It’s been a while since my last mail out - so there’s a lot to catch up on. For those that just want to check out the updated schedule to book a class, I’ll pop that at the top ;)
For those that would like a little more Yoga news, including events, articles, launches, practices and therapy, read on a little further…I hope you enjoy the read…
Photograph by Ana Frantz Photography. Kenilworth Arts Festival 2021
Winter Schedule: Monday Nov 1st - Sat 18th December
Monday’s
9.30-11am Well-Woman Yoga at The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. (Face to Face & Online)
6 Sessions @ £57 (no class Monday 15th November)
12.15-1.30pm Well-Woman Yoga at Welford & Weston Memorial Hall, Stratford-Upon-Avon. (Face to Face Only)
6 Sessions @£57 (no class Monday 15th November)
Tuesday’s
8-9.30pm Mixed Ability Yoga at The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth. (Face to Face Only)
7 Sessions @£66
Wednesday’s
7-8.30pm Mixed Ability Yoga at The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth. (Face to Face & Online)
7 Sessions @£66
Friday’s
9.15-10.45am Mixed Ability Yoga at The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. (Face to Face & Online)
6 Sessions @57 (no class Friday 12th November) *NEW TIME!*
11-12.30 Well-Woman Yoga at The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. (Face to Face & Online)
6 Sessions @£57 (no class Friday 12th November) SOLD OUT
Saturday’s
7.30-9am Ashtanga Yoga at The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. (Face to Face & Online)
6 Sessions @£60 (no class Saturday 13th November)
WELL-WOMAN YOGA EVENT
The much sought after Well-Woman Yoga afternoon session is back!
On Saturday 29th January 2022 2.30-5.30pm
An afternoon of nourishing movement practices (asana), exploration of breathing practices (pranayama), Yoga Nidra (deep guided meditation/yogic sleep) and a tea break with healthy snacks.
Bring your mats, blankets and eye bags and gift yourself with an afternoon to completely nurture yourself
£35 for the session. Taking bookings online or contact me with enquiries: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk
**For those of you that had paid for the Well-Woman Event that was cancelled due to Covid, please contact me to confirm whether you’re able to attend or if you’d like a refund.
1:1 SESSIONS
1:1 sessions are available with me either in your home or at locations in both Kenilworth & Stratford-Upon-Avon. The sessions are tailored for you whether you’re seeking a therapeutic personal practice; pre natal/post natal support; a practice for menopausal health; deepening your regular practice; or a beginner’s practice. A 1:1 session is completely unique and is all about you.
Please email me with enquiries & bookings: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk
PRE & POST NATAL YOGA MONTHLY SESSIONS
Please contact me (with your email address) if you’d like to be added to our little community of Pre & Post Natal Monthly Yoga sessions. These classes are 2 - 2 1/2 hours and take place on Saturday or Sunday afternoons at Leek Wootton Village Hall. These sessions are designed to create a space for you to learn techniques to help manage the changing pre & post natal body; fluctuations of emotions, connection to yourself and baby, and creating supportive relationships with other mums-to-be and new mums in the community. Practices always include Postures (asana), Breath Work (pranayama), Pelvic Floor practices, Visualisation & Mediation, Yoga Nidra and a tea break. New mums are welcome to attend these sessions with baby and explore how yoga can be integrated into daily life with baby.
Next Pre Natal Session: TBC
REFLECTIONS: LIVING YOUR YOGA IS 3 YEARS OLD!
My little Yoga classes have been serving the community for over 3 years now! I’ve been reflecting a little, as when I created LYY I had no idea what would happen when I started teaching classes, or if anyone would show up! It’s been a really wonderful journey so far, meeting so many people that have inspired me to keep studying and learning about all aspects of yoga and how it can heal and help in so many ways. Since starting this journey, the classes expanded from Kenilworth to Stratford-Upon-Avon where I began working with Dr Louise Newson at Newson Health Menopause Clinic. Here I began to explore and deepen my learning in menopause care: supporting women that are learning to cope with moving through the peri/menopausal transition using yoga practices as another tool to support themselves. I have spoken on podcasts, recorded a class for World Menopause Day, filmed a talk about Yoga (see Newson Health website) and appeared in the Sunday Times magazine. I have met and been inspired by so many amazing women since being connected to Newson Health: all of the staff, numerous patients that I have met and and an abundance of other wonderful holistic practitioners with whom I’ve made lifelong friendships.
Along with all of this, Living Your Yoga had a write up in Om Magazine and it was such an honour to contribute again recently. Pre natal classes have meant that I’ve been hugely grateful to be a part of the journey’s with so many women in supporting their pregnancy, and I’ve even had many a text message during their labours! I’ve been fortunate to have met these babies either in our post natal yoga classes or home visits (and enjoyed many a cuddle!)
Winning the Muddy Stiletto’s Award this year felt like a huge achievement and I felt overwhelmed at the support from our yoga community. Other events have included teaching for charity’s, businesses and Kenilworth Arts Festival.
Moving online during Covid took Living Your Yoga on another journey! One that was quite challenging for someone as non-tech as me! It was brilliant to reach out to so many of you in your homes. I’ll always be grateful that so many of you stayed with the classes despite having to practice in your bedroom, living room or hall way. And I’ll always remember the bedtime yoga Nidra’s and switching off my zoom after everyone fell asleep :)
I’m currently at the end of my Yoga Nidra Teacher Training Course and mid way through my study to qualify as a Yoga therapist. There will always be more to learn and more to share, I look forward to sharing new-found yogic-knowledge with you all.
I guess what I’m trying to say amidst all of these reflections, is THANK YOU! Thank you for showing up in class and sharing your yoga journey with me. It’s always appreciated and you all inspire me to keep it all going and to keep learning.
I wonder what’s around the corner for this little business now? ;)
OM MAGAZINE ARTICLE
My brilliant Yogi friend Claudia Brown, yoga teacher and contributor to Om Magazine, asked me to contribute to a Menopause article she was writing. Since having trained in Well-Woman Yoga Therapy, and working with so many women from the cycles of pre natal to post menopause, the workings of the pelvic floor are often one of the most common area’s where women end up having problems and seeking support. Many of the practices I teach involve supporting and learning about one’s own pelvic floor through subtle practices with breath and awareness. Claudia asked me to write about the pelvic floor to contribute it to her article. It’s in this months OM Magazine! I hope you enjoy it.
BALANCE WEBSITE LAUNCH
On the theme of Menopause health, my wonderful friend Dr Louise Newson launched the Balance Website on International Menopause Day which was on October 18th. It’s a brilliant resource for everyone that knows a woman!! Over half the population will go through the menopause, so it’s worth knowing about. There’s stacks of information on here - it’s worth a look!
If you haven’t already, I recommend downloading the Balance App to anyone that’s peri-menopausal/menopausal/post menopausal for recording symptoms, seeking knowledge and connecting with a community of like-minded women. The app is free and worldwide. For more information, check out the new website:
https://www.balance-menopause.com/
ONE SIMPLE PRACTICE
Sitting upright in a comfortable position. Take a moment to observe your natural breath, feeling the sensation through the nostrils.
Count how many natural breaths you take per minute.
Now, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth softly through a straw. Do this a few times to get used to it.
Time how many breaths you take a minute using a straw.
Then breathe naturally without the straw, time how many breaths per minute now.
Notice how you feel.
Taking longer exhalations will help you feel calmer, more grounded and will help your nervous system feel happy :)
NB. In some cases, this practices can increase anxiety. If uncertain, avoid the practice, or practice with a qualified teacher.
YOGA THERAPY
A lot of people ask me “What is Yoga Therapy?”
Yoga Therapy is an exploration of yogic practices that can be specifically designed to suit an individual in supporting their current health and lifestyle situation.
Yoga Therapy isn't to replace medication or other forms of therapy, it’s complementary and may create an opportunity for an individual to get to know themselves a little better, become empowered by gaining a deeper insight into themselves and their needs, and can support them through small steps in creating a better, happier life.
Yoga Therapy is something that an individual can use to really explore, learn, grow self-awareness and help heal themselves; restore, prevent or identify imbalance. We carry this body and breathe this breath for every moment that we live inside of it. When we better understand ourselves, we're of better service to others. I believe yoga as a therapy can help this and probably so much more.
Something that I love about my training as a Yoga Therapist is that we don’t want to keep the clients coming back to us for 1:1 sessions - we want to help empower them so that they have greater clarity in order for them to know what they need and to help heal themselves.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll leave you with a favourite poem of mine.
Wishing you all a Happy Halloween and look forward to seeing you next term.
Much Love, Lucy x
Wild Geese - Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
