October, time for balance, adjusting and saving energy
September, time for new beginnings
Kids start the new school year, the air feels crispier and homes fill with preparations for new activities and routines, as well as with excitement for all the learning and growth opportunities for the little ones. It is also a great time of the year for mums to start new and easy routines, that help us leave old bad habits behind.
September can feel a little overwhelming as we make adjustments to the new routines and our bodies start having less energy due to the lowering of temperatures and the reduction of light. For this reason it is important that we support ourselves and our immune systems to feel stronger and healthier throughout the winter months.
We may feel an initial rush of energy as we have more time within our hands with the kids return to school and want to do too much too soon, but it is important these months of adaptation, to limit intense activity. September is a time to rest and reflect, of goal setting and finding sensible activities that we can fit in our routine and that we will be able to maintain. We are more likely to follow through if we plan for a minute meditation daily, or a 10 minute exercise routine every day, than trying to fit too much in your calendar.
Walks in nature are a an amazing activity for this month, trying to get the most exposure to light as possible will help you to sleep better and feel more rested and energetic the day after. This will also boos tour immune system and lift your mood. Avoid overstimulation, and find some rituals that may be grounding for you, such as evening baths or feet massage with a warm oil. You can perhaps pair drinking some herbal tea (ashwagandha and shatavari herbs are specially nourishing for this time of the year) and pair it with a good book or a few minutes of meditation.
Restorative yoga poses, such as supported child's pose or legs up the wall, will help you relax, sleep better and give you a nourishing sense of self care. You can practice some of this poses ( reclined bound angle, reclined pigeon, supine spinal twist or savasana) while using blankets, cushions, candles, massage oils for a real cozy feel.
You can also give a try to some breathing exercises, such as alternate nostril breathing. Breathing practices are very relaxing and have a big effect on the nervous system helping with relaxation.
I hope you have found some of this useful and inspires you to look after yourself a bit more this autumn. I would love to hear about any other practices you tend to do this season to feel at your best, feel free to comment below.
Some of these poses and exercises will be practice in our class for complete beginners on Wednesdays mornings in the Old Town of Hemel Hempstead. You can book your first class free now.
Non violence is key.
Non violence (ahimsa) is at the core of Eastern traditions and Yoga philosophy and practice.
When we think about violence, immediately comes to mind ideas of physical harm, however it can be much more subtle than that, as in the unkind words we speak to ourselves, when out of fear we become greedy and controlling, when we don't listen to ourselves or others, when we don't look after our minds and bodies, or take care of nature, or when we don't respect others.
During the practice of Yoga it is important to have "non violence" ( ahimsa) in mind, since through the practice of the poses (asanas) and meditation we intend to serve our body well, to make stronger, and our minds more aware of its weaknesses and what we need to work on. By working with the breath our nervous system relaxes, and brings a sense of comfort that drives away fear and builds courage. We don't want to push our body passed their limits, so we need to carefully learn what those are, but we also want to challenge it enough that it makes progress. We learn the importance of balance. Balance of left and right, of work and rest, of pushing to strive but refraining to respect our limits, of doing and listening, of action and inaction...
"The deep harmony of balance is my most precious commodity and I guard it fiercely" Dr Phil Nuernberger.
Therefore, non violence requires to develop self-love, to appreciate ourselves, with our good and bad qualities, to accept ourselves with our abilities and inabilities. In this feeling of deep self-acceptance we are more capable to treat others with the same love and with the compassion of knowing that everyone suffers just the same.
We learn compassion when we accept others, when we don t try to change them and when we practice acts of kindness just to ease other's suffering.
Samadhi
The first chapter of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, tries to teach us about consciousness and its afflictions and how to overcome them, as the first step towards relieving suffering. Through the use of sutras (threads or guidelines in the form of an unfinished sentence, continued by the following one) he tried to analyse the components of citta (consciousness). Citta is constantly bombarded and affected by human experience, in our body, mind, spiritually... Our memory retains those experiences that are the source of feelings, thoughts and emotions. All these afflictions coming from the experience of our mind are interpreted by citta as the self.
This situation of turbulence, creates the belief that we are, what we think, experience or happens to us, originating all sorts of suffering. So it is in this false knowledge of mistaking consciousness for the mind and the mind for the self.
The power of essential oils
Our sense of smell is very powerful, it can bring up memories and impact our emotions and wellbeing. Years of research have shown that they help reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, viruses and fungus. The chemotypes of each oil are studied and they determine the healing power of each specific essential oil.
There are over 100 ways to use these potent oils in your home and on the go but aromatic and topical uses are the most popular and safest ways.
Want to get started? Choose two to three oils that you enjoy, such as lemon, lavender and peppermint. Use them in a diffuser at home, or inhale the aroma directly from the bottle.
You can find some of the most popular oils here in the website shop, they all have been sourced from a supplier approved by the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, the internationally recognisable gold standard for cruelty free products, who also provides the highest quality oils and extracts from sustainable sources.
SUPPORTING SHOULDER STABILITY FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE, PAIN AVOIDANCE AND POSTURE IMPROVEMENT
I'd like to share with you a presentation I did about shoulder anatomy in case you would like to know a bit more about creating stability and improving the mobility of the scapulo-thoracic joint. I tend to get really tight in my shoulders and as a mum of little ones I do a lot of looking down, which I think affects my shoulder mobility. I would say shoulders are my weak point in my yoga practice. I chose this topic for an anatomy presentation for my 300hr YTT with Noah Maze and I thought sharing it in case it gives someone some light too. I hope you find it useful and excuse my inexperience in front of the camera :D .
Please find public link below:
Add comment
Comments