Yoga Archives - Page 4 of 5

January 31, 2014January 31, 2014

Believe in love’s infinite journey – Inspired by Yogi tea

“Believe in love’s infinite journey”. This was the inspiration note written with my Yogi tea bag this morning, I felt it profound in many ways so wanted to share it, and to let love’s infinite journey flow even further from me to you also. Pass it on 😉

What does this mean to you? Love’s infinite journey. And why do we need to believe in it?

To me, this means a million and one things:

Love’s infinite journey in that love knows no bounds. It can travel to and through anywhere open to it; if everyone or everything is open, then it will fill up these spaces.

Love’s journey being infinite in that love, can never run out.

Love’s infinite journey in that we, our spirits, the watcher behind our eyes, is infinite. This body may die but this physical manifestation isn’t the be all and end all; so be mindful of trying to hold onto things too tight in this life.

And believing is seeing, to believe in it is to be open to it. Open to love.

Believe in love’s infinite journey, which starts with yourself.

Love and light for a sparkling weekend! xxx

Ah – and thanks for Romaan for bringing my attention to the Yogi tea inspirations, namaste brother! And thanks to Yogi tea for making them 🙂

January 14, 2014June 17, 2018

Yoga, more than a physical affair

When I first began practicing yoga I thought it was a purely physical affair. However, I later learnt I was wrong. Ashtanga yoga defines the 8 limb path (Ashta = 8, Anga = Limb) for yoga as described by Patanjali who lived about 150BC in India and is still a world-renowned scientist. The 8 limbs of yoga each relate to one of the following:

Yamas – How you treat others, self-restraint through directing your energy, death of the ego. There are 5 vows for Yama (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, understanding sexual energy, and non-possessiveness)

Niyamas – Self-discipline, regularity and mastering your instincts. There are 5 observances within Niyama (purity, contentment, simplicity, meditating on the self, and surrendering to the divine within you)

Asana – The postures we practice in a class to enable us to open up the body and to be able to stay in a steady, comfortable and blissful posture to aid practice of the following limbs

Pranayama – Breath and prana (energy) control, becoming more aware of the gaps between the breath to assist in coming into a state of no mind

Pratyahara – Moving attention inside, withdrawal of the senses to external distractions so we can deeper understand ourselves; the mind becoming fit for concentration

Dharana – Meditation, contemplation, singular focus with an uninterrupted flow of concentration (retaining concentration on one object)

Dhyana – Meditation, there is no object, only awareness, knowledge of the true self (contemplation)

Samadhi – Where the mind goes beyond the subject. The state of ecstasy, where you merge with your focus point and feel a profound connection with all that is.

Practising yoga asana allows us to play out life on our yoga mat as the intertwined series of simple and subtle actions and events which all layer up to build a beautiful and multi-dimensional play. By breaking down these layers 1 by 1 we can then understand and feel how each individual part works as well as how it connects to the whole; thus illustrating to us how simple everything can be when viewed from certain perspectives. Many of the yogic texts say and I believe that we are on this Earth and in this Universe to live, play, learn, grow and love; inevitably to again return to the formless and therefore making it really important that we make the most of this life and conquer any fears or life-limiting factors we can to Live Our expression of Life as Fully as possible.

Yoga is for everyone to try, explore and play with; regardless of age, body shape or ability.

As you can see, yoga is more than a physical affair, it is a science which allows you to unfold the mind and go deeper than you could ever have imagined.

January 10, 2014January 10, 2014

Gratitude as a state of mind

How often do you notice how great things are in life, and say thank you?

Or, how often do you notice how shit things feel in life, and are thoroughly not thankful for them!?

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the mind and label a situation as good or bad, depending on expectations of what’s wanted in that moment of time.

I still flit between these 2 states, but happily, the state of gratitude, seems to keep growing. This isn’t because I won the lottery or finally worked through all of my shit, but it’s because I got sick of being depressed about all the things and the lessons I cannot change. Slowly but surely, my focus keeps shifting to see more of the positives in life, and aiming to express gratitude for them; especially when I’ve had a rough day.

Try it, when you think things couldn’t get worse, or when you wonder why the hell you’ve ended up in the shit; find points about it that you can be thankful for. It’s hard, sometimes very hard at first, but over time, the shit subsides and you begin to see the point to the lessons you’re seeing.

What are you grateful for? Write your own list, please share it if you like! Below is a small list from my daily thanks:

Thank you for my bed, and all it’s warm and comfy bits which allow me to sleep soundly
Thank you for my family; including my husband, friends, parents, brothers and sisters and all the beautiful people who help give meaning to my life and keep inspiring and loving me, no matter how I feel towards myself
Thank you for my health and all the people, foods and products that nourish me
Thank you to my home, for keeping me warm and dry and allowing me to have my little space of paradise in the hecticness of London
Thank you to my job(s) which help me to earn my living in this current society
Thank you to my winter coat, you’re very warm and much needed right now
Thank you for my shower, all hot and cleansing and awesome
Thank you for all the things I walk into and that trip me up, and my clumbsyness, as it’s in these moments I realise my state of unmindfulness and again refocus into the present moment
Thank you to all the random people who either entertain, show kindness or aren’t very nice to help me see these same things in myself
Thank you to the Scientific art that is Yoga (and Pilates) which has helped me to pull my head out of my arse and enables me to lead a more and more fulfilling life with every breath I take
And of course, Thank you to all my teachers and students who help to keep me on the track I most prefer and shine a light where I didn’t notice one previously

Namaste, so much love, and have a fun weekend 🙂 xxx

January 8, 2014January 8, 2014

5 tips for achieving a regular practice

Have you ever found yourself starting something and enjoying it, but then, letting it all fall by the waste-side in a hopeless mess?

I have, many times. Thankfully it generally doesn’t happen with my yoga practice. Here’s a few tips I use to help me reap the benefits of having a regular yoga practice:

Make a consistent space in your diary. You can find classes any time of any day (especially if you live in a big city), pick a time you can stick to for at least the next 4 – 6 weeks.
Find a teacher who you feel good about seeing, and who guides you to a constructive, and potentially happier place during and after class. There are many of us teachers; and if you don’t feel shiny, light and the desire to return then the chances are you wont; and thus it probably isn’t the right teacher for you. Explore someone else’s class.
Aim to attend at a studio that is relatively accessible/not too far out of your way; a 1 hour journey to and from class can be a right downer, and quite draining (unless you live out in the sticks and it might be quite a pleasant ride or less choice!).
Eat appropriately around the class. I.e. don’t fill up your belly (especially on meat or heavy, stodgy dishes) less than 3 hrs before class. Some fruit or nuts are an ideal snack if you need something to keep you going in the mean time. Keep it light.
Have fun with it! If it starts to feel like a bore or work activity it’ll soon lose it’s majic and charm.

All in all, lighten up with your practice 😉

Much love x

January 3, 2014

Listening to yourself

Fortunately, my body is hypersensitive and thus is one which makes me listen; for which I am very grateful. Even just the subtle signs of pimples, aches or dry skin can be your body trying to get you to listen to it as a means to help it function better.

Listening to yourself could be inferred in many ways. There are multiple parts to our existence and thus there’s multiple parts of us we can listen to.

The body: Tells us when we’re hungry or in pain

The mind: Constant babble that can either be useful in solving complex arithmetic, or, is the distracting and destructive voice of the ego, which keeps us battling with ourselves or others

The higher mind/soul/spirit: This tells us how best to reach our ultimate goals and where the love is

In my experience, it’s quite a noise occurring, and the default or easiest part to listen to is the one which shouts loudest, i.e. the ego/mind. Fortunately for me however, my body screams quite loudly at me a lot when I disrespect it; and has forced me to listen to it over my ego. The current societal set up in the UK gears us from birth towards wanting money, power and externally percieved ‘beauty’, i.e. the mind/ego fulfillment; this is how I ended up in hospital a few times. If it wasn’t for listening to my body then I’m not sure where I’d be right now but I doubt it would be a great place.

It’s only by learning to listen to the subtle and gross signs in my body that I’ve learnt to not listen so much to the crap in my mind. In turn, I am then more able to listen to my higher mind/soul and find the love and direction I so desparately craved before. Hence my moto:

Get into your body to get out of your mind!

December 13, 2013January 20, 2014

Yoga in the City

Living in London this past few years has shown me many examples of how yoga can help ease the tensions typically associated with city living. Generally, where there is an abundance of people, there can be an absence of caring. Crowd psychology states, for example, it is easier to lose our sense of responsibility for ourselves as well as others (even those more vulnerable). From dropping litter to elbowing a bystander out of the way so we can move forwards a moment quicker in the race to our jobs; a situation I’ve often experienced when commuting at rush hour! That said, I am still amazed at the difference a little yoga can make to my daily living; helping me to get some head space and a fresh perspective, providing me with the opportunity to take a step back out of the crowd so I can rediscover my core values, reminding me to give up my seat for the old lady who looks like she really does need it.

If you live in a big city you’ll know how ‘busy’ we can all be; how little time there is and the busier we feel, the quicker we try to do things, and the quicker things are done, the less efficient we become. So instead of slowing down, even in the low energy of the autumn and winter, we often try to do more to make up for what we may have missed and thus end up feeling burnt out, or wondering why we’re so tired!? I can hear a few of you say “Pfffft yoga/meditation, I never have the time for that. It can’t help me” but the truth is; we can make the time. Time has become such a commodity that we’ve all ended up selling our time along with our peace of mind.

A trick that yoga can teach you about managing a hectic work/fun/love life is; take your time and do things properly. It can help you understand that all of these things you have to do, don’t all need to be done right now. Check in and see how important it is to your health whether you make that deadline or, give your evening to that one extra date (in case he’s serious this time). By doing things properly (being mindful to notice if the OCD starts kicking in though!) you can better reap the rewards and achieve a greater sense of satisfaction from the simple things. Give yourself the time to be fully present in whatever you are doing, working on a project, holding a conversation or attending a class.

This post is too short to tell you the mechanics of exactly HOW yoga helps you but why not go try a favorite or new teacher’s class? Take a deep breath and give it a shot. Aim to ensure you can be slow in moving back home or on to your next location, to help the ancient methods of yoga reach you a bit deeper. If you consider yoga too slow paced for you, perhaps try a Vinyasa style or Ashtanga which will make you sweat but whilst integrating the all important point about taking time for you. And if you’re open enough there’s a lot more you can learn other than patience e.g. the importance of peace of mind and taking care of your body.

5 Tips for practicing yoga in a city

Find a teacher whose class you enjoy and where you feel good. There are a lot of us teachers so have courage to try again if you’ve not experienced a class you like yet
BREATHE
Be kind to yourself, this also helps us learn how to be kind to others
BREATHE
Smile. It releases endorphins and helps lower stress and wrinkles

😉

December 12, 2013January 20, 2014

108 Sun Salutations for the Philippines & a Brighter Start to 2014

If you’re here then perhaps you can get involved?

How would you like to join in a 108 Sun Salutation Challenge to kick start your energy and the sunshine in 2014?! Also, with all proceeds going to help support the survivors of the recent and horrific typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines? ( joining in means you pledge to bring your own minimum donation or sponsorship of £40).

The challenge is not for the feint hearted but if you have a big heart still and would like to help, please sponsor me to do this challenge!

108 Sun Salutations is enough to get anyone warmed up and is a pretty intense challenge (most classes ask you to do 3-10/class), have done something similar and not walked properly for a day or 2 after! But it’s for a great cause and of course, saluting the sun, what a great start to 2014, intending for it to be a bright year ahead 🙂

What’s going on?!
Event: 108 Sun Salutations.

Date: 12th January 2014, 3.30pm arrival 4pm prompt start.

Location: Kensington Unitarians, Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, Lond

on W8 4RT

All donations will be be made online via the Virgin Give Money page. There link is below.

www.virginmoneygiving.c om/team/108_sun_salutations_for_the_philippines

The charity we are fundraising for is The Disasters Emergency Committee, they work with a number of different charities in coordinating immediate relief support in troubled areas for more info see http://www.dec.org.uk/

In completing 108 Sun Salutations: – The whole process could take two hours 30 mins to three hours or more, pending how the salutations are led. Please be assured your participation and presence in this event is more important than successfully completing 108 Sun Salutations. You can rest at any point and rejoin whenever you want.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1433301390217233/?fref=ts

It’d be great to have your support!

Thanks

December 6, 2013January 20, 2014

No Teacher this Weekend!

Dedicated Yoga Students give it a go, unsupervised (full points for effort!)

I’m not teaching tomorrow. Please don’t mix posture practice with alcohol whilst I’m absent!

Have a happy weekend and hope you get to enjoy the Sushi and Super Sound System at Brilliant Corners in the meantime.

Classes resume as normal Tuesday 10th (6.45pm) and Saturday 14th (10.30am)

December 5, 2013January 20, 2014

Being comfortable this Autumn/Winter

Autumn and winter are historically wet and cold, have a lower energy and is when the fluffy furry animals hibernate. Also, at this time of year, warming root veggies from the Earth are a staple food whilst there’s a lot less sunlight bringing its energy into this part of the globe. So as modern humans instead of slowing down, even in the weariness of the autumn and winter, we try to do more to make up for the shorter days – it’s OK everyone’s at it! With Christmas (or other religious holidays) and the January sales around the corner the very thought of having a quiet 5 minutes seems months away for some. It can be hard slowing down with nature when the rest of the population still seem to be running at 200MPH, how is it possible not to also be so busy?!

This answer lies with our ancestors and nature, our inner nature and nature in the wild as we know it, but it’s our negligence to our deep connection with this planet and its seasons which is why we must again pay attention more to the changing energy of the weather, the hibernating animals and the actual foods which grow; imagine how people lived 500 years ago in winter? Slow down and take this time to restore yourself! Following on from the highs of the summer, now is the time replenish our reserves so we can have a spring in our step next March. Being generally conscious of this can be an asset, but Yoga is an excellent tool to help us to do this, not only does it turn our attention inside to our true nature but it also can be used as a gentle way to build heat and keep us from getting too cold or sluggish. However, it is still very important we learn to slow down and generally take stock of our lives; live like the seasons with cooler but also sometimes, more extreme energies.

5 Tips to help transition into chilling:

Eat warming and earthy foods, locally sourced where possible so you can really eat with the season of your dwelling
Take the opportunity to sleep more with the earlier sunset and later sunrise, see what small changes you could make to your routine to allow this for a few months.
Do some Yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi, keep the fire burning inside so you can keep warm.
Move more towards mental tasks rather than physical ones to make the most of a clearer mind bought on by the cold weather.
Appreciate the warmth of your home or your winter coat with the coolness of the air which helps to freshen things up after a sweaty summer!

December 3, 2013

Kids Yoga

Kids are great! The children (and teens) of today are the leaders of tomorrow, thus it is really important when, how and what we teach them. To teach something to a child means it may quickly become innate to them, completely natural. Teaching yoga to a young person could therefore, enable them to better identify with their minds and bodies, potentially gifting them with the ability to always be open, to see the joy and fun in life long into adulthood, regardless of what it may lay on their plate.

A couple of months ago I completed the Rainbow Kids Yoga (RKY) 3 day teacher training course, where you learn how to teach yoga to children (big and small), either in separate children’s groups, or in family groups. I’d highly recommend the teaching for anyone who has an interest in exploring what it is that makes a child’s innocence and openness so special, and why it’s important to give them the tools to help to keep these gifts intact. So much love to the RKY team, and big thanks to them for enabling me to now extend my teaching from adults to both young children and teens. I feel there is such a need to help our children and teens to cope with the ever increasing demands of life, especially in our capital city!

http://www.rainbowkidsyoga.net