Almost every New Year’s resolution begins with two powerful words: “I will.” We summon our willpower and pledge to change not just what we do, but who we are. We imagine how life will improve once we achieve these goals. Yet, every January, so many of these resolutions fall away as life’s rhythm overtakes our initial intentions. Why is this so common?

If there’s one thing yoga teaches us, it’s the difference between “I will” and “the greater will.” While “I will” is about pushing toward something we think we need, “the greater will” speaks to a broader perspective, recognising that perhaps our deepest needs are not always what we might think. Many New Year’s resolutions spring from desires shaped by ego and conditioning. These can falter because they often assume we aren’t “good enough” as we are, reinforcing the idea that happiness lies in achieving what we want.

The yoga tradition offers a refreshing alternative: sankalpa, or resolve. Unlike a resolution that is born from external desires, sankalpa arises from the wisdom within, embracing the inner clarity of who we truly are. Here’s how adopting the practice of sankalpa over a traditional resolution can support your journey toward fulfillment.

Take time to sit with your intention. Why do you want this change? Is it for external validation, or does it arise from a deeper yearning? For example, rather than setting a goal to “exercise more,” connect with why that matters to you. Perhaps it’s for greater vitality, improved mental clarity, or a desire to feel connected with your body. Yoga calls this intention a sankalpa—a resolve that comes from your inner truth rather than a sense of lack.

A sankalpa isn’t necessarily about adding more to your life; it may be about enhancing what already exists. It’s a declaration of the qualities you’d like to cultivate, whether it’s peace, health, or self-acceptance. This heartfelt intention shapes your daily choices, supporting long-term growth rather than instant results.

Unlike broad resolutions, a sankalpa involves grounding our intention in daily practices. If you’re looking to enhance your health, begin with small steps: perhaps starting your day with a nourishing meal, a short walk, or a mindful breathing practice. These small, sustainable actions contribute to a gradual but meaningful transformation, rather than relying solely on willpower.

One of the main reasons resolutions fail is that we expect instant success. Sankalpa invites us to be patient and gentle with ourselves. Change is gradual, and setbacks are part of the journey. Allow each small step forward to be enough. The purpose is not to force transformation but to be open to it as a process.

A supportive environment is essential for cultivating any intention. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals can encourage and uplift your commitment. For instance, joining a New Year Renew and Revive Yoga Retreat allows you to reset with community, inspiring teachers, and peaceful surroundings. These spaces are specially designed to help you listen inwardly, align with your intentions, and return with a refreshed perspective.

Resolutions can quickly become forgotten, but a sankalpa is something we revisit daily. The more you connect with your intention, the more it becomes woven into the fabric of your life. This alignment helps you bring purpose and clarity to every decision, staying close to the values that matter most.

If you’re ready to approach this New Year differently, our New Year Renew and Revive Yoga Retreat can help you begin this journey with purpose and serenity. The retreat offers an opportunity to dive into mindfulness practices, yoga, and reflection, creating space to reconnect with your inner self. Through this approach, your resolve becomes a meaningful journey, not a destination.

Yoga is often surrounded by misconceptions, especially for those who haven’t tried it before. Some might think they need to be super flexible, young, or even highly spiritual to start. Let’s dive into five common yoga myths and uncover the truths behind them. These insights can help you understand that yoga truly is for everyone, regardless of age, background, or ability!

The Truth:

Flexibility is not a prerequisite to start practicing yoga. In fact, yoga improves your flexibility over time, along with balance and strength. If you can’t touch your toes, that’s absolutely okay—your range of movement will expand as you practice. Beginners often feel that they need to look a certain way or achieve certain poses immediately, but yoga is a journey that respects where you are now, helping you grow in a way that’s both natural and sustainable.

The Truth:

Yoga is timeless, suitable for anyone from teens to seniors. In fact, there are various styles of yoga and modifications that cater to different age groups and abilities. Gentle yoga, restorative yoga, and chair yoga, for instance, are wonderful options for seniors. Yoga helps reduce joint pain, enhances mobility, and promotes overall wellness, making it an excellent practice for healthy aging. The only age limit in yoga is the one we place on ourselves!

The Truth:

While yoga does involve stretching, it’s far from just stretching. Yoga combines physical postures (asanas) with mindful breathing (pranayama) and meditation to create a holistic experience. It supports your mind, body, and spirit by helping you relieve stress, build focus, and connect with your inner self. While flexibility and strength are developed through physical poses, yoga also promotes emotional resilience and mental clarity, which is what makes it such a unique practice.

The Truth:

The benefits of yoga don’t come from doing complicated postures. You don’t have to stand on your head or twist into advanced shapes to enjoy yoga’s transformative effects. Practicing simple, foundational poses with intention can bring huge benefits to your mental and physical health. Focusing on breathing and mindfulness during practice is just as important, if not more so, than the poses themselves. Remember, yoga is more about presence than perfection.

The Truth:

Yoga has roots in ancient Indian philosophy, but it is not a religion. Instead, it’s a spiritual practice that encourages self-awareness, mindfulness, and connection to oneself. People from all backgrounds and belief systems can practice yoga without any conflict of faith. While yoga can deepen one’s sense of spirituality or self, it’s ultimately a personal journey that doesn’t prescribe any religious doctrine.

Yoga is about embracing your unique journey and discovering the path that’s right for you. Don’t let these myths keep you from experiencing all that yoga has to offer. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your practice, remember that yoga meets you where you are—no myths, just real growth and connection. At Byron Yoga Centre we believe that yoga is for every body. Join us on your next yoga adventure.

We recently had the pleasure of having Yoga Wellbeing Magazine Editor Dana Diament join us on a Retreat at Byron Yoga Centre.

In her inspiring article, Dana’s heartfelt reflections beautifully capture the essence of reconnecting with our true selves through yoga.Dana takes us on her twenty-year journey through the world of yoga, exploring the challenges of ego and the quest for self-realisation. She openly shares her experiences with the temptations of achievement, luxury, and perfection. However, it was during her time at our serene retreat that she faced a deep sense of disconnection from her authentic self.

Dana’s story resonates with the timeless wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, where “asmita” – or egoism – is highlighted as a major hurdle on the path to clarity and liberation. With the support of our dedicated teachers, Dana confronted the ego’s persistent questions: “What is wrong? What can I get? Who can I blame?” Through this introspection, she uncovered profound truths and realized that true freedom comes from releasing the constant need for external validation.

As Dana delved deeper into yoga philosophy, she found the transformative power in shifting her questions to: “What is right? What can I give? Who can I thank?” This simple yet profound change brought about a moment of clarity and a sense of peace similar to the deep moments experienced in yoga practice.

When Dana left the retreat, she was filled with a renewed sense of purpose and vitality, ready to embrace a life of service. Her journey highlights the incredible transformative potential within each of us, waiting to be discovered in the peaceful environment of our centre.

At Byron Yoga Centre, we are dedicated to offering accessible practices, nurturing surroundings, and genuine teachings to all who wish to explore the timeless wisdom of yoga. Dana’s journey reminds us that amidst the chaos of modern life, true self-discovery is found in simplicity and community.

Join us on this transformative journey with our one, three, five or seven day yoga retreats. Together, we can embrace the wisdom of yoga and uncover the boundless potential within ourselves. Let’s walk this path hand in hand, towards the bright shores of self-discovery and awakening.

You can purchase Yoga Wellbeing Magazine and read Dana’s full article here.

Let’s be honest… being a yogi and sitting down to do paperwork isn’t an ideal combination… BUT it’s important.

As a contractor/sole trader yoga teacher operating in Australia, you’re entitled to claim a range of expenses as tax deductions if they directly support your teaching activities. We’ve put together a breakdown of some eligible expenses you might consider claiming to help ease the financial pressure and let you focus on what’s important – teaching yoga!

Your First Yoga Teacher Training

According to the ATO, any education course you take which qualifies for a new profession is not deductible. So if you are leaving one industry to enter into the yogi world, your first Yoga Teacher Training does not qualify as a deductible expense.

However there are exceptions. If you are already in the wellness or fitness industries (for example a personal trainer), you may be able to claim our 200hr Level 1 Yoga Teacher Training. As long as the training fufills the following:

• Maintains or improves the skills and knowledge needed for your current duties
• Results in or is likely to result in an increase in your income from your current employment

You can learn more about this here.

Ongoing Yoga Teacher Training and Professional Development

If you are already a Yoga Teacher, enrolling in training courses and professional development activities relevant to yoga instruction allows you to claim associated costs as deductions. This includes the costs of our 300hr Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training, and Specialty Yoga Courses including:

• Remedial Yoga
• Yoga for Seniors
• Yin Yoga
• Restorative Yoga
• Trauma-Aware Yoga
• Meditation Immersion
• Ayurveda & Yoga Immersion
• Prenatal Yoga Training

You can learn more about this here.

Yoga Equipment and Supplies:

Investing in essential equipment and supplies for conducting yoga classes, like mats, blocks, straps, or music, qualifies as deductible expenses. Ensure you keep records from all your purchases.

Yoga Studio or Rental Fees:

If you lease a space for conducting yoga classes or pay commissions to studios facilitating your sessions, these expenses are typically deductible. Keep detailed records of rental agreements and payment receipts.

Yoga Advertising and Marketing:

Expenditure on promoting your yoga classes, whether through traditional channels like flyers or digital platforms, can be claimed as deductions. This includes your website domain fee, your website builder subscription. Also includes any photo editing or graphic design software or platforms such as Canva. Keep detailed records of all advertising expenses.

Insurance:

Securing insurance coverage, such as public liability and professional indemnity insurance, is crucial for protecting your yoga teaching activities. Fortunately, premiums paid for such policies qualify as deductible expenses, offering both peace of mind and financial relief.

Yoga Retreats:

Participating in Yoga Retreats such as ours at Byron Yoga Centre can be also seen as professional development. A yoga retreat is a great way to deepen your personal practice and provides as a much needed break for yoga teachers. Each of our retreats cater for all levels and experiences of yoga. Yoga teachers can also host their own retreat at Byron Yoga Centre.

Travel Expenses:

Being a self employed yoga teacher means you can enjoy the perk of deducting travel expenses. You can claim mileage for travel between different studios, journeys to a client’s residence for a private session, or business-related lunches, among other eligible expenses. Ensure you keep a logbook of all your trips! It’s essential to note that mileage from your home to your primary workplace such as the yoga studio where you teach regularly is not deductible.

We do recommend seeking guidance from a qualified tax professional or consulting with the Australian Taxation Office, as they can provide tailored insights based on your unique circumstances. By remaining informed and proactive in managing your finances, you can optimise available tax benefits and nurture your passion for yoga teaching without huge financial burdens.

If you have any questions, or would like to read further details, visit the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

Our 35 years celebrations continue. We’ve had some very special pick ups by local media including

• NBN News
• The Byron Wave
• The Echo
• Byron Community Centre
• Byron Magazine

We are now the longest running yoga centre in Australia. Our vision has remained steadfast—to make yoga accessible to all, without exclusivity. Through our Yoga Retreats, Yoga Teacher Trainings, and International Student Programs, we aspire to spread the light of yoga to every town and village, for we believe that yoga has the potential to change the world.

You can read our full story here.

As part of our 35 years celebrations, we’re creating something really special. Local artist Binx Designs is in the process of creating an incredible mural of Shiva within our retreat centre – a symbol of calm and change.

Since it was established by John Ogilvie in 1988, Byron Yoga Centre has encountered over 35 years of changes, and is now a pinnacle of hope, healing and peace – the perfect home for Shiva.

This collaboration between Binx Designs and Byron Yoga Centre blends art with yoga’s peaceful essence. With each stroke, Shiva’s image emerges, inviting viewers to reflect and also find the inner peace that both Shiva and Byron Yoga Centre represent. This mural isn’t just beautiful; it’s a place for people to connect with themselves and with something bigger…

Who is Shiva?

Shiva, a central figure in Hindu mythology, is often regarded as the Supreme Deity, embodying the cosmic forces of creation, preservation, and destruction. Depicted with attributes such as a trident, a serpent, and a crescent moon, Shiva symbolises transcendence beyond earthly attachments and the cyclical nature of existence.

As the epitome of stillness and inner peace, Shiva is revered as the ultimate yogi, guiding devotees on a path of spiritual awakening and liberation from the illusions of the material world.

In some yoga linages Shiva is considered to be the father of Yoga. He is also considered to be the destroyer of the darkness of ignorance, which will then allows the practitioner to receive light and knowledge.

About the Artist

We have been lucky enough to collaborate with local artist Bec Denholm – AKA ‘Binx’. Binx is a multi-disciplinary, mixed media artist who has been practising for over 12 years now within the Riverina and Northern Rivers regions, Australia. Her creative work includes painting – both on traditional canvas and found objects, drawing, weaving and textile work, digital art and design and large-scale mural artworks for both business and private application.

Binx’s art is an exploration of her many multifaceted interests and uses the language of pattern, text, nature and portraiture to evoke a sense of nostalgia. Each piece is a unique visual snapshot infused with a sense of freedom and soul.

She is passionate about working with clients to bring their vision to life and elevate space through thought provoking, clever and beautiful artwork. You can learn more about Binx Designs via her website here.

This collaboration shows how art and mindfulness can work together to create a special space. In the presence of Shiva’s mural, visitors find inspiration and a sense of belonging.

As the mural nears completion, it becomes a symbol of hope and guidance, guiding everyone on their journey toward inner peace. In Byron Yoga Centre’s serene atmosphere, Shiva’s presence continues to inspire and uplift, reminding us of the wisdom within us all.

Thank you Binx for joining us on our journey. We will be enjoying your creation for years to come.