23/05/2025
Like a story?! Me too!๐
Many moons ago, I did A level RE, and as part of that we studied Hinduism. I used to love learning about the stories involving the different Gods and Goddesses, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to have it! It's got all sorts of weird and wonderful illustrations that depict the various yoga poses I teach, and the stories behind them. I love animals and obviously I love Yoga - so I'm in heaven with this book! I might just have to read these stories in Savasana sometime!๐ค
My current favourite poses are Pigeon (aka Swan), Frog and Crow! I also like a Lizard and an Eagle!
Many poses (e.g. Pigeon) are known by a different name in Yin Yoga - this is to give Yin Yoga an identify all of its own.
I love to call Pigeon 'Chippin,' as this is how my son (who is now 16!) used to say Pigeon when he was little!!!๐
My class is suitable for beginners and long practising yogis! I give lots of variations - so you can take from it what you want, and skip anything that doesnโt suit you! My motivation is to have fun; not take myself too seriously and build strength and flexibility in mind and body.
I teach Yoga every Monday (not usually bank hols. Monday May 26th is TBC - watch this space!) 6:15 - 7:15 pm at St Nicholasโ Hall, the United Reformed Church in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.
Message me for further details ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐ค๐โโ๏ธ
19/05/2025
Join me tonight 6:15 - 7:15 pm at St Nicholasโ Hall, the United Reformed Church in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.
Tonight's class is week 2 of my 4 week rolling programme = a five minute guided meditation, followed by a strong vinyasa flow ๐
My motivation is to have fun; not take myself too seriously and build strength and flexibility in mind and body.
My class is suitable for beginners and long practising yogis! I give lots of variations - you can take from it what you want, and skip anything that doesnโt suit you!
Message me for further details ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐ค๐โโ๏ธ
14/05/2025
Both of my kids are knee deep in GCSE and A-level exams ๐ณ๐ณ๐ณ
Aside from all the obvious things like eating well, getting enough sleep, getting fresh air, drinking water, etc. when you feel stressed, a great pose to take is โLegs up the wall.โ
You can do this on a mat in the middle of a room with your legs literally in the air!๐ฆต๐ฝ๐ฆต๐ฝYou can also try it with a block at the bottom of your back, which is really lovely. But my favourite way to do it is like my son is demonstrating here, with your legs actually up against the wall, as it takes the weight of your legs and itโs so relaxing โบ๏ธThe trick here is to siddle up to the wall from a seated position; get one of your buttocks sort of up against the wall, then swing your legs around and up! I like to close my eyes and have my arms either side of me with my palms open. I often do this pose if I feel stressed or I canโt sleep, as itโs really good for lymphatic drainage and stress relief.
Maybe line yourself up against the wall with your stressed out exam-taking kids and see how it feels for a few minutes ๐ค If you can - try it for 10!
โค๏ธ
24/08/2023
This is how your body should look in plank - but horizontally obvs and the leopard ๐tail is optional ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ Push those shoulder blades out towards the sky when youโre in plank!
Itโs such a good idea to sort your upper body alignment out in half plank first to avoid shoulder and lower back injuries before progressing to full plank, and whilst you build up your upper body strength. We go to plank a lot in Ashtanga because of all the vinyasas we do ๐ช๐ฝ๐ช๐ฝ๐ช๐ฝ๐
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Iโm carrying on as normal this bank holiday! The United Reformed Church, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, 6:15-7:15pm every Monday. Message me for further details ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐คฉ
12/08/2023
Full plank preparing to lower down and take a back bend (Cobra or Up dog). The lowering down bit is called Chataranga ๐ค
I wonโt be doing this for a while owing to my hernia repair surgery! ๐ค๐But I will be instructing you on how to achieve that and talking you through the many vinyasas that we do in the Ashtanga sequence ๐ค๐คฉ
A vinyasa is a series of poses linked by the breath. The phrase โtake a vinyasaโ means going to full or half plank, lowering down (Chataranga), taking Cobra or Up dog, then coming to Down dog.
You donโt have to vinyasa from full plank, you can go from half plank where you drop your knees. Thatโs the place Iโll be starting from to build back up to my full practice in a few weeks! Not that Iโm counting the seconds until I can get back to it or anything! (Oh my god I am!) ๐ค๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐
Message me for further details of my beginners Ashtanga class that I teach every Monday 6:15 - 7.15pm at the United Reformed Church in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐
03/08/2023
I am recovering well from my recent emergency hernia operation but canโt return to my normal exercise routine for another 4.5 weeks!!! ๐ค๐ค๐ค
Health is wealth as my friend told me last night ๐ค๐ฎ๐งโโ๏ธ
Therefore, I will be mainly instructing rather than demonstrating until Iโm safe to return to full blown Yoga Leopard! Thankfully, as an ex primary school teacher of nearly 20 years, Iโm used to this and can talk the hind legs of a donkey!!!!!! (Why is there no donkey emoji?!!!!)๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Message me for further details of my beginners Ashtanga class ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐
26/07/2023
Iโm in quite a bit of discomfort, as the hernia was about 2 inches above my belly button, so itโs quite hard to get up and down.
Iโm trying to take advice and do nothing for two weeks so that I can make a full recovery! Finding it all very frustrating! Thanks for understanding and see you on the 7th ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐