In my post "Braveheart" I spoke about changes and decisions I'd be making throughout the year. Some decisions would be harder to make than others.

When faced with change, sometimes there can be resistance - fear creeps in - we feel safe in what we know and have grown to like the security of that feeling. And sometimes change asks a lot of us - effort and work.

And there are times when we make decisions and invest in making the change work but there comes a time when we need to step back and look at things objectively - from a different perspective. Patanjali tells us this in the Yoga Sutra-s - wise words but sometimes easier said than done!

Remember my post about taking the BIG step forward ... ... or so I thought ... and invested in an online management/booking program MINDBODY. Well, much effort and perseverance it turned out it wasn't such a big step forward ... I had to look at whether it was actually working for me and have now made the decision to step away and cancel my subscription. It's hard when you have invested so much - time, energy and financially. But it was a great learning experience in many ways which I've already been able to move forward with some of that knowledge.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to look into it, download the app and learn how to use it. Unfortunately it wasn't functional for Healing Heart Yoga - funny enough, I felt it wasn't able to be personalised and adapted to suit my business - the fundamentals of our teachings :)

I know a lot of you will be happy to see that I've now reverted to my previous system - hopefully that will be less painful for us all and a little more user friendly. I will be sending a newsletter shortly with details of the upcoming classes for the holiday break as well as bookings for Term 3 which will start from Monday 23 July. Please remember that your booking will only be confirmed and your space secured upon payment. Go to Classes/Book Online to make your booking now and for full details of all classes as well as the special workshop this Saturday. If you have any questions about the bookings online system, look back at my earlier post on how to book online

Namaste,

Beverly

As we come into the last week of Term 1, now is the time to plan for the holiday break classes (schedule to follow soon) and book in for Term 2. Bookings will all go through my new software program, MINDBODY. So here we go ... fingers crossed that all the links connect and work!

To clarify ... ONLY CASUAL CLASSES can be booked on the MINDBODY APP.

Enrollment classes, which are the term evening classes, need to be booked via either of the following 2 options -

Website booking process ...

Click on 'Account' on the right side above the calendar to either Create an Account or Sign in.Payment - you will need to change the Country from United States (a default) to Australia and then the states will display correctly

Facebook booking process ....

Follow the prompts to book Payment - you will need to change the Country from United States (a default) to Australia and then the states will display correctly

After completing either of the above booking processes, you should then receive emails -

confirming your new account detailsconfirming your class booking

Good luck and let me know if you have any problems.

Thanks everyone for your patience!

As many of you may be aware, I've been struggling a little with the upkeep of the admin of the business side of Healing Heart Yoga for a while now. Being a small business, I wear all the hats and to be able to fully support change and growth, I've had to look at feasible ways to do that.

I've now taken the big step ... and I say 'big' because of the time and energy involved initially ... to implement a new software program which I foresee will in the long term streamline a lot of the administration work and allow me more time to practice, teach, share and study!

So here it is ... the official launch of Healing Heart Yoga moving into the big world of online bookings with MINDBODY - a cloud-based business management software for the wellness services industry which allows clients/students to make their own bookings online. This is the link to the MINDBODY app to download on your phone so from hereon you'll be able to book your casual classes online and make purchases online from the Healing Heart Yoga Store all from your phone!

For term/enrollment classes, bookings will need to be done through the Healing Heart Yoga website or Facebook page.

If you've never used MINDBODY before you'll need to Create an Account - click here for a tutorial if you get stuck.

Overview for booking online ...

Create an account and login or Sign inSelect the class or enrollment/term class you want to do and follow the prompts

I'm sure there'll be a few little glitches to work through and iron out over the next few weeks so please bear with me and keep your fingers crossed it all rolls out smoothly :)

I would really appreciate your support in joining with me in using the MINDBODY app and/or bookings through my website or Facebook (there are additional menu items on the left side now) so that I can spend less time behind the computer and more time sharing the teachings of Yoga and offering opportunities for studies - more of where I believe I shine :)

I will send through another blog/email (this one is getting way too long!) soon with links for enrollments for Term 2 as well links and options for the casual classes.

With much gratitude,

Beverly

The Easter break is almost here and this year it will be inside the school term. There will be only one change in timetable ,,,,

Friday 30 March 2018: 6.50am - 7.50am Dynamic Flow class will be cancelled.

All other casual and booked term classes will run as scheduled.

For me Easter is a time to pause and regather and prepare for the transition into the new season. Adjusting my practice, my food, activities. The cooler times are more reflective.

Whatever you do and wherever you go, remember to take some time out each day to sit with yourself and take time to breathe.

Namaste,

Beverly

It's that easy ... listen, learn as you listen, repeat and chant.

So many people have a preconceived idea of Vedic Chanting but have never tried it. Because I have always struggled with singing I was initially quite hesitant about using sound in my practice - I was afraid of what it would sound like! I still remember my very first day at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) in Chennai in the program studying the Yoga Sutras. We had to learn to chant the sutras!! I had to face my fears right then and there. And I am forever grateful for this experience. It has deepened my practice tremendously and offered me new insights into myself and my practice.

Chanting continues to be part of my daily practice and has been one of the most transformative practices in Yoga for me. Instrumental for healing as well as shifting 'stuff' and bringing a new refreshed view on life back for me.

There are no prequisites for Vedic Chanting - just come with an open mind and your reading glasses (if you need them). You can also just come and listen. Everyone is a beginner.

When?

Next Saturday 3 March from 10am - 11.30am

Where?

Healing Heart Yoga, 34a Eric Street Taree

How?

BOOKINGS REQUIRED - go to Classes/Book Online - scroll to the bottom for Vedic Chanting and select 'Book it' and go from there. Class fee is $20.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Namaste,

Beverly

Just under a week to go until applications close for the new Yoga Teacher Trainingand Yoga studies in Taree beginning in May 2018. Closing date for applications will be next Wednesday 28 February 2018.

The training format will include a 50 hour Yoga study 'Yoga and the Mind' - a study of the Yoga Sutras which can be done independently or as part of the 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training. The programs offer the opportunity to study part-time with trainings being held in Taree one weekend a month during school terms.

This is a unique opportunity to have face to face training locally with a schedule that can fit in with other life and/or work commitments.

Email healingheartyoga123@gmail.com for more information on either the 'Yoga and the Mind' studies and/or the 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training.

Namaste,

Beverly

Is Yoga an important part of your life? Are you ready to make change in your life? Have you thought about learning more and integrating that knowledge to become a teacher of Yoga but not sure what it takes and how to go about it? Or maybe you'd just like to study the philosophy of Yoga?

If any of this speaks to you then please join me next Friday evening 9 February at the Healing Heart Yoga studio in Taree for a free information evening on the new teacher training and optional study program scheduled to begin in April 2018.

I'll be giving an overview of this new comprehensive 500 hour training program with details of costs, logistics, schedule and other information relevant to the program as well as a new optional study program for those interested in deepening their knowledge of the philosophy of Yoga.

The training will be in the tradition of Krishnamacharya, widely known as one of the most influential masters of yoga in modern times, who committed his life to sharing the teachings of yoga and the application of Yoga as it applied to each individual person to support health, healing and personal transformation.

Please share this invitation with anyone you know who may be considering undertaking more studies or becoming a teacher.

Date: Friday 9 February 2018

Time: 5.30pm - 6.30pm

Venue: Healing Heart Yoga, 34a Eric Street, Taree

RSVP by email to healingheartyoga123@gmail.com by Thursday 8 February 2018.

Yours in Yoga,

Beverly

Yes ... only 2 days before the new Yoga term for 2018 begins! After a longer break this year I'm sure most of you are ready to recommit to your Yoga practice. Make your Yoga practice - class and personal practice - a positive habit to replace a not so good one. Over time you'll find the benefits of this consistent practice will naturally flow into your life and you'll start to let go of more habits and patterns that you know are hindering you.

All classes except for the Monday class start this week. Bookings are essential for evening classes so if you're ready to recommit to being responsible for creating your best self and overall wellbeing, go online now and book your space. There are a variety of classes to choose from so take some time to have a read through each class to find the one that best suits where you are at now.

Monday and Tuesday evenings only have a couple of spaces left and the rest of the classes are filling up. The Wednesday evening class has returned to a foundational class - Yoga Basics. The Friday morning class in Taree is now 'Book a Mat' (online) so I know who is coming - bookings can be made for this class up to Thursday evening. Please make payments to the account shown on the website. Some of you may still have the previous bank account details stored - delete this so that future payments are to the correct account.

If you are a little unsure of the online booking system, have a look at my blog on 4 Januarywhich will step you through the process.

Remember, there is no change without change. Be brave, take a step forward.

See you in class.

Namaste

Beverly

It's been a busy start to the year before I head off for India on Saturday with my group. I've now set up a NEW online booking system . To see how it works it's IMPORTANT to readon.

There is a new page on the Healing Heart Yoga website -'BOOK ONLINE' where you can find all the classes and reserve spaces. On this page you'll find ...

Here's a couple of tips about how to navigate this page in case you get confused. Under the heading 'Classes' at the top of the page you will see links for -

Book a Term - PrepaidBook a Mat - Casual Yoga ClassCasual/drop in Yoga classBook a space - Chanting

Click on which one you want and then it will bring up the class/es for that category. At the end of the title of the class you will see a small down facing arrow - you can click on that to see more details of the class and then 'Learn more' to see full details.

To BOOK a class ...

Click on the 'BOOK NOW' buttonNext page will show a calendar - click on the timeSelect NEXT on the right side under the class detailsFill out the Booking Form - NOTE - you can book for up to 2 people at one timeSelect PAY NOW on the right sideNext screen will give you bank details for paymentA confirmation email will be sent to you with details of your booking and amount to be paid.

Alternatively if you know which class you want, just click on JOIN on the right side of the class before you click on the arrow to see more details, then continue from step 2 above.

Online payment - still paying by EFT to the new Healing Heart Yoga bank account.

Yoga Basics - new beginner's class Wednesday nights. Ideal if you're new to Yoga or haven't been to a class for quite a while or maybe just want to revisit the foundational principles of Yoga practice.

Classes resume from Tuesday 30 January 2018 with 11 weeks for the term (except for Monday night which is 10) so head to the BOOK ONLINE page and book your class.

Any questions, send me an email - I'll be checking them from time to time while I'm in India. Otherwise see you in class at the end of January.

Yours in Yoga,

Beverly 'Braveheart' McCulloch

Happy new year lovely people. Here is a glimpse of my year. Being brave, having courage to take bold steps to move forward, listening to my deeper self - what my heart tells me. Trusting in me. Sraddha - a deep belief and conviction. This is the year ahead for me.

It takes commitment - not just for a few days, weeks, months but ongoing daily commitment. There comes a time when you have to make sacrifices along the way to make change. When you are committed to change that's what you do. Remember - there is no change without change.

This year will undoubtedly bring changes. Personally I'll be letting go of what isn't supporting or serving the values of yoga as I have been taught. There will be times when I'll need to be strong and make hard decisions but I'll be trusting in myself and following my inner voice. There are changes pending to all classes to keep my core values and principles aligned.

There's often an underlying fear of letting go of not being able to do some things or even have things ... afraid to relinquish the 'trappings' of life that actually retard our growth and hold us back. I have observed many of my students over the past few years and know there's a desire for change weighing on some. A commitment to Yoga can give you the strength and courage to dive deep past the fear and unearth that which is within, that which is truly how you want to be, not that which you think you should. When you connect with that you will know the truth and you will want to make that change.

So happy new year lovely people. I hope that some of you embrace some of what I've shared and allow yourself step up and shed what is holding you down. Then bring along your passion and commitment to join me on this amazing journey of life through Yoga.

Yours in Yoga,

Beverly 'Braveheart' McCulloch