Week 8: May Theme: Compassion Quotation: “Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.” St Francis de Sales (1567-1622), French Bishop This week’s Task: Heal your future self: We are so busy worrying about others, we can forget to worry about ourselves. Compassion for the self is just as important as compassion for others. This week, use a notebook, journal or even write on scraps of paper and put them in a special box or jar to write three ideas each day that might help you feel better on a bad day. It could be a joke, an inspirational message or even a simple recipe. Return to the ideas in the future when you need some self-compassion. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro 23.5.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga Tech points: There was a slight hiccup this morning when a message from Zoom flashed up saying recording had started. It seems everyone saw the message and had to cancel it somehow – directions were on the screen. Maybe this is something new from Zoom to be aware of next time. It’s not a problem but a bit disturbing for people already lying down. It doesn’t affect the recording in any way. Another pointer for live zooms is that you may be able to use the space bar to temporarily unmute rather than using the icon. This could be useful if you just want to say something quickly and then you’ll go straight back to mute. Today’s class started with the Moon Sequence/Chandra Namaskar in honour of the full moon this Wednesday. We are still in the action phase of the moon cycle so now is the time to review our plans and intentions and complete any actions we need to take before letting go and leaving it to the universe. Have blocks handy if you want to do the full version of side stretches. Two blocks ideally, or you can move one to the other side if necessary. We continued with the Seat of Compassion. You can use a chair or blocks for Crane pose. Then the Flowing Tree – challenge yourself by closing your eyes or gradually moving higher with each completed Tree. Seated and supine poses: Half Lord of the Fishes, Flowing Bridge and Belly Twist. What are your ideas? So how can you heal your future self? What are your ideas? I've got a couple of beautiful boxes which I bought at the Yoga Show back in those days when big crowds could gather. Imagine when we all squeezed ourselves into tiny spaces with elbows and toes almost touching???! Both boxes are decorated with Ganesha, the elephant god, who is known for removing obstacles. The boxes themselves are made from a single piece of wood which turns to open (rather than lifting off completely). Some of you may remember I used them to collect my yoga fees and they are my other half's favourite yoga item! At the moment they are still looking beautiful although they've lost their practical purpose now most of you are paying online. You may spot one of them on my "yoga altar" in the corner of the room. My plan this week is to use the bigger box for my ideas which I'm going to write on three different scraps of paper each day. By next Sunday I should have 21 ideas to make my future self feel better. What are my ideas? I will share a few with you next week but for today I'm going to write: Idea 1: Housework probably won't kill you but why take the risk? Have a day off - and relax. Idea 2: Make yourself a hot chocolate drink with milk and real chocolate. Sit down and enjoy. Idea 3: Read a chapter from Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. Please share your ideas in the comments section. The more the better. Let's fill up those boxes with ideas and compassion.
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Week 7: Today we celebrated the sun which has been a bit lacking recently but is hopefully saving itself for the fantastic long summer to come. I'll be in Lodge Farm Park again this Tuesday (whatever the weather!) and, as long as there are no last minute Covid restrictions to stall Boris' famous "roadmap" numbers no longer have to be limited. There will still be two sessions (morning and afternoon) so that I can keep both classes small enough to maintain social distancing without having to shout. Please continue to let me know you're coming by booking online and/or emailing me. Let's hope for lots of sunshine although last week we managed very well in light rain under our special tree. Quotation: “No-one knows the weight of another’s burden.” George Herbert (1593-1633), Welsh Poet This week’s Task: Share a smile: Smiling is a small kindness, but it can have a big impact. This week, smile reassuringly at anyone who appears upset – perhaps an angry customer in a store, a colleague coping with a tricky client call or a moody teenager struggling with school work. Also, set a daily reminder on your phone to lift your head and smile at the next person you see. Your smile could show the compassion that lightens the load. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro 16.5.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga 75 minute class with a longer savasana for those who want it. Today’s class starts with body preps for the Sun Salutation as we’re in the active, action part of the moon cycle. We then practice a gentle modified version of the Dru Sun Salutation/Surya Namaskar including three rotations (part of the Tibetan Rites for eternal health and youth! and as practised into old age by Bruce Forsyth!) with the mantra “Om Sri Surya Namaskar” which translates as “I honour the sun”. We finish the standing section with Flowing Tree/Vrikshasana and the option to practise the Bikram version of Tree in half standing lotus. Have a chair or wall handy for balance if you need it. We complete the practice with the Tree of Transformation including the Mudra for Clarity as often used by politicians preparing for a difficult speech. Seated and supine poses: Half Lord of the Fishes with optional Kapalbhati, Flowing Bridge and Belly Twist. Optional rolls for fun (be mindful of back issues!). Note: Kapalbhati is a powerful cleansing breath which will detox the whole body and bring blood flowing into the head. The English translation is Shining Skull Breath. Avoid if you have heart issues, high blood pressure, eye issues eg glaucoma or detached retina or if you are pregnant. Alternatives are just breathing normally, Ujayii Breath or full yogic breath (three or four part). A trial week including park classes, live zooms, recordings AND a 1-1 zoom session only costs £5 (pay by bank transfer or cash if you are coming to the park). After that you can decide to continue as a Gold Member by paying in advance for remaining weeks up to 3rd July (from next week only £30 reducing by £5 each week) OR pay for individual classes at £5 as you go. Email: [email protected] for more details. Week 5: Task and Affirmation April Theme: Compassion Quotation: “Reject hatred without hating.” Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910), US Spiritualist This week’s Task: Treat anger with compassion: This week, when faced with someone else’s anger or negativity, make a conscious effort not to react defensively, but with compassion. Take a moment – even ask for one if you need to – and view things from the other person’s perspective, then respond gently and empathetically. When the situation has passed, make a gesture of kindness (for example, a cup of tea on a desk or a note of friendship. Taken from Every Day Matters Diary by Dani DiPirro 2.5.21 Stretch & Flow Yoga Today’s class includes the Seat of Compassion sequence incorporating Lotus Chair, Charity Pose, Crane, a variation of mast with waves of compassion from an open runner position and Spirals. Have a chair or blocks nearby for Crane which is an inversion improving circulation to the head, strengthening the spine, pelvic girdle and legs as well as improving balance. Stay with the first option of stretching the arms upwards or modify using a chair if inversions are contra-indicated for you (high blood pressure, hernia, detached retina, pregnancy or spinal disc problems). We also practise Eagle/Garudasana pose which is a powerful balance strengthening the muscles in the hips, thighs, calves and ankles. Flexibility in the shoulders, hips and ankles is improved and circulation to the sexual organs and the kidneys increased. Garudasana helps us to cultivate and align with the truth. It brings clarity and insight, enabling us to see life from a higher perspective. We are now at Week 5 of the membership block. New joiners can have a trial week for £5 and then pay the balance of £40 for the remaining weeks up to 3rd July - amazing value with unlimited access to live zooms, recordings AND outdoor classes for 9 weeks! |
MARY GRIFFITHSI qualified to teach in 2015 but my yoga journey started much earlier, way back in the 1970s. Here I share my experiences and passion about everything yoga. Archives
May 2021
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