Keep Calm and Breath!

I hope that you have a peaceful and restful Christmas holiday, this practice might help!

Keep Calm and Breath!

Sit on the floor or on a chair for 10 minutes with your eyes shut and back straight. Exhale first take a deep, slow breath in, and observe what your body does, if your shoulders rise and fall, you’re in trouble. That sort of ‘top chest’ breathing can lead to anxiety, poor focus and insomnia.

Role your colour bones up, drop your shoulders down away from your ears. Focus everything on your abdomen. As you breathe in, expand your stomach forward and out. Continue to breath up into the diaphragm, then the upper chest. Then breath out from the chest, through the diaphragm and out of the abdomen. Pause briefly at the ends of the breath. Every cell in your body needs oxygen, breath slowly and calmly, just focus on doing that a number of times a day, and you’ll automatically be reducing stress, calming your mind, boosting your immune system and building focus. Learn to exhale slowly and fully. The inhale action takes care of itself and you will know that the peace which passes all understanding is with you now.

Here is a quote from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “if”

'If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too;’

We have additional classes on Monday 3rd and Wednesday 5th of December at Asthall Manor and Shipton which will be in aid of Children in Need.

I hope to see you in 2019.

Classes start again on Monday 7th of January in Burford, Tuesday 8th of January in Moreton-in-Marsh and Wednesday 9th of January in Shipton under Wychwood.

Here are the first 3 retreats for 2019. These retreats are for all abilities. The teaching changes to suit your needs.

A day of Yoga at Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton-under-Wychwood

2 February

We will have a full day of yoga, including the use of props and catering for the stiffer body. The Hall is well suited for yoga and is light, spacious and warm. The afternoon talk is titled ‘Focus not Force’.

Two days of Yoga at Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton-under-Wychwood

16-17 March

We will have a two full day of yoga, meditation and relaxation. Philosophy talks and talks from Narain an Ishaya monk who has been blessing us with his enlightening talks on meditation and consciousness for the last 14 years. He brings us to a greater understanding of the true meaning of yoga. For programme and directions please see web.

A week of Yoga in the Greek Island of Lesbos

25 May – 1 June

A week at the Sunrise Hotel near Molyvos. All rooms have balconies with magnificent panoramic views over the craggy terrain covered with wild flowers. An unspoilt island where you can swim in the warm sea or dip in the nearby hot springs.

With Love

Ruth