Beloved reader

DEEP GRATITUDE As the year draws to an end, Let us give thanks… for everything. There are no ordinary moments. This we know, deep down… all are simply doorways of unexpected grace, portals into a sacred world of life, love and healing, … not the mending of something broken nor the making good of something bad nor even the transmutation of darkness into light It is much deeper than that. We have fought many battles our wounds are our greatest spiritual teachers healing us from all inherited notions of sickness and health, ignorance and awakening, sin and salvation Grateful for the darkness and light, pleasure and pain, loss and gain failure and success, praise and blame and for the unspeakable awareness in which it all came and went. If we were to run from our sadness, turn our backs on anger, deny fear its inherent right to be here, how would we know that these were not the precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh forged into the fires of ourselves, long ago? Stop. Breathe and remember. Nothing has gone wrong. A dream is dying, that is all. Impermanence is natural and neutral. Loss is a rite of passage. Everything passes. The crises is a turning point. The circle of life takes no sides, Everything is sacred. You are nothing less than divine. THANK YOU To our admin and academic teams and our volunteers, Dalal, Hela, Angus, Peter, Sharon, Manish, Hilary, Sue, Sonja, Cheryl, Lynanne, Louise H, Linda, Rebecca, Catherine, Pleunie, Tanya, Louise B, Helena, Glee, Darren, Gene, Christine thank you for being the shining lights that make HIA Shanti Yoga so extraordinary. Your strength and kindness ripple through our community, and our culture creating a web of support that extends far and wide. To our students, members and friends, all the best to you this holiday season and beyond. Thankful for the year that’s been, and to you for being part of our journey. We hope that we have been able to help you along the way. Please have a wonderful relaxing holiday, and we look forward to being with you again in 2024. HEALTH, PEACE AND WISDOM Shanti Yoga offers you the three gifts of Health, Peace and Wisdom. MINDFUL MONDAYS TRANQUIL TUESDAYS THURSDAYS Shantiji will be back teaching at Southport from Monday 15th January 2024 TIMETABLE

MINDFUL MONDAYS: RELAX AND RESTORE MINDFULNESS, PRANAYAMA AND SLOW YOGA 9:15am - 12:15 pm Activates the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting you from fight or flight to a calm, centred and relaxed state of being. It moves you from an alert, Beta brainwave state to between Alpha and Theta states, reducing anxiety and boosting creativity. The sense of wellbeing is palpable: improves heart rate variability, enhancing your ability to adapt to stress and regulate emotions. TRANQUIL TUESDAYS 10:30am - 1:15pm Practice non-action. Work without doing. Taste the tasteless. Magnify the small, increase the few. Reward bitterness with care. See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in small things. Lao Tzu PAUSE AND REKINDLE YOURSELF Experience a revitalising journey of slow-flow Shanti Yoga, restorative relaxation, soul-enriching chanting, and blissful, meditative movement, expertly guided by Shanti Yoga faculty of instructors. TIMETABLE EVENTS AND RETREATS 2024 Everything at retreat is relaxed, from the regulars who attend, who make you feel like family, to the gentle teaching styles of the activities, and the mouth watering, freshly prepared, healthy, Ayurvedic vegetarian made-with-love, and shared with other like-minded retreatants. Retreat life is slow and easy. Simply enjoy some quiet time to reflect, reconnect with peace, and regain your focus. Once you arrive, the hectic outside world quickly disappears amid the stillness and beauty of nature. You melt into the deeply relaxing world of calm breathing, gentle stretching, nature walks, deep relaxation, dharma talks and Ayurvedic lectures, all whilst releasing stress and anxiety. We are excited to announce our dates for events and Nirvana retreats in 2024. As you can see, they showcase the outstanding aspects of Vedic culture that have left an everlasting mark on the mind-body health landscape over the past millennium, demonstrating a celebration of life, and an exceptional program for the year. Come as you are able. You are always welcome. SHANTI YOGA EVENT CALENDAR COMMUNITY, sangha We are so fortunate, so blessed, to be surrounded by an amazing community. The people in the Shanti Yoga community just continue to astound me. Yes, even after all these years. We are a small, dedicated group of teachers, artists and healers, in various locations that daily witness how the services we offer have transformed people’s lives, having given them back their health, extended their longevity, and helped them be more active and engaged with their families and friends. Research now shows that fulfilling, vibrant social interactions can improve the quality of our lives…while loneliness and disconnection increases our risk of developing poor mental and physical health. The quality of your relationships directly impacts on the quality of your health. If you’d love to improve your interpersonal relationships as a means of experiencing better energy, vitality, and immunity, as well as a better regulated nervous system, while also reducing anxiety, illness, fatigue, and overall malaise, come and join our amazing community outings and myriad of activities. Whether you become a regular or come along just when you can make it, we'd love to see you. ORGANIC GARDEN SANGHA Join us for ways to cultivate and maintain a happy mind in trying times. We engage in powerful mental skills and practices to sustain mental peace in difficult times and throughout the rest of our lives. Physically connecting with the earth, the soil, has proven health benefits).Touch the Earth community days can be found on our Events page. TOUCH THE EARTH EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION Check out our self-paced evergreen short courses on Yoga University online. Keep checking for updates as we keep adding to our list of courses. YOGA UNIVERSITY ONLINE ALUMNI PAGE ON HIA WEBSITE To nurture a new generation of teachers and healers. Our service to the world has spread far and wide, creating positive ripples that touch countless souls. At HIA you step into a world where wisdom, purpose and community fuels every breath, every moment, every heartbeat. If you are a graduate of Shanti Yoga, The Meditation Institute, or Health Institute Australia/Australasia , or Yoga University online, please help us stay up to date with more information about where you are at and what you are doing with your rare and wonderful life and the immense contribution you are making to the world. Web page in construction TEACHERS AND THERAPISTS, HOST YOUR RETREAT WITH US Make plans to host your own retreat in 2024. What better place to do that than nestled in the Scenic Rim of the Gold Coast overlooking the sub-tropical Pacific Ocean coastline? Nirvana offers a truly exceptional experience with artistically enhanced accommodation, delectable Ayurvedic vegetarian meals and well-equipped workshops with resting space to facilitate your curriculum. Take the first step and inquire about your dedicated retreat today. FEATURED PROGRAMS COMING UP 27 Dec 2023 - 3 January 2024 LET THERE BE LOVE 8 days, 7 nights residential retreat BOOK NOW 31 December 2023 NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER BY CANDLELIGHT BOOK NOW 1 January 2024 THE BREATHING SPACE One day silent meditation retreat. Vegetarian meals included. BOOK NOW 3-10 January 2024 LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH AND LAST A LIFETIME 8 days, 7 nights residential retreat BOOK NOW Sat 8 January 2024 TOUCH THE EARTH Community activity BOOK NOW Monday 15 January Southport Centre re-opens HOLIDAY TIMETABLE OF CLASSES Monday 22 January COURSES AND CLASSES AT SOUTHPORT CAMPUS Regular timetable of classes recommence at Southport May you have the protection, strength and peace to face whatever the day will bring your way. May you shine spiritually allowing others will be drawn to the light of goodness within you.