'If the truth be told'....by Lauren

In training for my life!!!

noreply@blogger.com (lauren) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:37:00 +0000

I'm feeling like I'm in training! But for what??
The answer that came back, to my surprise was..... LIFE!
I'm feeling a strong motivation to not only continue my commitment to experiencing yoga in each day, each moment & each relationship but also to creatively stay on the path to living in a way that is for my absolute best. To eat better, be a positive role model for my son, dedicate myself each day to my yoga and meditation practice, get clear about my goals and what I truely want to bring into my future and then to dedicate myself to staying on that path to transformation, to stay In Training for each day and the day after.....

Why is it that we usually train for a specific event? Why not be in training all the time to be able to live feeling great, energized, positive, happy and free from stress and worry. Sounds great to me, the only thing that we have to be mindful of is our tendency to Self Sabotage!! To slide back into the physical and mental habits that keep us from living our full potential.

Thank you yoga!! It can be so amazingly supportive.... helping us create more prana (life energy) and helping us to break through those old patterns that hold us in our current circumstances.
What I know to be true is that our life moves in the direction of what we're thinking and how we're feeling. Yoga can most definately help us to feel a whole lot better. It allows me the space to get clear and connected. When we are able to draw in to that stillness we are far more open to find the answer inside of us that will fully support our next decision, be it coffee or fresh juice? Yoga or television? An early morning walk or a sleep in?
So, I'm on that daily path with a Master mentality and dedication. Make the choices that support me, live each day feeling happy, healthy and strong and be ready to amp up the discipline when those old habits and samskaras come calling.
Join me and begin to dedicate each day to you and to creating exactly what it is you want. You deserve it!

See you on the mat!!
Lauren x

The intention's been set, It's time to walk the walk!!

noreply@blogger.com (lauren) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:28:00 +0000

Yoga yoga yoga!!!!

This incredible practice that I've dedicated my life to can transform us in so many ways, from the physical to the deeply spiritual.

I'm beginning to truly understand more and more that yoga is in everything, in every moment, in every breath, in every decision, in every exchange. It's in the moments when we're with our lovers, our children, our friends and our family. It's in the moment that you walk down the street and offer a friendly smile to the person walking by. It's in the moment that you decide child's pose is better than another downward facing dog.

Yoga offers this innate potential to unite, to move back to center, to witness and appreciate beauty, to be open and honest and respectful. This is something that I've known intellectually for quite some time but only now am I beginning to understand this concept on a different level. Only now am i beginning to feel a deep desire, a yearning to to align my intention with my words, my thoughts with my actions. I want to live in harmony, balanced and truthful.

I've fallen deeply into patterns over the years, acting from a place of habit rather than a place of presence, finding this most prevalent of course in relationships with those that i love the most. This experience always leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth and worse still it's left me feeling like a fraud. How can i practice yoga in one moment and then leave it behind in the next simply because I'm no longer on my yoga mat....!?!

My challenge to myself this year and every year thereafter is to live up to my full potential, to exist in the present!!!! To stop relating to others from what's happened in the past and focus on what is true in each and every moment. My challenge is to take yoga from out of the studio, off the mat and into each and every day and into each relationship.

Of course one of the best ways to harness this kind of awareness is to keep up a daily practice, whether it's 5 minutes or 105 minutes. Breathe, allow energy to move through me not stagnate, to connect in to center rather than be moved from something outside of myself, to commit, to be disciplined! All to serve a wonderful intention!!!!

It's just struck me......Am i seeking enlightenment???? Is this my intention for 2011???

No, not enlightenment, even thought that would be a welcomed state..... No, I'm simply moving back to presence, back to my practice, back to myself.

Come join me at The LifePod, on the mat.... rocking our yoga, our relationships, and rocking our intentions for 2011!!!!

Namaste,

Lauren

What a year!! New studio, new home new husband!!!

noreply@blogger.com (lauren) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:24:00 +0000

Here we are at the end of 2010, what a year!
I look back on everything that's happened and I'm once again amazed at my capacity to fit so many things in!!
Amazed and thrilled!! It has been a time of tremendous change and growth and i feel a mix of contentment and mild exhaustion. It feels nice at this point to know that there is a few weeks coming up to rest and prepare for next year. It's that kind of tired that now doesn't bother you, it's like the feeling of having eaten that huge Christmas lunch..... you know that the afternoon can simply unfold in front of you....

This year has seen the LifePod move from it's original space to our lovely new premise in Victoria street, a personal move from Paddington to Palm beach and last but definitely not least my wedding!!

Preparing for a wedding was certainly an intense experience, as many of you shared the journey with me, it was at times more stressful than i had anticipated. I promised myself that i wouldn't become a 'difficult' or stressed out bride but if the truth be told, there were moments when i failed dismally and i found a new sense of empathy for women who are about to walk down the aisle to the big 'I do!'.
My sister was the one who put up with most of my 'moments' and i wish every bride to be had there own version of Belinda, if not hire one!! It's times like these when family are the only ones that will still love you and not run in the other direction swearing and cursing....even if they want to.

The day approached at rapid speed and of course it wasn't all smooth sailing. We came up against a few little obstacles, things that always seem so much bigger in moments of high stress, like the cake won't be ready, you can't have access to the property at the time you thought, the tables aren't big enough to seat the guests, there's deer poo all over the grass, one's not allowed to speak to their groom all day, my son refused to put his wedding shirt on and finally my dress was in desperate need of hollywood tape in places I hadn't quite expected!!!!

Having said all of that it was the most spectacular day and all of the above were tiny little moments that worked out perfectly in the end! The cake arrived, deer poop cleaned up by the best, best man ever, phoenix put his shirt on, the groom and I caught moments together and my dress was the most beautiful creation ever!!!

We had the most spectacular experience, everything went off without a hitch, we both said 'i do', had a very romantic kiss, were announced as Mr and Mrs falconer and I now have the most gorgeous husband ever!!

We both felt so incredibly loved and supported by all our family and friends, we are truly blessed and i am deeply grateful for everyone that I have in my life, especially at this time of year, when we get to slow down and actually enjoy each other.

I'm looking forward to resting, sleeping, keeping up my practice, eating great food, creating my new years resolutions, catching some rays, swimming, reading books, watching movies and generally living at a much slower pace over the next three weeks.

May we all enjoy this time and keep in mind that if we stay centered in the moments that may seem chaotic we will find what is right for us, we will be able to move forward with integrity & presence rather than from our habitual patterns of response. This is my one of my intentions for now and the coming year, to align my thoughts, my words and my actions in the world..... to take time when i need it and be mindful! I'll let you know how it unfolds.....

Wishing you an abundant year filled with happy times, lots of love and your dreams coming true!!

Lauren

A healthy balance....? Our way to peace...

noreply@blogger.com (lauren) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:48:00 +0000

'You're living in the express lane!'
Said a wonderful and wise healer.....

After blogging only once since last September my world has felt like an express lane! The fast forward button was hit!
My partner proposed, we moved the LifePod to our gorgeous new studio, we moved house to Palm Beach, we're planning a wedding, our son turned three and the wheels of everyday life keep a rollin!
I've been asking myself, "have I really been so busy that I couldn't find the time to write a blog? Have I just been making excuses??

If the truth be told, it's a bit of both.

So, how do we find the balance? How do we do it all? Is this even possible or just some expectation of our time... I certainly feel the desire, the pressure, the inspiration to have it all... family, business, success, detachment, inner peace, love and eventually a healthy harmony of it all and time to write my blog!

How many balls can we juggle, are we taking multitasking to a whole new level?
What is going on!?!

At times i feel like I'm addicted to the chaos, the bustle, the to do list that is a mile long, the washing, the cooking, the shopping, my yoga, the lunches that need to be made the bills that must be paid, the carpet that needs to be vacuumed, the dishes, the time to meditate, read, send emails, phone calls, classes, meetings..........ahhhhhhh!!!!!

I can't see the forest for the trees!

I take a deep breath in and know the answer to all of this.... a resounding, loud inner wisdom says..

Keep it simple...
Be thankful, gracious and compassionate...

Relax, breathe, go with the flow, surrender, don't sweat the small stuff!! Stay present and know that there is always a deep connection to self that can nourish, energize and allows us to live calmly within the chaos.
This is our gift, this is the ultimate benefit of a yoga practice and a life dedicated to truly knowing oneself. It's all within us, in every moment.

So yes, I have felt ridiculously busy recently, ( like many of you I'm sure).... I have in many ways been giving out too much and not taking care of myself the way that I know I can. But all experiences lead to the next and i see that life is that wonderful tapestry that ultimately creates an artwork of perfection.

We can relax and fall back into the arms of life and take comfort in the knowing that in the centre of our craziest times there is the eye of the storm, there is the jewel in the lotus, there is peace.

I see this each day in my son, the sparkle of living in each moment, the delight in having no judgments or expectations, no to do lists. He really is my talisman.

I am finding the balance......
I am feeling the peace.....
Right there in that smile.... xx

Perfection is hard work. Surrendering can be scary but in the end it's much more pleasant!

noreply@blogger.com (lauren) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:14:00 +0000

This is an idea I've had to grow into over some time....especially after having a baby and starting a business. I'm being challenged even more now that my gorgeous son is really embracing his two-ness!!

I think everyone will know what I'm talking about, even those of us without children or with bubs under two - we've all been in the supermarket witnessing the absolute meltdown of mother & child, the horror on mums face, disbelief that this is really happening to her & child flailing around like a fish out of water, disgusted at the injustice of the world. Sounds being unleashed from deep in their little body......

When this scene happened to me I was lost....lost at sea! Standing in David Jones like a stunned mullet, REALLY not knowing what to do. This was the first time that I thought seriously about parenting skills or rather a lack of them. Previous to this everything had been instinctive & this was certainly not part of the perfect plan....

I have been, in the past, seriously attached to the idea of having things go a certain way, and even though i thought this was working, pre child & pre LifePod, I now see that it was only ever causing me stress, stress, stress - and compounding a bad habit!
I found myself getting so worked up over the littlest things, if the house wasn't just so or if something didn't meet my expectation, I'd feel the adrenaline beginning to rise and the panic setting in. The need to fix it immediately would be overwhelming or worse the need to blame.

It's been such a relief just to give myself permission to 'let go', and to finally understand that it's my perception of perfection that needs to shift. The house can be perfectly messy, the dishes can be perfectly unclean, my son can perfectly splash water everywhere in the bath & clothes on the bathroom floor is really not the end of the world!
I'm talking about very surface stuff but often times this is what sets so many of us off.....the little things.

I'm being taught each day to stay in the present, not only by my yoga & meditation practises but in my relationships, especially with my son. Children live in the present, they are consumed by each moment so beautifully. So I'm learning, thank you Phoenix.

My real understanding in all this is just to allow myself to be. And be okay with what I feel, rather than resist and fight - surrender!!

Lauren