I have been truly blessed with the yoga teachers that I have been fortunate enough work with. It’s commonly said that you find yoga at exactly the right time and this was certainly true for me. When I first began my yoga journey it was with Vinyasa yoga. A strong and dynamic flow that links together a series of postures, using the breath to connect. As I have mentioned before, this was next to the ocean in beautiful sunny Tenerife. Me clinging to the shade and covered in a thick slick of factor 50!

Vinyasa yoga is a Yang practice, a flowing sequence, or sequences, coordinated with the breath to create a fluid and rhythmic experience. This enhances focus and energy flow whilst improving strength, flexibility and stamina. I teach a fairly repetitive class, I guess a nod to my dance background and the importance of technique training through repetition, giving due attention to posture, alignment and breath. There are of course many teaching techniques and a lot of teachers plan their classes around a peak pose. Although I sometimes do this, you will normally find my classes to be a full body workout. I’m not a fan of focusing on one specific area of the body in each class. If this was a movie, it would cut to endless pliés, brushes and jumps! If you know, you know!

In my Absolute Beginners courses I slowly begin teaching Sun Salutation A, Surya Namaskar. A salute to the sun. This is a sequence of 12 movements linked to the breath and I think a fabulous way to focus on inhalation and exhalation linked to movement. As you inhale the body opens, as you exhale the body closes. Although this can seem quite a lot to begin, the repetition quickly allows the body to learn the sequence and the release of endorphins certainly contribute to a more positive mood, as well as encouraging awareness, mindfulness and improving overall well being.

As we learn the basics of fundamental postures, it’s not long before we can create an ever growing and flowing sequence. Sometimes moving seamlessly between postures, sometimes holding for a few breaths, helping to build muscle tome.

Vinyasa classes can be at any level, beginner, intermediate and advanced. Although I’m not keen to label classes it can be helpful to ensure that folks are in the class that they feel most comfortable. I frequently go back to beginners classes and again focus on essential basics.

Now of course we need Yin and Yang, balance of the energies. We need to be strong and dynamic and we need to be calm and yeilding. When people ask me which yoga class they should attend I always try to find out what they are looking for, how would they like to feel. My classes are simple, come and see me in the morning if you want to work hard, physically and get some heat in the body and maybe even a wee bit of a sweat. Come and see me in the evening if you would like to chill, calm mind, body and soul and reassure your nervous system.

In-person classes are in Strathaven and Love Yoga Crew @home now allows us to practice live together on a Tuesday evening and access to the yoga library, for you to take what you need, when you need it, wherever you are.

It’s all about balance ☯

Peace & love xx