New Year treats

Adjusting back after the holidays can feel daunting, but here’s hoping that once we get going we are all feeling refreshed and ready to embrace all that 2012 has to offer! Let’s make space for some fun, relaxation and indulgence whenever we can, and not just in the holidays… A few ideas on this theme: Aromatherapy Massage Clinic new at the studio on Fridays; also new this year Yoga for Sports and Family Yoga on Sundays (from later this month) and Ashtanga Yoga classes Mondays evenings and Friday monings – why not give it a try? See our timetable for details…. Look forward to seeing you soon!

A sight for sore eyes

After a morning at the computer catching up on work and a backlog of correspondence I feel I’m getting on top of the mounting pile of tasks, but am also quite beleaguered; my eyes are tired from lack of screen breaks. I crave fresh air so I head outside. Immediately my eyes feel refreshed as I take in the colours of the autumn afternoon; bright yellow, orange and golden leaves like flames against a slate grey sky. It’s such a treat to relax my eyes and shift my focus, gazing out beyond the next field. The drishtis or gazes practiced in yoga work on the mind, body, spirit connection; a soft gaze at the horizon, or perhaps imagining taking the gaze beyond the limits of our surroundings out into infinity brings inner focus and calm. It can also help to put life back into perspective after a morning of mundane tasks and too much time spent close to a laptop screen! Safia x

A nip in the air

Brrrrr..I kept my coat on when I came home from the school run this morning and was finding it hard to warm up even after my cup of tea and sneaky biscuit. So, how to warm up on a cold but beautiful crisp autumn morning… Rubbing my hands together and then remembering a kundalini trick of raising the arms and shaking the hands vigorously while lowering them again seems bizarre but I can feel it doing wonders for my circulation. Then realising that I’ve been tensing my shoulders against the cold, eagle arms (taking off my coat first, which made it much easier!), while visualising breathing in to the space between my shoulder blades helps to ease out the tension around there. Must remember to keep those shoulders down and away from my ears, even when it feels chilly again later… Off to look for more woolly scarves and cardigans now. Enjoy the autumn sunshine, and stay warm! Safia x

Calming the rush hour…

Hello again, I found myself very flustered this morning in the rush to get out of the house in time for the school run; slowing down at the weekend is lovely, but sometimes the gearshift back into weekday mode can be a shock…  A couple of minutes of focus on deep breaths and then a stretch in down dog and I felt centred again. I normally think there isn’t time for those little nuggets of practice in the midst of a morning like this one, telling myself I should wait until I have time to ‘do it properly‘, but actually those few minutes made a difference. I perhaps wasn’t fully exploring the posture, hadn’t taken my time to get into it but I was able to enjoy how it felt; it calmed me, smoothed over some of the rough edges of the morning so far. There will be time to ‘do it properly‘ later. In fact now I think of it, what does doing it properly mean? I benefitted from it, which made it worth doing. Sometimes we push for perfection, sometimes we need to cut ourselves some slack.  Yoga meets us where we are and getting into the habit can even teach us to find peace in amongst mayhem.. Have a good week everyone! Safia x 

Relax…

I have only just joined the wonderful Yoga-Life team and must say how grateful I am to work with such amazing people…

I am starting a yoga teaching diploma course this weekend and already I have to submit an essay on relaxation! Where do I start…

Well, we all know how important relaxation is, but unfortunately not many of us take time out of our busy working and home loads to slow down, compose ourselves and spend 15 minutes just being us, nobody else, just our being.  Forget all our worries, tasks, to do list and restore and renew our energy. In the past I never used to practice relaxation because to me it was just a waste of time, the time that could be spent manically trying to do yet another job.  Since I found yoga I truly cherish the last minutes of my practice when I can just let go and be. Yummy relaxation that leaves me energised, calm and together, ready to go and face the world.

Recently I have given relaxation to a couple of my friends and their comments were just amazing. One of my friends who is pregnant said that she felt great and full of energy for 3 days after and that she followed my instructions and practiced at home. It made me really happy!

So what I meant to say was – take time out and relax, lie down in savasana for 10 minutes or more if you can and just be! It really is worth it.

With all my love, Eva x

Indian Summer

According to the forecasts, we can look forward to some warm, sunnier weather this week.  I’m thinking it’s a good time to indulge in a flowing Sun Salutation sequence over the next few days, opening up to receive revitalizing energy from the sun, making the most of it and easing into the week after a busy Saturday and a lazy Sunday…

Safia x

Back to school..back to the yoga mat!

Namaste friends! Well, summer has been and gone and busy,  happy, sunshiny days for all of us at the studio have meant some time away from the blog.   We have had a great summer and hope you have too. We’re now turning our thoughts to settling in to new routines and making the most of the autumn sunshine….when it chooses to appear!  After the slower pace of laid-back summer days, my daughter’s eagerly anticipated start at school has been a bit of a shock to the system – much as she’s keen to be a ‘big girl’,  all the newness has been overwhelming, which is tiring for all of us. I’ve instinctively been making use of some of the pranayama techniques we practice in class – it’s so important to stay centred, both for her and my own benefit, and yoga provides an anchor in amongst all of the tiredness and the new challenges.  Simply remembering to indulge in slowing down and deepening my breathing makes me feel instantly calmer. I have made a mental note to myself for whenever it all gets too much to drop my shoulders and feel tension melting with each exhalation. Also,  to help her switch off at bedtime, we have added some breathing practice to our bedtime routine on school nights – she’s only 4 but she already knows how to bring her focus to her breathing, and enjoys being guided through relaxing each part of her little self in preparation for sleep. Here’s hoping it will help to make the rest of the term easier… watch this space! And meanwhile, with a bit more time freed up, I am looking forward to diving back into my yoga and claiming some time back just to be me,  separate from my role as a mother.

So, school uniform ready, pencils sharpened, yoga mat unrolled, and perhaps socks and a cardy added to the yoga bag..  roll on Autumn Equinox…

Safia x

Asana of the month – August – Squat

Using this posture for just a few minutes every day can be very beneficial for your whole body. Squatting is a basic natural posture for the human body, but owing to the fact that we sit on chairs  for much of our daily lives, most of us find it difficult at first. This posture is good for your digestion and internal organs, it will help you to focus and keep you mentally centred.

Move from a standing position into a deep squat with your knees and feet turned out. Rest your elbows inside your knees and bring your hands together in front of your chest. If this is difficult give yourself some help by placing a couple of books or yoga blocks underneath your heels. When you are in the pose try gently rocking forward and backward and side to side, which will help you relax into the position. When you can hold the position no more gently drop your head forward, lift your hips and roll your spine to come back to standing.

Asana of the month – July – Bridge Pose

This gentle backbend helps to open your chest, enabling you to breathe more fully. It also releases your shoulders, which can become hunched and tight in the stresses and strains of daily life. Bridge pose creates strength and stability in your pelvic floor, and legs and lower abdomen. Make sure that you continue to breathe evenly throughout the movements, so that you feel no sense of strain.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet planted firmly on the floor, hip-width apart. Check that your feet are parallel. Place your hands on the floor beside your hips with your palms facing down.

2. As you breathe in, press your feet and hands firmly into the floor. You’ll feel your hips lift – take them as far up as yopu can without straining. Clasp your hands behind your back, and push your knuckles toward your heels. Rock slightly from side to side in order to get your shoulder blades tucked right in beneath you.  Hold the pose for three to six breaths, then come down gently. Repeat two to three times.

Heart Mudra – Asana of the Month – May

Heart Mudra has a positive influence on your emotions. This mudra is said to take the current prana directly to the centre of your chest, which is the seat of an energy centre called anahata chakra. According to yoga tradition we gather, store and give out resources of love and compassion from this energy point. Practicing heart mudra is an excellent way to keep your heart centre open, vibrant and free!

 

You can practice heart mudra anywhere and at any time and it can also be combined with a breathing, meditation or visualisation. Rest your hands, palms facing up on your thighs whilst sitting. On each hand curl your index fingers so that the tips touch the tips of your thumbs. Let your fingers open out softly away from your palms. Bring your attention to your heart centre in the middle of your chest. Allow the energy there to open your chest and free your breath. Allow your hands to relax and rest when you feel them tire or strain.