Yoga has taught me many things over the years, but one of the biggest is this: Practice isn’t only about effort. Practice is also about rhythm. Knowing when to build momentum and knowing when to pause.
Knowing when to step onto the mat and knowing when to step back so you can return with steadiness, energy and presence.
As many of you know, I’ve been reflecting on how Sādhana operates through the seasons — not just physically, but energetically too. That reflection has led to some changes.
Some class times are permanently changing, I’ll be taking a short mid-year pause to recharge, and
next term I’ll be introducing something completely new: Sunday Yoga Church. But before we talk about that…
What Is Sādhana?
Sādhana is a Sanskrit word often translated simply as practice. But in yoga it means more than doing.
Sādhana is intentional practice. It is the discipline of showing up.
The willingness to commit to something repeatedly and allow that repetition to slowly shape us. Sometimes sādhana is daily movement. Sometimes meditation. Sometimes chanting. Sometimes simply honouring rest.
It is less about intensity and more about consistency. And that idea sits underneath everything happening at Sthira over the coming months.
Schedule Changes & New Class Times
Why We’re Changing the Schedule
Over recent months I’ve been experimenting with class times and observing how people actually move through their week. For a long time I was determined to make 6:30pm classes work. But the reality has surprised me.
After introducing the Wednesday Beginners class at 5:30pm and moving Monday Flow & Let Go earlier, attendance and energy have been really positive. Earlier classes seem to suit life as it actually exists finishing work, family commitments, winter evenings and creating more spacious evenings afterwards.
So rather than holding tightly to old habits, I’ve decided to listen. These changes are becoming permanent.
The New Schedule at a Glance
You’ll notice some harmonisation across the timetable:
- Monday Flow & Let Go now permanently 5:30pm
- Wednesday Beginners continuing at 5:30pm
- Sunday Slow returning to 5:30pm
- Sunday Church 7:30am
- A cleaner and more consistent rhythm across the week
Once the updated schedule goes live you’ll see all changes reflected in bookings.
What’s Staying the Same
- The heart of the studio.
- Warm classes.
- Thoughtful teaching.
- Small groups.
- A space where yoga means more than shapes.
- And classes that remain accessible whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or
returning after years.
A Short Mid-Year Pause
Why I’m Taking One Week Off
This year has been big. Teaching, creating, planning, running the studio and holding space all require energy. So instead of pushing through the winter school holidays, I’m choosing something that feels more
aligned. I’ll be taking one full week away to recharge and decompress.
Studio Closure Dates
All classes will be cancelled from Monday 6 July to Monday 13 July inclusive.
- This is intentional.
- A week to rest.
- A week to restore.
- A week to return with energy for the second half of winter.
- Then we restart.
- Returning to Practice.
Classes resume as normal from:
- Tuesday 14 July
- No skeleton schedule.
- No slow re-entry.
- Straight back into our usual rhythm together.
And if yoga teaches us anything, perhaps it’s this:
- Rest is not separate from practice.
- Sometimes rest is the practice.
Sunday Yoga Church — What It Is & Why It Exists
Defining ‘Yoga Church’ — What It Is
Firstly this isn’t church. And it isn’t one style of yoga. Yoga Church is my playful way of describing a regular gathering devoted to practice.
- A shared sādhana.
- A container to show up consistently and explore yoga more broadly than a single class format.
- Sometimes yoga is movement.
- Sometimes breath.
- Sometimes stillness.
- Sometimes chanting.
- Sometimes observation.
- Sometimes conversation.
- Sometimes being outdoors.
- Sometimes doing less.
Yoga Church gives us permission to experience yoga as a living practice rather than a category.
The intention is not simply to “do yoga.” The intention is to cultivate a state of yoga.
Why Sunday?
Sunday feels different. It carries a different pace. It sits between one week and the next.
So rather than creating a long overwhelming commitment, I’ve designed Yoga Church as two shorter periods of practice.
- Two chances to commit.
- Two opportunities to build momentum.
- Two contained sādhana journeys.
How Yoga Church Works
Yoga Church will run in:
| Block One | One Week Pause | Block Two |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 19 July | One Week Pause | Sunday 16 August |
| Sunday 26 July | One Week Pause | Sunday 23 August |
| Sunday 2 August | One Week Pause | Sunday 30 August |
I’ll be away in Melbourne during the break week, so the pause becomes part of the rhythm itself.
The idea is simple:
- Commit for three weeks.
- Pause.
- Return.
- Enough structure to feel meaningful.
- Enough spaciousness not to feel overwhelming.
What Happens in a Sunday Session?
Expect longer sessions that weave together different dimensions of practice.
Potential elements include:
- Mantra & chanting
- Prāṇāyāma
- Mudrā
- Kriyā
- Āsana
- Meditation
- Reflection
- Philosophy
- Gentle ritual and seasonal practices
- Time to integrate
No two sessions will necessarily look the same. The point isn’t to perfect one style. It’s to practise.
Who Is Sunday Yoga Church For?
This is for people who feel curious about what sits underneath yoga.
- For people who want accountability.
- For people who miss ritual.
- For people wanting more than movement.
- For beginners.
- For experienced practitioners.
- For anyone wanting to experiment with showing up consistently.
In yoga we speak about tapas. Not punishment. Not intensity for intensity’s sake. But the warming force of practice. The effort of returning. The willingness to do what we said we would do.
Because eventually yoga becomes less about attending classes…and more about cultivating something that follows us into daily life. One final reminder make sure you’re signed up to SMS alerts so you receive timetable updates, reminders and booking notifications as the new schedule rolls out.
Stable • Steady • Strong.
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