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Calm amongst the chaos | Vinyasa Dance Ashram

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I arrive at Vinyasa Earth tired, hot, and in all honesty… a little grumpy. Our taxi driver is pestering us for an unreasonable tip. I’ve been haggled at markets all morning. And to be quite frank, I’m tired of being asked if I have a boyfriend by every male I interact with on the streets. A likely story for any white girl travelling India.  Accompanied by iced lemon refreshments, we are warmly welcomed to the Vinyasa Earth community. First, we are acquainted with the property. Before being taken on a tour of the on-site plantations. Here, I learn there is opportunity to brew homemade tea from the blossoming blue butterfly pea flower, or try my hand at Henna using freshly ground leaves. Walking barefoot is encouraged. I am told the rooftop is the prime sunrise viewing spot. If you are up for it, there is even the option to sleep under the stars. It has only been 10 minutes, and I am already happy to be here.  My first afternoon at Vinyasa Earth felt like food for my soul. It is spent h
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I was admitted to an Indian hospital for 4 days, here's what it taught me...

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If you know me, then you know about my obsession with Eat Pray Love. I first read it when I was 17 years old. Even then, something about it resonated within me on a cellular level. I always knew I wanted to visit an Indian ashram and find my own Balinese medicine man someday. I just wasn't sure when. That was, until I came to the uncomfortable realisation that I didn't particularly enjoy the profession I had spent five years hustling for at uni. Some might call it escapism, I called it soul searching. I had decided that this was my year. I was going for it. With three tickets booked, I had it all mapped out. I was to embark on my very own spiritual seeking journey through India, Nepal and Bali for a duration of 4.5 months. We're talking Buddhist monasteries, galavanting around the Ganges, hiking Annapurna base camp, yoga teacher training. Heck, even a little impromptu Bali romance getaway with a guy I fell for just before I left.  There is this saying that says: If you wan
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To drink, or not to drink. Here's what two months of sobriety taught me...

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I t's no secret, we Aussies love to drink. But it wasn't until I committed to eight weeks of sobriety that I learnt just how deeply alcohol is embedded within our culture.  So why challenge myself to a dry spell? Well, I've been toying with the idea for some time now. Years, actually. My rubber arm derailing my alcohol-abstinent intentions with every wine I am offered at a dinner with friends.  At this point, I don't even feel like I get a say in the matter. My hypersensitive body deciding for me that it will no longer tolerate my binge-drinking habits. These days, an innocent beverage (or four) is enough to send my body into complete overdrive. Enduring relentless nausea and vomiting for up to 12 hours on any given hangover. I'm not telling you this to overshare. I'm doing so to connect with the reader who I know struggles with a similar issue. The reader who, too, has come to the sobering realisation that alcohol clearly isn't doing any favours for their
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7 things you should know before working in private practice as a dietitian

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Thinking of taking the plunge into working in the private practice setting? Here's everything I wish I knew before I started... 1. It can feel really isolating.   Imagine sitting in a shoebox clinic room. Alone. Zero clients booked in for entire days on end. My only company, the bleak four walls staring back at me. Accompanied by the torturous sound of the clock ticking in an otherwise silent room. Lordy! That's enough to drive anyone a bit koo-koo.  No shocker, this wasn't exactly the most motivating environment to work in. It's a nice thought to presume that I'd have spent my ample amount of spare time cramming in as many learning opportunities as I could. I'm not proud to admit that a decent smack of my time working in private practice was spent doing sweet f*ck all.  At the time, I remember having waves of guilt wash over me. Who did I think I was to be googling flights to India or appointing myself a cheeky early minute while I was still on the clock? Espec
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A break up letter to my party-girl era...

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Picture this: I'm sitting on a shuttle bus in the middle of a paddock. As I stare absentmindedly out the window - I watch two girls stumble arm-in-arm towards the coach. Sporting bedazzled bralettes, sheer skirts and a healthy dose of body glitter; they arrive on board moments before the driver sounds the *beep* of the closing door. At last... the only thing lying between me and my comfy bed is the 30-minute drive home along a meandering country highway. My soundtrack? A drunk guy talking jibberish to his mate. As the bus pulls away, I catch one last glimpse of the sun setting over the makeshift stage. Adios,  day-drinking festival,  see you never.  I kick my sneakers off under the seat in front of me, now sitting barefoot and cross legged on the well-worn bus seat (yes, I'm that person). My feet are tired, my social battery is running on -20%, and my stomach still feels queasy from the deep-friend potato stick I ate four hours ago. Oh... did I mention it's only 8:30pm on a
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23 (unofficial) rules of camping

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1.  Pack the car and do the woolies food shopping the night before. It makes for a stress-free (& timely) departure. 2. Don't forget a hammer. Or dishwashing liquid. 3. Bring more gas than you think you need. 4. You don't need to bring 10 pairs of underwear for a 2 night trip. 5. It's also slightly overkill to bring 5 rolls of toilet paper. 6. Set up camp close enough to the toilet block that it's not too much of a hike to get there, but not so close that you can smell it from your tent. 7. Pack a book. You probably won't read it, but it's nice to have the option anyways. 8. Have at least 3 good playlists saved offline. 9. It's acceptable to crack a cold one at 11:00am. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 10. Google the card game 'golf' before you lose reception. You can thank me later. 11. Pack for comfort. The daggier (and more mismatched) the better. 12. Don't bring a mirror. You will feel better being blissfully unaware of how dishev
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22 things I learnt in 2022

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1. If you want to change your life, let go of the things that are no longer serving you. You might grieve your old life at first, but it is the only way to create the space for new people and opportunities to present themselves.  2. Dissatisfaction is a blessing in (uncomfortable) disguise. It is the only thing that will actually force you to want more for yourself.  3. Life is too short to read a sh*t book.  4. It's also too short to hang around with people that you know you don't really want to.  5. Spend the $4.99 on the in-app purchase every once in a while. You wouldn't think twice if you were buying a coffee. 6. You can plan and worry all you like. But the things that are truly meant for you will fall into your life with ease when the time is right (I know I know, annoying advice, but very true).  7. Everyone is dealing with their own insecurities. Usually they are so nonsensical that when finally voiced, you realise how absolutely absurd they are (try it out for your
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