Moving into Silence

The morning retreat today was beautiful, many thanks to all who attended and shared their gorgeous energies - what a sound we created with those OMs, that mandala dome can really hold a chant! It was simply a pleasure to hold a space for people to explore being present in softly held asanas, I am immensely grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to share yoga and let it speak for itself.  My biggest challenge was to cut my chatter, and I hope that I gave you the space and the silence intended. Om shanti.

Moving into Silence

I am really looking forward to offering tomorrow's morning retreat "Moving into Silence". The room for the retreat has a beautiful white domed ceiling with a bold blue design, almost a mandala in itself. With yin inspired yoga, silent meditation and a deep relaxation, it promises to be a blissful morning.

Back to the present moment, today is offering gorgeous sunshine and some very happy hours in the park with my adorable boys...

NEW! Children's Yoga

At long last I am taking the plunge and starting a yoga class for children. There will be a taster session on Monday 4 April, 10.30-12 at the Havelock Community Centre in Fawcett Road, Southsea. It will cost just £1.50 for the taster session for 1 adult & up to 2 children (extra children 50p each). The cost includes a session of yoga, a yoga inspired craft activity and there will also be free play available and refreshments...what a bargain. The class will start to run weekly during term time from Monday 9 May 2011. I'm so excited! And Joe is looking forward to meeting lots of other yogeenies too. We hope you'll come & join us! We will also have the honour of being in on the first day of opening for the newly revamped Havelock Centre...it really is lovely inside with fresh light walls and a strangely attractive turquoise carpet! Right, I'm off, too sunny to stay in, got to get back to the veg patch with my boys. Shanti.

gorgeous sunny southsea

So I don't plan to blog daily because really, I can't imagine why anyone would want me to! But it is a gorgeous sunny day and I am feeling blessed to live in Southsea...why not celebrate the spring sunshine with a half salutation to the sun - it's easy & you can even do it as a break from your pc at work ~

Stand tall, try to lengthen your spine upward lifting your crown to the sky, inhale deeply & sweep your arms up over your head to bring your palms together & gaze upward, as if lifting your face to the sun...Exhale and sweeping your arms out wide, do a sort of swan dive to bring your hands to your knees/shins/ankles/floor...Inhale and lift your chest, looking forwards...Exhale and fold back into the forward bend...If you are dynamic and have a strong back use the deep inhale to lift up, back to standing, arms raised with hands in prayer position then exhale them to your heart centre...to protect your lower back, switch to inhaling slow & deep, knees bent and roll up with your chin tucked to your chest , stacking your vertebrae on top of each other as you unfurl, lift your arms as in the dynamic version....

NB Please check out any concerns about your health for practicing yoga with your GP before trying things on the blog, you must take responsibility for your own body & yoga and remember I don't know if these ideas are suitable for you & your body right now - please feel free to ask questions if you think you may or know that you need a modified practice. Om shanti.

there is a community of the spirit

so if you know your Rumi from your Tagore, you'll have spotted the blog address is in his honour, and the blog title is a nod to Ehrman's Desiderata. i'm no poetry connoisseur but i know what i like. the full Rumi poem can be found here:

http://www.poetseers.org/spiritual_and_devotional_poets/contemp/rumibarks/1/

this is all new so bear with me whilst i get the hang of blogging!