The sun may not be shining a lot of late, but there have been plenty of smiles and joy in our classes this term that have lit up the room. I’d really like to thank you all for accommodating quite a haphazard term. I had some large events to tend too, both personally and professionally, and it is always so incredible to return to our classes whereby everyone just steps back onto their mats with ease (usually in their regular places in the room ;)) as though a day or a week hadn’t been missed. Thank you for always coming back.
This blog will be short and sweet. Although I have a lot planned for LYY in the coming months, I’ll share everything with you in the next blog, this will be released just ahead of next term.
Do read on to find out about Summer’s reduced Timetable Offers; Next Terms Booking Dates; Well-Woman Events & Retreats; Health & Wellness Column: Introducing Ayurvedic Expert Virginia Compton; a Poem.
Tuesday Evening Mixed Ability at the Parochial Hall
Summer Schedule
Monday’s 7-8.15pm ~ Hatha Yoga Online Only
29th July; 12th August; 26th August; 2nd September
x4 Sessions are £40 (special Summer offer)/£12 to drop-in
Thursday’s 7-8.30pm ~ Mixed Ability Yoga (In-Person & Online)
The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ
1st August; 8th August; 15th August; 29th August
x4 Sessions are £48 (special Summer offer)/£15 to drop-in
Online classes Monday & Thursday Evenings over the Summer
Autumn Schedule
Tuesday 3rd September ~ Friday 25th October
Mondays: 09/09/24 - 21/10/24 *no class 7th October
Well-Woman Yoga 9.30-11am
Leek Wootton Village Hall, Warwick Road, Warwickshire, CV35 7RB
Well-Woman Yoga 12.15 -1.30pm
Welford & Weston Memorial Hall, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 8EF
Hatha Yoga 7-8.15pm Online Only
Tuesdays: 03/09/24 - 22/10/24
Mixed Ability Yoga 7-8.30pm
Parochial Hall, 28 High street, Kenilworth, CV8 1LZ
Thursdays: 05/09/24 - 24/10/24
Ashtanga Yoga 7-8.30pm
The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ
Fridays: 06/09/24 - 25/10/24 * no classes 27th Sept & 4th October
Mixed Ability Yoga 9.15-10.45am
The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2JS
Well-Woman Yoga 11-12.30pm
The Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2JS
Head to my website to book your space, or if you’re booking two classes a week, contact me directly for your discount.
Well-Woman Yoga Events
June’s Well-Woman Event was busy and beautiful as ever - such a wonderful group of women coming together to take a few hours in an afternoon to help relax and rejuvenate, whilst connecting to a caring and supportive community. Thank you to all of you that came. A huge thank you to Cynthia’s Cafe Desa for catering as always, and a special thank you to Gaya Neault for sharing her new line of work as a Health & Wellbeing Coach.
Cafe Desa will be catering at our November Well-Woman Event and we’ll be hosting another local therapist for you to discover and connect with. They will be announced in the Autumn newsletter. There are only 5 places available now for November’s Event. Head to my website to book your space or contact me for more details. www.info@livingyouryoga.co.uk/info@livingyouryoga.co.uk
Well-Woman Event: June 2024 at Leek Wootton Village Hall
Well-Woman Yoga Retreats 2025
Next year is a big year for Living Your Yoga Well-Woman Retreats! There will be 3 retreats held at the beautiful Namaste Barns in South Devon with catering shared between Cafe Desa and Virginia Compton (information about her below); Ayurvedic and Holistic Treatments; Guided Foraging; Cocao Ceremonies; Women’s Health Talks and a variety of nourishing Yoga Practices led every morning, late afternoon & evening. This October’s Retreat sold out in less than 24 hours. Bookings are being taken for next years retreats - contact me for more details or to book your room: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk
Health & Wellbeing Column
I’d like to introduce Virginia Compton. Many of you have met Virginia several years ago when she catered for a LYY Well-Woman Yoga Event and also delivered an amazing talk on Ayurveda. Since then she has continued to expand her practice and knowledge by running retreats in both the UK and India, continuing treating her clients in South Devon and has also published a book…amongst a lot more! Virgina is originally from Warwickshire, but we met 15 years ago when we were both living in South Devon and have been friends ever since. I’m really excited that Virginia will be catering on some of LYY Well-Woman Yoga Retreats (this October and next June 2025) and will also be offering her Ayurvedic Holistic Treatments during next March 2025 LYY Well-Woman Yoga Retreat. Please read all about her below:
Meeting with Virginia last Summer planning this years and next years retreats!
Virginia is an Ayurvedic practitioner and Devi devotee based in Devon UK and Kerala India.
She hosts workshops and retreats and offers 121 sessions both online and in person.
She is the author of Sattvic Soul, a simple and beautiful guide to living an Ayurvedic life in the real world.
Here’s some of her words on Ayurveda:
The Magic of Ayurveda
We are all unique. And yet there are some things which work well for everyone, how can this be?
The art of Ayurveda (meaning science of life) is sometimes called the ‘sister science’ of Yoga. Practised in India for over 5000 years it is a comprehensive system for mind and body health and wellness. Completely holistic and using natural ingredients and inspiration from nature, how does this work and how can we apply it individually?
Ayurveda incorporates several elements into its system of health and wellness. Although primarily aimed at preventing disease it is also used to treat conditions. It differs from western medicine in that it seeks to discover the root cause of disease and to the rebalance the body and mind. Once the root cause is addressed and the body and mind is rebalanced the body will intelligently rebalance and repair. Sounds simple? Here’s how it works.
We are all made from the 5 elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. We all have these elements in varying amounts, this is what makes us appear so individual in terms of our physical body and personality. Depending on how much of each element you have you can be viewed as having mixture of different constitutions. These are known as Kapha (earth and water), Pitta (fire and water) and Vata (air and ether). The different constitutions then have specific disease tendencies, emotional traits and physical attributes. When we know and understand ourselves in this way we can learn to prevent disease and to obtain and maintain our optimum state of health.
When we have an excessive amount of one or more of the elements this can lead to the formation of ama (toxins) which then eventually create disease symptoms. When we have ama we might see a coating on the tongue, feel heavy and sluggish, have digestive issues and other symptoms of feeling generally unwell. It’s important to then rebalance the body in order to prevent further ama and disease progression.
The methods used in Ayurveda are simple but incredible effective and powerful. They include:
Routine, a structured daily routine according to the Ayurvedic ‘clock.’
Food, which is aligned to your specific constitution and health needs.
Cleansing, simple techniques to remove ama (toxins) from the body.
Herbs, to rebalance and rejuvenate as well as to assist the body in recovering from disease.
Bodywork, massage and other physical treatment to treat the physical body, especially in terms of aches and pains as well as overall rebalancing.
Ayurveda is a tried and tested ancient system that works. Once you know the basic principles you’ll find you can easily apply them in your everyday life. To begin your Ayurveda wellness journey it’s a good idea to consult a practitioner, to discuss your individual constitution and needs.
Shirodhana: a specialised Ayurvedic treatment whereby warm oil is poured continuously on the head (phenomenally relaxing - highly recommend!)
I hope that this short and sweet newsletter brings you some inspiration and good feeling - and encourages you to come along to a class this Summer wherever you are, home or away:)
I thought to end my note to you with a poem that was sent to me recently by a very dear friend - followed by a beautiful photograph taken from my recent work trip to Switzerland.
Have a beautiful Summer and see you soon.
Much Love,
Lucy xx
Cycling Home.
