Once we notice that all things are impermanent, we no problem enjoying them. In fact, real peace and joy are the only possibility when we see clearly into the nature of impermanence.
Thich Nhat Hanh.
Vietnamese Monk
Dear yogis,
I hope this new month finds you well and I look forward to seeing many of you in my new studio!
November is the last month of Autumn and it is a time when we really feel the seasons changing, through the weather, the trees and plants and within ourselves as we prepare for winter. Many people struggle with the winter and find it a depressing time of year so I will be aiming to bring cheer, hope and laughter in the classes during this time, as we practice 'going with the flow' rather than 'doing it right'.
My theme for this month is impermanence. Everything in life is in constant transformation and as the sun sets it will also rise. We can choose to embrace this feeling of change and transformation rather than being in resistance to it. This then gives way to a feeling of hope as we realise that life is one long opportunity to shed layers of ourself and our ego to realise our dreams. This month's mantra or affirmation will be - This too shall pass.
The crystal relating to this moon is moonstone and holding this during meditation can help with clarity of thinking, healing and new beginnings. This month's pick of the flowers is the chrysanthemum, it symbolises hope, optimism and fidelity. In Japan it also represents the permanence of impermanence.
November's full moon is commonly referred to as Beaver Moon, Frost Moon or Snow Moon. It is the last full moon of the year before the winter solstice. To mark these two events I will be holding a full moon ceremony, 23 November from 7-9pm and winter solstice retreat, 18 December from 2-5pm. They will both provide an opportunity to relax and recharge ourselves for the coming winter and will include Cacao Ceremonies, restorative yoga, meditation and fire ceremony. These can be booked on the app as usual.
New Classes
With the opening of the studio I have included new classes and some different times to try to accommodate as many people as possible. In case you were wondering about the difference between the classes here is a brief description:
Beginners yoga - as it says, for those wanting to start at the beginning, learning the breath work as well as the poses and meditation.
Beginners and improvers - for those of you who have maybe had a break from yoga or have mainly had a home practice and want to increase your number of poses and check alignments.
Gentle yoga - some new poses and slow flows using props and with lots of modifications to enable everyone to access the poses, the main focus is on mobilisation.
Slow flow yoga - slow vinyasa style with a combination of flows which will be added to and taking longer in the poses to feel the impact on your body.
Menopause yoga - specially designed poses to help combat loss of bone density and muscle mass, with breath work to help relive some of the symptoms and finishing with restorative yoga poses.
Intermediate yoga - more dynamic and challenging poses and flows, including poses such as the splits, wheel, crow etc.
Yin and Yang yoga - the yang element will involve a flow and then calming down the body and stretching through yin yoga.
Yin yoga - based on TCM principles of releasing energy through the body by removing blockages in our meridians. Poses are all seated or lying on the mat and are held for longer to stretch out the fascia.
Reiki Appointments
You can now make appointments for a 60 minute Reiki appointment, these need to booked by email or in person and cost £35 for the session. Below are some common questions about Reiki, please get in touch with any other questions you may have.
What is Reiki?
Reiki as defined by the Oxford English dictionary is:
“A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being”.
Reiki is a Japanese word that translates as ‘universal life force energy’ and was a healing system developed by Mikao Usui early in the 20th century.It is a non-invasive complementary therapy that can support orthodox medicine but is not a replacement for it.
Is Reiki a religion?
No it is not.
It is not based on any belief or faith system and much of the explanation of how Reiki works comes from quantum physics. In the future it is possible that the energy levels from the practitioner’s hands may be measurable.
How does Reiki work?
When giving Reiki, practitioners have been shown to emit electro-magnetic or bio-magnetic energy from their hands. The frequencies of the energy emitted vary from one moment to the next; but many appear to correspond to those that medical researchers have identified as being the optimum frequencies for stimulating the healing process in tissues, bones and other body parts so far investigated.
The bio-magnetic energy (or field) flowing from a practitioner’s hands has been shown to induce current flows in the tissues and cells of individuals who are in close proximity, but this pulsing energy is not produced by non-practitioners of energy healing techniques. (From The Reiki Federation)
What happens during a Reiki appointment?
You will be asked to fill in a client information sheet and I will go through any areas that need clarification.
Reiki is given fully clothed in a quiet environment and you can lie down or be seated according to your preference. The Reiki may be given hands-on or hands-off depending on what you prefer.
It is safe for adults, children, mothers–to–be and babies.
At the end I can share with you anything that I noticed and you may want to share anything you felt but I cannot diagnose medical problems or give medical advice.
I have found Reiki to be useful in bringing a sense of peace and calm to both the mind and body. I have completed my Level 1 (healer) Attunement and Level 2 (practitioner) Attunement. I am fully insured and a member of the Guild of Holistic Therapies.
Some of the issues Reiki can help with include:
· Arthritis
· Stress
· Anxiety/Depression
· Headaches/Migraines
· Fatigue
I hope you have a great November and I see you soon,
Namaste,
Louise
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