…even though at times I’ve been terrified. It’s a strong word but when you’re a single mama and not sure if you’re being irresponsible for following your dreams, then at times, it’s been terrifying. And equal parts the very best thing ever.

As we all know though, the end is always the beginning and I plan on keeping on running. I didn’t come this far to only come this far as they say…

It’s all up to you.

You are completely responsible for your life.

How we do one thing, is how we do everything.

Taken and edited from the Insight Journal #10

A poem I wrote as we sat by the fire on retreat, the last night of our Noble Silence. Silence has long been encouraged and used as a tool by spiritual traditions and religions as a way to purify, gain insight and amplify communication with God.

There is freedom in discipline. It’s a matter of discerning the responsibilities that feel light. Our intention can make them feel lighter.

I love this passage on discipline by Swami Rama - the very first yogi master to be deeply studied by Western scientists.

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

In the time between lockdowns, we quickly slipped back into old ways. The tendrils of our entrenched habits and coping mechanisms crawled back, like a relapse. Even though we told ourselves we’d hold on to the long-walks, the baking, the making-do-with-what-we-have—the presence and spaciousness of life slowly disappeared under the cover of distractions, appointments, busy-ness.

Beautiful words from Krishnamurti on the art of meditation.

There have been times in my mediation history that I’ve been envious of people like the Dalai Lama and Eckhart Tolle. Not just because they’re ahead of the game in the enlightenment stakes but because…they don’t have kids.

This morning as I sat down to write my pre-mediation morning pages, sitting to write was hard, it has been for over a week now. My pen felt heavy, writing felt laborious.

About a year ago I spoke at the M2 Summit to a few hundred people about my experiences with meditation and how a consistent practice eventually reframes our ideas of success. It was a talk I was very excited to give. When I got there, standing at the check-in ready to get miked up, was my ex-husband. Turned out he was the MC at the event, and was also going to interview me onstage after I’d spoken.

We inhale; we exhale. Most of the time this process happens completely unconsciously, we’re unaware of the magic that is happening as we breathe. In the video below I’ll show you a breath-work technique to help you harness the power of your breath.

Stress, tension and tough times are an inevitable part of being human, especially at the moment. The more we challenge ourselves and lead lives that are full and productive – the more overwhelm and stress we will inevitably feel.

“Clean?” you say… “what does that even mean?” It turns out that here in New Zealand the rules around what’s in our skincare are ambiguous and misleading to say the least.

Here are some of the most ‘popular’ styles of seated meditation – which fundamentally is the most effective and transformative.

Finding the balance between family, keeping fit, work, maintaining friendships, relationships and being the kind of Mum I’d like to be, is definitely an art. Throw kids in the mix and the life-juggle becomes real.

Rest is exceptionally important for everyone. Look, for example, at creatures in the wild – spending their days resting, playing, then springing into action when they need to.

We often spend our days busy and always on-the-go and wondering why we find it hard to relax and sleep properly?

This month we’re going to delve a little deeper into what many believe are some of the most profound tools in managing and even reversing the effects of stress in our minds and bodies