I’ve spent this long weekend diving into some online professional development, reflecting on why I’m so passionate about learning and sharing the practice of yoga. I admit, I sometimes get a bit frustrated when class numbers rise and fall, but I know in my heart it’s never been about the money. This is simply my reflection on where I’m at, and a little introduction for anyone who’s just getting to know me.

Yoga has been my anchor through life’s storms, and sharing it with others is one of my greatest joys. I didn’t start yoga for fitness or flexibility—I came to it from a place of deep need. After losing my father to suicide, stepping into the whirlwind of new parenthood, and navigating a manipulative divorce, I was searching for self-care and a way to calm my nervous system. A diagnosis of Coeliac disease also reminded me how closely the mind and gut are connected. Yoga became less about toned abs and more about finding strength, balance, and spaciousness in the mind.

When I first unrolled my mat, I never imagined I’d become a Yoga teacher. I was uncoordinated, uninterested in sport, and had terrible memories of high school physical education. If only yoga had been on the curriculum! My journey into teaching Dru Yoga began simply as a path of personal growth, but I soon discovered how powerfully these practices could transform lives. With my background in community services and mental health, I saw that yoga could reach people who might never step into a typical class.

Eight years later, my teaching journey has been full of evolution, challenges, and joy. I’ve taught in community centres, pivoted to Zoom during the pandemic, and finally found a home at The Yoga Collab studio. I’ve shared classes through the Women’s Health Centre and the Cancer Council of WA, always with the hope of helping others find calm, resilience, and connection.

Running my small yoga business isn’t about making a fortune—the income mostly covers venue hire, insurance, and ongoing training. What keeps me motivated is witnessing the quiet transformations in students: the softening of tension, the deepening of breath, the gentle return to balance. That’s the real reward.

Even when classes are small, I remind myself that every person who steps onto the mat can carry these ripples of peace into the world. In times that often feel divided and chaotic, these practices offer a sanctuary of compassion and grounding.

If you know someone who might benefit from Dru Yoga, I’d love for you to share this journey with them. Together we can create a community that supports and uplifts—one gentle practice at a time.

I realised that what draws me so deeply to Dru Yoga is its connection with nature. In my classes, I often invite students to pause—arms lifted, palms open to the sun—reaching towards the boundless sky, connecting with something greater than ourselves: with nature, with the divine. I’m not religious, nor do I believe in supernatural beings, yet with age I’ve discovered a sense of spirituality—perhaps best described as a spirituality without spirits.

Spiritual Naturalism is a worldview that combines a commitment to science and naturalism with a sense of wonder, awe, and reverence for the natural world. It finds deep meaning and “spiritual” experience within the physical universe, rejecting supernatural entities in favor of appreciating the interconnectedness and beauty of nature itself. It focuses on human emotions like gratitude, joy, and awe in response to the cosmos, rather than supernatural forces. It treats nature as a sacred whole, finding wisdom in the natural world and focusing on compassion, reducing suffering, and fostering connection with the environment.

One of my favourite books is “Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When The World Goes Dark.” by Julia Baird. Note to self, this might be a good time to revisit this book! There is a quote in the book from Rachel Carson that says;

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

The divine is right here on Earth, the universe, the earth, nature are the divine. Perhaps the first step towards saving the environment is simply loving the earth and enjoying nature in all its beauty and splendour.

Nature embodies the sacred in its most tangible form, offering a profound sense of the divine without requiring belief in the supernatural. From a spiritual naturalist perspective, the divine is not something distant or otherworldly, but present in every leaf, river, and gust of wind. When we step into the bush, walk along the coast, or sit under a gum tree, we encounter a living tapestry of interconnected life that evokes awe and reverence.

The divine quality of nature arises from its beauty, complexity, and ceaseless creativity. Ecosystems form intricate patterns where every plant, insect, and bird plays a role in sustaining life. Observing these relationships reminds us that we, too, are part of this vast network, not separate from it. In moments of mindful attention—feeling the sun’s warmth, hearing magpies call, or smelling rain on dry earth—we can experience a quiet transcendence.

Spiritual naturalism teaches that meaning and wonder emerge from direct engagement with the natural world. The cycles of birth, growth, decay, and renewal mirror our own journeys, offering lessons in humility and acceptance. Nature’s divinity lies in its ability to awaken gratitude, stillness, and a sense of belonging, guiding us to live more harmoniously with the Earth and each other.

Dru Yoga offers a gentle, flowing practice that harmonises body, mind, and spirit, making it a powerful way to deepen our connection with nature. Its sequences often mirror natural rhythms—like waves, trees, and the rising sun—inviting practitioners to embody the elements around them. Practising Dru Yoga outdoors, whether on the grass, a sandy beach or a forest clearing, enhances this experience, as the breath synchronises with the breeze and the senses open to birdsong and earthy scents. By cultivating inner stillness and mindful movement, Dru Yoga allows us to feel part of the living landscape, fostering a sense of unity with the natural world and an appreciation for the quiet divinity present in every moment.

Interested to experience the Dru difference? Come along and try a yoga and meditation class. Want a deeper dive into nature? Register your interest for the 2027 nature-based yoga and meditation retreat.