It's been on my to do list for some time to make a class companion for my students so they can practice the poses and sequences at home and also for people who missed a class. Here is my first go at this, would love your feedback.
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We started with a morning of silence to soak in the teachings we've had on mindfulness and permaculture. This included an early morning silent meditative walk along the cliffs, a silent ashtanga practice led by Em and a silent mindful breakfast. We then returned to speaking over a cup of tea and then headed outside for our closing share circle where we shared highlights from the week and feedback. We then had a veggie BBQ in glorious sunshine as a way to celebrat the retreat, we made vegetable & tofu skewers and bean burgers and also had some cheeky toasted marshmallows. Post BBQ we walked around the coast to the local beach where we had ice cream, cream tea and a swim in the sea (after the tea and cream had gone down). I had to head off slightly earlier to get back for a wedding but I'm told the evening was a chilled one with people making the most of the view and...the leftovers.
This has been one of the most beautiful weeks, I'm so grateful to be part of the Seaways Retreats team and to work with such inspiring women. I'm also uncredibly grateful to our beautiful group of retreaters who have been so open hearted and open minded and have really bonded as a group. Can't wait till October where we get to do it all again. Thanks for tuning in to my blog and following our story, Namaste xx Day 4 began with another early morning stroll, this time to a community garden where the guys picked berries for us to have on our porridge. Em then guided us through the most amazing Hatha chakra balance session where she explained each chakra and the specific colour, mantra and emotion associated with it. We flowed through a sequence of poses to balance all 7 energy centres finishing with a very floaty savasana. We then headed in for another hearty breakfast of porridge, fresh berries, yogurt, smashed Avacado on toast and poached eggs. There was then a period of free time and some very indecisive weather. Lunch was cauliflower cheese, ratatouille and green lentils which was really comforting as the weather had turned quite cold. At 4pm we had Mike Jelly from the Polperro Environmental Group come to talk to us about the work that he does in the local area. He gave a really inspiring talk about the environment and the projects that they're involved with and then sang us a beautiful song he had written about a local beach. Feeling really uplifted and inspired we then went straight in to Yoga Nidra session. We finished the session with a seated mindfulness meditation that focused on the impermanence of thoughts and feelings, very fitting on such an up and down day. Dinner was a restorative pea and watercress soup which once again really hit the spot. The evening sky was clear and the moon shining brightly so we decided to make the most of it by sitting in the jacuzzi and swimming in the pool. It was then hot showers and bed.
We were met with cooler weather and a bit of rain on day 3 but still set out at 7:30am for our nature walk, this time along the coastal path in a different direction. Our destination was a small war memorial nestled on the cliffs, where many of the family names from the village were carved in to the stone. We paused to remember those that had given their young lives so that we could now live freely. The rain began to pick up the pace a little so we did too as we set off back to Seaways. Emily then guided us through Power Yoga which I haven't tried before but really enjoyed. It was definitely a challenge but Savasana felt so good at the end and so did breakfast. We had a hump day breakfast with a few extras to help us with energy. As well as porridge and fresh fruit we had smashed Avacado on toast and poached eggs and then everyone went off to enjoy the morning. A couple of the retreaters had their massages and nutrition talks with Emily and one of them went down to the village to take part in a painting workshop. Once again we gathered for lunch, pausing to give thanks for the hearty baked vegetarian baked bolognaise that was before us. After lunch Emily taught the group how to make bliss balls and sugar free breakfast muffins as a healthy alternative to sugary snacks. These went down a treat and inspired everyone to make these at home. The evening yoga session was restorative Hatha yoga so we once again got cosey with blankets and used cushions and blocks as supports for the body. Dinner was Emily's homemade butternut squash soup which once again we had with bread and cheese and left overs. Everyone took advantage of the mild and moonlit evening by going in the pool and the jacuzzi and reading outside, it was lovely to see how at home everyone was starting to feel at Seaways and the friendships that had begun to form. Day two of our retreat started with another permaculture walk with Lucy at 7:30am. This time we stood in a circle before heading off on our coastal walk to do our check in with each other and then Lucy guided us through a visualisation where we invited our ancestors to come on the walk with us. Throughout the walk we were to be mindful of the many generations of people that have come before us, it was such a beautiful practice. We walked through the very sleepy town and then around the cliffs to a rock pool and natural swimming pool where we could go wild swimming later if we felt the call. We then headed back to Seaways for an hour and 15 mins of Core strength vinyasa yoga followed by another hearty breakfast. Again, the morning was then free for people to wander, sun bathe, swim or book in for a massage and we gathered for another wonderful lunch, this time grilled halloumi, salad and roast potatoes followed by homemade plum crumble! Our second yoga session of the day was Shivananda yoga which I think may well be my new favourite. Emily explained that this was a restorative style of yoga whereby you start in savasana and make your way up to standing. the poses that make up the sequence are meant to represent our journey from birth up until the present moment. Each pose is held for a long period of time giving you chance to release stored emotional hurt and physical tension. I found this practice deeply moving and very clearing. Emily then guided us through a dreamy relaxation meditation which left us all very floaty...and some of us asleep.
The day started with a 7:30am coastal walk, short permaculture talk and group check-in and share of how we were feeling and our intentions for the retreat. After a stunning walk led by Lucy we headed back to the Shala for our first yoga session which was a beautiful grounding modified ashtanga class with Emily. Feeling stretched, grounded and centred we headed in to the kitchen for breakfast where we were greeted with porridge, plum compote with fresh plums from the garden, more freshly baked bread for toast and tea and coffee. Over breakfast we gave a bit more explanation about the retreat and the timetable. The morning was then free for people to do as they pleased, it was another gloriously sunny day so some people headed in to Polperro for a boat trip, others sat in the sunshine reading by the pool and I had my first massage client of the retreat and then had time to sit and paint in the sunshine. We re-grouped for a delicious and heart warming homemade lunch of vegetarian quiche, coleslaw and potato salad. Lucy introduced the practice of pausing before the meal to generate a feeling of gratitude for the food in front of us and for the people and the environment involved in bringing this meal together. I really enjoyed this mindfulness practice and realised how strong a habit I have of taking things for granted.
We then had our Reconnection group session. This was our first permaculture session with Lucy where she introduced us to the three main ethics - Self Care, Fair Share/People Care and Earth Care and the 12 main principles. I found this talk incredibly inspiring and am hoping to learn more about permaculture when I get back, it seems to link really beautifully with the ethics and practice of yoga and also my Buddhist faith. We then headed in to our Yin Yoga session which was led by me. I guided the group through a small set of poses that we held for longer periods of time than we're used to, using blankets, blocks and straps to support the body and then focusing the mind on the breath and the art of letting go. We then finished the session with a mindful awareness meditation where we witnessed the various sounds taking place around us, the waves, the seagulls, the noise of the town, our own breath. It was particularly special to do this meditation in this seaside setting with so many of the sounds we associate with being happy and feeling relaxed. We then floated in to dinner which was soup, homemade bread and leftovers from lunch. I enjoyed taking my yoga mat outside and doing some of my own practice under the moonlight. I then went to bed feeling inspired, relaxed, and so so grateful that my job enables me to be part of something like this. I'm pleased to say our journey down to Cornwall was smooth and traffic free and interspersed with some fabulous services along the way, my favourite being the Gloucester services which is probably one of the prettiest stop offs I've been to. It had a farm shop and healthy cafe inside and seated area outside with a beautiful pond, why can't all services be like that? I was delighted to be able to get an almond milk latte and cacao energy bite rather than the terrible tasting black coffee and overpriced sugary muffin that I normally have to settle for. We also stopped off at a garden centre for tea and scones and to purchase some wonderful bright green bean bags for the garden. We arrived at Seaways in glorious sunshine and to the sound of happy voices from the harbour and beach below as people enjoyed the summer weather we've all been longing for. We quickly set to work getting the house and garden ready for our guests, setting up the yoga Shala and massage room and getting food prepped. We had just enough time to hop in the pool to get refreshed after a hot and sweaty day of travel and setup. Our retreaters arrived late afternoon and it was lovely to see the look on their faces as they saw seaways and the view of Polperro for the first time, you could see them instantly melt in to a feeling of relaxation and enjoyment. After a brief orienteering of the house and grounds we settled down together to share our first meal which was Happiness Soup and home baked break. It was an early night for all so we could rest after the long day and be up early the following day for day 1 of our retreat. One of the things I love the most about summer is the chance to get stuck in to a good book, or 3 or 4. I love browsing book shops in seaside towns, making exciting purchases and then snuggling down with a cup of tea for a few hours of me time. I thought it might be nice to share with you some of the inspiring reads I've been enjoying this summer so far and the ones that are on my wish list. Enjoy xx CURRENT READING ........................................... THE LITTLE BOOK OF SELF CARE - Mel Noakes I picked this little book up in Cornwall as inspiration for our self care new moon circle in July, it's packed full of wisdom and great ideas for implementing self care in to your life. BIG MAGIC - ELIZABETH GILBERT ........................................................................ Eat, Pray, Love was my holiday read a few years ago and I really fell in love with elizabath's raw honesty and inspiring journey. I haven't started reading this yet but I'm excited to get stuck in. YOGA AND BODY IMAGE - MELANIE KLEIN & ANNA GUEST-JELLEY ............................................................................................................................................... This book is an honest and inspiring collection of personal stories about beauty, bravery and loving your body. NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL - LENA DUNHAM ........................................................................................... This one is left over from last summer, didn't quite get chance to finish it. I'm a big fan of Lena and her show girls and am really enjoying this witty and brutally honest book. WISH LIST ..................... CURVY YOGA - ANNA GUEST-JELLEY ............................................................................... If you're not familiar with this ladie's work yet I recommend giving her a quick google, she has been instrumental in the movement towards making yoga accessible to every body. HAPPY - FEARNE COTTON ......................................................... I keep picking this book up in different book shops and almost buying it, it really does look happy when you flick through, next time I see it, I'm getting it :) GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS ........................................................................................ I came across this book at Wilderness Festival and it made me smile so much. So positive to see a book for younger girls that isn't all about mermaids and princesses but about strong and brave women who have changed the world. Would make a great gift after you've finished flicking through and getting inspired yourself :p WOMEN IN SCIENCE ............................................. Along the same theme as the previous book this a beautifully illustrated children's book about 50 women who were pioneers of science, another great gift for a youngster or your own bookshelf :) EVERY BODY IS A YOGA BODY Another theme you might have picked up on in my reading list is body positivity in yoga. I'm currently enrolled in the Yoga 4 All teacher training and the philosophy component of the course has inspired me to do more reading on the subject. Hello dear readers. Happy Summer Solstice for yesterday. As a gift to you I've made a summer solstice meditation video for you to welcome in the new and release the old. Wishing you a joyful and peaceful summer.
Namaste xx Tonight is the full moon in Libra, otherwise known as the Pink Moon. It's the first full moon of the astrological year and is all about the heart chakra. A time to explore our relationships with others and the relationship we have with ourself. Libra is all about balance and harmony, making sure we take enough time for ourself in order to give effectively to others. This full moon is a great time to explore forgiveness and the art of letting go.
Why not make time tonight for a full moon self care ritual: Diffuse essential oils of rose, jasmine, ylang ylang and sandalwood. Have a hot aromatherapy bath with some of the essential oils above. Place rose quartz crystals around the bath tub. Journal, meditate and practice yin yoga moon salutations. I also love to make hot cacao infused with rose petals 🌝🌸 enjoy xx |
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December 2019
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