WHY THE FIG?
Where we get our name from.
About a year ago, I started thinking about my dream yoga community.
I knew I was soon to be leaving Melbourne, my home of the past 2½ years and with that, I was also departing from the network of yoga students and teachers I had connected with closely throughout that time.
I kept daydreaming about all the amazing, different ways these individuals had supported me and helped me to grow as a teacher, and human, all at once.
What I had gained from knowing my colleagues, friends, fellow students in Melbourne, was what I wanted to replicate and build for other yoga teachers, wherever I was in the world:
A network to bring together those who are feeling alone. To grow TOGETHER, lifting each other up as we go. Learning from one another every step of the way.
A learning place. All teachers deserve to have the tools and guidance, and ultimately the self-belief, to reach for their dreams. I wanted to gift my help along their journey of growth. Everyone has it in themselves to succeed, and feel really, really great - in body, mind, and soul - whilst doing it.
A space for looking after yourself, first. Encouraging self-confidence, self-care, a sense of true belonging, and an acceptance of who we authentically are - and that is at the very least, a damn good yoga teacher.
As the make up for this online network of yoga teachers started to form slowly in my mind, these three main themes arose as the core values of the community.
So, I began to research what word or sentence or acronym I could use to represent these values.
Then a lightbulb moment hit (kudos to my pal Lily Rosengard, for the help here).
Fig's are a symbol of a number of things. Three of which aligned nicely with the core values I mentioned above…
This sacred fruit is a symbol of mothering and nurture. The kind of support you'd experience with a network or community of people.
Figs are known to bloom wildly and en masse, symbolising abundance and growth. Learning leads to growth (okay this one's a bit of a stretch, but bare with me).
The Buddha was sat underneath a Fig Tree when he reached enlightenment. A symbol of inner work that only comes from looking after and inwards to yourself.
Plus, aren't Fig's just freakin' tasty?
And so The Fig Yoga was born.
This week’s recs
If you're creating digital content to promote your yoga biz, you need to listen to this. And if you aren't creating that, you should be. SEO for beginners. In perfect podcast form.
They've added some... interesting new 'yoga' classes to their so called schedule (it's all for a giggle, really.)
A beautiful set of journal prompts to start the day/week/month. Helping determine your values for our changing times (and/or forever).
'Ends are beginnings ⠀
when time behaves in strange ways ⠀
and everything we can touch ⠀
is reincarnated stardust
Let the grief & loss of this past year be an open fold ⠀
into the most tender parts of us⠀
Let our long, solitary darkness ⠀
be a chrysalis to hold our greatest masterpiece yet.'
Bamboo fabric, organic, plant-based dyes. This brand creates the comfiest yoga wear you'll ever find. (ps. I mainly buy their underwear, but that felt a bit off topic for a yoga teacher's newsletter, huh?)
