It feels like ages since I last wrote and for me that’s the telling sign that Winter has felt long! It’s been so beautiful to notice the light last that little bit longer each day, and even though it’s been cold and windy, we’ve had some amazing sunrises and sunsets that can bring a great sense of warmth and life to the winter months.

It’s been wonderful to see so many faces, both new and our well-loved regulars, attend class this term. Classes have felt warm and bubbly, both face-to-face and online. We have a really great and growing sense of community going on. I have to say a huge thanks to those of you that attended your class online a few weeks ago, when I had to go back to teaching from my living room the week that my children had Covid! What a flexible troupe we’ve all become.

Thank you to all of those that were able to attend our much awaited Well-Woman Event in January. It was such a beautiful afternoon, nourishing practices including movement, meditation, pranayama and a delicious newly written Yoga Nidra to round the session off. Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback - please see the schedule for the next Well-Woman Event.

Lots to look forward to in the coming weeks. Please read on for next term dates & bookings; New Venue for Ashtanga Yoga; Balance+ App; Pre Natal Yoga Event; Well-Woman Yoga Event; Mindfulness with Denise and some self care idea’s.

SCHEDULE: Monday 28th February ~ Saturday 9th April 2022

Monday’s (no classes on Monday 21st March)

Well-Woman Yoga 9.30-11am The Kenilworth Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2JS.

Face to Face & Online.

Well-Woman Yoga 12.15-1.30pm Welford & Weston Memorial Hall, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 8EF.

Face to Face Only.

Tuesday’s

Mixed Ability Yoga 8-9.30pm The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ.

Face to Face & Online.

Wednesday’s

Mixed Ability Yoga 8-9.30pm The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ.

Face to Face & Online.

Friday’s (no class 17th March)

Mixed Ability Yoga 9.15-10.45am The Kenilworth Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2JS.

Face to Face & Online.

Well-Woman Yoga 11-12.30pm The Kenilworth Tennis & Squash Club, Crackley Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2JS.

Face to Face & Online.

Saturday’s

Ashtanga Yoga 7.30-9am The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ.

*New Venue

Face to Face & Online.

Pre Natal Yoga Event

2.30-4.30pm Saturday 12th March

The Basement Snug, Bank Gallery, 13 High Street, Kenilworth, CV8 1LY.

Well-Woman Yoga Event

2.30-5.30pm Saturday 21st May

Leek Wootton Village Hall, Warwick Road, CV35 7RB.

To book any of the above, head to ‘Book Classes’ on my website at www.livingyouryoga.co.uk

Balance+ Launch!

Many of you already know that I work alongside and support the work of Dr Louise Newson and her continual campaigns to create evidenced based information and support for peri-menopausal and menopausal women. She’s a very busy lady, continually inspiring new models to raise awareness, raise money and raise the hope for women that they can, and will, have the best support during the Menopause. The Balance App was initiated by Louise in order to reach out and support as many women as possible with evidence-based and medically approved information regarding the peri-menopause and menopause. In addition to this, I’m really excited to share that Balance+ is about to be launched! Dr Louise Newson and the Balance+ team (including me!) have been working to create a health and well-being companion, to better support women that are transitioning through the peri-menopause and menopause. The app includes information and support regarding mental health & well-being; nutrition & weight management; skin & hair; sexual health & pelvic floor; sleep & physical health, all tailored to the needs of peri-menopausal & menopausal women. You may even recognise some of your favourite Yoga moves and mediations on there ;)

Do spread the word and share the app news with all of those women that you know and love. The Balance app is free to download and Balance+ has a monthly or annual subscription. Head to www.balance-menopause.com for more information.

Yoga Therapy Case Study Call-Out

I’m now half way through my Yoga Therapy Training Course and throughout the duration of this course, I have been working with Case Study clients with various needs and conditions, from issues of bones & joints, to long covid & asthma, from menopause to matters of the heart, taking into consideration every level of being. In the coming months, I’ll be seeking a new Case Study Client and thought to put out a request here. If you have any health conditions that you’re suffering with and feel a sense of curiosity about whether Yoga Therapy can offer further support to you, then do drop me an email. Yoga Therapy is a holistic option that is designed to bring you into a more balanced way of being on every level of yourself; physically, energetically, emotionally, mentally, psychologically and spiritually. It can support you independently as a stand alone method of healing, or alongside medication and any other therapeutic care that you’re receiving. If you’d like more information on how I can support you with Yoga Therapy, do email: info@livingyouryoga.co.uk

Pre Natal Yoga

I’m really excited to announce that the next Pre Natal Yoga extended Session on Saturday 12th March will be at The Basement Snug in Kenilworth. It’s a beautiful new intimate space that provides all the props you could dream of and in such a beautiful environment. The groups sessions are smaller here, so there are limited spaces for this next event. Sessions include postural practices for the ever-changing body; breath work to support emotional health and labour preparation; meditation; Yoga Nidra and discussion.

Do book online or email me for further enquiries.

Well-Woman Yoga Event

Since the last Well-Woman Event was so beautiful and had such wonderful feedback, I have the next one booked in the diary already!

The next Well-Woman Yoga Event is on Saturday 21st May 2.30-5.30pm. for those that are new to this event, you’ll receive an afternoon of nourishing movement, breath work, meditation and relaxation practices, designed to bring you into a place of balance, calm and contentment. I’m hoping that it’ll be a warm day so that we can take our tea break outside - fingers crossed.

To book for this event, head to my website or email me for further enquiries.

Well-Woman Yoga Event, 2.30-5.30pm, Saturday 21st may 2022

A little advertisement for Mindfulness With Denise

Hi, some of you may know me from Lucy’s Friday morning mixed ability class (which is wonderful btw). Whether you are looking to deepen your mindfulness practice or a complete beginner, from Wednesday 9th March I will be offering a 60 minutes mindfulness practice session, every Wednesday morning from 9.30 - 10.30am at Kenilworth Tennis Squash and Croquet Club, on Crackley Lane, Kenilworth. Not only can mindfulness be a lovely way to relax, it can improve both our mental and physical well-being. It can reduce physical pain in cases of chronic illness like fibromyalgia, polymyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and back pain. It can also decrease stress, reduce anxiety, help with depression, improve our memory and generally makes us feel happier. Numbers are limited, so if you or anyone you know is interested, please contact me to reserve your place. Your first session is absolutely FREE 😊. Thereafter, you can book in advance per term (£5 per session) or drop-in for £6 per session. For more information about mindfulness check out my website at www.dcolehypnotherapy.co.uk.

Denise Cole, Mindfulness Teacher and Hypnotherapist. Tel: 07970012549 or email dcolehypnotherapy@hotmail.com.

Gift Vouchers

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I thought to put out a little reminder that you can now purchase (or ask to be gifted!) a Living Your Yoga Gift Voucher which can used for classes, events or 1:1’s! Do contact me to directly and I can post your gift voucher out to you or send via email.

*Yoga Nidra’s and short practices are also available to purchase and download via my website - another beautiful gift idea for Mother’s Day.

Self-Care Idea’s for Health & Happiness

I thought I’d throw in a handful of self-care idea’s that I’ve learnt through my Yoga practice over the years. I’m always making small changes to my daily/weekly habits to seek where I can be a bit healthier, feel a bit better and create space in my mind throughout my busy day. In my Yoga Therapy training, we’re often having to seek out what makes our clients happy, what lights them up or simply makes them feel a bit better in their day to day life. I hope there’s something here that you may find useful to try…

Tongue Scraping. Yes! A weird one to start with, but something strangely satisfying! First thing in the morning, recommended by Ayurvedic practitioners, is to scrape the coating off your tongue upon getting up. It encourages the removal of toxins (and makes your tongue feel pretty fresh!)
Warm Lemon Water. Every morning, drink warm water with freshly squeezed lemon. It’s hydrating, provides vitamin C and it may help get your digestive system moving.
Hugs. Cuddle everyone, well almost …anyone you love ;)
10 Minute Meditation. I know we’ve heard this a hundred times, but it really does do wonders if practiced daily. It can help settle those busy thoughts, bring you into the present moment and help your perspective shift. Simply bringing your attention to the breath, then watch the thoughts as they make their way in, notice what they are, notice if they really need your attention, and return back to observing the breath. I’ve found sitting on the floor practising this daily has given me a far better sense of awareness of my spine and mental habits.
Abhyanga/Self Massage. Another Ayuvedic practice that is wonderful in bringing a sense of really nourishing the whole self, on many levels. After showering/bathing, massage the whole body from head to toe with body oil. It doesn’t have to be an expensive oil, or scented. Almond oil is a handy (and cheap) one to have and you can always add your favourite essential oils to it.
Laugh. A lot. With family, friends, loved ones, comedies. When times are grey, there’s nothing like a good belly giggle to uplift and reconnect to yourself and those that you love.
Rest. Sleep when you can! It’s often difficult to switch off when there’s so much going on in the world, but we feel far happier when we’ve had a good rest! Yoga Nidra’s are really helpful in encouraging deep rest, especially if sleeping is something that you struggle with. A Yoga Nidra is also the perfect tonic for a quick siesta if you’ve got a busy day.
Move. Walk, swim, practice Yoga! We always feel better when we’ve moved in a way that we know makes us feel good. Do it every day.
Face Masks…yep! I love putting on a face pack and using that 10 minutes to lie down and be still or meditate. I love doing them with my mum too and having a giggle.
Gratefulness. Run a few things through your mind that you’re grateful for. We all have something, no matter how small.
Hug, kiss, hold and love all those that you love and let them know. It makes us all feel good.