Blossoming Tree Yoga - Carla Cooper

One of last weeks favourite poses was broken wing.

I wonder what pose will be the fave this week 🤔

I'm putting together my class plans for this weeks classes. ✨️🙏

It's always nice to have time to create something new. Maybe a new pose, or aim 🤔

This week there are a few firsts, lots of mindfulness and a long savasana. A lot to like!

There's still space at Welford if you fancy joining 💕🙏🧘‍♀️

Do you crave for a bit of 'you' time?

Do you want to connect more to your body and breath, and improve your range of motion and strength?

Do you need to reduce stress, feel happier and sleep better?

You should try yoga! 😉 🧘‍♀️

A new block of classes starts next Thursday (06/06/2024), do get in touch if you'd like to know more 🙏💕

Soundbite #3

"I find the practice really grounds me in the moment and helps me focus on the here and now, plus it wears out my brain so I sleep well."

This is a lovely testament to how yoga can be the secret weapon that takes you from feeling stressed or scattered to zen and grounded ✨️

These are my feet in the sea in April......it was brrrrrr freezing 🥶🥶🥶

What do you do to feel grounded?

Soundbite # 2

"After each session, my mind is clearer and my body less tense."

It's so heartening to hear one of the people who attend my classes say this, as it aligns so perfectly with Patanjali's sutra 1.2 where he says "Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind."

Patanjali, was an ancient Indian sage, revered as the "father of modern yoga." He authored the Yoga Sutras, this foundational text that outlines the philosophy and practice of yoga. Through his teachings, Patanjali provided a systematic framework for achieving mental clarity, physical well-being, and spiritual growth, making his wisdom timeless and universally relevant

It's incredible to see how these ancient teachings resonate so deeply in our modern practice. 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️

Over the next week or so I'm going to share soundbites from some of the people who attend my classes 🧘‍♂️

Here's #1;

"I have a sense of calm following a class...."

And in this crazy world, I think we all need to cultivate a bit of calm, don't you?

🧘‍♂️💕🙏

Tomorrow's class is the last of the current block, and booking is open for the next block of classes 🙏

If you'd like to join on either a pay as you go basis, or a block booking basis then do get in touch....🌟

Dates are from Thursday June 6th through to Thursday July 18th 😀

We had fun with this pose this week 😂🤣😅

Upward facing wide legged seated pose.

It's a challenging pose because you need to try to maintain a perfect centre of gravity so you stay upright and don't roll backwards. 😂🤣😅 but we all rolled around a bit 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️🧘

It's a lovely reminder that the practice isn't too serious and we don't have to be perfect 👌

It's all about the journey not the destination ✨️ 🙏

(Image courtesy of Ekhart yoga, please contact for removal )

As I check my tents are all in order, and begin to feel excited about the coming season of better weather, I read this and it's perfect! Happy Bank Holiday weekend

YOU ARE NATURE

There is a reason why walking amongst nature is most people’s best advice when depression strikes.
Because walking in nature is a return to ‘home’.
You are not a lover of nature, or a fan of nature, you ‘are’ nature.
You are as much nature as the trees in your garden and the bees on your picnic.
You were designed to live your days out in the wild with your fellow creatures and plants but progress, humanity, had different plans for us all.
And so we exist day-to-day, in our homes, but never ‘home’.
The quickest route back to self, to inner peace, is bare feet on grass, arms around trees, head in the clouds and heart in a forest.
Put your bones in water, whenever you can, smell each flower you see and crumble dirt between your tired-of-typing fingers.
You are nature, go home once in a while.
It will bring you much you didn’t even know you were missing.

Donna Ashworth
This poem is from my new book ‘Wild Hope’, a book of short poems designed to remind you daily… why we are, who we are and how to harness hope, joy and peace as journey through this life.

🇬🇧UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2j0Nquu
🇺🇸US: https://a.co/d/h6FEaTv

Art by the fabulously talented Cecile Fragassi-Bidault

If you see me down at the Buddhist centre today, I'm not being rude if I don't talk to you, I'm on a silent retreat.....

Quite challenging, but I'm so looking forward to it 😊🙏✨️💕

On National Earth Day, I will be celebrating the joy that the natural world 🌎 gives us...

Also, in line with following the yogic principle of ahimsa (non-violence/kindness) I will find at least 3 things I can do to,

💫 Improve habitat for wildlife

💥 Reduce my impact with regards to waste

✨️ Reduce my impact with regards to energy use

If anyone has any ideas 💡 then do share 🙏

In this weeks classes we celebrated the knowledge of the ancient yogis.....I know I'm a nerd, but I find this fascinating ✨️

Way before infographics showing all the cranial nerves (thank you medical news today), they knew intuitively what to do to activate the 4 x cranial nerves that calm our nervous system 🙏

🧘‍♂️ soft gazing or closing the eyes (oculomotor)

🧘‍♀️ relaxing the face, mouth, tongue and jaw (facial)

🧘 ujjayii breathing and belly breathing (glossopharyngeal) and (vagus)

🧘 heart opening poses and neck releases (vagus)

🧘‍♀️ chanting and brahmari breathing (vagus) 👌

The incense is burning, the heaters are on....all I need now are some people 😂🤣😅

They arrived 🥳 🙏

As we begin a new block of yoga classes together, we're starting with a powerful question:

How does it feel?

This first week is all about intuition and body awareness ✨️

Connecting with our inner wisdom we'll explore how our bodies naturally want to move, letting our body guide where we intuitively want to release, open, or be gentle.

This class is a reminder that your own wisdom is your teacher....

Ready to listen, then do get in touch 🙏

You might need your glasses for this one!, but here

are some if the reasons we practice yoga.....🧘🏽🙏

There are still places for the forthcoming 6-week block of classes (11th, 18th, 25th April, and 2nd, 9th, 1 week break, and then 23rd May).

Do get in touch if you'd like to join us 🙏

This was yesterday 🤩 great clouds ⛅️

Classes resume next week where we will move, ease, breathe and relax......

Did you know, that our nervous system cannot deal with today's pace of change, so I thank yoga for giving me everything I need to calm my nervous system.

Do get in touch (there are spaces in Welford) if you'd like to know more 😃 🙏

Tonight's class is the last one of the current block. A new block will start on Thursday 11th April....🙏

Do message if you're interested in joining us😄

Happy Easter 🐰 🐣 💓

This is a nice quote.....while life moves at break neck speed, there are some constants....💕

The water in the stream may have changed many times, but the reflection of the moon and the stars remains the same.
-Rumi

I'm looking forward to my half day retreat today.....blissful rest and restoration for a few lucky peeps 💕

Blossoming Tree Yoga UK - Carla Cooper on Google Explore and Restore 1/2 day retreat

It's my favourite time of the year 😍

In our yoga practice, it's a time to clear out stagnant energy, bring openess to the body and mind, and tap into the upward moving energy of Spring 💕

Ages ago at a place I worked at, we played a game where we likened each other to an animal.

There was a fox, described as sly, clever, and quick. A bear, powerful, direct, and outgoing, and then me, a sloth - how rude! 😂🤣😅 (to be fair to me, it was a pretty boring job!)

However, after a superb weekend of restorative yoga teacher training where we focused on the immense benefits of rest, I am actually rather pleased to be described as a sloth!

My weekly classes will definitely benefit from this reminder that less is more, silence is golden and what insight and wisdom can be gained from dropping down from our busy thinking minds into the joy and presence of our body....🧘‍♂️🙏💕

I'm looking forward to this weeks classes, and for those of you who've booked onto my 1/2 day retreat 😀 I have such a re-'treat' in store for you. ✨️

I'm thinking of getting some T-shirts made, "be more sloth" 🦥 😎 ✨️

My tea bag tags continue to enlighten ✨️✨️✨️

I'm so looking forward to getting back on the mat tonight 💕🙏😊

There are still some places for the new 5-week block starting THIS Thursday......so do get in touch if you'd like to know more 😊🙏

How funny that the mannequins in Malaga are doing Tree pose!

Greetings from 'Scorchio' Malaga yogis ☀️

Classes recommence next week 😄

There's still spaces in Welford, so do let me know if you'd like to join us 🙏🧘‍♀️💕

The next 5-week block begins Thursday 29th February.

Do get in touch if you'd like to join us.

Does a daytime yoga class work better for you?

I've added a new Tuesday morning class to my schedule 🧘‍♀️

The next 5-week block starts Tuesday 27th February 🙂

Do get in touch if you would like to know more 🙏🏼

Sending love to all 💕

Classes recommence on Tuesday 27th (Thornby am and pm) and Thursday 29th February (Welford pm).

Taking inspiration from Valentines Day, we will start the new 5-week block of classes with heart opening poses, meditation and carefully selected essential oils to help re-balance our heart chakra (anahata chakra).

Do get in touch if you'd like to know more 🙂