The Light Was Always There

You Can Feel It, Can't You?

That moment when the sun catches you off guard. That first real feeling of the sun on your skin after what feels like a very long time. (Let’s forget about the hail storm last week!)

People are talking about it - it’s no secret we love to talk about the weather, but there's something almost instinctive about the way we respond to light. We turn toward it, like plants. We soften into it and breathe a little more deeply.

How does this relate to our practice?

In Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita, one of yoga's philosophical texts, there's a verse that stops me every time I return to it:

"As the darkness of night vanishes when the sun rises, so too the darkness of ignorance and delusion is dispelled when you gain knowledge of your True Self." — Ch. 5, v.16

The idea that there is light within you — not something you have to find or earn or create from scratch, but something that already exists. It's just that sometimes, we can't see it. It gets covered over by your thoughts, the stories you tell yourself. The heaviness of these darker months, or just the heaviness of being human right now depending on where you’re at in your world right now now.

The practice isn't to create the light. It's to remember it.

Our golden light visualisation is a familiar practice we’ve been using to bring the mind home and link to this quality of light. In these days that can still feel heavy — even with the light returning outside — this is the reminder. You carry something within you, underneath all the noise, and you remember what is within.

Click the video below for a minute to pause..

Take It Deeper — Spring Half-Day Retreat, Cheshire, April

We're in that space now where it’s not quite winter, not yet spring. There's more light, but it still feels like it’s not quite ready to stick around just yet..we're almost through but not quite.

This is exactly the moment to turn inward as well as outward. To feel the sun on your face and to tend to the light within. To restore, gently, before the busyness of spring kicks in.

If this resonates — if you're feeling that pull toward more space, more stillness, more of this — then I'd love to invite you to our Spring Half-Day Retreat in Cheshire this April.

When you give yourself a proper pocket of time, something else happens compared to an hour class or morning mediatation. A real reset. When you step away from the to-do list and the noise and the relentless pace, even just for half a day.

The collective exhale of a room full of people who've all said yes to showing up for themselves.

This is a chance to rest, restore, and reconnect — with your breath, your body, and that quiet inner light we've been talking about. Whether you come solo or bring a friend, the half-day retreat is designed to hold you gently, exactly as you are.

Spring is the perfect season for it. The world is waking up and maybe like me, you are too!

Come and join me — on the mat, online, or in person this April in Cheshire.

With warmth (and a little more light), Kelly 🌿

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 and events also available.

The Missing Piece In Your Yoga Practice: Compassion That Starts With You

The Myth: Compassion Is Something You Give to Others

Most of us may find it easy to be compassionate to others; being kind to other people, having patience with a struggling friend, understanding toward a family member having a hard time, or generosity toward someone in need. And we absolutely need this in the world..

But…. Do you give yourself that same, patience, understanding, and kindness? Probably not. (I know I am guilty of this!) Why is it we can give those things to others while being sometimes absolutely brutal to ourselves?

I see this arise in class…Someone wobbles in a balance and mutters something self-deprecating (in a joking way, but still..). Or maybe someone arrives five minutes late because of traffic and can’t arrive mentally because they’re beating themselves up. If any of these things happened to the person on the mat next to you, you’d offer nothing but warmth and understanding.

How to Bring Self-Compassion Into Your Practice (And Your Life)

Quoting from the yoga sutras of Patanjali - one of the yoga philosophy texts. I.33:

“By cultivating an attitude of friendship toward those who are happy, compassion toward those in distress, joy toward those who are virtuous and equanimity toward those who are no virtuous, lucidity arises in the mind.”

I focussed on the compassion part of this verse. Especially as we have been navigating the time of year with new year pressures, the long dark days, the end of winter and the challenges it may bring.

Off the mat, translating this into being able to navigate life's challenges without the added weight of constant self-judgment.

Try to notice (and it may well be after the event has happened!) the next challenging moment in daily life.

Is it kind? Would you speak that way to a friend? If the answer is no, that's your starting point.

When you make a mistake at work, address it without spiraling into shame. When your body changes (as everybody’s does through all of life’s cycles!), accept & adapt accordingly. When you need to say no to something, you do it without guilt.… sounds liberating, and maybe unrealistic 😆 But it all starts with the noticing, the awareness, the continuous practice.

Show up as you are today, not as you were last week or as you think you should be. Speak to yourself with the same gentleness you'd offer someone you love.

Why This Ancient Practice Is More Relevant Than Ever

We're living in a time of constant comparison and productivity culture. But then you’re exhausted. Disconnected and not listening to your body.. and your mind!

Yoga philosophy underpins the foundations of my practice and teachings - it offers us something our modern world desperately needs: permission to be human. Permission to have bodies that change, energy that fluctuates, and limits to respect rather than resent. When we practice compassion toward ourselves—on the mat and off—we're practicing self-care that allows us to show up fully in our lives, for ourselves and for the people we love.

So the next time you're in a yoga class and your mind is jumping around everywhere (or facing a challenging moment in life), ask yourself: am I practicing compassion, or am I practicing criticism? The answer might just create an opportunity to shift things…

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 and events also available.

Why Your Next Wellness Retreat Should Be About Connection, Not Just Yoga

The Myth: A Yoga Retreat Is Just Extended Yoga Classes in a Nice Location

When most people think about a yoga retreat, they picture it as a long weekend of back-to-back yoga sessions in a scenic setting. Essentially, yoga classes—just... more of them, somewhere prettier.

I can understand it; the word "yoga" is in the title… but you won’t find it in our “The Solstice Retreat” 😊

This belief has become so common because that's how retreats are often marketed—beautiful photos of people in complicated poses on mountain tops or beaches, promises of "deepening your practice" that sound like they're all about the physical. The wellness industry has, unfortunately, perpetuated the idea that a yoga retreat is primarily about what happens on the mat.

The Truth: Yoga Is the Gateway to Something Much More Profound

Here's what I've learned after years of practicing, attending and hosting retreats: the yoga is simply the container, not the content.

The real transformation happens in the spaces between—in the laughter shared over wholesome meals, in the quiet moments, in the organic silence that falls over a group who've given themselves permission to simply be. It happens when someone shares a poem or a song they've been carrying in their heart, finally feeling safe enough to let it out.

Last summer, I watched this unfold in real time at our North Wales retreat. Nestled among rolling green hills with a river running below, our timber-framed studio became a sanctuary where time slowed down. Yes, we practiced yoga—morning sessions overlooking the Welsh countryside and evening restorative practices. But what I remember most are the faces softening, shoulders dropping, the collective sighs of release being welcomed exactly as they were.

How to Choose a Retreat That's About Connection, Not Performance

Look for language that emphasizes community, presence, and accessibility rather than advancement or achievement.

A retreat focused on genuine connection will explicitly welcome all levels and abilities. It will mention shared experiences—meals together, conversations, communal spaces—as prominently as it mentions yoga sessions. It will talk about creating safety, about being yourself, about the magic that happens when people gather with intention in a beautiful space.

Why More People Are Embracing the Retreat Experience—However They Choose to Arrive

Remember when the idea of going to a yoga retreat alone seemed intimidating or even impossible? Or when you couldn't imagine your partner or friend being interested? That's all changing.

More and more people are realizing that a well-crafted retreat welcomes you exactly as you arrive—solo, with a friend, with family, or with a partner. Each way of attending offers its own kind of magic. Arriving solo at a group retreat is actually a beautiful way to experience genuine connection. When you're not paired up with someone you already know, you're more open to new relationships. You're more present to the experience itself rather than filtering it through familiar dynamics. You're free to be whoever you want to be in that moment, without the weight of old stories or established roles.

But there's equal beauty in sharing the experience with someone you love. Attending with a friend deepens your bond in unexpected ways—you're both stepping outside your normal routines together, creating new shared memories that aren't about managing daily life but about genuine presence. Creating a different kind of closeness when they practice and reflect together, building new patterns of relating that honor both connection and individual space.

What matters isn't whether you arrive alone or accompanied—it's that you arrive open to the experience and ready to be part of a community, even if just for a weekend.

The future of wellness isn't about grand transformations or Instagram-worthy poses. It's about sustainable practices rooted in real connection—to ourselves, to others, to the natural world around us. A summer yoga retreat in North Wales isn't just a holiday or a fitness bootcamp. It's an investment in something our fast-paced world needs: spaces where we can slow down, be seen, and remember what it feels like to be fully present.

These gathering spaces are becoming sanctuaries for people navigating the complexity of modern life. They're for the working mother who can't remember the last time she prioritized herself. For the retiree discovering a new chapter. For the single person who is always too busy doing things for other people! For anyone who's felt disconnected from their body, their joy, or their sense of belonging.

The seeds planted during a weekend like this travel with us back into everyday life.

Your next retreat is waiting. And it's so much more than yoga…

Turning Inwards: An Autumn Journey Through the Koshas

As the leaves begin to gather on the ground and the sky light softens into golden hues, autumn invites us into a season of natural introspection. Just as trees draw their energy inward, preparing for winter's rest, we too are called to journey from the external world toward our innermost centre.

The Wisdom of the Season

Autumn is nature's masterclass in letting go. The earth teaches us that there is profound beauty in release, in drawing back, in turning our attention from the outward expansion of summer to the quiet depths within. I have chosen for this theme to link the seasonal shift with the koshas within yoga philosophy— the five layers of our being.

A Visualisation: Journey to Your Centre

The visualisation to support your inner focus for this term: Find a comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Allow your eyes to close softly, and begin to notice your breath without changing it.

“Taking your awareness to your right foot and then moving your awareness up your leg over your hip then slightly inwards until you arrive at the centre of your body. Then moving to your left foot in the same way moving your awareness up until it arrives at the centre of your body, then moving to your right hand moving across your arm over your shoulder and a little inwards and down to your centre, doing the same from your left hand. Then moving to the crown of your head down to the centre of your body. Adding the extra layer of your breath; breathing as you move from one of these points to your centre and then breathe out as you land here, continuing to move around these five outer points of your physical body and inviting them inwards to your centre..”

When we practice this inward visualization during autumn, we align ourselves with nature's rhythm. We honour the season's invitation to rest, reflect, and replenish. This isn't about withdrawing from life, but rather about touching the source; connecting to your hrdayam (your heart centre) this place that is considered to be your consciousness, your essence, your being.

The Koshas: Layers of Being

This inward journey beautifully maps onto the five Koshas described in yogic philosophy:

Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body) - Like autumn's visible transformation, this is our outermost layer, our physical form that we can see and touch.

Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body) - As you draw awareness inward, you meet the vital life force, the breath and energy currents that animate your being, much like the sap that trees draw inward during autumn.

Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body) - Deeper still, you encounter the thinking mind, the emotions, and reactions—the falling leaves of thoughts that swirl and settle.

Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body) - Beyond the busy mind lies intuition and inner knowing, the quiet wisdom that emerges when we truly listen, like the silent intelligence that guides nature's cycles.

Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body) - At the very centre rests your essence, pure consciousness, untouched joy—your unchanging core, present through all seasons of life.

As you move through your yoga practice this season, let each pose become an opportunity to journey inward. Let each breath draw you closer to your centre. Let the autumn air remind you that turning inward is not a retreat from life—it's a return to your essence.

Here is the YouTube link to practice the visualisation meditation:

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 Seasonal Shift: Acceptance & Boundaries

As we move through this seasonal shift into autumn, you might be experiencing changes through your own life too. The mornings & evenings have arrived with a crisp air; and sometimes we find ourselves in environments that bring a change and possibly a place we can't physically escape from - whether that's a challenging workplace, a difficult home situation, or simply the general chaos of daily life. But here's something beautiful we have been practising: we can create our own bubble of safety, a boundary of peace that travels with us wherever we go.

• The wisdom of acceptance comes to us through Yoga Sutra 2.16, which teaches us about preventing future suffering (caused by oneself). It's not about avoiding discomfort - that's not the way and it’s pretty impossible. Instead, it's about developing the skill to meet whatever arises with a sense of spaciousness. When we can't change our external circumstances, we can still transform our relationship to them. Inspiration from the “Embodying the Yoga Sutra” book by Randy Roy & David Charlton:

“By reducing our tendencies to compound our problems, this sort of skilful living helps us to reduce the suffering yet to come.”

• From the philosophical perspective, we're working with the understanding that our suffering often comes not from the circumstances themselves, but from our resistance to them. When we can soften that resistance - not through forcing or bypassing, but through genuine acceptance - we discover a different way of being with difficulty.

• Your bubble of safety visualisation - Imagine drawing an invisible boundary around yourself, I like to think of it as a bubble, you may think of a boundary, a sphere/ circle. (This isn't about shutting out or disconnecting; it's about creating a space within yourself that remains peaceful, no matter what's swirling around you). As you breathe in visualise your breath expanding out in all directions, continuing beyond your physical form to the edge of your bubble/ boundary. Then observe the flow of air travelling back in towards the centre of your body, repeat and return!

The seasonal shift reminds us that change is natural & inevitable. Your bubble of safety isn't about creating a fortress against life; it's about cultivating an inner sanctuary that allows you to meet whatever comes.

I have recently been experiencing a lot of changes in my world - including selling my house and moving towns! I now live in Sandbach with my other half.. (but don’t worry I am still working in Northwich and nothing will change my yoga offerings! 😊 ) .. and it’s been a super stressful time - it’s never just one thing, always everything at once! But as always yoga is here to support me with the tools that I know & teach.. and most importantly, remind me what matters.

Here’s a beautiful autumn sunrise shot I captured from the front window of the place I now call home 🧡

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.

Space & The Importance Of A Pause

This time of year can be very busy, with the lighter longer days maybe we cram more into our schedules? I love to work with the summer energy leaning into more standing and movement but still acknowledging the importance of rest… and listening to when people don’t want to stand up - they just need to be horizontal! We’ve been lucky with some outdoor classes again… will there be any more left in our summer?!

• A couple of things that led to this theme were something that I read (and I can’t remember where!) but it said “yoga begins with a pause” and it’s so right! Even though sometimes I begin with movement, really, the arrival into your yoga practice begins with a pause. The pause allows you to notice. Creating an opportunity for you to notice your breath or maybe the chaos in your mind. Whatever you notice, we have been encouraging space. Add space around it - whatever it is! In that space you can then gently guide your awareness back to your being, maybe back to your breath, or maybe to your visualisation….

• Visualisation - Colour of calm (of a cooling calm colour on those warmer days!) Making this your own by thinking of a colour that makes you feel at ease and adds that extra layer of calm to your meditation. May be your colour changes each week? I love to think about all the colours people are visualising in the room!

• The other thing that I thought of from the yoga philosophy perspective is a classic sutra from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali:

1.2- Yoga citta vrtti nirodah - Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of mind."

By adding space rather than pushing things away & creating resistance, you surrounding what's there with this spaciousness; to have a little pause of what's going on within - no matter how tiny.

• Chandra Bhedana (Left nostril) for the evening classes and Surya Bhedana (Right Nostril) for the morning. Chandra means moon and this is a more cooling energy whereas Surya means Sun in Sanskrit and this generates more heat, uplifting you for the day ahead. Mostly we practice these with our imagination rather that physically directing the breath with the hand on the nostrils - it still gives the same effects and I find it a little more relaxing to not have to hold your arm up.

• Ardha Chandrasana - half moon pose - we’ve been linking this pose into our week a in various ways; breaking down the pose, doing it using a chair and a belt, doing it kneeling (as pictured above) lots of different ways to experience the shape in our bodies. Using the moon again to bring the cooling quality into the summer season!

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.

Wonder

Time away, always brings inspiration for me and when I took time off in May it allowed space for me to tune in; in turn bringing to life the foundations of our last theme: Creating a sense of curiosity & playfulness and the wonder of the simple things.

A couple of things fuelled this: spending time with my friends little ones - the curiosity of a 2 year old is just an absolute joy to watch! The wonder, the unknown, not falling into an automatic assumption of what we already perceive the thing to be.

The second thing that I experienced was watching the sun set at Shell Island. The combination of the land, the sea, the sky with the late light was so beautiful. I was so present in the moment, but I also returned back to this sense of wonder. As I watched the landscape I associated the mountains and the earth to my physical body, I matched the sea and the wave like qualities to my breath, and the vastness of the sky to my sense of being; my essence, my awareness, my spirit (whatever the word is you personally may choose to call it!).

Here's a more detailed look at what we covered over the previous 6 weeks:

• Stillness and Meditation with a connection to Breath:
  Practices like meditation and mindfulness, which are integral to yoga, can cultivate a sense of inner peace and clarity, allowing one to experience the world with a renewed sense of wonder and appreciation. 

• Playfulness and Exploration with a connection to Body:
  Yoga practices, especially those incorporating playful movements or variations in poses, can awaken a sense of wonder by encouraging you to approach your body and movement with curiosity and a beginner's mind. 

• Santosha (Contentment) with a connection to the Mind:
  The yoga principle of Santosha, or contentment (something that some of you may remember we have done as a theme previously) promotes finding joy in the present moment and appreciating the simple things, which can lead to a deeper sense of wonder about the world around us. 

• Nature Connection:
  Yoga practices often encourage a connection with nature, both in the physical environment and within oneself. This can inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. 

• Interconnectedness - bringing all of the above to connect:
  Yoga philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and the universe, suggesting that everything is part of a larger whole. This understanding can create a sense of awe and wonder at the intricate web of life.
  
  

Yoga philosophy suggests that a receptive and open mind can lead to a greater capacity for wonder. By letting go of preconceived notions and expectations, one can open themselves up to the infinite possibilities of experience; to emphasize the interconnectedness of all things and beauty of existence, with a sense of awe and wonder. 

(Photo of me in the Azores on our holiday 😊)

Here are the linked posts featuring some more moments of wonder on my social media:

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.

Finding Peace in the Welsh Hills ~ Reflections on our Summer Weekend Retreat

(Scroll to the bottom for the rosemary & rhubarb scone recipe!)

I haven’t had the time to fully reflect on our summer weekend retreat and now as I sit here - recalling the feeling of the calm that was created in the weekend, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the space & experience that we all created together.

Nestled among rolling green hills and a river running below, our retreat space became a sanctuary where time seemed to slow down and hearts filled. The beautiful timber-framed studio, with its soaring beams and floor-to-ceiling windows, provided the perfect backdrop for our journey inward. Natural light through the glass, connecting us constantly to the wild beauty outside while we explored the landscapes within. The view from our windows – endless green fields stretching toward misty hills – served as a constant reminder of our connection to something larger than ourselves.

The best thing was witnessing the transformation that happens when people give themselves permission to simply be. From our morning movement sessions overlooking the Welsh countryside to our evenings which varied with restorative yoga & an evening of sharing… songs, poems, music, drums… each moment was infused with intention and presence.

The laughter that filled our shared meals, the quiet conversations that bloomed over tea, the moments of silence (that happened organically and became a topic of exploration!), the collective sighs of release during our practice – these are the threads that wove our community together for the weekend. Watching faces soften, shoulders drop, and smiles emerge reminded me why these weekends of a deeper practice matter so much. Some continued to gather around the fire pit under the vast Welsh sky, continuing to share moments together to the early hours.

The simple pleasure of sharing wholesome meals together cannot be understated. Fresh, seasonal & comforting food prepared with love, care and intention, nourished us in ways that went far beyond the physical. Optional wine (and other non alcoholic options!) shared over dinner conversations, the perfectly baked sweet treats that appeared at just the right moments, the care taken in every detail of our dining experience – all of it contributed to the foundation of our shared retreat experience.

As we packed up our mats and said our goodbyes, knowing retreat doesn't really end when we leave the physical space. The seeds planted over these few days – the connections made, the insights gained, the peace discovered – these travel with us back to our everyday lives. The beauty of retreat lies not just in the retreating away from life as we know it, but in the stepping back in with renewed clarity and purpose. Each person who joined us for this weekend is carrying a piece of this special experience into their world, rippling outward in ways we may never fully know.

These weekends remind us why we are so passionate about creating spaces for people to feel safe, comfortable, to feel they can fully be themselves and most importantly connection - to others but also to yourself!

Interested in joining our next retreat? Our autumn gathering is already in the planning stages. Click here to learn more.

Recipe from the National Trust Facebook page:

250g chopped rhubarb

15g chopped rosemary

50g caster sugar + 120g caster sugar

750g self raising flour

185g baking margarine

350ml oat milk

To a bowl add: rhubarb, rosemary, 50g caster sugar.

Preheat oven to 180/ 160 Fan/ gas 4.

To another bowl add the flour & margarine - rub the margarine into the flour, then add the 120g caster sugar.

Drain the rhubarb & reserve the liquid.

Add the rhubarb into the dry mix.

Add 3/4 of the milk then gradually add the remaining.

The dough should be soft but not too sticky.

Too onto a lightly floured surface and roll approximate 4cm thick.

Cut scones and place onto lined baking tray.

Brush the tops with oat milk and bake for 15-20mins.

Brush the warm scones with the reserved rhubarb syrup.

(I also made a Rosemary & rhubarb compote to serve with yoghurt too) Enjoy!

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.