No Self Practice this Evening. Back Tomorrow
I plan to rest and heal this year
and I would love you to join me.
Welcome to my weekday-evening online ashram-style self-practice sadana-space
every weekday evening from 7:00 p.m.
- How hard is it to get to your yoga mat?
- Could body doubling and community help
- Do you have enough confidence to lead your own daily practice yet can’t find the mojo to make it to the mat?
Even after years of practising and teaching yoga, the struggle to get to the mat on my own is real! So I have set up this gentle community drop-in online Ashram style Sadana space. Camera on or off it is up to you, arrive any time, leave any time it is your practice. But know you are not alone.
This is a gentle, rehabilitative space for people with chronic pain, chronic conditions, fatigue, neurodivergence, fat bodies, queer bodies, diverse bodies, diverse ethnicities, who are looking for a safe, mirroring space to explore your own way forward at a pace that is yours and with zero pressure to perform
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 whenever you feel like it
I will be there every weekday evening this year but you only need to join me when you feel like it as often or as little as you want to
I will be on my mat from 7:00 p.m. and until I have had enough doing my own self-practice. This might mean I am on the mat for 5 minutes or maybe an hour or so and you are invited to join me virtually for your own practice.
This is how it will work
I will be practicing Monday - Friday from 7:00 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
Sessions will be recorded and uploaded on my BLOG on membership pages so if 7:00 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 need to be a Light Yoga Space member to attend these sessions
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 want 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
Less will probably be more much of the time
Once I start practice I don’t check messages or my screen. So if you want to come but might be a little late message me before 7 so I know to look out for you 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 short totally optional check in/ chat with each other to share how we are feeling and where we are at (not recorded and not compulsory zero pressure)
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 will most probably 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, highly unlikely. 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