"After all the miles I have travelled, I am slowly beginning to see, I am allowed to move and I am allowed to change and still become who I was meant to be."
Morgan Harper Nichols
Namaste,
These words do not come easy without feeling emotionally overwhelmed and a huge amount of gratitude as I reflect on everything YogaHara means to me and to you.
At the end of Term 2 YogaHara will be closing the studio doors as we know it today.
Every person who has walked through our doors has made a personal imprint on me and the YogaHara team. Your support, community and kindness over the years means the world to me. Especially during the last year, easily one of the most challenging times in my life.
First of all, I am taking the month of July off to deeply rest and to clarify my direction. When I return in August, the building will be leased to another tenant who has agreed to sublease Studio 2 back to me. And even though our regular in-studio classes will no longer continue, YogaHara will still have a lot on offer as I continue to support you with the return of live online classes, yoga therapy, some small group therapeutic classes and YogaHara at Home (always available 24/7). Retreats and workshops each year will continue when we can.
Teachers Julie, Kate, Nikki and Chelsea have all told me they will continue to offer classes. Click their names to email them directly. You can also join the YogaHara Sangha Facebook group where they will share their offerings.
It has been 12 years since I created YogaHara and began teaching my first classes with the wonderful support of Andrew Cameron and N8Health in Golden Square. As YogaHara grew we found new homes from community centres and church halls to our first permanent home above Spa 11, and then 5 years ago creating our beloved Shala here in King Street Bendigo. Some of you have been with me from the very beginning and I am so thankful to you for growing with me and the magnificent YogaHara team over these years.
The YogaHara community is outstanding. Here are just a few ways that the 'Ripples of your practice touched, healed and nourished beings everywhere':
The Community Yoga program raised a remarkable $14,000 over a 4 year period
Sponsorship of the Bendigo Yoga Festival from its inception and the Bendigo Mountain Bike Club women’s event
Many donations to sporting clubs, primary schools and fundraisers
Many ongoing donations over the years including the Miriam Rose Foundation, Pay the Rent, Animals Australia, Fred Hollows Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, The Otis Foundation, Unicef, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and many other one off donations
And many of you sponsored other students to come to classes when times where tough.
All this is thanks to you coming along and practicing yoga at YogaHara.
YogaHara has been a collaborative space, hosting many quality events and teachers including Leigh Blashki, Paul Wooden, Anahata Giri, Hugh Lee, Kaye Tribe, Janet Lowndes, Peta Minter, Gena McLean, Jane Mallick, Sarah Vanis, as well as hosting yearly Yoga Australia events for regional yoga teachers.
By far, one of the most wonderful experiences was offering the 350 hour YogaHara Yoga Teacher Training. Thanks to the brilliant faculty and an extraordinary group of people who flourished as they took a courageous dive into the ancient teachings and emerged with a deep and rich understanding of themselves and yoga. I am still planning to offer teacher training, but need a little time to rewrite the delivery.
YogaHara has had so many gorgeous teachers over the years: Nicole, Nina, Ruth, Maxine, Sarah, Donna, Tim, Kathryn, Peta, Claire, Paula, Marilyn, Trina, Nardine, Sally, Skye, Chelsea, Carolyn, Nikki, Julie and Kate. Thank you all for bringing so much light, wisdom and passion to YogaHara. And an extra special thanks to Claire Lebek who has been supporting me with admin these past 18 months.
I understand my plan moving forward may no longer align with you and I genuinely invite you to unsubscribe from YogaHara Newsletters if you no longer wish to receive my updates. I thank you for your support. It has been a true gift to be able to do what I love and share my passion with you everyday.
Sending you much love. I hope you continue to practice - yoga offers a lifetime of wellbeing and nourishment. Remember, yoga is a work-in not a work-out. Doing something small everyday will have lifelong benefits.
We will be having a clearing sale on June 26th, but if there is anything you'd like beforehand let me know. All our props are for sale: blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps, eye pillows, chairs, headstanders, as well as a heap of CDs from my personal collection, along with all the crockery, a whiteboard, and other bits and pieces.
I'd love to talk to you about your options for continuing your practice either through yoga therapy, online classes, workshops or retreats.
Thank you so much. If you have any comments or questions, please reply. Stay safe.
With my deepest love and gratitude. 🙏
Gina
