health

 by lucy

Release your breath and relax your tummy

Learning to move with a relaxed abdomen can allow our bodies to access deeper release.
It is so important to undo the undercurrents of tension that lie below our asana practice.
These elusive patterns hide away un-noticed as we can sometimes try harder and harder to get the posture “correct”.
Let go a little, feel the holding patterns that may no longer serve you, then maybe you can allow your self to rest well within.
I hope this practice helps a little.

Listen deeply, stay peaceful, enjoy.

in 30 minurte Practice / 40 minute practice / General ability / Iyengar Yoga 0 comments
 by lucy

Turning my world upside down

Simply working towards some inversions, I do give other options if you don’t fancy or cannot go upside down.
I find going upside down really quietening for my busy brain. Always a good thing for me to do when my mental chatter becomes all encompassing (plus I love the feeling too 🙂
If you have never been upside down, get a teacher to guide you up the first few times, with extra eyes on the puzzle you will get to know the correct actions required.
As always, regard your body and the feed back from your body with utmost reverence.
Practice to your own capacity.
Enjoy,
Lucy

in 50 Minute practice / General ability / Intermediate Yoga / Iyengar Yoga / video / yoga practice 0 comments
 by lucy

Twisting up Trencrom

Before the lock-down rules tightened I took my mat up to the shelter of the boulders up on Trencrom.
The back of the hill was still frosty and the wind was icy cold but the sun gave the gift of summer.
Seated twists are a marvellous way to keep your socks on, if, like me you are not so keen on chilly toes.
The twists head towards a simple forward bend then onto the arm balance Eka Hasta Bhujasana to bring the awareness back to the core of the body, re-balancing with Adho mukha svanasana (dog pose) and viparita karani (inverted energies pose).
No need to leave your home to practice this one, my thick yoga mat felt quite cumbersome and heavy.
Please pay attention that you practice these poses with care and attention, with your own needs and requirements in mind.
Love and light,
Lucy

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 by lucy

Just 3 poses

Utthita trikonasana, Ardha Chandrasana and Anantasana, aka; Triangle, Half moon and the Blissful pose are the asanas that take centre stage in this practice.
Although I am using ropes you do not need to, but a wall is super handy for balance and proprioception (your sense of where you are in space).
As you get more used to inhabiting your body during your practice you will start to feel the subtleties of each posture and the links that connect them together too.
This practice gets better with repetition, a good memory and a firm idea that you are approaching it, once more, with a beginners mind.
You will need a mat, wall, some blankets, a brick, a belt (ropes are ace but not necessary) and the all important peaceful heart.
Gently move from one pose into the next, paying careful attention to the body and the support that it needs.
Enjoy your practice.
Love and light,
x Lucy

in 30 minurte Practice / General ability / Iyengar Yoga / video / yoga practice 0 comments
 by lucy

Chair pose with a chair

A few nights ago I was on Facebook chatting on the ‘Women with camper-vans’ forum about the idea that a yoga holiday for women with camper-vans might be a nice idea. A lady asked if she do the yoga from a chair. She thought once down on the floor getting up might be difficult. I promised a little video that could be done using a chair (I used a bench in my garden, the weather was just too nice)
There is a lot of ‘Chair pose’.
It’s just a 20 minute practice, but I waffle a bit about G7 summit to begin with. I start teaching the yoga at about a minute in.
Work to your own capacity, be kind to yourself and Enjoy being in your body.
Love and light,
Lucy

in 20 minute practice / Beginners Yoga / General ability / Iyengar Yoga / Lifestyle / Mini practice - 20 minutes or less / video / yoga practice 0 comments
 by lucy

A gentle practice for happy knees

Spending a little bit of time observing the body pays dividends.
When the knees are tight, often they need a little more time to allow the tissues to release. Practice and repetition also helps.
Imagine you are giving your knees a treat, listen to them carefully, explore gentle movement, find out what works for each knee individually. Who knows you might even find that the hamstrings will release a little too 🙂
I have been practicing this sequence for a little while now and I find it super relaxing.
Stay with soft attentive movement, if something does not feel quite right just accept it, release and maybe try again.
I usually find that if I gently try a second time, movement comes a little easier.
Listen to your and body practice with care.

Love and light,
Lucy

in 30 minurte Practice / Beginners Yoga / General ability / Iyengar Yoga / Therapeutic practice / video 0 comments
 by lucy

Campervan Yoga #1

This little sequence is designed to get your head around practicing in a small space. Maybe your standing pose stance will be a little narrower, maybe your space will not allow you to stretch your arms over your head… who knows, only your practice area will let you know.
The poses here are all simple ones I have taught before, and are suitable for a regular practice.
Look around and modify your practice to suit your space. If using support make sure that it is strong enough and will hold you.
Most importantly, maintain your sense of humour.
Love and light,
Lucy

in 30 minurte Practice / Beginners Yoga / General ability / Iyengar Yoga / Lifestyle / video / yoga practice 0 comments
 by lucy

Pinca Mayurasana

The Peacock pose, forearm balance, had me foxed for years.
As I started to think about the name of the pose and consider a peacocks trait’s (my arms are explaining the way the peacock opens up it’s tail feathers in the title picture), it got my imagination rolling and I was off.
I believe that it’s not about the perfect pose, it is about the correct approach, physically and mentally.

Precautions and contra-indications;
as with all inversions, please avoid during menstruation or if the pose causes pressure in the head, ears or eyes. If you have; back, shoulder, or neck injury.
A heart condition or high blood pressure.
Migraine or head-ache.

Most importantly as with any yoga practice, listen to your own body, be kind and sensitive to your bodies needs.

in 30 minurte Practice / Intermediate Yoga / Iyengar Yoga / video / yoga practice 1 comments