I always had a strong interest in meditation and eastern philosophy from a young age. I first started yoga classes during physical education classes in high school, where I found my innate flexibility gave me a distinct advantage.
Years later, when I became pregnant, I learned yoga from an inspiring and knowledgeable teacher, Annette Loudon, who encouraged me to study further and become a yoga teacher. I went to India a year later with my 11 month old daughter. I’m not sure what I was thinking at the time! After becoming a mother, I decided that I wanted the flexibility of running my own business and turned my focus to yoga teaching and spiritual growth.
We visited the Vivekananda Yoga Research and Therapy Centre (Svyasa) in Bangalore, India and I decided that I would undertake my yoga teacher training with them. I chose this school after carefully considering the many yoga teacher training programs available both at home and in India. Their scientific, research-based approach appealed to me, as well as, their reputation as one of the most significant yoga institutions in India. Svyasa is a recognized university of yogic sciences and offers courses up to PhD level. They have a 160 bed yoga therapy centre, where they treat common conditions, such as, cancer, asthma etc. with yogic techniques. Many of their staff members are medically trained or have PhDs.
I returned to Australia and moved to Melbourne to study yoga under Sri Raju Govinda, one of four founding members of the Bangalore Centre. Sri Raju was a very humble and loving teacher. I was lucky to learn from one who espoused the philosophy of service to all in every action. I happened to be in Melbourne during the time that Sri Raju was organizing a yogic sciences conference. I attended the conference and was fortunate to meet many of the speakers both from the Vivekananda Centre in India and others from the Australian academic community, who work in the fields of health and science. It would take a few years before I would realize the impact that conference had on me.
After completing my Yoga Instructors Certificate Course, I returned to Sydney and opened Yoga for Life (Aust). I taught in many different areas of Sydney. I was also fortunate to teach at the Vedanta Centre of Sydney and got to know the Swamis, lead by Rev. Swami Sridharanandaji.
During this time, I studied Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, under Dr. Rama Prasad, a highly respected Ayurvedic doctor and teacher. Ayurveda resonated with me and the principles of Ayurveda continue to influence many aspects of my life.
I was inspired by the scientific work conducted by the Vivekananda Yoga Centre in India and was keen to share their work with the yoga community in Australia. I wanted to share the research conducted into yoga and its effect on common illnesses, with health and medical professionals, as well as, yoga teachers and sufferers of the diseases. I spoke with Rev. Swami Sridharanandaji and they agreed to organise a yogic sciences conference in Sydney. I worked closely with Swami Atmeshanandaji from the Vedanta Centre and together, with the support of many volunteers, Yoga: Science of Infinite Possibilities was born.
This pioneering event, in 2004, was one of the first yoga conferences held in Sydney, to bring together distinguished teachers from a range of yoga schools and to make the scientific research in the field available to the public. The conference received great acclaim from both speakers and delegates. The conference was so enthusiastically received that a second conference was organized in 2005 at the request of both delegates and speakers. The two events had been great learning experiences and immensely satisfying for me. But being a mum was a priority and the huge commitment that the conferences required, meant I wasn’t prepared to take it on for a third year in a row.
In 2006, my daughter started school and I turned my attention back to my daughter and my teaching. Later that year, I met Jason, a successful entrepreneur and business owner. I was struck by Jason’s positive outlook on life, which mirrored my own optimism. I was inspired by a man who really lived his spiritual truth, who was in touch with “Source” and who meditates every day.
In 2008, we married and started a new life together. The wedding went off so well that the catering company offered me a job! It was an inspiring ceremony that showed the importance that Jason and I place on our spirituality.
In 2009, I went to see a careers consultant wondering if there was some career opportunity that I hadn’t thought of. The evidence was very clear. I already knew that my passion was organising events!
Inspired by my new found confidence in my career path, I completed a Diploma in Event Management, with distinction, through Event Management Training Australia in 2009.
With my passion for organising spiritual events and Jason’s business and marketing acumen, a formidable partnership was born. My love of Eastern philosophy and Jason’s interest in science and quantum consciousness philosophy created the opportunity to bring together the great teachings of the east and west.
During his daily morning meditation, Jason came up with the name Enlightened Events. We both loved the name and it stuck!
Trina Bawden-Smith