What Is YOGA?
“Yoga gives you a chance to observe what it feels like to be in your body in that particular moment and start to become aware of what it feels like to be you.” – Vicky Fox
Yoga is so much more than exercise! Through the physical practice of yoga postures, we become attuned to our bodies. We notice pockets of stiffness, imbalances in the body and areas where muscles may feel weak or tired. We may become aware of new sensations in the body such as heat or tingling or even vibrations. We start to notice habitual patterns of movement which may not be supportive to the body.
When we combine these observations with a deeper relationship with our breathing we can begin to let go of our old habits and find new ways to support our bodies and minds.
Coming to understand how and where we breathe is the starting point. Breathing is the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do before we die and yet so many of us have lost this vital connection to our bodies. Our breath is also a window into our emotional state. When we are in upset or in pain this might show up in breathing pattern that is shallow and uneven. We may even hold the breath or forget to breathe out. Our exhale allows us to shift the nervous system from a state of anxiety or ‘fight and flight’ to one that is calm and relaxed. From this place we can start to change our relationship with ourselves and our environment.
My on-line and in person classes include:
Yoga postures (asanas), some which build strength or increase flexibility, some may be chosen to relax the body and others to improve balance and focus. I enjoy combining elements from different schools of yoga such as yin and ashtanga as well as other mind-body practices such as qi gong and tai chi.
Breathing techniques (pranayama);
I use a variety of breathing techniques many of which are designed to calm the nervous system bringing mental clarity and improving all round mental health
I enjoy combining movement and breath in simple flowing sequences which become effectively a moving meditation benefitting both the physical body and mind.
Chair Yoga
I am dedicated to making yoga accessible to everyone, irrespective of age or health conditions. My chair yoga classes (taught in conjunction with KHL) allow participants to access all of the benefits of a mat class to improve their strength, stamina, balance and flexibility.
Relaxation and self-care is a fundamental part of yoga at the end of my classes I hope that my students leave feeling refreshed and restored and better able to cope with the ups and downs of life.
As a trained chair yoga practitioner, I offer postures on the mat or on the chair enabling everybody to enjoy the benefits of yoga.
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Contact me to book onto a class, organise a group or 1:1 session or find out more about my workshops.