Meet wild woman Sjana (pronounced “see-ah-nah”) Earp, who spends her days naked in nature, writing poems, shedding limited beliefs and exploring the planet with an open heart.
When do you feel wild? What makes you feel the most alive?
Stripping bare, whether it be of my clothes or my emotions, and existing unapologetically. Sometimes that could see me being a “rudie nudie” in the bush or on the beach and taking a skinny dip in the pool or ocean, and other times it means being fully clothed but shedding the limiting beliefs and stories I tell myself. Both are equally liberating. And when all else fails, I know I can always go to nature to find my breath, sit with my heart and allow her to speak. She is always trying to communicate with me; I’m finding it increasingly important to learn to truly listen.
You have a deep love for yoga. Please share when, why and how you fell in love with it.
Yoga found me at a time in my life when I needed it most. I was recovering from depression and anxiety. At first I had no idea what I was doing. I would find random pics of girls doing amazing poses on Instagram and I was simply curious if I could do them too, so I would try. Some I could do, and some I definitely couldn’t! My curiosity led me to a yoga teacher training course in Byron Bay and it was there I learned that yoga was so much more than just challenging poses. And once I discovered this, there was no turning back. Yoga has become one of the only forces in my life that I know I can always rely on. It’s there for me when I feel good and there for me when it feels like the entire world is crumbling around me. Yoga is my greatest teacher to date, for sure. And the best part is that I will always be learning.
How do you hope to leave the world a better place?
Just by being a good human. Knowing that everyone has their own story and being compassionate, kind, honest and open. I don’t want to be anyone’s idol; I just want to live in such a way that encourages, empowers and supports others to embody their own highest version of themselves.
Your favourite travel moments …
The ocean: Swimming with wild whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Swimming through The Bahamas with a mermaid tail on. Cruising with dolphins along the Na Pali coast in Hawaii.
The mountain: On Komodo Island there is a pretty easy hike to the top. There it overlooks three bays; one has pink sand, one has white and the other has black sand. At sunset, the glow is like nothing else I’ve ever seen. I have also trekked the Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Trail through mountains, valleys and tea and rice farms in Japan and loved (and was challenged by) every step of the way.
The bush: Australia has some of the greatest bush tracks I’ve ever seen. The canyons and bush in outback Northern Territory are something else.
You’ve just launched your first book, You Will Rise. Congratulations! Please share the inspiration behind your book.
Thank you! I can’t believe I did it. This has been on my bucket list for far too long now so being able to actually hold it in my hands means so much. To have so many other people reading it and enjoying it and telling me how much my writings have helped them on their own journey is beyond a dream come true.
This book is a collection of poetry and writings that my heart has written over the past seven years. There is no single or simple inspiration for the book, just so much of my raw, vulnerable soul on the pages. Each poem has its own story. Some are of love, change and challenge. Others are of heartbreak, longing and loneliness. Some are from the depths of my depression, from when I couldn’t see the light. And others are poems tracing the path home to myself once again.
I think You Will Rise is very relatable. There is so much in there — something for every mood, emotion or challenge you might encounter. So whether you choose to pick it up and flick to a random page or devour it cover to cover, you’ll always get what your heart needs.
Please share a poem you wrote that you keep coming back to and tell us why
“When I’m old, I hope my face is covered in laugh lines and wrinkles.
Maps marking the story of my life.
All the giggles, early summer mornings, the sleepless nights spent
dancing barefoot beneath a sheet of stars, constant jet lag
and a lifetime of adventure.
I hope they mark my body; I hope I look weathered and worn.
I hope I can wander until my knees buckle and my legs give out.
I hope that every moment of this existence becomes a magnificent
memory.
I hope I live so fully, so unashamedly and so honestly, that there
is not a single second I would want to change.
A young and ageless soul snuggled inside my creased and
crinkled frame.”
What are your three non-negotiables when it comes to looking after your mental health?
- Gratitude. It might sound cheesy but it’s difficult to be unhappy and grateful at the same time.
- Sleep. I don’t have perfect sleep practices by any means, however I do believe that a good night’s sleep can be like a miracle remedy for the body, mind and soul.
- Movement. Our bodies are designed to move. It doesn’t need to be gruelling “workouts” all the time. Find something you enjoy doing that releases endorphins and then keep doing it regularly because you love it. For me, that’s yoga, walking along the beach, hiking a mountain, taking a Pilates class, walking around the neighbourhood, a bike ride in summer, or trying to surf (I’m not very good at it but I do enjoy it!).
What does a typical day look like for you?
The only typical thing about my day is that every day is different. It depends if I’m at home or travelling, if I’m teaching yoga or doing yoga, if the sun’s up or if it’s raining, if it’s a weekday or a Sunday. There isn’t usually a lot of predictability in my life (the pandemic has certainly created more grounding for me), but every day I like to move my body in some way or another, meditate and get into nature. I also enjoy creating, whether it be work or art or doing something that really sparks creative joy inside me.
What does your skin care routine look like?
My routine is really simple. I rinse my face every morning with cold “beauty” water (ph6 water) and I love using the Biossance Omega Repair Cream on my face and 100% Squalane Oil on my body. I use those most days. Sometimes I get fancy and use a Rose Quartz Gua Sha with a Majo Medicine face oil or a face mask from Andalou Naturals or Antipodes.
What are you …
Listening to: Juke Ross, Ziggy Alberts, Trevor Hall, Henry Green, Angus and Julia Stone.
Reading: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and listening to audiobook Intimate Communion by David Deida.
Wearing: Hara the Label and Indigo Luna, two of my favourite sustainable and ethical brands for activewear and loungewear.
Dreaming of: Summer or a solo road trip somewhere warm with clean little waves.
For more, visit sjana.com.au
