Yoga with Babe: A postnatal practice with a focus on regaining a sense of containment through the ribs as we move from the expansion of pregnancy and birth back towards centre. We start standing with movement that can be done with babe in arms, and progress into movements to support strengthening the back body, side bends, shoulder releases, dog pose and a rest at the end.
Wanna practice but just so tired: A slow floor based practice to support you when you are tired. Starts with a chest opener on blocks to invigorate and massage the upper back, moves into some breath awareness to rest and open the lungs, and closes with a twist and childs pose. Short, sweet, potent. Could be lovely to unwind before bed or to release after a long day at the computer or feeding a baby etc. A class for all and appropriate post natal practice. Props: 2 blocks
Attune to Inner Rythms: This practice invites a tuning into the multiplicity of inner rhythms that oscillate and bubble beneath the surface. We work with movement and stillness with a particular focus on opening strength and steadiness through the feet in balancing postures. Find a sense of containment and space through the ribs in a variety of contexts and explore crow pose, half moon, side bends and forward folds, with seated hip releases to settle into stillness before we rest and chant. Less instructions and more quiet time here. Enjoy!
Into post partum: A practice to honour your transition into post partum. This class can be done with your baby, and includes chanting, gentle movement, and awareness practices to facilitate presence even when attention may be oriented outwardly towards babe. You can do this class 6-8 weeks post partum or once you have had the go ahead from your midwife or doctor. Enjoy :)
Shiva Shambho: Calling to Shiva, remover of ignorance - the aspect of ourself that calls in remembrance of our pertinence to the bigger picture of existence and nature, when we maybe forget or feel small and lost. Maha (great) deva (god) and Shambho is another name for shiva. I learned this melody from Stephanie Snyder. Enjoy!
Sita Ram Melody variation: A beautiful and simple melody that I first heard from the wonderful Naomi Absalom. Chanting the names Sita and Ram. Sita and Ram, queen and king of the universe, masculine and feminine; the integration of both within us. Deeply in love, and many stories of losing each other and finding each other, just as we forget and then remember ourselves. A call to the deepest remembrance of who we are, a call to trust and faith and perseverance.
Integrating Flow - Vyana Vayu: A practice that explores a sense of integration and wholeness via the energetic flow known as vyana vayu. This is said to be the subtle movement of prana through our system that organises and connects, and can be sensed most clearly via the vascular system, the flow of our blood. This practice focuses on finding a sense of balance, and begins on the ground with supported bridge variations, supine tree pose and builds towards a strong and steady flow that cultivates a felt sense of continuity and inner spaciousness. Options to play with a variety of balancing postures including tree, half moon, standing splits and handstand should that tickle your fancy. Opens and closes with mantra and stillness. Enjoy!
Core Explore: A movement practice exploring the feeling of whole body core, the integration of our limbs to our centre and the movement principle of navel radiation. Starts with a brief seated breath awareness practice and moves into a flowing and playful sequence to find strength, buoyancy, coherence and integration through the whole body.
Spiral Flow - udana vayu: Exploring the spiral flow of energy in the body known as Udana Vayu, through the spiralling emergence, growth and articulation of our limbs. Udana vayu is said to also spiral up into our organs of perception, and thus connect the inner with the outer world. The practice starts slowly with a restorative posture while we cultivate awareness of Udana’s pathways and moves steadily into a flow practice with hip and shoulder explorations as preparations for inversion practice towards the end.
Radial Flow - Samana Vayu: Exploring the integration of the downward and the upward flows of energy on the body that give rise to the radial flow, and support coordination between our centre and our limbs. Begins with a somatic meditation practice that we then build our movement from, and progresses into a strong and fluid vinyasa practice to support a sense of integration, strength and cohesiveness through our whole body.
Upward Flow - prana vayu: A class exploring the upward flow of energy that is offered referred to as prana vayu. An exploration of how downward becomes the upward movement, a somatic exploration of ascending energy through touch, movement, breath, bandha and imagination. We start slow and subtle and move into a flow to explore how we can find harmonious movement and tone in the body-mind as we lean into ground force reaction/levity/that which ascends.
Cosy & Quiet pregnancy practice: A very gentle and restful practice for days when you want to rest a lot and move a little. Stays close to the ground and I recommend gathering cosy things - blankets, rugs, bolsters, warm clothes etc to make this moment of your day massively nurturing and cosy.
Downward Flow - apana vayu: A class exploring the downward flow of energy in our body, otherwise known as apana vayu. This class supports slowness, and will massively allow your nervous system to down regulate and sink into rest and digest mode. We start slowly with some somatic meditation, continue into a long floor based hip release sequence and eventually find our way into some more dynamic movements to find strength and support in the legs and hips which will also support our sense of connection to ground. Ends with a yummy rest and some chanting. Enjoy :)
Pregnancy practice - call in your power: A practice to call in your power. We begin with a brief meditation and chanting before moving into a movement practice that takes us through a variety of explorations from the ground to standing postures, with a focus on finding space through the lower back, side body and hips. Closes with a deep relaxation, mantra and cultivating intention.
The Vayus - exploring the energy body: This was a Monthly Gathering talk, and is a dive into the vayus- otherwise known as the pranic winds or energetic flows in the body. The map of the vayus offered to us by the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a wonderful spring board to explore our felt sense of our inner state of being. This talk breaks down what the vayus are, how the 5 main directions relate to our experience of moving, breathing and experiencing, and how all of this relates to our day to day experiences living in the world. Begins with a short meditation practice and moves into lecture/discussion format. Feel free to write to me with any questions or insights ;).
Neck and shoulder release to wake up or wind down: Roll out of bed and onto your mat with this practice that will slowly transition you from stillness into movement with a focus on releasing and finding space through neck and shoulders. Can also be wonderful as a pre bed practice to slow down and settle before sleep.
