The Shanti Yoga Community
Connect with a community walking the path of kindness, acceptance, peace, and healthy balance. Here you embrace your inherent wisdom, purpose and potential for personal and societal growth. Welcome home. We are so happy you are here.
The Shanti Yoga Centre community offers connection with people who share spiritual, wellbeing, and cultural interests. This sense of belonging is vital for spiritual growth, healing and transformation. You are welcome to participate in our community, events and outings, many of which are free.
In a time of rapid, evolutionary change, many people seek an expanded community to share their questions and challenges. We come together as an extended family to discuss a variety of topics, including health, spirituality, relationships, emotional wellbeing, evolutionary change, and environmental actions. This is a wonderful way to make new friends and learn from one another.
Shanti Gowans organises regular and ad-hoc activities to build face-to-face connections and community (sangha). The Shanti Community is founded on the universal principles of love, peace, harmony, and the spiritual unity of all beings. It offers a culture where life's challenges are met with kindness, generosity, and courage, cultivating human potential.
The community serves as both a spiritual path of study and meditation—helping you work with your mind—and a path toward serving others and engaging with the world.
Our services include:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs: Training in mental health, mindfulness, meditation, deep yoga relaxation, stress reduction, and emotional resilience for corporations, schools, and the public.
- Healing beyond the Physical: Complimentary therapies, including lifestyle and dietary advice, and Ayurveda treatments.
- Gut Health and Digestive Management Programs.
- Worksite Wellness: Holistic health training for stress reduction and managing change in corporate and human services sectors.
- Retreats: Time-out, rest, silent meditation, and nature-based retreats.
- Arts and Culture: Community dance, chanting, drama games, improvisation, music, mindful art, and spiritual cinema.
- Wisdom in Life Education: Emotional wellbeing, philosophy, spirituality, relationships, and values education.
We are a diverse community, welcoming people of all faiths, backgrounds, and abilities, united by a commitment to contemplative practice and the aspiration to lead dignified, wakeful lives. The Pure Shanti vision, rooted in the wisdom of Vedanta, Yoga, and Buddhism, offers an accessible path to awakening.
Please understand that community (sangha) is a cooperative; we all own, share, and benefit from it. The planet needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, and lovers of all kind.
We invite you to participate in our vision to encourage a wholesome existence for ourselves and others.
ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS TO SOCIALISE. Listed alphabetically
- A day of Healing. One day retreat, includes delicious ayurvedic lunch, and afternoon tea, and practices to relieve common aches and pains, deepen presence, and help you embody calmness, peace of mind, and kindness. Feb 21, Mar 7, May 9, Jul 4, Aug 29, Sept 19, Oct 24, Nov 7, Dec 28
Nirvana 10 am - 7:30 pm $350 - Ayurvedic Detox Retreats inclusive of single or twin-share accommodation, vegetarian meals, medicines, daily meditation and gentle yoga and Ayurvedic education. Jan 3-10, Apr 6-12, Jul 3-12, Sept 18-27
Book on Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat website. - Bhagavad Gita discourse
- Celebrations. Birthdays, holy days and so on. Ad hoc dates. Refer to Shanti Yoga noticeboard.
- Chanting and Community choir followed by yoga healing during Thursday morning's classes, school terms. 11:30am-12 noon + yoga till 12:40 + Nidra and meditation till 1:20pm
- Children's Yoga
- Communications Expresso. Drama, public speaking, games and improvisation. Tuesday 4:00-4:30 pm Fee: $150 x 4 sessions or $40 drop-in
- Community Dance. Have fun, make friends and learn to dance Bollywood and other wonderful cultural dance art forms.
- Cook, Taste, Heal. Weekend vegetarian cooking retreat. Inclusive of single or twin-share accommodation, delivious meals, program, Ayurvedic lectures.May 29-31, July 24-26. Book on Nirvana Wellbeing retreat
- Corporate Mental Health and Holistic Wellbeing
- Course in Miracles 2:15-3:15pm, on 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month during term
- Creative Art fun workshops. Heart to art. Bring a picnic lunch to share. Open to all ages.
- Employee Wellness and Holistic Health
- Fellowship dinners & Spiritual talks $35
- Health discussions
- India Travel Pulldown menu on website
- Karma Yoga Weekend Stay
- Lunchbox vegan meals Rice, dhal, veg curry. Food brings people together. $20.
Soups. Kitchri. Porridge. - Meditation and the Art of Cultivating Peace. Silent meditation weekend retreats, inclusive of twin-share or single room accommodation, delicious Ayurvedic vegetarian meals, program. Feb 6-8, Apr 2-6, June 12-14, Aug 7-9, Oct 9-11, Dec 11-13. Book online Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat website.
- Mental Health Training. One day transformative, silent meditation retreat in the silence and community of stillness. Nurturing your peace through acceptance, simplicity, breath awareness, walking meditation and silence to bring you deeper within. Includes delicious ayurvedic lunch, and guided practices for deep rest
Jan 1, Feb 7, Apr 3, Jun 13, Aug 8, Oct 10, Dec 12. Book on Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat website. - Mindful Movement in Shanti Yoga classes. See timetable.
- Nada Yoga. The yoga of sound. Tuesday 3:30-4:30pm. $150 x 4 sessions or $40 drop-in.
- Outings, Picnics, Garden visits, Bollywood movies, Ad hoc dates. Queensland ballet season in Brisbane. Carpool and travel together from the Gold Coast. Ad hoc ballet performances elsewhere.
- Party, Party, Party. Last Monday of Term. 12:15-1:15pm. Bring a plate of non-alcoholic, healthy vegetarian food to share from your country. No fee.
- Pranayama The mindful art of breathing Mondays 9:15am-10:30am
- Retreats - Nature is calling. Her voice mail says "Step out of the gym, the pavements and into the green behind the gold." See dates in 'Retreat" pulldown menu.
- Spiritual cinema Tuesday matinee and discussion, during school terms. Starts 3:00pm. Finishes at the end of the movie. Free
- Study Ayurveda on line. Become an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, Practitioner, Beauty Therapist, Ayurvedic Cook.
- Walking group Stand Up and embrace the great outdoors. Ad hoc dates. Refer to Shanti Yoga notice board. Free.
- Wellness hub. With tea and cake. First Friday of the month. 10:30-11:30am $7.50
- Working Bees Ad hoc dates. Refer to Shanti Yoga notice board.
- Worksite Wellness for Australia-based corporations, schools and general public
- Touch the Earth volunteer day. Community based gardening activity at Nirvana Wellbeing Sanctuary. See dates on the calendar. Free.
- Vedanta Studies. See dates on calendar
- Vegetarian and Vegan cooking classes. Not rabbit food. No fads. Boost your health, energy, nutrition with 5,000 years of delicious wisdom, made modern and practical. Ad hoc dates
- Yoga and Ayurvedic weekend retreats Feb 20-22, Mar 6-8, May 8-10, Aug 28-30, Oct 23-25, Nov 6-8. Book on Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat site.
- Yoga from head to toe. Learning to undo. See timetable
- Yoga Sutras 2:15-3:15pm, on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month during term
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
One World. The future (creation) is based upon the opposite of war, which is destruction.
Respect the life and dignity of every living being without discrimination or prejudice.
Reject violence in all of its forms and towards all beings.
Resolve conflict with grace and graciousness.
Reconcile differences and pursue harmony.
Support freedom of expression and cultural diversity.
Respect, Honesty and Loyalty: We support members that are trustworthy, honest and respectful of other members, the community at large and Shanti Yoga. It works best for all involved when your intentions, requirements, affiliation and expectations openly, clearly, truthfully and accurately reflect those of the organisation.
Service before self: The initiatives are inspired by the perspectives of Shanti Gowans who says: Healthy and sustainable transformation of outer structures begins with the discovery of natural inner resources and capacities of individuals to be of service. However, with the current trend of encouraging the 'me generation', we may have welcomed the age of selfishness. People born in the 1970s, 80s and 90s are said to be the first group of people to believe that the needs of the individual should come first. They are oblivious to a world that places duty before self. However, nothing stands still. The answer is simple, yet profound. The truth about change is that there are no fixed answers. One time this might feel appropriate, another time it may not. To go with the flow, you may need to go against the grain. Just be still and present with each experience. Only when we make peace with ourselves can we hope to make peace with and in the world.
Meditation: We must reach within first, in order to embrace humanity. Generosity is the key to infinite abundance. When we value and share the natural, inner wealth of peace, love, happiness and wisdom, we can experience true and lasting prosperity.
Conversations: Our conversations, deep dialogue and learning best practices supports taking us to explore those questions that stir the heart, towards mutual understanding beyond polarisation, balance between economy and ecology, learning to be both rational and spiritual, cultivating more positive relationships, and a life of with flex and flow, compassionate connection and authentic action in a chaotically evolving world. Our task is exactly commensurate with our life.
Spam and Solicitation: Misleading, false, potentially harmful or dubious claims, gossip, and exploitation is not encouraged or honoured. We do not support solicitation, such as sex, self-promotion, deals, selling your products, services or brands, spam, broadcasts or job recruiting as part of sangha activities.
Advice: Please do not provide medical, psychological, legal, financial, emotional advice, promises of health, mental cures, financial gain or money schemes.
Harm, Intimidation, Hate and Violence: The sangha is not for glorifying or promoting unsolicited, predatory, manipulative or non-consensual activities that serve to intimidate or violate personal boundaries. Harmful, threatening or violent behaviour against individuals or groups, inciting hatred towards others or oneself is not supported.
HOW TO GET STARTED
The first step is by attending classes. Group practice is one of our most basic and most important community activities. Each session is an opportunity to experience the power and joy of coming together, however briefly, as a community of practitioners. Group practice not only encourages our individual practice but also supports others in their practice and helps build a thriving, practice community. Check out our timetable page for ongoing opportunities for group practice and group sitting.
Service before self: The initiatives are inspired by the perspectives of Shanti Gowans who says: Healthy and sustainable transformation of outer structures begins with the discovery of natural inner resources and capacities of individuals to be of service. However, with the current trend of encouraging the 'me generation', we may have welcomed the age of selfishness. People born in the 1970s, 80s and 90s are said to be the first group of people to believe that the needs of the individual should come first. They are oblivious to a world that places duty before self. However, nothing stands still. The answer is simple, yet profound. The truth about change is that there are no fixed answers. One time this might feel appropriate, another time it may not. To go with the flow, you may need to go against the grain. Just be still and present with each experience. Only when we make peace with ourselves can we hope to make peace with and in the world.
Meditation: We must reach within first, in order to embrace humanity. Generosity is the key to infinite abundance. When we value and share the natural, inner wealth of peace, love, happiness and wisdom, we can experience true and lasting prosperity.
Conversations: Our conversations, deep dialogue and learning best practices supports taking us to explore those questions that stir the heart, towards mutual understanding beyond polarisation, balance between economy and ecology, learning to be both rational and spiritual, cultivating more positive relationships, and a life of with flex and flow, compassionate connection and authentic action in a chaotically evolving world. Our task is exactly commensurate with our life.
Spam and Solicitation: Misleading, false, potentially harmful or dubious claims, gossip, and exploitation is not encouraged or honoured. We do not support solicitation, such as sex, self-promotion, deals, selling your products, services or brands, spam, broadcasts or job recruiting as part of sangha activities.
Advice: Please do not provide medical, psychological, legal, financial, emotional advice, promises of health, mental cures, financial gain or money schemes.
Harm, Intimidation, Hate and Violence: The sangha is not for glorifying or promoting unsolicited, predatory, manipulative or non-consensual activities that serve to intimidate or violate personal boundaries. Harmful, threatening or violent behaviour against individuals or groups, inciting hatred towards others or oneself is not supported.
HOW TO GET STARTED
The first step is by attending classes. Group practice is one of our most basic and most important community activities. Each session is an opportunity to experience the power and joy of coming together, however briefly, as a community of practitioners. Group practice not only encourages our individual practice but also supports others in their practice and helps build a thriving, practice community. Check out our timetable page for ongoing opportunities for group practice and group sitting.