Being Yoga UK

Tonight’s yoga class in Rusthall is going to be about harnessing the energy of the full moon this week, to soften, release and prepare for a new cycle.

There’s still some space if you would like to join us! 🧘

6:30 - 7:30pm at the Sunnyside Hall

Book your spot on the booking site on the following link: https://linktr.ee/beingyogauk

Did you know that I am a Qigong teacher? ☯️

If you’re not familiar with Qigong, it’s a traditional Chinese practice that involves breathwork, meditation and movement to work with our Qi (energy) using Gong (skill).

As some of my regular students know, I often like to sprinkle some Qigong into my yoga classes, and I will at some point soon be adding some Qigong classes to my teaching schedule which I’m really looking forward to!

I’m just back from a weekend in Bath where I got to meet my Qigong teacher from New Zealand for the first time in person.
It was wonderful to practice together as a group and to learn some interesting Qigong practices for managing stress, some of which I’m excited to bring into my yoga classes this month! 😊

NEW CLASS starts in RUSTHALL next week!

Excited to start my new Gentle Yoga class in Rusthall on Thursday evening next week 😊

To view my full schedule of classes and to book in, please see my booking schedule: https://linktr.ee/beingyogauk

Or drop me an email at [email protected] with any questions! X

Meet my little yogi, Bailey 🐾, who has been the king of rest this week, after injuring his leg. Watching how he instinctively knew not to go outside for a couple days, and to fully rest and look after his wound, reminded me of how amazing animals are at slowing down when they need to, and how as humans we often just push through and ignore our body’s signals to rest and recover.

So ahead of the last Bank Holiday weekend of the Summer, take this as your reminder to surrender to some rest.

There’s no yoga at the Civic Centre on Monday, but looking forward to September’s classes.. more on that next week! 🧘🏻‍♀️

The next 3 weeks of Yoga classes will focus on the Doshas, the 3 energy patterns that affect our well-being according to Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga.

There’s just a couple spots left so come and join me Mondays at 6pm at the Southborough Civic Centre if you’re interested to hear more! 🌸

Just 3 spots left for tomorrow's Gentle Yoga class at 6pm at the Southborough Civic centre.

The focus of tomorrow's class will be longer, restorative and restful poses - just the tonic needed after a hot week!

Drop me a message at [email protected] to book your spot!

This weekend the 'Strawberry Moon' will be visible, the first full moon of the Summer.

Monday's yoga class will focus on this transition from Spring into Summer, as we embrace this change with a sense of renewal and gratitude.

Drop me a message to book your spot! x

Sharing my favourite meditation corner for World Meditation Day today.

My meditation doesn’t always look like this. Sometimes it’s sitting on the train, or lying down if I’m not feeling well, and sometimes, I admit, it doesn’t happen at all.

But in whatever form it’s in, I’ve found a daily meditation practice over the last few years incredibly useful for my well-being. It’s my time to draw inwards, notice what my thoughts are doing, become conscious of my breath, and how I’m starting my day. It gives me the opportunity to try to shift any unhelpful thought patterns I might be starting my day with.

Sometimes I find it relaxing and enjoyable, but often it’s boring or frustrating, as my mind wants to just get started with things I need to do. But I try not to judge it as a “good” or a “bad” meditation.

An analogy one of my meditation teachers taught me is that it’s like cleaning the dust on a mirror. A way to clean the slate every day, to not let the “dust” on the mirror of the mind build up.

Do you have a meditation practice?
If you’d like a free guided meditation, comment “meditation” below and I’ll send you a link ✨

Monday’s yoga class will focus on our backs… perfect if you experience back pain and would like ease out some tension, or if you’d like to strengthen your back.

6pm at the Southborough Civic centre 🧘🏻‍♀️

Drop me a message or email me at [email protected] to book your spot!

🌍 Next Monday, 22nd April, is Earth Day, a day for us to show gratitude to the Earth by supporting environmental protection

🌳To celebrate this day, my yoga class on Monday will focus on connecting to the Earth, and feeling grounded and grateful for the beautiful nature that surrounds us.

🌸6pm at the Southborough Civic centre

🌻DM me or drop me an email at [email protected] to book your spot!

Join me for some Spring time Gentle Yoga at the Southborough Civic Centre, Mondays 6 - 7pm

We are a small friendly class, suitable for beginners or those wanting a slower, gentler practice.

We focus on mindful movement, the breath, and restorative poses, to strengthen and stretch the body, and calm the mind.

Contact me at [email protected] for more info or to book your spot!

“Guna tree”

I might be a bit yoga obsessed as when I came across this tree on my walk today, the three branches reminded me of a representation of the 3 Gunas, which in yoga and Ayurveda philosophy are the main qualities of energy that make up the universe and everything in it.

*Rajas (activity & passion)
*Tamas (lethargy & inertia)
*Sattva (balance & harmony)

All 3 are said to be present in all beings and objects, and we can increase and decrease these with our lifestyle choices (how busy we are, the type of food we eat, how we move etc).

I’ve had a lot of rajastic energy this weekend with socialising, hosting friends and eating out, so today is about trying to bring more sattvic energy back in with fresh air and rest at home to rebalance before the week ahead.

Walking on a quiet beach on the west coast of Ireland this weekend, I came across a man drawing in the sand. I learnt from him that he was drawing a Kali Yantra.
I have learnt about yantras, geometrical symbols, during my yoga teacher training, but I hadn’t seen this one before and its beauty against the backdrop of the peaceful landscape really struck me.
Kali is the Hindu goddess of time, transformation and destruction, and is said to remove the fear of death. The artist shared a personal story relating to this, which has given me much to reflect on in relation to my own fears.
I’m so grateful for yoga, and the vastness of what there is to learn.
Happy Sunday and hope to see some of you on the mat tomorrow! ❤️

Gentle yoga, just a couple spots left! Join me Mondays 6 - 7pm at the Southborough Civic Centre. Beginners welcome!

Contact me at [email protected] to book your spot

August Summer special - all yoga classes £10!

Gentle yoga at the Southborough Civic Centre Mondays 6 to 7pm

Suitable for all levels, beginners welcome!

Contact [email protected] to book your spot

There’s a couple spots left for Summer Solstice yoga tonight at 6pm at the Southborough Civic Centre ☀️☀️☀️
Come and join me for a gentle movement practice. No experience needed.
Contact [email protected] to book your spot

Join me on Monday for a gentle yoga class to balance body and mind
6pm at the Southborough Civic centre
Suitable for complete beginners and no need to be flexible!
Drop me a message to book your spot at [email protected]

Gentle yoga starts again on Monday at the Southborough Civic centre from 6 - 7pm.
Suitable for all levels. Beginners welcome!
Start your week off right, with this very relaxing, restorative and calming class!
Drop me a message to book your spot at [email protected]

Post yoga smoothie on the Spring Equinox.

Wishing those in the Northern Hemisphere a Happy Spring Day🌼(Hopefully the sun will catch up soon!)

A Spring Equinox blessing:

From its winter sleep the earth is awoken,
The cycle of nature, true and unbroken.
The promise of spring, of life, a new start,
To fill you with faith in mind, body and heart.
The perfect wheel of nature keeps spinning,
With proof that an ending, is just the beginning.
Rejoice in this season, may it fill you with peace,
And may the blessing of nature, for you, never cease.

Get that relaxed beach feeling.. come and join me for gentle yoga at the civic centre at 6pm tomorrow, just 3 spots left!

Just a couple spots left for my gentle yoga class this eve at Southborough Civic centre from 6-7pm.
Suitable for all levels. Beginners welcome!
Start your week off right, with this very relaxing, restorative and calming class!
Drop me a message to book your spot at [email protected]

My yoga classes start again on Monday at the Southborough Civic centre at 6pm.
Come and join me for some gentle movement and relaxation!
All welcome!
Drop me a message to book your spot x

Friday thought on Rest...

When do you allow yourself to rest? On your lunch break? The end of the day? At the weekend? On holiday?

Our bodies often have to wait long periods before we give it the rest it needs. But we can actually give ourselves mini rests throughout the day that take only a minute or two and have amazing benefits for the mind and body.

I find the REST acronym really helpful to do this mini rest/check in with myself during the day, which you can do with eyes open or closed..

Relax: scan your body from top to bottom, relaxing any muscles that are holding tension.
Exhale: take 3 long exhales through the mouth.
Slow down: notice the pace of your thoughts and see if you can slow them down a little.
Tune in: to what you need.. perhaps the toilet, a glass of water, some air.. sometimes we don't even realise we need these basic things!

Give it a go and let me know what you think!

Last couple spots available for Monday's Restorative Yoga class. Drop me a message if you'd like to join us! x

Want to maintain that relaxed summer feeling?

Join me for Restorative Yoga classes at the Southborough Civic Centre

Mondays 6 - 7 PM, starting 26th September

**COMPLIMENTARY first class**
Thereafter £12 per class, or £40 for 4 classes.

Suitable for all levels including beginners. Adjustments offered to suit all needs and abilities.

Start your week right with some relaxing, restorative and calming yoga!

Lying down Butterfly Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana in Sanskrit) - my absolute fave pose for opening the hips and groin area, and stretching the inner thigh muscles.

You can bring your feet as close or as far away from you as is comfortable. Optional cushions to support the knees and anything else that will make you comfortable (pillow for the head, blanket etc.). Listen to your body - this is a deep stretch and may not be suitable if you have knee injuries or lower back pain.

Try holding this pose for a few minutes (only if it feels good for you) and breathe slowly and deeply into the areas being stretched. A lovely one to do in the evening to some music to wind down from the day.

Come out of the pose gently when ready, and before getting up, lean your knees in towards each other so they are touching to counteract the pose, bringing the feet as wide as your mat (soles of the feet touching the mat). Or you can do a 'windscreen wipe' motion with the legs to release any tension.

It’s a “Legs up the wall” kinda day

Have you tried “Legs up the wall” (called Viparita Karani in Sanskrit) before?

A wonderful pose that’s easy to do and has so many benefits (it can increase circulation, relax body and mind, soothe muscle cramps, stretch hamstrings and glutes, and relieve lower back tension)

You can use a chair if you don’t have any free wall space and can have a blanket or cushion under the head and under the lower back as support if needed. Try to get your hips as close as possible to the wall before bringing your legs up on the wall.

What is Restorative yoga?

Well, there's no strict definition and different teachers' classes will vary, but here are some characteristics you might find in a Restorative yoga class:

- A slower paced class compared to other more active yoga classes, such as Vinyasa flow
- A focus on the breath
- Longer held poses
- The use of props to support the body
- A longer Savasana (the final resting pose at the end of a yoga class)

Restorative yoga is particularly good for those with busy minds (almost all of us!), and for those with health issues and injuries.
It is incredible for soothing the nervous system and relaxing both the body and the mind.
If you're interested to read more about the benefits of Restorative yoga, then this article is worth a read:

https://www.healthline.com/health/restorative-yoga-poses

Restorative Yoga Poses: Benefits and Poses for Relaxation Restorative yoga is a passive, meditative form of yoga that allows you to release tension and stress in your body by holding poses for 5 minutes or more.