December 2017 Newsletter

Wishing you a lovely, relaxing Christmas holiday.

Last Class is Friday  22nd December 

Next Class is Thursday 4th January

  Yoga

I try to make all my yoga classes balanced. A balance between body strength and flexibility, a balance between doing/working/exercising and just being/letting go/relaxing. Did you know Savasana is the most important yoga posture ? And possibly the hardest because we have to achieve stillness. Last month we were  exploring enjoyable yoga techniques to achieve stillness. The warm face cloth/compress over the forehead whilst listening to a wonderful yoga nidra meditation by Lila Kirtana everyone loved. Here is the simple essential oil blend we used, proven in class to treat headaches. Add 3 drops of lavender and peppermint essential oils to a dessertspoon of unrefined preferably organic oil (sesame or almond are recommended) Add the oil to a bowl of warm water and stir. Dip in your face cloth, squeeze out excess moisture and place over your forehead, third eye. It can also be placed over the eyes, be careful peppermint may irritate the eyes. Play some soft relaxing music, or simply place your hands on your belly and chest, breath through your nose and feel your body breathe. You might need this one over the Christmas holidays!

Ayurveda-Sound Healing

We can hear sound because it is a form of energy and some sounds particularly musical instruments and the human voice in particular can help bring about positive change mentally and emotionally. Sound can energise, wake you up. Think drums and dancing, good for the base chakra and depression. Whilst other sounds can help you feel relaxed. Silence can help you relax and let go. Instruments such as the piano help open your heart and make you feel love. Ed Sheeran uses his voice and guitar! We will be exploring sound and its connection to the health of the body and mind in our classes over the next month in particular yoga music which includes ancient chants, special musical instruments and lovely voices and harmonies.

FOOD THERAPY

We have had such lovely weather this November. I wrote this on the 17th

This morning I had no plans...luxury...except to spend the morning in my garden. Well not quite true I did do a load of washing and cleaned out the fridge but then I headed out into the sunshine and sat for a while enjoying the cool breeze and the warmth of the sun. I watered my garden and picked my first zucchini of the year. I admired all my beautiful veggies and fruit trees and then I sat some more. Doing nothing, just being……enjoying my own company.

Morning tea was homemade banana bread and an organic coffee on the veranda and lunch was something I made up today. I will call it zucchini summer stew and will make it often as I always get lots of zucchini and it was simple and delicious.

What things do you enjoy/love doing that make you feel happy and content ? Make sure you make the time for them especially if you are feeling down or have low energy.

Zucchini Summer Stew

1 medium zucchini

A small bunch of herbs

My seed mix. Chia,, pumpkin, flax and sunflower blended in bullet.

A large knob of butter

A Generous drizzle of olive oil

1 tomato, maybe garlic ?

Grated parmesan to taste/

Or yeast flakes

I fried the zucchini in butter until it softened. Once some of it had gone a little brown I turned down the heat added the tomato and extra virgin olive oil and put the lid on to retain the lovely juice. While it was cooking I whizzed the seeds and parmesan in my bullet and stirred them in at the end. Would be lovely with some sour dough bread to dip but I ate it with out. The seeds and oil made it filling and it was delicious….and it took 15 minutes to make.

Wise words from Mia Fiennes to help you through this busy time of year……...

Stop. Take a deep, cleansing breath. In fact, treat yourself, take a few more.

Namaste           Julie