Hello 2025
- Louise
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
Albeit a little delayed, happy new year to anyone I haven't seen so far this year. I hope that this is a good year for you and you are able to give yourself time to relax and be calm and healthy. I have submitted my final piece of homework for my Yoga Therapy course, and after the final assessments this week, I will (just) have an essay and some client case studies to carry out and write up! It has been hard work, and I wanted to thank my groups and everyone who has volunteered their time for me to practice on them!
ACT YOUR AGE???
I have recently been listening to an academic talking about the aging process, and at this time of year, when it's very cold, we may feel our age in our bodies as we creak a little more and ache from the weather or lack of use! He put forward two interesting pieces of research which I thought I would share with you:
Firstly, a researcher gave all the people in a care home a plant. Half of the group were told that the plant was their responsibility and they had to care for it, water it, and look after it. The other half of the group were told that the care workers would take care of the plant for them and they didn't need to do anything with the plant. After 12 months, the researcher returned, and the group that had looked after the plant themselves were twice as likely to still be alive and well in comparison to the other group. Obviously, I have missed a lot of detail out of the research process, but I thought it was interesting that if we make an assumption that someone can't look after something as simple as a plant, then we take away their sense of empowerment and possibly even their 'raison d'être'.
Secondly, a different researcher moved a small group from a care home into a house to live together. They were told that they had to act as though it was 20 years previous. When they entered the house, many of the 70-year-olds couldn't carry their suitcases and had to unpack outside and carry items in individually. While they were in the house, they had to dress as they would have done in their 50s, and they talked about what was happening as though it was 20 years ago. They ate what they would have done in their 50s, and they watched TV from that time as well. After a few weeks, they left the house, and all of the group were able to carry their own suitcases out! Photographs had been taken before they went into the house and again when they left. When these were shown to different people who didn't know them, they thought that the photos taken after being in the house were from much earlier in their lives. The researcher found that they stood differently, walked differently, talked differently, and definitely felt different if they acted younger! So, if you need a reason to embrace your inner child and not act your age...
YOGA FOR SLEEP
I have recently been using this area as the focus of the classes with a few differences depending on the class. I hope that you found the sequence enjoyable. Many of you found that the breathing technique helped to put your nervous system into the parasympathetic response (rest and digest), and as it was a little different from normal, I thought I would add the full description here for you to practice at home.
Shabhad Kryia for Insomnia
Sit comfortably
Spine long
Right hand resting in left with thumb pads touching
Look down towards the tip of the nose for as long as is comfortable.
1. Inhale for 4 through the nose. Mentally count 4 or say SA TA NA MA with the inhale.
2. Hold the breath and mentally count to 16 or repeat 4 repetitions of SA TA NA MA. [You may want to build up to 16]
3. Then exhale for a count of 4 or mentally repeating WAHE GURU twice
Practice for 11 minutes.
SUMMER WEEKEND YOGA RETREAT
This year the retreat will be 6 - 8 June at Cober Hill, Near Scarborough.
There are opportunities for lots of different types of yoga - flows, Hatha, yin, restorative.
There will be mindfulness and meditation sessions.
Yoga therapy education on stress and sleep.
Breathwork sessions to give you energy, focus, and help with sleep.
All rooms are single, ensuite, with no extra charge for this.
All meals are included.
Tea and coffee provided.
Sound bath (TBC)
Holistic treatments available at an extra cost.
Deposit - £149 by 1/3/25
Final Payment - £250 by 1/5/25
Total - £399
NEW CLASS
I have added a new class on Wednesday morning at 9:15 am. It's for Beginners & Improvers, but as always, I will adapt and modify poses based on how you are feeling that day. If you can't attend the Monday morning classes, this could be an alternative for you.
Hope to see you on the mat soon.
Namaste
Louise
I have weekend 20/21/22 June for the retreat, has the date changed?
Hi the retreat 6-8 June, is this replacing the summer solstice one?