Come and be revived, renewed and relaxed with this ‘at home’ in the Chapel Yoga Retreat. If you’re busy and can’t find time to holiday abroad, why not sample local theraputic experiences. Join the meet-up group ==>Click Here<== and experience Highgate as you’ve never before. With Indo-Carribean cuisine over the retreat and 3 days of Yoga fun, you can start on a Friday evening and finish Sunday morning ready for work Monday. Refreshed, revitalised and renewed.
Well I hope the year has sprung forth and is blossoming for you fellow Yoga enthusiasts.
I managed to spill a marmite drink on my new apple computer MacBook Pro, before Christmas and it’s taken me this long to sort it out to start writing my Yoga Blog again. So, as a consequence of my mistake I’ve steeply learnt my first lesson in 2018. Je pourrais pleurer! But there is no point in ‘crying over spilt milk’ as we say here in good ol’ England.
There is a point in filling up your mind with new, exciting information and fun activities though. I say this holistically speaking for your year ahead. How often do you hear ‘slow down’, ‘calm the mind’ ‘sooth the thoughts’? This is all good and true, but for me though, as a Musician, professional Opera singer, Arts Manager and Fairtrade enthusiast “mindfulness” can be just as rewarding by letting in all that is ‘floating and swirling’ around. #learn a new language #smash it on the tennis court #play a round of golf #join that local ballet class you’ve always dreamed of joining.
And do this freely; if like me you’re a bit chaotic once in a while that’s OK too!
The mind is a beautiful thing. Balance comes.
The opposite is true also. As a teacher, it’s in my best nature to guide students through their natural movements towards a better nature with better balance. The practise of Iyengar Yoga is not to push or struggle but to smoothly guide the body and release stresses and anxiety’s through movement. Asanas provide a platform for this kind of natural movement, like dance. You can focus the mind to be more creative, more alert in your everyday lives. The body and mind support each other on this path and we find harmony.
‘Knowledge has a beginning but no end’ – Geeta Iyengar
Surrender the head to the heart. It sounds nice doesn’t it.
Don’t worry if you can’t surrender the head to the heart at first, keep trying. Be sure to set the ego aside, in this way thoughts will become subtler and your physical and mental awareness lightened. You will feel lighter. To feel lighter is blissful, when you feel light then you can ‘see more light’ possibly. Let in the light, let go! It is better for humanity as a whole.
Whatever rewards you seek in life, have compassion.
Garnering knowledge to expand ones’ horizons:
It’s been a whole month of singingtreeyoga, I’m enjoying and admiring just how many of you out there LOVE yoga.
The October trees are having their annual make-over. When I take a walk, I like to look-up at them, admire their plumage so to speak. Ha ah! Looking up is important; if you start to feel the effects of seasons change. Supported sitting poses can help calm the mind, but don’t forget to change your eyes’ gaze as a way to temper your own thoughts and mood.
Autumn Iyengar Yoga is designed to counteract slow and sluggish circulation. In these months, we can be more susceptible to cold hands (great excuse to wear pretty gloves) feet, varicose veins and hypertension.
Hypertension can lead to hyper – anything. So draw the mind softly inwards. I know it’s hard to in this day and age of constant distractions; construction, building-works, excessive noise.
It’s subtle work, but persevere and you will feel better for it.
Use nature’s sounds to help tune into the world, not out, natural sounds are most relaxing. Soften the face, the eyes, you know the drill…
Look towards a horizon, the horizon, imagine that horizon as you make a wish.
Autumn has arrived quite suddenly. Falling leaves like a flurry of pencil shavings drop to the ground. We can all feel the effects of these seasonal changes so it’s best to stay mindful of your body and its needs.
A couple of good asana to try are: malasana, for no reason other than it means ‘garland’ and is great for balance! Good for this timely self-assessing, self-control.
The top tips I can give you for this are: imagine you have a small squidgy ball inside your tummy and, as you energise and lean into the pose, squeeze the ball gently and gradually. Never work to harden and remember to breathe…
Good luck and happy Autumn practice!
singingtreeyoga 