To celebrate and share the love for yoga, we interviewed 5 well-respected yogis in Australia this month. Read the stories below and follow their incredible journey!
Fahima Zard aka Fee
What does yoga mean to you and how did you discover yoga?
For me, Yoga is simply a presence. Movement and breath (used as vehicles) to explore the energy of presence. With this deepened awareness, that is built over time...you start to see patterns of behaviour, you start to understand the difference between your repetitive thoughts and your highest self. I was so thankful when I discovered the practice. I was in my mid-twenties and got free classes at one of the gyms where I taught dance. Originally I started going to just stretch and release after teaching. The practice soon became so much more to me though and I began a journey toward really understanding myself and also a journey towards forgiveness and healing. What a blessing it has been to my life.
Where is your favourite place to practice yoga?
I love a home practice! My sacred space in my living room is where I go the deepest. I can spend hours at a time immersed in breath and movement and literally feel like I travel to another dimension alone on my mat.
What gets you up in the morning?
Coffee!! Just joking! Although I do love a long black. What gets me up in the morning is always the sunrise. It wakes me up every day through my windows and I just love being awoken by the light. It shines in telling me to rise and shine and I always begin my day with a morning meditation.
One failure that grew you the most?
I flew to the US after signing a big contract to film yoga content over there. Unfortunately, I got detained and sent back home as I was mistakenly on the wrong visa. Initially, I was so devastated and couldn’t understand why the universe had taken something away from me that I had worked so long and hard for. Instead of going through a long, tedious process to get back over there I made the hard decision to instead undertake the project all by myself. I have now launched my own online yoga content. It was so fulfilling and rewarding undertaking such a large project predominantly by myself and I’m now really so glad it all unfolded the way it did. Soon I’ll begin filming my second yoga series and will continue filming more and more content every few months. You can find my Yoga Series One at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/lifeoffee
Best advice you were given or you gave to someone?
The advice of my life I received via a Martha Graham quote. She is celebrated as the founder of contemporary dance. The quote below changed my world when I first read it and I’ve never been quite as afraid to share myself with the world.
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of the time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
What is one thing that you do that people find strange?
My partner tells me I’m always lip smacking in my sleep lol he says it looks like I’m eating something delicious in my dreams. Luckily he just thinks it’s cute as I go along eating my imaginary dessert while sleeping.
Where can people find you when you are not practicing or teaching?
At the beach definitely or outdoors gardening, hiking or running!
Dustin Brown
What does yoga mean to you and how did you discover yoga?
Yoga is a deep part of my life. My wife Nova convinced me to try a hot yoga class after completing a 30-day challenge herself and after just one class I knew I had found what my body was craving! I fell in love with the yoga practice and it strongly complimented my surfing and Jiu-Jitsu. Yoga has completely changed my perspective to life as well as my relationship with others and myself. It's never-ending and always evolving. Nova and I opened our first yoga studio in Brighton VIC in 2015 and I am now expressing my passions through practicing and teaching yoga every single day.
Where is your favourite place to practice yoga?I love practicing at our studios, Warrior One Yoga Brighton + Mordialloc. Both communities are so epic! Our studios are my second home.
What gets you up in the morning?
I have a morning routine that I live by. I start each day with Nova and Ninja (our staffy) cuddles, followed by a movement practice and then a 20-minute meditation. This sets me up for the day!
One failure that grew you the most?
I believe all of the mistakes that I have made along the way are lessons that have brought me to where I am. With that perspective then there are no failures, just opportunities to grow!
Best advice you were given or you gave to someone?My favourite piece of advice is to trade expectations for appreciation. It's life changing!
What is one thing that you do that people find strange?
I practice Nauli Kriya every morning!
Where can people find you when you are not practicing or teaching?
I am a black belt in Brazilian so you'll find me at the BJJ dojo rolling every week. I also love to balance out my yoga practice with bodyweight strength and conditioning so you'll find me at Praxis or the Elwood bars. Otherwise at epic cafes in Melbourne drinking a dirty Prana Chai!
Alice Ons
What does yoga mean to you and how did you discover yoga?
Yoga to me is a practice that has helped me in so many ways. It has given me a new perspective on life and has been a way for me to connect with myself and others on a deeper level.
I discovered yoga through a friend about 10 years ago.
Where is your favourite place to practice yoga?
Bali has to be my favourite place, Ubud in particular. there is something magical about doing yoga there. My choice of studio is Radiantly Alive in Ubud
What gets you up in the morning?
I love waking up to the sun shining through my window, and some yoga stretches are a must :)
One failure that grew you the most?
I don’t feel like I’ve failed in anything, everything is a lesson, and we grow from all of our lessons every day.
Best advice you were given or you gave to someone?
The best advice I was ever given was that you should always be yourself because everyone else is already taken.
What is one thing that you do that people find strange?
I take my own water with me everywhere I go I only drink Kangen Water... I’m a real water snob
Where can people find you when you are not practicing or teaching?
Most probably Byron Bay
Masha Gorodilova
What does yoga mean to you and how did you discover yoga?
Yoga is a way of life for me. It's like brushing your teeth... daily exercise. I discovered yoga many years ago when I was 14... I am 34 now
Where is your favourite place to practice yoga?
I am a little biased of course, but Happy Melon. The community is incredible. Very strong, supportive and all want the same thing - connection
What gets you up in the morning?
My 10 months old son. No more sleep-ins for me
One failure that grew you the most?
Failures are hard to admit. Lots of things we did when we opened Happy Melon some would call a failure. I call it "an expensive session" We admitted them out loud, apologised, got vulnerable and learned from it.
Best advice you were given or you gave to someone?
Be kind. Sometimes I forget. Especially to myself
What is one thing that you do that people find strange?
I play poker. I love it... I think it's a very smart game. If you have not tried it... do it
Where can people find you when you are not practicing or teaching?
Walking around my neighbourhood with my son Andre and my dog Sancho Bao. We walk at least 2 times a day and all three of us love it
Brooke Elliston
What does yoga mean to you and how did you discover yoga?
Yoga, and especially Tantra, is a pathway to self-realisation. For me, that means: realizing ~ embracing, experiencing, tasting, touching and knowing, the Self ~ this body made of countless tissues of light and the infinite aquarium from which we came.
In a practical sense, this practice challenges me to constantly ask myself, how do I enter this world more fully with an equal balance of passion and non-attachment. Can I be ALL IN, at every moment, even if I don't agree with it, can I accept it? And can I stay true to my desires and dreams, knowing where I feel most called to create and show up and serve, and at the same time be open enough to move with life, without clutching on so tightly that I need my moments to be fulfilled only according to my way.
I came to yoga after experiencing the symptoms of stress and anxiety after 4.5 years as a litigation lawyer. I was getting rashes all over my body, losing sensation in my arms and legs and swelling feeling in my throat. I saw a psychologist who taught me how to breathe into my belly and all the symptoms I'd been experiencing for months disappeared almost immediately. That was my first taste of Yoga and it blew my mind!
Where is your favourite place to practice yoga?
There is a little bungalow in Koh Phangan (KPG), Thailand on a hill called "Beverly Hills" of KPG haha! I have been back to my school in KPG many times and nothing beats that sweet balcony. It backs onto the jungle on one side and crystal island waters on the others...has sent me into many states of otherworldy full body and spirit yesss.
What gets you up in the morning?
Oooh, generalised overexcitement for the day. I have much too much pep in the early hours, to be honest. The flip side is being a real muppet by 8 pm.
One failure that grew you the most?
It's hard to even frame anything in my head as a failure because I actually love challenging and even awkward moments... they lead to the deepest insights and most potent growth spurts!
What I have learned is that every moment, even the small ones(!) is such a window for growth and opportunity. Often it's been the most unseeming moments, or ordinary moments, that have unfolded into the most majestic and grandest of connections (to self and other) and collaborations.
Best advice you were given or you gave to someone?
If you wait until you're ready it's already too late. AND one. thing. at. a. time! Take a sip of Apple Cider Vinegar with Cayenne from the bottle first thing when I wake up in the morning. Followed by 100% cacao chocolate. Yesss.
Where can people find you when you are not practicing or teaching?
In the ocean, surfing!
