G: It was when I was back in Melbourne, I think late in 2015, at my local gym. Every Monday as I was pounding the treadmill, I would see these happy almost effervescent people bouncing, almost floating down the stairs from whatever class they had just finished. After a few Mondays of wonder, I made the journey upstairs to see what had caused this reaction to the people.

E: Gav talked me into it. I was sceptical at first because yoga seemed too feminine and spiritual for me. But I’m at a point in my life where I’m trying to be more open to new experiences. Limiting myself doesn’t help me grow. Plus, have you seen the Flying Crow pose? I’d love to master that one someday!

G: I wouldn’t say I was hooked from day 1, it was a slow grow for me. I did go most Mondays, and then Saturdays to the local gym in Melbourne, but then I moved to Brisbane in mid-2016. I Still continued to practice, but far less frequently. I guess there was a new life to build then, so other things got in the way. I seemed to take a feast or famine approach to yoga. I would go many months with none, and then I was all about Yoga for a month or so, and then back to famine. Over time I began to realise a pattern or at least a correlation. When I did Yoga, I felt better. Better in every way, physically of course, mentally also, and the more I did it, the less things in life would affect me, or maybe I was better at dealing with them. Not sure, but I would feel better. So, once I came to this realisation, Yoga became a daily habit for me, whether I am at the studio or not. Practicing Yoga is no longer optional for me.

E: I’m still fairly new to yoga and my practice is constantly evolving. I’ve learned to be more disciplined with the poses. Rather than just copying seasoned yogis to look cool, I focus on being intentional. I try to engage the right muscles and listen to my body. I still need to work on synchronising my breathing with the flow; work in progress.

G: I actually love a Hot Vinyasa flow. I am not even sure why. I think it has something to do with pushing the body whilst maintaining a mindful connection to self. I find the best savasanas come after an intense workout. It’s a great reminder that we are alive.

E: At the moment, I’m fascinated by the four parts of the mind in yoga:

– Manas: The everyday, mundane mind
– Ahamkara: The false ego or self-identity
– Buddhi: The intelligence or silent mental witness
– Chitta: The unconscious mind

Understanding these aspects is helping me guide how I live my life. While I’m not there yet, they serve as a compass for my personal growth and mindfulness, both on and off the mat.

G: I think it helps with perspective. In savasana (Corpse Pose) we sometimes get to connect with something that’s real. In professional and often personal life too, we are in environments that can be stressful, artificial and uncomfortable. We are expected to push harder, to try more, to adapt, to be more, to be better. Yoga and savasana, allows us to just be. So, I think, the more time we spend just being, the less important those other things seem. Therefore, I think Yoga has helped me immensely in both my personal and professional life. I still experience those situations, they just don’t seem to matter as much, or affect me as much as they once did.

E: Personally, Yoga has made me more attentive to my body’s sensations and my emotions. It helps me stay grounded and resets my chaotic brain. It’s like riding a motorbike—if you’re not fully present, you won’t ride for long.

G: As mentioned, Yoga studio ownership was something I was planning for in the future, in fact, as part of a retirement plan. I have a busy mind, and the thought of doing nothing is terrifying for me. Yoga has become an essential tool for me to help keep life in balance, the yoke between doing and being. So personally, it aligns very well. Professionally, well, it turns out, that a running a yoga studio is more like running a business, at least I guess in the first year. My hope it becomes more of an extension of life with a connection to spiritually connected people and feels less like a business.

E: Owning a yoga studio perfectly aligns with my goals on both a personal and professional level. Personally, I am passionate about self-exploration and growth. Right now, I feel like I’m just cruising through life on autopilot. Yoga’s focus on mindfulness and self-awareness seems like the perfect way to hit the pause button and really tune into myself and the world around me. Plus, being part of a community of like-minded folks sounds way better than turning into a hermit with a Netflix addiction! Professionally, it’s a great opportunity to develop my leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and make a positive impact on people’s lives through yoga.

G: Of course, firstly, it looks amazing, such a beautiful studio, but mostly it is the feel and vibe felt by the teachers and the students. I have visited many studios around Brisbane and a few around the country, and it always felt so welcoming and warm when returning to Bend and Fly.

E: What really drew me to this studio was the sense of community and the warm, welcoming atmosphere you feel the moment you step through the door.

G: I have enjoyed going to this studio for many years, always such a special and welcoming vibe, and I see Yoga being a part of my life for the rest of my life. I imagined studio ownership would be part of my future at some point way off in the distance, I never expected it would happen so soon. But when I saw that Bend and Fly was for sale, I thought maybe it was the universe saying why wait. The timing wasn’t great, but I guess it never is, and probably never will be, so why not, let’s make an enquiry and see what happens.