Endings & Beginnings

Welcome to my final letter to you of 2023. I invite you to take a moment to sit down with me, grab yourself a cuppa and read upon a little reflection on the year we’ve had, and what we can look forward to in 2024 with Living Your Yoga.

Due to so many set-backs in 2023, I’m currently planning some fresh and inspiring events to look forward to in 2024, and even some hints at 2025.

Read on for your Weekly Class Schedule, 1:1 Yoga Therapy, Well-Woman Yoga Events, Retreats, Christmas Offers and more…

Reflections on 2023

Here we are already at the end of 2023. What a year it’s been. A real mixture of highs and lows, challenges and changes, conflict and the utmost desire and need for some peace and harmony, in what seemingly is a turbulent time in the world. It’s been a year of extremity for so many.

Working in our community, within 1:1 settings, group classes, retreats and online, there has been a real surge of immense change, loss, and learning to be with the unknown - in both of the positive and negative aspects of life.

Within yoga philosophy, we are taught a moral code called ‘Aparigraha’ which often translates as non-attachment. This guideline encourages us to be present, without expectation or getting fixed on how things should be/are, working with accepting that everything is transient; not to be concerned with the outcome of a situation, but to focus on what we’re actually doing right now. This practice is helpful in times of change, when we feel like everything is out of our control - if we can let go of that control and be present in the moment, we can live more fully.

When we practice yoga on the mat, there is a certain comfort in knowing we can place our feet on the ground - feel the support of the earth beneath us; breath in and breath out the air around us; allow our gaze to rest softly to help draw our attention inward; listen to the sounds within ourselves, or maybe the breath of the person on the mat next to us in class. All of these experiences bring us into the present moment. Our practice on the mat can bring a sense of comfort and stability when we may feel that we don’t have that in our lives; and our classes create a sense of connection with others and our community - vital for our health and wellbeing.

Class Schedule: Winter 2024

Monday 8th January ~ Friday 9th February

Monday

9.30-11am: Well-Woman Yoga*

Leek Wootton Village Hall

Warwick Road

CV35 7RB

12.15-1.30pm: Well-Woman Yoga

Welford & Weston Memorial Hall

Stratford-Upon-Avon

CV37 8EF

7-8.15pm Hatha Yoga Online

Tuesday

7-8.30pm: Mixed Ability Yoga

Parochial Hall,

Kenilworth

CV8 1LZ

Thursday

7-8.30pm: Ashtanga Yoga

The Kenilworth Centre

Abbey End

Kenilworth

CV8 1QJ

Friday

9.15-10.45am: Mixed Ability Yoga

The Tennis & Squash Club,

Crackley Lane,

Kenilworth

CV8 2JS

11-12.30pm: Well-Woman Yoga

The Tennis & Squash Club,

Crackley Lane,

Kenilworth

CV8 2JS

*Please note new venue for our Monday Well-Woman Yoga Class

Well-Woman Yoga at Leek Wootton Village Hall

Bring a friend! Next term, I’d like to offer all of you the opportunity to invite a friend to a class next term. This can be online or in-person, where there’s availability. All you have to do is ask your friend to message/email me the class they’d like to attend, who’s invited them, and I’ll let them know if there a space available for them. One friend per person.

Yoga Therapy 1:1

At the moment, my Yoga Therapy 1:1 calendar is fully booked. I also had to postpone my Yoga Therapy For Menopause Course due to the demand for 1:1 Yoga Therapy sessions.

These sessions can be in person or online; the first session is usually around 90 minutes, 60 minutes thereafter, and a personal home practice designed completely for your individual needs.

Yoga Therapy is a powerful form of therapy designed to help you support your own wellbeing: it is an empowering experience. Yoga Therapy may help you to understand underlying causes of suffering: mentally, physically, energetically and emotionally.

Practices are individually tailored in order to help deepen insight and self-awareness, supporting on-going health issues with greater ease. Yogic Frameworks and healthcare perspectives are used to help apply practical applications including: movement, breath work, meditation and relaxation techniques.

For more information, or to be contacted when there’s availability, contact: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk

Well-Woman Yoga Events

This year our beautiful Well-Woman Events were completely sold out. They are designed to be incredibly nourishing, restorative and uplifting experiences ~ they are all about carving some time out just for you.

The sessions run for 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon and include Breath Work, Meditation, Movement, Yoga Nidra and a delicious drink and snack catered for by the gorgeous Cafe Desa.

Places are already selling for next years sessions. You can book your space via my website: www.livingyouryoga.co.uk

Or if you’d like to attend more than one event, contact me directly for your discount: info@livingyuryoga.co.uk

Well-Woman Yoga Retreat

This year Living Your Yoga ran two Well-Woman Yoga Retreats - definitely highlights of the year for LYY! The last retreat took place in November and was simply sublime. An amazing community of women, mouth-watering meals (thanks to Cynthia, Cafe Desa, Leamington), nourishing yoga practices (led by myself), an inspiring aromatherapy workshop (led by Aromatherapist Rebecca Tracey) all set in the luxurious Cotswold Park Barns, a beautiful venue completely immersed in nature. There was a lot of laughter, some tears, an abundance of food, deep sleeps, great conversation, birthday celebrations, hot tub giggles and mastering the art of lying down! Next October’s retreat in South Devon sold out in less than 24 hours before I was able to advertise. I may run another retreat earlier in the year if arrangements fall into place - let me know if you’d like to be added to my early bird list.

We’re hoping to return to the Cotswolds in 2025, along with another retreat in South Devon, and a little further afield in Kerala…watch this space ;)

Gift Ideas from Living Your Yoga for Christmas!

Gift Vouchers are available for any Living Your Yoga Classes, Events or 1:1 sessions. These vouchers are available both in print or online and for any amount you’d like to gift. Contact me directly for more information or to purchase: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk

Yoga Nidra’s and pre-recorded video’s are available on my website should you want to gift any of these downloads for a Christmas Gift.

I have 2 full size candles left! (There will be more available, both full size and travel size from February) They are available to post if you are not local to the area.

Gorgeous Candles created by Rebecca Tracey

And there’s always your ‘Bring A Friend’ to class offer that could be a gift too! ;)

A Little Festive Tip

When there’s so much emotion and busy-ness around this time of year, it’s easy to get run down, overwhelmed and out of sorts. Other than the usual great tips which are to drink lots of water and get out into nature, I find a restorative posture with a breathing practice, meditation, nidra or a podcast really restful, restorative and rejuvenating. Grab your bolster, cushions or blankets to support you as you rest on your mat, or maybe rest your legs up the wall or a chair for a gentle inversion.

Well, I think that’s all for this year.

I wish you all a restful Christmas break and joyful New Year.

Looking forward to seeing you back on the mat in January 2024.

Much Love,

Lucy

For A New Beginning by John O’Donohue

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.