Children’s & Adults Yoga
Chelmsford & Across Essex

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.

May the flame of anger free you from falsity.

May the warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.

May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

I read the poem, The Blessing by John O’Donohue, in class recently and decided I wanted it to live here as well.

It’s really easy to get caught up in it all isn’t it… Reminding yourself to pause, to take in the beauty of it all is a good way to bring you back to what really matters ♥️

#littleyogastudio #wordstoliveby #mindfulness #johnodonohue #inspiredliving #mindfulnessessex #mindfulnessteacher #simplethings #yogaessex ...

COMMUNITY ✨

One of the things I never truly considered when I first stepped into a yoga class 20 years ago, was the community that would come with it. From making friends with my teachers over the years, to other yogis in the class, to the lifelong friends I’ve met on courses, and finally - in my own classes.

The word ‘yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit root “Yuj,” which means “to join,” “to unite.” The connection we feel with ourselves and each other is a reminder of our Oneness, of our togetherness - our shared humanity.

Finding community is so vital to us all. In our classes together, I love how when we come together to practice it’s not simply for the practice itself, but the enjoyment of being in a room with people you can call friends. From general chat about practice, how we re feeling, to what we’ve been watching on TV, it’s all part of the special experience.

Big love to our little yoga community ✌🏻 Such a pleasure to share space with you each week. Happy Tuesday all.

#littleyogastudio #essexyoga #chelmsfordyoga #mindfulmovement #community #yogacommunity #oneness #yogajourney #yogapractice #yogainaction ...

SITTING WITH ‘IT…’ ✨

A lot happens during a yoga practice. So much bubbles to the surface… Some of it feels uncomfortable, unwanted, frustrating, really, really sticky… Sometimes it’s like a river has burst its banks and its just pouring out… Other times it’s like the sweetest relief, pure easeful joy.

Do you know what I mean? Have you felt this way?

Some years ago I took a class with a teacher for the first time. About halfway through, I just burst silently into tears. The rest of the practice continued that way. I’m not even entirely sure why, but it was like a deep unlocking.

I saw these words again recently and felt it really beautifully explained what we can experience moment to moment and sometimes, during a yoga practice.

A constant intention of mine is to sit with what arises. It’s a struggle. I mention it in my classes. Can you meet yourself where you are? Welcome this version of you today? Sitting with, whatever that ‘it’ might be; without forcing, judging, or moving away from. As sometimes that ‘it’ just needs a gentle observer for it to evolve. Like a friend’s quiet, kind ear.

It helps.

Just some Thursday thoughts.

#littleyogastudio #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #yogajourney #yogapractice #rupikaur #rupikaurpoetry ...

Hands up for the Mondayest looking Monday ever?! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Luckily, in our yoga practice this week, we’re exploring light. Utilising practices that create a sense of space, of lightness, within the body and mind. Tapping into our intuition, our inner wisdom, to let our own ‘light’ lead and guide us.

I feel we could all do with some lightness among the heavy right now.

Join us:

Monday 7.30-8.30pm
Mindful Flow
Via Zoom

Wednesday 8-9pm
Mindful Vinyasa
In person at @beaulieucommunitycentre & live via Zoom

Booking via the link in the bio.

#littleyogastudio #yogapractice #yogajourney #yogaclasses #chelmsfordyoga #essexyoga #onlineyoga #zoomyoga ...

🧘🏼‍♂️ MORNING YOGA AT @markshallestate Sunday, May 22 🧘🏼‍♂️

I couldn’t be more excited that Outdoor Morning Yoga returns to my regular schedule next Sunday at 9.00 - 10.30am.

Theres just something so magical about practicing yoga out in nature; in a secluded spot of woodland; moving and breathing under the trees.

For each session, you can expect to relax into your body and your breath, a yoga practice to gently awaken your body and senses, and deep relaxation.

There are just a couple of spots left for next Sunday’s session, but dates for 2022 are now available for booking.

Looking forward to welcoming you under the eucalyptus trees soon 🙏🏻

#littleyogastudio #yogaoutside #outdoorsyoga #colchesteryoga #essexyoga #yogaretreats #yogaclasses ...

HI EVERYONE 👋🏻 \\

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week so I thought I’d pop my face on my grid (🤪) and reflect a little about yoga, smiling on the outside but not the inside, and putting the pieces of you together.

Like most people, I’ve been on a bit of a ride with my own mental health over the years. Big life changes, motherhood, redundancy, anxiety, imposter syndrome, the big C - it’s all played a part and at times, taken a real toll.

But sometimes when you feel like parts of you are scattered everywhere, you start to find the glue that puts you back together again. For me, support from loved ones, taking time to work out what makes me tick and the practices of yoga have been integral to navigating LIFE.

Like everything, it’s a work in progress. I try to keep this little corner of the world honest and open, so I ll only smile when I mean it. But here’s to having more open and honest conversations about #mentalhealth, supporting each other and knowing there’s always more than meets the eye✌🏻

#littleyogastudio #yogateacher #yogastudent #yogajourney #lifelessons #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mindfulliving ...

We’re dipping into the waters of Vishuddha, the throat chakra, this week… 🌀

Working into this space in the subtle body is a reminder of the importance of communication. Many of us think about communication as an outward experience, but of course there’s an important inward one happening too.

When we connect with the throat chakra, we might consider the ways in which we’re listening to what is happening within. By taking time to connect with what is arising within us, we’re able to better answer our needs and express ourselves with a greater degree of compassion and understanding.

We’ll explore this through movement, pranayama and sound in classes this week. Join us? Classes are bookable via the link in the bio.

#littleyogastudio #yogaclasses #essexyoga #chelmsfordyoga #vishuddha #throatchakra #speakyourtruth #yogastudent #yogateacher ...

Just over here, still pinching myself that this Retreat at @markshallestate happened just over a week ago ♥️

P.S. Where’s the sun gone? Asking for a friend.

#littleyogastudio #yogaretreat #yogaretreatuk #essexyoga #colchesteryoga #ukyogis ...

Shifting perspectives ✨

Reminding myself that my practice is a time to come home to my body. I regularly need to slow down (don’t we all?!) and I’ve certainly felt it in my body of late as my work/life balance slides drastically. Making the shift from dynamic practices to slower, more nourishing ones are sometimes just what is needed to feel present, calmer and more energised. Noticing the pause, each transition, going by intuition than design. Also, staring down at the ego.

Just over here embracing Savasana more than ever ✌🏻 😉

And some words I’m loving:

‘The art of living… is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.’ ~ Alan Watts.

#littleyogastudio #yogajourney #mindfulmovement #softly #alanwatts ...

What’s not to love? ✨

And so we come to Anahata chakra, the energy centre we most associate with JOY, compassion and unconditional love.

We’ve been on a journey through the #chakras in classes of late and however often I do this work, it never fails to amaze me the level of unlocking that awaits.

Join us at @beaulieucommunitycentre this week or live via Zoom, as we move to create free-flowing energy from the heart space 💚

#littleyogastudio #anahatachakra #heartcentred #heartcentredliving #essexyoga #chelmsfordyoga ...

Mudra for self-acceptance ✨

Mudras, which are gestures using the hands, face and body, are a great way to promote healing, balance and spiritual awakening. I personally find them really transformative in my meditation practice. They’re a great way to direct consciousness, to promote present mindedness and to awaken qualities within.

There are many, many different mudras we can make and for different purposes. The most common one you might have explored is Anjali Mudra, where we place the hands together in a prayer position. But the one I’m feeling most drawn to at the moment is Avahana Mudra - a gesture of cultivating heartfelt acceptance.

Acceptance isn’t something that I find easy. But this practice is a reminder that when we work to embrace all of our lives - joy & challenge - there is something to learn at every stage. Often we find in a practice of self acceptance, that we’re able to identify limiting self beliefs we re holding on to, so we can work to let them go.

If you’d like to give this one a try, here’s a little guide:

* Find a comfortable seat and drop the shoulders back and down. Take a few easy breaths.
* With the palms turned upwards, touch the tips of the thumbs to the base of the ring finger of each hand.
* Draw the fingers together and hold the hands in front of your solar plexus.
* Take a few moments to breathe, to tune in and to drop into the feeling body.
* Allow some time to welcome in all the facets of your personality and character as much as you can without judgement.
* Internally repeat words of an affirmation, such as ‘I embrace my life with my whole heart, so as to open the doorway to all the blessings life has to offer.’

Let me know how you get on below 👇🏻

#littleyogastudio #yogapractices #mudras #meditation #meditationteacher #selfacceptance ...

What’s on your reading list? ✨

These days my reading pile is way more than 1 or 2 (these are just some of the ones I’m dipping in & out of currently 🤪). Gone are the days when I could devour one fully at a time; now I find myself floating between a few as my thirst for these subjects continues to grow.

Here’s what I’m reading - and re-reading, as some of these I enjoy so much I find new gems each time:

1. Breath by @mrjamesnestor - Probably my third time reading, as it blows my mind each time.
2. Bringing yoga to life by Donna Farhi - one of the most influential books on yoga and spiritual practice that I come back to over and over again.
3. Hold on to your kids by Gabor Mate - I’ve been wanting to read this for an age having loved his other work.
4. Radical compassion by @tarabrach. Again one I re-read as I just find her approach to mindfulness meditation so thought-provoking. I find this supports my own meditation practice.
5. How to be a calm parent by @sarahockwellsmith. I’m halfway through this having loved her other work and finding the practical approaches really helpful.
6. The storyteller by @davestruestories. About to begin this as I’ve been a lifetime @foofighters fan.

I’d love to know - what’s on your reading pile? Comment below with recommendations of your favourites ⬇️

#littleyogastudio #inspirationiseverywhere #whatinspiresyou #booksilove #readinglist ...

Words that, for me, perfectly encapsulate that feeling of dropping beyond what it should look like, into how it feels ✨

Some things I like to consider when moving out of thinking into feeling:
- The flow and spaciousness of my breath as an anchor to my body;
- The whole journey into, through and out of a pose (can I back off, how does this feel, what might I be needing to make this feel great);
- When we engage in our practice wholeheartedly, there’s usually just the right amount of effort.

Happy Thursday all.

#littleyogastudio #yogainspiration #quotestoliveby #mindfulmovement #chelmsfordyoga #colchesteryoga #essexyoga ...

The elements ✅
Headspace ✅
Physical space ✅
Quiet ✅
The breeze on my skin ✅
The breath in my body ✅

This moment 👌🏻

Off on a little family holiday in amongst the trees. Hope you’re all enjoying the Easter break✌🏻

#littleyogastudio #yogaessex #meditation #simplepleasures #headspace #fromwhereistand #thisview #meditating ...