Yoga40+ Salisbury

Does life get any better than this? So, so lucky to teach in this beautiful location.

Perfect first week of classes in this beautiful spot. We’ve been outside for all of them and they’ve been so magical.

Outdoor yoga is a totally different, sensory experience. We’ve felt the breeze on our skin, we’ve watched the peregrines soaring through the sky, we’ve smelled the freshness of the air and, above all, we’ve breathed in all the beauty. How lucky are we to live in this glorious corner of England?

I still have spaces in next week’s classes so let me know if you fancy coming.

All the info is here: https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/yoga-retreats-salisbury/ 😊🙏🧘‍♀️

Thank you to everyone who came to my Cardiovascular Health and Yoga Retreat Day at Gambledown Farm today.

We explored the effectiveness of yoga, breath practices and meditation as preventative tools for this vital aspect of our health. We also enjoyed a delicious plant-based lunch provided by Julia's Vegan Kitchen and a brisk walk around the beautiful surrounding countryside.

All of this in the company of friendly like-minded souls with plenty of chat and laughter. The perfect recipe to keep our cardiovascular systems healthy!! ❤️🧘‍♀️

Thank you to the brave, die-hard yogis who came to Park Yoga this morning. We got soaked and then the sun came out, drying us out! The power of positive thinking. Such a joy when that happens. Even when it rains, yoga is blissful and everyone left with a smile on their faces! 😊🌧️🌈🌦️☀️

Very excited to be back in Lizzy Gardens this weekend to lead this practice. Fingers crossed the sun shines 🤞🤞☀️

This Sunday, the lovely Jo Coleman will be returning to lead the Park Yoga Salisbury session - you might remember her from running some sessions over the last couple of years 😊

Jo will be focusing on moving with the breath 🙏

Hope you can come along - 9.30am Lizzy Gardens, Salisbury - just follow the green flag 🌳

Xx

**GENTLE YOGA IN THE CATHEDRAL CLOSE**

Breathe in the beauty of the Cathedral Close in these very special sessions.

For three weeks over the summer holidays, I am holding gentle, outdoor yoga classes with the cathedral as a beautiful backdrop. Situated in the private grounds of Salisbury Cathedral School, with plenty of free parking, you can enjoy a unique, uninterrupted view that was painted by Constable.

Each session is 75 minutes long and could be the ideal introduction to yoga. They are suitable for all levels including complete beginners. We’ll work on stretching out tired muscles, relieving tension and reducing your stress levels.

Dates and times are as follows:

Wednesdays
24th July/ 31st July/ 14th August
9.30am (fully booked) & 11.15am (5 spaces)

Thursdays
25th July/ 1st August/ 15th August
6pm (fully booked) & 7.45pm (limited availability)

Fridays
26th July/ 2nd August/ 16th August
10.15am (fully booked)

Costs are as follows:

Single class: £13 each Two classes: £26 Three classes: £35 Four or more classes: £10 each

You can book into any of the classes (so you could come twice one week and then not at all the following). The classes will be bookable on a first come, first served basis.

There is plenty of parking right next to the school and I have a wet weather contingency to hold the classes inside the school if it’s raining hard. However, I’m determined that we will be outside as often as we can be!

To book, please text or call Jo on 07976 269364 or email [email protected] 😀🧘‍♀️🌳

Another wonderful retreat day to celebrate Midsummer. Thank you so much to everyone who came. The energy in the church was so peaceful this afternoon as we moved from the Yang energy of the Summer Solstice towards the Yin of the second half of the year. Also big thanks as always to Ilona from Conscious Yoga for her sound bathing skills and our amazing caterer Julia's Vegan Kitchen. The nicoise bowls were a big hit! ❤️🧘‍♀️☀️

**1 space left**

Come and join us to celebrate the Summer Solstice! This is your opportunity to breathe, relax, release tension and absorb the energy of Midsummer.

The day will include a delicious lunch, two gentle yoga practices, meditation, calming breathwork and a 'yoga nidra' extended relaxation. It will conclude with an hour's sound bath given by Ilona from which is a blissful experience.

Our venue is in Lower Bemerton - a converted church that is calm, quiet and relaxing.

All of this for £95. Give yourself a treat and book in today! You'll be made very welcome :)) xx

To book go to: https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/yoga-retreats-salisbury/ or text Jo on 07976 269364.

Feeling a bit 'meh'? Weather getting you down? Craving some much needed me-time to look forward to?

How about treating yourself to a day of gentle yoga, calming breath practice, extended relaxation (yoga nidra) and a blissful sound bath? Plus a tasty lunch and the company of friendly, like-minded souls?

I currently have two spaces left for my Midsummer Yoga Retreat Day on Saturday 8th June in a stunning venue, St John’s Place in Lower Bemerton.

Join us and I can guarantee you'll leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready for the summer months. And, believe it or not, the summer is on its way! It might even be hot by then :))

These are rare spaces as all my previous retreats have sold out so grab them quickly. No experience necessary. Just a desire to relax and immerse yourself in the energies of the summer season.

Click on the link below to find out more or text Jo on 07976 269364.

Events | Yoga40+ Up and coming Yoga Retreat Days in the Salisbury, Wiltshire area

Great endorsement for yoga nidra here. It’s one of my favourite practices as it takes you to that blissful place between sleep and wakefulness.

It’s something I always include in my day retreats as we have more time to devote to it fully. Watch this space for news about two further retreats on 8th June and Sunday 21st July 😊

I love running retreat days. They give us time and space to get more deeply into the practice than we do in our weekly classes.

Today I hosted a day retreat focused on the pagan festival of ‘Imbolc’. A time of new beginnings, creativity and feminine energy. There was so much to inspire and explore. We even stood outside by the river to breathe in the air of early Spring. Such a special moment.

Thanks to everyone who came. Also to our beautiful venue St John’s Place, our wonderful caterer Julia's Vegan Kitchen and our talented sound healer Ilona from Conscious Yoga.

Feeling at a low ebb? Need something lovely to look forward to? Why not treat yourself to a day of rest and rejuvenation?

I have two spaces left for my Early Spring Retreat Day on Sunday 4th February. Included in the day are:

- gentle yoga practices
- meditation and breathwork
- yoga nidra (extended relaxation)
- a delicious, healthy lunch
- a sound bath.

The style of yoga I teach is gentle and nurturing so no previous experience is necessary. Just a readiness to relax, let go and release any stress or worry.

Come and join me to celebrate the first stirrings of Spring! I can guarantee you'll leave feeling calm, grounded and ready for the rest of year.

To book, go to: https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/yoga-retreats-salisbury/

So 2023 is drawing to a close and my classes have paused for the festive period.

Wishing my entire Yoga40+ community a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Thank you for your commitment to your yoga practice and for turning up every week, come rain or shine. It's such a privilege teaching you all :) xx

Huge thanks to everyone who came to my Somatic Yoga Retreat Day at the Retreat New Forest today. It was a privilege to share this gentle practice with you all in such a lovely setting. The photo is our view during our Meditation session. Feeling the gentle wind blowing against our skin and the soft grass under our feet was a special moment 🥰

What a lovely morning it was 😀

Very excited… I’m leading this Sunday’s Park Yoga. Crossing everything the weather is ok. Do come along to support me. It starts at 9.30am in Lizzy Gardens. No need to book and completely free of charge.

(p.s. The photo is of my daughter Lucy and me in the middle of our triangle pose last week!)

Can you believe we are now half way through the Park Yoga season?! 10 sessions down, 10 sessions remaining!

This week, the lovely Jo Coleman will be back with you - if you were around last summer or were there for the first session in May, you’ll remember Jo 😊🙏

I’ll be back on with you on 23rd July - have fun! # # #

Very excited to see our August retreat go up on the Retreat New Forest website. It’s going to be a lovely day 😊

Somatic Yoga Retreat - Finding Your Inner Felt Sense — The Retreat New Forest Give yourself some valuable me-time. The aim of this gentle day retreat is to release deeply held tension and find complete relaxation. Somatics can help you learn how to release and recalibrate these tight muscles allowing the body to find ease in movement. 

I’ve been working on this week’s restorative class to support our adrenal glands. Went to answer the door and came back to find this…🐈 ❤️

Don’t forget your pillows everyone!!

Lovely start to the day 😊

Thank you to 52 beautiful yogis that turned up on a damp, overcast morning. Particularly lovely to see many new faces. We saluted the sun and, guess what? It’s shone all day! The power of yoga 💪🌤️🧘‍♀️🙏

Exciting…

Just popping on to introduce myself. I’m Jo Coleman and I’ll be leading this Sunday’s Park Yoga whilst Emily is in Spain.

Come along to Queen Elizabeth Gardens at 9.30am for some FREE yoga. No need to book and no experience necessary. Just turn up with your mat or towel ready to move and breathe deeply!

My focus for this session will be learning the poses that make up the sun salutation. You never know - we might be able to get the sun to shine… 🤞🤞☀️☀️🙏

Looking forward to this! I’m leading the first Park Yoga session of the summer next Sunday 7th at 9.30am.

We’re going to explore the poses that make up the sun salutation sequence and I’ll tell everyone why they’re so central to a yoga practice. Let’s hope we’ll persuade the sun to shine 🙏🤞🙏🤞☀️☀️

Just ONE WEEK to go!

Next Sunday, 7th May is the first date of the Park Yoga season - then every Sunday, until 17 September, we will be in Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury from 9.30am - 10.30am 🥰

This is open to EVERYONE - yes, that includes YOU!!!

Park Yoga is a charity, with the aim to encourage people to take part in activities outdoors, improving health and well-being and creating a sense of community in the process. So if yoga is your thing, or if yoga is something you’ve never tried before, we’ll be here for you, all of you, all summer, to help you start your Sundays right 🙏😊😊😊🌞🌞🙏

Can you think of a reason not to come along and try?! Just bring a mat or a towel, some water and weather appropriate clothing (jumper 🥶 or sunscreen 🌞) and we’ll see you there!! 🙏🙏. Any questions, please just send us a message # # #

Ps. Next week, Emily is away running a yoga retreat, so the wonderful Jo (who lead a few sessions last summer) will be here to take you through the first Park Yoga session of the season 😊😊😊

Another perfect Retreat Day in St Johns Place

Themed around Earth Day, we explored the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space/Ether. We moved and flowed. An active energetic yoga practice followed by a meditation where we connected with the Earth and the energy of spring.

After an exceptional lunch courtesy of Julia's Vegan Kitchen we began our yoga nidra - an exploration of spaciousness in our bodies, minds, spirits and beyond.

Then to round off a perfect day, Ilona from Conscious Yoga treated us to a sublime sound bath. Just perfect.

Thank you so much to Julia, Ilona and everyone who came today.

I'm taking bookings for my next block of yoga classes and have a couple of spaces in my 6pm Beginners class on Thursday evenings in St John's Place, Lower Bemerton starting next week (20th April).

This term, we're going to be focusing on ways that yoga can support our endocrine system, using gentle postures to help regulate our adrenals, thyroid and pancreas. We then move on to look at spinal flexibility in the second half of term, with a particular focus on healthy lower backs.

All my classes are designed for the over-40s and are friendly and non-competitive. Come and join us! To book, go to https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/classes-and-prices/

Any queries, please text Jo on 07976 269364.

Very excited to be taking part in this again this summer. In fact, I’m taking the first session on 7th May. Put it in your diaries!! 💕🧘‍♀️

💚 Park Yoga 2023 is coming! Watch this space for updates about local venues as we have them...

🌟 We will also have some exciting announcements about NEW locations!

📅 Dates for your diary - Sunday 7th May to Sunday 17th September.

Are you feeling your age? Over-indulged during the festive season? Want to get moving in 2023?

I run yoga classes for the over-40s in Salisbury. They're deliberately gentle and slower paced. My focus is on relieving stress, encouraging flexibility and easing stiffness. You'll be practicing with a lovely bunch of people and we don't take ourselves too seriously!

All my morning classes are full but I currently have two spaces in my Thursday evening classes - one in my 6pm and one in my 7.45pm. Starting on January 5th, they are held in a beautiful, calm, converted church, St John's Place in Lower Bemerton.
To book, head over to my website https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/classes-and-prices/
For further info, feel free to text or ring Jo on 07976 269364 🙂

Happy Christmas to all of you lovely people that have come to my classes this year. Thank you for your support and for showing up week after week. And thank you for giving me the best job in the world. Roll on 2023!! 😘😘

Is Christmas stressing you out? And is that stress showing up in aches and pains through your body? We all carry tension around with us without realising it - most commonly in our necks, shoulders, lower backs and hips. Perhaps the New Year could be a good time to do something about this?

I run yoga classes for the over-40s in Salisbury. They're specifically designed for older age groups and they're very relaxed and friendly. My focus is on relieving stress and encouraging flexibility, taking a gentle approach to the postures.

I currently have three spaces in my Thursday evening classes - two spaces in my 6pm class and one in my 7.45pm. Starting on January 5th, they are held in a beautiful, calm, converted church, St John's Place in Lower Bemerton.

To book, head over to my website https://yogasalisbury.co.uk/classes-and-prices/

For further info, feel free to text or ring Jo on 07976 269364 :)

I agree wholeheartedly with this message. It’s the principle that guides my classes. ‘Advanced’ yoga is not about contorting your body into unnatural pretzel poses to impress others. It’s about having the self-awareness to stay within your body’s current capacity to move. To be completely happy with where you are in that moment without any aspiration to do more. And to find stillness and peace amongst the turbulence of life. ❤️🧘‍♀️

There's really no correlation between your capacity to do challenging ("advanced") poses and how your body feels.
There are plenty of people who can do hard asanas - but many of them are also in pain. And there are plenty of people who can't do difficult poses but are not in pain.
After years of dysfunctional practice, many people quit because of pain and decide that yoga is not for them.
Then they have to spend years rehabbing from the damage.
Difficult poses are more like performance art, if you can do them without any pain, good for you - but it's actually rare.
While poses like this one are used to suggest that the practitioner is advanced, in good shape, has a strong mind, and feels great, that's not always the case.
There's a dark side.
There are strong correlations between hypermobile joints and pain.
So many practitioners have hurt themselves from continuing to practice despite the body's strong messages of pain.
This may be because westerners have bought into the idea that hard poses are the goal. But this is inaccurate.
Yoga is not an external practice where the form is the goal. and the harder the form the better.
Yoga is a highly internal practice.
Being able to do hard asanas does not mean you are an advanced practitioner...but knowing when you shouldn't do them, and being able to find asanas that make your body feel stable, strong, and healthy, that help you balance your mind, and that help you develop resilience in your nervous system - those are the signs of a truly advanced practice.

It's half term and I'm busy doing some yoga admin! I have one space and one space only in my 7.45pm class on Thursday evenings at St John's Place, Lower Bemerton.

This would be a great time to join us as I'm about to focus on the vagus nerve to prepare ourselves for the festive season. So it's going to be calm, gentle and contemplative practice to dial down the stress and come to a more balanced state of being. No previous experience necessary!

If you fancy joining us, drop me a message and I'll get straight back to you :)

So wonderful to be back on the mat after the long summer break!

This term, my focus is on breath. I’ve been re-reading one of my favourite books by James Nestor (see below) and will be weaving some of his insights into my classes.

He believes the way we breathe is a pillar of health that’s been badly neglected by the scientific community and it’s as important to health and well-being as diet and exercise. I couldn’t agree more!

I’m now teaching 5 classes (3 in the morning and 2 in the evening) and they’re all currently full which is fab! If you’d like to be added to my waiting list, please get in touch. Spaces usually pop up at half term. 😊🥰 🧘‍♀️

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art