THE ECO YOGA MAT WE SHOULD ALL INVEST IN

Yoga mats are not that good for the environment.

Especially not one’s made from PVC - polyvinyl chloride - a polymer that leaches toxins at every stage in its life cycle. Add in the millions of tons of plastic waste found in our natural habitats each year and we have a plastic problem. Surely there is an alternative to pumping out toxic mats from unrecycled and unrecyclable plastic destined for landfill or worse.

Turns out there is! Last week I received a personal email letting me know about the Zen Tribe yoga mat; an eco yoga mat created by Kylie Jonkman. Kylie’s mat is made from surplus cork (natural, sustainable, antifungal and antibacterial) and recycled plastic waste (diverting it from landfill and natural habitats). I was super stoked, as this is a project that I’ve looked at doing myself (I even pitched it at The Big Pitch through my University in 2019), but through that process realised how much work it would take.

Kylie’s already there! She’s invested an incredible amount of her time and energy into creating the prototype and now, with the help of “Natwest’s Back Her Business” has launched a crowdfunder to get the first batch of Zen Tribe mats produced and available to buy. I wanted to learn more and also help share info about Zen Tribe, so am really grateful to Kylie for taking the time to answer a few questions.

Hi Kylie, it was so great to hear about you and Zen Tribe! Can you tell us how Zen Tribe began and what’s been a significant challenge of getting your own product off the ground?

Hi Natalie, thank you so much for reaching out and asking me about my new business. It all started after witnessing first hand the amount of plastic that littered our coasts, beaches and waterways I saw this from my regular surfing and diving trips, where marine life was being heavily affected by all the waste! I wanted to make a change and volunteered to do beach cleans with Surfers against Sewage and Mabul turtle sanctuary. But it wasn’t just this that triggered me to want to do more; it was after attending a hot yoga class where I wiped down my hired yoga mat with a plastic wipe. Whilst throwing it away I noticed all the other wipes in there, and the yoga mat idea came to me. 

The biggest challenge was where to start and trying to locate a ethical supplier who also wanted to make a positive impact.

You’re based in Cardiff; is there a tribe of likeminded surf & yoga community members that help you feel supported?

Thankfully, yes. I am so grateful to have support from such a great yogic and sustainable tribe, which is continuously growing. Everyone in our tribe believes in our product as I do, that’s been a massive help and a ray of sunshine when things can get tough. 

Why do you think it is so important to have an eco friendly yoga mat?

It’s important for the impact on our planet and all the amazing creatures that we have a privilege to share this amazing world with. Not forgetting we are the generation who can make a difference now for future generations.

You’re a keen surfer and a yogi, can you tell us a bit about your relationship with these practices?

I absolutely adore the ocean, I always have since being a kid. I grew up in Holland and it’s compulsory there to swim at a young age for safety! My nickname was a dolphin! Surfing came later - must be the aussie roots (I was born in Oz & my Father’s side is Aussie). I got addicted to it after travelling when I was 19 and haven’t stopped since. I love the freedom of surfing and being surrounded by the calming noise the waves create. I find surfing completely therapeutic, it helps calm my soul and balance my mind. I love it! As for yoga I’ve had an on and off relationship with it, I started as a teen and I remember it wasn’t as popular as it is now! It was only last year after a really bad break up I started practicing it again. I now combine yoga and meditation as a daily morning routine, which helps calm any anxiety I may have and gets me prepped for the day. It’s honestly change my life! 

How have they helped inspire and evolve your business?

My daily yoga and meditation practice helps me to focus, realign and become centred. I also suffer from anxiety and low self confidence; yoga, meditation and surfing helps tremendously. Before lockdown I would surf all stresses or troubles away, who needs a therapist when you have the ocean. 

Tell us more about the tree planting projects the Zen Tribe yoga mat supports.

I was looking for a UK based tree planting charity who plants trees within the UK, as a lot of our native woodlands have disappeared due to housing demands and mining, among other things. This has directly impacted our wildlife and nature. I decided to help support local charity The Woodland Trust who have the same passion for restoring the balance. By purchasing a mat from us, £5 will be donated to The Woodland Trust and in return 5 trees will be planted. This will also help reduce greenhouse gases, making it a better place for everyone.

You mentioned in your instagram videos, you’d love to connect with a business mentor… in an ideal world, what would that person be like?

 Someone who is passionate about making a positive impact on our oceans and planet. Someone who is wanting to create a difference in how people interact with the world. And experience in selling, marketing and producing a product they’re passionate about.

How can we get involved, support Zen Tribe and make sure that your eco yoga mat business gets fully funded?

Every little bit helps, by following us on our social media platforms (Instagram: @zentribe_uk), sharing & tagging fellow yogis, surfers & eco lovers this all a great start! Helping us to spread the word and share our mission. You can also help by visiting our crowdfunder page and donating what you can afford. We have rewards on there for everyone from as a little as a £1. The Crowdfunder is now LIVE. Pre-order your sustainable yoga-mat today & join our Tribe!

www.natwestbackherbusiness.co.uk/zentribe 

Thank you so much, namaste. 

Photos: @amyhudsoncreative

Reflections on change

This article is coming… but it’s a one that is requiring a bit more time and thought than I had anticipated.

Stay tuned!

SNOW QUEEN RENELLE

Interview with BASI trainer Renelle Mortimer

I interviewed Renelle back in 2016 when I did my first season in Tignes. As I prepare to head back to Morzine for my 3rd winter there, I thought I’d repost this, as Renelle is such an inspiring character.

Hi Renelle, how’s your winter been so far?

Very rewarding but a bit different to normal.   I decided to take 2 days off per week this season to ride for myself.  Having commenced the season early  this year (13th November), I've already completed 14 weeks on snow; examining  Instructors in Zermatt, Meribel & Val d'isere, running full Camps in Tignes, and teaching till now.  I felt I needed to balance work & play a little more.  Now, with 11 weeks to go, those extra days off have completely changed my life, I’m loving it!

 You’ve completed 21 winter seasons! What's kept you coming back for more?

 I’m passionate about passing on the pleasure of snowboarding, the majestic beauty of our mountains, discovering new innovative coaching methods, and their combined ability to transform people.

You’re based in Tignes, in the French Alps, what do you love about it?

Tignes provides all you’d expect from a world-class resort, right on your doorstep.  Being a high altitude resort, Tignes is snow sure, providing consistent quality snow.  We have a huge choice of terrain, quick and easy to access often by taking only 1 lift, from easy blues to gnarly off piste.   For teaching it’s essential to have accessible variety to cater for all rider levels; beginner, intermediate & advanced, without wasting too much time on lifts.  It’s rare to find all of the above in one resort.

You’re the only female BASI trainer of instructors... What’s been the highs and lows of your career progression?

 THE HIGHS:  The biggest HIGH for me is in the teaching itself.  I adore witnessing people shine, not only in their riding but also in themselves, their confidence builds as they progress.  I love using my knowledge & experience to be able to rapidly transform their riding during my one week courses, whether that be clients with special needs, instructors, beginners, or mentoring high end athletes.  A huge high in my career was the honor of being selected as a Trainer.  It’s a rigorous 3 week selection process.  After spending 6 years to achieve level 4 (a feat in itself) and teaching with that qualification for several years.  I attended a BASI Trainer Selection course, which tested each individual to their absolute limit in technical riding ability, teaching/presentation/people skills, psychological competence and their ability to perform under pressure.   It was definitely one of the most difficult weeks of my life.  After successful selection, I was allocated a mentor to shadow to learn the required skills for the position.   After this I rookied my first course with my mentor; et voila, I became a BASI trainer.  That was 11 years ago now.  

THE LOWS:  Learning to adapt to peers who didn’t want me to succeed.  Unfortunately, the very nature of our sport attracts some characters with strong egos, which can be a bit of a challenge at times. 

 I found snowboarding such a difficult sport to grasp despite having a surf and yoga background, what advice would you give to anyone just starting out?

 Take lessons from an experienced professional under the BASI system. If you want to fast track learning, arrive at a safe level to be able to negotiate the entire mountain at speed, and snowboard efficiently with style.  Then lessons are a must.  Be selective with your choice of instructor though!  

Having completed approximately 12,000 hours teaching experience, and having trained/examined Snowboard Instructors for 12 years, I’ve gained a unique insight into the Snowboard Instructor scene.

You may think that a European instructor would be best choice on their home territory.  Amazingly, that statement couldn't be further from the truth.   Most European instructors teaching snowboarding are Ski instructors who teach snowboarding on the side as their second discipline.  

Brits really are best... In terms of qualification credibility within the industry, BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) Snowboard Specific qualifications hold the highest credibility & recogintion worldwide.  BASI have great depth with 4 levels to their Snowboard qualification, Level 1 being the lowest and Level 4 the highest.  

I’ve learned that the level of Instructor qualification isn’t always the best indication or guarantee of the best Instructor.  Experience never gets old!   There are instructors and there are master teachers.  Look for an instructor with many hours of teaching experience.  Most explain their time & experience by using the term ‘seasons’, ask how many ‘hours’ teaching experience your Instructor has!   A respectable, sought after instructor will complete between 600-800 hours per season.   An average Instructor will complete between 100-250 hours per season.   A level 2 Instructor with 4000 hours teaching experience would improve a students riding much faster than a level 4 Instructor with 400 hours teaching experience.  Therefore, you’d get more value for your dollar with the level 2 Instructor in that case.   

Aside from finding a great teacher, I’d recommend attuning to the mountain in a calm resourceful state, which is something I teach in my mind.body.board program. 

Would you like to see more women taking up snowboarding?

 Absolutely!  Its so empowering for anyone to learn new skills, over come fear, judgment, and expectations of others whilst having fun.  Snowboarding is a powerful gift for any human.  Male or female! 

I love snowboarding, and I'm happy to ride with men or women.  But snowboarding has predominantly been a male dominated sport, up till now some women have felt a little outnumbered. Women are wired differently to men, they are naturally more graceful, have a different psychological approach, are biomechanically different and are often more interested in riding technically correct.  So, its naturally easy for me to teach other women because I understand this.

 Tell us more about your mind.body.board approach..

 I use innovative and very intuitive coaching techniques to help individuals excel at technical snowboarding, by looking at, and enhancing a person’s performance as a whole.  My holistic BODY.MIND.BOARD approach is unique with unrivalled courses, and pre-holiday off snow preparation guides to support on snow sessions in resort.  

I believe all coaching should encourage and guide individuals to eventually self teach.  My goal is to educate, empower and transform riders by creating long term, lasting changes, not just quick fixes.  

Students experience a profound and rapid transformation, increased knowledge, and accelerated learning.  By addressing psychological, physical and equipment components of snowboarding with precise consistent feedback and detailed solutions, a rider’s technical performance on snow undergoes a dramatic overhaul.  I call it conscious coaching.  Every single person who has completed one of these courses has re-booked.

What would you say to someone considering doing a season in the mountains?

You have two choices - Party or Ride.  You can’t be good at both consistently.  You can party for a few years… but your riding will suffer and you’ll most likely have a few injuries.  You can dedicate your season to improving your riding, searching for new lines, riding steeper, more technical slopes, going to bed early, eating well, and training… but your partying will suffer.

I hear you head to the beach breaks of Hossegor for the summer, how does that work for you?

 I go back to my roots to re-connect with a different kind of nature.  My father lives in a beachside property in Queensland,Australia where I spent my childhood.  I feel at home next to the sound of the waves, the smell of salt air and the sand between my toes.  Winter is pretty hectic for me with 27 weeks per year snowboarding.  In summer I keep myself to myself, immersed in the pine forest by night.  Chilling on the beach, and surfing by day.

In surfing, we’re aware of environmental issues such as marine litter and coastal development thanks to groups like Surfers Against Sewage, have you noticed the impact of climate change on snow conditions over the time you’ve spent in the mountains?

Yes, and it’s devastating to think that this environment may not be available for future generations.  In my last 12 years in Tignes I’ve watched the glacier clearly recede.  I’ve noticed a change in the timing of seasons, more so in the autumn whilst surfing.  Classic September weather/waves now come in October and likewise in the winter.   Fortunately, the snow always comes, but I feel it’s coming later than it did previously.  Temperatures seem to be less consistent and more unpredictable than before.  Heavy pollution in the Alps this autumn forced local drivers residing in the lower valleys to use their cars on alternative days, swapping with owners of certain registration numbers within that area. In December & January this year, there were drought problems in our region due to lack of precipitation, and quantity of snow cannon use.  One of my pet hates is cigarette buts, thousands of fish die every year by ingesting cigarette buts washed down by snow melt. 

What’s next for you?

 Well, big question!  Perfecting my teaching skills never stops and is always ongoing.  But after the success of my BODY.MIND.BOARD approach, I’ve realized my next step is to broaden my horizons!  I’ll be providing more camp dates, options & programs throughout next winter in France with prospective internationaladventures in the pipeline for Argentina this summer and Japan next winter.  Also coming up next season is my new package BODY.MIND.BOARD.MOUNTAIN camps covering off piste riding technique, mountain awareness, avalanche safety & transceiver training.

Check out Renelle's professional and tailored coaching at Fresh Snowboarding. 

Interviewed exclusively for Surf Girl Magazine.

As above so below

The Maldives; a collection of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean containing of sandbanks, coral ridges and desert islands: 340 km to the nearest land mass (India) and most the lowest lying country in the world.


It is a quintessential tropical surfing destination; offshore reefs, crystal clear waters and a diverse ocean ecosystem home to whales, dolphins, rays, sharks and hundreds of thousand of species of fish.

Yet, this is 2018 and there is no longer a chance to hide the reality of the situation; environmental disasters are impacting natural habitats at an alarming rate; plastic packaging waste, coral bleaching and the rise in sea levels are global threats, which the Maldives are also greatly affected by.

Despite the marketing, The Maldives are not all turquoise waters and palm fringed beaches. Thanks to the exposure by Alison Teal and her TV series Alison’s Adventures (if you’re not check it out here), we are all aware of how the government introduced a waste management system far from the picturesque imagery in the holiday brochures. In order to deal with its plastic waste, The Maldives dedicated the Island next to the capital Male - Thilafushi - to trash, which since the 1990s has morphed into an island of waste; a toxic landfill piled high with discarded, rotting, burning plastic.

Soneva & Baa atoll

As a traveller to the Maldives, I came armed with my natural sun cream, metal straw, reusable bottle and cloth bag, but still felt disheartened by the the amount of single use plastic that plagues many Islands… which in turn sparked a nagging sensation that I needed to do more. The good news is that education is changing everything, and even schools are proclaiming themselves to be “plastic free” as part of the solution to this huge problem.

Waste to wealth: recycled products & eco centro

Another solution it seems, is being pioneered at high end resort Soneva Fushi. Situated in the Baa atoll, it has adopted an exceptional waste management system, where 90% of the island’s waste is recycled or repurposed. Their aim is to reach zero waste within the next 5 years and with this vision in mind, here lies hope for the future of these extraordinary Islands.

Gordon Jackson does a remarkable job running the “Waste to wealth programme”. From growing mushrooms in plastic bottles, bottling its own water, composting green waste and turning glass into works of art - it is a complex system than aims to role out its initiatives to other local islands.

The surfing season is May to October, but even in late November we are finding waves. The tides and wind affect the conditions greatly, and for approximately one hour each day in the afternoon we have scored perfect, waist to head high peeling lefts. Soneva’s sustainable surf programme takes guests to local and remote waves, encouraging the use of their eco products - bureo fins, revolve leashes and timber tech fire wire boards.

My mission as a sustainability student interning here, is to make a surfboard from recycled styrofoam. With the resident glass blower a former surfboard shaper and one of the kids an accomplished styrofoam sculptor, it’s proving doable. The hope is to one day to create a craft the local kids can ride, something made from waste and sourced entirely from the atoll. Until the prototype is launched, Soneva host community sessions, enabling the girls from nearby Island Eydafushi to sample surfing and the equipment needed to do it.

Community watersports day for girls

During my time the local school bring their year 6 & 7 girls for a “watersports festival”. This is in fact a day of interactive learning where they receive tuition on surfing, SUP, kayaking, sustainability and marine biology. They are quiet at first but giggle as we do some standing stretches and once in the water, are full of laughs and bravado.

Many claim they want to become surfing marine biologists by the end of the event, so its a wonderful sign that they’ve been inspired by this opportunity.

Helping run the community day is surf manager Azoula. Azu started surfing at 18 (2005) in Male, Raalhugandu, she was a competitive swimmer, even representing the Maldives at the Asian games, so was a natural in the water.

She didn’t have a proper lesson, but after some help from local surfers she stood up on a short board. From her first day she was hooked. She found it exhilarating despite it just being “baby waves”, yet gave her the taste and to keep going back for more.

Each day at 5.30am she’d be up and in the water, getting stronger and faster and more confident. Now she’s helping Soneva Fushi deliver surfing experiences to guests and locals, along with helping run the clean water initiative Vitric.

We talk about the gender divide, here on the local Islands and she tells me there are a few girls surfing, but they are still the minority. She wishes more took it up, and is glad that there are programmes that teach surf to girls in the Maldives, as they need encouragement and exposure to progressive ways of thinking.

The older generation’s perspective about surfing is slowly shifting, and it’s starting to be recognised a sport, rather than an activity for drop outs. Unfortunately, its had a negative association with laziness, promiscuity and even drugs in the past - so it needs an identity make over to heal its cultural roots. For us, it’s a harmless, wave riding activity; a social (or solo), aquatic excursion but here there is much more under the surface. Why do humans have to make things so complicated?

Under the surface

Under the surface of The Big Blue there is a whole world to be explored and the Baa atoll is famed for its manta ray cleaning stations. Groups of reef (4-5m) and oceanic mantas (up to 7m) come here to feed in the plankton rich waters, and with strict regulations regarding the Biosphere reserve, mean a team of rangers watching over them, making sure their waters are clean and tourists remain respectful.

I enjoy snorkel sessions with the guests on outer reef, as well as making my own venture to the drop off, just a few metres away from the shore. It becomes a daily meditation, my mind quietens as I observe this multi-faceted world teeming with life. My favourite surfing session, which will remain with me forever, was a small day, without a breath of wind and with visibility of about 100% - meaning we could see the bottom at the local reef break. In the distance, the smoke from the local landfill dispersed into the atmosphere; a stark reminder, that nothing and nowhere is pristine these days.

And then the epiphany came: A moment of Clarity. I no long enjoy going just surfing… it has evolved to be more than that. I enjoy surfing in small, clean, fun (non anxiety inducing waves) with people who appreciacte the art of sharing; I enjoy surfing in unspoilt waters where I can feel connected to life and become part of its cycle within the ocean ecosystem and I enjoy helping others to feel the joy, presence and empowerment that comes with tuning into this highly complex skill.

The other bits about surfing… Well, you can have them.

We are all connected through the ocean

Just like surfers, the mantas come to the Baa atoll in specific months however, this year, for both groups, for some reason, the season extended 6 weeks later than usual.

Times are changing, patterns are shifting. It would be easy to label “climate change” as the reason behind everything. Yet as a masters student of sustainability my focus is to challenge assumptions and I believe it is much more complex than that. We are wasting precious time arguing about what is happening and why; when it is it is crucial to listen and respond to changes, instantaneously.

Luckily as surfers, we harness the power to make split second decisions due to our practice and experience riding ocean waves. We are the ones who train our intuition day in day out, to react with integrity, agility and fluidity and tune directly into natures vibrations.

We can breathe in signs from the air, to help us understand if something is not right. We can look for signs in the water to give us information about the state of the oceans. And as we are migratory creatures, perhaps we can even understand the behaviours in other species, also searching for their source.

Unfortunately as a travelling surfer, I’m well aware that I’m treading a huge hypocritical carbon footprint whenever I go jetting off into the sunset to satisfy my wanderlust in the aquamarine and azure coloured water destinations far away from dull Great Britain. But at least I’m aware, I tell myself.

I leave these incredible Islands, reluctant to wear shoes but eager to channel more energy into riding waves in a more sustainable manner… which I guess, means no more trips to the Maldives.

The Eco Traveller Paradox

I’m so excited to have begun my Masters in Sustainability at Anglia Ruskin University. Not only is it a great course but the set up enables me to stick to my commitments in Indonesia and the French Alps. That’s right, it’s distance learning so I’m currently writing this in the Sumatran jungle. I was meant to be heading on a trek into the Leuser Ecosystem but was struck down with a bug last night and instead am trying to rest and recover. It’s also a good chance to catch up on Uni work, and put down a few thoughts about my latests travel.

My time in Sumatra has been intense - from the traditional Muslim province of Banda Aceh, the local villages in Nias where time stands still, to staying on a desert Island in the Mentawaiis, completely cut off from the world - I have been immersed in an a society that is worlds away from my own. It’s such a privilege to be able to glimpse into these other cultures and spaces, so foreign to my own. Such an utter privilege to be able to travel freely here.

The tragic Lion air plane crash happened just days ago; my heart goes out to all affected. Being able to travel safely is priority and sure puts tiny delays or annoyances into perspective.

I try to access gratitude and acknowledge my privilege and freedom to be able to do this on a daily basis, but underlying everything is an unwavering sense of guilt. I absolutely love travelling, but as a sustainability student, and someone who cares about finite resources on this planet - it’s pretty hypocritical.

These conflicting feelings are energising me to dig deep into the modules and tasks I’m undertaking, and try to apply methods of systems thinking to my life. It’s forcing me to commit to this learning journey and consider changing my habits and lifestyle if I am to live with integrity and by my values.

Whilst I can commit to surfing, yoga and learning; can I actually commit to something I do not necessarily want to do? Committing to jobs, relationships or places has never been my forte. I’m not sure I can commit to giving up travelling. It’s so integral to my happiness.

Staying on an Island in the Mentawaiis I am given the opportunity to sample life in a bubble, the guilt subsides as present moment awareness takes over and curiosity, creativity and joy become my resting states.

Wandering through the jungle barefoot, devouring fresh fruits and veggies, observing the reef teeming with life and getting dialled in to new surf breaks become my activities, my mind becomes clear and my heart becomes soft.

I would not be able to have that experience, without a number of flights, boats and cars powered by fossil fuels. But in doing so I add to the problem, contribute to climate change through my carbon footprint and become just another ignorant consumer.

We’re surrounded by art on this island. Everything is hand made and thoughtfully crafted. It is like a paradise that needs no outside influence, all the abundance, materials and inspiration is provided by nature right here. Is it possible to take the notion of art and apply it to our lives, to the world we are creating every day? I know that by combining the knowledge I’m gathering at Uni and teaming it alongside my passion for creativity, that innovation will flourish. I’m hoping that I can understand the complexity of our planet whilst resolving to live a simpler life. My time on the island has changed me. My needs are much more simple than they used to be. I’m attempting to live a life filled with enchantment and wonder. Nature and community provide this, but why does it have to take burning carbon to get me here!?

On an individual basis, there’s no denying that the impact of a flight is greater than that of several car journeys. However, through careful consideration you can still fly occasionally while maintaining a sustainable overall lifestyle!

A plane uses most fuel during takeoff and landing. You don’t need to be an aeronautical engineer to understand that it’s much easier for a plane to glide than to ascend from 0 to 35,000 feet. Therefore, CO2 per passenger per mile will be far greater on short-haul flights. Overall, it’s far worse to fly from London to Glasgow and back eight times than it is to fly London to Vancouver and back once. If you can, skip a shorter connecting flight for a bus, and for domestic journeys, use alternative means.

PROTECT OUR WINTERS

Of course, along with enchantment and awe, I’ve encountered plenty of marine plastics, even on pristine, empty beaches. So as I continue my travels, collecting trash and saying no to single use, I’m hoping my eco footprint will balance out my carbon one. I’ll be pondering these paradoxes whilst I head to the Maldives for interning at the Waste to Wealth programme at a super, duper fancy pants high end resort.

Whilst my next essay explores economic solutions to combat these issues, I’m glad I’m still a lowly student, as I’m increasingly worried that I most definitely do not have the answers. If you do, please leave them in the comments below!

Plastic Freedom!

Back in July, I embarked the PLASTIC FREE challenge.

It was tough. Plastic sucks! It’s EVERYWHERE! I couldn’t escape it.

I did better than last year but in order to become totally plastic free I’m going to have to change my whole lifestyle, habits, compulsions and addictions. I don’t know if it’s possible, but it’s a future goal. Did you try too? I’d love to hear how you got on!

The tricky bit was because I live in a van I have no storage or refridgeration for food. Convenience got the better of me and I would buy plastic packed food on occasion, mainly because I’m starving from being in the sea.. I have definitely shifted to shopping at local stores in St Agnes and St Ives and have found thinking ahead and preparing my meals (but not too faring advance!) to be the key.

The bonus part is that I invested in lots of new products, found alternatives and investigated people and organisations doing amazing things to combat this massive problem! Thanks to Sprouts in Newquay and Plastic Freedom, I now have a plastic free beauty/grooming regime! And I feel genuinely hopefully that we can sort our shit out!

Since my first letter to A Surfers Path in 2009, when I called upon the surfing community to wake up to this huge problem, I believe a massive tipping point has occurred. Not only are we aware, but we’re trying to do something about it.

The other week I was having a mooch at the Eco Park market and came across Michelle Costello. She creates art out of plastic she finds on the beach and is such a lovely person! I was stoked to buy one of her little framed whales, which now hangs perfectly in my van. I wanted to learn more about Michelle and what inspired her to take the leap from leaving her job to full time artist, so here’s a short interview with her; enjoy! And if you can make it, get to her workshop at the Eco Park this Sunday 23rd Septmber!

Can you tell us a bit about your connection to the ocean growing up.

I was always close to the beach, we spent all our summer holiday at Gwithian as my family owned a chalet there. For 6 weeks or more we lived there and we loved it. My family have also always had a yacht, my dad who is in his 70s still sails on the Falmouth river and I have spent countless hours with my family there, rowing, fishing, swimming and sailing.

Where do you live now and how do you feel about your home?

Now I live in lllogan which is close to Portreath. I live next to beautiful fields and open countryside, woods and amongst wildlife.

I adore my home and my environment and I look after it when ever I can. I pick up litter every day from around my village. There is a small stream at the bottom of my lane and l know that whatever litter enters it will more than likely end up on the beach.

I feed the birds and encourage a natural habitat around us for them. I am passionate about saving the last open space in my village from being built on, hoping to create an area for wildlife and people to enjoy.

How did you get into collecting beach litter?

I have always picked up litter from beaches...beer cans and glass etc but on February 14th 2014 my eyes were opened to a real problem. Plastic all over the beach . Not just local litter but plastic that had been in the sea for a long time washed up all along the strand line at Perranporth. There were bottles everywhere.

My husband and I spelled out HELP from them. Also there was lots of small debris. Bits of broken plastic and amongst it Lego and smartie lids, soldiers and vintage toys and hairclips.

I am a treasure hunter at heart. I was hooked on collecting it.

I started to look into to marine debris on the internet and watched the Albatros trailer made by Chris Jordan. It had a profound effect on me. I started to clean beaches in my spare time, often spending 6hrs on the beach with my husband, daughter and our dog.

I soon became aware of the 2minutebeachclean and was lucky enough to meet Martin Dorey with his girls while we filmed with BBC Newsround about the Lego lost from the Tokio Express container spill. We had lots of Lego at that point so my daughter was interviewed for the show.

I set up Smartie lids on the beach on Facebook then later on an instrgram account.

I started making art from the plastic l found and and it had a great response, appealing to people as they started to understand the massive problem of plastic in the ocean.

I also started to use less plastic in my life and encouraged others to use less too. I took my metal straw to the pub long before they were available in this country and was laughed at !!! I now sell them and bamboo toothbrushes.

How has doing this work changed your life?

I worked at my local school for 9 years as a Teaching Assistant. I started to take my year 4s to clean the beach at Porthtowan and Portreath as part of the surfers against sewage spring and autumn series . Back at school we would then make some art from the plastic we found often creating art galleries in the foyer of the school to get the message out there.

In July 2018 I was able to leave my TA job and clean beaches and make art 24/7. I've made my hobby into my job! I still connect with my school and local community. I will take the year 4s on the Autumn beach clean in October and have a workshop with them. I have also done some work with #loveportreath.

Who are your biggest champions/inspirations?

My first inspiration was Tracey Williams a look beach cleaner who taught me all I know about beach plastic. She is the font of all knowledge on anything lego lost at sea.

Martin Dorey and his amazing 2minutebeachclean family are another truly inspiring community. His team are so supportive of people all over the world picking up litter.

Then Sir David Attenborough. He has helped spread the word about marine debris to previously unreachable people.

Do you support/work with any charities in particular?

I give £1 to the Marine conservation society for each item I sell. I also sell my art at the National Trust Cafe in Boscastle and on the #2minutebeachclean website, giving them a % of sales.

Another big thing I am a part of is the Cornish Plastic Pollution Coalition. We meet quarterly to talk about plastic and raise awareness and campaign. It is run by local beach cleaners Claire Wallerstein from Rame Peninsular Beach Care and Delia Webb from Friends of Portheras Cove.

What would be your advice to anyone who wants to go down a similar route?

Go to an organised beach clean run by MCS or Surfers against sewage.

Find out all about the safety things to look out for ie needles, tides, glass, cliff falls and learn all you can.

Join groups on Facebook or instagram ie.

Beach combings bizarre and beautiful.

Tregantle trinkets treasures and Trash

Smartie lids on the beach

Lego lost at sea

See what other people find and stay in touch.

When can we next find you at the Eco Park?

At the “roots culture” market on Sunday 23rd September, with my workshop at 2pm.

Thanks so much to Michelle! Check out her website here.

Flowing with the go

Things have been moving at an alarmingly fast rate in my life lately.  I’m not sure if it’s just me.  Perhaps the Universe is having a growth spurt.

For a short time in Portugal I was in a permaculture bubble, where everything seemed a lot slower paced.  Since I left Keela Yoga Farm I haven’t been “going with the flow” but “flowing with the go!”.  Changing location almost as frequently as changing my undies.

But now, here I am at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, having arrived late last night.  I’m trying to do all the things that ground me: walk, drink tea, go in the sea, do yoga, write.  So this is my last port of call, and hopefully by the end of this musing my brain will have caught up with my body and I will know, for sure, exactly where am.

I wanted to write about the realities of living in a van and although I try to live a multi dimensional life, that is not based on good/bad ego based judgement indulging in best/worst scenarios or drama.  For the purpose of explaining van life… it’s pretty handy.  So here’s the top 5 best and worst things about living in a van.  Yoga reminds us to change what we can and accept what we can’t.  Van life is like yoga on steroids.  

Lets start with the darkness… the shit bits about having a rolling home:

Fuel

I can’t help but apologise to mother earth every time I put Diesel in Eric the van.  I know where its come from and it hurts.  Not enough to stop doing it but I definitely wince.  I plan to plant lots of trees and one day hopefully be so happy in one place I never have to drive again.  But I can’t face it right now.  I can’t wait for the day my wanderlust is powered by renewables.  

Cold

This is going to be tricky and all depends on if it’s a warm summer or not.  Last year was pretty bad.  I was very grateful to be living in a house after spending the day working on the beach being exposed to gales force winds and hail storms.  Fingers crossed this year will be milder, although this does not mean I am wishing for global warming.  Just a decent summer.  In case of emergency during a chilly night I add in some or all of these: Hot water bottle, gas stove, winter Pjs.

Space

I have 4 surfboards, a paddleboard, a bike, a non negotiable need for a large, memory foam mattress and countless clothes, shoes, wetsuits and bikinis plus a massive batch of home brew kombutcha.  I don’t need all this “stuff” but it definitely makes life more fun! The problem is keeping it all in my tiny home… and making sure its all strapped down if I need to move.  I’m learning what are necessities and what just gets in the way, but I’ll tell you this: minimalism is the way forward and all the junk in my trunk does not bring me happiness.  The memories I create on the road are what matters.

Parking

I have a long wheel based citroen van.  It’s a beast.  But my Dad has already put some dents in it so I’m not precious about the external aesthetic.  Although I aim to uphold my record of never being in a crash.  And I just prefer to avoid small car parks or one way systems, like in St Ives.  Instead I park 30 minutes out of town and cycle or walk to work.  It’s healthier for me and cheaper too.  I refused to get stressed driving, this refusal can sometime be stressful, but I think its worth it to avoid the stress.

Elimination

I’m going to have to go there: POO.  We all do it and it’s perfectly natural.  But holding it is in is not.  I’m very lucky to live at the Eco Park which has great facilities so haven’t yet had to embrace any other options.  I don’t plan to either. 

And the light at the end of the tunnel… the rainbow after the rain… the best blimmin bits about Van life:

Nature on your doorstep

I have probably watched more sunsets and moon rises in the last month than the rest of my life.  And this is one of my defining aspects of general contentment.  If I am outdoors, with enough time and space to appreciate the day starting or ending I am in a good place,  Being in a good place every day is a great place to be.  It’s not what tickles everyone’s fancy, but I’ve dipped in and out of enough things in this life to know this is one of the small, simple pleasures that makes my heart sing.

Back to basics

Just like being immersed in nature, van life has reaccustomed me to the foundations of human functioning: eat, sleep and shelter.  Food and water are essentials, along with a good nights sleep and a place to hide if the elements are feeling wild.  On top of that are things like cleaning, working and playing, which in my book are pretty essential too.  (I haven't yet ventured into procreating but I have had guys give me their numbers in car park!) But what is key is that my priorities have been put in the right order.  Nourishing my physical body and mind is first and foremost.

Design

I loved creating my own van, because it was truly personalised.  This has maximised space and every time I function I look for ways to live more efficiently.  The van is continually evolving as I spend more time in it and figure out how I can make the design work better for me.  I'm incorporating permaculture principles of course - "observe and interact" & "apply self regulation and feedback" providing great guidance on how to do things.

Instant community

People get super excited about vans, they LOVE having a sneaky peak inside… and I love giving them a glimpse into my world.  It's happened every time I park to go surfing, so it's also good incentive to make sure my home is looking ship-shape, rather than like a bomb's hit it!  I can offer cups of tea as post surf refreshment to new water buddies and this truly makes me very happy!

Freedom & security

Core design feelings: Danielle La Portes work calls us to think about what we what to FEEL rather than what we want to achieve.  It’s a soulful approach to goal setting.  These two CDFs appear to be a paradox.  But hey, aren’t we living in a world with many dichotomies and paradoxes?? The van works for both: I am free to travel or remain stationary…AND I have the security of always having my little home.  I feel safe and that for me, is so intrinsically important… even more so than being happy.  

So it works.  For now.  And just like life’s dichotomies there’s shit bits and incredible parts to living in a van.  I’ll take it all, thanks very much.

One final muse: I often set myself mini intentions when I become aware of something that is mildly limiting in my life… Like only being able to go right on a surfboard, or hating forward folds in yoga (which still need work)…along with the big ones like: love more, forgive more, be less self centred (which are probably a lifetime’s work.)

I was privy to one of my little quirks recently and that is my relationship with the wind; it's tumultuous to say the least.

One of my first sentences was: “Wind blowing daddy” and now from my adult perspective I see I must have been proclaiming to Mr. Fox “there’s this strange force in the air and I don’t like it!”.  In my 20’s I discovered surfing which is so dependant on wind, making me rather picky on certain conditions i.e. 2-5 knots off shore (which is perhaps rarer than a NW 14 second period swell on a sunny day in June)

And after discovering in my 30s that my “very vata” dosha temperament can make me flustered and exacerbated in high winds, things began to make more sense.  But it didn’t really allow for our relationship to blossom.  I would just stay indoors and do yoga when it was windy… 

So I put it out there this year, to find a better understanding and appreciation of the wind.  We didn’t have to fall in love… just to come to some mutual agreement not to extensively piss each other off.

And just as those tiny miracles serve to restore our faith fraction by fraction that the Universe does indeed have our back, I pulled into my new van spot directly under a wind turbine.  

Ah ha! The energy that is powering this laptop comes from the wind.  Genius!!  I’ve developed a new found respect for those gusty days and cannot help smile when I see the turbine going.  It’s harnessing and harvesting an invisible energy source, that is completely free and will never deplete!

For any of you that are still in the “but they’re an eyesore and hurt wildlife”, I can tell you that I saw with my own eyes a bird fly right over the top of it.  Yes, this bird could sense that the arms were moving and changed its flight path accordingly.  I guess birds are pretty smart.

There you have it, a mini story about how I became friends with the wind, why renewables rock, and how van life is flipping awesome!

BLOWING AND FLOWING WITH THE GO IS ALRIGHT REALLY!

Talking about sustainability

A few months again I received a random email through my website asking to interview me about sustainability and fashion.  Never one to miss an opportunity to talk about my passions, I went on to rant about consumerism and our plastic addiction.

At the time I was organising Plastic Free Peaks, and was surprised at the synchronicity.  However, I feel like we are at a real tipping point, with sustainable and ethical values beginning to influence consumer choices.

Thanks to Chloe for her questions and the article that went up on Lyst, it gave me some insights into new eco brands and filled my heart with hope that these conversations are taking place in industries all over the world now.

Read the whole article here.

Check out the whole interview below.

You’re currently a WDC ambassador, what first made you want to get involved and speak out about environmental issues?

I was teaching surfing in Morocco in 2010 and became aware of a lot of plastic washing up on the beaches.  This was in the early days of social media so I struggled to find support or guidance on how to deal with these issues.  I managed to hunt down a French recycling firm, so our surf camp could deal with our plastic waste and ran a few beach cleans.  Then I became involved with Surfers Against Sewage who began lobbying against raw sewage run off in the 90’s, and who have since turned their efforts towards plastic pollution and marine debris, check out their #plasticfreecommunities initiative and their success with the bottle #depositreturnscheme.  

As a surfer I feel at home in the ocean, and it frustrates and saddens me to see the amount of trash that has ended up in there.  The ocean currents know no boundaries or borders and we need to understand the magnitude of the problem, without getting too overwhelmed.  It is a massive lesson that we are a global community and need to work together to develop fast, tangible and long lasting solutions.  Health needs to our top priority, and that goes for the health of our waterways and the health of other species we share the planet with.  I have always felt an affinity with wild whales and dolphins; from swimming with blue whales in California to spinner dolphins in Costa Rica I have no doubt that these sentient beings are hyper intelligent and soulful creatures, and feel honoured WDC have asked me to help raise awareness of how our habits on land affect marine mammals. Plastic is #notwhalefood!

As an environmental activist and ambassador, why do you think is it important that other surfers become involved with foundations like WDC?

Personally, I think it’s quite boring to just go surfing, yes, I like the physical aspects and how it challenges me mentally, but it is about being truly immersed in an environment that is teeming with life (and also pollution) which fascinates me.  Every time we surf we are given the gift of entering the ocean and experiencing the joy of being truly present.  The sensations it provides are addictive, yet there is a deeper connection to be explored - our dependency on our breath, our development from the womb to individual, our evolution as a species and most of all sharing that stoke with others.  A lot of people use surfing as a way to switch off, escape or have fun - but honestly, how can you just ignore a beach full of plastic waste and then get on with your surf?  Surfers are able to read the signs and symptoms that something is not right in the ocean habitat, they are exposed first hand to environmental changes - discovering what were once pristine, remote beaches are now covered in plastics.  Encountering plastic waste in the sea is massively frustrating because it causes so much damage.  Just one plastic bottle takes about 400 years to breakdown and even then remains as tiny microplastic pieces, which will be mistaken for food, eaten by marine life and be responsible for poisoning it.

Thankfully I have learnt to channel that frustration into passion.  Passion is the fuel for action.  Yes, you can channel that passion into surfing more and surfing better, but without the waves, without a healthy ocean, there is no surfing.   

Why should people be concerned about this issue of plastic and the effects it has on the environment? 

People can choose to remain in ignorant bliss or they can wake up to the reality of the situation.  I am concerned because we only know a fraction of the truth of this issue, we can only see the tip of the iceberg.  And I am also concerned that we are not doing enough, that before we know it, it will spiral out of control.  We need to reduce plastic pollution at source and then we need to do a global clean up effort.  We are all connected by water, by food.  If you eat fish, chances are, you are eating fish that has been contaminated by plastic.  Studies already highlight this and the “pacific garbage patch” a swirling mass of plastic soup is getting bigger.  A big problem is being disconnected from where our food comes from, so switching from processed, packaged food is a good start.  Food grows in the ground, start getting it from as close to there as possible.  If people still feel disconnected, then I suggest educating themselves.  Watching videos or reading articles isn’t enough - immerse yourself, do a permaculture course!  I help run environmentally focussed surf and yoga camps in Jersey, UK and Indonesia (www.driftretreat.co.uk), we run beach cleans and schools presentations, forage for food and learn about local wildlife, come get involved!

Do you have any tips on how consumers can reduce the amount of plastic they use?

Begin by waking up to how much plastic you use in your day to day life.  Yes, disposable is easier but single use, plastic packaging has a massive design flaw.  Designed to be used once, yet lasts for 400 years!  It’s insane!  Take pride and time in preparing home made meals and nourish yourself, rather than thinking you’re saving time.  You deserve time to stop and eat.  

Take a moment to breathe, and appreciate the moments when you don’t actually NEED anything.  Being constantly bombarded by social media and advertising is a sure fire way to deludedly believe we need more stuff.  Step outside and appreciate nature’s beauty.  Realise that you’re probably addicted to consuming and have the courage to get to the root of why.  Don’t be a mindless consumer.  Start a mindfulness practice so you can get a grip on what your internal “monkey mind” impulses and reactions are, and only respond to your true needs and wants that benefit your wellbeing - good food, ethical clothing, quality equipment.  Make conscious consumer choices and buy products from companies that practice environmental ethics, or find an alternative.   

Pretty much everything comes in plastic these days, so for a start, buy less.  Secondly, buy things you only truly need, want and will treasure.  Thirdly, understand that nature works in cycles, when we throw away, it’s not “away”, it only gets transformed.  We are part of nature yet we have become grossly misaligned, thinking that we live in a linear world.  There is power in transformation, so become an alchemist.  Finally, know that you do not need to consume to be worthy.  You already whole. 

Are there any sportswear brands, whose ethos you respect and are inspired by?

Well, unfortunately the retail industry is based on a consumer, capitalist model designed to decimate natural resources and operates on a unsustainable foundation.    

Some brands have made some nice gestures including Adidas’ recycled fishing rope trainer and the development of eco-nyl or repreive, who now sell to major clothes labels and manufacturers.  There are some more ahead of the game like Picture Organic Clothing or Bureo, who use recycled fabrics and materials.  My favourite are Patagonia who are actively encouraging customers to keep their old gear and repair it.  Their “work wear tour” recently came to our town and people could get garments fixed for free. 

But until we rethink the model of consumerism as well as delve into the socio-psychological reasons we are so locked into it, we have a long way to go.  However, because of all these hurdles, it is extremely exciting to be part of a movement, which is advancing toward healing our toxic ways and overcoming our plastic addiction.  It takes a lot of thought and courage to make changes, but I believe there is a very natural survival mechanism kicking in, within many individuals and communities being inspired and people are simultaneously waking up to our responsibility to look after our home.  We have a deep bond to the earth that is strengthened through activities such as surfing, snowboarding, hiking and climbing; igniting our true potential in becoming caretakers of the planet rather than the species that made a massive mess at the party, left and didn’t clean up afterwards.

Mountain Meditation

My time in the French Alps is coming to an end.  There’s been lots to learn and experience this winter season.  When I arrived in Morzine I felt like a tiny fish in an infinite ocean… everything appeared new and unknown… now it feels like home.

“The power that lurks in the heart of all mountains will flow into you while their essential beauty reminds you that you, too, are a creature of the earth.  The strength and sturdiness evident in the rocky crags and smooth slopes of peaks around the globe have from time immemorial inspired creativity and kindled courage.”

This arrived in my inbox today courtesy of Daily OM, so true!  I needed the mountains so badly… after countless years of hiding from winter, chasing the sun and running from darkness I realised that natures cycles was what I was craving.

The winter has enabled me to stop, reflect, start afresh but most of all sleep.  

I can always remember waking in the night as a child.  Having a troubled sleep pattern was just one of the indicators that I’m a sensitive being.  There was always something that stirred me as i tried to rest and switch off.  And this permeable night sense has filtered into adult life causing many a problem, until I decided to listen.

Without the stimulation of noise and light, the mountains hold a dark energy that is not scary but soothing, like being cocooned.  The quiet, the dark, the stillness… is oh so deep.  And it is here where I encounter deep deep sleep.  As a HSP a good nights sleep is so crucial to me.  A deep sleep is pure heaven.

After chasing the swells for countless seasons I have been reminded I am, indeed, a creature of the Earth.  Winter is liberation time.  But with fresh air, big views and grand perspective.

Social media hiatus

For the months of January and February I took a break from my iPhone and social media.  Gone was the device constantly in my right hand; at last I had two hands free again.  But it felt awkward, like something was missing.  It was soon replaced by j.o.m.o. - “joy of missing out” - life was happening in other places and I did not care, did not know about it.  It was liberating and suddenly I had a choice, to keep my awareness attuned to the shit that really matters.  Now I am aware.  SO aware of how social media fractalises our attention.  In our hands we have access to the whole universe - we can feel inspired, guilty, jealous, desireful or bitter in a flash and we are not even conscious of that emotional process.  And one thing is for sure I was happier, more accepting, more peaceful and more present without it.  

Is it possible to feel that way while still connected?  I’m back online and still figuring it out...

Full of care not careful

I sincerely think that many of humanities issues stem from lack of knowledge, skills and experience on how to care.  For ourselves, for each other, for natural habitats and other species.  What is needed is conversations about what we need to feel cared for.  As I guess its different for everybody.  We're sent so many mixed signals right from birth, but it seems that many of these are the fear of adults projected onto us.  Be careful = don’t hurt yourself.  Don’t get injured.  Don’t learn.  Don’t fail.  So many untruths.

What I've truly understood is that: We heal.  We grow.  We succeed (eventually).  

What does it mean to truly care for ourselves and others?  It means listening, being selective/discerning about what we listen to (even our own thoughts and well meaning guidance from others can be fickle), respecting boundaries and sometimes going out into the unknown.

Grounding

I have stayed in the same place for nearly 5 months.  It’s been good for me.  Unable to run or escape challenging emotions, being faced with loneliness and boredom and desire and exhaustion.  Oh the joy of suffering like a true human!  

But aside from the difficulties, the most important thing I have experienced is feeling connected to the earth.  In the simplest form of sliding down a mountain, I have learn to respect gravity and embrace being out of control.  Such a simple, yet profound process... and through it I've found the kind of strength and stability and BALANCE I have never had before.

Magic of Mindfulness

There’s a short film I’m involved with and because of this was gifted a session with the incredible neuroscientist and author of “What is mindfulness” Tamara Russell.  The session blew my mind… we covered mindfulness practice, trauma, ego-mind traps, psychosis, the joy of siding down mountains and finding the balance between sitting still and sliding down mountains.  She taught me the three C’s:  courage, curiosity and compassion…

The Power of Yoga

Yoga is not about how strong you can be, how flexible you are, how taut you bum looks in funky patterned leggings, or how zen your facial muscles appear for 1 second while a photo is snapped.

Yoga is not that.

But what is yoga?  The question that keeps on giving.  Every day I go on a little journey on my mat as I try to feel the connectivity firing up from my nervous system and the dissolving of my external graspiness.  What’s going on INSIDE.  Accepting and loving everything that arises.  Staying put when it gets a little tense and uncomfortable.  Breathing into it.  That’s what yoga is for me these days.  Ah I just bloody love it.

Next steps

Waves. Off grid in Portugal.  Festivals and freelancing in Cornwall.  And I'm excited to announce I received an unconditional offer to study a Masters in Sustainability at Anglia Ruskin University.  Another step toward the paradox I am looking to live out in my life, personally and professionally: Freedom and security.  With Mother Nature as my boss.  

I'll leave you with some words from Vandana Shiva.  Who's also a boss.

Soulla Soulshine

Why is Yoga so good for the mountain lifestyle?

Yoga is the perfect practice to wake up the body for a day on the mountains and stretch it out at the end of the day. Focussed poses and a regular practice can build strength, flexibility and endurance to maximise time playing on the mountains and avoid injuries. With a focus on the breath, Yoga can also help to maximise the body’s ability to perform at lower oxygen levels found at altitude. 

Bringing awareness to the breath, the moment and the body can help enhance calmness, concentration and clarity – helping to maximise performance and focus on the slopes and bringing peace throughout the day. 

Yoga also helps you feel greater connection to the moment and the space you are in. When practicing in the mountains Yoga and Meditation can bring a much greater connection to the magnitude of nature, bringing a presence to that experience which is both humbling, beautiful and gratitude-inducing. 

And finally, bringing an attitude of mindful compassion can help us strike the balance between finding our edge to improve our performance and letting it come from a place of kindness and compassion, taking care of ourselves rather than being driven by a strong inner critic. Letting go of what we feel we ‘should’ be doing and instead listening to our heart and what it is we actually need in each moment. 

How do you make your living in the French Alps?

I run Soulshine Retreats offering transformational, healing and empowering retreats in Ibiza, the Alps and pop-up locations around the world. During summer we run retreats in our home in Ibiza and in the winter we head to the mountains for the season to run our Soulshine Snow Yoga Adventures. 2018 will be our 5th winter in the mountains running seasons of Yoga, Skiing & Snowboarding Retreats.

What brought you to the slopes?

I’ve been skiing since I was six and have always been a lover of adventures with a passion for adventure, travel, nature, the mountains and a healthy dash of adrenaline! Before setting up Soulshine Retreats my plan was to start a retreat company combining extreme and action sports with Yoga. As I went deeper into the healing and transformational aspect of Yoga this became more of my focus for the retreats, but the dream for combining the mountain sports and Yoga continued and so I began the Snow Yoga Adventures to chase the dream of winter fun. 

What do you love about living / working here?

I love being surrounded by the overwhelming presence of nature and feeling it’s ever shifting nature. I love how my breath can be taken away each day by the natural beauty. I love that I get to do what I love teaching Yoga and facilitating beautifully empowering, transformational and fun experiences and then get to play on the mountains. I love the view from my office. I love the freshness of the air. I love having an aching body from using it so much to do the things that I love.  I love how the mountains is made up of people living a dream and willing to work hard to do so. I love how alive I feel in the mountains. 

Ski or board?

I’ve been skiing since I was 6 years old. I dabbled (fairly unsuccessfully!) with Snowboarding one winter but returned to skiing. 

Summer or winter?

I’m definitely a sun and ocean-loving girl – that’s my first love. I feel so lucky to have created a life that allows me to enjoy summer in Ibiza and winter in the French Alps and to travel the world with pop-up Soulshine Retreats and personal adventures throughout the year. 

Favourite yoga move?

Just one is impossible! All restorative heart opening poses, a cheeky Astavakrasana and I love Wild Thing to get the heart opened and the energy flowing.

Tell us about Soulshine Retreats

The entire ethos and dream for Soulshine Retreats and all that it encompasses, is to provide healing, empowering and utterly digestible life-changing skills and experiences that allow individuals to embrace positive transformation and live to their greatest, healthiest and most joyful potential. All Soulshine Retreats are an ongoing expression of this desire to take people on this journey. A journey back to all the vibrant brilliance that exists in every moment, within each and every one of us. To shine bright!

www.soulshineretreats.com

Charlotte St Jean

Why is yoga so good for the mountain lifestyle?

The mountains represent an incredible reminder of the strength, magnificence and power of nature. They command respect, they quietly stand in the beauty and strength and provide an incredible back drop for meditation and yoga practice. Yoga is all about union and harmony – the inner & outer balance, the marriage of strength and flexibility. What better way to practice than with nature’s reminder permanently infront of you.

What brought you to the slopes?

Initially my love of skiing, then I fell in love with my ski instructor with whom I had two children and although we are no longer married we are still great friends and still share a love for this region. I was a sales director in the IT industry based in London and even when I moved to Val d’Isère in 2000 I commuted between the world of ski slopes and city scapes. 

How do you make your living in the French Alps?

I used to work outside of resort but for the past 15 years I have been teaching yoga up here.

What do you love about living / working here?

The non routine my day has, the ability to ski or run in this amazing environment in between classes. You opening the window in the morning and going YES! I live here. It is a total Disney land here. We work hard to stay here and the lifestyle can be hard core particularly on the Winter months – long hours, snow clearing, the influx of tourists and seasonairs – but the upside of our lifestyle here is “here” – the mountains, the fresh air, the wild side of this region.

Ski or board?

Ski & telemarking – not a great boarder but love my skiing on and off piste and have telemarked a lot over the years

Summer or winter?

I used to just be here in the Winter and spent the Summers in the Ardèche but for the past 3 years I have lived here all year round. It is even more sporty here in the Summer and so beautiful I love it! The Winter is so busy with people and work and although I get out and love my skiing the Winter still represents a kind of working environment for me whereas in the Summer the Alps are just my home and playground and I adore the freedom and the space here for me and my children.

Favourite yoga move?

Hanumanasana – the splits. I am not naturally flexible and it took me many years to be able to get into the splits and I have to say it has become a favorite of mine – the power, the openness, the achievement. Love it!

Tell us about .... The Val d'Isere Yoga Festival...

The festival was a vision, a dream for many years. When I started yoga here there was none! No teachers, no classes, nothing. Big round eyes when I mentioned it so 15 years ago – and even 5 when the first festival happened – they didn’t quite get it. I was looking at the States and what they were doing. These fabulous weekends of yoga, music, wellness. Of brining people together to share, to be, to meditate and practice together. To have amazing teachers teach classes and in this fabulous resort of Val d’Isère I mean who wouldn’t want to!

We are now in our fifth year which I find staggering and I am deeply proud of myself for creating this event and thankful to Val d’Isère for supporting it and to my friends, family and teachers for being there for me each year for the three days of incredible energy. Yoga, martial arts, meditation, dance, Pilates as well as massages, conferences, nutritional advice, a healthy café and a fabulous little market. Outdoor sessions, live music, something for everyone.

www.yoga-with-altitude.net

Balance Bec

Why is yoga so good for the mountain lifestyle?  

Mountain culture and lifestyle is uniquely charged. We experience a powerful exchange from the interplay of human endeavours in these skyscraping landscapes.

We are inspired to challenge ourselves daily with endless activities. We dig out our paths when the snow falls, we chop wood for our fires, we hike, ski and snowboard, rock climb, mountain bike and so much more.  A whole lot of fun, challenge and adventure to be had but all of which takes its toll on the body and mind.  

Yoga is the counter-balance.  Yoga prepares and repairs us for the mountain lifestyle.  It keeps us physically able while developing a mountain mindset.  And a mountain mind brings a sweet quality to our endeavours and a deeper connection to ourselves, each other and the environment around us.  

Here in the French Alps the mountains are so immense forcing an enlivening impression on us.  We are empowered and improved by the challenges of the mountain lifestyle. Likewise we are empowered and improved from the challenges on our yoga mat. 

I think that collectively, both yoga and the mountain lifestyle bring to us a sense of freedom, respect and joie de vivre that enables us to feel truly at home in the mountains and in ourselves.

Photo by Philip Volkers

What brought you to the slopes? 

True love!  

Might sound cheesy but Mr Black brought me to the slopes almost 20 years ago. He’d been skiing the Scottish ski- hills from age 10 and was mad into snowboarding when I met him in the mid 90s. Clearly I had to try it and share in the stoke of this relatively new sport.  

I took my first turns on an August day in 1998 on the glacier in Tignes.  I quite literally felt like I was on top of the world. The views were incredible, the snow was soft and the sun was blazing. Amongst those endless horizons my outlook completely changed.  

With a one track mind I dreamed of making the mountains our home.  8 years later we honeymooned for the winter in Les Arcs. That was my first snowboard season and the start of a new lifestyle that redefined ‘winter’ to mean ‘mountain time’.

How do you make your living in the French Alps?  

I teach yoga in the mountains.

There's a great appetite for yoga amongst the mountain community for all the reasons mentioned above.  Over time we have formed a lovely yoga community with a schedule of weekly classes around Bourg St Maurice and Les Arcs.  I also teach private group sessions, workshops, events and yoga retreats.

I never set out to run a yoga business – I was always motivated to let it unfold organically without any particular business strategy as it was less about making money and more about sharing an authentic mountain yoga experience in compliment to our mountain lifestyle.

What do you love about living / working here? 

I love:

that it’s a simple life

that nature is boss.  We keep it real.  That’s a welcome detachment from the man-made pace we experience in our cities and towns.  

That we drink wine at lunch time.

The camaraderie, the connection between people with a common love of the mountains and mountain culture. 

Cheese! I love cheese. Especially locally produced by happy mountain cows and goats.

The French language – so sultry, so quirky and so seemingly impossible to master. Teaching yoga in French is a fun way for me to learn. And if all else fails there’s always Sanskrit ….  ;)

I love that we can do yoga outside with such powerful and engaging backdrops - the mountains make the best yoga studios. 

Ski or board? Snowboarding!

Summer or winter? Gah... Both!... I’m probably more a summery kind of girl but I’m going to say winter because winter in the mountains is un-missable.  Where-as I can embrace all the qualities of summer wherever I am.

Favourite yoga move? I don’t have an all-time favourite move. I like to pull shapes that challenge my balance and perspective and I love to play with the feelings that come from being in a yoga pose. In particular the feeling of freedom or float that comes from balancing poses or being upside-down.  These are all in the favourites bag….

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon) 

Salamba Sirsasana (Headstand) 

Urdhva Padmasana (Upward lotus pose) 

Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand) 

Astavakrasana (8-angle arm balance) 

Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel) 

Also in the favourites bag is a very simple but energising sequence called the Five Tibetan Rites – I was introduced to it in North India in 2006 and ever since it’s how most of my days begin.  It offers a balanced physical warm up with an energizing buzz – my favourite way to start the day. 

Tell us about .... "SNOWGA"

SNOWGA is a style of yoga that I’ve developed to compliment skiing, snowboarding and the mountain mindset in winter.  The aim is to Move better, Feel better and Slide better by blending teaching points derived from my 3 main passions - Snowboarding, Yoga and Nature.  It’s a dynamic yoga style that integrates movement with breath to create a feeling of flow – much like the flow we vibe with when riding the fall-line in our mountain sports.  

SNOWGA is also a multi-national mountain community. For me it’s all about the people-connection.  Another kind of après-ski.  Another way for locals, foreign residents, seasonnaires and holiday makers to mingle, stretch, decompress and detangle together. To be challenged and inspired by each other.  

www.balancebec.com

Living on the edge

In my search for some version of home, I spent the summer revisiting my Cornish roots.  Not that I was born here, or have family from here.  But its definitely a place of perspective shifts for me.  Where I grew up, where I experienced connected-ness, where I first felt loss.  Most significantly:

I caught my first wave perched onto a bodyboard when I was 16, and discovered the most wholesome, playful fun I could have since being a toddler.

I came to watch the eclipse when I was 18; thousands of people gathered on Fistral Beach waiting for the sunrise; surfers, hippies, families.  I first encountered a hedonistic lifestyle that embraced the ocean as a way of living.

And when I was 21 and fresh out of University I moved into Matts Surf Lodge and came across a  book called Conservations with God.  It was my primary introduction to non dogmatic spirituality.  I was transfixed.

And these aspects rooted deep inside me as a tokens to the essence of living: Ocean. Community. Spirit.

After several years and months floating around the globe, I finally decided to commit to becoming a surf coach and it was back to Newquay for this endeavour.

And so I guess here lies the roots for Eco.Yoga.Surf.

I have never been one for the city.  Or even for the town.  I tried, again and again, but ended up exhausted, overstimulated and overwhelmed , which is part of the parcel of being a “highly sensitive person”.  I need a village, but with a solid, diverse tribe, an influx of creative ideas and energy and access to the wild, a variety of habitats that keep my cockles clear.

I have learnt this is what is referred to as an edge species.

Animals that live on the coastline, in the hedge, in the merging of two habitats, getting the best of both worlds.

And this is one of the principles in permaculture; to value the marginal.

I understand it more so now, because the edge is where the magic happens.  It’s where the ground is most fertile, where the woodland provides shelter from the winter storms, where the trickling stream meets the salty shore, where the seabirds soar and cetaceans dance beneath the waves.  There is food, there is play, there is safety, there is abundance, there is freedom.  

And as I understand the edge more I also lean into these changing seasons, the shifting tides, the inevitable choice to join the temperate migration, adapt or hibernate.

It is in these places, their boundaries melting into one another, that I feel most “at home”.  

Finally, I have found where I belong.

"Where is home?

… home is not a place

Nor a space found somewhere

Or an illusionary feeling of having a base.

Home is a state of mind.

Where souls meet the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dance of oneness …

Home is a state of being

Where time bends dissolving itself 

Into love embrace.

That is home."

by Christina Kayla Paes

I have chosen to move from one edge to another.  From the Cornish coastline, abundant in salt and minerals; sand and earth; gorse and heather… to the foot of the majestic Mount Blanc.  The first snow has already fallen and I am heading back to the French Alps clean and clear about my intentions.  The season does not begin until another few weeks so there is time for some exploring.  

I write this from the edge of the leuser ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia.  But that’s for another time…

2 STEPS BACK...

If you were an 80s child like me, it's most likely you remember the Paula Abdul classic "Opposites Attract".  An epic, electro pop beat indeed, but on a deeper level, the lyrics "2 steps forward, 2 steps back" are resonating with me right now.  And perhaps with society on a global level.

Its seems in this day and age we have more than we could possibly need in the world in terms of material wealth yet we are still bombarded by news of how fear, terror and violence reigns,  basic human rights are still to be met and disrespect for our planet, non human species and indigineous peoples is a daily occurrence.  

The macrocosm of our world is often described as a mirror for our internal world in yoga philosophy.  In another 80s cultural reference, I always think about Dennis Quaid in the movie "Inner Space", shrinking down into his little spaceship and journeying around the human body as if another galaxy.  From his shrunken perspective, he begins to truly understand that we are a complex, intricate and interconnected being, and when one part of us is out of balance, it can lead to trouble further down the line. 

There is always turmoil going inside our gut for instance, millions of bacteria within our microflora, some good, some bad, the overall ratio determining our overall health.  The digestive system - directly connecting to hormone release and detoxification process - is such an integral part of our functioning wellbeing.  And as we begin to learn decipher messages from our body, through awareness - rather than popping pills or numbing our emotions and sensations through toxins - we can begin to honour and respect the systems and processes that are governed by our bodies innate wisdom, including the ability to grow, heal and evolve.

As I have stepped back, first to Sri Lanka, then to Jersey, I have been able to observe and monitior my own behavouirs and reactions, in situations that were once comfortable, familiar and home - that then became unstable and insecure.  And as I try to remain non judgemental towards myself and others, the reoccurring theme is that we are all learning and all simply doing our best.  It is so easy to spiral into negativity if I think any other way.  And its uplifting to see the movements of peace, love and unity that are arising to oppose the threatening and downright scary aspects of our modern world.  It's more than uplifting.  It's hope.

And I guess that's what 2 steps back allows us to gather.  Hindsight, perspective and the feeling that we have been here before, yet now have the opportunity to move forward in a different way.

Together we can move forward, but not with strength and stability.  Because, lets face it.  Those are just words, and we've tried that before.  But with integrity, accountability and vulnerability; living by and upholding our morals and ethics and with a steadfast commitment to hope. After all, revolutions are built on hope.

Strength and stability, if built on disillusion, grandiose or ego, has absolutely no foundation to support potentiality and growth. I have learnt this through relationships, through yoga practice, through spending time in the sea, through natures' cycles, through simply being human.  Breakdown serves a tremendous purpose to lead us to the truth.

As I'm joined by students for my final nurture through nature workshop at KaliMukti studio tonight, our mission is to honour the flow of energy within us.  Where the flow was once stagnant or blocked, we are able to unleash and stir it up to find creativity and freedom in our movements and I am filled with gratitude I have been able to realise my vision to teach yoga and share my passions as a profession. 

As I'm set to join the Permaculture Associations SW Convergence this weekend to explore the connection between yoga and permaculture - and how the root of the people care pillar is self care; I am filled with inspiration for all the people working consciously and tirelessly towards the future of a healthy planet.

As I head back to the UK after 6 years of nomadic travel, living in Jersey and working abroad - searching and adventuring - on the eve of the general election - I am filled with hope that our collective voice can make a difference.  I have found strength and stability in my heart, a home in my values and a foundation in my self worth.  I am so very grateful to my past, my lessons and my continuing education and evolution.  

From Mountains to Waves

In the last week I have gone from the great mountains in the South of France to palm fringed beaches in the Indian Ocean.

A mighty transition but a lesson in adjustment and the opportunity to stay open, tune in and allow the feelings of anxiety that can accompany long distance travel and unknown journeys to freely flow. (Except these days travelling gives me a sense of peace rather than trepidation, rather like putting on a comfortable pair of old slippers)

My time in the Alps came to fruition with a deep love of snowboarding.  I’m not a fan of adrenalin, being a sensitive person, I struggle with that extra energy coursing through my veins and am not equipped to feeling comfortable being out of control.  But by giving myself time and space to learn gently and gradually meant I could progress at my own speed.  Soon enough I found my competitive nature coming forth and placidity being replaced by goal orientation.  It was me that insisted I went on my first black run in my final week, and 3 on my final day.  Blacks represented everything I found challenging on the slopes - steep gradients,  looming cliffs, moguls and experienced skiers; yet the challenge was fun and not overwhelming.  And as my fondness of the mountains seeps into my bones and my experience integrates, I find myself once again surrounded by coconuts and reef breaks.

This is my third time in Sri Lanka, and somehow it feels like a home from home.  It is home to an abundance of wildlife - turtles, monkeys, elephants - inhabiting exotic rainforest on this teardrop shaped jewel in the Indian Ocean.  I went from pure white to lush green in just 24 hours, sometimes air travel just blows my mind.

At one time in Sri Lanka rainforests consisted of over 26% of the land area, however today only 2% is left of forest cover. Hence it is no surprise that all rainforests in the island have been declared protected areas with Sinharaja designated as a World Heritage site. http://www.jetwingtravels.com/about-sri-lanka/popular-destinations/rainforests/

Nature is wondrous.  Our nature is flawed.  (Look at our devastation on rainforest ecosystems) But that is ok, we are just human beings, learning to "be" in a world that convinces us we have to do or be something (else, bigger, stronger, different, better) to matter.

As I adjust back into the healing power of salt water and take time to play in the peeling right handers on my rainbow log, I ponder how blessed I am to be free to experience different regions, habitats and cultures - and such a rich tapestry of life.

Life in Sri Lanka is simple.  Most of the local people are struggling to survive, create business and support themselves; but deeply rooted in them is a sense of acceptance and joy.  I don’t think I have ever heard them complain.  Even when describing the devastating loss they experienced during the 2004 tsunami.  Their family structure is wide and all encompassing, just one smile can make you feel like a long lost relative.

And it is here I reconnect with teaching surfing and yoga, work on environmental initiatives and plan my upcoming “Nurture Through Nature” workshop series.  

The ancient yogis took inspiration from all they saw in nature, to bring them enlightenment about their own purpose, pathway and prana.  Buddha discovered the root of all suffering when he sat underneath the Bodhi tree, grounded in his experience of illusions before waking up to the truth of his existence.

In modern day life, where distraction, technology and communication rules, we can feel disconnected from nature and the clarity it brings - I certainly do if I cannot see or feel mountains, sea or forest for very long.  

Whereas the truth is that we are always in nature and part of it.  Even situated in the innermost cityscape or stationed on the tallest skyscraper - nature is all around.

The duality that nature is all encompassing yet we still have our individual-ness, our own personal experience and perspective of the world, is something to be understood experientially and developed through awareness. 

What is also true is that nature flows, powered by and towards love, always with abundance. Where there is wind on the ocean swell is created.  Where there are clouds and freezing temperatures snow will fall.  Where there is sunlight, earth and water a seed will grow.  

There are no stories or projections that accompany these creations, shifting movements or the turning of the tides.  They just are.  Yoga lies at this source, it worships the great Brahman and acknowledges that we too are of nature and in it, yet still distinctive and separate - the Atman.  We are eternal, flowing, abundant and full of love.  Continually expanding in our consciousness of who we are.  

It’s not just air travel that blows my mind.

Come and explore these themes of nature’s gifts and how they reflect in our own nature in May/June in the Nurture through Nature Workshop Series @ KaliMukti Yoga Studio, Jersey, Channel Islands.

Photo by Mike C @ www.nomadsontheroad.com

SUP Surfing in Sri Lanka

Rachel and I are longboarders and yogis, and also up for any old salt water challenge it seems, as when asked to take part in a SUP surfing photoshoot for Soul and Surf - despite having never done it before - we jumped at the chance.

What could be so hard about paddling into waves on 12 foot boards?  Surely our core stability and balance would be able to keep us afloat.  Our location was to be the picturesque Weligama Bay, renowned for its gentle rolling waves and soft sand.  We laughed nervously as we tried to look graceful carrying our cumbersome boards and paddles at the same time.  Our delightful tuktuk driver tried his best to help, but was too bemused by our clumsiness to assist.

To the South of the Bay is Trapobane, the only private owned Island in Sri Lanka which features a luxury villa perched on it.  It is an emblem of the Colonialism that has pursued this teardrop shaped Indian Ocean gem throughout history - first the Portuguese, then Dutch and finally the British in 1815.  Overlooking the fishermen and their daily catch, it is a reminder of how expats and locals seamlessly merge together in current times. 

Tiny, ankle high waves prove difficult to catch but after a few goes we are getting the hang of it.   It certainly is a different sensation to traditional surfing, looking at the wave from above and timing the movement of the board much earlier… It’s difficult to judge and requires digging deep with the paddle to pick up speed quickly.  I can’t help but get excited when I’m in that section of the wave where it all comes together - it’s a couple of milliseconds but the flow, glide and feeling of flight is there non the less, and it’s addictive!

Feeling pumped from our success, we drive North so I can tackle an offshore reef known as Lazy Rights.  The paddle tires me out before I even get there, and the waves are hardly breaking due to the high tide.  Still, I manage to catch something and come away from the session slightly hooked.  I most definitely won’t be paddling out at busy surf spots on my SUP, but when there’s empty breaks or miniature waves that my longboard won’t pick up, I love the fact there’s another style of waveriding I can enjoy. 

Rach teaches yoga at Soul and Surf in the winters and heads to Watergate Bay, Cornwall to surf coach during the summers.  She runs her own yoga biz and writes about her travels here: www.saltwateryoga.co.uk 

I will be back to teach surfing and yoga at Soul and Surf this Spring and you can also join me and Jenn Moore for a SUP, surf and yoga retreat in Sri Lanka on 23rd April: www.jmoorehealth.com/retreats/sri-lanka/.  

Photographer Pat Straub spent 5 years on the picture desk at CNN, he now pursues his passions - surfing, travel and taking pictures as a roving, freelance photographer, see more of his work at: www.patrickstraubphotography.com

Pat, Rach and I all met through Soul and Surf who do feel-good surf, yoga & massage trips to special places, their new gorgeous bespoke villa set amidst lush jungle in Sri Lanka has just been unveiled: www.soulandsurf.com

Yoga in the Mountains

I'm currently in the French Alps learning to snowboard.  Yup, I'm 34 years old and doing my first season.  It's one of the most challenging, painful and rewarding things I've done so far.  Everything is new - chairlifts, bubbles, apres, altitude - and I'm having to really tap in to what works and doesn't work for me because a lot of the seasonaire lifestyle I can leave - the lack of sleep, the drinking and the wild nights out.

But the mountains are something else, when it snows it is simply magical - pure, mystical, silent - and being surrounded my this magestic, solid, stable force takes my breath away every time I step outside.  I feel so small, and then, when I make it up the mountain, I feel on top of the world.

I'm getting to grips with the different terrains, adjusting how to move my body, how to avoid catching edges and stacking it... but still I watch other people whizzing past me on boards and wonder if I'll ever get to that point.  Whizzing's not exactly my style, but I'd like to go a little more faster!

Yoga has been my saving grace, I'm aware I tend to breathe out more when I'm concentrating so I'm trying to allow myself to intake more o2, prana, energy as I'm coming down the slope.  My mind is focussed entirely on the job in hand, that practicing present moment awareness is inevitable - any internal wandering and I'm straight on the floor.  My emotional self is also having a work out, I need to be balanced and calm as I allow myself to move through this process of being a beginner - frustration, pity and giving up are simply not conducive.   Compassion and non judgement are the key - Ahimsa all the way down.  And the physical aspects have supported me greatly, I can tune into my toes when they need to be doing the work, I can connect with my front knee and I already have a conversation flowing from my head to my fingers.

My body has been carefully trained through yoga to respond to the crazy demands I am now putting on it.  Strap on a snowboard and throw myself down the mountain..?! Hell yeah! says my body.  Pre and post yoga workouts have been crucial on a daily basis to get me warmed up, stretched out and prevent serious injury.  I've out together a speeded up version of what I do before I head out...

Notice the emphasis on the wrist and knee joints, the extra triangle pose (I spend a lot of time standing the other way as I'm goofy), the opening of the hamstrings and some hand/leg balancing to activate root and core locks.  A simple 10 minute flow is all that's needed for getting into the right places in the body and ready for slope action.

The Science of Sleep

Sleep is the ultimate practice.  We need it.  Our bodies and minds cannot function without it.   The joy of our days is an insight into how soundly we slept the night before.  Take it away and we notice the decline in our overall health and wellbeing.

"Researchers have also shown that after people sleep, they tend to retain information and perform better on memory tasks. Our bodies all require long periods of sleep in order to restore and rejuvenate, to grow muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones." National Sleep Foundation

I found out the hard way that sleep is the most precious gift we can give ourselves, it is a necessity.  During a time when I was exorcising, eating healthily and avoiding alcohol and toxins, I found myself suffering with insomnia and my whole world crumbled.  Luckily I had some amazing friends that stepped in to assist me, because the offshoot of sleep deprivation is loosing a grip on reality.  Luckily I bounced back very quickly and have learnt a great deal in the process.  For me the biggest lesson was about building boundaries and making sure I always prioritise my sleep from now on.

Sleep is so important because it allows our bodies and minds to rest, shut down and also process what has happened during the day.  Take that time away and it is a fast slippery slope towards sleep debt - the effect of not getting enough sleep - and a large debt causes fatigue, both mental and physical; diminishing our abilities to perform high-level cognitive functions.  And unfortunately we cannot bank our sleep, calling on those extra Zzzz's from when we had a good night to top us up on a bad one.  It's not just our performance that can suffer, sleep depravation results in increasing irritability, worsening mood and feelings of depression, anger and anxiety.  Some argue it leads to heightened emotional reactivity. 

"The amygdala, an area deep in the brain, is our emotional control centre.  When sleep deprived participants were shown emotionally negative images, activity levels in the amygdala were as much as 60% higher than levels in those who were rested" www.theconverstion.com

The more sleep deprived you are, the more likely you are to suffer mentally; according to a discovery made by an international team of researchers under the guidance of the University of Bonn and King's College London.

Twenty-four hours of sleep deprivation can lead to conditions in healthy persons similar to the symptoms of schizophrenia." www.uni-bonn.de/Press-releases/sleep-deprivation-leads-to-symptoms-of-schizophrenia

There are many reasons our sleep can become an issue, and once it is, it has the ability to feed on itself and trigger a negative cycle.  The mental implications of disturbed sleep can lead to depression, anxiety and stress... And disturbed sleep can also be caused by these... I call this the mind trap, when you start thinking about a problem, going over and over it in your mind, until you are very much awake.  Mindfulness can serve us greatly in this situation - practicing to watch the thoughts rather than allowing them control and to instigate more thinking is the key, but a lot easier said than done when thoughts feel like immense pressure and the pressure of going to work the next day feels like impending doom.

And its not just emotional and mental turmoil that can impact sleep - physical issues can lead to impaired sleep.  I suffer with a malocclusion of my jaw - aka temporomandibular disorder - and due to a mal-alignment increases tightness and tension in the muscles around my jaw, neck and shoulders.  Yoga, movement and massage are key to loosening this area.

Ever wondered why it is we are awake during the day and sleep at night?   Well, most living things are affected by the daily cycles of daylight and darkness, and for humans, we use the information coming into our retinas for our brains to decipher the time and then programme our energy levels.  The control centre of our circadium rhythms being housed in the hypothalamus part of our brain.

"This signalling of light and dark helps us to be alert in the morning and be able to fall asleep at the appropriate time at night." www.sleepfoundation.org

*image borrowed from wikipedia*

And it's not just being awake versus being asleep, there are 5 identified stages of sleep, that we move through each evening.

During stage 1, which is light sleep, we drift in and out of sleep and can be awakened easily. Our eyes move very slowly and muscle activity slows. People awakened from stage 1 sleep often remember fragmented visual images. Many also experience sudden muscle contractions called hypnic myoclonia or hypnic jerks, often preceded by a sensation of starting to fall. These sudden movements are similar to the “jump” we make when startled. 

Stage Two Sleep

When we enter stage 2 sleep, our eye movements stop and our brain waves (fluctuations of electrical activity that can be measured by electrodes) become slower, with occasional bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles.

Stage Three, Four & REM Sleep

In stage 3, extremely slow brain waves called delta waves begin to appear, interspersed with smaller, faster waves. By stage 4, the brain produces delta waves almost exclusively. It is very difficult to wake someone during stages 3 and 4, which together are called deep sleep. There is no eye movement or muscle activity. People awakened during deep sleep do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes after they wake up.

So it seems there is a lot more to sleep than we think and a lot we neglect to consider when we shut down for the evening.  For me sleep is no longer just a way to power up my batteries for the next day but an active engagement I need to commit to mindfully each and every evening.

These days I love my sleep, and it's that mentality that has helped me get back on track.

Ways to aid restful sleep:

1) Shut down.  Electronics stimulate the brain, so avoid these close to bedtime, put phones into airplane mode and use an alternative waking up device.  

2) Wind down.  Yin yoga, baths, meditation, yoga nidra - all ways to switch the body from sympathetic mode (flight or flight) and into a relaxed state, ready to shift into unconcioussness.

3) Herbal helps.  Camomile, lavender, melissa.. try herbal tea, pillow mist, a scented bath, nature has its gifts that are proven to assist us on the road to sleepy ville.

4) Find your rhythm.  Acknowledge and honour your bodies natural cycles, get into a consistent routine and plan your daily sleep patterns just like you would exorcise, meals or social time.

5) Boundaries.  This was the toughest for me as its very easy to blame other people for causing your lack of sleep.  Keep the bedroom as a sanctuary and invest in dark curtains and earplugs if needed.

But don't just take my word for it - here's Arianna Huffiington, creator of The Huffington Post talking about why we should all get more sleep.

Tear. Repair. Tear. Repair.

"The Physiology Of Muscle Growth. After you workout, your body repairs or replaces damaged muscle fibers through a cellular process where it fuses muscle fibers together to form new muscle protein strands or myofibrils. These repaired myofibrils increase in thickness and number to create muscle hypertrophy (growth)."

This is how the human body gets stronger.  This is how we build muscle.  We need stress to grow.  Our bodies are a perfect example of how our intention can change the shape and substance of deeper tissues and fibres that create our physical outer shell.  And at this time of intense crisis, could this be how humanity makes it through the pain and confusion we are confronted with?  We are currently breaking down all barriers to seemingly to make new ones... On a global scale and also in our personal lives, the cracks are appearing everywhere.  Could it be that we will in fact grow, to be stronger, healthier and more fulfilled.

We are all different flavours of the human species.  Different flavours of colour, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexuality, nationality.  These are the things that divide us but do not define us.  A healthy ecosystem depends on diversity, if only we could see that by having so many flavours and differences it actually gives us strength as a species.

We are a bag of bones surrounded by a sack of skin. We have journied to the outer edges of our solar system and to the most intimate parts of the human body.  We know how we are made, where we came from and speculate about where we are going but we think this "intelligence" absolves us from the responsibility of treating our home and our mother with profound respect. I'm talking about Earth.  Everything we could ever possibly need comes from her, yet we put more value on numbers, figures, bits of paper, ideas, words and concepts.

It's the world we live in.  And it all seems a little bit nuts to me.

But we are still just human. We are learning. We are infants compared to other species. We are making mistakes and sometimes we are fixing them. We are here for such a short time. We are really just visitors. I like to see us as the most quickly evolving species on the planet. But that does not make us the most clever nor the most compassionate.

We share this planet with each other, and with many other species yet we have forgotten how to share and how to be resourceful. In our thirst for knowledge we have denied a part of ourselves that links us to our ancestors, and in doing so we have become deeply affected by trauma, reliving and replaying traumatic events so our body actually feels like it is experiencing the event again.  It is pain, sadness, anger but most of all fear that resurfaces and holds us back from being our best selves. We feel it and then we want others to feel it too, thinking this will take away the pain.  So we inflict and we project. We are all guilty of it. But perhaps guilt is the most damaging of all the emotional viruses we spread around.  So it becomes a vicious cycle.

Through Somatic Experiencing I have been able to connect with a deeper part of my being, a part I try to ignore, disown, judge and override with my rational mind. 

"Somatic experiencing (SE) is a form of therapy aimed at relieving and resolving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems by focusing on the client's perceived body sensations (or somatic experiences). It was introduced in Peter A. Levine's 1997 book Waking the Tiger.[1] In it, he discusses at length his observations of animals in the wild, and how they deal with and recover from life-threatening situations. He concludes that their behaviour gives us "an insight into the biological healing process" (p. 98), and that "the key to healing traumatic symptoms in humans lies in our being able to mirror the fluid adaption of wild animals" (p. 17–18) as they avoid traumatization in reacting to life-threatening situations.

SE is based on the understanding that symptoms of trauma are the result of a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system(ANS) whose inherent capacity to self-regulate is undermined by trauma.[2] SE bases its approach on mammals' ability to automatically regulate survival responses from the primitive, non-verbal brain, mediated by the autonomic nervous system. In the wild, animals spontaneously "discharge" this excess energy once safe. Involuntary movements such as shaking, trembling and deep spontaneous breaths reset the ANS and restore equilibrium.[3]SE restores this capacity to self-regulate by facilitating the release of energy and natural survival reactions stored during a traumatic event.  According to founder Peter Levine, "Trauma lives in the body, not the event."

And so as we live out traumatic experiences on a grand scheme as well as in our personal lives we are presented with incredible opportunities to heal on a deeper level.  Through awareness we are able to see and feel the rifts that separation, conflict and trauma creates.  But without that separation we would not achieve the awareness. It's how we learn, how we grow, how we are able to work on our relationships and how we can take space to process things.

Like a beam of light piecing through a crack in a wall, we would not be able to register the light if it wasn't for the broken boundary. 

We have not evolved so that every day we can run from our fears. We must find a way to repair and to heal the separation and not get caught up in the devastation it leaves in its wake.  We have to focus on letting in the light rather than trying to fix the crack.

We have the potential to walk slowly, consciously and gracefully through our fear and towards love.  It's not a challenge or a requirement.  It's a choice.  Making that choice every day becomes a way of life. A path to higher living.  We can do it together or we can do it alone, but we must remember that we made it here and the hard work has already been done.

We know we want Transition, Change, Transformation, Trancendance - it is clear because that is the what we have chosen before this point. . Now we have to choose again.  Let's choose love. And light.