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byron bay

Insider’s Guide to Australia’s Byron Bay: Local Secrets & Tips

As a Byron Shire local of seven years, I’ve seen this magical place transform and evolve over time. While drawing in the most beautiful, authentic and creative individuals, it has also become quite the tourist hotspot—which has its pros and cons. At certain times of the year, Byron is swarming with holiday-goers looking to soak up some of its chilled out vibes.

But Byron’s soul is not lost. There’s still an abundance of peaceful and high-vibe activities on offer. Take some tips from a local to discover the region’s best-kept secrets and avoid the chaos, ensuring you enjoy the true spirit of beautiful Byron Bay on the northern coast of NSW in Australia.

But Byron’s soul is not lost. There’s still an abundance of peaceful and high-vibe activities on offer. Take some tips from a local to discover the region’s best-kept secrets and avoid the chaos, ensuring you enjoy the true spirit of beautiful Byron Bay on the northern coats of NSW in Australia.

FOOD

When I first moved to Byron Bay there were a couple of options for health lovers. Now, the town boasts green smoothie joints and vegan treats galore. If you’re a fan of plant-based eats, head to Combi to enjoy a smoothie bowl in a vibrant environment. Elixaba is another popular vegan eatery, with everything from hemp burgers to cosmic cocktails. Enjoy the trendy ambiance on a sunny day at The Roadhouse or The Farm on opposite ends of town but both serving delicious, local feasts and treats.

Top Shop in the thick of it is perched atop a little hill, attracting local hipsters and coffee lovers, and there’s plenty of room to bask in the sunshine on the grass. Folk is another cute café boasting funky vibes and outdoor dining.

For dinner, wander down the hidden Bay Lane near the beach to find some local favourites, or head to the outskirts of town and enjoy drinks and dinner with live music at Tree House on Belongil (where the pizza is amazing). Embrace your inner hippie and go barefoot to the farmers market on a Thursday morning to source the best local produce, stock up on edible souvenirs (I highly recommend the macadamia nut butter) and listen to local musicians.

MARKETS AND SHOPPING

You’ll be spoilt for choice wandering around the main streets of Byron—where there’s an abundance of beautiful boutiques. For something a little more unique (and cheap), head to the craft markets on a Sunday. These rotating markets are held once a month in the Bay, and in other nearby towns on other Sundays, selling local goodies like clothing, jewellery, candles and more, and offering vibrant vibes.

MASSAGES, READINGS AND HEALINGS

When in Byron Bay, right? The best way to find a healer is by asking the locals. Look for business cards in local businesses, or, if you’re after a simple massage or treatment, there are plenty of options around town. The famous Byron palm-reader can usually be spotted on Jonson Street and has been known to offer insightful, albeit a little strange, readings. Kiva Spa in Mullumbimby is one of my favourite places in the world, offering beautiful treatments and a ‘bath house’ in Balinese-style surrounds. Crystal Castle (also in Mullumbimby) is well worth the visit if you’re into all things spiritual, or just enjoy surrounding yourself with sparkly, serene things. Here you can also find treatments, readings and workshops.

YOGA

The yoga scene has boomed in Byron over the past few years, and locals laugh about the high teacher-to-student ratio in town. You’ll find a style and environment for every taste, and a quick search (online or off) will point you in the right direction. As someone who loves yoga, my favourite place is Creature Yoga – the most popular studio, with two separate locations in very slick surrounds. Or if you fancy a little stretch immersed in nature, Bamboo Yoga Byron offer indoor-outdoor classes in an inviting yurt surrounded by greenery. But really, a whole story could easily be dedicated to the smorgasbord of spiritual offerings in the area.

BEACHES AND NATURE

If you’re into surfing or want to give it a whirl, The Pass and Wategos are great for all levels, and Tallows is for the more experienced. Take a walk around the lighthouse to enjoy expansive, breathtaking views and, if you’re lucky, spot a whale or pod of dolphins. If you’re an early riser, you can’t beat the sunrise views from the lighthouse, and Main Beach won’t disappoint for picturesque sunsets and some drum-circle beats in the background.

If you’re looking for something a little more secluded, ask a local to point you in the direction of the Suffolk Park tea tree lake, or venture to Broken Head to explore the many more secret beaches—including one nude one. Take a rainforest adventure and hike to Minyon Falls, where you can enjoy a swim under the waterfall (after a 90-minute hike), or explore one of the many walking trails in the area. For those who love to walk, Byron Trails is a great investment and outlines 50 walking tracks in the Shire.

WHEN TO VISIT

If you’re after a peaceful holiday, avoid Byron during music festivals and over the Christmas/New Year period. While it is busy most weekends, things tend to slow down in winter, but the weather remains beautiful, making it the ultimate time to visit. If you are planning to be in the Bay over one of these busy times, make sure you plan and book well in advance.

Chill out, Slow down, Cheer up and Enjoy!

Words by Jessica Humphries for The Wise Traveller.

February 24, 2019

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date

Accidentally active date ideas for Valentine’s Day and beyond

Did you know that studies show you are more likely to over eat when you’re spending time with someone you love? And when your date loves food just as much as you do, a special occasion like Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to open that bottle of bubbly or splurge on your favourite banquet. So how can you celebrate love when you’re trying to be good? Is it even possible? Rest assured, there are plenty of indulgent adventures waiting for you to enjoy that won’t ruin your healthy efforts, and will help you to connect with your lover in fun ways.

Nourish together in nature

You don’t have to hike up a mountain or even wake up before sunrise. It could simply be a gentle morning wander through a park, or a sunset stroll around the suburbs. If you’re lucky enough to live near the beach, you can even include a dip before the sun sets. This is a great opportunity to have an undisturbed conversation whilst immersing yourself in nature’s abundant elements.

Get physical

If you’ve ever been to a yoga or group fitness class with a friend you’ll know it often involves sneaky sideways stares and fits of giggles – the perfect prelude to a romantic evening. If you’re not quite ready to combine a Valentine’s Day date night with awkward shapes in public places, there are plenty of online spaces offering an array of activities that cater to all fitness levels. A gentle stretch class is the perfect way to start the day or relax into the evening – getting out of your head and into your body.

Create in the kitchen

You have to eat, right? But instead of over indulging on all the usual suspects, why not get creative and challenge yourself to make something delicious AND healthy? You could set yourself a goal to create a meal from local produce or at least one ingredient you’ve never used, enjoying a wander through your local farmer’s markets to prepare for the occasion.

Indulge in a spa date

Ok, so it doesn’t technically fit under the ‘active’ umbrella, but it’s an essential element in any health lover’s life, and oh so romantic for Valentine’s Day. It’s probably even more relaxing than anything involving cheese or chocolate. For ultimate romance schedule a couples’ massage, or book into a day spa and enjoy the health benefits of steam rooms, saunas and other glorious goodness.

Words by Jessica Humphries for Jenny Craig. 

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019

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travel

The art of Yogic Travel: Tips to travel well

With the silly season upon us and potential travel on the horizon, there’s no better time to consider how we can live our yoga fully. Not only will you be learning how to integrate the philosophies of the practice into your daily life, but also doing the world a favour by travelling mindfully – not to mention keeping yourself reasonably serene during an often chaotic time.

Travelling like a yogi involves a couple of main considerations: Staying committed to your health and practice, and being conscious and mindful of the decisions you make and their impact on the world.

Consider these tips when planning and enjoying your next trip, to truly live your yoga – both on and off the mat.

Maintain your practice

If you’re a regular yoga practitioner, don’t let go of your practice just because your schedule has changed. Think of ways to integrate your yoga into your new routine. Can you wake up five minutes early and enjoy a short meditation, or go to bed ten minutes before you had planned and do some gentle stretches? It’s easy and so helpful in keeping you sane and grounded during times of turmoil and busy-ness.

Healthy habits on the road

What are some of the healthy habits you enjoy at home that are thrown out the window when you’re ‘on holiday’? How can you integrate them into your life on the road? Of course you can treat yourself, but what habits are worth holding onto? Instead of focusing on depriving yourself, can you focus on how to nourish yourself? It’s okay if you went for that second piece of cake, but can you pile a few extra greens on your plate too? Perhaps you can skip the fruit juice for water, or go for that ten-minute jog instead of sleeping in? Most importantly, maintain a healthy mind. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and have fallen off the wagon, don’t beat yourself up about it. Simply jump back on when you can.

Plan ahead and pack a goodie back of healthy treats that will facilitate your trip. If you’re heading somewhere unfamiliar, take a few of your favourite, healthy chocolate bars. Stock up on essential oils, vitamins, pro-biotics and essentials like bandaids and sunscreen – some of which may not be available (or will be very expensive) if you’re travelling overseas.

Be a conscious consumer

In some parts of the world it feels impossible to be mindful of your environmental footprint – and you’ll quickly find yourself drowning in a sea of plastic water bottles and packaging. But there are ways that we can be more mindful when we travel, particularly when we’re in our home country. Ask wait staff to skip the straw, ask yourself if you really need to gift your Aunty the plastic figurine from somewhere she’s never been, and consider what you’re putting on your plate and in your mouth, and all the efforts made towards your consumption. The yogis call it Bramacharya, and it’s all about moderation. By practicing moderation, we teach ourselves to be satisfied with what we have already, and learn that we cannot fulfil ourselves with external things. We can even practice this when we pack. Travelling light allows you to see just how much of that ‘stuff’ you don’t really need.

Connect to the culture

Whether you’re travelling close to home or across the globe, embrace and connect with the local culture. It’s one of the many beautiful things about travel and life – can you step out of your comfort zone enough to try something new? To consider life from a different perspective. When you’re curious in your yoga practice you can explore the limits of your body and mind, taking your practice to a new level and finding parts of you that you didn’t know existed– and it works in life as well. When we develop curiosity, what often follows is deep, rewarding knowledge. Put down your phone, take a breath, enjoy the scenery and have a conversation with a local.

Surrender

Sometimes, despite all of our attempts to soften, we can turn our yoga practice into another item on the to-do list. Something to strive towards and achieve. But at the conclusion of your practice, and your life, you come into Savasana. It’s easy to surrender when you’ve spent the last hour moving and breathing, but can you do the same when you’re about to board a plane, or you’re waiting for a tuk tuk at a busy airport? Can you let go of your need for that daily green smoothie and go with the flow of all that is in the moment? That’s where the challenge lies, and when you know you’re really practicing yoga in action.

Words by Jessica Humphries for YogaPaws.

December 16, 2018December 16, 2018

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hold space

How to hold space: The ultimate guide for yoga teachers

As yoga teachers we are responsible for holding space for students. In this space physical, emotional and mental experiences will arise and dissipate. It is part of your role to ensure that people feel safe throughout these waves of experience. This requires both strength and compassion as you allow yourself to be a container without taking responsibility for what arises within others, as well as offering the gentleness and empathy that allows them to feel both held and inspired.

Here, we explore some essential elements in holding the energetic space that allows students to move to the next stage of their spiritual journey.

Centre yourself to hold space

Let’s be honest: As teachers, we sometimes come into a yoga space feeling rushed and frazzled. But creating the space within yourself to contain the experiences that arise for others is the beginning of the class. It allows students to come into a place of relaxation and ease – positively impacted by your energetic state.

Before any class – ground yourself, come into the present by tuning into your breath, and as much as you can, leave your ego at the door. This way you can completely focus on your students and effectively hold space. If it’s possible to do this in the classroom then that is ideal, but if not, you can even do this in your car or before you leave home to teach. Set a silent intention for your class and commit to being a supportive force for your students. Do not seek validation, nor fear judgement from your students. Simply allow yourself to be a conduit for the teachings of yoga to move through.

Teach from a place of compassion

In a world saturated with powerful, fitness inspired asana, bringing softness and compassion into the way that you teach can feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable. For many of us, it’s so much easier to jump on a stage and teach a strong, fast-paced practice than it is to feel the vulnerability that sometimes arises when we tune into our own empathy and compassion. But, as teachers, it’s not our job to place ourselves on a pedestal. It is, however, a great honour to hold space in a way that facilitates transformation in others – an important step on their own path to becoming a yogi.

Notice where you can bring more softness and compassion into your teaching. Most people are already quite hard on themselves. So, while a light-hearted reminder to work harder/faster/stronger might make you feel like a superstar, perhaps what is really needed is the invitation to stop pushing and simply let go.

Allow everything to arise

By becoming centred in your own presence, you hold space and provide the opportunity to be open to whatever arises.  It is not your job or responsibility to control the experiences of your students. But by allowing them to be exactly as they are, you give them the opportunity to come to a deeper place of self-acceptance and love.

Just as you do in your meditation practice, be the witness to all that arises without the need to change or fix anything. Of course if a student is in physical pain then you can provide modifications and variations for that student. However, if someone experiences the natural emotional catharsis that often accompanies the release of deeply held tension, know that that is all perfectly normal and okay.

Without singling anyone out, you might hold space by gently acknowledging that experiencing strong emotions during a yoga practice is all a part of the journey. If appropriate, when you notice strong emotions arising (during hip openers, for example), you may support a student with a gentle physical adjustment. Use your intuition here. This may not be suitable for a student you have only just met or who is not comfortable with physical touch. It’s a good idea to ask permission early on in the class so that students who prefer to be left to their own practice can let you know.

Allowing all experiences to arise (particularly emotional ones) with a gentle, nurturing approach gives your students permission to arrive in their own space of truth and eventually, transformation.

Allow space and silence

Learn to be comfortable with silence. As a teacher, it can sometimes feel awkward to be in a space of quiet stillness during class. You might feel as though there’s so much knowledge to share, or fearful that your students will think you have forgotten about them if you stop speaking. But this is one of the most important lessons as a yoga teacher and in life: Only speak when you really have something to say. By allowing silence, we not only give our students the opportunity to look within, but ourselves, as teachers, the chance to really tune into our intuition and listen within the silence.

The late psychiatrist Karl A. Menniger sums it up well – “Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, and makes us unfold and expand.”

Providing silence when you hold space is a great gift that empowers people to understand the teachings of yoga on an experiential level.

Embody authenticity

Give yourself permission to be beautifully, authentically you. If you’ve had a rough day, don’t be afraid to share it in some way. You don’t have to tell your life story, but you could share a little anecdote and relate it to the philosophies of yoga. Your students are much more likely to trust you if they can relate to you on a human level.

You don’t have to be a perfect yogi all the time. Accepting your own flaws and connecting from a place of humility allows your students to do the same.

Learn and practice counselling skills

Finally, as teachers we often find ourselves in the role of ‘unofficial counsellor’, which can feel confronting – often leading to awkwardly fumbling your way through some pseudo-psychological advice. By taking the time to learn the foundations of interpersonal communication and counselling, you can learn to step back from the desire to want to fix your students, and instead learn to actively listen and paraphrase – giving them the tools to resolve their own conflicts rather than authoritatively advising on what they ‘should’ do.

Thank you so much to the following wonderful yogis who provided expert comments that assisted in the development of this blog post: Rachel Zinman, Lauren Tober, Delamay Devi, Tiffany Cowley, Kristen Bentley, Ginny Clarke, Lisa Thodore, Ana Davis, Diana Timmins, Ulyana Michailov, Nikola Ellis (whose business, Adore Yoga,includes counselling skills as part of its Yoga Therapy Teacher Trainings),Denby Sheather, Jennifer Quail-Allen.

Words by Jessica Humphries for Omm Collective.

July 29, 2018

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