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Welcome to the Summer Newsletter!
Summer (associated with the element of fire) can be a time of high energy – though we need to watch out that we don’t overdo it and burn out. The energy of the fire element is outgoing, exuberant, expressive, active, joyful. The linked organs in the Daoist system are the Heart and Small Intestine. The chakra of the fire element is the solar centre (manipura).
In our classes we will be opening and warming the body, ready for the long hot days of summer ahead (or is that in my dreams only?)… we will include sun salutations, heart /chest opening postures and movement with the arms and shoulders.
Wishing you joy!
Rachel
“Practicing with total attention within the body is advanced yoga, no matter how easy the posture; practicing with your attention scattered is the practice of a beginner, no matter how difficult the posture”
H.David Coulter
“Set your life on fire.
Seek those who fan your flames”.
Rumi
The Importance of savasana/corpse pose
I’ve heard of classes where people leave before the relaxation – but not on my watch. The relaxation that we practice after our postures and breathing exercises is a crucial part of the whole. One of the main aims of yoga is to settle and calm the mind, and savasana (pronounced shove-arsan) plays an important role in this. In fact if you skip savasana after a yoga practice and just move on with the rest of your day you risk encouraging chronic over-stimulation of your nervous system…which may be over-stimulated already!
In savasana your breath and heart rate slow down, blood pressure lowers, your muscles relax, your body temperature returns to “normal”. Anxiety and stress reduce as the mind slows and settles. During the posture practice the body has been furnished with a load of new neuromuscular information; It’s said that savasana gives the body a chance to integrate that new information before you move on with your day.
Savasana can also increase body awareness and interoception…that is insight in to the physiological condition of the body.
So don’t stint on your savasana, and don’t leave the class before the relaxation. If you find being still very difficult that’s even more reason to persevere!
See also: Why Savasana is the hardest pose: http://www.chopra.com/
What does Namaste mean?
The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another.
Nama means bow, as means I, and te means you. Therefore, namaste literally means “bow me you” or “I bow to you.”
Definition courtesy of US yoga teacher Aadil Palkhivala
Diary Dates
August 11-13 (Fri-Sun) – Yoga Retreat, Felden Lodge, Herts.
We’re returning to the location of last year’s retreat as it was so popular. This weekend will include all yoga and related sessions with me, comfortable accommodation and plentiful food/drink. We will also spend time outside, weather permitting. The lovely teacher Ellen Lee will be joining us on Saturday afternoon.
There are only 2 places left at this retreat. Please contact me if you want to join us.
(more details on the Events page)
October 5-7 2018 – Yoga Retreat
“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures
but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”
TKV Desikachar
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