I always love to share a little something edible and homemade at the end of my 'Slow Sunday' yoga workshops. After an afternoon of letting go, relaxing and nurturing the body and mind is lovely to revitalise with a small delicious treat. I often make chocolates, but this week I pushed the boat out (as it was the last Slow Sunday before a Summer break) and made some nutritious raw brownies and some cooling jasmine and melon iced tea. Sound good? Here's the recipes.....
Read More
I hope this blog post will provide you with some information on how you can bring in some simple lifestyles changes that can help to reduce stress in your life, and also explain how special fertility yoga practices can really help too.
We all know modern life can be stressful, and life while trying to get pregnant even more so. Staying grounded and calm with all this going on is really truly not easy, at all. But eliminating unnecessary stress is very important when trying to conceive, as studies show women with high stress levels often have a harder time getting pregnant), your hormone system is controlled by the same region of your brain that regulates stress and fear.
Read More
The Art of Loving kindness for pregnancy and motherhood
"In modern life we have become so busy with our daily affairs and thoughts, that we have forgotten this essential art of taking time to converse with our hearts….If we are still, and listen deeply, for even a moment, we will know if we are following a path with heart… " Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart
In my 'Self-Care Sunday' Facebook live video this week I introduced the practice of loving kindness (if you missed it catch it here https://www.facebook.com/yogaformodernlife%20/videos/1369281359787198/). I also shared it in one of my pregnancy yoga classes which is a just the most lovely way to connect with your unborn baby. It's such a beautiful practice and I really wanted to write a blog post to share it with as many people as possible and tell you more about it...
Read More
Yoga and Fertility
I love teaching yoga, I love how yoga benefits people on such a profound level in so many ways - whether it’s physically, mental, energetically or emotionally or often a combination of all of these. I've seen it happen so many times, it’s so powerful to witness. But I will never fail to be moved by the kind of feedback I received this week from a woman who attended my Fertility Yoga Course.
I'm grateful that she has allowed me to share this with you and hope her words will encourage anyone reading, who understands what she has experienced, to come and join the next Fertility Yoga course and be part of our supportive group. Here's what she had to say.
Read More
As a yoga teacher, people often talk to me about meditation and how frustrating it can be, or how bad they feel they are at it. They tell me how much they struggle to stop their thoughts and find that elusive place of complete stillness. Their mind just races away off into a juicy thought, a to-do list, or keeps running over something that happened that day - but all of this is completely normal and natural. Meditation is a practice. It becomes easier with time, as you practice and some days are easier than others - so don't expect it to necessarily straightforward for you when you start, for most people it takes a while. But a little time and effort is really worth it.
Read More
The Mind-Body Fertility Connection
Going through infertility is the ultimate mind-body experience. There are issues we are experiencing with our bodies, and understandably the stress, anxiety and uncertainty weighs very heavy on our minds. As human beings it is our natural default to feel things both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, for most of us it is not our natural default to stay attuned and connected to the mind-body experience in a way that most benefits us.
Read More
The great magnesium shortage
Right now, less than 70% of women and 40% of men in the UK are getting their fair share of magnesium. If you are suffering from poor sleep, muscle knots and tension, fatigue or even a modicum of stress, not to mention one of the 22 or so magnesium deficiency triggered ailments, it’s time to think about your magnesium intake.
Read more about why magnesium is important, and how you can address any imbalance in easy ways.
Read More
Yoga is a fundamentally accessible activity and can be practiced in a variety of settings and places, and it doesn't require much in the way of specialist equipment. However, there are a number of basic props you can use to help you get the most from yoga. These can also help make some asanas more attainable for those with limited mobility. A good class or studio will have these props available for you to use, but at home you can always use alternative items from around the home (and there's some suggestions below).
Read More
Without compassion we wouldn't survive, yet it's not always easy to bring compassion into daily life (or we simply forget to). Learn to strengthen your empathy muscle with these 10 tips and insights and cultivate more kindness, gratitude and understanding.
Read More
"It is not selfish to refill your own cup, so that you can pour into others. It’s not just a luxury. It is essential.”
This week’s blog post is about self-care, self-love and 10 brilliant things you can do to increase this in your life. As a mother of two, and a yoga teacher who’s whole ethos is about trying to counter the effects of modern life (the busyness, the stress, the multi-tasking) through yoga, I think about think about self-care…. a lot. We do so much to care for the ones we love, our children, family, friends, our wider community. We offer warm embraces, patience, and understanding. We give our energy, our time and our love out freely. We cook nourishing meals, give gifts, and express gratitude. But do we do the same for ourselves? Do we put in the same amount as we give out? Do we take time to recharge, to give back to ourselves?
The answer is usually no.....
Read More
15 Reasons You THINK Can’t Do Yoga - -And Why None of Them Are True
There are almost as many great reasons to do yoga as there are yoga poses. Studies are showing what many yogis already know: yoga increases strength and flexibility while decreasing stress. Additionally, yoga has been found to improve our respiration, heart health, and sleep quality. Yoga has also been used successfully as a complementary therapy in the treatment of addiction, chronic pain, and mood disorders.
With evidence of yoga’s benefits mounting, why drag your feet? Don’t let any of the misconceptions below keep you from starting a yoga practice that just might enhance your life!
Read More
Tips for better balance in yoga postures
When I'm teaching, particularly during balancing postures, I sometimes see people getting frustrated when they can't maintain their balance and end up falling over. I absolutely understand, It can be so frustrating when others in the class can balance and you can’t-especially when you could do it last week. But balance really is a strange thing - it can really vary day to day, and some people naturally have better balance (just like some people have curly hair). So don’t get frustrated, be willing to wobble and fall out of the pose with a smile, that’s really what yoga balances can teach you. Remember, being able to stand on one leg for five minutes really won’t change your quality of life! But practice will help to improve your balance, so here are some tips to try when coming into a yoga balance.
Read More
Hygge has been brought to us by the Scandinavians, and it’s specifically a Danish concept. The Danes are amongst the happiest nations on the planet, so they must be doing something right! Featured for a while now in the press in interiors and lifestyle magazines, it perhaps brings to mind snuggly woollen blankets, copious soft cushions, and an abundance of candles (the Danes burn more candles per head of population than any other country in Europe apparently).But it’s far more than an uber fashionable fad for fans of Scandinavian design or Scandi noir tv series, it’s actually a part of Danish culture that really puts self-kindness, presence, and space for yourself at its heart, just like yoga and mindfulness does. The similarities are hugely striking.
Read More
“The workplace is constantly demanding and distracting, making it a challenge to remain mindful. Staying centred and focused without being frazzled by the mental noisiness that crowds into a typical workday can be hard, but is important.” Says Dr. Deepak Chopra, co-author of “You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters” and founder of the Jiyo app.
Here are six small ideas to help you keep mindful during the working day:
Read More
Zita West is one of many fertility experts that recommends yoga to her patients who are having difficulty conceiving. ‘Any exercise that involves mindfulness, breathing techniques and meditative visualisation has many physical, emotional and mental benefits,’ she said, adding that yoga is a calming antidote to any woman consumed by an overwhelming desire for a baby, the resulting stress of which becomes an impediment to conception itself.
Read More
Because it is not something you either have or don’t have, and you can increase your chances of conceiving and help to boost your fertility with some easy changes to your lifestyle. Here are some tips to boost your natural fertility:
Read More
Fertility - the whole body view
When it comes to trying to conceive there is so much to think about. Being in the best shape both physically and mentally can really help when trying for a baby. That's why in my upcoming course Fertility Yoga course I will be providing you with information from other local experts about how different approaches when trying to conceive can help you - such as acupuncture, reflexology and nutrition.
Here's some really interesting information about food and fertility (in particular sugar). For more information on my six week course Fertility Yoga Course please take a look at the details here.
Read More