It’s cold down here in Melbourne. I just want to rug up, drink tea (and, full confession, coffee) and do quiet, nourishing yoga. Also, maybe a bit of crafty stuff. Nurturing, basically. The amazing Stella from Shiny Yoga in Sydney has tuned in to this need so many of us feel in the Winter, and created a 21 day e-course – 21 Days of Nourishing!
She teamed up with a friend and fellow yogini to bring us this course (I signed up the minute I heard about it – it’s at a ridiculously low introductory price of $21) and I feel rather lucky that she agreed to give me some time, do an interview, AND offer a place on this course as a freebie to one lucky reader of this blog – all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what nurtures you, & I will choose the winner at random. You have until next Friday, May 11, to comment, and I will pick the winner on May 12.
Read on for the interview!
1. I love the idea of nurturing, especially in the Winter. I always find I feel more inclined to turn inward, nurture myself, and drink tea when it’s cold and dark outside. Was that part of your inspiration for running this course in June?
Yes, that was absolutely the main reason for launching the course in June! Who doesn’t want to rug up, stay indoors and pull the quilt up over their heads when it’s cold and frosty outside? But as more and more people are Vitamin D deficient due to lack of gorgeous sun, and (total non-scientific speak) Vitamin L for love (self or other!) deficient, it’s the perfect time to nurture and restore so our re-entry into Spring is full of sparkle.
2. How did the idea for this course come about, and how long was it in the making?
I’ve been dreaming of creating an e-course to do with yoga for a good couple of years now, but there was always a little doubt holding me back from speaking my dreams aloud to the world. What if no-one joined in? What if people laughed at me? It’s these kind of worries that kept my dreams at bay, and I know I’m not the only one out there who feels this way, hence 21 days to grow, nurture and Live Out Loud was the perfect theme for the course!
There’s no better story to share with the world than one that is personal and true to you, so here we are 
Ready to launch!
Ready to launch!Jacqui, the gorgeous graphic-designer yogi who’s running 21 Days of Nourishing with me, is totally on the same wave-length as me and we were chatting over a soy latte, as you do, about our dreams… and decided to join forces and make this happen now! Once we had the fire ignited in both of us, it was only a matter of weeks before we put our plans down on paper and launched the course!
3. What kinds of things can people expect to do during the 21 days?
We are really excited to offer all sorts of different things during the 21 days – from yoga sequences to help nurture the body and mind, meditations from experts to put on whilst you’re catching 5 minutes in a busy day, right through to creative hOMework exercises that will get your hands dirty. Some days will have simple tasks such as slowing down mindfully, other days will see participants go through their cupboards at home and simplify their worlds.
We really wanted to take on a holistic approach to nourishing during this cold time of year, so each day’s “inbox package” will encompass prompts regarding either body, mind or soul. All areas are covered!
We also have confirmed some special guest teachers to share their wisdom with us, so there’s plenty of inspiration to go round.
4. What’s the time commitment?
Part of the inspiration for Jacqui and I creating a simple, inbox-delivered ecourse was the fact that we are busy! We both lead jam-packed lives filled with excitement and fun, and don’t always have an hour each day (or the cash for that matter) to nourish ourself with a massage or homecooked meal or reading the next great novel. We wanted to show everyone – from busy mums, to single working gals, to office managers to bankers and everyone in between – that nourishment can happen in just a few mindful moments every day.
With that being said, the time commitment is totally self-paced and self-imposed. We’d love for people to get into a daily meditation habit over the course of the 21 days, which can be as simple as 5 minutes daily or as much as 30! Some hOMework assignments will encourage you to read (for as long as you’re inspired), to play (till you get bored), to create (till you get your full of dirty hands and bare feet!), to go to a yoga class (an hour), or to bust out a couple of poses in your own loungeroom (5 minutes).
As with life, a couple of minutes daily is better than none at all, so if simply reading the “inbox package” each day allows you to reconnect and remember that YOU desire and deserve nourishing, well, that’s definitely a successful investment!
Isn’t she great? I’m looking forward to joining Stella and Jacqui for a most nurturing June – why don’t you join us too? The Facebook Page is inspiring & free, the course is so affordable, and you could win just by leaving a comment. Yes, ‘pick me, pick me’ is a perfectly valid comment…
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Yeeehaa!!! Thanks so much!!!
Thank you guys for your lovely comments – I felt nourished just reading them! I used a random number generator to pick the winner, and it was yublocka! Congrats, lovely xx
Lovely warm baths with candles, yoga just for me, walking, rolling around in crunchy autumn leaves, talking with friends and connecting with others are all things that nourish me…..sometimes it’s easy to forget these simple little gifts that we can treat ourself to daily, so a little help from a daily email and a 21day promise to yourself to be kind or kinder to you….can be just the thing. Yay for Shiny yoga people. Please sign me up! Smiles. Lin.
What a wonderful idea! For me, nurturing is about simplicity and kindness; stripping away the unnecessary and redundant to make space for what I really need, what aligns me to peace and joy. When we nourish ourselves, treat ourselves with love, respect and kindness, these feelings flow from us to all we meet. Yes, this is the perfect time of the year for change – something we see around us in autumn; time for shedding, letting go of that which no longer serves us. I would love to be part of this, to be inspired, nourished and held.
Gaye Boswell
Spending time with my husband, reading a good novel, walking in the woods, and getting on the mat, all nurtures me.
Thanks for the comments, you guys! And Marie? Thank you SO much for the nomination!
Such a gorgeous idea and perfect timing with winter on the way
I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the sunshine blogging award. Thanks for your excellent work, the world has certainly been made better by your wonderful contributions.
See my blog (http://mariewetmore.com/2012/05/04/the-sunshine-award/) about the sunshine award for the award image and other details.
- Marie Wetmore
What nurtures me? Yoga, a home-cooked meal, and spending time with my husband, family, and kitty.
Definitely a great idea! Thanks for sharing!!
I love nurturing my family, pets and loved ones, but when it cones to nurturing myself, it goes on the to-do list….at the bottom!
I’d love to be chosen for the 21 days of nurturing as I’d then feel committed to take the ‘me-time’ and put in the work.
I know I deserve it!