Dear ones, I'm so excited to share with you that today I launched the first issue of my online magazine. This has been a real labour of love and I have been working on it between seeing clients, teaching classes and running the studio. Some of my dearest friends have contributed with their poems, articles and art and I'm so so proud of how it's all come together. The zine is for sale for just £3.90 over on my Etsy shop here:

​https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/763923677/sisters-of-the-moon-digital-zine-the

And the issue is dedicated to Yule and winter season.

A huge thank you to everyone who's supported me with this,

Yule blessings to you all x

On Gemini moon days it's easy to get caught up in our thoughts, Gemini has a mercurial energy to it which can leave us feeling ungrounded and mentally overwhelmed, add this in to the busyness of the lead up to Christmas and hello frazzled mind. It's a really good idea on Gemini moon days to bring ourselves back into our body and do things that will calm and focus the mind. Think of the idea of using the arrow and focus of Sagittarius to focus the somewhat flighty tendencies of Gemini. Using practices such as Yoga Nidra, guided meditations and gentle yoga can be really helpful for slowing the mind down. Also, when it comes to tackling Christmas tasks, try to focus on one thing at a time, write lists or use a bullet journal to give yourself the satisfaction of ticking things off. Try not to flit from one unfinished task to the other, just like leaving loads of tabs open and programmes running on your computer slows it down, it's the same for our mind too. 

The combination of Sagittarius and Gemini can also lead us to get over excited about new ideas and ventures, so check-in with yourself honestly about whether or not you're taking on too much? Can some things wait? Are you honouring the season of winter and the need to rest? Sometimes it can be so hard with all the pressures of social media to not want to jump into new things straight away, one of my favourite quotes is "Do less, be more" - can we let go and soften a little bit and pick up the pace again in Spring? Or is our gut telling us that now really is the right time? Only you can know :) ​

Gemini is an AIR sign so why not use sacred smoke cleansing practices to cleanse your home, your oracle cards and crystals and to do a ritual of letting go. Use incense, resins or herb bundles to clear negative, old or unwanted energy. Afterwards light a white candle which represents the way you'd like to feel moving forward or the things you want to welcome in. The candle can also represent the fire element of Sagittarius. 

​"Gather your burdens in a basket in your heart. Set them at the feet of the mother. Say 'Take this, Great Mama, because I cannot carry all this shit for another minute.' And then crawl into her broad lap and nestle against her ample bosom and take a nap. When you wake, the basket will still be there, but half it's contents will be gone, and the other half will have resumed their ordinary shapes and sizes, no longer masquerading as catastrophic, epic, chronic, and toxic. The mother will clear things out and tidy up. She will take your compulsions and transmute them. But only if you freely offer them to her." - Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr

Gemini rules the shoulders, arms and hands and it's easy at this time of the year to feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Sometime over the next few days, if you have access to one, run yourself a cleansing epsom salts bath to help soother tense and tired muscles and gently detox the body. Add rose and geranium essential oils to help you de-stress and bring you back into your heart space.

Full moon blessings to you all dear ones xo

We have a full moon in Gemini coming up this week on the 12th December so I thought I'd share this Lunar Yoga flow with you that I made some while back. This video was made for the full moon in Libra but you can use it at any time really. It's a nice gentle flow including some hip releases and warrior flows. Really hope you enjoy. Don't forget to subscribe to my youtube channel, it helps me to continue to deliver free content. 

Blessings,

Michelle

Ahhh Autumn...my favourite time of the year! Tis the season of snuggly jumpers, pumpkin spiced lattes, cosy socks, crunchy leaves, crisp walks in the countryside and the beginning of slowing things down as we head in to winter. It's also a time of year that we can be susceptible to colds and flus and generally feeling under the weather so I wanted to share with you my self care rituals as we shift in to this season. 

First of all let's talk about shifting into this season mentally before we look at the physical. If we compare the seasons to the four main phases of the moon, you can think of summer as being like the full moon phase - a time of high energy and light. Autumn is like the waning moon - the energy and light begins to dissipate as we make our way into new/dark moon time when the moon doesn't appear at all and there is little by way of light and energy. New moon time represents winter, that complete retreat inwards and the spring is represented by the waxing moon and then the cycle starts all over again. In these busy modern times we have become so disconnected to these rhythms and cycles of nature that we have shifted in to an almost permanent state of yang which just isn't sustainable. Staying in this yang energy for too long means we don't give ourselves time to re-charge and in most cases results in burn out where we're forced to stay in a yin energy whilst our body (and spirit for that matter) repairs itself. We have to work hard these days to keep this sacred connection to mother earth with so much influence from the outside world to stay the same all year round and to wear our busyness like a badge of honour. We're constantly stimulated by artificial light which disconnects us from the ebbs and flows of the moon and the seasons. Before electricity we would have naturally shifted in to this slower pace in Autumn because quite simply the decrease in daylight each day would have shortened the working day.  Autumn Equinox takes place this weekend which signifies the end of summer and the descent in to winter.

​If you have some time over the next few days here's a little Autumn Equinox meditation practice for you to do:
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​AUTUMN EQUINOX MEDITATION

As mentioned before, this is a time of year when it's really common to get run down and to pick up colds and flus. It's a good time to start introducing natural remedies to help boost and support your immune system.  Neal's Yard Remedies have some amazing tips, tricks and products to help you stay well during this shift in seasons. I am a huge fan of the Eucalyptus salve, at the slightest hint of feeling run down I will slather myself in this, add it to my bath and do steam inhalations with it. Elderberry syrup is another fantastic way to boost your immunity, you can drink this as is or add it to a herbal tea or make it in to a hot toddy. I also try and get back in to the habit of taking supplements again at this time of year, I really like the NYR joint supplement as it helps with both my arthritis and my immunity and I also love the antioxidant boost supplements.

TURMERIC

Turmeric is fantastic for protecting the body against illness, it has high levels of antioxidants and is also highly anti inflammatory so again good for arthritis. My favourite way to take turmeric is to make it in to a latte:
TURMERIC LATTE RECIPE

1 tsp of organic Turmeric powder
Coconut milk
1 tbs of coconut oil
1 tsp of maple syrup to sweeten
Cinnamon for sprinkling

Add your turmeric powder to a mug and add a tiny amount of boiling water to it so that you can mix it in to a paste, leave to one side. Heat the coconut milk on the stove (don't bring to the boil) and then add your turmeric paste in to the milk. Once you've gotten the milk up to the temperature that you want either pour directly in to your mug or if you want to make it frothy pop it in a blender for a few seconds. Stir in the tsp of maple syrup and you can also add a sprinkling of cinnamon to the top.

WARNING - turmeric powder stains things bright yellow and it's hard to get out of things so be careful

HYGGE

For me, one of the best things about Autumn is getting my cosy on! Now is the time to stock up on candles with scents that warm and delight, I'm in love with the Vanilla and White Pumpkin coconut wax candles by D.W.Naturals (I got mine from TKMAXX) or you could get crafty and have a go at making your own candles. A big part of my Autumn self care routine is coming home from work and lighting candles, turning on the fairy lights and turning off the main lights to tune in to the darkening of the days. 

Beautifying the home at this time of year is a really grounding experience, especially as we know we're about to spend a lot more time indoors. Why not have a go at making an Autumn wreath or garland with leaves, acorns and pine cones that you find out on your walks.

Ok dear ones, I hope you've enjoyed this article. As some of you know I am working on my first book!! It will be a compilation of self care recipes and rituals and I can't wait to share it with you. For now I'll be posting snippets on here and continuing to share my recipes and rituals with you on social media. The book will start out as an Ebook with the view to getting it printed at some point too. As always, thank you for your continuing support and kindness.

Much love,

​Chelle x

I've worked in natural and organic skincare for about 8 years now, and it's a subject that I'm hugely passionate about. This journey began when I started working for a company called Perfect Potion in Sydney who specialised in natural skincare and aromatherapy (this is also where I fell in love with the art of aromatherapy). Before this time I'd never given much thought to what was in my skincare and body products and how toxic these were for myself and the environment. I fell in love with the way that these products smelt and felt and the knowledge that I wasn't putting harmful chemicals in to my blood stream. I worked at Perfect Potion for a few years on the shop floor and in the therapy rooms as a massage therapist.

When I moved home to the UK I was delighted to find a similar company called Neal's Yard Remedies and was even more delighted when I realised there was one in Shrewsbury. I bounced in asking for a job and the rest as they say is history. This year will be my 3rd year working for Neal's Yard Remedies, I no longer work there in retail as I got too busy with my own business but still work from the Therapy Rooms and am a NYR consultant. I have ummed and ahhed about training in facials for so long, not wanting to overwhelm my treatment menu or spread myself too thin but recently I have really missed sharing skincare with people and educating people in the benefits of organic and vegan products as I no longer work in retail. So the decision has been made and I am booked in for a course at the beginning of April. I am really excited to able to offer beautiful bespoke facials using handmade, natural, organic and vegan products. I will be using a selection of Neal's Yard, Tropic (vegan) and No Fuss(vegan) products for my facials and can also blend products on the day to suit your skin with my aromatherapy massage background.

These facial treatments will be available from mid April onwards, here are the details:

30 minutes Express Facial £30.00
Includes a cleanse, facial scrub, tone, serum and moisturiser and a lymphatic drainage face and neck massage.

60 minutes Holistic Facial £50.00
Includes a cleanse, facial scrub, mask, tone, serum/oil, eye cream, lip treatment and moisturiser to suit your skin. Lymphatic drainage and shiatsu pressure point techniques to the face to aid with rejuvenation, firming and toning. And, an aromatherapy hand and arm massage whilst your mask is setting.

90 minute Pamper Package £75.00
A 60 minute full body aromatherapy massage followed by a 30 minute facial.

TIMETABLE
TUESDAYS 11am-5pm in Stourbridge
THURSDAYS 11am-4pm in Wellington
FRIDAYS 9:30am-6pm in Shrewsbury
SATURDAYS 1-5pm in Stourbridge

THE PRODUCTS

TROPIC SKINCARE 
Tropic use fresh, premium, natural ingredients like nourishing seed butters, juicy fruit extracts and aromatic essential oils.​ Their skincare and body care products are all freshly made in their Surrey Beauty Kitchen by their Beauty Chefs every day. Tropic is certified natural and all their products are vegan.

NEAL'S YARD REMEDIES
Neal's Yard Remedies began in 1981 from Neal's Yard in Covent Garden, London. They make beautiful natural skincare products with aromatherapy at the heart of what they do. They are certified organic by the soil association and have been awarded 100/100 from the Good Shopping Guide.

Hello my dears,
I've just posted a new video for you over on my youtube channel. This is my first full length yoga video and now I'm getting the hang of filming and editing I plan to release a new full length class for you each week.  This is a lovely slow paced and gentle Hatha practice for releasing the hips and lower back. Really hope you enjoy!

Every new year we set ourselves unrealistic goals and expectations and inevitably end up disappointed and deflated. Instead of starting the year with positivity and hope we end up beginning the year with feelings of low self esteem, body shame and frustration. One of the biggest reasons that we set ourselves up to fail (in my opinion) is that we forget the season we are in. We forget that winter is a time for rest, reflection and for self care and rejuvenation. When January 1st arrives we still have months ahead of us of cold, damp and dark days and yet we set these intentions to detox, get fit and eat clean at a time when we still need to be eating warm and nourishing food and honouring more yin styles of exercise. 

I've personally never agreed with the whole new year detox thing and my cynical mind views it as a time for marketing companies to sell us a whole bunch of stuff we don't need by making us feel bad about ourselves. We're encouraged to binge over Christmas and then immediately go in to detox on Jan 1st which to me doesn't feel like great health advice. I was looking around my garden this morning at the bare branches and all the empty plant pots and once again allowed mother nature to speak to me, and she told me that now is the time to rest and plant seeds for the spring. Intuitively I've always preferred to take on detox and more energizing types of exercise in the Spring when the days begin to lighten and the flowers begin to grow (it's also interesting that many of the herbs and plants we use for detox are not actually around this time of year). Winter is a time when we are lower in energy and our immune systems are weakened, pushing ourselves too much at this time can result in us feeling burnt out and inevitably getting sick. Here are my tips for greeting the new year with grace and balance and avoiding the mid january disappointment:

 
Due to the quiet and reflective quality of this time of year, winter is ideal for self reflection and inner inquiry. Spend some time processing the events of this year, what's worked and what hasn't and analysing limiting mental habits. Perhaps January the 1st could mark the start of a journaling practice, treat yourself to a beautiful book to write in (or perhaps you were gifted with one for Christmas) and start keeping track of your hopes and wishes for the new year. If you can already feel the post Christmas blues beginning to kick in why not dedicate a page in your journal for gratitude and write down all the blessings you've received in the last year - this will have you feeling warm and fuzzy in no time. If you're a visual person like myself, you might like to make some mood boards for inspiration or as a way of manifesting what you'd like from 2018. This is also a fantastic way to recycle old magazines and de-clutter your home! Get cosy, make yourself a cuppa and enjoy some quality time with your thoughts and imagination.
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Winter is also the perfect time to re-visit or establish a meditation practice. Set yourself up well for the new year by getting a handle on your mind. There are so many great free meditation courses online these days that you can get this going from the comfort of your own home. My favourite is this one from do you yoga.com ​https://www.doyouyoga.com/course/30-day-meditation-challenge/

Meditation has been linked to many health benefits and is a fantastic way to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Because of the body mind connection, when we create calm within our mind we create well-being within the body.
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If you haven't tried Restorative yoga yet, now is the best time to give this incredibly healing and restful practice a try. Restorative yoga works on supporting your body with blankets, bolsters and cushions in each pose so that you can melt in to the pose and allow your body to make subtle energetic changes. It also works on releasing the fascia of the body so you come away feeling stretched and lengthened. You only do a handful of poses in each session and each pose is held for a longer period of time than in other types of yoga. It has an incredibly soothing effect on the nervous system, is  calming for the mind and is another fantastic stress reliever. 

Here's a lovely winter solstice restorative yoga practice with Kassandra.
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As I mentioned before, this time of year is rife with advertising campaigns that prey on our insecurities and dissatisfaction. Try not to allow yourself to be swayed by marketing and remember that they have an agenda and that agenda is to sell you something. Try to remember that you are beautiful and wonderful just the way you are and that you are enough and have enough!

Still can't shake those winter blues? One of the best ways to turn a frown upside down is to take our attention off of ourselves and on to others. Worries about what all those mince pies have done for our waistline soon dissolve away when we focus on all those in need at this time of year. There are so many amazing charities out there, why not volunteer your time at your local charity shop, soup kitchen or animal shelter. Or why not detox your wardrobe by having a good sort out and donating your old clothes to charity. If you're short on time or are unable to help out physically, spending time connecting with campaigns and petitions online is a wonderful way to get involved and to keep up to date with current issues. Be the change you wish to see in the world!
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For me, one of the best things about winter time is snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea and learning about new things. I acknowledge that my body wants to do very little at the moment but my mind wants to be nourished and wants to learn. One thing that I am trying to get better at is saying no at this time of year, not going out as much but staying in and using this time to expand my knowledge and gather inspiration for the year ahead. If you didn't get any books for Christmas the best place to have a mooch is charity shops, many people will have been given books for christmas that they already have or just aren't suited and so you can get a brand new book for less than half the price and your money is going to a good cause. What's not to love!

I hope you have found this helpful and I hope that 2018 is kind to you. I wish you all a happy, healthy and content new year!

​Namaste xx

Many of you have asked me where you can shop eco friendly and organic yoga clothes from and so I thought I'd share my favourite brands on here as you may like to add some items to your Christmas list! Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect and only ever buy from eco brands but I do like to try where possible.

I've been shopping with BAM for a few years now and absolutely love them, their clothes last really well and are sooo soft! Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials going so any clothes made from bamboo create less environmental damage to the planet. Bamboo is also incredibly breathable so if you spend all day in exercise clothes it means your skin is able to breathe. 
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WWW.BAMBOOCLOTHING.CO.UK
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You'll probably recognize a few of these pieces from my own wardrobe. Thought clothing is an Australian company that make clothing from Hemp, Soy and Bamboo. As well as everyday and work wear they have a range called lounge wear featuring super soft leggings and oversized tops in gorgeous designs. 

WWW.WEARETHOUGHT.COM
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Another brand that you might recognize from my wardrobe is EKO, a Cornish clothing company that produce functional clothing that feels great, looks good and is sustainable. What I love about this brand is that they only produce a small selection of garments that can be styled in different combinations, to create a unique twist on classic styles. Plus their fabrics are super soft and comfortable.

​Shop online or from my favourite eco clothing store in Shrewsbury - Hibiscus on Wyle Cop.

WWW.EARTHKINDORIGINALS.CO.UK

I came across this brand at the OM yoga show earlier this year and fell in love with their range and their ethos. This is a British company that have their clothes ethically produced in Portugal and all of their prints are limited addition. Their fabrics are strong, supportive and incredibly comfortable. Their sports bras are probably the most comfortable I've tried so far. It's also nice to support homegrown talent!

​WWW.MILOCHIE.COM

Wellicious are another company that saw a gap in the market for good quality activewear that was eco friendly. Their activewear range is made out of recycled fibres and organic cotton. They are a little bit more expensive but I've had some gorgeous items in the sale and the quality really lasts so is worth the investment.
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​WWW.WELLICIOUS.COM
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RE3 are a USA based brand that create striking prints on fabrics that are made from recycled plastic bottles. All clothing is sweatshop free and even their clothing tags are made from recycled hemp paper. I've got my eye on these wolf leggings for obvious reasons!
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I really hope you've found this helpful and also a comfort to know that there are a lot of brand out there that are trying to make a difference in the world! Go forth and shop my friends!

Namaste xx

We journeyed down from Shropshire yesterday for our second retreat at the beautiful Seaways in Cornwall. We were greeted with sunshine and fresh sea air and that gorgeous view. I'm always amazed at how quickly my mind and my heart are soothed by the sea and the expansiveness of the coastal view. It makes me realise how caught up I get in the day to day busyness and hustle and bustle of modern day life and how much my soul craves this connection to nature. And thats the reason and ethos behind our retreat - using the next few days to reconnect with nature, ourselves and the world around us.
​
The Seaways team - myself, Emily, Lucy and Shakira set about getting the house ready for our retreaters, I always love this part of setting up sacred space. Incense was lit throughout the house, essential oils diffused in the massage room, yoga props and mats set up in the Shala and soup on the go!

We once again have a small group of retreaters joining us at Seaways and they arrived yesterday afternoon all having had smooth journeys down here. We had our introduction and welcome circle and an orientation of the house and gardens and then sat down together for Shakira's butternut squash soup and homemade soda bread. After dinner our retreat group chatted in front of the log fire in the lounge and I managed to sneak in an hour of yoga practice which was much needed after the being cramped in the car. I went to bed relaxed, sleepy and looking forward to day one of reconnecting.

Day 1 began with an 8am coastal walk to a very cute lighthouse about 15 minutes from Seaways. Before we set off we gathered in a circle for our first share of the day and to set our intention for the walk. Lucy led the circle and set the intention of becoming really present and really aware to all the different sounds along the walk. It was quite a brisk walk and we all felt like the sea air had cleared the cobwebs out somewhat. We spent some time at the lighthouse taking in the scene and then headed back to Seaways for our morning yoga practice.

Em guided us through an hour of what she calls Ishtanga, a gentle modified version of Ashtanga, a perfect introduction for our retreaters who are all still fairly new to yoga. Even though it was gentle it was still challenging and we definitely all felt that we'd earned our breakfast!

Breakfast was nourishing porridge infused with star anise and cardamon, served with stewed apples, yogourt and fresh fruit.

In the mornings after breakfast we schedule our retreaters in for either their complementary massage or nutrition consultation with Em.
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Then we gather again for lunch. Today we had chickpea curry served in a marrow ring with brown rice and homemade coleslaw. Absolutely yummy! Post lunch is free time for people to enjoy the house, the garden and the town.

At 4pm we had our Reconnection talk with Lucy where she introduced the group to the ethics and history of permaculture and the work being done here in Polperro. She shared with us some beautiful poetry incapsulating this connection with nature and we discussed the 3 ethics and 12 principles and how they resonate with a yogic way of life. This talk really got the group thinking and seemed to really inspire them.
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Our Reconnection talk was then followed by an evening session of Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra is a beautiful ancient yoga practice of conscious relaxation. I guided us through a body scan practice designed to lead to a feeling of deep relaxation and contentment. It was particularly lovely to practice in front of the log fire and we also used beautiful essential oils to aid with relaxation.
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Yoga Nidra was followed by Shakira's Thai sniffles detox soup and some more of her delicious homemade bread. The evening allowed time for everyone to do their own thing but it was lovely to see our retreaters sat in front of the fire, chatting away till bedtime.
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Last week at our drop-in classes we explored a sequence of asanas to help find freedom in the lower back. Tight, uncomfortable and painful lower backs are very common these days due to most modern day people spending so much time sitting down and also because of habitual poor posture. This sequence is designed to help you de-compress the spine and find length and space for the lower back, it also focusses on stretching the hamstrings which play a vital role in keeping the lower back happy, a lot of the time problems in the back are caused by tight muscles in the legs. If you have lower back disc issues check these stretches with your health care practitioner as some forward folding poses are contraindicated with lower spine issues. I hope you enjoy this sequence, Namaste

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Start in a kneeling position and bring the knees to the width of the mat, begin to slide the arms forward and bring your forehead down to your mat or rest it on a block. Focus on lengthening the whole of the spine and drawing the tailbone down towards the heels.

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Alternate between these two stretches for about 5-6 rounds. Inhaling as you take cow stretch and exhaling as you take cat arch. Try to keep soft elbows as you move so you dont hyper extend the elbows or lock out the joint. To protect the wrist joints, spread the fingers wide and press down in to all the fingertips and the knuckles of the hand and try to create a lift for the heal of the hand. If you have sensitive knees, use a folded up blanket underneath the knees.

Much like childs pose Downward dog creates a lot of healthy space for the spine and really stretches the muscles of the lower back. If your hamstrings are really tight you might want to bend your knees a lot and focus more on finding length for the spine. Again be careful not to lock out the elbows and dont press the backs of the knees out. Press down in to all finger tips and knuckles of the hands to protect the wrists. Hold downward dog for about 5 breaths, pedalling out the legs.

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Bring the feet hip width apart and hinge from the hips, folding the torso over the legs. Try not to hunch the shoulders up to the ears and again be mindful no to hyper extend the legs. If the floor feels a long way off, grab two yoga blocks and rest your hands on to them to forward fold, you can also back off the stretch by not folding in as far, particularly if you find its uncomfortable for the diaphragm or that boobs are getting in the way...it happens :)

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Stand with the legs as wide as you can, turn the toes inwards so they are narrower then the hills. Bring the hands to the hips and hinge from the waist bringing the crown of the head down towards the floor. Try not to allow the shoulders to bunch up to the ears and see if you bring the weight of the pose in to the centre of the heels. If the floor feels too far away, place blocks under the hands and bend the knees if your hamstrings are too tight.

Sit with the legs out in front and begin to flex your toes back towards you. Find a nice long spine by drawing the tailbone down and lifting up through the crown of the head. Begin to hinge forward from the waist but maintain the length through the spine. You can take hold of lower legs or the feet and look down at your knees to keep the neck long. If you find you're falling backward and cant hinge forward, sit up on a block, you can also use a strap around your feet if your legs feel too tight.

Extend one leg out in front and draw the sole of the other foot in to the inner thigh of the leg thats extended. Hinge from the waist and fold over the leg, bringing the head down towards the knee. Again you can use a strap and sit up on a block if needed. Try to keep the spine long and not to hunch the upper back. Repeat on the other side.

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