Therapeutic Yoga with Hazel

16/11/2025

This month's group classes are on subtle awareness of left and right sides of body (including using our breath attention).....Noticing where we might feel strong and stable, and where it's different on each side. We use moving and static asanas for this exploration. And YES! We DO have one side of our bodies that is stronger. This is normal. But to avoid any negative issues arising from our habits (remember mobile phone neck?) an attentive practice can help us notice and then deal with some of the postural /movement patterns that might create trouble down the line. We start with the feet and work up. Try it now - standing up & barefoot if you can. On a smooth surface. Paying attention first to what you feel through the soles of your feet, then exploring how your weight is distributed over your feet (forward? heels? Inside edge?...and see what little adjustments you can make to stabalise. We come back to this kind of practice (with more cues!) many times. Nurturing our own base or roots so that we can grow and move with strength and flexibility.
Interested? Drop me a line via or contact via https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au

11/11/2025

Practicing compassion or benevolence, as most people are aware, is one way we can help our own minds be more easeful, clearer and peaceful. The Sanskrit (and Pali) word is "Karuna" This is core practice in most spiritual practices. However, as our minds can tangle ourselves in knots (hamster wheel mind anyone?) practicing self-compassion is also important.So we practice that in class. Often through the body. Can't really do one without the other. I like Paul Harvey's guidance on self-compassion. He suggests practicing compassion towards our own bodies and minds - whatever state we find them in. Starting there. And even right now. Some guidance from Dr Kristen Neff in the photos.
If you'd like some guidance on this you can try our classes or see Hazel 1:1. She's both Diploma trained yoga teacher and Yoga Therapist. Thirroul based. Travel. Find us via DM or https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au.
Wishing you some kind space in your breath and mind today.....
Image credit: on the left - Dr Kristin Neff's self-compassion.org

09/11/2025

If you're looking for somewhere to practice (or to start practicing) yoga that's paced and tailored we might be your place. Small private friendly yoga studio in Thirroul. Here's what one regular says "My practice with Hazel replenishes my calm and polishes me smooth. I like the readings & poems too" and "I keep coming back as continue to learn and apply new teachings. Its the satisfaction of doing something wholly for me"
You can contact us via website or DM via the home FB page.
https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au

05/11/2025

Even getting to yoga class (or tbh getting out of bed) can be quite an achievement in itself some days. As is recognising how we're feeling in ourselves once we arrive.... so that we can then practice in a way that is supportive for ourselves. Anyone else arrived to a yoga class stressed to the hilt then rushed, rushed through a strong asana practice not listening to the teacher, forgetting breathing along the way then crashed in a heap afterwards? ........many teachers will have done that - most will admit to having been that person at some time.....We learn....Meeting yourself as you are is a big part of the yoga experience. Day by day. Class by class. Kindly and curiously. Tentatively and gently if needed. At Therapeutic Yoga Illawarra we encourage students to practice 'checking in with themselves' in a non-judgemental way. Open-hearted. Checking in with emotions, feelings, body sensations. Sometimes that is easy. Sometimes - the last place someone wants to be. Sometimes illuminating. It's choice. Personal enquiry. Personal growth on the mat or chair - whatever it is that you want to focus on. All these are potential gifts of a regular yoga practice. people come to stretch.......& come back for how they feel inside✨
For interest in attending general group classes at the private studio OR for 1:1 sessions OR to enquire about how yoga therapy can support you living with a particular condition or challenge DM or contact via website.
https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au

24/10/2025

Perhaps this is what physical tension moving through feels like for some students in our yoga classes...a fading away. Or perhaps it's a softening of the physical body into its support like a sigh out. Or a realisation that the breath is different somehow...smoother perhaps compared to the start of practice. Everything feeling a little more easeful than before. A glimpse into inner stillness. What does it feel like for you? Our practice this month has been all about releasing physical tension and then journeying towards inner stillness. Yoga classes here are traditional with asanas, pranayama, meditation and drawing back to the philosophy. Even some chanting now and then ! Uh -ohh. Some love it others - not so much and that is perfectly OK. Included where it works. Discernment is part of the practice ❣
Interested to consider practice yourself - please text me and we can talk about what will best suit your needs: We offer general group classes, 1:1, personal practices and yoga therapy if you are working with specific conditions.

19/10/2025

Why is the heart centre (sanskrit word is hridaya) important?
It is at the centre of our being, the core of connection to ourselves. It is where the physical body connects to the breath, and through where the Prana (energy lines) converge and flow. Hridaya is not located at any chakra even though one is known as the heart chakra. To find it place a thumb of one hand between your collar bones and the little finger of the other hand in your navel, spread both fingers wide, and where the other thumb and little finger meet is your heart centre. This is our meditation point this month along with exploring Yoga Sutras 1.33 and 1.36 to assist us with experiencing peace in the mind by reducing mental tension after our muscular tension-releasing asana practice. Sound interesting? Keen to learn more? Please get in touch. Via Therapeutic Yoga with Hazel Classes in Thirroul, NSW. Or on zoom.
Image Credit: English Yoga Berlin.

14/10/2025

Yes to all of this….

Maybe you came to yoga for flexibility or strength.
And then, somewhere along the way, it started to feel like something more.
⠀
You began to notice your patterns—on the mat and in your life. Where you resist. Where you push. Where you soften. You started to sense how your breath shapes your body, and how your thoughts shape your breath.

Through practice, your awareness sharpened. Not just of your muscles or joints, but of your internal dialogue. The narratives you live by. The way your body speaks when you finally get quiet enough to listen.

You start to discern what’s noise and what’s true.
And in that space of clarity, yoga becomes less about what you do and more about how you are.

Yoga is a way home to the simplest truth: your own presence.

What have you learned about yourself through practice?

13/10/2025

More tension release by staying in the lunge whilst 'smoothing the breath' + some left brain right brain core work! Lying on the back I have both legs in the air. Balancing a brick on sole of right foot (leg is active) then inhaling as open left leg out to the side at same time as the right arm opens from centreline out to the side. Exhaling to draw all back in to the centre-line. A few here then swop sides. I love noticing my brain go - "left-right... no that's left leg left arm - no the other left"....and then find the limbs and settle in !! Contralateral movements are also good brain work. Our classes are small to allow for tailoring for students. Interested? Drop me a line at https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au or DM from

09/10/2025

Physical tension release: Might not look like much is going on here but once you stay a while you'd feel it! We're holding our asanas for longer this month as part of our deeper focus on physical tension release. Within the asana part of practice: shown here as example are 3 variations for a side stretch. (1) extending long and tall in side body. From ankle right up to middle finger (and containing at the joints if hyper-mobile). Alternate sides (2) A variation using some height for those who benefit. The ability to push into the bricks that I have stacked on the stool provides a different internal experience and can be helpful for bringing attention to the chest and side ribs for those who are less steady/connected in lower body. This morning's students found this particularly useful (3) A traditional standing side stretch. Maintaining openness at the front of the shoulder whilst also extending right down the side line as per (1). Great to work the abdominal muscles in this shape too. Expanding into the 'stretch' (for me its intercostal muscles) then drawing in and up at the abdomen. Later in class we move into moving vinyasa sequences for spine, legs and upper chest/front of shoulders, and return back to static shapes and pranayama.
Our class times means there's a class to suit most of us. Tuesday 09.30 allows for a range of health conditions. Or talk to me if there is a specific condition that you'd like to address using the tools of yoga therapy.
Contact via website or the FB page /messenger via . https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au

07/10/2025

Client testimonial: Yoga Therapy: Yoga therapy complements other modalities. Clients dealing with back pain, anxiety, life transitions, chronic pain have found benefit and more ease in their lives.

Please contact via DM or website to discuss how yoga therapy can assist you - or your clients. https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au Thirroul, Illawarra.

25/09/2025

What students say:
Yoga Therapy to address specific issues or general group classes. Find out more and enquire here. https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au

21/09/2025

Rare chance! One - possibly two mat spaces for our 6pm Thursday class coming up. This is a popular time spot for straight after work. Have not released spots for more than 6 months. Contact me via website or DM with interest/to have a chat. Regulars like:

"The monthly theme, fine tuning each week, the calm, relaxing environment and friendly space" ......."Hazel's readings. I continue to learn and apply new teachings. There's a satisfaction in doing something that's just for me."......
"The small group"......... "personal attention"
They notice personal changes like:
"confidence in my body"...... "my body feels better. I am more accepting of many things in my life"....."I can recognise when I get overwhelmed now and have practices to calm myself" Sound good? I look forward to hearing from you. Please DM enquiries - I'm happy to chat about your situation. Bookings essential.
https://therapeuticyogaillawarra.com.au