Welcome to my first ever blog :) I was advised that this would be a better way to connect with everyone rather than sending out newsletters so here we are. My intention is that here you’ll find out schedule updates, yoga news, events, things to look forward to, recipes, poems, doodles, music, hints and tips, introductions to other holistic practices, teachers, wisdom-wonderer’s and of course, yoga practices that may be of interest… it’ll remain community-minded and will hopefully be of interest and inspire you.
As you may have noticed I’ve got a thing for dandelions at the moment! They’ve become the new logo for Living Your Yoga. My little boy inspired me on this. Every morning when we walk to school, he picks up a dandelion, blows on it and makes a wish… the dandelion completely transforms in its appearance and its seeds blow around, lands gently and they plant themselves to grow again. As we all know, the dandelion has three phases, the yellow flower, the white puff ball, and the dispersing seeds. This got me thinking about Yoga and how a regular yoga practice transforms our appearance (inside and out) and how we often plant our intentions or sankalpa (our seeds) at the beginning or end of our practice. In fairness, it doesn't take a yoga practice to set our thoughts, intentions or wishes every day. We all actually do it all of the time…sometimes without realising. Our thoughts become our intentions and our intentions become our reality. You’ve probably heard this and are aware of it. But it’s one of those things that we bring our attention to in a yoga practice. Something we’re invited to tend to with a clear mind, maybe after a short breathing practice or meditation when we’ve acknowledged the mind-monkeys, had a bit of a mental clear out and begin to acknowledge what sits behind. We start to look at what it is we’re really seeking? What seeds are we planting? And for who’s benefit?
I realise we’re getting quite deep for a first blog…so I’ll pause there for a moment and bring us back to the every day. Let’s talk about a cake!
Seriously. I made a cake last week (2 actually) and it’s been loved by so many that I’m going to share the recipe with you. I’m not a great cook - I burn most things, but I made this and it worked. Even the children like it (and it has beetroot in it!)
The recipe is from “Self- Care for the Real World” by Nadia Narain & Katia Narain Phillips (I can really recommend this book too - its lovely)
Beetroot Chocolate Cake
200g Butter
200g Dark Chocolate (70% cocoa, broken into chunks)
250g cooked vacuum packed beetroots (no vinegar)
5 eggs
250g light muscovado sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
240g ground almonds
Pinch of salt
Rose petals (optional)
Pre heat oven 190 C/Gas Mark 5, line 20cm cake tin with baking parchment
Melt chocolate & butter in glass bowl over low heat. Leave to cool once melted.
Blitz beetroots in food processor.
Add eggs, sugar, baking powder & vanilla to beetroot.
Add cooled butter & choc mixture. Pulse until mixed altogether.
Add ground almonds and salt. Pulse to combine altogether.
Pour batter into cake tin and bake for 35-45 minutes (the cake won’t wobble when you take it out of the oven if it’s cooked)
Sprinkle optional rose petals.
Enjoy!
Back to Yoga…
There’s a couple of face to face spaces available in Monday morning Well-Woman; Tuesday evening’s Mixed Ability & Saturday morning’s Ashtanga Yoga. There’s an abundance of online availability too for these classes. For face to face classes, you’ll need to bring your own mat and any props that you have. A block or a blanket would be useful for every class. I have some bricks and eye bags for sale. Should you wish to purchase any, email me directly.
Do contact me for more information about classes or click link below to save your spot.
https://www.livingyouryoga.co.uk/classes
Yoga Nidra
With support from my best friend Katharina Weithaler, and her amazing creation of a the best wardrobe recording studio,, I’ve recorded a new Yoga Nidra for both men & women. The theme for this recording is inner peace and includes visualisations inspired by nature. The practice is 18 minutes long.
It’s £8 to buy for you to download to keep.
Let me know if you would like to purchase a download by emailing me. Alternatively, you’ll be able to purchase a download when my To Buy page is created on the website.
Collaboration
I’ve been planting my own seeds lately in making plans to collaborate with some amazing & unique individuals. There’s several exciting projects in the pipeline for the coming months (and years!) that are keeping me excited, uplifted and inspired. I’ll keep you updated as and when the dreams come into reality :)
This week I’d like to shine a light on my dear friend and colleague Dr Louise Newson of Newson Health Menopause & Wellbeing Centre, Stratford-Upon-Avon. I teach 1:1 yoga here in the studio, practice Ashtanga Yoga regularly with Louise, and also teach a weekly yoga class for the staff, provided through Newson Health. It’s only been a few years since Newson Health was launched, and it is now the largest menopause clinic in the world. Since then the clinic has expanded, influenced and most importantly helped thousands of women all over the country. Newson Health’s Balance App is now helping women worldwide, with over 200,000 downloads to date. The Menopause Charity, which Dr Louise Newson also founded, offers programmes in Menopause care, informing medical healthcare professionals with accurate & updated facts, information, medical advice and support for women.
Please click on the link below to listen to a Newson Health’s 100th podcast, a truly inspiring conversation between Dr Louise Newson & Dr Rebecca Lewis (Clinical director of Newson Health) on how far they’ve come in their menopause mission to help women all over the world.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-menopause-doctor-dr-louise-newson-newson-health/id1459614845
For more information on Menopause care, download the Balance App for free, or head to www.newsonhealth.co.uk for more information.
Thank you’s
Thank you to everyone that has kindly written reviews for Living Your Yoga, either on the website or on google. Thank you for your continued choice to share your yoga journey with me.
Thank you to Leigh at www.createonsight.co.uk for developing my brilliant website in a short amount of time, especially having been given some of my very eclectic interests and design preferences!
A really big hug & thank you to my cousin Sinead who has been my photographer for all of my photo shoots for Living Your Yoga.
Finally a big thank you to Jon at Mind Riot Productions for creating mini-animations and encouraging me (and continually reminding me) to keep posting on social media!
Looking forward to seeing you or connecting soon.
Much Love,
Lucy x
“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
– John Lennon
