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...