

Offered by the SpandaShakti© Kula
Life Affirming Goddess Path and Community in Geelong, Bellarine & the Surfcoast

Gentle yoga offered Thursday nights.

How Yoga Can Help Cancer Survivors Gentle yoga has been shown to help cancer survivors with long-term side effects, like anxiety and trouble sleeping. Learn more about the benefits of yoga.

I’m looking to connect with experienced yoga teachers who may be available to cover my classes when I’m away — including during my travels to India.

Yoga 4 Living is heart-centred and inclusive, with classes that welcome people with mature bodies, different levels of experience and a range of physical abilities.

If you’re a reliable, caring teacher who enjoys teaching with awareness, kindness and respect for the individual body, I’d love to hear from you.

Please send me a DM with a short introduction, your yoga teaching experience and an expression of interest.

I’m building a small circle of trusted cover teachers to call on when needed. 🤍
PS Classes are held in Belmont and Highton (Geelong)

Black Sesame Latte - Nourishing for mind body heart and soul. Drank this daily during an intense Sadhana and I also shared it with others who gave me so much positive feedback I have decided to share it here, particularly nourishing during menopause or post menopause (more about that at the bottom and in comments)

A mineral-rich coffee alternative to enjoy as part of your morning ritual. Black sesame seeds are rich in healthy fats and supportive of the kidneys. Naturally warming, they’re especially nourishing during the colder months.

Prep 20 min cook 5 min, serves 2
Black sesame paste:
1 cup black sesame seeds
¼ cup untoasted sesame oil (organic ayurvedic sesame oil from Bio Veda)

Latte:
2 cups of milk (milk or plant milk)
2 tablespoons black sesame paste
1 tablespoon raw honey

In a large skillet on low heat, toast the black sesame seeds for 1-2 minutes. Stir so it doesn’t burn. Because seeds are black it can be hard to see to see if they are burning, best to stay with them the whole time.

Transfer the toasted seeds to high-speed blender or food processor. Add the sesame oil and blend until creamy. You may have to scrape the sides down a few times, personally I don’t have a high speed blender so I use a coffee/spice grinder to grind the toasted seeds and then blending wit the oil, you want smooth paste not lots of granules. Add more oil if needed. Store in airtight container.

I like to keep this simple. I whisk the paste with a little water or plant milk in a saucepan as it heats, then add the remaining milk. Rather than using a blender, I finish with a small electric frother. I love this drink and will continue making it beyond Navaratri.

According to Ayurveda, honey should never be boiled as it is believed to become ama (toxic), so use an alternative or allow the drink to cool slightly before adding honey.

This is brilliant if you have a lot of Vata dosha, black sesame is nourishing and grounding. It is great for pitta too. read more in comments in relation to Menopause and post-menopause.

Recipe Source: Living Ayurveda: Nourishing Body and Mind Through Seasonal Recipes, Rituals, and Yoga by Claire Ragozzino

Hatha Yoga is often thought of as a more physical style of yoga, but its meaning reaches far beyond the postures.

Traditionally, ha represents the sun and ṭha the moon. Hatha is the union of these complementary energies within us—the active and receptive, the warming and cooling, the solar and lunar. Through our practice, we seek to bring these qualities into harmony.

This understanding also relates to the ida and pingala nadis, the subtle energy channels that carry lunar and solar energy. Practices such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) help to purify and balance these channels, preparing the body and mind for movement, or more traditionally, meditation and deeper states of awareness.

On another level, Hatha can be understood as the union of Shiva and Shakti. Shiva represents pure consciousness—the still, witnessing awareness—while Shakti is the dynamic life force, the creative power that moves through all of existence. In many traditions, Shiva is associated with the solar, masculine principle, while Shakti is honoured as, a more lunar, Divine Feminine.

As we deepen our practice, we may begin to sense this living relationship within ourselves. Shakti rises; Shiva descends. Where they meet, there is balance, presence. Ultimately, these teachings invite us to discover this sacred meeting within our own embodied experience.

Hatha Yoga invites us not simply to move our bodies, but to become aware of these subtle currents and the sacred union they reveal within us. Each time we come to the mat, and as we deepen our meditation practise which is an important aspect within it, we are participating in this timeless dance of consciousness and energy.

Hatha Yoga classes are held every Wednesday at 10:00 am in Highton. Beginners are warmly welcome.

Gentle [Hatha] Yoga is offered every Thursday at 6:00 pm in Belmont. A softer, slower, more lunar-inspired practice, it is also perfect for beginners.

Heart of Devi Yoga online 7 am Tuesday mornings, a soulful Hatha Yoga practice that honours the Divine within through mindful movement, breath and meditation

Photo by Hanna Witte on Unsplash

Nurturing, Strengthening Body, Mind and Spirit .... Cancer affects every person differently, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach is rarely appropriate. Drawing on many years of experience teaching Oncology Yoga, I work with you to create a personalised program designed around your unique needs, treatment history, symptoms, energy levels, and goals.

As both a certified Oncology Yoga teacher and cancer survivor, I understand that each person's journey is different. Whether you are undergoing treatment, recovering, living with long-term effects, or seeking support in survivorship, your practice is carefully tailored to meet you where you are.

Following your session, you will receive your individualised program to continue practising at home, helping you integrate supportive movement, breathwork, relaxation, and mindfulness into your daily life.

You may choose a single session for targeted support, or a three-session package that allows us to refine your program over time, build confidence in your practice, and provide ongoing guidance. The three-session option offers a more sustainable approach and greater value for those seeking continued support.

If you or someone you know would benefit from compassionate, individualised support then please please share.. I welcome enquiries for private 1:1 Oncology Yoga sessions. Online or in person, your choice and location dependent,

Heart of Devi - Online Morning Practice

When life feels busy, demanding, or disconnected, Heart of Devi Yoga offers a gentle refuge. Here, you are invited to soften, listen deeply, and reconnect with the nurturing, wise, and compassionate presence that resides within—the sacred spacious heart that lives in us all.

Heart of Devi Yoga is a nurturing Hatha practice devoted to honouring the Divine in Her many expressions, embodied within all of us, regardless of gender. Shakti (Goddess, Devi) is the essence of movement, grace, love, energy, power, and lunar wisdom.

With movement, breath, mantra, mudras, and meditation, we cultivate a deeper connection to our hearts and innate divine energy.🌿

🌿 This will be morning nourishment, bringing that sense of calm, sacredness, steadiness and grounding to your day. Gently shaping the lens through which we experience and interact with the rest of the day.

No prior knowledge of yoga, meditation, or Goddess traditions is required—only a willingness to come as you are. This is a practice of nourishment, connection, and remembering the wisdom that already resides within.

Tuesday mornings AEST 7 am Zoom Online …. Starting Tuesday 28 July. These class passes start with “Online… “ on the booking page On my website 🌺