Yogavana.co.uk

✨✋🏼M u d r a s 🤚🏼✨

Mudra means ‘seal’ or ‘closure’ in Sanskrit. We use these hand gestures mostly in meditation or pranayama practice to direct the flow of prana and energy within the body by using the hands.

Different areas of the hands are connected with areas of the body and brain; different digits with the elements. Therefore, by placing our hands in mudras we stimulate areas of the brain to create a specific energy circuit in the body, helping to generate a specific state of mind.

Don’t look backwards - you’re not going that way!
… Unless you’re bending, of course!

Stretching the front of the body to contract the back body is so beneficial for a number of reasons:
💛 It prevents kyphosis (forward rounding/ hunching of the spine)
💛 It improves posture
💛 It gives energy
💛 It feels invigorating and strengthening
💛 It can prevent disc degeneration
💛 Backbends are said to help prevent osteoporosis
💛 Flexibility of the spine can help alleviate and manage back and neck pain

Any type of backbend also opens the heart chakra (Anahata), improving with the way we express our emotions (frustration, joy and love), and therefore allowing us to be comfortable enough to express vulnerability in our relationships.

So help yourself move forwards by bending backwards. Every polarity needs balance, right?!

It’s always full of fun and laughter! I feel so grateful for family time spent in the sunshine state ☀️ … and now it’s back to reality! But as Walt Disney once said “Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever” so I’ll continue to laugh, imagine and dream as I sprinkle magic into all my days, not just my holidays ✨

🦅🦅🦅 G A R U D A S A N A 🦅🦅🦅

What else is one supposed to do when walking past a perfectly pruned, large, Eagle-shaped bush in Florida?

Garuda, according to ancient tradition, is King of the Birds. And as a is beneficial for body, mind and energy.

Physically, the asana helps enhance concentration, alertness and awareness of the mind. It also stretches around the shoulders & upper back, and strengthens the core, thighs, legs & ankles.

Energetically, it balances the Sacral Chakra ( ), which is associated with sexuality & creativity, as well as the Third Eye Chakra ( ), associated with intuition, focus & clarity of thought.

As a power animal, the sacred bird is most frequently associated with Wisdom, Guidance, Healing, Freedom, Power, Intuition, Courage and Vision. Quite a list, huh?!

The majestic eagle, often called “Master of the Skies”, teaches us to soar high with freedom & ease.

Eagles go through several transformations before they reach adulthood, moulting their feathers and changing colours throughout their journey. This is why they are often said to represent spiritual growth and inner transformation in their demonstration of a continuous unveiling of their true purpose in the universe.

Many spiritual traditions see the eagle as a messenger between the earthly and spirit worlds. And they are also said to represent new beginnings because they’re associated with the winds of the east, the direction from which spring and dawn emerge.

So, there’s a lot in this pose: physically, energetically, spiritually, symbolically… and this is why I felt compelled to and embrace my inner Garuda…

So much for the past 4 days of immersive, advanced, deeeeep yin, lots of absolutely beautiful, mesmerising Shamanic journeying, the most incredible yogis, breathwork like no other, all held by us, and facilitated by the YIN-CREDIBLE who I can only describe as a rare and precious gift to this Earth. I love him so dearly and know he will always be in my life. I can feel my heart beat to the rhythm of the freedom drum. I set my spirit free. I feel the light shine through. The Shaman in me is awake and I’m here to walk … and Part 3 is coming… !!!
🌏 🪵 🔥 💨 💦

Thank you once more to for making all this possible. This sacred space is THE ONE! My yoga sanctuary.
yoga

I first practised yoga over 25 years ago, far before it was ‘cool’ or widespread, like it is now. Looking back, I realise now that I knew instantly back then that it would become an essential ingredient in my life.

What has yoga given me?

💛 A better life
💛 An outlet for my depth and sensitivity
💛 A confirmation of everything I have always inherently known and felt
💛 Patience, acceptance, determination, joy, reflection, love
💛 Strength, flexibility and balance (of mind and body)
💛 An incredible community
💛 A sense of belonging. In this world. In this life. In this body.

Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful Dad 💖, my amazing husband, my lovely Father-In-Law, and all the amazing Dads out there! # # # You are all fabulous!

Parenting is such an important job - one filled with emotion, relentless effort and a constant stream of care and love.

I feel so grateful and blessed every day for the people in my life. This man, my Pops, loves us completely and utterly, and we couldn’t wish for more in a father.

We sometimes say we feel things in our “gut” without really considering that this ‘gut feeling’ is the wisdom of the body.

We have three centres of intelligence - the wisdom of the head, the heart and the body. And when our three centres of intelligence are working in union, we experience an absolute certainty - no doubt and no reservations. Just assuredness, confidence and conviction.

So the next time you’re making a decision, try to listen to the messages received from your head, heart and body combined. The more often you sit with yourself, listening, the easier this will become.

A has taught me to do just this, and I’m so .

~ Private Cacao Ceremony ~

Just me.

Practising and as I sit here connecting to all the love that exists inside of me - and anyone who knows me knows the extent of how deeply I feel, how strongly I connect, how intensely I love 💖💚💛

I am holding this close to my heart, both literally and metaphorically, and inviting to help me vibrate with a raised frequency. Every mouthful, every sweet drop, every sip is opening my heart further.

Life can be so fabulous when you become conscious enough to heal within, know your worth, and LET ALL THE LOVE IN 💖✨

Such a fabulous weekend, sharing yogic loving with this incredible squad 💖💫 for and how it enriches every facet of my life 🧿

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible Mums out there, especially my own. Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet most challenging, changeable, relentless jobs in the world. I got so friggin’ lucky in the Mum department, and feel blessed every day that she’s mine.

My beautiful Mother is the epitome of grace - always dignified, selfless and generous. She has 100% confidence in all that I do and all that I am, and is quite honestly, a wonder.

And as I continue to navigate Motherhood myself, raising the three little (not so little anymore) loves of my life, I become more and more aware of all the sacrifices she has made over the years, of her immeasurable strength and determination, and of the pain she has had to live with since losing her own mother, aged only 18, and of the way she somehow found a way to be both a big sister and a parent to her younger siblings (who are all amazing too).
Mum - you are my hero. I love you endlessly.

I feel it important here to acknowledge however, that some will find this day emotional and difficult. To you, I send love and strength - those who have lost their mothers and have to live with this pain… those who have, for whatever reason found themselves estranged from their parents/ children… those struggling to parent alone… those wonderful women undergoing long and onerous fertility treatment… those mothers who have lost a child… I see you. I send you love and healing.

The beginning of 2024 has been deeply introspective for me. I’ve become so in tune with myself that I can read my strengths, my flaws, and all the in-betweens. I am able to observe, accept and raise my vibration.

I feel a mental, emotional and physical unity with my deepest truth, and am enjoying this harmonious connection with both my most authentic self, and with the Universe.

… I am revelling in my GODDESS energy, and upgrading daily. 🌟

On , I thank all the beautiful women in my life for the sisterhood.

For the love. The joy. The friendship. The connection.

I see you: your strength, your power, your softness, your wisdom, your beauty, your grace.

The combination of our alluring feminine energy illuminates the world.

Question: “Is he/she good at yoga?”

Do other yoga teachers find this question as difficult and frustrating as I do?

I’ve previously answered by saying it’s a personal journey and asana is only one facet, but I’m not sure this communicates quite what I mean.

So here’s my attempt at an answer, and what I shall say if asked again:

Yoga is not a performance; it’s an internal journey. The people “good at yoga” are those who can embrace the beauty of practice, regardless of the physical poses they can or can’t do. True yogis don’t measure their worth by the complexity of strong or contorted asana, or judge others based on their physical practice. If that’s what they’re doing (towards both themselves and others), then they are still early on their yogic path and will hopefully learn to embrace and enjoy the blossoming journey.

There will always be lessons (on and off the mat) for all of us, if we are willing to find and work with them.

As teachers, we only hope to stay generous in teaching from places of authenticity, knowing that students will listen to and hear our messages when they’re ready. We aim to stay focused on building a community that uplifts, supports, and understands that everyone’s journey is unique, and we all have different strengths/ weaknesses. We encourage ourselves and others to work with understanding and compassion, not fault-finding; with flow and not force. We hope our teachings are imparted graciously, as we remember that we are not only teachers, but also lifelong learners ourselves.

The essence of yoga lies in humility, compassion, and self-awareness, not criticism and judgement. Ego-driven judgments have no place on the mat.

There is no set ‘good yogi’ standard—just your unique path and the wisdom it unfolds. Let’s celebrate the gorgeousness of the practice, and remember that real strength and flexibility lies in the mind and the heart.
🧘‍♀️💕

Come and yoga with me in 2024 ✨ There’s no better way to start the new year. See my website (link in bio) for new courses, classes, sound healing… etc … and keep your eyes peeled as new sessions and workshops will appear regularly… 🙏🏼

Benefits of yoga include:
✔️Makes the body strong and supple
✔️Lengthens and/or strengthens the bones, joints, ligaments
✔️Clears the mind
✔️Encourages an attitude of gratitude, which in turn, breeds abundance
✔️Nourishes the respiratory and immune system
✔️Reduces anxiety
✔️Stimulates the cardio-vascular system
✔️Improves sleep
✔️Expands awareness
✔️Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
✔️Detoxifies the body and increases a healthy flow of energy
✔️Increases mental focus and clarity

I would love to welcome you to my gorgeous home studio and guide you through your yoga and wellbeing journey…

📷 taken in October, in beautiful Northern Cyprus, when I wasn’t wrapped tightly in a blanket 🤪

🧡 C o m i n g 🧡 H o m e 🧡

This photo was taken over a month ago, in Northern Cyprus, where we enjoyed two weeks of October sunshine, prolonging the summer season, just a little. ☀️

I always love holidays but there is something about coming back home which is even better.

Think of all those phrases to do with home:
“Home Sweet Home”
“There’s no place like home”
“Home is where the heart is”

… and they’re all true!

Home is the starting place of love, hope and dreams. The magical thing about it is that it feels good to leave, to have a break, to explore… and it feels even better to come back.

I feel so and (hopefully you do too) to have a lovely home life. And even luckier to have a second home too - the yoga studio; my unconventional office space - another place that brings me back to myself, fills me with feel-good chemicals, releases dopamine; invigorates and excites, but also provides sweetness and comfort - a place where my heart lives.

Scientifically, our minds do actually release an extra dose of dopamine (a feel-good neurotransmitter) whenever we return home from a long day out or an extended trip. And dopamine plays an important role in the pleasure/reward system that motivates us to repeat certain behaviours. It’s involved in memory, attention, in controlling physical movement, and is critical to mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Certainly there may be an evolutionary aspect at play in all of this too. Thousands of years ago humans were constantly on the move and the lookout for potential threats. Back then, a cosy, safe home would have felt euphoric.

I am sitting on my warm bed as I write this, with my two cats curled up on my legs, feeling blessed to be in my lovely home, after having just finished a yoga session - a practice that brings me home to the essence of my truest and highest self, over and over again.

Coming home feels so good.

What a YINcredible journey! 🌟

The last four days have been filled with beauty and strength, vulnerability and acceptance, tears and laughter.

I feel so honoured to have completed this yin training with such a fantastic group of yogis - all genuinely, authentically, holding space for each other, and finding ways of moving towards higher states of both consciousness and relaxation. I see each of you, and am so grateful for your light in return 💛

And what can I say about other than: what a beautiful human being, made of pure magic ✨💫
I will be eternally grateful to him for these hours - and am already looking forward to our regrouping in 2024 💖

Extending my gratitude to the amazing space that is ✨🧘🏻‍♀️

🦩 F a l l e n / H u m b l e 🦩 F l a m i n g o 🦩 P o s e 🦩

Flamingos symbolise beauty, balance, potential, and romance. These meanings emerge from the striking characteristics of the flamboyant pink birds.

Did you know that a group of flamingos is actually called a flamboyance? 🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩

These stunning creatures teach us about balance in life: their effortless grace and ability to stand on one leg representing effortless order, balance and harmony.

They are beautiful when standing solo but also the most amazing team players when performing their mating dance; a whole flamboyance of them working together to create beautiful synchronised movement (much like us yogis in a yoga studio - a personal practice that is also beautiful as part of a unified, synchronised and larger supportive community).

This asana is a variation of both (Flamingo Pose) and (Pyramid Pose). It is an advanced standing balance which stretches and strengthens the spine, quadriceps, hips, hamstrings, arms and core.

Y o g a 💜 i s 💜 m y 💜 r e l i g i o n

With so much uncertainty in the world, so much heartlessness and unjust treatment of Other, with one group close to being obliterated, their children begging for mercy while the autocrats cruelly continue their destruction, I find myself feeling helpless and totally lost for words. This level of inhumanity makes no sense.

Once again I turn to the teachings of yoga for comfort: a practice that teaches personal morals, kindness, acceptance, the right social choices, a lack of greed and a generosity of spirit.

If only the yogis of this earthly plane could teach those holding the most power that all our races, genders, religions, all our differences, should be combined into one collective religion called HUMANITY, then maybe the prospect of world peace would feel less unlikely.

Y o g a 💜 i s 💜 m y 💜 r e l i g i o n

With so much uncertainty in the world, so much heartlessness and unjust treatment of Other, with one group close to being obliterated, their children begging for mercy while the autocrats cruelly continue their destruction, I find myself feeling helpless and totally lost for words. This level of inhumanity makes no sense.

Once again I turn to the teachings of yoga for comfort: a practice that teaches personal morals, kindness, acceptance, the right social choices, a lack of greed and a generosity of spirit.

If only the yogis of this earthly plane could teach those holding the most power that all our races, genders, religions, all our differences, could - and should - be combined into one collective religion called HUMANITY, then maybe the prospect of world peace would feel less unlikely.

~ Stop keeping secrets from yourself ~

It works wonders to be totally honest with yourself about the decisions/actions you need to take. There’s something empowering about looking at your reflection in the mirror and being brutally honest about your feelings, your choices, and the path you feel you should be walking.

An internal honesty - not one you need to share with the world, not one that requires external validation, not one that keeps secrets from yourself. Just a deep resonance with the silent voice of knowing that you hear deep within.

It wasn’t long ago when I finally admitted to myself that I needed to walk a new career path. I had lost respect for the systems and management style of the school I worked in - the ethos was no longer aligned with my morals.

I allowed and trusted my internal voice to guide me (albeit with some trepidation) as I walked towards pursuing a F/T world of yoga, sound healing, wellness, creative projects, and a little bit of GCSE/ A-Level English tutoring on the side.

I feel 100% better for it.

So stop. Breathe. And be honest with yourself - whether connected to work, life, relationships, decisions.

Stop keeping secrets from yourself and instead face your truths. Act on them. And wait for your life to thank you - it most certainly will.

Let the small things soothe you.

Let the big things move you.

Let the right things, and the wrong things, show truth to you.

💚 🧡 💛

~ Ardha Chandra Chapasana ~
(an advanced version of or )

This pose is great for strengthening the lower body, creating more flexibility, stretching the spine, opening the rib cage/ abdominal muscles, and enhancing balance/ focus.

When the is used effectively, it hugely assists in maintaining composure in balancing asanas. Drishti (our focused yogic gaze) is a means for developing concentrated intention. It relates to two of Patanjali’s eight limbs: the fifth limb, , concerning sense withdrawal, and the sixth limb, , relating to concentration - which trains the mind to be clear, focused, and one-pointed.

I’m really enjoying making these yogic shapes in this beautiful location.

As an aside though, I must add that shape making is only one part of this beautifully intelligent practice - the eight limbs combined are when yoga becomes a gateway to lifestyle choices, moral habits and holistic health.

I remain humbled by the depth and beauty of this practice which is, and will always be, part of me. 🙏🏼💖

When holding this asana against this stunning, lush, natural backdrop, gifted to us by Mother Earth, I felt acutely aware of my constant dance between the binaries inside of me; and inside of us all.

The fluid movement between darkness and light, yin and yang, strength and softness, is part of life’s ebb and flow, part of what unites us as a human race.

Finding balance in today felt symbolic of harmonising mind, body and spirit; and these micro seconds of journeying towards ‘moksha’ often feel to me such a crucial part of the yogic path I have carved out for myself and my beautiful family.

I’m feeling deeply grateful to be spending quality time with my gorgeous gang as we adventure through this exotic land.

🇨🇷

Life advice (to myself - and to you, if these suggestions resonate) :

1. Place so much value on your relationships: The best way to make your connections deeper and stronger is by letting yourself be real, celebrating successes and admitting mistakes. These binaries simply make us human.
2. Don’t tie your self-worth to your career. Value creativity, be open to trying new things, and make time for the people and things you love.
3. Express yourself intelligently. If you really want to improve the world and tackle the big, important issues, meekly following the rules is not going to cut it. Always assert yourself when feeling a twinge of “That’s not right” but do so intelligently.
4. Be a better talker and a better listener: speak in such a way that others love to listen to you, and listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.
5. Be happy and grateful for everything that is beautiful in your life. The world is magical when you take time to notice it.