An easy practice to help you to sit well

If you have ever wanted to sit for meditation or prayer, you may have found that it is harder than it looks.
The answer is to:
a – sit on a chair or
b – try relaxing your hips and thighs.
I hope this video will help. I’ll take you through a breath focussed practice, releasing tension from the hips and thighs.
I really enjoyed leading this session.
I hope you like it as much as I did making it.
Stay within your capacity and work optimally for your body’s needs.
Love and light,
Lucy

A 1 hour Yoga class at Porthmeor beach St Ives

Yoga outside in the sunshine above West Beach Cafe, Porthmeor, St Ives. This was the first class of the summer.
Standing poses are a main stay of these sessions because they are pretty accessible to all I hope you enjoy your practice alongside the St Ives crew, as much as we enjoy being there.
Listen to your body’s needs.
Love and light,
Lucy

Yoga for tight hips and groins

The yoga poses in this sequence will help release tightness on the inner thighs, hips and groins.
Hold each pose for as long as you are comfortable doing so.
I would recommend practicing this yoga sequence at least a few times.
Familiarise yourself with the poses that you find a little more challenging and see if you gain more freedom after a few repetitions.
Try not to force, but ease your body into each asana.
Enjoy!
Breathe!
Love and light,
Lucy

Standing postures to Bird pose

Standing poses to strengthen and ground you, bird pose will let you fly. Bring your awareness to the base of your poses and notice how the energy rises up, when you are secure in your grounding. This may take a little while to feel, connect to the floor with the pressure from your feet or hands then you will start to feel feed-back through the arms and legs. Please pay attention to your wrists when you come into the bird balance, the weight of the body can overload them, wedges can help if you know how to use them. Stay comfortable in your practice. be sensitive and caring Love and light Lucy

Bending at Botallack

The wind was gusting over 50 mph and if you know Cornwall it blows in all directions at once.
I went to several favorite spots, mostly too windy (even though technically off shore and sheltered) or the Cliff had collapsed because of the hammering the Cornish coast has taken in the last few storms.
To the right of the screen, the engine houses that you can see, served the mining tunnels that went well below the sea level and miles out underneath it! Poldark country 🙂
This sequence is just over an hour long, so set aside enough time to take a longer savasana if you need it.
From sideways stretch, to gate latch pose and the upward bow, you will feel stronger and more energized after this session.
As always , feel and work to your own capacity.
love and light
Lucy

Open up your chest

Starting with seated twists then into standing poses (just a few), baby back bends then shoulder stand.
This practice should open your chest up, allowing a sense of freedom and room to breathe.
Move with your own sense of well being, not trying too hard, so that your breath remains natural.
Remember you can stop at any time and sit out of any pose you are unsure of.
Enjoy

Yoga Unplanned – episode 3

I remember learning to take the weight on my arms for hand-stands during the yoga class, it was a pose that always made me want to leave the room.
My teacher would say “Just kick up!”. Of course, eventually I did.
This pose strengthens the arms, shoulders and wrists. Practice this with gentle repetition to gradually increase strength, so as to not strain the wrists etc.
Inversions are not advised through the Iyengar tradition during menstruation as it goes against the flow in the body at that time of the month.

Seated postures – crossed legs and kneeling

A deceptively deep practice. Who would have thought kneeling and crossed legs could be so much fun.
Padamasana (lotus pose) makes an appearance at the end (certainly not a requirement 🙂
The twists are very good for toning, releasing and lengthening the torso and pelvic area as long as you stay within your own capacity for movement.
Gently push your boundaries but not your limits.
If you have low back problems or knee issues, consult your Iyengar teacher first.
Practice with gentle awareness,
shine bright,
Lucy

Yoga Unplanned – episode 2 – Get moving again

Starting with a modified sun-salute as a gently dynamic way of easing into the beautiful side rotation of Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana. This pose will bring length to the hamstrings, spine, shoulders, lower back, and the sides of the abdomen. It provides a spinal twist that massages and stimulates the digestive system whilst also relieving fatigue. This pose brings me great joy and up-liftment.
Work within your own capacity

Shine Bright

Enjoy

NB: Not suitable suffering with low back pain or diarrhoea