Nature’s Wisdom: How Spring Embodies The Three Gunas

An overview of what has been part of this block of classes:

In reference to yoga philosophy, I based this theme on the Gunas and how that links to where we are right now seasonally.

The concept of the three gunas forms one of the fundamental philosophical frameworks in yoga philosophy. These three qualities or "strands" - sattva, rajas, and tamas - are believed to weave together to create the fabric of our material existence.

The Three Gunas Explained

Tamas: The Quality of Inertia

It represents darkness, inertia, heaviness, and resistance. In moderation, tamas provides stability and grounding. However, when excessive, it leads to laziness, delusion, and ignorance.

Rajas: The Quality of Activity

It embodies energy, passion, movement, and change. Rajas provides the necessary energy for action and transformation, but in excess, it creates agitation, stress, and burnout.

Sattva: The Quality of Harmony

Representing balance, harmony, clarity, and purity. Sattva is generally considered the most beneficial guna to cultivate, representing an ideal state of being that facilitates spiritual growth.

The Gunas & Spring

The spring season beautifully illustrates the interplay of the gunas in nature. As April unfolds, we witness the transition from the tamasic qualities of winter (dormancy, darkness, and stillness) to the rajasic energy of spring (growth, movement, and activity). The longer daylight hours activate rajasic energy, inspiring new projects and increased physical activity. Meanwhile, the emerging blossoms, sunshine, and birdsong reflect sattvic qualities, creating moments of clarity and harmony. This seasonal shift mirrors our own internal cycles – the heavy inertia of winter gradually giving way to spring's creative impulse. In the yoga tradition, spring presents an ideal opportunity to observe how these gunas manifest both in the natural world and within ourselves, encouraging practices that harness the balanced rajasic energy of the season while cultivating the sattvic clarity needed for spiritual growth.

The Gunas in Everyday Life

Throughout each day, we experience fluctuations in these qualities. These states aren't permanent - they're constantly shifting and interacting with one another. Understanding the gunas offers a framework for self-observation; by recognizing which qualities are dominant in different aspects of our lives, we can make conscious choices to create more balance and harmony. In this way, the ancient wisdom of the gunas remains relevant for navigating our modern lives with greater awareness and purpose.

Physically in class we have started to do more standing to move more into the rajas energy but as always the balance is needed with our tamas & sattva to leave you feeling in a state of equilibrium!

Our visualisation has been a flower meditation. To bring an image into your mind of a flower - this may have changed each week or stayed the same for extra continuity. The flower adds an element of hope; representing the new life emerging around us. It also creates that something which is unchanging; maybe there’s a lot going on in your inner world - using this technique helps you to create and come back to your inner steadiness.

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Beyond Silence; Music’s effects on a yoga practice

Last week I played a chosen track to accompany the final relaxation.. I did have an ulterior motive 😆.. I carried the speaker around with me to help disguise the fact that I was placing chocolate Easter eggs beside everybody’s mat.

Feedback afterwards was that it felt like being in a soundbath because I was moving with the speaker; some people loved it and said that it really added to their experience.

I have always been wary about playing music in classes as it could result in something that I choose isn’t enjoyable to somebody else. I’m sure we’ve all experienced going to a class and there’s a song or a sound that just doesn’t feel good for you and it could become distracting. (Also in restorative yoga the idea is to not engage your senses; so by playing music your sense of sound is “on”. )

When I teach in Studios I do play music (that is the norm in that environment) and I do play music when I know there’s going to be external noises or if I’m in a shared space.

I’m aware that sometimes silence makes people feel uncomfortable.. but then on the other hand how often do you get the chance to be in that complete quiet through the noise of our everyday lives? And again, I get feedback from people enjoying and being able to experience that kind of quiet.

There’s no right answer here as always, it’s completely subjective but it did get me thinking….

Pros of Music in Yoga Classes

Creates Atmosphere: Gentle, ambient sounds can contribute in creating a serene environment.

Helps with Focus: For many practitioners, especially beginners, music provides a focal point that helps quiet the "monkey mind." Though I do pride myself in supporting and giving tools (that don’t include music) to help with the monkey mind.

Masks Distracting Sounds: Music can cover up potentially distracting noises from outside the studio or from other students, helping maintain a more immersive experience.

Emotional Connection: Music often evokes emotional responses that can deepen the yoga experience.. but this can also work in the opposite and engage emotions which again isn’t something we want to switch “on” in restorative yoga.

Cons of Music in Yoga Classes

Distracts from Inner Focus: Traditional yoga emphasizes turning inward and cultivating awareness of breath and subtle sensations. Music may pull attention outward, away from this internal experience.

May Create Dependency: Regular practice with music might make it difficult to maintain focus during silent practice, potentially limiting a practitioner's ability to practice in different environments.

Personal Taste Varies: Musical preferences are highly subjective. What inspires one student might irritate another, making it difficult for teachers to select universally appealing tracks.

Drowns Out Breath: Music may make it harder to maintain awareness of the breath's natural rhythm.

Cultural Considerations: Using certain types of music, especially without understanding its cultural context, risks cultural appropriation or misalignment with yoga's philosophical roots.

Conclusion of my refreshed outlook:

Finding Balance; Using music for one part of the class (likely to be the final relaxation!)

I’m curious to know.. Do you find it enhances or detracts from your practice?

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Desk Yoga

When I say “making yoga accessible” I’m not always referring to the physical form of your body. Sometimes I mean it by a means of making it achievable; realistic to fit into your day - however that looks for you.

If you’re a desk dweller this is perfect for you as it can take just a few minutes and you can do it on a chair! If you’re lucky maybe even try it a few times through your day to give your body a little reset, which in turn could work wonders for your work productivity by giving your brain the refresh it needs too!

Start seated with awareness, creating a long spine, rooted at your sitting bones. Take a minute to feel your breath moving through your body.

Then slide your hands down towards your feet as you hinge forward at your hips into a forward fold (uttanasana)

You can round your spine if it feels good, or keep it neutral. Exhale as you fold, inhale as you lift.

Then take your arms up to the side and lift them up towards the ceiling with a little forward tilt of your pelvis to add extension into your spine. Added option of looking up towards your hands. Float your hands down alongside you reversing the motion. Lifting on the in breath and lowering on the out breath.

Now turning to face your legs to one side so that the side of your body is now facing/ connected to the back of your chair. Taking your hands either side of the back of your chair to very gently use the the chair to encourage your spine into rotation. Pause here for a few breaths and soften into this position. Slowly release and repeat on the other side.

Lifting one leg and placing the outer edge of your ankle to rest onto the top of the opposite knee. Option to fold forwards in this position. Pause for a few breaths trying to encourage the tension to release in your body with each exhalation. Repeating on the other leg.

And you’re done!

Here’s the link to the video on YouTube to follow 😊:

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Emerging

Spring is starting to Spring!

An overview of what has been part of the block of classes: our visualisation has been body and breath focussed. Visualisation is a prompt that we use into our practice together when we notice and accept the inevitability of the mind trying to take you elsewhere out of the present. This particular visual links to your heart centre (hrdayam) a place that is considered to be your consciousness, the part of you that watches over what you experience.

In reference to yoga philosophy, we have linked one of the niyamas from the eight limbs of yoga:

"Santosha" - Contentment

The verse I read that created the foundations for this theme is here from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali II.42:

“From contentment, the highest happiness is attained.”

Contentment in where you are right now, whether that is a feeling of calm, chaos, lethargy, excitedness.. being present and not focussing on what you don’t have. If we desire for something else, we are taking away from being in the now, right here.

As we look around us, Spring is showing us the gradual process. There is an emerging, signs of hope - Spring isn’t rushing to summer! A practice to be content in the process of your own personal season, however that looks for you right now; embracing all of the parts of the process.

Physically in class we have started slowly to emerge into more seated, kneeling and standing postures to match the energy of what’s happening around us. Lots of opening, unfurling, spacious movements and shapes in our bodies.

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich , and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Wintering

We made it! The 10 darkest weeks of the year. As much as I love the cosiness I am ready for some Spring energy.

So what have we been doing and why? The last block of classes our visualisation has been a candle. Visualisation (dharana) is a tool that we layer into our practice to help with the natural movement of your mind by creating a focus. I chose this candle visualisation so that we could link it to the candle blowing breath and also because I find a comforting image throughout the dark months of winter. It got me thinking about what a candle may symbolise to each of us. With some focus on the warmth, light, shadows, a connection to something greater or simply softening like the wax of a candle. Encouraging us to soften into the depths of winter allowing ourselves to align with the natural seasonal cycle around us; steering away from those New Year, new me pressures and gradually beginning to emerge.

In reference to yoga philosophy, we have been coming back to the practice of:

"Ahimsa" - Non harm

I recently uploaded a short video describing Ahimsa you can find it here:

Ahimsa

It is one of the yamas which comes from one of the eight limbs of yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. We have been linking this each week as it can be quite a testing time at the start of the New Year. Directing that focus of non-harm to practice kindness to ourselves; the way that we think and speak to ourselves as well as others.

Classes are designed for bringing balance to the whole of your body physically, we have kept a good focus on the neck, shoulders and thoracic spine still as the cold weather can affect posture with extra tension in the way we hold ourselves, and combined with some extra stresses we may be experiencing at the start of the new year. As there’s some small signs of new life around us, expect our practice to mirror nature and slowly start to emerge into more seated, kneeling and standing postures.

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich , and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

The Power of Light

I could write for hours about how light has been present in November & December!

In a bid to keep things as short & sweet as possible, here is a list of some of the things that have combined to bring light into my days: Christmas lights, the morning & evening skies, exploring the duality of light & dark, light & heavy, inner light, candle light, illuminations, phospherecence, sunlight landing on mountains with shadows…

As we’ve been travelling towards the darkest days (I don’t know if it’s because the topic of light is present in my mind!) it seems the idea of light seems to be quite universal at this time of year. In one of the Christmas films I’ve watched (you know the kind, channel 5 kind of ones where you know exactly what will happen!) there was a line:

“That Christmas Eve I realised in the vast black night even a little light shines brightly and all we can do is our best to find that light and share it with others.”

I had to pause, rewind & make a note, as it seems so relevant with our current theme of cultivating light and reminding ourselves of our inner light, our place of consciousness, our heart centre (hrydyam), our being.

In reference to yoga philosophy, this is from the Bhagavad Gita & was the seed for the classes we’ve been practising together.

"As the darkness of night vanishes when the sun rises, so too the darkness of ignorance & delusion is dispelled when you gain knowledge of your True Self."

Ch. 5, v.16 - The Bhagavad Gita

To remind you of your light that resides within, under the layers of the thoughts & stories. Tying this in with our golden light visual as our dharana ~ focus for the mind, connecting to your breath & your inner light.. particularly in these dark & maybe somewhat heavy days.

Whilst classes are designed for bringing balance to the whole of your body physically, we have had quite a focus on our neck, shoulders & thoracic spine over the last few weeks - the cold weather possibly adding more tension into these areas! For the remainder of this block of classes we will be getting a little more restorative…

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Hartford, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Shifting Seasons

This current theme of the 6 week block is Grounding. For those of you that are newer here, I like to write up what we’ve been exploring and why as this part of the yoga isn’t something we can get too much into the why’s within class… I think I talk enough 😆 But I intend for this to bind everything together.

• Grounding - The shift in seasons can feel turbulent and sometime s this may be reflective of what some of us may be experiencing in our smaller worlds. Grounding and encouraging our senses to feelings of stability can help in creating  something to return ourselves to in any situation. Rooting; taking from nature the fact that the tree roots remain steady even thought the leaves all and the branches may become weathered, the roots remain stable.

• Visualisation - Using the physical awareness of our bodies in contact with something stable, feeling the earth beneath us. From this place allowing the breath to merge us, the visualising the breath rooting into the ground and watching the breath rise up through our bodies. The visualisation always brings in our practice of Dharana (to focus consciousness of a single object, idea or place) by giving you something else internally to direct your awareness to when you notice it’s wandered.

• The foundations of my practice and teachings are rooted in philosophy, the cultivation of Grounding ourselves has come from the concept of the Gunas (Rajas, Tamas & Sattva) which are three essential aspects of nature that are constantly changing. Summer is generally a rajastic (busy) time of year and it may be that we carry that energy into the change to autumn. But along with nature as it starts to change in our outer environment, we need to acknowledge our smaller more personal environment and bring more of the tamas (heaviness/ rest) to ground and balance ourselves from our rajastic tendencies.

• Physically, we have started each class in various ways, standing, seated in a chair, and lying down. As we experience the colder temperatures this may begin to change our posture so there’s also been more of a focus around the neck and shoulders. It’s important to acknowledge the change in seasons by allowing ourselves more stillness and a restful practice but to ensure we don’t bring a feeling of heaviness, to still balance it with practices to energise gently & leave with a feeling of restoration.

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Hartford, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.

Reflecting on Summer

What have we been exploring over the last block of yoga sessions leading to the end of Summer?

• Balance - Cultivating balance has been at the core of this block. Juggling all of the roles we play in life, all of things on our to do lists and everything else is hard to maintain balance especially in looking after yourself! Physically noticing the weight in the body and the interaction with gravity, playing with some balancing movements/ postures, transferring the sense of balance within; noticing if we feel balanced or unbalanced and using our practice to bring an overall feeling of equanimity.

• Visualisation - Colour of Calm - Making your visualisation personal to you.. I’d love to know what colour your colour of calm was? Did it change each week? Connecting the colour to the observation of the movement of air and the breath adds to our breath awareness as well as the benefit of visualisation. The visualisation always bring in our practice of Dharana (to focus consciousness of a single object, idea or place) by giving you something else internally to direct your awareness to when you notice it’s wandered.  

• We had also implemented a lot of flowing, circular motions in the last few weeks. I wanted to add some elements that represent water after spending my last little break by the Northumberland coast & to link with the philosophy aspect. Thinking about the qualities of water, all the different bodies of water, the way it moves, how it makes you feel whilst adding some vocabulary to tie this in.. the wave of your breath, the ebb and flow, how the breath ripples through the body, let the thoughts flow..

• As the foundations of my practice and teachings are rooted in philosophy, the cultivation of balance within & water aspect has come from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali yoga philosophy book:

• 1.12- abhyasa-vairagyabhyam tan-nirodah - The states of mind are stilled by practice & dispassion - It discusses how the stream of the mind can flow two ways; towards its upliftment or towards its downfall; analogising the mind to a river. How we have integrated this into our practice: the noticing of our thoughts and not getting carried away into the thought stream, not resisting but building on our awareness in bringing ourself back to being present, to our colour of calm, to the wave of our breath.

• Physically, we have started to bring in the chair as an additional prop and way to experience different shapes and postures. Keeping a mix of standing, sitting, lying… we will gradually start to implement more chair and lying down into our practice as we move towards winter. It’s important to add the right amount to acknowledge the change in seasons and continue to bring balance to reset our nervous systems. And another addition of Samavrtti (equal breathing) has been in some of our weeks too.

The next block will bring a new theme from what I have been leaning towards and practising…

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Hartford, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes are also available.