For those of you who don’t know I was diagnosed in 2022 with Fibromyalgia, it is a condition I have had for many years without knowing the diagnoses or cause of all my symptoms with debilitating flair up’s at different times of my life. Some of the more debilitating symptoms include chronic fatigue, and full body chronic pain, It really has had a phenomenal impact on my once very dynamic physical yoga practice, taking me from a strong athletic practitioner to a disabled practitioner.
My self practices at the moment are very rehabilitative, gentle and restorative and I would like to share them with you.
Sorry the quality of this recording isn’t very good I intend to record it again at some point soon so watch this space…
Information for you if you want to join in with me
This 55 minute practice is for anyone who can get up and down from the floor but who can’t tolerate lots of poses or too much intensity or fire in their practice, and who need to gently work around deep fatigue and pain and understandable resistance due to fatigue and pain. It is a slow and restorative session and might suit you if you are experiencing chronic fatigue, ME, fibromyalgia, post viral fatigue, long covid, burnout, hormonal imbalances and/or depression.
Before you start, gather your bolsters (if you have them), warm clothing, blankets, pillows and cushions. If you don’t have bolsters, you can use rolled up blankets, pillows and cushions to support your postures. If you can, practice close to a sofa or bed or sturdy piece of furniture that won’t slide away if you lean against it
CLASS SEQUENCE
Warm Up
Opening mantras - Neck and shoulder rolls - Sitting gentle twist and lateral reach - Supported relaxation pose
Inversion
Supported leg and hip inversion against the sofa
Supported leg and hip inversion with bolsters
Supported fish with bolsters
Forward Bend
Wide leg forward bend with bolsters
Final Relaxation
Savasana - relaxation pose with bolsters
A Little Back Story
For the record below are a series of images of me from my practice in 2004, almost 20 years ago. I share these images below for a number of reasons, I am very proud of myself. It was an amazing time of life where I felt like a super person physically and mentally. It was the result of years of practice and a strong commitment to yoga. This period of time gave my body such strong tangible cellular memories of the asanas that I am able to teach them with sensitivity, knowledge and personal experience years later. This was a time well before selfies and smart phones, and these are literally the only photographs I possess of this time of my life and the only external proof of a burried practice.
Another less personal reason I share these is that so many students say to me I used to be so strong in yoga and I find it so demoralising that I can no longer do it that I stop coming.
And I want you to know, you are NOT ALONE.
