I think they call that a false start!!!🙈

So just when you think it was safe to get back in the water 🏖🤢😰
Yep it got me..
I got covid again!!! And yes.... it was just as bad as I remembered it 😭
( sympathy is with all that have had a bad bout of covid )
Me n my husband ( who passed it on to me 😤,  not that I'm pointing the finger ....) supported each other and propped each other up... ☺️
( actually I waited on him all week as usual 🙌😆)  cus he felt worse than me, obviously 🙃 🙄
But thank the Lord I am back in the land of the living ( truly grateful cus I know that's not the case for all 🙏)
So back at the gym, slowly.
Catch up soon... 🙌

It's been too long 🤷

Well that's an understatement 🙃
Was my last blog really 2019?
Time for an update I think 🤔
Watch this space...
🫂

and there's more...: Judgement day

and there's more...: Judgement day: so my exam day has arrived, and I have been revising loads.....but there is so much to learn and not enough hours to revise everything!!! ...

Judgement day

so my exam day has arrived, and I have been revising loads.....but there is so much to learn and not enough hours to revise everything!!!

And to be honest I am not feeling nervous about sitting the exam 
( which is really surprising...it must be due to all that meditation I have been doing )
 Its fair to say that I am a bit apprehensive ....
If the right questions come up I will pass...
If they dont...I'm gonna fail...
Simple as that.....
Thats what I have been telling myself anyway 😉
wish me luck 😉

and there's more...: Nothing going in!!!!!

and there's more...: Nothing going in!!!!!: Information Overload So i have failed my  A and P exam by just 3 marks!!!! To be fair ..I really didnt put enough time in...

Nothing going in!!!!!

Information Overload

So i have failed my  A and P exam by just 3 marks!!!!

To be fair ..I really didnt put enough time into revising.  I was being optimistic and hoping the questions would fall my way ( well they might have done  😃😃 )

Yes I now know,  that they didnt .....

So I put straight back in for it  ( well I didnt want to forget the information that I HAD learnt 😁 )   It took months to get it in there, but believe me it dosnt take long to get it out...I think it gets lost in commuting   lol  )

      or is that communication!!!!

My brain is so full of anatomy and physiology terms that I now do not know if I am standing on my ****  or my elbow   ( apologies if you are of a sensitive nature )

So my nxt exam date is looming  ( 2 days time actually )   and I feel like I could do with a holiday!!😎😎

But its got to be done....

wish me luck     

watch this space   x

and there's more...: 2 months since my last post ???? How can that be!...

and there's more...: 2 months since my last post ???? How can that be!...: Hello I can not believe that I have not posted for so long.... And to be honest much of it seems a blur!!!! Its fair to say that I do...

2 months since my last post ???? How can that be!!!

Hello

I can not believe that I have not posted for so long....

And to be honest much of it seems a blur!!!!

Its fair to say that I do feel really tired and am in automatic pilot

*  5 am awake ...the norm now for getting up ( as I am dropping my son off still at the train station for his journey into work )😊
*  Then back home...with a detour to the gym on Tuesdays and Wednesdays ( because tragically our muscle deteriates  as we get older...so we have to put more effort in to get the same result!!!!)
*  Then back home prepare breakfast and off to work on Mondays and Thursday ( yes i still have my job ..its been 4 months now!!!  )🕣
*  Body Balance on a wednesday and friday ( cant give that up...  love it )😍
*  And there my Yoga class on a saturday ( I absolutely love sharing my passion for Yoga with newbys and regulars .... I love that they are sharing and joining me on my journey )🙏
and not forgetting the housework, cooking, cleaning, and preparing for my classes....and I still have exams and papers to submit!!!!😣
and not forgetting family and frends ( thats really important too )
must find time to fit in a ladies lunch 😉

yes i can see why I'm tired lol.... but its all good.... it means im alive  ( exhausted but alive )😍😍😍😍

Have a fab day 💋

and there's more...: cant believe its been another month

and there's more...: cant believe its been another month: How can it be a month since I last posted!!!! Unbelievable how quick time is flying by. Time is mainly took up with my yoga classes ( o...

cant believe its been another month

How can it be a month since I last posted!!!!

Unbelievable how quick time is flying by.
Time is mainly took up with my yoga classes ( or the preparation of them ) 
I love teaching yoga even tho it is very early days and I have so much to learn.  And of course I am still doing my body balance classes!!!!
To be honest tho, I feel exhausted most of the time    ( in a good way )
I just hope my energy levels are going to rise to it.... SOOONNNN   lol
I like to research each pose I teach and like to give out an instruction sheet for my students to take home. And it all takes up a lot of time.
I think its really useful if they can do a little bit of practice at home...it gives them confidence for when they come to the next class
( and its lovly when they ask  'which pose are we learning this week?' )
I love to find different music for the meditation... I listen to it loads during the week to see how it makes me feel
This week we listened to GayatriMantra 💞 I love this, but there are some arrangements that I really love....and others that I dont like quite as much!!!!
Feedback was amazing..... everyone loved it too.
Its not a big class but everyone is really lovly and we are going on this journey together, improving every week, getting more calm each week and hopefully taking something really beneficial away with them when they leave the class.

I hope they will continue to join me

and we can grow together

love n light

🙇

and there's more...: has it really been 25 days !

and there's more...: has it really been 25 days !: That really is unbelievable....its been 25 days since my last post January was just coming to an end...and in the blink of an eye its now n...

has it really been 25 days !

That really is unbelievable....its been 25 days since my last post
January was just coming to an end...and in the blink of an eye its now nearly the end of February.... )

This month has been equally as crazy as last month.
So last week was my 1st class ( I say class it was actually me stepping in for someone to do the meditation at the end of a class )  thats another blog

3!!!!  of my grandchildren had birthdays in february  you would have thought the mothers could have been a bit more considerate 😉


Still persevering with my new job ( 6 weeks now )

Am over the moon as I submitted my 1st yoga paper and passed, thank the Lord!  I did put an absurd amount of work i and was quite often burning the midnight oil writing, but so thrilled to see it pay off, 3 to go and 2 exams to sit, no pain no gain!!!!

Have my 1st 'proper yoga class ' to teach next week.  yes very nervous.  but its got to be done.

focusing on my classes, body balance mainly,  (I need it for my sanity)

Also just started a daily yoga regime at home ( vinyasa flow ) 6 days in ...phewwwww

Feeling exhausted, but in a good way ( i think 😉)

Thank you for joining me on my journey

Namaste

and there's more...: Mad January

and there's more...: Mad January: Wow what a Mad start to the year...and I can not believe January 2018 is nearly gone.... and what a month it has been  Me passing my yoga...

Mad January

Wow what a Mad start to the year...and I can not believe January 2018 is nearly gone....
and what a month it has been 

Me passing my yoga instructor practical ( now that was intense)
Glad that is finished...or may be I should say just beginning ( my journey that is....)

And just typical of me...I decided to get back into the world of optics...
( I am doing a couple of days for my cousins boss!!! )
So getting refreshed in that has been somewhat time consuming....( 3rd week in and Im beginning to get back into it )

And on top of that trying to get my 16 yr old settled into an apprenticeship ( because if I dont...he wont!!!  )

And then theres my other 4 children who also want a bit of me...especially that daughter 😉😉

And not forgetting the 8 granchildren.......

Oh yes and I just remembered......( my lovly husband needs a little bit of my time 💖💖)

Wow...thats a lot of hrs in the day

And then of course I have to 'fit' 😉  in my classes  ( body balance, yoga, gym sessions.....and a new one for this year BODY PUMP💪💪💪

And when I look at it like that no wandered Im looking exhausted !!!!!!

its been a good start to 2018 ( if not a little tiring )

Thank the Lord for it..

and there's more...: Am I glad to get that out of the way

and there's more...: Am I glad to get that out of the way: Yoga Practical Assessment Looming...And breathe Its fair to say that I love yoga, but I'm guessing you know that from my blogs Bu...

Am I glad to get that out of the way

Yoga Practical Assessment Looming...And breathe

Its fair to say that I love yoga, but I'm guessing you know that from my blogs

But this last 6 months have really challenged me, in every sense..

6 months preparing for my practical exam ( to enable me to instruct a class ) eat breathe and sleep yoga 

which as we all know does not make me an expert...far from it

So the day Arrived, the day I had been dreading since I was given my assessment date ( 6 months ago ) and I was really nervous.

The idea of teaching a group of strangers was very scary.

I thought I had gone over every single thing, checking paperwork, obtaining all relevant equipment ( blocks straps mats etc ) making sure my journal was up to date, ensuring water was available, AND, practising my routine til I really couldnt remember wether I was on my right or left side.

I must of gone over everything 100 times!!!!

It didnt start well,  How ever I managed it I will never know ( I had forgot an essential piece of coursework! how could that be? ) The worst possible scenario had showed itself!!!!

So my assessor  advised me to complete it there on the day, (how could I do that) which was not just stressful but really annoying because I wasnt able to do it to my standard, but I had to submit it or fail, before I'd even started

And all that achieved was to make me even more stressed...arghhhh

I did my practical ( even though I just wanted to run and hide myself, somewhere I found the strength and calm to complete it )

No it wasnt how I would have liked it to have been, but I did it

~He wasnt going to give me a pass~

no way...but hey I gave it my best shot

I was invited in to speak to my assessor and get my feedback, he said he knew I had had a stressful day ( tell me about it ) he asked me several questions about my class and how I would progress it ( which really irritated me, because what did it matter if I hadnt passed?)

 Well....I could have 'pee'd my pants'

'I'm pleased to tell you that you have passed' he said

Well I nearly PASSED OUT!!!!  My eyes leaked too!!!!

I didnt know wether to cry or hug him  ( so I did both........ )

( its fair to say that on the day when it mattered I had a lot of support from my class mates and my assessor.....)

thank the Lord ( and may be a little bit of yoga 😉) for the strength I found to get me through it....

And breathe........

and there's more...: Yoga props

and there's more...: Yoga props: Good morning...i hope you are well and enjoying your xmas time.... Thank you for sharing my journey ....this is just a little bit of ...

Yoga props

Good morning...i hope you are well and enjoying your xmas time....

Thank you for sharing my journey ....this is just a little bit of information about props and my feelings on them...( i hope you find it informative )

Props

Should I use props in yoga?

What are props?

Props are items that can help with alignment and getting into a posture safely ( where otherwise you may not be able to…  either through mobility/illness/injury/issues etc)

They can come in the form of blocks bricks straps blankets bolster

( even a chair could be seen as a prop..a folding one would be a good choice if you are on the move! )

Props don’t always have to be purchased from shops/gyms etc…. a phone directory or book can quite easily double up as a block at home and most belts, especially the canvas ones, are perfect as straps…..

The short answer is YES

of course it is OK to use props.

It is fair to say that a lot of people see props as a sign of a beginner ( not everyone likes to let on that they have not done yoga for very long ) or that they are not very good at it…. or even as a failure.

( I must admit I was one such person, the idea that the instructor would offer me props ( when I 1st started doing yoga ) would have been mortifying……)

people wrongly think that if you use props that you are not a 'proper yogi'

But when you  realise that BKS Iyengar encouraged the use of props ( especially after he had a motorbike accident for his own personal recovery journey)  He even eventually became known primarily for his emphasis on using props….. it gives you a whole new take on the use of props.

Its probably fair to say that a lot of yoga classes do not introduce props or instruct how to use them and it is left to the individual to use them if they choose to.

Over time ( thankfully ) I have come to realise that it is Ok and even good to use props if you want to or feel it will enhance your practice…. because it is your practice…your journey…

Props can and do help the individual to get into postures safely and with proper alignment ( where otherwise said postures may not be accesible )  It allows you to experience the pose and its benefits.

So even if your hamstrings are short/tight or shoulders/hips are tight, for example, you can still experience the poses. 

Props help to make yoga accessible to beginners/those with injuries/those with physical limitations and other issues.

And that is always a good thing..

( more about props, and HOW to use them to follow )

and there's more...: vinyasa class

and there's more...: vinyasa class: Hi ..just to show i'm still hard at it.. and just in case you want to come along for the journey...  Hope your xmas is happy healthy a...

vinyasa class

Hi ..just to show i'm still hard at it.. and just in case you want to come along for the journey...  Hope your xmas is happy healthy and enjoyable....

Vinyasa class

My vinyasa class started on the mat this morning with a few spinal twists.

We started on our back.  knees above hips and then lower  to one side, feeling a nice stretch in side and spine.  Then repeat on other side.

2nd round bodies warming up, as we lower knees to one side we turn head to opposite side to intensify stretch, and there is also an option to hold knees with hand to again intensify stretch…holding for several breaths here, breathing deeply into stretch.

Then coming into our 1st down ward dog knees bent 1st round peddling the heels, taking time here to gently warm up hamstrings/calves.

love the stretch that this gives to the shoulders and back.

And from there into a forward fold.. afew breaths here…into rag doll, again stretching hamstrings and back into downward dog for several breaths.

come to standing and first full body stretch and small back bend… back to forward fold..table top…forward fold x 4

then into plank and chataranga and back to downward dog.

holding this for several breaths, breathing into stretch.

Next into lunge ..onto twisted lunge both sides, walking back to front of mat.

next downward dog again for several breaths

into standing and onto balance pose. balance on one leg taking hold either under knee or toe if possible and take out to side of body ( not my favorite pose, my hips don’t want to open anyway and sepecially not out to side of body…I always seem to get an ache in my glute in this pose which quickly turns into a cramp…owch )

Then onto other side, followed by leg raised and taken across front of body and toe held with opposite hand.

Leg taken behind and then back into downward dog and flowing into some one legged balance using opposite hand for support…holding for several breaths here. Back to downward dog and then onto other leg.

Followed by yet another downward dog ( this time a wide legged version )

Next was trikonasana ( triangle pose ) good for obliques/spine/legs

And yes back into downward dog

forward fold to stretch out the spine and into rag doll.

Time for a little respite!

back to supine twists to  stretch out those tired muscles.

Up to seated cross legged… forward fold ( if that is even possible ! ) and not forgetting on the other leg!

then onto cobblers pose… ( and breathe )

Balasana….and savasana  Phewwwwww

This was quite a challenging class…there was not many options to rest ( unless you class downward dog as a rest! )

But I feel energised yet calm and very very warm…..

( I didn’t count them but there must have been at least 40 downward facing dog!!!! )

Namaste