Move Breathe Live

Autumn is definitely in the air. The chill in the evenings even after a warm sunny day, the darkening nights, the changing colours on the trees. It is very easy to focus on the negatives of a change in season - less light, more traffic on the roads as the schools return, more changeable weather. My daughter has a daily calendar for keeping track of the day, date, season and weather, and this morning brought huge excitement about the need to change the season badge for the first time since June, which I felt as an adult I could learn a lot from. The change in season is simply a shift into a different mode of operation, one which we can celebrate for what it brings us rather than a lamenting for the summer going (or lamenting for the lack of summer weather!).

Autumn is a time of abundance, traditionally celebrated through the idea of a harvest festival, reflecting on all that the year's growing has resulted it. So September seems a good month to take stock of our year - considering what our year has brought us physically, mentally and emotionally - and perhaps decide on what we want to plant now to see flowering in the spring, in the manner of the bulbs we might plant in the garden. This month will be themed around Bringing in the Harvest where we will be a little more introspective in our practice, checking in with where we are and where we would like to go. We will focus on more forward bending poses to celebrate this introspection, and spend longer in our poses, allowing time to consider and ponder them.

I hope that you can join me to practice this month, either for a weekly Flow class or for my Seasonal Slowdown this Sunday, where we will prepare the body for the shift in season and what that entails physically, mentally and emotionally. Hope to see you then!

Booking link in bio

I'm so excited to announce that next year's retreat is already booked - but you'll have to wait until October for it! Booking via website.

#2024

I can't believe it's already been a week since I had the privilege of welcoming such an incredible group of ladies to my Spring Retreat. How are your seedlings?

It was the greatest of pleasures to host a wonderful group this weekend on my first post-Covid retreat. What seeds do you want to plant and what fruit do you hope to harvest?

Today's joy is the fact that this delicious creation from my birthday celebration still isn't finished yet. And yes, it tastes just as good as it looks.

What's bringing joy to your January?

Next week is the final free Joyful January yoga class - Tuesday 7.15-8.15pm on Zoom. Booking link in bio.

Today marks my 40th birthday and many people have asked if I feel any different. Do I? The truth is - no, I don't from yesterday, but I do from 20 years ago when I was first starting on my yoga journey. Back then, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin and life felt hugely out of balance.

Yoga has given me a stronger body, a more peaceful mind, a sense of grounding and a peace in my own self that my 20 year old self could have barely dreamed about. Life is about balance - a little of everything does you good, right? So if you are feeling a little out of balance, take some advice from my 40 year old self - yoga is probably just what you need.

My yoga retreats embrace this philosophy: we do yoga, but we also eat cake, walk, read, drink wine and enjoy delicious and nutritious food (with a meat option if vegetarianism/veganism doesn't create balance for you). I still have places available for my Spring Retreat, 14-16th April in Kempley on the Herefordshire border. Booking link in bio.

Photo

#40

Sometimes something to focus on can bring us joy - a promise of things to come when we are suddenly by the darkness and coldness of January.

This could be a new job, a new house, a holiday, a yoga retreat or a yoga class to finish the day.

All my classes are free through January - follow the link in bio to book. Tuesdays 7.15-8.15pm via Zoom. And there are still spaces on my Spring Yoga Retreat, 14-16th April for a joyful spring to come!

January is a month about finding the little things which make us joyful. Today that's a new book, gifted to me by a very good friend. Just a reminder that this month my classes are free - so perhaps that could be your joyful moment today? 7.15pm on Zoom - simply book through my website using the link in my bio.

January is dark - both literally and figuratively. After the highs of the festive season, it is a month characterised by paying for the excesses of Christmas, and despite many of us making resolutions at the opening of the month, studies suggest that by the third week of January, the majority of us have already broken these. Conversely, for me January has always had a sense of excitement: with a January birthday, I've always had something to look forward to. So this month, all of my classes will be completely free - my birthday gift to you to create an oasis in your week and give you something joyful to enjoy. Please do share with anyone who you feel would benefit and enjoy a month's free yoga!

Link in bio.

I am delighted to be running my first retreat since January 2020 and to welcome you to a brand new venue on the Herefordshire border.

My retreat weekends offer a total switch off from modern life. Although we do yoga, it much more than this: fresh air, walks, cozy nooks to read a good book, excellent food to nourish your body, a few healthy glasses of wine and wonderful company. Life is about balance rather than abstinence - chocolate and red wine can be part of this as much as yoga and meditation!

The retreat includes 2 nights accommodation, daily yoga classes and all food and drink. Arrival is 4pm on Friday 14th; departure is 2pm on Sunday 16th.

Places are already filling up fast - I really hope you can join me!

Sometimes we all need a fresh start and a reset. The summer months often give us a chance to do this and we are generally more active and spend more time outdoors. For me, as a teacher of over 15 years, September always offers this chance - a clean page to start on and fill with all you want to take forwards from that point. It brings back the child in me, excited by new school shoes, new school bag and brand new exercise books.

My September classes are going to be focused on the concept of a Clean Page - the idea of letting go of our preconceptions about ourselves, about our practice, and about each other. We will visit old poses afresh, focus on cleansing twists to let go of muscular and emotional tensions and set intentions for the Autumn season without reference to what has come before. You can choose what to fill September's page with as you move forwards!

Link in bio. I hope you can join me!