Yoga 4 Living

04/11/2026

ABUNDANCE ✨🪷

As we stand at the doorstep of Diwali, or Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, let’s take a moment to reflect on abundance.

During this beautiful Indian festival, we honour, celebrate and invite the blessings of Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of abundance and prosperity, and Ganesha, who is traditionally invoked to remove obstacles and open pathways.

But what is abundance?

For many, it is measured, or perhaps confused, with financial wealth. We can become caught in the endless pursuit of more money, more possessions and more success, always striving for the next thing, while overlooking the richness of what is already present in our lives.

Perhaps a more holistic understanding of abundance invites us to look a little deeper.

Abundance can be found in gratitude for our health, in grace, spiritual richness, silence and stillness. In family and friendships, a roof over our heads, food on our table. In courage, strength, purpose, dharma, joy, laughter and even the simplicity of a genuine smile.

These are forms of wealth that cannot always be measured, bought or accumulated.

In Hindu tradition, Alakshmi represents scarcity, misfortune and qualities that stand in opposition to Lakshmi. It is said that Lakshmi does not dwell where greed, malice, disrespect, constant quarrelling and disorder prevail.

This is why, in the lead-up to Diwali, homes are traditionally cleaned and decluttered, creating a welcoming space for Lakshmi Devi. It is also an opportunity to clear away distractions, both externally and within our own minds, making room for light, clarity and renewed intentions.

In India, Diwali is also a time for sharing sweets and gifts with family and friends, extending generosity and celebrating the abundance of connection.

Perhaps this Diwali we can pause and ask ourselves:

What does abundance truly mean to me?

And rather than constantly seeking more, can we recognise, appreciate and celebrate the abundance that is already here?

May we create space for Lakshmi’s blessings, welcome Ganesha’s wisdom and remember that true abundance begins with a grateful heart.

🪷 Shubh Deepavali! 🪔

29/10/2026

On Nilachal Hill, overlooking the Brahmaputra in Assam, the ancient shrines of Maa Kamakhya carry the timeless energy of Shakti. 🔱

Beyond the rituals, a journey inward — to face our shadows and see ourselves truthfully.

Jai Maa Kamakhya 🙏❤️

25/10/2026

Freshly back from India, I warmly welcome Chloé Craig back to our Hatha Yoga classes over the next three weeks.

I’m so grateful to Chloé for stepping in while I’m away and warmly invite you to welcome her into our yoga community. I know she will bring her own warmth, presence and love of yoga to the classes. Please find her bio below:

Chloé has been a practitioner of yoga for the past five years. Having experienced positive physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, she is passionate about sharing yoga teachings and practices with others. Chloé’s yoga studies have taken her to places such as Rishikesh and Haridwar in North India, well known spiritual sites. She has had the opportunity to immerse herself in various cultural and spiritual practices. These experiences have and continue to open her mind to the depth of the traditions of yoga.

Chloé aims to facilitate yoga classes which draw inspiration from traditional teachings and practices –Patañjali’s Yogasūtra, Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and Tāntra. These yoga classes are aimed towards cultivating mental clarity, inner stillness and self-awareness.

Chloé is a qualified Yoga and Pilates teacher and has trained under the guidance of Linda Newman over the past five years. Chloé has successfully completed Radiant Soul Yoga – Yoga Teacher Training 1000-hours, Radiant Soul Yoga – Yoga Nidra Teacher Training 30-hours, Pure Balance Mat Pilates – Level 1 Teacher Training 300-hours and Pure Balance Pilates – Reformer 1 Teacher Training 100-hours. Chloé is registered with Yoga Alliance. Chloé is trained in First Aid and CPR.

Please join Chloé the next three Wednesdays in Highton. Bookings through the Yoga 4 Living website.

23/10/2026

Join me at Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata for a powerful darshan of Maa Kali, a deeply moving encounter with the Divine Mother, and reflections on Shakta spirituality.

https://yoga-4-living.com/kalighat-kali-kolkata-a-moment-in-the-presence-of-maa/

21/10/2026

Enjoyed the asana yoga sessions with Mafalda tremendously in this beautiful Yogakula Shala, overlooking the water. 🌊🧘‍♀️

Beyond the beautiful setting and wonderful practice, we were touched by Mafalda’s beautiful heart, her kindness and generosity, and loved hearing her story of how she overcame obstacles in her youth and eventually made India her permanent home.

Always inspiring to meet people who follow their path with such courage, kindness and an open heart. 🙏🇮🇳

07/10/2026

Let them …

The art of letting go starts with “Let Them”...

06/10/2026

Kumartoli — where Durga takes form. 🪷

After our visit to Dakshineswar Kali Temple, the rain began to fall, so we caught an Uber across Kolkata to Kumartoli — the city’s historic pottery quarter and home to generations of idol makers.

With so much rain recently, many of the sculptors have had to cover the small and enormous idols they are carefully creating with plastic to protect them from the elements.

The process is fascinating to watch. First comes the framework of straw, carefully shaped into the form of the Goddess. Clay is then layered over the straw, gradually giving the figure its shape and presence. Once dry, the most delicate work begins — the intricate painting and details that bring each Devi to life.

In the weeks leading up to Durga Puja, Kumartoli becomes a place of extraordinary creativity, devotion and activity.

Here, the Goddess is not simply an image.

She is being made — by hand, with patience, skill and devotion — ready to meet the people of Kolkata during Navaratri.

05/10/2026

Kalighat Kali, Kolkata 🖤🔥

It’s a public holiday — Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti — and with some roads closed, we walk the last few hundred metres to Kalighat Temple.

The queue for Darshan, to see the Devi, is very long. At least three hours, we’re told.

So, not something I would normally do, we skip the queue and pay for the VIP Darshan — something that would ordinarily be free.

And suddenly, there she is.

Kali.

Three-eyed. Black. Her long, curled tongue made of pure gold.

Within moments, I’m even closer — so close I could almost touch her — circling the 🔥 aarti with the support of the priest, receiving blessed water, and feeling the emotions welling up within me.

Beneath my feet, the temple floor is wet and slippery from the abundance of hibiscus flowers and, most likely, bali — ritual offerings. By the time we leave, the soles of my feet are stained red, and they remain that way for days.

There is something about encountering the Devi here that is difficult to put into words.

Kalighat is one of the major Shakti Peethas, sacred sites associated with the Goddess and the story of Sati. According to tradition, Sati’s right toe fell here when Shiva carried her body.

And here, in the heart of Kolkata, Kali is not simply an image or an idea.

She is encountered.

Fierce. Intimate. Unmistakably alive.

Jai Maa Kali. 🖤

27/09/2026

🙏I Gratefully Welcome Karina Lloyd

I’m delighted to welcome Karina Lloyd as our Wednesday morning Hatha Yoga cover teacher.

Karina will be stepping in to guide the Wednesday morning class in Highton, and I’m grateful to have her share her experience, presence and love of yoga with our community.

Below, you can read Karina’s short bio and get to know a little more about her.

Karina is a yoga teacher, Mindfulness & Compassion Meditation Teacher and Level 7 Newlife Reiki Seichim-Sekhem Teacher and Trainer.

With more than 30 years of experience in contemplative practice and healing, her work brings together yoga, meditation and the wisdom teachings, with a shared focus on Healing, Presence and Awakening.

Her teaching is warm, grounded and experiential, exploring how presence can deepen awareness and bring greater clarity, and how practice can become a way of living rather than something we do only on the mat.

Through Newlife Reiki Seichim, Karina offers a path of personal practice as well as practitioner and teacher training, centred on deepening awareness, healing and self-realisation.

Please join Karina Wednesday mornings and book through Bookamat.co on Yoga 4 Living's website

23/09/2026

"Of what avail is knowing things
Other than the Self? And the Self being known,
What other things is there to know?
That one light shines in many selves,
Seeing this Self within
As Awareness' lightning flash;
The place of Grace; the ego's death;
The blossoming of bliss."

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi (1879 - 1950)

Picture from a Guru's hut on Arunachala mountain, Tiravannamalai, India