This class is for people looking to gently release, reset and recharge after a long week, to de-stress and feel rejuvenated to move into their weekend with more energy and a sense of centredness. Enjoy gentle yoga poses to stretch and release tension, improve flexibility, and ease stiff and achy joints and muscles after a long working week. The focus is not on strength-building (no planks in this class!) but on connecting to the body and breath through calming, mindful yoga poses. As well as this relaxing movement practice, we will practice breathwork and vagus nerve activation exercises to reset and calm the nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety, before lying down to finish with 20 minutes of yoga nidra.
Yoga nidra is a deep rest practice, combining elements of meditation, breath awareness, hypnosis, and grounding techniques. The mind is guided into a trance-like state of awareness, and the body experiences a nurturing, peaceful rest. Through body scans, visualisations and more, the experience of yoga nidra is a magical liminal state of consciousness where you linger in the deliciously creative, healing, and restorative place between wakefulness and sleep. It’s excellent for those who find meditation challenging, but also a great compliment to a meditation practice. Ideal for people who find it hard to rest, be still, or fall asleep, it’s an incredible energy recharge which is much more revitalising than a power nap. Your brain waves move into the deep healing states that you enter in sleep, so for anyone looking for support on their healing or recovery journeys, yoga nidra is for you. As I am personally a survivor of Long Covid, this class is accessible to anyone with chronic illness, pain or disabilities who want to reap the benefits of mind, body, & spirit connectedness through yoga without having to push themselves too hard physically.
Warmly welcoming to LGBTQ+, BBPoC folks and anyone experiencing burnout, I aim to build a sense of community for people who feel called to rest in this busy, chaotic, stressful world so if this resonates with you, I hope to see you in class.
