Our Annual Mindfulness Event

| Brush & Breathe 2026 |

There is a reason our annual Mindfulness Event has become one of our most loved Ignite traditions.

Held in April on the beautiful lawns of Marion Storm, this year’s event, Brush & Breathe, once again reminded us exactly why our members continue asking for this experience year after year.

Stepping into the warm and calming space of the yurt felt like stepping away from everyday life for a little while. Beautifully set up by Mike, the yurt created the perfect environment for women to slow down, breathe a little deeper and simply be present.

This year, 24 wonderful women joined us for the afternoon and evening, each arriving with something different on their shoulders. Some arrived exhausted after work, some arrived excited for a fun afternoon ahead, and for five lovely women, this was their very first Ignite event.

But what felt special was that everyone seemed to leave with something too. A little lighter, a little calmer and a little more connected. New friendships had started, existing friendships had deepened, and through the conversations, laughs and shared moments, many of us discovered new things about women we thought we already knew.

That is one of the things we love most about Ignite. Sometimes connection doesn’t happen through big moments. Sometimes it happens sitting beside someone with a paintbrush in your hand, sharing a laugh in a drumming circle, or over a warm drink and a chat.

We seem to have a bit of a habit of pulling together incredible people to create beautiful spaces for our members... spaces where memories are made, connections grow and lovely little moments happen naturally.

We were lucky enough to begin our afternoon with our incredible past President, Ignite Ambassador and standing member, Jodhi Gough from The Drum Collective.

Jodhi brought so much warmth, fun and energy into the room and created something truly special. Drumming is so much more than rhythm and sound. It creates connection, supports emotional wellbeing, encourages movement, helps release stress and allows people to express themselves in a way that words sometimes cannot.

And wow... did we feel it.

There was something incredibly powerful about sitting in that drumming circle together. Women laughing, finding rhythm, letting go, encouraging one another and connecting in a way that is difficult to put into words. It was meaningful, memorable and one of those moments where you could genuinely feel the energy in the room. A truly beautiful way to connect.

We then slowed things down with the lovely Amanda from Sip Paint Create with Amanda, who guided us through a therapeutic painting session.

The room shifted into a beautiful calm. Conversations ramped up, and then they silenced, creativity took over and women settled into their own little world for a while. There was laughter, quiet moments, connection and simply space to switch off and enjoy being present.

Watching every painting evolve was such a lovely reminder that no two people see things the same way. Beginning from the same idea, each floral artwork became completely unique and reflected the personality and creativity of the women creating them. The results were absolutely gorgeous.

Of course, no Ignite gathering is complete without good food and a few little treats along the way. We enjoyed a delicious hot red curry with chicken and lychee from Marion Storm Cafe & Catering, along with warm chai's, hot chocolates, late night coffees and for some, a slow glass of wine shared with friends.

The entire evening felt like one big warm exhale.

A huge thank you to our forever generous member Jodhi, to Amanda for sharing her creativity and time with us, Mike for creating such a calming and welcoming space, and to Claire and the Marion Storm team for helping bring it all together.

One thing we know for sure... our annual Mindfulness Event will be back in April 2027 with a whole new experience waiting for us