What the Class Members Say - Part 7

Feel like starting yoga, but not sure?  Have a read of what my class members say.  I've not published one of these for a while, but it's always lovely to hear about personal yoga stories...this was kindly filled in by one of my Tuesday class members. 





1. How long have you been practicing yoga?

I attended my first yoga class on October 7th 2014 with my friend Gail, we had been thinking about it for a while.

2.       What do you feel you get out of your yoga practice? 

I benefit massively from an hour of yoga both physically and mentally, I feel relaxed and chilled out and a lot less stressed.  I have a bad knee and I am able to do yoga without pain.

 

3.       How do you feel your life has changed since you have been doing a regular yoga practice?

My posture is better than it was and I particularly benefit from the breathing techniques which I use on a daily basis in my very stressful job.  A good nights sleep!

 

4.       What is your favourite posture and why?

I love child's pose - I feel safe, relaxed and warm.  I also love cobra and sphinx - they are my new dance moves at friend's nights in.

 

5.       What would you say to someone who is thinking about attending yoga for the first time and a little afraid to take that first step?

Don't hesitate - just come along and see for yourself the great benefits you will achieve.  The class is a nice mixture of males and females of various ages and no one is competitive - yoga is not like that.  Claire is a delightful teacher and whatever your ailments - this can be accommodated.  I wish there was a class every day, I would be there.  Claire is twelve out of ten - thank you.

 

Questions kindly answered by one of our Tuesday class members, who recently began her yoga journey.  A joy to read - thank you Julia Nolan x 

 

Be selfish and help others...?

In a week's time I am off to give blood again, I know loads of people do this and I am not looking for a pat on the back for this as I only started giving blood again about 2 years ago, after a long break of about 20 years!  I kept meaning to do it but there was always something else which took priority.

Now I am back into the habit of it and of course I have some available time to do it now the kids are both at school.  I am now part of the Interval Study which is looking at whether it is safe for people to donate more regularly than the current system which is every 4 months for females, so I am going every 3 months and so far I feel fine.  See details here:  http://www.blood.co.uk/donor-information/

There is something so personal about giving blood, there is something more to it than giving money to charity (which of course is a great thing to do if you can)  It seems such a simple thing to do but I get such a rewarding feeling, like I am giving something of myself (which in a way is exactly what we are doing when we give blood)  all it takes is giving up a bit of time, and you get a biscuit and drink after!!  Which I confess was the original reason why I did it over 20 years ago, that and also having half an hour out of work as I worked for the NHS at the time and they allowed us time to go and donate!  I like to think I am a little less selfish now and a bit less biscuit orientated!  But having said that I have heard a saying that the most selfish thing you can do is help someone else - as we get so many personal benefits from a simple act of giving or helping.  An interesting article here about this very subject -http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/kindness_makes_you_happy_and_happiness_makes_you_kind/

If you don't already donate but think it is something you could do, then see the Blood Donor website and check if you are eligible, it is painless and the staff have always been so lovely and grateful.  I have also met some amazing people at the donor centres who have been donating for many, many years and quietly do so without the need to go on about it in a blog!! ;)

www.yogiclaire.com

Meditating on Tinnitus!

I have had tinnitus on and off for the last 20+ years, it is thought to be part of my vestibular migraine condition.

I can remember first becoming aware of it and wondering how the hell I could carry on with this incessant whistling and whooshing in my ear.  The more frustrated I got the louder the tinnitus became - as if mocking me.  It kind of took on a life of it's own.  Around this time I went to Milan on a business trip (just working on an exhibition stand - so not as glamorous as it sounds!) and I remember the sheer effort and energy it took to really hear people over the sound in my ear.  I wondered how I could go on with this annoying sound always there.  There were some occasions when I thought I might go mad.  Luckily for me after a few months the sound subsided a little (or maybe I just got used to them) and I was able to go about my daily life without it troubling me too much.   But over the years it has returned on many occasions - sometimes very loud and staying with me for months on end.

Now I have a regular yoga and meditation practice I do find it easier to deal with, when the sound is there, it's just there.  I can interpret that sound as annoying or upsetting but that is my choice.....or I can think to myself, it is a sound my brain is perceiving, it is not going to kill me.  I even use the sound sometimes as an anchor for my awareness when in meditation, much like I use my breath as focus for awareness. Using the Tibetan singing bowls has also helped me feel like I have some sort of control over it.

The lessons I learnt from this were to change my own perceptions - I don't have a choice about the tinnitus - it is there most of the time, but I can control my response to it.  I can soften my shoulders, slow my breathing and listen with interest to what sound it decides to be today!  I think this technique can be applied to many situations in life, so maybe you don't have an annoying sound in your ear - maybe you have an annoying person/situation in your life.  You can be in control of your response to them.......you have the choice.......

I have also found some relief using a product called Hush Tinnitus, these are sounds which you can download and listen to in order to gain relief both whilst listening and for some people the effect lasts for some time after. Binaural beats are also a useful tool - there are many on You Tube which you may want to have a listen to (with headphones)

I know there are millions of people who also experience this condition, so I hope this post has helped some of those people realise that they have control over their response to it (and to everything)

www.yogiclaire.com

Parent & Toddler Yoga - lessons learnt....

I started my Parent and Toddler yoga class in September 2013, it's been chaos, fun, enlightening, relaxing, rewarding, exhilarating and down right knackering (especially when I am being a jumping bean or a penguin) but mainly it has been a wonderful learning experience.  Yes this is going to be an overly emotional and gushing post but I'm like that when it comes to little kids....

We all know that children are unique and special in their own way but witnessing them develop and grow within the yoga class setting has been a revelation.  When it's our own children we are aware of their development but oftentimes we can become so bogged down with the day to day stuff we forget to sit back and marvel at how amazing they are.  In my classes I have been able to observe with more of an objective eye as these aren't my own children.

When I used to take my boys to classes (and we went to so many - baby signing, baby yoga, rhythm and rhyme time, the list goes on)  I was always very focused on my children and what they were or weren't doing, sometimes marvelling at how outgoing some kids were and how fearless of strangers they seemed to be (while mine would hide their faces and cling to my leg!)  But actually there are many kids who are not loud and gregarious, I have seen them in my yoga classes, but when you are the Mum you tend to only focus on your own kids and the ones who are different - because the contrast is so stark.

But with a little care and gentle attention those quieter ones who don't want to join in everything, slowly begin to trust and start little by little to let their guard down.  In all yoga classes there is no competition and this is true of a kids class too, it's fine to watch and take everything in and then try it out at home or quietly on the mat when the other kids are singing and dancing.  I really hope that the children who have attended the classes have gained something that they can take through the rest of their lives, I hope a little seed has been planted in them so that they will continue their yoga or come back to it many years down the line.

I am still working with boosting the confidence of my own children, using mindfulness techniques, yoga and a little bit of Buddhist philosophy thrown in as they seem to be the sort of kids that will really benefit from this approach - both are over thinkers like their Mother!!

Yoga is great for everybody but if you have a child who seems to be lacking in confidence and tends to hang back and not join in, then a children's yoga class could really help them.  Most areas have some sort of children's yoga classes locally and if not, there are some amazing videos on You Tube.  Check out Cosmic Kids Yoga, one of the kids yoga training courses I did was with Cosmic Kids Yoga and they really are captivating stories, that younger children really get involved with.  Click the link to check it out -  Cosmic Kids Yoga

For more details about my classes for both adults and children see www.yogiclaire.com

Instigating Change....

I blog a lot about things changing and the impermanence of everything, it seems relevant every single day of our  lives.  Sometimes 'things' just change organically but other times we need to be intelligent and proactive and instigate these changes for the good of our health and to benefit those around us.

My personal yoga practice has changed massively over the last 6 months for various reasons.  I have blogged about my dreaded migraines, so this has affected my practice and I have been having some physio to help my neck pain which could possibly be linked to the migraine problem.

After the first physio session I felt completely and utterly deflated as she told me how stiff my neck and upper back were, my reaction was so ego driven it was untrue - what me?? A yoga practitioner with a stiff neck/back - how can it be??  But then when I started to think about all the stuff I have done in the past which have contributed to my neck issues it's hardly surprising I am experiencing neck troubles now, things like driving 6 hours straight without a break, swimming breast stroke with my head out of the water, head-banging in rock clubs(I kid you not!) and also a life long habit of sleeping in a prone position (not good apparently)  My physio advised me to lay off the headstands for a while, so it has been about 2 months since I have been into a headstand, at first I was itching to do it because I have been doing different headstand variations most days for many years.  So there I was facing up to my ridiculous attachment to a yoga posture......again!

It has given me time to embrace other aspects of the practice, my meditation times have increased, and I have been using some healing mantras which are amazingly therapeutic and soothing.  My physical practice has become more like the yoga which I teach, which is gentle, nurturing and with an occasional invitation to challenge.  My balance has been very difficult due to the dizziness and complete deafness in one ear but each day I try to practice at least one balance posture and have no expectation of a result and I think it is improving.

As time goes on everything will change, kids grow up, people die, shit happens and yoga practice changes whether we like it or not, it's when we become resistant to change that problems arise.  If we are too attached to anything including our yoga practice - then we suffer.

I recently attended an amazing pranayama workshop with Pranayama Master Sri O.P.Tiwari and he told a story about attachments which really resonated with me:

'There once was a dedicated yogi who was told by his teacher that if he practiced each and everyday for 3 hours that he would eventually meet with God.  So for many years he practiced diligently, one day there was a knock on the door - it was God "just wait a minute" he shouted "I've only done one hour of practice - I haven't finished yet!"

He had become so attached to the practice itself he had lost sight of what he was doing it for!  This can happen so often in our lives - we miss the bigger picture, we can become obsessed with the minutiae of life.

So whether change happens outside of our control or whether we need to instigate it ourselves, we need to accept it as an inevitable part of life, let's have a flexible mind and allow ourselves to be carried along with the flow but gently guiding that flow if we need to......


www.yogiclaire.com

When Worlds Collide....

I attended the Yoga Show with my Mum in Manchester today.  There were several reasons for wanting to attend but I had a few reservations about going as I thought maybe I would see some things as 'not really yoga'  I worry a bit about how commercial yoga has become - about how it is portrayed that you need these clothes and that accessory to practice yoga, when really all you need is your body and an open mind, some would argue that you 'need' a mat but I have practiced many times without one.

I found myself being drawn in by some of the stuff  "oh wow I really need another Ganesh statue" that kind of thing.....which was a bit disconcerting as I am always trying to de-clutter and simplify my life, but that's marketing for you, I should know I studied it and worked in a sales and marketing role for over 12 years.  In fact that was one of the other reasons I wanted to attend, because I spent a considerable amount of time in my 'old job' working on exhibition stands both in the UK and also abroad and I can remember all the hard work I had to do to get a sale!!  I wanted to experience what it was like to be a visitor to an exhibition.  I know it's not quite the same thing because the industry is very different, but it sort of feels like a conflict, yoga and sales/marketing - but I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that yoga is big business and I suppose I am part of it. 

Another reason for going was to see my Mum's reaction to everything there, she has taught yoga for over 30 years and I am fascinated by what she thinks of the yoga world in 2014.  But she took everything in and liked some stuff and wasn't keen on other stuff - but just let it all go.  She didn't get annoyed by anything she saw.   We both loved the Iyengar demo as it was very professional and to the point and we both stocked up on teas and coconut water - because we like it - not because it will make us better yogis!!

So - it is what it is - my old world of sales and marketing colliding with my yoga world and I have to accept that some of it is not for me and some of it is wonderful and exciting.  So all in all we had a lovely morning of mooching round the show, people watching while we had our lunch, and maybe even thinking about attending next year.


www.yogiclaire.com

What if....we stopped worrying?

I used to be a habitual 'what-if-er'  Planning for all eventualities in most things, I suppose it is a need for control - driven by fear.  In fact most negative emotions seem to have their root in fear.  When I was doing my Sales job over 10 years ago, I used to plan my trips meticulously - ridiculously in fact.  I mean it's all very well being organised but when I did my regular trips over to Ireland I would have a whole folder full of schedules planned out for each day, allowing time for being stuck in traffic (or being stuck behind a herd of cattle on the rural Irish roads!)  I do remember one time factoring so much extra time when driving from Shannon up to Belfast, I ended up 4 hours early for an appointment.  I had breakfasted alone in the hotel restaurant as it wasn't officially open at 5.30am (they made a special arrangement, the Irish hoteliers are very accommodating)  This was all rooted in the fear of being late for an appointment and being labelled as unprofessional.

I am not such a control freak anymore, I am pleased to say.  This has been a by-product of my yoga practice and also of being a parent.  But last week I was shocked to wake up to one of my migraines, just opened my eyes and the room was spinning.  This had nothing to do with wine as I am now virtually t-total!  My eyes were doing that weird side to side thing - the medical name for it is nystagmus.  I was due to look after my sister's kids as well as my own and also due to teach a class in the evening.  So my husband worked from home and my Mum (who always comes to my rescue) came round to help while I was alternately lying in bed and being sick......but all the while I was 'what-iffing'  I was due to teach a workshop the following Saturday which was fully booked and all I could think was - 'what if I wake up on Saturday morning and am dizzy like this??'  I struggled to drag my carcass into the bathroom, never mind lead a workshop.  So then I thought OK - what would I actually do?  I would arrange for someone to put a sign on the door of the venue or better still get them to stay at the venue and tell people what had happened, I am sure people would be a bit disappointed at having their time wasted, but I am certain they would understand.  Also the alternative would be never to organise any workshops at all, just in case I had a migraine, so by that token - better stop teaching altogether.......best just sit at home waiting for another migraine to come.  Obviously that is not a way to live a life and as it turned out - the migraine passed within about  3 hours and I was actually able to teach the class on the same evening.  The workshop went ahead as planned, with no drama and I thoroughly enjoyed teaching it.

Sometimes we all make a big deal about small things and have a tendency to worry about things that will never happen.  Best to just stay with the moment and then worry about it when stuff actually does go wrong.  Worrying can be such a waste of precious time, energy and of life.........

www.yogiclaire.com

A Yoga-versary!!

I can't quite believe it has been 3 years since I started the Thursday evening yoga class at Sale Moor Methodist Church.  I can remember going to the church to have a look at the room - not sure why I needed to, as I am so familiar with the church.  I went to playgroup and Brownies there and also both of my sons went to playgroup there.  I had my 9th Birthday party there, in the cellar with my Dad playing DJ!!  Anyway, right from the start it seemed like it was meant to be, round the corner from my house is so very convenient - especially as my youngest child was only about 18 months old and I still wanted to feed and put him to bed before leaving the house to teach the class!

The room is perfect for yoga, it has a calm and serene feel to it - some of the ladies of the congregation sew banners for the walls which change with the seasons and with the religious festivals and they are so beautiful to look at whether you're a spiritual or religious person or not.  I remember one evening when I was having a bit of a tough time as we all do - I looked up and the banner that was there said "Do not fear, I am always with you"  it really seemed like a message meant for me, I saw it as a message from all the friends and family I have lost over the years, but also a message from my Mum who I have a bit of a psychic connection with.  She often says "I was thinking of you...." if I am going through anything difficult, even back in my school days doing exams she would send me positive vibes and it really helped to know she was thinking of me!  ( I think she gets a bit embarrassed when I reference her in my blog - so sorry Mum!!)

So here we are, 3 years down the line and I hope I have gone some way to achieving what I set out to achieve, non-intimidating, community yoga classes which are affordable, where everyone feels welcome and where we all look out for each other.  No-one cares what clothes you wear, what mat you have, what job you do, or how far you go into a posture......we are all there just to do our yoga.  A coming together of like minded people.

Of course this is another excuse for me to bake!! So we will have some very rustic chocolate drizzled gingerbread yogis to take home from the class this evening - just my little thank you to everyone who supports the classes.  It is down to you and your dedication that the classes can keep running.

The Thursday class is one of several I teach in the area - see my website for details:  www.yogiclaire.com

Challenges, Backbends and Suffering......

Well it's been a rum old month so far - and we're only half way through, I feel like I have been sent some challenges to deal with and am doing my best with all the tools available to me.

I have already blogged about the return of the dreaded migraine - I won't bore you with more tales of that little incident!

I also tried to go dairy free for 3 weeks - that was about 2 weeks ago and have slipped up so many time I just can't tell you!  It is so much harder than I thought it would be.  It's fine having hazelnut milk on porridge and in coffee and I can manage without cheese, also discovered M&S walnut loaf is infinitely more delicious than the Cheese Boule.  But it's the hidden dairy that seems to be in everything that makes it so difficult, like milk in shop bought mayonnaise!  The key here really is not to eat any processed food at all - because chances are it contains dairy in some form or other.  Now it's not been the end of the world for me if I have something that contains dairy because I am not lactose intolerant, I have been trying to eliminate dairy to see if the hormones in the milk are what cause my acne (yes - another long-standing health issue)  Anyway it is back to square one on the dairy free diet and  I have a new found sympathy for anyone who is lactose intolerant.

I realise that these things are not major problems in the grand scheme of things.  Coincidentally I am coming to the end of my course in Buddhism and I feel I have a more complete understanding of the idea that being a human involves a fair bit of suffering and once we are awakened to this fact then paradoxically in the knowledge of that, we relieve our own suffering.  Having this understanding has made me more stoic in light of some recent challenges, some of which I have not blogged about!

On another note - I have been taking part in the Backbendmadness2014 challenge on social media, doing a different backbend every day.  I was so undecided whether to take part in this as I knew there would be some glamorous and amazing photos of lovely people in perfect postures probably on a beach somewhere.  But then I thought sod it, be the change you want to see, and have been doing the backbends and photographing them and posting on Twitter.  Most of the postures have been done straight after my own practice at home so no time to clear away the Lego and I think my youngest child's sick bowl has made it onto one of the pictures (empty you will be relieved to know)  So my pictures are quite clearly of a busy Mum on the wrong side of 40 trying her best to improve her yoga, in the hope that someone might see it and think 'If she can have a go then so can I!'  By the way, I think I missed day 3 crescent moon - as this was the day of the dreaded migraine!

So here is hoping that the second half of the month is fairly ordinary and uneventful.....and hopefully there is nothing much to blog about at the end of the month apart from how great tedium is!!

www.yogiclaire.com

Migraine time again......

Sometimes we tick along happily in our lives taking our health for granted, I certainly do anyway.  But then something will happen and make you stop and take stock.  For me it is migraines, these weird episodes can take on many forms and most people assume it is a 'bad' headache.  For me there is no headache and for that I am blessed, but I go dizzy and I am violently sick - this is usually preceded by a few weeks (sometimes months) of hearing loss and tinnitus.

My latest episode came as a bit of a surprise - I had not had a migraine for 2 years (almost to the day) and have been taking a small amount of medication to keep them under control, and it seemed to be working.  But I had been experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus for a few weeks and then suddenly yesterday - on a beautiful early spring afternoon I was struck down with a real hum dinger of a migraine.  The fact I was walking my boys home from school was slightly inconvenient but I managed to get us all safely back home.  My head was spinning and I could feel a heavy, cold feeling in the pit of my stomach - all I wanted to do was to lie down.....Then the vomiting begins, it's quite violent and my whole body feels like it's turning inside out (sorry if that is too graphic!)  So I lay down and proceeded to turn ice cold - my eyes burning with even the dimmest of lights.

My poor kids just left me to it - all the time I was worrying about my early evening yoga class which I was due to teach in less than 2 hours......a quick and slightly incoherent phone call to my Mum (also a yoga teacher) resulted in her coming to my rescue again and covering for me.  Another garbled phone call to my husband who valiantly dropped everything at work and came home and took charge.  I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have such a great support network to help me out.

Well true to form after 2 and half hours of lying completely still with my eyes closed I started to come out of it - feeling like I had run a marathon (migraines can leave you feeling incredibly tired)  Also feeling guilty about letting my class members down - although they were in the hands of an amazing teacher...

Then I remembered something I had read in a Yin Yoga book - it said something about our lives can sometimes become too Yang in nature and then something happens and the example they gave was that we may be sent the 'gift of a migraine'.  When I read that I thought "Ha - bloody gift - that has to be a joke".  But actually it was saying that these things may happen to us as a warning to slow down, to create more Yin in our lives.  It also made me reflect on the fact that I have had 2 whole years of being migraine free and how much I took that time for granted.  Not to mention being grateful for this amazing network of people I have around me to help me out, because when you run your own business it's simply not possible to ring in sick and I absolutely hate letting people down.

So while I struggle a bit to think of a migraine as a 'gift' - I can see it as a timely reminder to take time out, to slow down (both my actions and my thinking) 

www.yogiclaire.com

Handstand anyone??

There is an abundance of yoga 'selfies' involving the handstand.  It has been drip feeding into my consciousness for a while now and I have always been a bit of a handstander over the years but not a very accomplished one (sometimes during my teens and twenties they were wine induced handstands - not very sensible!) Weirdly I mainly 'handstand' in the Summer, just as I did when I was a child.  Simply because we spent so much time outdoors and it seemed natural to try and stand on my hands, knowing there was a soft grassy blanket beneath me when I inevitably fell down!!  I suppose you could say I have been a 'fair weather hand-stander'.

There seems to be an obsession with handstands on social media and at the risk of climbing on the bandwagon of handstands, I have been doing some Winter handstands indoors, mainly with the safety net of a wall behind me.  But as usual the nagging thought in my mind is 'why are you doing it?  Is it because you have seen so many yogis and yoginis flipping up in the air and showing their own practice? Is it your ego rearing it's head yet again - taunting you to practice?'  But the other part of me says 'No, I just feel great upside down, yes it's pretty tiring and seems to expend an amazing amount of energy but it gives me a feeling of strength both physically and emotionally'

There is also another feeling of flipping everything upside down, so when negative thoughts creep in a few kicks up to the wall and I have soon got myself out of my head and into my body.  There is something liberating and freeing about doing it - maybe it's because it reminds me of being a kid again.  I was never any good at team games and competitive stuff, I just didn't care enough about winning to really try - but I always loved standing on my hands and on my head and doing cartwheels.  It's probably just a way to play and have fun - so maybe I'm not really doing 'yoga' when I am doing it, but that is a discussion for another day.......I think I'll stick with it as long as I am having fun and try not to analyse my reasons for doing it!!

The first photo is me aged about 9 years and the second photo is about 30 years later!

 

 

www.yogiclaire.com

Whimsical Nun's Prayer(17th Century)..for grumpy times!

Yesterday I found myself in a grumpy mood, no explanation for it really.  Just felt decidedly grumpy.  Maybe I am on the slippery slope to becoming a grumpy old woman I thought - but it reminded me of a reading that my Mum gave to me and it prompted me to scrabble about amongst my yoga papers to find it.  I'm not sure who originally wrote this piece or even if it was really written in the seventeenth century.  It is just a photocopied sheet that my Mum sometimes reads out in her yoga classes and I have occasionally read in my classes.  I love the whimsical, slightly tongue in cheek tone to it, but it does deliver quite a poignant message.  Needless to say - my grumpy mood lifted, and I resolved never to turn into a grumpy old woman, maybe a slightly batty, eccentric one - but never, ever grumpy!!  Enjoy.......

"Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old.  Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.  Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.  Make me thoughtful, but not moody: helpful but not bossy.  With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details, give me wings to get to the point.  Seal my lips on my aches and pains, they are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.  I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other's pains but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-surety when my memory seems to clash with others.  Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may have been mistaken!

Keep me reasonably sweet.  I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with.....but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.  Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give me O'Lord the grace to tell them so!
Amen"

www.yogiclaire.com

Lion’s Breath – A Yogic Breathing Exercise for Adults and Kids

Children naturally love doing yoga, they may not call it yoga, they may never have heard of yoga, but just observe them when they are playing.  Often sitting in hero’s pose – rolling over into plough pose, handstands and headstands – it is in their nature to move around and stretch and do yoga.  It is great to harness this natural ability from a young age and to encourage and stimulate your child’s imagination.  You can take them to classes or even buy a simple children’s yoga book.  Most of the postures take their names from animals anyway so this really appeals to children.

We can even encourage children to get involved in breathing exercises – a simple game of pretending to blow up a balloon – or to breathe on their hands and see if they can make the breath hot or cold, whatever they find fun.  What most children really love to do is lion’s breath, unlike some adults who can sometimes feel self-conscious, silly or just plain embarrassed.  It is useful for adults to try to forget their ego and just have a go – it is really worth it for all the benefits it brings.

The benefits of this technique are wonderful – the Sanskrit name for this technique is Simhasana or sometimes Simhagarjanasana which means ‘roaring lion’. 

Instructions for doing Lion’s breath:

1.     Relax the whole body.

2.    Inhale through the nose with the mouth closed,

3.    At the end of the inhalation open the mouth and extend the tongue out as far as possible to the chin and slowly exhale producing a steady ‘aaaaa’ sound keeping the throat wide.  There should be no strain or force.

4.    Repeat for several rounds.

You don’t need such specific instructions for children – just get them to copy you.  It can also be incorporated into a game or a story. 

The benefits of this breathing exercise (for both adults and children) are as follows:

1.     Great for the health of the throat, nose, ears and mouth especially if done facing the healing rays of the early morning sun.  It helps to increase blood flow to the throat area so can provide instant relief for sore throats.

2.    Helps to release emotional tension and relieves frustration – this can be an invaluable tool for children with hot tempers.

3.    Tension is removed from the chest and diaphragm.

4.    Wonderful for people who stutter or who are introverted and nervous.

5.    Helps to develop a strong, clear voice.

6.    Balances energy in the throat chakra – which can help with issues of communication and expression.

For adult practitioners of yoga this is traditionally done in a kneeling position with knees apart and leaning forward with palms on the floor with fingers pointing towards the body, the arms are straightened and the back arched.  When doing this with kids it can be done in a simple kneeling position or even standing, with children’s yoga the emphasis needs to be on fun and enjoyment without worries about traditional practice or specific alignment of the body.  As long as the child is safe and happy then that is the priority!

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Kitchari Recipe - to get you through the Winter!

We all feel a bit lacking in energy during the Winter months and if you are like me then you might feel attracted to comfort food.  But instead of reaching for some buttery mashed potato butties (completely carbtastic but can make you feel a bit sluggish for the rest of the day) why not have a go at Kitchari.  This is my new signature dish - makes the house fragrant and wonderful.

As a bonus you can actually help soothe and cleanse the digestive tract with this combo of ingredients, it is an Ayurvedic recipe and if juice cleanses are not your thing (and they are not mine - done too many extreme diets in this lifetime!) this can be a really great way to boost energy levels and feelings of well-being without feeling deprived.  You can eat this for breakfast, lunch or dinner - or all three if you really like it. 

Recipes vary wildly - so here is mine which I have modified from several recipes I found online (as usual I have trouble following recipes exactly!)

Kitchari

2 tablespoons of coconut oil (the original recipe said ghee but coconut oil has so many health benefits and gives a lovely background flavour)
Half a cup of split yellow peas (soak these for a few hours or overnight)
One cup of brown basmati rice (the Tilda one is very good - worth paying a bit more for the rice as good quality rice makes a really great Kitchari)
4-6 cups of water - depending on how moist you want it to be
6-7 cups of mixed veg (I love cauliflower, broccoli, green beans)
2 inch piece of ginger - minced
1 Tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
Half teaspoon of ground coriander
Half teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Half a teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon of Himalayan salt or sea salt

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan
2. Add the mustard seeds until they start to pop, then add the ginger and spices but not the salt at this point.
3. Add the rice and the yellow peas.
4. Slowly start to add the water.
5. Add the veg and bring to boil.
6. Cover and let simmer for 45 minutes - keep an eye on it and add more water if it looks like its becoming dry.
7.  Add the salt at the very end - I know it seems like a lot of salt but this recipe makes many portions.

This is a great recipe and you can change the proportions of spices and add other things like lentils or mung beans (this is very traditional but I couldn't get hold of mung beans in the town where I live!)
Just make it to your taste - some roasted sweet potato and a large spoonful of coconut milk makes it a more indulgent, rich dish but still healthy.  Try it - I am sure you will love it!

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The Workshop and the Recipe!

In that lull between Christmas and New Year I ran a detox and revive yoga workshop, there was such a fantastic turn out and I think a bit of time out to recharge the batteries was just what everyone needed.  It was a lovely sunny morning and I could sense the positivity in the room.

I am sure everyone enjoyed the yoga and I hope everyone appreciated an introduction to some things we don't cover in class, as well as some of the usual pranayama and asana practice.  What was really overwhelming was the response to the time we spent after class having tea and fruit and some of my seeded bites (recipe below) It was a lovely gathering of like minded individuals, there was such a strong community feel about the whole occasion.  Many people have asked for the recipe, so here goes....

It is loosely based on a recipe from one of the River Cottage Handbooks but of course I always have a compulsion to change any recipe I attempt!!

125g butter (coconut oil is a great substitute for those wanting dairy free)
70g soft brown sugar
100g honey
150ml of any fresh fruit juice - think orange for sweetness or maybe cranberry for a sharper taste
Zest of an orange
200g porridge oats
125g mix of seeds (I used flax seed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
150g mixed dried fruit (tailor this to your own taste - I love sour cherries and cranberries)

Preheat the oven to 180degrees/gas 4.  Put the butter/oil, honey, fruit juice and orange zest in a large saucepan over a low heat and stir time to time until the everything has melted together.
Remove from the heat, add the oats, fruit and seeds and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a greased and lined baking tin (18x25cm or what ever you have) Press down lightly.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.
This bit is really important - LET IT COOL BEFORE YOU SLICE AND REMOVE FROM TIN AS IT IS VERY CRUMBLY!!
These will keep in an airtight tin for up to 10 days but there is no way they will last that long as everyone will devour them!!

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What The Class Members say.......Part 6

1. How long have you been practicing yoga?

Most recently for 3 years.  I had previously practiced yoga for a period of 5 years.

2.       What do you feel you get out of your yoga practice? 

I learn the art of relaxation so in times of stress or anxiety I can call upon the techniques.  I also learn to control my breathing which helps me to maintain the postures.  I enjoy the small improvements I have made particularly in posture and suppleness.
 

3.       How do you feel your life has changed since you have been doing a regular yoga practice?

A sense of wellbeing because I am aware of my improving ability to relax and keep supple.
 

4.       What is your favourite posture and why?
 

My favourite posture is warrior as I feel strong, grounded and well stretched.  My second favourite is sphinx which is a great back stretch.
 

5.       What would you say to someone who is thinking about attending yoga for the first time and a little afraid to take that first step?

Come along and try it.  Everyone works to their own level.  There is no competition to reach a particular standard.  There are lots of variations of postures for varying abilities.  You will find you are better at some postures than others.  Give it a good few weeks or months before you decide if it is for you as each week is different.

 

Questions kindly answered by another one of our regular class attendees who hardly ever misses a session!  Thanks to Katy Wride x

 

 

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