I plan to rest and heal this year
and I would love you to join me.
What happens when we take competition and goal achievement out of our practice?
What might it feel like to set real time aside every day for restorative rest and somatic healing?
How can we return to the mat, even when the mojo is completely flat?
Actually I don't have the answers but I am about to embark on an experimental practice to find out.
Fancy getting your mats out to explore these questions with me?
For this winter term of 2025 I'm tipping my cap and saying farewell to the pressure of high energy expectations, high productivity and a body that is expected not to stop.
You are invited to join me in radically resisting the overpowering urge to just keep going no matter what.
Our starting point is simply setting some time aside daily for checking in and engaging in deep rest practices
Join me daily
every evening this term from today onwards
I will be on my mat from 7:30 p.m. daily and until I have had enough each evening. This might mean I am on the mat for 5 minutes or maybe an hour or so and you are invited to join me
This is how it will work
I will be practicing daily from 7:30 p.m. till i have had enough and will stream from zoom
You are invited to join the zoom practice with me the zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82767349433
I will be listening to what my body needs and encouraging you to do the same
If I am in pain one day or I'm tired, or resistant I may do very little that day, if I happen to feel free and energised I may do a little bit more, my overall commitment is to healing my nervous system as a matter of priority
This is a judgment free zone
You are welcome to come ad-hoc as and when you want to, and do not need to commit to coming every day. AT the same time you are very welcome to come every day, it is up to you
We are allowed to lie in relaxation pose for the whole session if that is what is needed, rest is best
If a session isn't happening it will be publicised on the timetable only so check the timetable daily
We are ALL encouraged to go with our own flow and at our own pace
All sessions will be recorded and uploaded on membership pages so if 7:30 p.m. isn't your time of day you can practice with the videos at the time that suits you better, I will very much be there with you in spirit
You do need to be a Light Yoga Space member to attend these sessions and to access the videos, however if you just want to come along ad-hoc, don’t need video access and don’t want a membership it is fine to just get yourself a single class, or use a class bundle to attend
If you need help signing on to the membership, message me and we can do it together
If you want to attend live but don't want to be on the video that is 100% fine, you can keep your camera off. I will remind us all of this option daily
We don't watch each other we focus on our own practice unless we need to see how something is done
I will just be doing what I can manage. If you have more energy and less pain than me (highly likely) you are invited to add poses you need to the sequence so long as you are being true to your own energy, I will offer lots of suggestions
Less will probably be more much of the time
I will be sharing what I am doing as well as offering different options for you to go with what feels good for you. You are welcome to do your own practice entirely if you prefer
Beginners are totally welcome to come along, if you are new or nervous, do contact me first so I can support you properly. Best by email, or Whatsapp or text on 07956-208-666 I want to be there for you so please do be in touch
We will open each session with a group chat/check-in with each other to share how we are feeling and where we are at (not recorded and not compulsory zero pressure) and the ensuing practice will be informed by where each of us is at
What to expect
My personal practice is restorative, slow, mindful and intentionally focussed on somatic recovery. I want to work in sync with my body and mind with neither dominating the other too much. My goal is to bring parts of myself that are at odds with each other, together again. This will probably be slow, take time, and not look particularly impressive as I move forward. In fact enormous internal breakthrough might show no noticeable 'gains' at all!
I have studied, practiced and taught classical hatha yoga for many years which has given me an amazing foundation and knowledge of yoga. However chronic illness has had a huge impact on slowing me and my practice down much to the chagrin of my ego.
In my younger days I practiced intensely full of competitive attitude and drive. It was fun and dynamic. Will I ever be able to practice like that again and 'achieve' the physical poses I used to be able to do effortlessly? Honestly, probably not. What I have worked out is that any effort to consistently 'push' myself backfires, and the only way forward with my practice now contradictorily is through letting go of the results, and trusting my body's need for deep rest