Discovering
Seasonal Flow Yoga
Jane would like to introduce you to the principles and practices that surround her Seasonal Yoga Experience Classes and which influence all aspects of daily living throughout the year.
These tools and techniques can be adopted to embrace the enhanced energy and emotional sustenance from this joyous form of self care - with evolving postures, seasonal lifestyle tips, breathing techniques that can transform your state of mind, and a seasonal meditation.
She Looks forward to welcoming you to class very soon.
Winter
Jan/Feb/early March • Water Element
Kidneys/Bladder
A time to reflect, rejuvenate and restore energy levels. Build inner confidence, courage and strengthen will power so we can move forward with purpose and feel motivated. To achieve a sense of stillness and contemplation, avoid stressful situations and allow life to flow calmly. Prepare warm hearty soups , stews and wholegrains. Use salty flavours such as miso and soya sauce to support the Kidneys, keep hydrated but avoid anything cold.
Postures
Repeat postures are employed to stimulate deep into the body; twists bring balance and vitality; forward folds encourage quiet introspection and calm; backbends produce courage and self awareness; always working on gently hydrating the spine and creating flexibility. Yin yoga postures are a key feature, releasing tension, finding space in the body, lowering blood pressure and heart rate as we withdraw, finding stillness and inner calm.
Pranayama
Ocean breathing to help us feel soothed and relaxed. Has a soporific affect over the mind and body. Slowing the brain waves and quietening the thoughts.
Meditation
Set a Sankalpa or resolve at the start and end of your meditation. A Sankalpa is a short positive phrase, clearly expressed, to bring a positive change in your life eg ”I am loving and caring to my family”, “I am becoming more content”. Repeat the phrase inwardly three times at the start and the end of your meditation.
Spring
Late March/April/May • Wood Element
Liver/Gallbladder
A time of growth/planning with enhanced energy levels. An opportunity to inspire change and refresh your practice and lifestyle. Spring clean your diet, mind and home. The Liver energy is supported by foods that nourish the Blood and sour tastes. Eat plenty of dark leafy green vegetables to help cleanse and detox the body and build healthy cells.
Postures
The focus is on your foundation, encouraging strong stable roots to anchor you in your practice. Cleansing postures are used to prepare for summer; side bending and twists increase flexibility, calm the nervous system and help lose the extra padding acquired over the winter months.
Pranayama
Simhasana / Lion’s breath. This practice is fierce and fun ! Stretching, toning and relaxing the muscles of your face, cooling the breath. A great way to let go of any staleness you’re holding on to from the winter months as we roar our way into the new season.
Meditation
Spring clean your lungs. Imagine your lungs are three separate rooms on three different floors of a house. You are going to fill each room with vibrant, fresh, clean energy and open all the windows and doors to let the stale energy out, until you feel relaxed, then just bathe in the stillness of the mind, pushing thoughts away like clouds.
Summer
June/July/August • Fire Element
Heart/Small Intestine
Summer is a time of high energy, living life to the full. We feel sociable and loving. Soak up some energy from the sun to drive you through to late summer. Eat lighter foods that contain plenty of energy, avoiding processed or pre-prepared meals. Eat little and often. Hydrate the body and the skin. The Heart is nourished by foods with a bitter taste.
Postures
A regular, frequent yet simple yoga practice. Sun salutes will lift the heart rate, improve circulation and energise the body. Cooling postures balance and close the practice.
Pranayama
Shitali, the cooling breath. This breathing practice calms the mind and reduces stress levels. It cools the body and mind, lowering the blood pressure, calming the nervous system and relaxing muscles.
Meditation
Imagine a flower growing at the centre of your chest, a symbol of your heart. The flower is like a bud which slowly opens. It can be any flower, feel like it can open your chest towards joy, love, calm, peace and tranquility.
Late Summer
Late Aug/Sept/early Oct • Earth Element • Stomach/Spleen
Feel balanced, centred and supported by the earth at this time of year. Go on walks in the countryside, get busy in the garden, do something that makes you feel good about yourself. Remove worry, build trust and openness. Cook with yellow foods, naturally sweet and in season.
Postures
Intended to generate power, stability and strengthen your legs to support you and connect you to the earth. Rising and sinking movements. Feel nourished by your practice and build a strong feeling of self worth.
Pranayama
Ujjayi breathing or victorious breath is an ancient yogic breathing technique that helps calm the mind and body. The breath should be long, deep, calming and rhythmic, the sound audible. This practice is intended to be both energising and relaxing. Ujjayi has a balancing influence on mind and body, removing worry, over thinking and anxiety.
Meditation
Walking meditation connecting each foot carefully with the earth, focus on an intention to nourish yourself with each step. A simple powerful tool to help you to a relaxed balanced state.
Autumn
Late Oct/Nov/Dec • Metal Element
Lung/Large Intestine
A time to gather energy inwards and prepare for the colder months ahead, let go and clear negative thoughts and emotions. It’s all about the breath. Breathing in what feels of quality, complete, polished, letting go of what feels rough, careless and messy. Leaving us feeling positive, calm, organised, prepared and enthusiastic. Eat healthy hot comfort foods, adding spices to warm you from the inside. White proteins nourish the Lungs such as tofu and beans.
Postures
Develop a slower meticulous practice with a focus on breathing exercises. Incorporate wide arm, open and closing postures to maximise lung capacity like drawing the bow. Twists encourage the letting go process, inversions quiet introspection. Feel safe, secure and confident in yourself and your practice.
Pranayama
Nadi Shodhana/ Alternate Nostril Breathing. A beautiful gentle breathing technique, suitable for everyone to balance breath, energy levels and brain hemispheres. A few minutes of this breathing in a day helps de-stress the mind and release accumulated tension and fatigue, it helps clear out blocked energy channels in the body, which in turn calms the mind.
Meditation
Awareness of breathing Meditation. Taking notice of the quality of your breath. Long/short, deep/shallow, smooth/rough, cool/warm, fine/course. If you get distracted just refocus and bring your attention back to the breath and the sensations you feel as you breath.
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