In today’s fast-paced and hectic world, finding inner peace and reducing stress has become essential for maintaining overall well-being. And one of the best ways of managing stress is through yoga, a practice that has been around for centuries! In this episode, we talk to John Ogilvie, owner of Byron Yoga Center, who discusses yoga’s transformative power and potential to bring about stress-free living.

Meet John Ogilvie

John Ogilvie is one of Australia’s most respected and experienced teachers and founder of Byron Yoga Centre. His journey started as an electrical contractor where he was struggling with stress.  He tried various things to help de-stress including competitive sport and eventually resorting to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.  Through his recovery from addiction, he discovered yoga.

For over 45 years, John made yoga a regular practice. He eventually relocated to Byron Bay and opened the Byron Yoga Center. Initially, it was just a small room to run classes in, but with the support of like-minded individuals, it slowly grew into what it is today – a beautiful retreat centre spread across 30 acres.  Trust us when we say that it really is in a magical location.

Men can do yoga yoo!

That’s right, whilst yoga is most popular among women, it is just as beneficial for men too.  In fact, way back when yoga wasn’t popular in the mainstream and it was mainly practiced in India, it was the Indian men who mostly did yoga, not the women.

Unfortunately, there still seems to be a stigma around men doing yoga, and more often than not, men are embarrassed to give it a go. They will often say they are too tight or inflexible to do it.  In fact, John has often had many men say to him that they feel too inflexible to do yoga.  John would always respond with … ‘it’s like saying you’re too dirty to have a shower’. Yoga is great for people who sit around all day at a desk and feel general stiffness in their body. This is why yoga can benefit everybody, regardless of age, size, and body shape.

Introducing Purna Yoga

Despite popular belief, yoga is much more than just postures and stretching. It also dives deeply into the internal aspects of health. John practices Purna yoga, a more integrated and complete type of yoga. Four aspects of this approach make it more holistic to wellness: postures, breathing, meditation, and philosophy.

The power of breath work (Pranayama)

Everyone suffers from different levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Some may be more severe than others, but by doing breathing exercises, they can decrease the stress and be more functional. There are two types of breathing exercises:

  1. Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) – focused on cleansing the energy channels in your life. The left and right nostrils can sometimes be more open or blocked depending on our current state of being. Alternate nostril breathing aims to bring balance by ensuring the breath flows equally through both nostrils, fostering harmony between these polarities within ourselves. This practice promotes overall balance and well-being, regardless of gender or personality type, by harmonising these complementary aspects of our being.
  2. Viloma breathing – is a form of belly breathing that aims to reduce stress and lower cortisol levels. This form of breathing helps to massage abdominal organs, including the digestive and reproductive systems.

Start yoga at home!

You can start doing yoga at home with just 5 to 6 minutes a day. John has developed the “Morning Meditation Sequence,” a series of movements that effectively move muscles in every joint in every direction.

Also, add simple breathing exercises for just a few minutes. Integrating this with a few minutes of quiet reflection can further enhance the practice, leading gradually toward a meditation routine.

Tracey tries really hard every day to put away my phone, enjoy quiet time, and be present in the moment, whether it’s with my kids or just being alone outside in nature. Even when I walk my dog, I try not to listen to anything and just enjoy the moment and take note of the sights, smells and sounds.

To try out John’s morning meditation sequence, head HERE.

The S.L.O.W Diet!

Food and nutrition play a significant role in everyone’s life. This is why apart from yoga, John also incorporates eating healthy as part of his lifestyle. He created this concept called the SLOW food philosophy, which stands for seasonal, local, organic, and whole foods (S.L.O.W.).

With about three acres of organic gardens at Byron Yoga Centre, they grow their own produce. For things that they can’t grow, they source them from nearby producers to minimise travel and ensure freshness. The goal is to eliminate or minimise processed foods and promoting chemical-free and nutritious meals.

20% off a 7-day stay at the Byron Yoga Centre

John has very generously given us a 20% off discount code so you can enjoy your own 7-day stay at the Byron Yoga Centre.

👉🏻 Head to their website to the 7-day yoga retreat section HERE.
👉🏻 Pick a date that suits you
👉🏻 Proceed to enter all relevant information
👉🏻 Enter the discount code ADDITIVEFREE20 in the participant info section

Enjoy!

Burst into Bloom

John’s wife, Tabata Villares Ogilvie has just written a book called Burst into Bloom.  It gives an overview of Yoga, and Ayurveda, and the interconnection between these disciplines and a woman’s cycles. Tabata shares her life experience, transformations to realise her full potential and her true path in serving women in the journey to go beyond what we reflect in the mirror to find our PURPOSE in life and our inner fulfilment of happiness and bliss.

Includes incredibly empowering topics such as a women’s cycle, hormones, fertility, pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, and menopause.

You can purchase a copy HERE.

Conclusion

Yoga is more than just exercising. It’s a holistic approach to a healthier lifestyle. By incorporating yoga into our daily routines, we can experience its profound benefits. It’s never too late to start your own yoga journey. Begin with just a few minutes a day (give John’s morning meditation sequence a go) and witness the transformative power of yoga unfold in your life.

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Much love,
Jo & Tracey x