August is an empowering month with the strength of Leos.

A month of harsh realities. A month of inner strength. A month of constant change. A month of frustration. A month of tears.

But I don’t wish today’s blog to go down the road of Coronavirus – we talk about it 24 hours a day all over the world. Vaccinations, close contact, isolation, lockdown, closures, tighter restrictions, closures, testing, penalties.

Instead I just want to share what for me, is a joyous time (although I do feel slightly weird writing the word “joy”!!!)

Our Yoga Studio will, on the 22nd of August, celebrate….Sweet 16!!!!

Yes – 16 years old.

So that’s why I feel I need to spread some magic dust, (no balloons, they are terrible for the environment) fairy floss and hundreds and thousands to celebrate.

It feels like a loooong time since anyone has had a party.

I remember the studio’s 10th birthday party at the Clemton Park Bowling club which was so amazing. The turnout of all yogis and their families was wonderful and better than I could have imagined. We celebrated with smaller parties at the Bexley North studio but then, since 2020: nothing!!!

I have wanted to celebrate our new Clemton Park Headquarters but keeping up with all the Covid restrictions kind of stopped me.

On the other hand how do we plan? I feel let’s all go with the flow, which even I will admit is sometimes hard to implement.

But hey – back to 16 years as a full time yoga teacher, Australian Registered Homeopath health and lifestyle consultant, business owner and for the last two years the designer and creator of my Yoga- active- lifestyle clothing range. All of the clothing is made in Sydney with samples, patterns, sewing, and pressing made by two wonderful women, mother and daughter team Chrysoula and Fotini. Even the materials are sourced in Australia, supporting our markets.

I cannot tell you how frustrated I get knowing that most activewear has not been manufactured in Australia. I get sent all the samples of tights, crop tops, bras and then big  brands buy them, just stick their label on top and charge you 1000% mark up. Crazy!!!! Thank you to everyone for your amazing support of my new venture. So many of you out there have purchased my clothing way before it was online. My deepest most wonderful thank you.

Thank you also to everyone who has attended my yoga classes. Every single student. Students who came once, a few weeks, months, years, on and off. I feel as though I have met everyone’s families and wherever I go it seems I bump into a student.

Thank you to all the wonderful support of yogis who have attended my yoga retreats, here and in Tonga and of course Greece. Again so glad our retreat at Callala Beach in May was able to happen. I still vote it as the best retreat ever – but definitely more to come.

16 years is a long time but I also feel it just flew. My strength as a business owner and creator is to never give up and to always bring passion to my work. My job is beyond a job, yoga is a way of life. I have been blessed to have changed my business after last year’s lockdown. Big commercial rents and overheads are gone. So I have been able to breathe and not stress but my heart is broken with how many businesses are suffering. Downsizing has saved me this time around.

From the start of this lockdown, I reduced my private teaching fee from $80/90 to $50 an hour. It has been a wonderful experience teaching yogis outdoors and of course keeping up with all the new changes I have been able to work with. Mask on and also currently we have local border restrictions and the 5km rule so from today a lot of yogis will be restricted.

Of course nothing is forever. We will get through this. As lockdowns continue at some point there will be some easing. Most likely we will transition to 10 or less in a group with classes held outdoors. I love teaching outdoors and so many of you have been converted to enjoying yoga in Mother Nature. When we resume outdoor classes I will post on social media and keep you updated with newsletter release.

Planning ahead is not something that can be done at the moment- which is a lesson to be in the present. What we can do today is to be kind, thoughtful and as caring as you can be to yourself and others.

From the bottom of my heart thank you to everyone for all the support and courage and strength you have given me to thrive and work with this small business the last 16 years.

Thank you also  to Veronica Robertson from Commotion Marketing for everything you have done for me. Your unwavering support and love. You have held my hand for so many steps of getting my business more technologically updated and so much more.

xxx

Eleni

Well, we’re nearly saying goodbye to April and May is just about here (or maybe by the time you read this it will be May already!)

We are all reflecting lately on how fast is each week going by. Is 2021 flying?? I’m still having trouble remembering that the year is not 2020 (case in point, when I was making my April Spotify playlist, I typed 2020 instead of 2021. Oooops. Not sure if I have changed it yet.)

What I’m loving more than ever in 2021 is teaching yoga. You are all amazing!!! Your progress has been so uplifting and SUPER (must read that with a Greek accent ?) I have to make things harder for you all!!!

Please note that some of the private groups have changed to open classes. For example, bookings for the Wednesday night 7:30pm class are now open for anyone who wants to attend in that time slot.

There will also be one or two classes shifting this season so please check my timetable for any changes.
And I will be adding some pop up classes including meditation and slow flow yoga, as well as abs, butt and thighs. These will be advertised on Facebook and Instagram – another reason why you should like and follow haha.

I’m really grateful to everyone who has been willing and able to shift, compromise and change their schedules and still make it work. You have all been wonderful in your bookings and cancellations. Thank you so much for such smooth sailing.

Hello, also, to all the new students who may still be in shock of the amount of talking I do in class. Which leads me to this: how well do you know your Yoga teacher? Just for fun, answer this mini quiz below??
Send your answers by email, text or photo and be in the running to receive a FREE yoga class to the value of $24.

xx Eleni

In Spring, I feel like I’m on holidays. My music selection for classes probably reflects that.

Yoga is my number one de-stressor. What I try to do in every class is really honour the reason of why on that day you have chosen to come to class – it’s all important for me. Sustaining our practise is such a precious tool for our wellbeing. How good does it feel when you have reached the end of the class!? You are all so motivated and I feel this year you have just pushed to a higher level. This has nothing to do with me, but you – superstar yogis.

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Did you know on 22nd August the studio reached a super milestone of 15 years!!!!! I feel so strong and lucky to be able to follow through after the COVID shut down. The decision to move from Bexley North and set up in a different space was not taken lightly, but wow. I have been so busy, it’s been super exciting and a pleasant surprise. I did not mark the 15 year anniversary with a party, but hey, we have so much to look forward to. Thank you for your support everyone. I’m really, really grateful. This could not have happened without you.

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I have been registered as an Australian Homeopath for the last 12 years and as a practitioner, I know that you are all looking at your health from so many different angles. What makes Homeopathy stand out as a holistic modality is that how we feel – the mind symptoms – are rated with as much importance as the physical.

I want to share a story. On Monday, I walked to my chiropractic appointment in Bexley North and on my walk back to Clemton Park, I took some detours. As I walked past a house and admired a beautiful plant, there was a lovely lady sweeping her porch.

I said ‘good morning’ and she told me that this particular plant was planted by her late brother, who had died 10 months after planting it. This was followed a year later by the death of her other brother on Christmas Day. We talked for a while, and I felt that she had not talked to anyone for a while. I was there to listen to her story.

Her Mum had dementia and her younger sister had Cerebral Palsy. She herself had survived bowel cancer and detrimental heart problems (she mentioned the name of her diagnosis, but I cannot remember.) She gave very detailed descriptions about her health issues, including dates and names of her doctors and specialists.

She said “No one could explain the reasons for my heart problems before I had surgery to fix. I never smoked or drank alcohol, but I’ll tell you why – the grief ate me up. All the worry, and and grief, I kept it all in my heart, until I could not hold anymore.”

In my mind, as I listened to her story, I thought of all the Homeopathic remedies I could have given her. Yes, medical intervention was needed – she’s only around because of surgery by a specialised team that brought her back to life in a 13 hour operation. Allopathic medicine is wonderful but us humans are such complex creatures, healing takes many avenues and I truly believe Homeopathy can help do that.

The lady was so wonderful and wise – a retired academic. I’m happy that she shared her story, we all need to share our stories.

I asked her name and she replied Helen.

I said: I’m Eleni.

xxx

Hi everyone,

I cannot express how amazing I feel. There’s a strength in my mind and body, a trustful energy of protection and positivity. There were many moments of OMG over the last few weeks! Thoughts of:

But damn you fear I did not let you come in, and when you did you had to leave after just one glass of red wine.
 
Resilience, faith and daily goals allowed me to adapt to the daily new temporary normal. I stayed focused. I did not plan too far ahead – five days max.
 
My surgery also went ahead and everything was fine – I’m in perfect health.
 
Thank you to everyone who booked for private yoga sessions, had homeopathic consultations, and bought clothing from my yoga range. I was so excited when I posted two pairs of the yoga pants to South Australia!
 
I also allowed and will continue to allow yogis who have passes to use their stickers for private classes to the value of $80.
 
Thank you for all the messages from past and present students checking in and saying hello. What a beautiful community that we have.
 
There will be more changes this year (it’s that kind of a year!!) but no fear – just abundant positivity and inner perseverance.