Dear Yogis,
I hope you have been enjoying the summer sunshine that we have been blessed with lately.
I don’t know about you but I have found this past month VERY busy. Summer months are action-packed. We live a very Yang lifestyle at this time of year when the days are brighter and longer. Lots of doing. How often do we stop still?
I have had to remind myself lately that LESS IS MORE. Less action and more stillness. The busy mentality of summer time has compelled me to delve into Yin Yoga Practices, rest on my Shakti Mat (Shakti Acupressure Mat) listening to a Yoga Nidra, focus on Breathwork, sit in silence reading a book or simply take a nap.
At certain times of the month and at specific times of the year we find ourselves tired from over-giving and over-doing. Let’s remind ourselves to come back to stillness and silence and allow ourselves to be present with our breath, body, mind and spirit.
If my day is busy, I like to take a moment to apply essential oils (that I purchased from a talented lady and fellow-yogi
from Flow Holistic Care) onto my wrists and massage them together, then rub the palms of my hands together to create warming, healing energy and place that energy onto my eye sockets and forehead. I find this so soothing to the headspace and I simply take Three Grounding Breaths; a deep inhale through the nose engaging the senses and activating the olfactory system and a soft, low and slow exhale out thought the mouth. It is also nice to add an audible breath or sigh out through the mouth on the exhale. Whichever way you like to release any stagnant energy within the body. Yogi’s Choice.This is a simple yet effective teachnique which is deeply calming and grounding. I facilitate this practice at the beginning of each class. In just a few moments, you have learned to develop self-awareness by checking-in with yourself, you have found a way to shift energy as you withdraw one sense and engage in another and you have also learned to soothe the parasympathetic nervous system. It is like a little reset.
The best way to speed up though is to slow down and find moments of rest and stillness amidst the busyness of modern living. By leaning into the power of doing nothing, we can allow our body and mind to surrender and at the same, recharge the batteries! There is power in stopping; poet Donna Ashworth highlights this in her poem ‘Unstoppable’ which struck a chord with me when I read it in Aoibhín Garrihy’s EVERY NIGHT IS FULL OF STARS. (Available at beo)
If you wish to find your power in one hour, stop by at one of my upcoming Yoga Classes:
*No Classes this Bank Holiday Monday.* Time to Rest and Recharge at home!
Back on the Mat Monday 12th August at Quin Community Centre:
Prenatal Yoga: 7-8pm
Gentle Yoga: 8.15-9.15pm
Wednesday Gentle Yoga Classes at Clooney/Quin GAA Clubhouse:
6-7pm
7.15-8.15pm
Please message me to reserve your spot on the mat if you haven’t already and let me know at your earliest convenience if you cannot make it so I can fill a space.
Thank you kindly.
Om Shanti.
Kelly
P.S.
I am collaborating with two soulful, spirited, fellow-yoga teachers, Lourda O’ Dea and Sarah Geraghty, to bring you a Yin + Restorative Yoga Evening on Friday 9th August from 7pm-9pm in the Abbey Room at Quin Community Centre. This specific yoga class is a Fundraiser in aid of a family in Palestine who are in desperate need.
I have to say that these are special evenings with special people. It is a fabulous way to wind-down after a busy week, to bring some Yin to your Yang life at the moment and more importantly to support people living in a devastating crisis in Palestine. Every little helps.
To book a space on the mat for this 2-hour Yoga Donation-Based class, please contact me on 0877579543. Thank you.
