FINDING YOUR OWN RHYTHM

In days and years where our life seems to flash before us we must find our own natural rhythm to keep balance and harmony within us and around us.

When we push, go, reach, grab and strive to keep moving forward in life we rarely enjoy the journey but if we take each moment, experience and opportunity as it comes and flow with our own natural rhythm at our own natural pace we understand that the journey is life.

One of the greatest examples of a natural rhythm is right out your door…Nature! Nature is constantly flowing in its own natural rhythm. The waves roll in and out. The tides come in and then the tides go out. The leaves on the trees rustle gently in the breeze. The sun rises and the sun sets. Nature flows within its own natural rhythm which is something we love and admire.

There is a reason that we often look outside the window to reflect. There is a reason why people often go to the beach to relax…

It is in these surroundings where everything is in harmony and balance flowing at its own natural pace that we discover peace and calm. Nature does not supply us with peace and calm; nature is simply reflecting what is idle within us, our true essence beyond name and form.

Sometimes we lose balance and ignore our own natural rhythm and when this happens everything around us becomes un- balanced. It all starts with you. A fast paced life may be right for someone else but it may not be right for you. Take the time to still the mind and go within - listen, observe and feel without attachment. Everything about the experience of finding your own rhythm needs to be simple. Rest when you must, play when you wish and be who you are without defending or justifying why you choose to live the way you do.

Flow to your own rhythm not to the rhythm of those around you.

Ourania x

VENTURE INTO THE WILD

I recently read over a quote by one of my inspirations and muses – Christopher McAndless. It read -

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a person than a secure future. The very basic core of one’s living spirit is the passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Christopher McAndless.

On this particular day and in that particular moment those words ignited a light within me. For those who are not familiar with Christopher McAndless he was a young man from a well to do family who in 1992 hitchhiked to Alaska alone in the wilderness. He left all of his money to charity and abandoned all of his possessions without saying a word to anyone. He was inventing a new life for himself, leaving the conventional ways of life knowing that there is something more. This time he would live by nature’s rules. Why he leaves and the experiences of his journey I will leave for you to discover. This is a story of one man’s life situation that we can all learn from.

He learnt many lessons along the way and documented the entire journey in his journal. If there was one story to depict living in the moment, this would be it! The absolute courage and ability to let go and follow his path is incredibly inspiring because honestly, how many of us would? Although there are some parts of this story that may not be applicable to everyone most parts will conjure up thoughts and reflections upon life and human existence. I read his quotes quite regularly throughout yoga and meditation classes that I teach and I almost always have a student ask me about the quote and how it made them feel. There is both a book titled “into the wild” by Jon Krakauer and an amazing film interpretation of the book directed by Sean Penn.

I was on my way back from an around the world trip when I personally saw the movie on the plane to what I thought was pure chance. After I watched it I felt different. I arrived home with a new beginning. After that moment my life started to change. I quit my job and then embarked on what would now be my life path of yoga and meditation. My partner and I parted ways after 6 years together and I was on my own for the first time since I was 18. My friends grew, my experiences expanded and opportunities did coming knocking on my door. I was living for the first time without a plan and now I am here in a moment in my life where I am at peace with all that is with full acceptance and understanding of the essence of who I am. I have had ups and downs since the start of this journey and it’s a lot to dedicate to the story of Christopher McAndless but into the wild is something that awakened those thoughts I had behind my layers of fear and confusion. I continue to watch the movie 3 years later and read the book and draw inspiration every time.

It’s always beautiful to observe the writings of souls who have been before you and the wisdom they have shared. May it inspire you as it has inspired me!

Ourania x

When size really doesn’t matter!

I wanted to share this beautiful photo with my readers. Every time I look at it, it simply makes me smile and laugh. Nature can teach us many things. There is absolute beauty and creation all around you right now. Notice the little things and allow gratitude to fill you from within.

Ourania x

Moments of reflection...

In memory of Theo Karydis

my father, my inspiration, my guardian angel

 

We always find ourselves at the end of each and every year reflecting on what has been and pondering on what is yet to come. I am at this moment. 2011 has been an interesting but very difficult year. I have many students and loved ones around me who at this time of year have mentioned the same. There are ups and there are downs. Something we all know for certain is that nothing is for certain except death yet why is it that we live as if we are never going to die...

If there is one major lesson for me the year has brought forward it would be this - as quoted by an anonymous person – “Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love and treasure the people who treat you right and forget the ones that don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it”.

How many people reading this today live as if today were there last? How many of us worry about things that really and honestly do not matter? A moment wasted on worry, stress and negativity is a moment you could have had feeling gratitude for all the great in your life from simply having the ability to smile. Things that bring us joy and love in life are not the things purchased with money.

Take a moment every day in reflection to appreciate these things and why. Don’t let it come to the end of the year where you sit back and say I wish I did this and I wish I did that. Live every day to its fullest and don’t waste your precious time here on this earth doing things they do not delight your soul. You are your greatest teacher. Follow your intuition. Your decisions or gut feeling may not always make sense now but it will in the future. You are your greatest guide. You are unique expression of life. Live that way.

I am sending lots of love, blessings and light to all those around me and who inspire me whether they are in human or spirit form. I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Feel deeply, enjoy simply and think freely.

Ourania x

SURRENDER

How often do we really bring our awareness to the present and surrender to the moment? … Not that often! And what if it was in these moments of complete surrender that uninterrupted tranquillity and complete oneness with all that is lie?

It is natural for us as friends, as family and as channels that when someone needs help or advice we tend to lean toward saying in one way or another “you have just got to surrender to what is and flow with it…everything happens for a reason”. This belief and knowingness is idle within us even when we don’t realise. Our spirit wants us to surrender but our mind continues to think and live in the past and the future.

Throughout my journey as a yoga teacher so far the biggest thing I find is that not only do we resist the notion of surrender out of fear but also to the misconception that surrendering to life is confused with weakness.

It takes every bit of strength in your entire being to really surrender. The people who I take most of my inspiration from in life are those who have the ability to let go. Those who live moment to moment with complete awareness of the present. That is not to say that those who surrender to life do not have goals and aspirations about the future or memories from the past but they practice non attachment toward these things not allowing the outcomes of the future or the past to determine their happiness and joy for each and every day.

This is a subject that I could talk about for a very long time but I read a quote by Eckhart Tolle that I found to be a very profound but simple explanation about surrendering to life –

“Surrender is the wisdom of yielding rather than opposing the flow of life. The only place where you can experience the flow of life is the now, so to surrender is to accept the present moment unconditionally and without reservation. It is to relinquish inner resistance to what is.”

The ability to surrender takes time, patience and strength. Begin today taking a moment just to be fully aware and present in whatever task or situation flows your way. When moments get tough just tune into your breath and allow your breath to be your guide; to take you deep within beyond the physical body, beyond the mind, and beyond the ego. Within you dwells a oneness that we all share. A presence that is great and divine. This is a place of pure joy, peace & love. A place that is available to you at anytime and anywhere.

Discover your true essence through surrender.

With Love,

Ourania x

What would you tell your younger self?

I was once given a beautiful book as a gift on my 18^th birthday titled “What I wish I knew at 18”. I have read this book constantly, over and over and each time I gain new inspiration and motivation to live my truth and love my life. There was definitely some clear advice and messages that I found when reading the letters of the many diverse people that contributed to this book. 

Below I have composed ten main inspirational messages I gain when reading this book. I hope you enjoy…

1.  Be who you are and embrace your qualities. Being an individual is what makes you stand out.

2.  Trust yourself – trust your inner voice and inner guidance. That feeling in your stomach when you know something is good or not is telling you the truth.

3.  Look for the good in any bad situation or experience. These experiences allow us to grow beyond belief.

4.  Don’t wait for the permission of others to live your life. Seeking approval from other people keeps you stuck in a life of regrets and resentment. Loosing this need of approval sets you free to live your best life!

5.  A sense of humour gets you through a lot. Laughing in life is incredibly important.

6.  It’s ok to make mistakes and take lots of chances. Through mistakes we learn to live meaningfully as opposed to simply adopting conventional ways of behaving.

7.  Enjoy every minute of your life because in an instant it can be over. Don’t put off til tomorrow what you can enjoy today.

8.  Seek balance – in work, relationships, family, friends, play time, etc. All are equally important, if we favour one we lose another.

9.  Thank more people often and be grateful. Realise that your life and every moment in it is precious.

10.         You don’t get happy, acquire happy or achieve happy you simply must choose to be happy.

What would you tell your younger self?

Take some time to write to your younger self filled with advice and messages from experiences had and lessons learned. It is amazing what you may discover about yourself and how far you really have come on life’s journey.

This letter may then become a keepsake. A letter you may wish to pass down to the children of your family. It is a beautiful way to journal and put your life into perspective. You may like to do one every year or simply one when you feel the time is right. It will become a beautiful memory to look back on.

With love,

Ourania x

BOOK REVIEW: The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle

The Power Of Now is a book based on the understandings of being and living in the present moment.

When we live and be in the present moment we free ourselves from suffering and pain created by our own thoughts, emotions and ego. Being in the now allows us to surrender and let go of any attachments we have to our life situation. It’s not about blocking feelings, emotions and thoughts out; it is about not attaching to them. The more you are focused on time – past and future the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is. Why is it the most precious thing? Because it is the only thing there is.

Most of our worry, stress and pain in our lives either come from the past or future and when we let go of these things the mind becomes still, the body relaxes and you live lovingly and joyously with full acceptance no matter what life presents to us.

Being present in each moment; living mindfully with full awareness is the key to peace. If you have ever been to yoga or a meditation class at Ourano Yoga and My health yoga you will know that this is something practiced every moment you come to you mat.

Being is something that cannot be understood with the mind. You can only know it and feel it when the mind is still.

Being present in the now is an understanding that when fully felt can change your life situation dramatically. This is something we must practice with true belief and surrender and although we may not do it all the time we can still have pure intention to do so and that will then manifest into our reality.

As Eckhart Tolle says “whatever the present moment contains - accept it, as if you had chosen it. Always work with it not against it. Make it your friend not your enemy and this will miraculously transform your whole life.

Eckhart Tolle is straight to the point and answers questions on the power of now throughout the entire book which makes it easier to understand and apply the teachings.

A truly inspirational and powerful read that I highly recommend to all of my students and to those who wish to understand and live the true essence of what it means to be present in the moment.

With an abundance of love,

Ourania