Newsletters

Would you like to join a newsletter that I email out on a monthly (or sometimes every 2 or 3 months depending on how busy life is)?

I share invitations for yoga, workshops, recipes, Aware Parenting tips and more. If you would like to join please, send me an email at [email protected].

Here are past newsletters:

Newsletter #1:

I’m so grateful, and also so happy that we can share this time of motherhood together.  I’ll share info about yoga, Ayurveda, recipes, Aware Parenting and events that are happening locally.

An INVITATION to join in a MUM’s CIRCLE:

Firstly, I’m so excited that in the coming month or two you are invited to join in for a small mums’ circle at our place in Modanville: to have some mumma time, do some yoga, fill up your cup, share how you are doing at the moment (whether it be about your little one or anything else in your life…  Everything is connected, so what happens in one part of your life effects other areas), and learn tips and resources about Aware Parenting (which I will explain more of below).   

We’ve just created a little temple space in a yurt in our backyard.  We will use the practise of yoga, meditation and Aware Parenting, and ofcourse some yummy treats, to relax and slow down, and to listen within and also to each other. The mums’ circle, which I would like to entitle: “Being Heard and Healing,” will be held one Saturday morning in July or August that suits all that is interested, ideally just mums (ofcourse babies can come, but it may be nice to have this space to be without them for this time). Cost: $10 

If this feels right for you, please let me know and book in, and feel free to invite others who may be interested.

[email protected]or 0415 533 311

Just wondering… have you had time lately to nurture yourself and/or contribute to your emotional and spiritual well-being?… 

1.    whether it’s through a nourishing practice for your physical body, or 

2.    maybe a way of releasing emotional tension by talking to a friend or 

3.    perhaps uplifting your spirit by connecting in with your special callings or talents, which is part of what makes you so unique and happy…

Here is a little offering with some tips for you to take some time to connect in with yourself and how you are feeling and needing.  Being totally present with yourself, even for just a few minutes, can help you be more connected and aware with your little one. Being a mum is not only a sacred time to be with a tiny one, but also a time to look after yourself.  The more you nourish and nurture yourself, the more you are capable of giving that compassion and love to your little ones.

YOGA:

Can you take a few minutes this week or weekend for yourself? Maybe to do a few minutes of yoga, like lying on your back, bringing your knees to one side and then the other for spinal twists, releasing any tension in the back, and also helping digestion.  Breathing deeply on each side.  While you’re on your back, maybe you can also come into bridge pose to release aches in the upper back and shoulder area from carrying little ones.

Maybe you’d like to rest in shavasana for a few minutes, letting go of the daily tasks and connecting in with yourself.  A few moments of relaxing the body fully, scanning the body to make sure there is no tension throughout the muscles of the body and slowing the thoughts.  Then be present with yourself and take time to respond to your feelings or to call a friend and share some experiences that are sitting in you.  Processing emotions is so important, having your voice be heard and feeling supported is exponentially beneficial.

AWARE PARENTING (AwP):

This leads to the next topic that I want to share more about: looking after the mums & bubs emotional well-being by emphasizing the needs for mums, little ones and babies to cry and be heard or to play, (releasing pent-up emotions through crying and laughter), and there is so much more to AwP.  The goal is to help our child connect with their natural inclinations of cooperation and contribution, and to help improve their sleep and rest states as they are more relaxed and free from bottled-up emotions.   

One of the most useful tools for me from AwP has been to decipher this toddler language.  For example, when my daughter acts out, it’s a sign, that she wants help, and that she needs my help.  Babies and children are full of love and do not want to cause pain to anybody.  They also do not want to repress or use aggression to handle their feelings. They need help directing their emotions toward a healthy path of release.  A strong reaction over a little event, like a child crying over a broken cookie, probably means that there is more than the broken cookie going on in with that little one. 

It’s been a very life-changing experience for me, having met my mentor, Marion Rose PhD (baby psychologist & amazing woman), in Mullumbimby over 2 years ago in a mum’s circle, and then afterward reading The Aware Babyby Aletha Solter.  My daughter was 6 months old at the time, and I hadn’t given her much opportunity to really cry.  Since then we have both healed and been heard so much. It’s been miraculous to see how light and relaxed she became once she had a good cry or laughed and is heard compassionately. Also, I have been able to be so much more aware of my emotions and hers, be more connected & present with her, be more harmonious with my family and be able to process & heal from patterns from my past.  

This approach to parenting really resonated with me. Ofcourse, there’s no one way or right way to parent, so listen to what feels right for you.  I’m studying now to be an AwP instructor with Marion Rose.  I have a background in Conflict Resolution & Mediation, facilitation and non-violent communication (aware communication) with a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University.  I am very committed to helping people find health, joy and peace in their lives.

RECIPE:

Before I end this newsletter, here’s a recipe for tahini cookies, high in iron and rasa energy J  (Rasa in Ayurvedic terms is joy, pleasure and sweetness).  I love the balance of bitterness from the tahini and sweetness from the jaggery.  And this recipe is easy to remember because of its simplicity: you just need 5 ingredients. 

A friend actually gave me this recipe years ago when I lived in Israel, and I used to make them often. Then over the years, I just kinda remembered how the cookies felt when rolling them up. I never measure, so here’s an estimate and please feel free to adjust and add to what feels right for you. 

100 gr butter

4 tblsp tahini

4 tblsp rappadurra sugar or jaggery

100 gr flour

1tsp baking powder  

makes a dozen

200degrees C for 10-12 min (until top of cookies become light brown and start to crack)

Have fun and enjoy!

I hope to see you next month at the mum’s circle, please let me know if you’d like to join, and feel free to pass on the info J

Much love,

Laura

Newsletter #2:

Welcome to newsletter #2! I’m so excited because next month we will start our mum’s circle. How does Sat., August 4 work for you at 10am?

Again, it will be held at our place in Modanville: to have some mumma time, do some yoga, fill up your cup, share how you are doing at the moment (whether it be about your little one or anything else in your life…  Everything is connected, so what happens in one part of your life effects other areas), and learn tips and resources about Aware Parenting (which I will explain more of below).   

We’ve just created a little temple space in a yurt in our backyard.  We will use the practise of yoga, meditation and Aware Parenting, and ofcourse some yummy treats, to relax and slow down, and to listen within and also to each other. The mums’ circle, which I would like to entitle: “Being Heard and Healing.” (Ofcourse babies can come, but it may be nice to have this space to be without them for this time). Cost: $10  

If this feels right for you, please let me know and book in, and feel free to invite others who may be interested.

[email protected] or 0415 533 311

Ayurveda:

Every thought and action either contributes or detracts from your health & well-being.  What is serving you? No longer serving you?

AwP: what triggers u? NVC

Being heard and healing

Laughter, NVC

Mom’s Moroccan Harira Soup

I do feel blessed to have a mom who is an AMAZING cook! She has an excellent hold on spices and textures.  This soup is so yummy and warming for winter. This recipe is vegan, but feel free to make it your way and add/adjust whatever feels right for u!

Ingredients:

1 onion diced

1-2 cloves of garlic

tofu 

root veggies (I used pumpkin from the garden, parsnip, potato, & beetroot)

1 can tomato paste

1 can of chick peas 

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp paprika

salt and pepper

a big bunch of coriander

Fry up onion, tofu, then add garlic, water and throw in veggies and rest of ingredients.  Simmer for about 30 min.  

So easy!  ENJOY ☺

I’d love to see you next month.  Just let me know if you’d like to join.  And feel free to invite friends ☺

Newsletter #3:

How have you been over the past month? It was such a pleasure to see some of you at the mum’s circle and to share experiences.  We’ll having another one on Sunday, September 9th at 10am.  So, if you’re free and keen, then please come and join. ☺

Welcome to newsletter #3!  I’ll be sharing some yoga tips to quiet the mind, AwP techniques relating to connection, Ayurvedic incite and a sweet recipe. 

Mum’s Circle:

Thank you so much to all who came to the last circle.  It was wonderful!. I’m so happy to open up a circle again.  The next one will be on Sunday, September 9th  at 10 am (which is also The Channon market day & it’s just a few minutes from us)…

The time flew by last time and we didn’t get a chance to do much yoga, so next month the circle will be from 10-12. If it’s too long, you do not need to stay the whole time.  I have found, though, that this time is valuable for you to recharge and to be able to be there more fully for yourself and family.

The circle will be held at our place in Modanville, in the yurt in the backyard: 56 Barrys road.  We will have some mumma time, do some yoga, fill up your cup, share how you are doing at the moment (whether it be about your little one or anything else in your life), and learn tips and resources about Aware Parenting.  The mums’ circle theme this time will be: “Connection and Compassion.” (preferably child-free), babies are welcome!. Cost: $10  

If this feels right for you, please let me know and book in, and feel free to invite others who may be interested!  Spaces are limited, so let me know when you can.

0415 533 311 or [email protected]

www.ljspeace.com for more info ☺

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Yoga:

One of the best parts about yoga are the many tools to quiet the mind, so that you can relax, heal and connect in with compassion…, , Here are just a few ideas to give yourself some quick yogi love…

  1. Pranayama (breathing techniques): try sitting in a comfortable position and breathing in and out very slowly… following the breath as it enters and exits the nostrils.  You can try this:

IN ~ OUT

DEEP ~ SLOW

SMILE ~ RELAX
BREATH ~ RELEASE

  1. Meditation: now that you have slowed your breathing, can you sit comfortably for a few minutes, starting with 5 minutes a day.  Then slowly building up a few minutes every week. Set a timer and remove distractions. It’s cool to get in the habit of meditating with a baby around.  Sometimes, toddlers, though, can be a bit tough to share the quiet space with. Don’t be shy to give it a try, though!
  2. Chanting with a mantra: I absolutely love singing! And what a joy that as mothers, we can sing, sing, sing. Chanting incorporates mantra and rhythm, for exponential benefits of health, happiness and connecting in the present moment.  It also has detoxifying properties, purification and the ability to remove impressions that are left in us. All mantras have positive meanings and by repeating them (even if the exact meaning is not known), will have a positive effect.  Just choose your favourite chant or mantra and recognize the purity and love that it creates.
  3. Yoga asanas (especially balances postures).  When balancing in tree posture, dancing posture, warrier 3 or any other favourite balancing posture, the mind had difficulty wanderer.  It’s a great tool to strengthn and balance the body, while slowing the thoughts.

Aware Parenting (connection, compassion and information):

Look at me. 
Everyday, for a few moments with the eyes of love.
Really look at me.
Let yourself be amazed and surprised by what you see.
Look at the way I move
my hands
my face
my hair 
my skin
look at me
and in these moments of seeing
time stands still
and your heart will be filled with love.

                                                                                                   -Vivian Viester

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Oh life, it can be so busy and we can forget the most important thing… to slow down and to enjoy! It’s so important to make sure you are feeling compassionate to yourself, taking the time that you need to connect with your feelings and needs and also creating that same kind of compassion and connection with your family (ie partners, parents and children).

I find that when my daughter is being most clingy to things or to me, that she is really just asking for closeness, connection and compassion.  It could also be a sign that she has pent-up emotions and needs a good cry or play. She may be needing some information, so talking very calmly and explaining what is going on is always helpful. Sitting together and following her lead as we play together is a great way to satisfy her need for closeness.  

Sometimes, ofcourse, there are times when I may not be able to sit with her at the exact moment that she needs.  Maybe I have not filled up my cup, or I need to slow down or I need to do something else at that moment. It’s perfectly fine to explain compassionately how I’m feeling and needing (even if it’s resting for a few moments by myself to connect in with what that is!).  Talking to our little people with respect, making eye contact and giving lots of information helps them process and relax.

Make sure, Mumma, that you are giving yourself the self-care and rest that you need, so that you can really enjoy these special days that we have with our children.

I’d love to hear how you go <3 I’m hoping you’ll feel more connection with yourself and your family and more enjoyment ☺

If you’re just joining the newsletters, then you may want to read more about AwP on my website: www.ljspeace.com

It’s a parenting approach based on Aletha Solter’s research that may or may not resonate with you.  It has helped me tremendously over the past years, so I’m happy to share these tools.

Ayurveda:

According to Ayurveda, repressing emotions can lead to disease and pain in the body.  The more we hold onto uncomfortable feelings, the more pain and blockages can build up.  Suppression can lead to overuse, misuse and no use of parts of the body, mind and sense organis.  Our bodies, mind and spirits are temples and healthy expression can lead to better health, energy, sleep and feeling happier. 

This is why it is so important to stay connected with who you are, your emotions, feelings and needs.  So, make sure to take a few moments every day to check-in and recharge when needed.

Super simple scrummy yummy chocolate chip cookies:

We can’t live without joy, right? In Ayurveda, giving into a sweet tooth is nothing to be ashamed about. If you’re wanting something, go for it! It’s in the same light, as we do not want to repress emotions.

So, here’s a childhood favourite cookie to satisfy a sweet tooth. 

Again, I’m not much of a measurer, so feel free to adjust to what feels right for you. (ie ingredients, size, time in oven).

Ingredients:

1 cup wholemeal flour

½ tsp baking powder

100gr butter

5 tablespoons rappadura sugar or jiggery

chocolate chips to your liking

  1. melt butter
  2. add sugar
  3. add flour and baking powder
  4. add choc chips and any other additions (such as oats, dried fruit, nuts)
  5. spoon out onto baking tray
  6. put in over at 190 degrees for about 10 minutes

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ENJOY ☺

I’d love to see you next month at the Mum’s Circle on Sept. 9th. There will be cookies 😉 

Just let me know if you’d like to join.  And feel free to invite friends ☺

Newsletter #4:

Welcome to newsletter #4 of these, including updates, tips, and recipes. 

How are you? It’s been a little while, and I’ve missed corresponding. 

In the time that I’ve been “away,” our baby has been born ☺ I’m so honoured and happy to introduce you to the newest member of the Shaz clan… baby boy Eliasz (Eli for short) who was born on October 28, at home, naturally! It was painful,… I’m not gonna lie,… but it was also beautiful and perfect. The family has been brought closer and I feel empowered.  I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing midwives and husband. And 3 months later, baby Eli is plump and smiley. He’s really a peaceful & sweet soul. We all feel very blessed. And I feel so lucky to have learned so much on my Aware Parenting (AwP) journey with Marion Rose and like-minded mummas to give Eli the best start in life that I can.  In the AwP section below I’ll write about techniques that I use with my 3-year old daughter and baby.

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Yoga classes &  Women’s Week in Lismore:

This month I’m starting up yoga classes again for general hatha yoga at the Channon Hall on Tuesday evenings, as well as pregnancy and mums & bubs yoga at the Lismore Birth House.

On Sunday March 3 from 10:30-11:30, I’m so honoured to host a free yoga class at the YWCA for mums & bubs (pre-crawlers) and pregnant women.  Please come and join if you fit into one of those categories and spread the word. Women’s week will be awesome! Look out for info in town.

Next MUM’s CIRCLE:

In March I will recommence facilitating a small Mums’ circle at our yurt in Modanville. The March circle is entitled: “Connect, Relax and Rest,” & it will be held on Sunday, March 10 (same day as the Channon market, which is around the corner from us) from 9-11am. 

You and your friends are all invited to learn more tips about getting enough rest for you and your little ones from an AwP perspective.  Please let me know for sure whether or not you’d like to come, so I know how to plan the time together. We’ll have a chance to do a bit of gentle yoga, meditation, sharing of how you are doing or questions and an offering of info from an AwP approach.   

Ideally just you mums come without your little ones (ofcourse babies can come, but it may be nice to have this space to be without them for this time). Cost: $10  

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[email protected] or 0415 533 311

YOGA & Ayurveda:

Rather than focusing on asanas (positions) this month, I’d like to ask you to slow down and tune in with what you need and how you’re feeling, so that you can be a happier version of yourself.  

Yoga’s main principle is really all about self-realization and getting free of suffering (or at least reducing it!).  So, as we slow down, we come closer in connection with ourselves, and in turn with all of those close to us and around us.  We come closer to our true self of love.

Life is so busy for me these days with 2 little ones.  So when I get a few moments to myself to perhaps practice yoga asanas, I find that I’m more drawn to tune into some aches & pains and my needs & feelings.

I like to take a few moments to connect with myself and so gently stretch or massage any part that needs nourishment and connection. It could be my neck and shoulders or temples (near the forehead).  It could be closing my eyes and breathing deeply. Sometimes I do find an asana that I’m really needing to relax and soothe myself, so ever so gently I connect in and go there.

Go on, give it a try.  Set the timer for 5 or 10 minutes and let me know how it goes.  

AWARE PARENTING (AwP):

I’m training to be an aware parenting instructor, which combines NVC (non violent communication) and a really compassionate approach to parenting to help babies and children (and mothers). I learned about it when Aya (my 3-yr-old) was a baby and it really resonated with me. I try my best to follow it and it’s such a beautiful approach to parenting.

AwP looks after the mums & bubs emotional well-being by emphasizing the needs for mums, little ones and babies to cry (in arms or closeby if at toddler + age) and to be heard or to play, (releasing pent-up emotions through crying and laughter. Through close connection and presence, we can help our children reallign with their natural inclinations of love, cooperation and contribution, and to help improve their sleep and rest states, as they are more relaxed and free from bottled-up emotions.   

I notice, for example, that when baby Eli communicates with me through crying (cause he can’t talk yet), and I actively listen, we form a deep connection and he feels relaxed and sleeps really well.  I tell him, “I’m here for you. I hear you.” This is ofcourse after I’ve made sure that there isn’t a need, like hunger or feeling unwell.  I take the basic principles that we need to be tired, connected and relaxed (ie after a cry for babies or after we’ve relaxed through connection or sharing) to have a good sleep. Sometimes I’ve had doubts and offered him breastmilk or rocked him, but overall he has option to let out all his emotions with me compassionately being there. 

For my 3-year-old, it’s been hard at times since Eli was born.  We had to create a new kind of connection in our relationship, and honestly I’ve found it difficult to give her enough attention and to meet the energy level that she desires. I do the best I can, and try to offer her understanding and compassion when she is going through a hard moment.  For example, her tantrums and “challenging” behaviour (ie petting Eli’s head roughly) are signs that she is having strong feelings and needs me to help her by being compassionate, understanding and present to help her release her emotions through crying, laughter or close connection (and not a scolding her for potentially harming the baby).  

Children are all love and I see my role as mother to see these red flags that scream, “Mama, I’m having strong emotions, please be there next to me and support me.”  After she has a cry or play together, I see her energy shift from darkness to light. And again, her natural inclination of love, cooperation and contribution shine, she sleeps well and she’s happier.

It’s not easy all the time. We all come with generations of different parenting styles. My initial instinct to my daughter is often, “stop it!” I want to protect the little one. I must also, though, support and help my 3-year-old, so I’m learning to be more gentle when she’s being rough because I understand that it is her cry for help, so that she can be more relaxed and loving.  In that process, I also heal and grow from my past, from probably being scolded when I just needed a loving hug.

RECIPE:

Shakshuka

A favourite for any meal~ brekkie, lunck or dinner~ from Israel. (I used to live around the corner from Dr. Shakshuka.  It’s good stuff!)

1.) Fry onion, garlic, capsicum, tomatoes, (or tinned tomatoes).

2.) Add paprika, salt and pepper to taste.

3.) Crack eggs on top of the tomato mix.

4.) Cover for a few minutes (5-10min) on low heat, depending on how you like your eggs cooked.

5.)Sprinkle green herbs from the garden on top. 

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I hope to see you next month at the mum’s circle, please let me know if you’d like to join ☺

Much love,

Laura

Newsletter #5:

It’s so wonderful to share this sacred mothering journey with you. Welcome to newsletter #5 of these, including updates, tips, and recipes. 

How are you? I’m happy for March to be here and looking forward to offering special events. I hope to see you there. 

Women’s Week in Lismore:

On Sunday March 3 from 10:30-11:30, I will host a free yoga class at the YWCA for mums & bubs (pre-crawlers) and pregnant women.  Please come and join if you fit into one of those categories and spread the word. Women’s week will be incredible.  

Next MUM’s CIRCLE:

On March 10, I will facilitate a small Mums’ circle at our yurt in Modanville. The March circle is entitled: “Connect, Relax and Rest,” & it will be held on Sunday, March 10 (same day as the Channon market, which is around the corner from us) from 9-11am. We will talk about how to get better rest for you and for your little ones.  Our lives are so interlinked with our little ones.

You and your friends are all invited to learn more tips about getting enough connection, relaxation and rest.  Please let me know for sure whether or not you’d like to come, so I know how to plan the time together. We’ll have a chance to do a bit of gentle yoga, meditation, sharing of how you are doing in a mum’s circle and/or questions and an offering of info from an AwP approach.   

Ideally just you mums come without your little ones (ofcourse babies can come, but it may be nice to have this space to be without them for this time). Cost: $10  

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[email protected] or 0415 533 311

Yoga in Mullumbimby:

Lastly, I will lead a pregnancy yoga class in Mullumbimby at WeMove studio on Monday, March 18, at 10:45 in the morning.  Please connect with the fb page “Byron Bay Pregnancy Support Group” if interested in more details. Marion Rose, my guru of Aware Parenting ,will be following the yoga class with a discussion.  It’ll be wonderful!

YOGA & Ayurveda:

Yoga feels like medicine for the body.  Asana is posture or positions. Yoga is comprised of many components to quiet the mind and connect in more with your true self of love. Breathing, relaxation and meditation are all important.  Also postures to strengthen and stretch the body are so important for health and healing.

Let’s go into down dog.  Feel your way into it. Starting slowly and gently, lifing one heal at a time & bending your knee, like peddling.  Take your time here. Keep your core muscles strong, head is relaxed and shoulders are soft (far from the ears.  

Next you can try lifting one leg up at a time and finding a nice stretch in the pelvic area.

Every moment in down dog is new and fresh.  Enjoy these moments.

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Food can be medicine for the body.  Understanding food and their properties according to Ayurveda lead to better balance & health. Do you know about the different tastes? There are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. There are other properties of food, such as heating, cooling, oily and dry. Often when I’m cooking, I taste the food, think about the season and think about how I’m feeling to adjust what I make.  For example if I need to slow down, I eat ground, earthy foods, like a potato dish, and balance the tastes.

AWARE PARENTING (AwP):

Parenting is a joy, especially when there’s ease, understanding and compassion in it. I’m so passionate about supporting other mothers find more ease and understanding and to find healing in yourselves while you’re at it.

Being a mother is such an amazing gift, filled with miraculous moments and tremendous challenges.  Mothering became much easier once I found Marion Rose, understood the concepts of AwP and started implementing them into our lives.  Not only do my little ones heal and communicate, but I do, as well, through AwP and Marion’s techniques. I encourage you to find some of Marion’s online courses, there are even free ones. 

Here’s here site… https://www.marionrose.net/?fbclid=IwAR1JPad0dklTVH8hGPpkzNwjcacFSr5ey3xGfguh8BPEZpzIrOIlSsSNr-E

I’m training to be an aware parenting instructor with Marion, and I will offer mum’s circles and workshops this year to spread the message of AwP and to help create more ease, understand and healing for you and your children.  If the ideas of AwP resonate with you, I’d love to share and support you.

AwP looks after the mums & bubs emotional well-being by emphasizing the needs for mums, little ones and babies to cry (in arms or closeby if at toddler + age) and to be heard or to play, (releasing pent-up emotions through crying and laughter. Through close connection and presence, we can help our children reallign with their natural inclinations of love, cooperation and contribution, and to help improve their sleep and rest states, as they are more relaxed and free from bottled-up emotions.   

Something that I love about Marion is her creation of the Inner Loving Mother.  The divine loving mother of total compassion and everything that one may envision of mother.  Your ILM can help heal wounds that you may have felt as a child and unconsciously pass on. An ILM can remind you:

“I love you always.”

“I’m here for you.”

“I love you no matter how you are feeling.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You are safe with me.”

“I am sending you gentleness and gentle words.”

I am healing from being yelled at as a kid. This is how my mother coped and tried to create order or communicate, I guess.  My ILM sends me gentleness and gentle words when I connect with these harsh feelings. I strive to break the pattern of harshness and be so completely gentle and understanding with me kids.

I follow the AwP techniques of listening to crying/pent-up feelings in arms, connect with play and laughter, set loving limits (which can then result in tears).

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I’d love to know if these ideas resonate with you, hear how you’re doing and if you practice any of these techniques.

Recipe:

As the seasons change here in the southern hemisphere, it’s time for some chicken soup to stay healthy.  We made a very yummy pot of chicken soup with veggie dumplings. It was quite a project, lots of funny and very healing.

We used a Tibetan momo recipe for the dumplings.

First bring a pot of chicken with carrots, leek and parsnip to a boil, then simmer for about an hour.

Next we used flour and water to roll out dough for dumplings.  We added in our filling, which was onion, garlic, ginger, potato, cabbage and mushroom.  It was a mess, but lots of fun and super yummy.

Here are pics (in the document) to show what we did.  Enjoy your cooking & eating ☺

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I hope to see you this month at the mum’s circle or at another event, please let me know if you’d like to join ☺

Please feel free to write me back and let me know how you’re doing

Much love,

Laura

Newsletter #6:

Happy Mother’s Day J strong, giving, compassionate woman J
It’s so wonderful to share this sacred mothering journey with you. Welcome to
newsletter #6 of these, including updates, tips, and recipes.
How are you? May is here and I’m so excited to offer an Intro to Aware Parenting
Workshop. Parenting is so intuitive, and ofcourse there is no right or wrong. I’d
love to offer, though, some tips in this workshop from the Aware Parenting
perspective, which helped me so much over the years. I’m attaching a flyer and
there’s info just below, too.

Intro to Aware parenting Workshop:
On Sunday May 19 from 10-1, I am offering an intro to Aware Parenting
Workshop… what does that mean? I’ll teach tools to help you and your baby
release emotions in a healthy way (rather than repression or aggression), so that
you can both feel more relaxed and have better sleep.
It’s also super helpful with toddlers to be more relaxed and cooperative.
Sometimes they can be really confusing, and aware parenting breaks down some
of the challenging toddler behaviour into deciphering what’s going on with these
little humans.
Understanding, compassion and ease are such an integral part of Aware
Parenting. Also, it helps us as parents on our healing journey.
If you’re interested to join or to have any questions, please let me know. I need to
know how many will join in order to plan the workshop accordingly and to make
sure that I have enough people to make it happen. It would be such a pleasure to
see you there J
………..
“Is he always this calm?” People often ask me about baby Eliasz. “Yes!” is my
answer. And “YES, we get great sleep!”
About 3 years ago, when my daughter was 6 months old, I learned about Aware
Parenting, and it completely changed the way that I parent, and the way that I
understood my child. I learned that crying helps babies and children release
tension and stress, so if it is not a need (like hunger or nappy change, for
example), tears and laughter and connection can be totally freeing for them.
Actually, stress-releasing hormones are emitted through tears, so physiologically
it correlates. And when we are there to listen to their crying (never leave a child
to cry alone), they will feel calmer (& more cooperative for toddlers/older
children) and have better sleep, which is a bonus for us adults, too.
A child’s natural inclination is to cooperate, be calm and be pure love. They “act

out in challenging behaviour” when they need help releasing tension. I notice
that when my daughter is acting “difficult,” (she is 3.5yrs old) and then I help her
to have a good cry, a tantrum, a laugh or a close connecting time with me, she is
transformed into a super relaxed and happy child who wants to help me and be
gentle.
I am now training to be a certified Aware Parenting (AwP) instructor. I’m super
passionate about helping other mums find more ease and joy in parenting. So,
I’m offering a 3-hr workshop + after the workshop, extra support. If AwP
resonates with you, please come and join me on Sunday, May 19th from 10-1.
Cost $60


Intro to Aware Parenting Workshop: SUNDAY, MAY 19, 10-1
(+ 2 FOLLOW-UP GROUP ONLINE CALLS)
Learn the many facets and techniques of Aware Parenting.
Find more joy, ease, compassion, understanding and healing.
At Our Yurt in Modanville
Please contact Laura for address and to save a spot, bookings essential
Cost: $60 (includes light lunch and snacks) Laura: 0415 533 311
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HOW TEARS, TANTRUMS, LAUGHTER AND
CONNECTION LEAD TO BETTER REST, SLEEP AND COOPERATION FOR YOUR
BABIES & CHILDREN & U?
Give yourself a chance to relax and heal while learning techniques for building
healthy communication and release for your kids, use loving limits rather than
punishment & reward… and more from the Aware Parenting (AwP) perspective
(based on Aletha Solter’s The Aware Baby & Marion Rose PhD’s work.) Hi, I’m
Laura, a passionate mother of two gorgeous children (ages 3.5 and 6 months), a
yoga instructor, facilitator and mediator. I learned first-hand how to get better
sleep for my kids (& myself!) and how challenging behavior is caused by painful
feelings… & how creating a space for my kids to cry or laugh or connect allows

them to return to their true nature of cooperation & love. It has been a game-
changer in this sacred parenting journey! I hope to see u

there! www.ljspeace.com Laura 0415 533 311

[email protected] or 0415 533 311

YOGA & Ayurveda:
Take some moments to nourish your head, face, neck and shoulders. Take a few
moments to gently bring your ear to your shoulder and release some tension in
that part of your body. You can add a gentle touch if you’re feeling very tight
there. Then bring your chin to your chest, and then your ear to your other
shoulder. If feeling ready, you can bring your head back. Be super gentle with
yourself and with these gentle neck rolls. Take as much time as you need to here
to really let go of tension around your neck and shoulders.

When you’re done with all that, you can make up the simplest and most
satisfying Ayurvedic face scrub. Just use besan flour (chick pea flour) and a
touch of water to make a paste. Then scrub your face with that. I promise that
you’ll be glowing afterward. If you want you can add some turmeric to the mix or
a drop of lavender oil. Let me know how it goes!
Recipe:
Here’s one of my favourite things to cook & eat, usually about once a week: super
yummy quinoa patties.
You’ll need:
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 4 eggs
• a teaspoon salt

• chopped parsley or other herb
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped (you can fry beforehand, if you want)
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot & zucchini or olives & feta, the combinations
are endless
• salad or sunflower greens to garnish
Combine all the ingredients and then fry in a shallow pan of oil.
Throw on some salad or greens on top.
Enjoy with sweet chilli sauce or yoghurt.

I hope to see you this month at the Aware Parenting Workshop, please let me
know if you’d like to join J
Please feel free to write me back and let me know how you’re doing
Much love,
Laura

Newsletter #7:


How are you? Welcome to newsletter #7 of these, including updates, tips, and recipes. ☺ 

Happy winter solstice if you’re in the Southern hemisphere, and happy summer solstice for those in the Northern hemisphere. This can be a wonderful time for inner reflection, deep healing and connection with nature. 

I’m so happy to be here with you on this incredible parenting journey. It’s amazing how are lives are forever changed and how we can grow with our children as our little guides. 

Mum’s Circle at the Lismore Birth House July is just around the corner here, and I’m so excited to offer another mum’s circle. The power of sharing, listening and being heard with compassion is profound for healing. This time we will hold the mum’s circle at the Lismore Birth House on Sunday, July 7th (the same day as the carboot market) from 10- 12. If you can be baby-free, do it! Trust me, you’ll thank me for it!!! Cost: $10 

In this safe space we will share how we are doing, including challenges & joys about children, parenting or anything else that’s going on with you. Also, we will chill out with a bit of yoga and meditation and if interested, I will offer tips from the Aware Parenting perspective (totally for you to feel out if it resonates and feels right for you). 

Aware Parenting is based on Aletha Solter’s work to help you and your baby release emotions in a healthy way (rather than repression or aggression), so that you can both feel more relaxed and have better sleep. It’s also super helpful with toddlers to be more relaxed and cooperative. 

“We’re naturally calm, cooperative and compassionate. We want to contribute to others and care for them. We are able to change, concentrate for long periods, and be creative. This is our natural state,” Marion Rose PhD. If our child acts out, we are needing to help them release their emotions through crying or tantrums or laughter, so that he or she can return to their true state.” 

“Our babies want to sleep, feel relaxed, make eye contact, and concentrate. 

Our children want to be gentle with their siblings and friends and family, learn new things, and cooperate with us. 

We want to contribute to our children, to be calm and connected and compassionate with them.” 

If you would like to join in the next mum’s circle or have any questions, please let me know: Laura 0415 533 311 

YOGA & Ayurveda: Happy winter solstice! Let’s move through a few moon salutations… Run through this beautiful grounding and flowy sequence to warm up while also feeling mellow. (Please to see the image.) Or choose a couple of the images that you like and hold the position for a few deep yogic breaths. 

If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, then you may want to wake up a bit more with a sun salutation. 

Being a mother is one of the greatest things that we can do on this planet, according to my Ayurveda teacher. First of all, when we have a baby, we clean our whole bodies and start over with a clean slate. Watching this little angels emerge and grow is pure divinity. You are doing sacred work as a parent. You are a goddess. I celebrate you for all that you do. 

Aware Parenting (AwP): Connection is key to helping ourselves and our children and partners feel comfortable to release their emotions. 

AwP stresses healthy release (healthy communication) through crying and tantrums, and also through laughter with our little ones. These ways of release help teach our children how to communicate, rather then repressing emotions or being aggressive when big feelings come up. It’s the same for adults when it comes to healthy communication, checking in with ourselves and with our partners and being there compassionately to listen and support them or being listened to and heard. Healing is most profoundly occurring when we’re in another’s presence. 

Connection and laughter are also so important as a way for healthy release. Aletha Solter outlines 9 types of play, laughter and connection for children: 1.) The first one is connecting in with our child in non-directive play, which is basically following our child’s lead and really being there completely present, like a meditation. No distractions, maybe even setting a timer and playing with our child as he or she leads. It’s amazing to see them know exactly what they need and how they process life through play. Marion Rose PhD refers to this as “Present Time.” Try it for 10 min without distractions! 2.) Symbolic play with specific props or themes when something specific occurs and you want to help your child process it. An example that we are experiencing these days with my 3.5 yr old is sharing. We’ve taken one dolly who is not wanting to share with her dolly friends. It can be very effective to bringing awareness into a challenging situation and when possible doing something funny to bring out a laugh. 3.) Contingency play. For example if my baby playfully pulls my hair, I make a funny noise and he laughs. We can do this for a while! If he’s in the right mood, he loves it, and we totally feel our cups filling up with laughter, connection and joy. 4.) Nonsense play. If my daughter doesn’t want to get dressed, for example, then I playfully attempt to put her clothes on my body, but in all the wrong spots. What a silly mummy! 5.) Separation games. These can be useful when we are leaving for a certain amount of time, like her going preschool or if I go to work. The classics are peek- a-boo and hide & seek. 6.) Power-reversal games. A child will often have feelings of powerlessness, so to help them regain for sense of power and autonomy, we can give them choices, (maybe just 2 or 3 choices at a time, so that it’s not overwhelming), like “should we have cereal or eggs for breakfast?”. A fun game we love is on swings. I help my daughter show her strength by pushing me over while she swings. Then I pretend to really fall over, and this always makes my daughter laugh. 7.) Regression games. It is common for children to want to regress as babies or their younger selves, especially when a new sibling comes along or their learning and mastering a new trick. Let them feel younger and play along as they want to be wrapped up in a blanket or held like a baby. 8.) Activities with body contact. Give them a piggy back ride as you as the horsey. Let them feel your closeness. Let them lead you and laugh and have fun. 9.) Cooperative games and activities. Build a super tall block tower or little village together. 

Have fun and enjoy being together! Is there something specific that’s going on with you? If you want an idea of a specific game to play together, just let me know ☺ 

Recipe: My husband has brought his Polish yumminess into our home today. 

Here’s bigos, a Polish classic stew. Just use tofu & beans and other veg instead of meat if you’re vegetarian. Basically it’s a cabbage and sauerkraut base with flavouring from bay leaves and tomato paste. 

You’ll need: 

• A head of cabbage chopped 

• 500 g sauerkraut 

• 3 carrots 

• chopped parsley or other herb 

• 1 onion, finely chopped and fried 

• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

• cut up sausage and pieces of pork or tofu and beans 

• 1 can tomato paste 

• 100 g dried mushrooms 

• 2 bay leaves 

• 1 tsp sweet paprika 

Fry onions and garlic and meet or tofu. Then combine all the ingredients in a pot and simmer for about an hour. 

Enjoy ☺ 

Please feel free to write me back and let me know how you’re doing. Much love, Laura

Newsletter #8:

How are you? I hope that you are feeling good and finding these newsletters
nourishing to your body, mind & soul.
I have a couple of fun things happening in our yurt in August that are designed to
help you achieve a happier and healthier emotional, physical and spiritual you:
1.) Yoga on Thursday, 8/8 from 10:30-11:30. Open to anybody who is
looking for a good stretch: mums, kids, babies, toddlers and pregnant
women. It will be help in our yurt in Modanville. Please let me know if
you would like to attend, and then I can pass you my address. Cost: $10
2.) An Intro to Aware Parenting workshop on Sunday Aug 25 from 10-1.
Come and connect with other mums while learning about AwP techniques
to make your life easier and your kids able to release uncomfortable
emotions through crying, connection and laughter. (more about it below
and attached in flyer). Cost: $60 (Includes the workshop, 2 follow-up
group online calls and ongoing support via fb)
Yoga:
When was the last time you stood on your head or your hands or did a shoulder
stand (from lying on back position)? If none of those things are calling you, then
lie on your back with your legs up in viparita karani, which is legs up against the
wall pose.
The energy that you get from inversion postures is so transformative. Your
blood flows in a different way, organs sit differently. It’s fun and it’s different to
the routine of everyday life on the feet or sitting.
So, give it a try, listen to your body and do what feels right. If you want any tips,

just let me know and I’ll send you some more specifics.

Aware Parenting:
A really important message to AwP is communication and giving information. I
love it when my almost 4-year-old and I can converse so comfortably, no
judgement, simply flowing like old best friends. AwP has a huge part to play in
that. I always give her as much info as possible when we go out, when we’re at
home, educating her and keeping her aware of what’s happening in the world
around her. Even as a baby, I’m talking to my son and building this level of

communication and awareness of what’s happening, what we’re doing and
where we are going.
At the end of August I am so excited to host another Intro to Aware Parenting
Workshop. If you are interested in learning the many facets and techniques of
Aware Parenting or wanting to find more joy, ease, compassion, understanding
and healing in your motherhood journey, then please come along or let me know
if you have any questions in your personal life.
This workshop is not only about the children, but more so about you,: your
healing, your time to fill up your cup and how you can express your needs &
feelings in a healthy way, then if you have space, how you can support your
children to release their feelings.
Give yourself a chance to relax and heal while learning techniques for building
healthy communication and release
for your kids, use loving limits rather than punishment & reward… and more
from the Aware Parenting (AwP) perspective (based on Aletha Solter’s The
Aware Baby & Marion Rose PhD’s work.)
I’m a mother of two children (ages almost 4 yrs and 9 months), a yoga instructor,
facilitator and mediator. I’m training to be an Aware Parenting Instructor.
Almost 3 and a half years ago I learned the basic principles of AwP from Marion
Rose PhD, helping me and my daughter to get better sleep, along with better
communication skills for us all, bonding exercises to release through laughter
and play and generally how to enjoy parenting more, as I understand my
children better and can help them be more cooperative and calm, able to
concentrate and enjoy life more. It was so wonderful to have these tools
available once my second was born, so that we could all enjoy family life together
more and overcome the challenges of growing and changing.
Challenging behavior is caused by painful feelings and once I understood that,
created a space for my kids to cry or laugh or connect, then they could return to
their true nature of cooperation & love. It was wonderful to watch how my
babies and toddler changed once they could be listened to and responded to,
they became generally healthier, happier and gentler. They don’t want to be
disrespectful and difficult, they just need help getting out their uncomfortable
feelings, whether caused through trauma or simply an overwhelming shopping
trip.
Aware Parenting has changed my life, and I hope it will yours, as well! I hope to
see u there!
Sunday Aug 25, 10am-1pm
At our home in Modanville, in the yurt in the back
Cost $60
+2 follow-up inline calls and continuing support through facebook after the
workshop
www.ljspeace.com
Laura 0415 533 311

Recipe:
Kitchari actually means mixture, and it is a lentil and rice dish, which is so
simple, cleansing and satisfying. I used to study Ayurveda in Byron Bay where
we learned about kitchari cleanses, which could be used as a diet to cleanse the
system. Also, when I did my yoga teacher training course in India, we learned
about the beneficial properties of eating kitchari, and the nourishing properties
of it. Also, it is easily digestable. It can be cooked very simply or with extra herbs
and spices. Here is a recipe, which includes black mustard seeds and cumin.
This makes it more flavorsome for a hearty meal, especially yummy when topped
with yoghurt and fresh greens. You can use different ratios of rice and red
lentils, more or less water, so see what suits you the best.

Sauce:
2 tablespoon ghee
2 tsp black mustard seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1⁄4 cup chopped onion
a pinch of turmeric powder
a pinch of curry powder
salt to taste
1 clove garlic chopped
a bit of fresh garlic chopped
1⁄2 tomato (optional)
Grains:
1 cup uncooked rice (uncooked)
2 cups split red lentils (uncooked)
4 cups water
In one small sauce pan, heat ghee, add black mustard seeds until you hear
popping with the top on to avoid a mess (like popcorn), then add cumin seeds
until fried up, then add onion until light brown. Now add the other aromatics,
garlic, ginger and spices.
Meanwhile cook the rice and lentils for about 10-14 min.
Mix all together and enjoy.
You can top with greens and yoghurt (and cayenne pepper if desired).

Enjoy J
I hope to hear from you and/or see you soon!
Much love,
Laura

Newsletter #9:

How are you? I hope that you are feeling good and finding some peaceful moments at the end of the year/decade. 

Welcome to Newsletter #9 ☺

A BIG Thank you to all of the mothers and families who have joined me in 2019 in yoga or Aware Parenting related activities. It was been such a pleasure to share!!! Next year I am excited to add massage back again into the mix of my offerings.  I will be at the Lismore Birth House for a half-day clinic starting in February 2020 (on Tuesdays or Thursdays). Please spread the word, for women, pre and post labour, pregnancy and mummas wanting a nourishing and relaxing touch. On this same morning I will also offer mums & bubs and pregnancy yoga classes.  Please check in on the Friends of the Lismore Birth House fb page closer to the date or with me directly.

YOGA:

Resting on your back in shavasana, corpse pose, is beneficial for rejuvenating the body, mind and spirit. It calms the brain and helps relieve stress.  It relaxes the body and can help relieve headaches, fatigue and insomnia.

This year I have loved teaching yoga to children, as I have started teaching kids yoga at the Channon primary school. (The last time that I taught yoga to kids was in India during my teacher training many years ago.)  The kids here in the Channon have all loved shavasana in the last few minutes of class to end their weeks, on Friday afternoons. To add a special touch, I also placed a little magic stone on their foreheads in the last few minutes of class.  

When was the last time you rested on your back in shavasana?  You can put on a soothing song or meditation and lie down to rest for a while… maybe even with a little stone on your forehead.

(pics below are classes that I taught in India and in Byron Bay.)

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Aware Parenting:

How are you feeling during this end of the year and holiday period?  Often big feelings can come up for us as we reconnect with memories from this time of year and as our lives may be out of routine.  Just as Aware Parenting encourages us to connect with our children’s feelings and needs, we need to take time to connect in with ourselves.

And for our kids, big tantrums and cries right closeby to some loving arms and hearts could really help them overcome challenging feelings and difficult behaviour so that they can enjoy all of things that are happening around them.  A change of routine with different people, foods and new activities can be super fun but also overwhelming. Give your kids a chance to release or play with you.  

Power-reversal games help kids feel confident and that they are getting to make choices, as they often feel little and like the ones who must follow the schedule without getting to choose it.  A fun game that always as changes our mood at home is when I get on all fours on the ground & pretend to be a horse. Then my daughter climbs on my back and taps a shoulder to choose which way I’ll go.  She loves it, and she also loves the physical closeness of being on my back. For babies, I love to let me little guy push me over with his feet when he’s on the swing, and I exaggerate falling over. He gets a big laugh out of that!  Laughter is a powerful source of release. My daughter still loves that game, too.

Another great kind of attachment play games are separation games, especially if your child may be left with a family member who she/he doesn’t know to well.  You can help them to understand tha you will go away and come back through games such as hide-and-seek or peek-a-boo.  

Attachement-play games are therapeutic, helping children connect with you and helping them process different things that are happening in life.  If laughter is elicited, that’s super beneficial, as laughter, like crying, is a form of healing and release. I will offer an attachment play and let’s heal workshop at the end of Feb. 2020.  Please let me know if you may be interested in attending that.

Recipe:

Potato pancakes – hannukah latkes.

Hannukah is a Jewish holiday that I celebrate to remember the miracle of oil that purified the Temple after a battle.  We eat things cooked in oil, such as potato pancakes.

5 potatoes

½ onion

2 tbsp flour

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

I grate or food process the above.  Then I put it in a strainer to let the excess potato water drain out.

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Fry some oil in a shallow pan and spoon out one scoop of the mixture to create a potato pancake.  Cook until golden.  Very yummy with yoghurt or apple sauce.

Happy holidays! Happy summer solstice (or winter solstice if you’re on the Northern Hemisphere).

Lots of love and I hope to connect with you next year in 2020!

-Laura

Dear Lovely Mumma,

How are you? How are you feeling? What are you needing? I invite you to listen to what you might be needing and give yourself the time to fulfill what might be calling you, whether it’s rest or a walk or exercise or an art activity or yoga, or anything!

Welcome to Newsletter #10 ☺

I’ve been so happy being back at the Lismore Birth House, offering yoga (mums & bubs and pregnancy), massage, morning tea and Aware parenting consultations.  Updated info is always posted on the fb page: Friends of the Lismore Birth House.  Usually the schedule is:

10-11 yoga

11 morning tea

After that until 2:30 bookings for 1-on-1 Aware Parenting consults or massage

Please let me know if you would like more info or to book in J

Special upcoming events in March:

***Women’s festival ~ stretch and relax, Yoga with mums and kids:

As a part of Women’s Festival for the third year in a row, I will be offering yoga on Sat. March 7 from 9-10 am in Lismore.  All families, children are welcome.  $5/family.  Please let me know if you would like more info or to book in.  Please bring a mat J

*** Aware Parenting workshop with a special focus on play! We will talk about all of the principles of Aware Parenting, which are so simple, yet so deep at the same time… We will talk about how we look at babies’ and children’s underlying feelings when they show challenging behaviour and how we can help them release them big feelings, so that they can sleep better, be more relaxed, calm and cooperative. Sun March 15, 2020 from 10-1 at our yurt in the backyard in Modanville.

YOGA:

One of my favourite positions are deep hip openers, like pigeon pose.

Pigeon pose:

Start with a little hip-opener warm-up by sitting down and holding the leg while gently rocking your leg and loosening the hip joint. Do this on both sides.  Then, come onto hands and knees, then gently bring one knee forward and start to sink down into pigeon pose, lowering down to as far as feels right.  If you’re feeling very tight, then you may want to put a bolster under one side of your thigh.  For example, if you send your right leg forward, then bring a pillow or bolster under your right thigh.

Aware Parenting:

One of the most wonderful things that we can do for our children is to offer our presence and understanding.  Ofcourse, listening to your children cry and tantrum, as well as playing and encouraging laughter are elements of Aware parenting, which are so beneficial to our children.  But also, and above all else, being there for our children with our deep love and presence is what stands out above all!  The more we can be there and be there understanding our children’s feelings, understanding them, helps them connect with us and feel safer, more into the heart, calmer and more cooperative.  

Have you noticed how you feel when somebody offers you a chance to express yourself and understands how you’re going, offers empathy and support? Give yourself a chance to release and connect with a friend or partner.  And then see if you can find more space and presence to offer to your children.

It isn’t easy and I offer you so much love on this journey!

Recipe:

Mom’s Lentil Soup. Here is another favourite that my Moroccan mom has taught me.  I so enjoyed growing up with my mom’s absolutely incredible cooking.  Cooking is how she got into a meditation and showed us love.

250 gr dried lentils 

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

2 heaping tablespoons paprika

salt and pepper to taste

optional to add celery, carrots and potatoes chopped up

First soak the lentils in boiling water for an hour and cook them for about 30 min.

In a separate pan add onion and fry until start to change colour, then add garlic finely chopped.

Then put lentils and onion & garlic mix in a pot with paprika, salt and pepper and cook until lentils are soft.  So easy and so yummy!  Feel free to add root veggies and celery (cook separately until soft, then mix all together.)

So much love!

-Laura

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Newsletter # 11:

Hello Beautiful Mothers,
Welcome to newsletter # 11. How are you doing during this ever-changing and unusual corona time?

At this time of uncertainty and with so many big changes, it is important to be calm, strengthen the immune system so we can be of optimal health and open our hearts to help ourselves and those around us. While change is always happening, this period has called on greater change than we may have ever experienced. These times call for strong sense of urgency for us to be in harmony with ourselves and practice acts of kindness to others. Yoga is one way to achieve this and I have some online upcoming yoga classes to offer. In addition, I am also creating an online aware parenting workshop.

Special upcoming online yoga classes:

***Tuesday March 31 at 6:15pm
Come and join for a relaxing and nourishing free hatha yoga class with yoga Nidra (long meditation lying down) held online via the fb page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/646213506210686/? ref=share

Class will be 1hr from 6:15-7:15pm with about 40 min of asanas (stretches) and pranayama (breathing) and a long 20 min deep relaxation lying down at the end.

Just let me know if you would like to join and I will add you to the fb page, so that you can be a part of this community class.

***Online yoga classes through April, exploring a different chakra (energy center) $30 for the month through a fb page, with fb lives and other inspiring info during the week, classes held on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm and if enough interest also sat. morning classes. Please let me know if you would like to join and I will send through my bank details/paypal.

1

Opening Heart YOGA in times of UNCERTAINTY:
If you have ever been to a yoga class, you can remember that feeling at the end of class, that feeling of bliss and relaxation, that feeling of coming back to your natural state of peace. When we are connected to ourselves and others, calm, cooperative, compassionate, caring and creative, then we are in our natural state. If we found ourselves off balance, then we can practice yogic techniques to bring us back to center.

In Hatha yoga, through gentle stretches, deep breaths, quieting the mind, going inward, slowing down and perhaps connecting with a spiritual force, we heal the body mind and soul. We nourish ourselves through yoga, so that we can be happier and healthier. Bhakti yoga encourages one to connect with their purpose on earth, so that can help others through one’s natural gifts and talents.

The heart is our anahata chakra, which is the energy center for compassion, unconditional love and joy. We can imagine a green light shining from our heart center and say the mantra “yam” as we gently hold a hand to our heart. Anahata is a Sanskrit word for “unstruck” or “unhurt,” which implies that beneath hurts of past experiences lies a pure and spiritual place where no hurt exists.

We can sit up tall or stand up and practice a yoga asana (stretch) to open our heart center. First we can take some slow, deep breaths in and out through the nose, filling the chest and belly and relaxing any muscles that may be tense. Pranayama are breathing exercises, which can be as simple as inhaling and exhaling slowly and with awareness. As we take deep yogic breaths, our mind stops wandering. We become more attuned to the here and now. Next we can interlock our fingers behind our back and open the chest, creating more space to breath as the chest lightly pushes forward and the shoulders relax down far from the ears. Then we can release the fingers and come back to a straight back. Would you like to try this one more time, maybe also bringing the head back and pushing the hips forward? After this you may want to gently roll your neck from side to side an then toward your chin, or perhaps intuitively come into a twist through your back.

A deeper asana to open the heart is half bridge pose. Lying on your back, you can place the soles of your feet to the ground, then lift your hips up and interlock your fingers under your back, bringing one shoulder blade in closer to the other. Take a couple of deep breaths and imagine a green light shining from your heart center. Slowly come down, hug your knees into your chest and rock side to side.

We are all together. We are one. We can relax and nourish ourselves, and find more compassion as we slow down and

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breath deeply. Much love to you all dear community in this time of big change and uncertainty.

Aware Parenting

How are you doing these days as a mother or career? It can be very difficult to care for our children when we are feeling anxious or our needs & feelings are not being met. It can be useful to take time to connect with your feelings. Are you in a natural state of balance and feeling calm? If not, can you talk to a friend an express your feelings? Are all of your needs being met? What are you needing? Can you take a few minutes to explore what you need to be relaxed and connected with yourself and your family? Maybe take some time to yourself to feel replenished.

Just as children have repression mechanisms, which protect/ distract them from expressing their emotions, such as thumb sucking, eating, screens, we too as adults may find ourselves eating more chocolate, looking at screens or biting nails, for example when we’re feeling stressed. Have you found yourself holding back your emotions and drawn to one of your favourite repression mechanisms? I send you so much love and encourage you to be aware of this and to call a friend when you’re feeling anxious.

I would love to open an online Aware Parenting workshop through a fb online course in April if there is enough interest.
I envision supporting you on your parenting journey during this crazy unusual time, building an online community of loving mothers, written material around the AwP principles, + weekly fb lives, were you can ask questions and express what is going on for you. It would be $30 Australian for a month. Are you keen to join?

Recipe:

Recipe of the newsletter comes from my dear Polish husband, it is a rice and fish dish called Paprikash. It’s specifically from his home region in Poland: Szczecin.

It’s often found in tins these days, but traditionally it was inspired by Polish fishermen who were in West Africa.

One whole smoked trout, broken up

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2 cups cooked rice 1 fried onion
1 clove garlic fried 2 grated carrots

1 tblsp tomato paste
2 tblsp paprika
Salt and pepper
1 vegetable bullion cube dissolved in water Cut up parsley

Mix it all together and eat in a bowl or atop a piece of bread & butter.

I’m sending so much love to you all and I hope to see you online,

Laura

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Newsletter #12

Hello again Beautiful Mothers, Welcome to newsletter # 12. How are you doing as we sink into this slowing down time? What are you enjoying? What has been tough and

challenging?

It’s been a time with big changes, big adjustments and big feelings. I’m sure that u and ur close ones have been feeling big feelings and I send you all so much love and support. I’d love to offer more support in a way that has helped me so much. So, starting next week sun (Sun, May 3), I will start a FREE online aware parenting workshop through fb. More details below in the AwP section of this newsletter.

I am also continuing to offer online yoga next month so that we can continue to explore the chakras. Please let me know if you would like to join 🙂 we will balance the top three chakras, those which help us communicate, guide our intuition and connect us with a higher power. If you would like to join, please let me know, and I can send you the fb link.

Yoga:

Throughout April on Tuesday evenings we have practiced and discussed chakras, beginning with the first chakras, starting with the base.

Chakras are energy centres or literally “spinning vortex” from Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. As centres of force chakras are thought to relieve, absorb and distribute energy. Through external situations and internal habits, a chakra can become imbalanced by other being deficient or excessive. Imbalanced chakras can develop temporatial, chronically or situationally. For example, the throat chakra is called vishuddi chakra, and it can be deficient if we find ourselves unable to speak our voice. Perhaps it is situational, only with certain people who do not accept what we have to say. Or it could be overactive if we find ourselves speaking too much.

We can balance our throat chakra through yogic asanas (stretches around the neck area), but also by practicing to speak your truth, communicating openly, chanting and singing. I am SO excited to chant in next month’s yogic online classes when we come to the vishuddi chakra on Tues May 5th. Chanting and mantra are a deep passion of mine. I love that feeling of connecting with others, chanting names for higher beings and quieting the mind. I feel calm and happy after a good chant or recitation of mantr or prayer. Mantra is a detoxifying system, as well, and a path to meditation. I encourage you to check out some chants on utube. I love He ma Durga by Sangeeta. Here is a link:

https://youtu.be/SFhQ5Y6eCzI
Please let me know if you find a favourite 🙂

If you would like to join in next month’s yoga classes, please let me know. Classes are donation-based, or simply feel free to come along. The more the merrier 🙂 They will remain online forever.

Aware Parenting:

Self-care for mothers is essential to be able to give back to family and community. Some moments are tiring, especially could be more so these days . All we need is to soak our feet in a warm bath and drink a herbal tea. Listening to our bodies and hearts is what Aware Parenting (AwP) is all about! It’s as much about listening to our children as listening to yourselves. Would you like to learn more about AwP? I would LOVE to support you on your parenting journey by sharing more about the AwP philosophy.

So, I have just decided to offer a FREE online AwP workshop starting on Sun May 3. At 10am Sydney time, I will offer fb lives for about an hour every sunday for 4 weeks. Please come and learn more and ask questions.

Here is what I plan to cover:
Unit #1: listening with Empathy and Connection

Connection & listening, feelings & needs: if all needs have been met (i.e. Not hungry) then our children may be needing our support to release big feelings. When they’re acting in a behavior that is challenging, or doing something that we don’t want them to do, they may have big feelings that need to be

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released and listened to. When we connect with our children through laughter or listen with empathy to tears or tantrums, we help them come back to their calm, cooperative and gentle selves. Children, as are all humans, are pure love in their natural state, so helpful and kind.

Unit #2: Play & Laughter

Let’s learn about the 9 types of attachment play that Aletha Solter has outlined in her books. These methods help our children process in their language of play, connect with their parents and release big emotions.

Unit #3: Crying, Tears and Tantrums

When big emotions come up, children will naturally release them in a healthy way through crying/tantrums (or laughing). Adults and older children may release through crying, laughter and talking. Alternately humans suppress their emotions or become aggressive or agitated. Helping our children release through tears and laughter is a natural bodily function that releases stress.

Unit #4: Healing- how are you feeling?

In this section we will explore your feelings and needs. It’s not possible to listen to our children feelings if we have not had a chance to express ours or if we have not given ourselves self- care or responded to our needs. Have you found that certain moments with your kids triggers you? We can explore what you are needing and feeling. Also, we can look at your childhood and send love to little you and hurts. Tapping into wounds from your childhood can open up space to change patterns and create new possibilities.

Please let me know if you would like to join. Replays will always be available so even if you cannot make it fo the live, you can connect with other like-minded families, ask questions and see the replays.

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Recipe:
Nourishing and yummy banana, coconut oil cookies.

A friend inspired me with her smushed up banana cookies a while back.

This one is just a mix of oats, banana, desiccated coconut, coconut oil, choc chips, seeds, an egg, flour. Add less or more and feel it out. Then bake at around 190 C for 12 minutes. Yummy and wholesome snack.

I’m sending so much love to you all and I hope to see you online,

Laura

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Newsletter # 13:

Hello again Beautiful Mothers,
Welcome to newsletter # 13. How are you doing? It feels like it has been a really long time since the last newsletter. There have been so many challenges and changes and joys. It’s hard to keep track of it all. I hope that you are all doing well.

I will write about empathetic listening in the Aware Parenting section of this newsletter and you are all invited to our next Mum’s Circle, so that we can all have a chance to express ourselves and experience empathetic listening 🙂 It will be on Sunday August 9th from 10-12 in our yurt in Modanville.

Updates:

*General hatha yoga at the Channon Hall are being held every Tuesday evening at 6:15. So nourishing and relaxing! Come & join.

Massage in Dunoon:
*On Fridays I am offering Massage (soothing Ayurvedic massage) and Aware Parenting consults at Blessed Botanicals (Herbalist and massage shop) in Dunoon on Fridays (by booking in advance.) (Mobile massage available on other days of the week.)
Are you feeling stressed or achey after this big period? An Ayurvedic massage is a way to bring the body into a state of rest and back into it’s natural state of balance and health. Are big emotions coming up with your children and would you like some support and tips? AwP consults are 1-on-1 supportive ways to work through challenging patterns and find more understanding and ease.
Let me know if you would like to book in for a massage or AwP consult.

*Pregnancy yoga in Nimbin on Thursday afternoon are going on.
I’d love to open a mums and bubs/toddlers class in Nimbin if enjoy interest. Please let me know if you would like to join.

Yoga:

Side stretches have been wonderful to relieve some hip area and lower back aches. I do simple stretches while standing or sitting. I lean to one side, then the other. Also I

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love the crescent moon pose, with both arms up and leaning to the side. I like to take deep breaths and hold it in this leaning position for a few seconds. I have found that moving my top arm a bit forward or back can help me relieve aches in different parts of my side. I always leave my top shoulder relaxed so that it’s far from my ear (no sketching up in my shoulder area.) Also, I love doing simple side neck stretches and neck rolls before or after stretching my sides. I highly recommend taking some time for side- stretches, especially if you are experiencing lower back, hip or glut pain.

Aware Parenting:

Empathetic listening – reflection – laughter – tears… Not a day goes by without implementing those basic principles of Aware Parenting. When our children express themselves, no matter what it may be about, it is wonderful to listen back supportingly and lovingly. Also, reflecting back can be very powerful.

“I hear you my love. I hear that you’re upset. I love you and I’m here for you.”

“I hear you my love. I hear that you are feeling bored and don’t want to go to preschool today.”… I had to say that last phrase a few days ago in the morning. It was quite surprising actually. Usually my daughter Aya (almost 5) LOVES preschool. She’s been very excited, though, about starting kindergarten next year, and I sense that she’s wanting that to happen sooner than 6 months from now. I listened to what she had to say and I stayed with her for the first 20 minutes of preschool. We connected, played with the soccer ball and had a laugh as she got it past me and into the goal. A few minutes later, a friend came up to her and asked her to play. She was off and involved. And she ended up having a wonderful day at preschool today!

Have you ever found that when you are feeling a big emotion, it can be so helpful to talk about it with a friend? And if that friend is really listening and reflecting back at what you are feeling, then you can work through that emotion and heal? Sometimes when a laugh or cry comes out, then it really makes everything feel much better.

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The next morning went similarly. We had almost arrived at preschool, and then Aya started crying: “I hate preschool. I hate all the toys and the rope swing is uncomfortable.” Day #2 of having big emotions just before preschool drop-off. I sat with her in the car and parked just before the preschool whilst she cried. When we arrived at preschool, her teacher said, “Aya, will you be the leader today for group games and movements? We need the big kids to be leaders. Will you help me set up while the little ones play outside.” And like that she was off and came home after having another brilliant day!

The next day, Day 3: I asked her if she wants to go to preschool: “yes” and no delays in the morning drop-off 🙂

If your schools/preschools/child-cares have started up again, how have things been going with your children and schooling? I invite you to use empathetic listening with reflection. Just maybe your kids will have a cry or laugh.

Also, would you like to come for an opportunity to express yourself, release emotions and be heard (empathetic listening for u! :)? Come and join a group of like-minded mums on Sunday Aug. 9 from 10-12 in our yurt in Modanville (a few min from the Channon market and the markets will be back on.) Please find the flyer attached with more details.

Recipe:
Semolina cake- so moist and perfect!

It’s not often that I pull out the kitchen scale, but for this one, I find this balance of ingredients so perfect.

190g semolina 250g yoghurt 100g soft butter 160g brown sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 medium eggs
1 tsp bicarb soda (baking soda)

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Mix semolina and yoghurt in a bowl and leave for an hr. Preheat oven to 180C
Mix in rest of ingredients and pour batter into baking tin. Bake for 35 min

Enjoy!

I’m sending so much love to you all.

Please let me know if you’d like to join in the Mums Circle or would like to book in for a massage.

Xo, Laura

Newsletter # 14,

Hello again Beautiful Mothers,
Welcome to newsletter # 14. How are you doing as we reach the later part of 2020. It’s been a different year, that’s for sure. What has been happening for you lately? I’d love to hear about it.

I’m very excited to be offering an online Yoga and Aware Parenting (AwP) workshop, starting oct. 25th. I find that Yoga and AwP combine all of the elements for physical, emotional and spiritual balance and connection to myself and family and others. AwP has been so wonderful in my life, helping me shift patterns that I did not want to have as a mother, enabling me to be the mother that I want to be, raise my children in the way that is best for their hearts’ callings, helping me heal from childhood hurts and helping my children sleep better, develop healthier and be more cooperative I’d love to share more about AwP with you through this online workshop

If you’re local, I’ll also be giving talks at the Lismore birth house on sat, oct 10 at 10am and Byron pregnancy support group on mon oct 19 in Mullumbimby at around 1pm. Please let me know if you would like to join and I can fill you in on more details.

Link and flyer attached for the workshop:

Updates:

*General hatha yoga at Keerong Hall on Wednesday evenings at 6:30, along with yoga classes at the Channon Hall are being held every Tuesday evening at 6:15. So nourishing and relaxing!
Come & join if you’re living in or around these communities. All levels are welcome.

Massage in Dunoon:
*On Fridays I am continuing to offer massage (soothing Ayurvedic massage) and Aware Parenting consults at Blessed Botanicals (Herbalist and massage shop) in Dunoon on Fridays (by booking in advance.) (Mobile massage available on other days of the week.)
Are you feeling stressed or achey after this big period? An Ayurvedic massage is a way to bring the body into a state of rest and back into it’s natural state of balance and health. Are big emotions coming up with your children and would you like some support and tips? AwP consults are 1-on-1 supportive ways to work through challenging patterns and find more understanding and ease.
Let me know if you would like to book in for a massage or AwP consult.

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link: https://facebook.com/events/s/online-yoga-
aware-parenting-wo/1698092313678885/?ti=icl

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*Pregnancy and mums & bubs combined yoga class at the Lismore birth house on Tuesdays. It’s been so lovely to be back at the birth house in sept. 3-week clusters of classes will continue starting mid-Oct. I also offer massage & AwP consults on these days.

Yoga:

Yoga is not only about stretches, strengthening breathing. An ancient and all-encompassing philosophy that was written by wisdom seekers and written in texts, such as the “yoga sutras” by Patanjali. These texts provide deeper fulfilment and bring us back to our true nature of joy & love. For example, we can tap into moral qualities that connect us deeper with out soul nature, which are called yamasYamas include peacefulness, truthfulness, generosity, self- control and appreciation.

Starting with the first one: peacefulness (ahimsa), we can think about how our inner dialogue is. Are there negative thoughts? Can negative thoughts be shifted to more positive, loving ones?

Some actions for practicing ahimsa could be:
-be patient with someone who is slower than you
-be more peaceful to the physical body/rest when needed -send thoughts of forgiveness to someone who has hurt you

Aware Parenting:

Never has such a useful technique been: connection, present time, setting aside time for one little one at a time to deeply connect and allow them to take the lead. Aletha Solter, the found of Aware Parenting, calls this “non-directive child- cantered play.” I see huge shifts when I devote on-on-one time with one of my children, I often find that He or She feels calmer and more cooperative.

When challenges arise and present time does not fix it, I often think of 3 things:

-Does my child need info?

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-Does my child have an unmet need? (Which could be hunger or boredom, for example)

-Does my child have big feelings that need to come up? And am I feeling that my cup is full enough to listen and calmer be there through my child’s tantrum or big cry?

If my cup is full, I sit calmly though the tears and say, “I hear you my love. I hear that you’re upset. I love you and I’m here for you.”

Are you interested to learn more play therapy, more background as to why children behave in challenging way, more techniques to help you be the mum you want to be and more chance for your own healing?

Come and join us with a beautiful online yoga and Aware Parenting workshop to help you find more balance, energy and support.

Starting Oct. 25, a 4-week workshop will begin, incorporating yoga and Aware Parenting techniques to help families find more peace and understanding during these unusual times.

Please join us to:
~heal, connect, receive/give empathy.

~learn why babies & children have disrupted sleep, can become aggressive or non-cooperative

~ develop techniques to help babies and children sleep better and be more cooperative without punishments and rewards

October 25- November 21 (4 weeks)

$80 (please contact Laura to pay via PayPal or bank transfer)

The workshop will include:

-small group personalised zoom sessions for you to ask any and all questions

-online fb lives -written info -study guides

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Themes over the 4 weeks will include:

-benefits of the “crying-n’arms” approach, how tears & tantrums are both a little one’s tool for communication and a natural healing mechanism

-understanding the causes of children’s behaviour, feelings, needs and information

-suggestions for eliciting cooperation in toddlers, loving limits + attachment play activities to strengthen attachment, help children heal and resolve discipline problems

-your healing, relieving stress, being heard and relaxing.

Please note that this workshop will run over 4 weeks. Oct 25th at 10am is the first zoom session. Other times of zoom sessions and fb lives will depend on when you are available. we will work around each other’s schedule to find the best time to run these sessions.

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Laura Shaz is a certified yoga teacher, Aware Parenting (AwP) instructor and Ayurvedic massage therapist. She holds a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. She teaches yoga for mums & bubs and pregnant women at the Birth House, gives massage and holds AwP consultations, workshops and mum’s circles periodically throughout the year. She is passionate about physical and emotional healing for families and about making mothers’ and families lives more joyful.

Recipe:
Yummy and fun to assemble Vietnamese rice paper rolls.

Hot water and round dry rice paper that you can soak in hot water.

Then add: Vermicelli noodles

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Cucumber

Mint

Tofu

Assemble and roll up (first close off the ends then roll.

Dip in a peanut sauce, which I made from peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar and some hot water.

Enjoy!

I’m sending so much love to you all.

Please let me know if you’d like to join the Online Yoga & Aware Parenting workshop. There are limited spaces.

Xo, Laura

Newsletter # 15,

Dear Lovely Mumma,

How are you? Can you believe that we’ve almost reached the end of this unique and perhaps challenging year? Are there things that you have grown and learned from this year? Maybe about your resilience? Or your love for staying home more and being in nature while slowing down? Or maybe some stronger connection with family or friends have been formed? Out of challenge, comes strength.

I’ve enjoyed more quality time with my children and in so doing that feeling a closer connection with them. We’ve had lots of fun together. I’ve been so happy to have more slowing down days this year and to get my hands more in the veggie garden. I’ve also loved getting to teach yoga, offer massage and Aware Parenting consults & workshops online, as well as in-person when the situation improved. I’d love to hear about your journey over 2020.

Aware Parenting (AwP) has helped me navigate feelings of inner power, powerlessness, and freedom of choice based around our restrictions with the Virus and how that interrelated with my children. Being limited in activities and having new rules challenged me. Yet I remained flexible and happy to exert my inner power by consciously choosing what I can do based on recommendations.

The American situation, on the other hand, showed me how the people decided to not follow recommendations, based on the American rights of freedom and their way to exert power feelings of powerlessness. Many Americans didn’t listen to mask-wearing recommendations and gatherings. At the moment, the Virus is out of control there, and I feel sad for my family and friends in America. True power is about connecting with our innermost feelings and then choosing what is right based on our intuition and information.

AwP is all about allowing feelings of powerlessness to be released and about encouraging choice. I see my power as shining through in the ways that I actively and consciously make choices, such as the way I choose to raise my children. I also allow space for my own feelings of powerlessness to be expressed and healed. Likewise, I give space for my children to have choices and for their feelings to be expressed around power. I often play lots of power-reversal games with my kids to give them

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the chance to release feelings of powerlessness, such as using a magic wand to turn me into something, or scare me with a dinosaur toy or push me on a swing or with a pillow or their bodies while I dramatically fall over. Play is the Language for children to process and understand what is happening. Releasing feelings of powerlessness helps them be more cooperative and relaxed. Likewise, as parents, it’s important to express our feelings around power and powerlessness.

Marion Rose, PhD (my AwP mentor) writes, “Most of us had experiences as children where we felt powerless, especially in the culture that most of us grew up
in. That might have simply been not having choice around things that happened, but it might also have been coercion, punishment or even medical procedures, separation or loss. If we didn’t get to release those feelings of powerlessness, those feelings remain in our bodies. Those old feelings of powerlessness may bubble up when our child doesn’t cooperate with us, when they say no, or when they’re doing the opposite of what we ask. The feelings can be so big and so painful that we may resort to power-over in the form of subtle or not so subtle threats, punishments, coercion or force. The more we can heal our own past experiences of powerlessness, and connect with our true inner power, the less we will feel powerless or use power-over when our children don’t cooperate with us, and the more we will be able to use power-with them.”

Has 2020 brought up feelings of powerlessness? By talking about those triggering moments or unresolved,fed childhood wounds we can process and heal from unresolved childhood emotions.

AwP covers topics such as power, limits, emotions, unresolved childhood wounds, healing, the Soul’s callings. I have been creating videos for an online workshop, which allows people to watch informative videos, gather written information and meet one-on-one with me (in person or online) or in a small group for follow up check-ins. If you would like to join an ongoing online “Yoga and Aware Parenting Workshop” in 2021, please let me know.

Yoga at the Lismore Birth House has been wonderful. I love seeing the gorgeous pregnant women, mums, dad, babies and toddlers who join on Tuesday mornings. Classes have finished for 2020. Please let me know if you would like to join in Feb 2021.

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Yoga at the Channon and Keerong Halls on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings have been wonderful. Through the school summer holidays I will take a break from these weekly classes. A friend of mine, Gian, and I are co-creating a very special evening. On the evening of Tues., Jan 12 at the Channon Hall, you are all invited to a Dark Moon & Yoga Ceremony. The dark moon is a chance to release and renew. I see so much happening for 2021. This will be an amazing opportunity to check in, release and be easy for whatever comes your way in the new year. Let me know if you would like to join.

YOGA:

Are you looking to sit and relax more in a meditation time or space? The benefits of meditation are vast, including more feelings of happiness, joy, creativity, gratefulness, presence, sense of clarity, groundedness, lowered blood-pressure, lowered anxiety, and general improved health & well-being.

It can help to maintain a structure for meditation time, like any ritual to cue the subconscious toward a desired outcome. Guided meditations are very helpful.

Here are 10 suggestions to assist you in creating a meditation practice.

1.) Prepare a space for your meditation. Maybe light a candle, set down a cushion and/or create an altar with flowers, incense and a devotional image.
2.) Spend a few minutes doing a few asanas (stretches) to relax the muscles and relieve tension, as well as to prepare the body for easeful sitting

3.) Turn off the phone, but set a timer for 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 min. (or gradually work your way up to 30 min/ day)
4.) Find a comfortable & steady seated position, keep your spine nice and tall, like a hallow tube. Relax. Hands can gently rest in your lap.

5.) Offer a prayer of intention or chant a mantra or Aum. (The sound aum represents the vibrational energy inherent in all creation, and chanting it is a powerful bridge between individual and Universal Consciousness.)

6.) Practice pranayama (a breathing technique, like alternate nostril breathing) to regulate energy flow through the body and cleanse the body.
Another pranayama could be to inhale for 5 slow counts and then exhale evenly for 5 slow counts, feeling your whole body expanding and contracting with each breath.
7.) Quiet your 5 senses and focus your internal gaze at the third eye centre. Concentrate in between the eyebrows.
8.) Breath in and out deeply, slowly.
9.) Continue for a period of time until you feel yourself move into a period of stillness, not thought, pure being. Stay here for as long as possible. If it ends too quickly focus on love and go back to connecting with the breath. 10.) Conclude with a prayer of gratitude or an affirmation of your Divinty.

I have also started checking-in regularly with a friend around our daily meditations. My friend Sally suggested that we sit for a 5-day “retreat.” She invited me to sit for any length of time. Then we checked in daily, sending a message to let each other know about how we felt after each session.

Sally is committed to mindfulness, and she is also a psychotherapist with a Masters in Gestalt Therapy. She is compassionate, sensitive and has a deep presence. She offers appointments for individuals, couples or family groups. Gestalt is a deeply respectful psychotherapeutic modality. If you’d like to contact Sally, her email is … [email protected]

Aware Parenting:
AwP is all about presence, awareness, creativity. Our soul callings are found in our hearts when we feel happy, calm and connected. You know those things that we love to do, that make is feel deeply fulfilled? Well, our children also have those natural talents and joys ofcourse. The more we can meet our child’s needs, listen to their feelings and support them in following their interests, the more they stay connected with their soul. Awareness, presence, the capacity to be calm and concentrate and be centered all point to the soul.

If you have some time over this new year period, I encourage you to connect with your passions and to let your heart feel joyful in so doing so. Likewise, I support you in allowing your children to connect with their will and loves. While sometimes, allowing our child to connect with his/her will, may be less desirable for us (perhaps we were not encouraged to be free and follow our heart’s callings), you may find that allowing your

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child to lead and make decisions, will make him/her happier and agree to cooperate when he/she is ready to.

Does that resonate with you? I’d love to hear about your passions and about your childrens’ interests.

Recipe:
Fruit skewers are so much fun to make with kids (just watch the pointy side). Their also beautiful, raw and healthy for the festive season.

Gather all of your favourite fruits and cut them into bite size pieces. Slide them onto skewers. My favourite fruits to use are:

-strawberries -melon -banana -orange -pineapple

Happy holidays! Happy summer solstice (or winter solstice if you’re on the Northern Hemisphere). And wishing you a smooth and joyful 2021!

Lots of love, -Laura

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Newsletter # 16,

Dear Lovely Mumma,

How are you? I’m feeling happy and excited to share about partner yoga, Aware Parenting offerings & recent experiences and a recipe inspired from the garden.

Lately, I feel more and more driven by my heart and I hope you are feeling this, too. Whether you’re into astrology or not, you’ve probably felt a shift in vibration as the world begins a shift towards more heart-led and organic living. I feel yoga and Aware Parenting (AwP) AwP are foundational in raising this generation to be more connected, living in the present, compassionate, emotionally conscious and healed for this epic era.

Yoga and Aware Parenting Family Retreat
My friend Devon and I are so happy to co-create an intimate, transformative, personalised family retreat for families in the springtime in the Northern Rivers. 
(Limited space)

This retreat is designed for families who love Aware Parenting to come together, relax, feel awesome, share, gain support, help their children sleep great, and learn simple activities for resolving behaviour problems & finding deeper family connection while enhancing emotional health.

Devon and I are both certified yoga instructors and AwP facilitators. We have found that these two modalities support one another on our journeys as parents. We both found that when we were calm enough through the daily yoga practice that we were more effectively and consistently able to apply the principles of Aware Parenting.

Conversely, when we had the tools and practices of Aware Parenting we were more able/likely to engage in our restorative daily yoga practice which helped with anger management, being more creative in seeking peaceful resolutions in family conflict and gaining perspective through the daily pressures of parenting in a pandemic.

We invite you to come and let go of your day-to-day life and relax while learning valuable, life-changing tools.

The vehicle of daily yoga can be used as a stress-reduction tool, as well as a diagnostic tool to check into their own capacity on

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any given day and make arrangements accordingly, ie feeling shaky today, might set up some extra support. Yoga is a comprehensive system of self-care that includes breathing, attention to the senses, physical postures, mindfulness, and meditation.

We are aiming for the first weekend in October, as it is a long weekend, so Monday is off for most. It will be for 3 days/3 nights with nourishing food, pristine nature, yoga classes for mums/dads & bubs, yoga for kids, yoga for parents, Aware Parenting Circles, supportive sharings, activities for children, such as an Attachment play therapeutic play-time for healing and processing, relaxing meditations and on-going online support after the workshop.

Please let me know if you would like more information about the family retreat. Space is limited and going fast.

******************************************************************* Mum’s Circle- Sunday, March 21 10-12
At our yurt in Modanville
Relax ~ Connect ~ Nourish Yourselves

Healing, Presence ~ Connection

Are you looking for more time to be present with yourself and to connect with other like-minded mums? Give yourself a chance to fill up your cup and heal through sharing and listening. We’ll do some yoga & meditation. Share how you are doing in partners and in the circle (whether it be about being a parent or anything else in your life), + learn tips & resources from the Aware Parenting perspective. If possible make it child-free (babies are welcome). $20 Please let me know if you would like to join 0415 533 311.

YOGA:

Partner yoga is an excellent way to support one another deepen into postures while stretching and connecting with a child, child or partner.page2image62942272page2image52550560

I teach yoga at the Lismore Birth House on Tuesday mornings for mums & bubs and pregnant women. Partner exercises are often incorporated in these classes to build community and connection and feel even deeper into some postures. (Please let mw know if you would like more info about these yoga classes.)

I’ll describe some of my favourite partner stretches below.

  1. 1)  Rainbow: my kids love! We hold hands and feet together and then aim to lean back and stretch. Kids love body contact, having fun and enjoying the things with us that we love!
  2. 2)  Child’s pose: with a kid on my back. It actually feels really nice to get a little push down and flatten into the mat. This can also be done with a friend lying on your back- going back to back is a great stretch for both (the one top is having a chest-opener).
  3. 3)  Lean forward with arms stretched in front and sitting in chair pose with your bum coming back. Keep your back parallel with the ground and have your partner hold your hands and gently pull. Can you feel the elongation in your back and stretch through your arms?

Aware Parenting:

Taking moments to relax and connect with my kids can feel amazing for all of us! I love what Aware Parenting has taught me about presence and deep connection. It isn’t necessarily about quantity, but rather about quality. Even though Aya has started big school this year, and I don’t see her all day, I find that we’re able to find pockets of time to connect so easily before and after school and in a much deeper, closer level.

We either do present time (non-directive child-centred play), where I let her decide what she wants to do and I follow her lead without directing. For Aya, this is usually colouring together or riding bikes. I have a specific amount of time, like 10-30 minutes, and both of our cups feel full and love is flowing. We also sometimes do a symbolic play game, chasey game (separation game), or a body contact game.

Symbolic play has been profound in shifting big feelings around sibling issues and preparation for school. Sometimes we use a little doll house to be a home for a

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family. I sometimes prompt the play and invite her to create a family and see where she wants to go with it, seeing if some anger or jealousy that I saw come up can be recreated and healed when we make a pretend family interact. We also used the doll house as a pretend classroom and brought toys in to be the teacher and classmates, introducing how school would go and understanding how she’s feeling at school once it started. Symbolic play is extremely useful to help children process big events or feelings that are coming up and can be recreated through specific props or activities (ie doctor kit after hospitalisation.)

***************************************** In the same way that presence, connection and quality time has been useful with my daughter, offering clear and specific tools for toileting has helped me son become potty-trained with ease. If you are potty- training or have potty-trained, how are you experiencing things?

It’s been quite a few months now, and I’ve also wanted to write about the completely different and marvellous experience that I have had potty training my 2-year- old-son compared to the struggle and disconnection that I felt while teaching my daughter to use the potty.

First of all, I feel that I waited a long time to give my daughter enough useful information about using the potty. (She was around 2-2.5 years old). I have found research that the best age to start potty-training is between 1-2 years old. More useful tips are below about how to make the experience effortless, fun and a connecting experience… so much so, that it’s not even potty-training at all. I’d like to call it Aware Pottying.

Even before 2-years-old, my little guy could use the potty by day and no bed-wetting at night. How did it all happen? Well, instead of waiting a long time, from a baby, I introduced my baby to be conscious of his bodily functions through Elimination Communication (E.C.), where I would hold him hold him over the sink or toilet and make a sound to prompt him. This was usual done upon waking, before sleeping, after meals and before getting in the car.

More points:
-My important points:

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-My little one always watched how his parents and olderpage4image52436496page4image62991424

sister used the potty.

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-From the ages of 1-2 years old, I would allow lots of nappy-

free time.

-We read books aimed for children ages 1-2 with stories

around using the potty.

-My little one had choices: “Do you want the nappy or

undies today?”

-When there was an accident, I explained that pees and poos

go in the potty.

-The environment was stress-free, including space for AwP

emotional releases.

-We did symbolic play (ie with play-dough), nonsense &

power-reversal games.

Would you like to parent with more connection & ease? Or find more support? Aware parenting is a conscious, holistic way of parenting that encourages families to support babies and children heal through crying, laughter & connection. I have heaps of offerings this year, like a Mum’s Circle on March 21, workshop in May and a retreat in October. Also, I’m available for 1-on-1 AwP consultations.

Recipe:
Pumpkin Soup
We have some beautiful pumpkins growing, so we made a huge pot of pumpkin soup by sautéing onions, garlic and ginger, cooking up some pumpkin with turmeric, salt, honey and coconut milk. Then we smushed it down once cooked with a potato masher and garnished with parsley.

Yum!

I send you lots of warmth, lightness and love! Please let me know if any questions or sharings came up for you while reading any of this and if you would like to book in for the Mum’s Circle or Retreat.

Lots of love, -Laura

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Newsletter # 17,

Dear Lovely Mumma,

How are you? I hope that the sun is out and you’re feeling good! I have some updates, some exciting offerings and another recipe inspired by our garden’s abundance.

First, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the great amount of interest in the family retreat, which we were hoping to create in October. Unfortunately, I’m sorry to write that the Aware Parenting Yoga Family retreat will not go ahead this year. With all of the uncertainty around COVID sill going on, we have decided to postpone the event. I would absolutely love to offer a 1- day workshop including yoga and Aware Parenting for parents. If anybody is interested, please let me know.

Also, please do come along to the wonderful mums & bubs/pregnancy yoga classes on Wednesdays at 10:30 at the Lismore birth house. After class I will bring in topics around Aware Parenting with study guide questions, such as attachment play to solve challenges for babies and children, food, sleep, nourishing yourself as a mother. These discussions will encircle and accompany a simple yummy homemade treat and cuppa. The next 3-week set of classes will being this coming Wednesday, July 14. Please let me know if you would like to book in.

Breastfeeding Beyong Babyhood summit:
Do you breastfeed beyond babyhood? If yes, would you like to join a summit around this topic with over a dozen experts, which will take place July 26-30? It’s a free online event. I will be speaking about breastfeeding and loving limits. Here is the link: https://laurashaz–evidence- basedmommy.thrivecart.com/bbb-fast-action-vip/

YOGA and Children Dancing:

Dynamic yoga is great for these colder days (if you’re living in the Southern Hemisphere). Inspired by the joy I see in my children dancing, vinyasa flow classes and the 5 Tibetan rites, I’d like to invite you to flow through a series of sun salutations or invent your own sequence!

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Maybe you’d like to put on some music and see how your body flows? Allow your children to dance alongside of you and have fun together.

Lately, I love moving between down dog and child’s pose.

Or dandasana (seated with legs outstretched in front of you- knees can be slightly bent to support your lower back) and table top.

I find the flow and gentle movements, kind to my back and make me feel warmed up.

Aware Parenting:

Seeing my children laugh together, snuggle together, support each other, express their emotions and play independently at times makes my heart sing!

It always feels like magic to see how my children are calm, connected and happy after a big cry with my support or after an attachment play game together that often their dad does with them.

Babies and children that have stress or accumulated emotions due to stress or trauma can heal by crying to release big emotions. Stress can come up from overwhelm on a big shopping trip or days apart in daycare with experiences to process. Trauma could be related to a frightening experience or birth trauma.

Children that are healed and free of stress or emotions from trauma are relaxed, alert, communicative, non-violent and no longer triggered by trauma reminders.

If your baby or child has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, separation anxiety, challenges around sitting in car seats or other cooperative requests, concentrating for periods… then, you may want to learn more about how Aware Parenting encourages tears to be released with us as a carer nearby.

Aware Parenting (AwP) is an approach to parenting that was founded by developmental psychologist Aletha Solter. This approach has not only changed my parenting life but also me as a person, learning valuable listening techniques, self-care reminders, healing from my childhood and a deeper sense of presence, empathy and mindfulness in my daily life.page2image63419136page2image52555760page2image52548272

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Sometimes red flags come up, and I notice that my children are feeling upset. They may become aggressive (ie hitting) or suppressive (ie screens) or be uncooperative. I calmly set loving limits and allow their tears to come through, as I lovingly support them. As parents, we can meet the needs of our babies and children, fill them with warmth & love and support them to be the best versions of themselves.

This past week we had a big day out. At the end of the day it was time to shower or have a bath. I offered my two-year-old these options, but he refused. “I’m not dirty,” he kept crying and would not get into the shower or bath. I tried to make it fun and invite him to bring toys in or use a special soap. Nope, he was not able to cooperate. Finally, I bled him, and listened as he cried, “I’m not dirty.” Eventually he fell asleep in my arms after a big cry. I let go of the expectation that he would cooperate after such a huge day out. The next day he had a bath and enjoyed playing in there for a while.

Babies and children who are/were stressed or had traumatic experiences can release the emotions that are held in their bodies through crying and being listened to in arms. they can always catch-up. If parents were stressed during pregnancy, or there was a birth trauma, for example, if a baby has developmental frustrations or had frightening experiences, or even if babies or children have really big days or new experiences to process, crying or laughter attachment play games with the support of a carer can help babies and children relax, heal, be more cooperative and be able to concentrate better.

According to the Aware Parenting Philosophy, we can ask: Why Do babies cry?

1.) -> Communication: Baby has an immediate need, like physical closeness, food, stimulation, etc, so as carers, we can fill the baby’s need as best as possible.

OR

2.) -> Stress Release: Baby has an emotional or physical hurt or stress, such as a physical hurt or trauma, emotional hurt, accumulated stress.

If #2 is the reason, as parents we can remove the source of pain, hold our baby or child lovingly and listen to the crying.

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This helps our baby feel loved and safe. Crying and tears that are emitted though crying has anti-stress hormones that are excreted from the body (oxytocin). It is an emotional healing mechanism. have you ever had a beautiful crying release where you felt held and supported, whether with a friend or therapist? The same feeling of lightness happens for our little ones when they are supported in their crying with their most loved ones. Emotional stress can be healed by babies being held in arms and empathetically listened to while crying. Toddlers and children may want to move around, but to have their carer close by. Healing happens when another is supporting us.

It’s always important to check for a pain or an immediate need when our babies or children cry. If they need to cry to release emotions, the AwP approach suggests to stay calm, listen hold our little one lovingly and to say something like, “I hear you. I’m listening.” (I wouldn’t suggest something like, “Here’s a cookie. Stop crying.”) Allow the crying to continue for as long as it needs and as long as the carer can be present through the emotions. Our little ones must feel safe and connected to the carer. They will keep trying to cry and be heard until they are healed from the stress or trauma, which is why often babies wake up in the night to cry. I recommend finding time and space during the day or before bed to allow emotions to be released, so that our children can sleep. They want a great night’s sleep as much as we do.

Post-crying results in health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, lowered heart rate, lower body temperature and the ability to learn better (yup, a higher IQ). Research has found that crying is actually more beneficial to our health than exercise.

If you are interested in learning more about this approach, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am an AwP practitioner, offering workshops, 1-on-1 consultations (usually 1 hr in person or online) and yoga classes with AwP discussions afterward. My email address is [email protected] or 0415533311.

Recipe:
Moroccan preserved limes or lemons

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My mother encouraged me to make some preserved lemons when I told her about the abundance in our garden. While making these preserved lemons with my children, I connected with my mom’s Moroccan roots and felt a huge joy in our inter-generational relationship.

Ingredients: Limes or Lemons Salt
Bay leaves Mustard seeds

Other supplies: Jars

Quarter lemons or cut to fit in jars. Put salt on all parts of the part that was cut of the lemons.
Add some mustard seeds and bay leaves to the jar and top the content of the jars with salt.

Squeeze juice from limes or lemons, so that the jar is completely full of lemons and juice.

Leave in cupboard for 1 week
After 1 week turn the jars over (it’s good to put it on a plate or bowl in case it leaks).

I love these lemons in salad. What are your favourite things to do with preserved lemons?

My mom makes a delicious chicken in the oven with turmeric, onion, preserved lemons and olives, but that’s another recipe, so I’ll stop here.

I send you lots of love! Please let me know if any questions or sharings came up for you while reading any of this and if you would like to book in for a yoga class at the birth house or a yoga Aware Parenting 1- day workshop.

Lots of love, -Laura

Www.ljspeace.com

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