Author: Racheleyoga Holistic Wellness

This month’s theme is ‘Taking Spiritual Flight’:  Getting rid of the sand bags that weigh us down and having the courage to take off.

For me, I’ve carried fears around being in front of a camera.  Those fears are amplified when the camera becomes video … recording voice as well as visual 🙈🙉🙊.

I’ve been asked many times to produce something for when classes are not on due to holidays etc.  So I’ve finally risen to the challenge, embraced the fear and produced a very first video introducing #pregnancy #yoga.   It’s a long way from perfect (and cringe-worthy much of the time !) but hey I’m posting it anyway.  Hoping someone will find some inspiration from it somewhere ? Playing with greenscreen was all part of the journey (genie on a ‘flying’ carpet was never intended to be a part  ! ..Neither was airplane arms if the video is paused with my arms outstretched).

Enjoy and let me know what fears you intend to overcome or challenges you might embrace in the comments x

If you’ve been feeling particularly weighed down of late.  It may help you to know this :

 

 

 

 

 

Shift Happens – A Rocket and Yin Yoga Workshop with Racheleyoga

Set the intention. Start the journey !

Find more balance in 2018.

Robert Monk Hall, Foxton, Leicestershire 28th January 3.00-6.00pm.

Tickets now on sale!

Book now for January’s Yin Yang Yoga Workshop which seeks to promote body, mind and spirit balance for 2018. Start the ‘rest of your year’ in your stride; fully rebalanced and recharged. Cultivate physical, mental and emotional steadiness to embrace all the challenges and joys of the year ahead.

Fusing two styles of yoga into one session, this 3 hour workshop, ‘Shift Happens’, offers you the space to explore Yin and Yang energies in different styles of yoga practice. This is time out for you to reflect on your yin and yang qualities and to learn how to balance yin and yang energies, through stillness, movement, sound and silence. Combine the benefits of an energising dynamic Yang practice with passive Yin poses.

The workshop will commence with a pure yang, super fun dynamic practice, of Rocket Yoga, quickly building heat as the body moves in all directions to work muscles and increase blood flow, promoting strength, stamina and flexibility.

 

 

Our workshop will then move into a deep-healing, floor-based Yin Yoga practice incorporating self-reflection, pranayama, mindfulness meditation and mantra. Yin is a deep and meditative form of yoga, using longer holds in floor postures to allow deeper layers (fascia) within our body to release. It contrasts beautifully with Yang Yoga.

Please note that Rocket is a challenging practice, although postures will be offered with modifications/alternatives.
New to Yin ? No worries !  Yin yoga is suitable for all levels. It uses long-held passive stretches to put pressure on deeper tissues of the body and stimulate energy channels to enhance and strengthen the flow of Qi (prana) in the body. It can offer quite a challenge – to stay present and allow various sensations to arise, yet the overall effect of the practice is immensely calming, stabilising and soothing.

We’ll end with Yoga Nidra (deep rest) including setting an intention for the year ahead.

Shift Happens is your gift to yourself. It will reset your system, encourage you to appreciate yourself and reflect on your wonderful life. It will restore your natural vitality, help you identify changes you might want to make in the future and prepare you for the rest of 2018 in a mindful, relaxed and calm state of being.

Kidney and urinary bladder are the organs that belong to Water element within us and correspond to the winter season, so our yin yoga session will focus on poses and movements that will stimulate these meridian lines in the body. You will get a little theory of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and how it links to Yin yoga, but mostly we practice .. being still, listening, unpacking, inquiring, resting … This will feel like a deep massage, acupuncture and mindfulness session, all rolled into one.

Investment: £30.00 per person including refreshments.

How to book:
Bookings are through Racheleyoga’s booking page
Places are limited so please book early and secure your place immediately via BAC’s.
Your place will be confirmed and you’ll receive email joining instructions within 24 hours of payment.

 

This week we continue with our quest to find balance both on and off the mat.  We’ll practice finding alignment, and developing strength, focus and patience.  Knowing that ‘when we practice all is coming’.  Staying with uttitha hasta padangusthasana but maybe moving on to uttitha hasta padangusthasana C and D ?  Who knows, we’ll see where the journey takes us.  Here is a good article on the sequence.

Source: Summer Yoga .. An act of self-preservation ?

According to a survey, compiled by self-development and meditation app Anamaya, 55% of mum’s said their stress levels ‘increase dramatically over the school holidays’.  Add to this the long term change that many parents may be experiencing as their offspring transition to a new life-stage; moving on to start school, from primary to secondary, or secondary to University and this is exacerbated as roles and needs become blurred and redefined.  I can relate: My youngest son moves on from the nurturing village primary school, which we as a family have been a part of for the last nine years, this Friday!   I’m anticipating the tears as his class are encouraged to savour their times at the school through song/memoirs at ‘the end of year leavers performance’.

So, turn to Patanjali’s “Eight Limbs of Yoga,” Aparigraha (non-attachment) — the fifth element of the first limb (the Yamas or restraints) —  change is the only constant thing in life.  Each day, an opportunity to learn and explore.  Try not to get attached to habits, and learn to let go of expectations.  Subtle changes in ourselves — mentally and emotionally may be noticed— accept ourselves for exactly who we are and where we are in our life right now.  Knowing that tomorrow will bring a new experience, embracing change and remembering that even the smallest things can make a big difference.

Audre Lord once said that, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”  In defining self-care, Dr. Christine Meinecke at Psychology Today, states it is not self-indulgence or self-pampering, but “choosing behaviors that balance the effects of emotional and physical stressors” —

The Summer yoga classes are ‘all about balance’… in life and on the mat.  We’ll catch you if you fall !🙏💕.

Week 1:  Pose of the week UTTHITA HASTA PADANGUSTHASANA: THE EXTENDED HAND TO TOE POSE.  Check it out here :

https://www.gaia.com/article/extended-hand-toe-pose-utthita-hasta-padangusthasana

This week’s classes are all about finding balance, on and off the mat !  We’ll explore a few balance postures but I’ve chosen Ardha Chandrasana, or Half-Moon, as pose of the week.  This is an excellent pose strengthening not only your ankles, legs, glutes, spine and abs but also of course your focus, and as always, we’ll catch you if you fall 😉🙏

Source: Pregnancy Yoga in a Safe and Supported Space

Source: Mats and Bolsters