Yoga At The Barn

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Yoga Gently

A slower-paced class for those that like to take things a little easier. Mindful movement is combined with restorative postures, breath awareness and some light meditation to help you tune in to the wisdom of your body and create some balance.

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 04.02.22: Building resilience through balance

In this practice we explore our way through the wobbles.  What better way to consider our own resilience than by remaining curious about the times we wobble.  How does wobbling act as a guide towards more stability.  Instead of shunning the missteps, the wobbles and the times we fall, let’s see what they might offer us in our practice! What to expect: gentle exploration of yoga postures, gentle mindful strength and a restorative sequence Suggested equipment:
  • yoga mat
  • two yoga bricks
  • yoga bolster or firm sofa cushion
  • several blankets
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 04.03.22 – Rebuilding Strength

In this Yoga Gently class we continue to explore the theme of rebuilding.  With all the transition rebuilding is not about returning to the same us as ‘before’ but taking stock of where we are now and beginning to consider what we might want in the future – be it by the end of the class, the end of a movement sequence or perhaps the end of the year . . . In this class we focus on the various ways we can experience our muscles, looking to redefine what ‘muscle strength’ really is and means for us. What to expect: gentle yoga movements, gentle mindful strength sequences and restorative yoga postures. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Two bricks
  • Resistance band
  • blanket(s)
  • bolster (or firm cushions)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently: 28.01.22 Building Resilience Through Resistance

In the fourth class in our series on building resilience we explore what bringing resistance into the body lends us.  When we move without resistance things might feel easy-breezy, that go with the flow sort of movement.  When we add resistance things get tougher, a bit grittier and perhaps make us face discomfort.  As we continue to consider how to make choices in our practice to find ways of moving that serve us where we are, this practice may add a little clarity.  When things get too tough, we are forced to stop – but can we find that place just before it is too much and then stay with it?  Perhaps . . . or perhaps we move away from a pattern/sequence altogether, finding a different pathway through the resistance. What to expect: A class with gentle yoga and somatic movement sequences, some gentle mindful strength practice (using a resistance band) and a restorative posture to finish. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Medium resistance band
  • Blanket(s)
  • Yoga bolster
  • Two yoga bricks
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 07.01.22: New Year – Same Me! A Practice for Checking In

It’s a brand new year and all around us are messages that we need to change and become ‘more’ ‘better’ ‘fitter’ etc.  What if that weren’t the case?  What if you were pretty alright already?  What if the difference between the new year and the old year were just a few moments. Our practice is about welcoming what we meet each time we come to the mat.  Trying, as best we can, to find ways of moving that fit us right where we are; whether we are trying to feel flexibility or strength, relaxation or energised . . . it starts from knowing where we are now. Perhaps there is the possibility that there are plenty of times throughout the year (week, day, moment) to step through a doorway – to set intentions based on where we are right now. What to expect: a gentle movement practice, some standing yoga postures, followed by a restorative practice and savasana. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Blanket (or blankets)
  • Two yoga bricks (or some hardcopy books)
  • Bolster or firm sofa cushion
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently: Anandamaya Kosha practice 17.12.21

In this practice we explore the final layer of the kosha model – anandamaya kosha loosely translated as the ‘bliss’ layer.  There is something worth exploring here amongst the busy-ness and hustle of our everyday life, that this layer may be a part of us that is at peace, even amongst the outer stresses of life.  That there may be times in our practice when we catch brief glimpses of this state of being ‘ok’ or ‘enough.’  From an embodied anatomy perspective this layer might resemble something of cellular consciousness – the inner workings of the cells which require no effort from us. Expect a class of gentle movement followed by two restorative postures. Suggested equipment:
  • yoga mat
  • stack of blankets
  • yoga bricks x2
  • yoga bolster (if you have one)
  • a yoga strap
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently: Annamaya kosha, connecting to our muscle body

In this class we explore our muscles – not simply as a place of action/doing and ‘strength’ but also as a connection to the places in our body where muscle asks nothing of us – that they do without us having to ‘activate’ anything consciously.  Being with muscle can about more than lifting heavy things or stretching. Suggested equipment
  • yoga mat
  • blankets
  • chair (or edge of some sturdy furniture)
  • resistance band
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently: Pranamaya kosha practice, using breath to support movement

In this practice we will be using an awareness of breath to find more support for movement and postures. There is no right way to breath and we will not be ‘programming’ our breath in this class, but we will explore the ways the lungs and our breathing can support our movement. We will think of this layer of the kosha model not just as a place for exploring breath, but exploring our energy levels and how our practices can best support us when we might feel a bit drained or overwhelmed. Suggested equipment:
  • yoga mat
  • blanket
  • resistance band
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 12.11.21: Annamaya Kosha at practice of meeting our edges

The first in a series of seven classes exploring the kosha model – an ancient philosophical model of self.  We begin at the outmost layer of the model, the Annamaya kosha.  We will explore this outer layer somatically by coming into contact with the edges of ourself, skin, bones and the places where we can define our self from something else.  In this practice we also consider the edge of what we want/need. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Stack of blankets
  • Yoga belt or a long scarf
  • Two yoga bricks (or hard copy books)
  • Yoga bolster (or firm sofa cushion)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 05.11.21: An all around grounding/settling practice

In this Yoga Gently class we explore meeting our whole bodies – from fingers to toes and everything inbetween.  This is a perfect all-around practice, giving you an opportunity to explore space/strength/stretch and relaxation throughout the whole of your body. Suggested Equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Stack of blankets
  • Bolster (if you have one)
  • Yoga strap, resistance band or a scarf
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 22.10.21 – Pathways to Centre Series: connection to the psoas

This is the final class in our series on finding new pathways to our centre.  And it would be remiss of us not to explore a crucial ‘connecting’ muscle at our centre – the psoas muscles.  These two, deep and long muscles that connect our upper body to our lower body through centre work as both stabilising muscles and also form a pathway to our nervous systems.  When we breath – this muscle contracts. When we walk, these muscles at as a support system.  And when we release tension in these muscles that can signal our nervous system to dial things down.  We will finish this class with several psoas release postures, giving plenty of time for deep relaxation. What you will need:
  • a yoga mat
  • chair
  • stack of blankets
  • two yoga bricks (or a stack of hardcopy books)
  • a squidgy ball (a blanket will work here)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 09.07.21 – Embodying the Easy-Breezy Feeling of Summertime

This class is wraps up the series on Embodying Summertime.  In this class we explore the possibility of embodying that lazy summertime feeling, the taking a pause out to relax in the sunshine and do nothing.  Though our bodies are always busy working for us, there are many aspects within us that are deeply settled.  What movements support you in connecting to the more settled aspects of yourself?  What postures feel the most restful?  What postures or movements create that subtle activity that brings you both aliveness and restfulness?  Enjoy the easy, breezy summer feeling within this practice.
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 11.06.21 – Adding a Little Springiness into Your Practice

This class is all about embodying that summer-time feeling.  As we enter the summer term at Yoga at the Barn Ashley is offering a series of classes to embrace the active within.  How can we find a bit of a spring in our steps, support from our connective tissues, feeling into the possibility of uplift from within. In this class, we will begin the series by exploring the potential springiness from the connective tissues – how can we find a little ‘bounce’ or rebound before settling into relatively still shapes?  It may be that we find that little ‘boost’ simply by emptying the breath and noticing the way the lungs ‘just fill’ – the natural spring of our in breath. Expect a class of gentle yoga movements, followed by time in restorative yoga postures. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Several blankets (2 or 3) or a yoga bolster
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 21.05.21 – A Place for Pause (part of bringing presence to practice series)

In this class we explore the possibility of staying present when things slow down a bit. If we take a moment in our practice to check-in and see how we’re feeling will be make choices that better support how we are or how we want to practice?  We’ll be considering the idea that the work we do in practice; the movement, the discipline, the ‘heat,’ can all be coupled with comfort – what can you do in each moment in your practice to find a bit more comfort, a little more ease.  Working towards creating a balanced practice; that that is both ‘work’ (or effort) and ‘comfortable’ (or ease).  We will finish this practice with a restorative posture. Suggested equipment
  • Yoga Mat
  • Several blankets
  • Yoga brick (or a large hardback book)
  • A yoga bolster (if you have one)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 30.04.21 – Feeling a deeper connection to centre

This Yoga Gently class is part one of a series on Finding Presence in our Practice.  In this practice we will explore integration – bring our limbs more into connection with the centre of the body.  How can our ‘centre’ strength/stability help us to find more strength/stability in the limbs of our body? How can the centre support us in moving with more ease and connection?  How can we feel more ‘centred’? Expect gentle movements, some standing practice and some restorative yoga.  This practice has some work on our knees, so if you are working with knee ‘stuff’ or injury please listen to how you are feeling and know there are modifications to find other ways to explore the movements. Suggested equipment
  • Yoga mat
  • Two yoga bricks (if you don’t have them do not worry)
  • Stack of blankets (2-3 or more)
  • Yoga bolster if you have it
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 23.04.21 – Presence in Practice: Heaviness vs. Lightness

This week’s Open Yoga class is class 2 in the series of bringing presence to practice.  Noticing or tracking how the body feels during a yoga session is tricky, throughout this series Ashley will offer you ways to begin to build more awareness, finding simple practices that slow things down and allow more time to be present. This class asks you to draw your attention to two ‘simple’ sensations, heaviness and lightness.  Can you stay present to where you feel or notice sensations of heaviness?  Can you notice where it is lighter?  How can locating heaviness lend itself to feeling stable or strong?  How can drawing your attention to areas that feel light support creating more space or stretch?  Is it possible to just stay with these sensations and that by staying with them find different ways to negotiate moving? What to expect:  checking in and warming up, gentle movement and standing yoga postures, and some restorative yoga to finish. Suggested equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Stack of blankets
  • Cushion
  • Yoga bolster
 
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 16.04.21 – How do we know we’ve arrived?

This Yoga Gently class is part one of a series on Finding Presence in our Practice.  In this practice we will explore how we know when we’re ready to move, or whether we’d prefer to do a little less or a little more – how do we know?  We will attempt to locate a little more space in our bodies in order to move or rest more comfortably. Expect gentle movements, some standing practice and some restorative yoga.  This practice has some work on our knees, so if you are working with knee ‘stuff’ or injury please listen to how you are feeling and know there are modifications to find other ways to explore the movements. Suggested equipment
  • Yoga mat
  • Two yoga bricks (if you don’t have them do not worry)
  • Stack of blankets (2-3 or more)
£7.00

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75 minutes

31.03.21 Open Yoga/ Yoga Gently

In this free class Ashley combines her two weekly classes into one – offering a practice that provides gentle movement for uplift and energy as well as restorative practice for settling and finding ease.  In this class Ashley explores the concept of Sattva which is often translated as ‘perfect balance.’  What might it be to let go of the idea of perfect balance or perfect harmony and allowing the possibility of finding balance/harmony in this moment – in whatever way it might show up. This practice is accessible for Beginner’s with plenty of variations offered to best support you. Suggested equipment:
  • 2 Yoga Bricks (or a stack or two of books)
  • Several blankets
  • Cushions
  • A bolster (if you have one)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 12.03.21 – Uplifting Air Element in our Embodying Nature Series

This week we continue our series on embodying nature in our yoga practice.  You know that feeling when you take a lovely walk in the sunshine?  What if we could capture that at any moment on our mat.  One way of exploring our connection to nature is by exploring our embodied experience of the elements.

Today’s class is a class for embodying the qualities of the air element.  Finding uplift and space within to create a senes of freshness in our practice.   We will be exploring breath in this practice – if it is comfortable – as one source of support and uplift. Expect a gentle warm up locating areas of support through the feet, some standing posture, movement work and breath awareness, followed by a restorative posture. Suggested equipment:
  • Several blankets
£7.00

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75

Yoga Gently 26.02.21 – Connect to earth, the embodying nature series

This week we begin a series on embodying nature in our yoga practice.  You know that feeling when you take a lovely walk in the sunshine?  What if we could capture that at any moment on our mat.  One way of exploring our connection to nature is by exploring our embodied experience of the elements. Today’s class is a class for finding out connection to the ground beneath us.  How does connecting more deeply to the earth below help establish more space, freedom, ease, mobility? Expect a gentle warm up locating areas of support through the feet, some standing posture and movement work followed by a restorative posture. Suggested equipment:
  • Several blankets
  • Two yoga bricks
  • A yoga strap, resistance band or a scarf
  • A bolster
  • A chair
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 12.02.21 – Spinal rotations your way

This is the last class in our series exploring who we can use movement to support our posture.  This class is all about the spinal movement of rotation – sometimes called twisting movements – we will explore how the body forms rotations, not just from the spine but from the feet up.  Finding the rotation of the whole body may allow the twisting shapes we make in yoga more spacious and comfortable.
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 29.01.21 – Connecting to Flow

This class is a chance to ‘go with the flow’ – your flow, a chance to connect to the fluid system that supports movement in your body.  Flow does not have to be moving a ‘specific’ way, it can be connecting to the fluid rhythms (beat of heart, pulse of blood, breath), being present to areas of the body that feel fluid (slide, glide) or expressing fluidly through movements. Expect a class with invitational, a standing gentle flowing sequence, attention to breath (if comfortable), and a restorative posture to finish. Suggested equipment
  • Several blanket
  • Two yoga bricks
  • A bolster (or firm sofa cushion)
  • A cushion/pillow
£7.00

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75

Yoga Gently 22.01.21 – Moving with the breath (and lungs)

This week we continue to explore movements that will help take us out of the ‘stuck’ postures of screen-time.  Moving laterally in the spine, we will explore how the breath and lungs can can help guide our movements and offer support.  This practice aims to be gentle and accessible and includes time in restorative practice. Suggested equipment:
  • two yoga bricks (or a stack of books)
  • a few blankets
  • a bolster or firm sofa cushion
  • a resistance band
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 15.01.21 – Being Led By Comfort

Yoga Gently this week is a continued invitation to be led by comfort – what would it be like if we had the question: ‘is this comfortable,’ guide our movement?  We will be focussing primarily in and around the hips and pelvis as we explore finding space and containment.  Expect a gentle warm up, a gentle standing sequence and a restorative practice to finish. This is a great practice for anyone who has been spending much of their day seated.  A practice for unravelling some of the held tension around the pelvis, hips and sacrum. Equipment that might be helpful
  • Two yoga bricks (sturdy books might work)
  • Two blankets (or more)
  • A cushion
  • A bolster (if you have one or perhaps a stack of blankets or a firm cushion)
  • A resistance band or yoga strap (a scarf will work)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 08.01.21 – A Gentle Start to the New Year

This Yoga Gently class is a gentle return to the mat after our YATB holiday break.  Whether we’ve been practice every day or not at all over the last few weeks, this practice is one for bringing you back into awareness of how your body is feeling RIGHT NOW.  This is the sort of practice you can (and ought to consider) doing every now and again.  Expect gentle movements for the joint spaces, exploration around the head/neck, some stand posture work, finishing with a restorative posture followed by time to relax. Equipment needed:
  • Two yoga bricks (or a couple of hard copy books)
  • Yoga strap or resistance band or long scarf
  • Several blanket for support
  • A yoga bolster or set of firm cushions
  • If you have one a small blue squishy exercises ball sometimes called a pilates ball or a exersoft ball (no worries if you don’t have one of these, though they are readily available online at YogaMatters or Amazon)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 04.12.20 – Working Through Resistance

Yoga Gently’s latest live online class is the start of a new 3-part series called the 3-Rs.  December is a stressful month at the best of times, but this year even more so.  This series is going to help support us is finding space and ease leading up to the holiday season.  We’re kicking the series off with a session on working through resistance.  Sometimes in order to better know ease we have to explore tension, we have to feel our muscles working against something – resisting.  This class will involve bringing some pushing/pulling actions into our yoga postures.  Working through resistance to see what’s on the other side.  Finishing off with a lovely restorative posture for the psoas muscles. Equipment needed
  • Yoga mat
  • blanket
  • Resistance band (ideally a medium (red) theraband or something similar)
  • A few blankets
  • A bolster if you have one
  • Maybe a cushion or two
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 20.11.20 – Finding Balance

This is the 6th session in our series on embodying resilience.  In this class we will explore balance.  At the moment there is a lot of polarity around – hot/cold, dark/light, right/wrong . . . so it’s not surprising that there is also a lot out there about finding the ‘perfect balance’ somewhere smack in the centre of these two things.  But what if we are always seeking balance?  What if the body is in constant search for equanimity – always looking to seek harmony?  In this sense we can find balance in many places – not just in the centre of two polarities.  Not just in standing on one leg without wobbling. Expect: gentle movements, some gentle yoga stand postures and finishing with some restorative yoga. Equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Blankets (the more the merrier)
  • Cushion
  • Two yoga bricks (or a couple of hard copy books about the same size)
  • A yoga bolster if you have one (or perhaps a firm sofa cushion)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 06.11.20 – Integrating to Centre

This is our fourth class in the Embodying Resilience series and we move now to the very centre of ourselves.  When the world around us feels uncertain and chaotic, there are some places we can come to in the body that can act as an anchor, a place of strength and stability.  In a way we are getting to the ‘core’ of things in this class. In this class we will explore how to integrate our limbs to our centre – creating movements that expand from centre and gather towards centre.  As well as how to soften at our centres through restorative postures.  With an aim of feeling more connected, more integrated, more whole. Equipment:
  • Yoga mat
  • Blanket (several)
  • Cushion
  • Bolster
  • Two bricks (hard copy books)
  • Yoga strap (or a scarf)
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 23.10.20 A Heart Led Practice

This week’s Yoga Gently class is the 3rd is our series exploring embodied resilience.  One place within our body that is always busy working is our heart; connecting to the blood-filled aliveness of this organ offers another way to see how our body supports us.  The area of the body where the heart and lungs reside is also a very spacious area of the body, taking our attention to this area can open us to the spaciousness within, to a sense of abundance.  Expect a class with attention to the muscles of the upper body, warmth and a bit of work to get a sense of blood pumping.  We will finish with a restorative posture to focus on the spaciousness of the ribcage area.  This practice includes mindful strength and so a light resistance band will be useful.
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 16.10.20 Rebounding

This Yoga Gently practice is the second in our series on Embodying Resilience.  In this practice we will explore the movement pattern of Rebound, finding that little bit of bounce, spring and return from actively yielding.  What happens when we notice the subtle return that occurs every time we actively give weight to the ground?  How does finding a little spring in our simple, gently movements allow us to move more efficiently and with more ease?  And how can these moments of exploring Rebound in the body support us in finding this quality off the mat? For this practice you might want several blankets or a bolster and possible a brick or yoga block.
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 02.10.20 A Practice for Seeking Space

This week’s yoga gently class is a class for locating space when things feel restrictive.  Sometimes when we are feeling tight or ?? it can be helpful to locate spacious areas of the body. How can we use our yoga practice to support ourselves in gaining more of a sense of freedom, space and opportunity.  This practice focuses on the thoracic spine ‘space’ thinking about how we can use this area of the body to explore a sense of spaciousness, openness and movement – which may support us in locating these things off the mat.  The yoga gently format has us slowly warming up, doing a few standing postures/movements and then finishing with some restorative yoga.
£7.00

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75 minutes

Yoga Gently 25.09.20 A Simplifying Practice

This week’s yoga gently was an opportunity to keep things simple.  Continuing with the transitioning series, this class looks at how simplifying can bring us great stability during moments of great change.  Seeking out movements to be as easy and simple as possible in a given moment can support finding more clarity in our bodies and perhaps in the choices we make regarding movement.
£7.00

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75 Minutes

Strength Comes In Many Forms

A class for connecting to and creating strength in the body. Possible props needed (but if you do not have them, do not worry, you can still practice):
  • Yoga mat
  • Several blankets
This is a class for considering how we find stability can create an overall sense of containment and strength in our bodies.  This class will look at ways to move that feel safe, stable and strong – staying within a range of motion that feels strong and supportive (particularly in our joint-spaces).  Though our practice we will be reminded that strength is defined in many ways in the body, just like both the oak tree and the willow tree are strong in their own ways.
£7.00

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75 Minutesa

Managing Transitions

A class to support the ever-tricky transition when changing from one thing to the next (be it a yoga posture or a life change). Possible props needed (but if you do not have them, do not worry, you can still practice):
  • Yoga mat
  • Several blankets
How can placing our intention on the space in between in our practice support us in times of great change and unrest?  When we slow things down, we might better understand how we’ve gotten to where we are.  What happens when you pause in those in-between places?  What do you become aware of?  How do you initiate movement to travel forward to the next shape/sequence?  In these spaces between maybe you will hear your body a little more clearly, guiding you to the right place for you to be in this moment.
£7.00

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75 Minutes

Noticing The Ground Beneath

A  grounding practise created to support deeper more aware connections to the ground beneath us. Possible props needed (but if you do not have them, do not worry, you can still practice):
  • Yoga mat
  • Several blankets
  • Two yoga bricks
  • Chair (or edge of a bed, sofa etc.)
As we become more aware of the support that the ground provides we are often more able to find space and uplift throughout the body.  Using the concepts of yield to find areas of rebound in the body, moving with more efficiency, spring, vitality and alertness.  The ground can both be a place of support and surrender as well as a place from which we can lift upward, finding more abundance.
£7.00

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