Ballarat Yoga and Yogaville
Is there anything that embodies the concept of balance more succinctly than yoga’s iconic tree pose (Vrksasana)? How fitting then that one of our most recent tree plantings happened courtesy of two beautiful yoga studios – Yogaville in Melbourne’s inner north, and Ballarat Iyengar Yoga.
Both studios practice Iyengar yoga. Iyengar is a form of Hatha yoga with an emphasis on alignment, precision and harmony. Its practitioners seek balance in all things. The underlying philosophy is broader than simply maintaining a physical pose – it includes an awareness of how our actions affect the world around us. By planting trees, Ballarat Yoga and Yogaville are countering the environmental costs of running their small businesses. Even service-based enterprises cannot operate without some environmental impact. This includes incidentals associated with maintaining a physical space for practice, with the journeys to and fro that students take, with all the varied parts of the small business puzzle that each take their incremental toll on the earth’s resources.
The hard working volunteers from the Murrindindi Shire of Victoria.
In this case, 190 trees were planted on a frosty June morning in the Murrindindi shire as part of a broader project to link the Mount Disappointment State Forest to King Parrot Creek. As a result of this planting the Strath Creek Biodiversity Project is now complete. Observers have already noted long-nosed bandicoot activity around the creek and anticipate that the native vegetation corridor will allow the creatures to expand their habitat. With more safe room to move the local fauna have a greater chance of surviving and thriving.
Trees have been well protected with tree guards.
This project wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of local Landcare groups, the enthusiasm and experience of the landowners, the careful nurturing of the tree nurseries, the coordinating efforts of organisations like Fifteen Trees and the conscious decision to make changes for the better by businesses like Ballarat Yoga and Yogaville. A whole chain of intentions perfectly aligned to bring some balance back to our natural environment.
Namaste Bron Rust (Yogaville) and Shayna Odgen (Ballarat Yoga).
Article by Sarah Hart.
Sarah is an emerging self-taught artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty, and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. Facebook – Sarah Hart Creative.
If you are interested in sponsoring one of our tree planting projects please contact Colleen on 0400 040 650 or [email protected]
At the heart of every nunnery is, of course, charity. We love our partnership with the Brigidine Sisters and are impressed with their passion to give. That’s a long history of giving from these remarkable women, and we are not only benefactors of this kindness, as their other philanthropy does ripple out to myriad of other organisations as well.
WPA acknowledges that when it comes to environmental initiatives, its people are its strength. It has recently partnered with us to plant 15 trees for each hard-working staff member identified as a Sustainability Warrior.
Furnx is taking proactive steps each day and planning into the future, to ensure their company is part of a circular economy. Reducing waste and consumption of resources, and increasing recycling and reuse of materials is top of mind in every business decision they make, contributing to a more sustainable world. And now they are planting trees!
Both studios practice Iyengar yoga. Iyengar is a form of Hatha yoga with an emphasis on alignment, precision and harmony. Its practitioners seek balance in all things. The underlying philosophy is broader than simply maintaining a physical pose – it includes an awareness of how our actions affect the world around us. By planting trees, Ballarat Yoga and Yogaville are countering the environmental costs of running their small businesses. Even service-based enterprises cannot operate without some environmental impact. This includes incidentals associated with maintaining a physical space for practice, with the journeys to and fro that students take, with all the varied parts of the small business puzzle that each take their incremental toll on the earth’s resources.
