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Leaving a Wisdom Legacy
‘Although the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death saves us’. – Martin Heidegger In my early 20’s I volunteered at a hospice. The training I undertook was intense and I was eager to get front line, to put theory into practice. On my first day I reported to a senior volunteer who looked me up and down and pronounced, “you’re a man! What would you know about …
Read moreWellness Retreats: Destination Detox
Why do people go on wellness retreats? Getting away from it all to a fresh and beautiful setting can be used to break bad habits, create an intentional turning point in your life, give yourself a taste for new patterns, and use time out from stressors to reevaluate your values and lifestyle. I consider retreating to be a very intentional ‘destination detox’ for all levels of your being. Of course …
Read moreDeath, Dying and Difficult Relationships
By Satyam Brown Someone recently asked me at a dinner party what gems of wisdom I had learnt about living and dying in my career as a palliative care counselor and social worker. I considered giving a standard answer about putting less energy into your career and more into spending time with loved ones. However the most honest answer I could give is that we will die as we have …
Read moreNaturopathy and Yoga Go Together Like Sunshine and the Sea
When I studied naturopathy back at the turn of the century (aka 1998 – 2001) yoga was an elective subject. Over the years of seeing clients I’ve recommended mindful movement in the form of yoga or other disciplines such as tai chi depending on the person’s interests so many times I’ve lost count. I undertook yoga teacher training in 2004- 2005 and that allowed me to offer regular classes and …
Read moreThe Yoga of Death & Dying
Have you ever contemplated your own death? Not in a suicidal sense, but in the realistic contemplation of the eventual demise of the physical self. Contemplating mortality forms a spiritual practice for many different traditions including some Yogic and Buddhist practitioners. This is really the antithesis of modern postural yoga’s body consciousness. It’s easy, and some might say preferable, to imagine that your body will last forever. Yet no …
Read moreBody Positive Yoga
It’s a visual world, always has been, never more so. People are skimming social media, flicking across all manner of platforms and mediums, and pretty pictures capture most of our scattered attention. In the yoga world, wise words and a single pointed focus are not enough anymore to attract people to classes, teachers and events. And so I found myself lining up a photo shoot in the hope I …
Read moreGrace & Grit
I’m counting my blessings regularly as part of increasing my overall happiness through gratitude. It’s not just something nice to do, it’s actually proven to increase happiness, and while our temperament might be relatively stable, we have a little bit of control over the lens we see our lives through, so why not try to amplify the good we see and feel? One of the areas in my life that …
Read moreWhy I’m So Passionate About Mentoring Naturopaths
The Trouble with Naturopaths It’s a sickeningly regular occurrence lately to read articles about another baby damaged, or cancer patient mistreated, by an unregulated, irresponsible naturopath. All manner of natural therapies, therapists, healers and spruikers of wellness get bathed in the murky gloom of these stories. Recently the media has revisited the wellness warrior archetype in the form of Belle Gibson, creator of an uber successful health app, who turned …
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Do You Need a Detox?
It sounds like an appealing idea doesn’t it? In just 7, 14, or 21 days you can be rid of all those nasty toxins and have the glowing skin and vibrant energy you feel you could have. Many people are drawn to detox programs and products for health and weight loss. Some of the popular programs involve strict diets, juicing, special teas and herbal supplements. But is there any truth to …
Read moreDefining Yoga Therapy
Defining Yoga Therapy Many people ask me, what’s the difference between a yoga teacher and a yoga therapist? Experienced yoga teachers are often exposed to people with differing needs in their classes, and they may point to their excellent ability to individualise within a group setting and say, ‘Isn’t any good yoga class also yoga therapy?’ Well it’s something of a long story so my initial response might …
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