October

Hope you are all well and have settled into new routines as the nights draw in and our thoughts turn to the winter. 

In this month's newsletter we are looking at:-

• Class & Payment updates
• Negativity and how to avoid it!
• Workshops
• Posture of the month - Triangle

Class & Payment Update

The new day time class in Bredon is going very well.  There are limited spaces available so please let me know if you are interested in attending.  There are spaces available in  the Bredon, Gotherington and Shurdington evening classes. 

The venue for the Broadway class is still St Mary's School, Leamington Road for both the Lygon Spa class and my own class.  Broadway attendees will be pleased to know that Lara had a baby boy on Saturday morning.  I don't know any other details yet; he was a few weeks early so is quite tiny! 

From the end of the year I am going to be extending the payment blocks from 6 weeks to 10.  (The daytime classes already run on 10 week blocks so this change only affects the evening classes).  The good news is that I am not increasing the price per session; that will remain at £5 (and hasn't increased for several years now) but by increasing it to 10 weeks I will be decreasing the number of 'pay days' per year which will make the administration a little easier and you won't have me nagging you so often about remembering pay day!

For clarification:-

A 10 week block will cost £50 (cost per session is still £5)

I will still allow 3 weeks non-payments per year for holidays but you must tell me at the beginning of the relevant block. 

People can still interchange between classes (space permitting) if they are unable to attend their regular class.

As most of you know, I love teaching yoga but it is my job, not a hobby, and it is my only source of income.  Unfortunately I do every now and then come across people who consistently take advantage and either don't pay when they should or don't pay at all.  Fortunately they are in the minority but it is an aspect of my job which I find very disheartening and chasing people for payment always causes discomfort for both parties.  So I hope you understand why I have had to make this change.  Please contact me about it if you have questions.

Negativity

We tend, as humans, to be a little on the negative side; some more than others.  Maybe its got something to do with our 'grey' weather,  I don't know, but we seem to enjoy a good old moan and a drama.

Just notice the effect it has on you next time you spend time with someone who is in a negative space.  Does it rub off on to you?  How does it make you feel?  One of the ways of dealing with it is to accept other people as they are and see them for where they are at this moment in time. 

It is up to you how you react to any situation, so if someone is being negative by, for example, either criticising or complaining, try not to be drawn into it.  If you are, you are giving the situation more energy and 'feeding' it.  You don't have to diffuse the situation; instead diffuse your own emotions, reaction and perceptions surrounding their conversation.  Remind yourself that is more likely to be their issues rather than yours.  Let them have their drama but don't participate in it yourself!  Let it just happen around you and remember that attention is energy.  Sometimes the 'negativity' that we are perceiving, wasn't actually intended for us.  Try and imagine yourself surrounded in a blue bubble of light which will only allow positivity to enter.  Try it out at work this week ........ good luck!

Workshops

The Yoga and Fitness Pilates workshop at Broadway on Sunday 21st September went well.  Barbara taught the Pilates part of the day and Huffkins provided a lovely lunch which went down well after everyone had worked very hard throughout the morning.

Thank you to all who participated and gave us invaluable feedback which will help us plan the next one!

Enjoying a break!

You can feel those thighs working by just looking at this!

Yoga Workshop at Bredon Village Hall - Sunday 5th October 10am-12 o'clock

This is a general yoga session with all the usual culprits such as flowing warm ups, sequences, salutations, down dogs, chairs and planks! 

Cost - £12

Posture of the Month - Triangle (Trikonasana)

This is a side bend and a twist which also acts as a hip-opener.   It strengthens the legs, tones the waist, keeps the spine supple, opens the chest area and improves digestion.

Start by turning sideways on your mat, and step your feet 3 or 4 foot apart.  Turn your right foot out and keep the hips facing forwards.  Stretch your arms out at shoulder height - feel the chest opening and expanding, keep the shoulders relaxed down.

Engage your thigh muscles (this will keep your legs active and avoid hyperextension of the knees).  If your front knee feels uncomfortable or painful, try bending it or don't perform the posture at all.  The spine should stay neutral and the chest stay facing straight ahead, not down towards the floor.

On an in breath, reach across to the right as far as you can, then exhale and take the right hand to the right leg - just to where it reaches comfortably; don't try and take the hand too far down the leg as that often cause the chest to turn towards the floor.  Try and bend from the hip joint rather than the waist.  Press into the outside of the back foot and keep the back leg (in this instance, the left one) firm.

Raise the left arm straight up, keeping it in line with the shoulder.  If your neck is okay, turn and look up to the left thumb.  If that is uncomfortable, keep the head either looking straight ahead or down to the floor.

Stay here for up to 5 breaths.  Come out of it on an in breath; softening the front knee to do so.  Repeat on the other side.

Counterpose - wide legged forward bend or of course, need I mention it  ..........  down face dog (a yoga teacher's best friend!).

Stay bendy

Susie