Harmonise Blog
- Cultivating the Relaxation Response: Self-awareness and mindful practices to enhance well-being
I have noticed a distinctive shift in my energy over the past few days, aligning with the super blue full moon and changing seasons; a time for letting go, turning within and coming home to self. Initially, I planned to work on my book at a friend’s place this weekend, however when the time approached, it didn’t feel in my alignment. Instead of frustration, I sat with the realisation that I didn’t have to go, that I had choices. It felt empowering after many years lacking this awareness in my life. I allowed myself to tune into my current needs, … Read more - From Mats to Milestones: Inspiring journeys of success from our Teacher Training graduates
I just loved the energy and atmosphere at the recent Brighton Yoga Foundation’s 10th Brighton Yoga festival; a gathering of like-minded teachers, entrepreneurs and volunteers came together to create a buzzing charity event. The festival not only showcased the holistic benefits of yoga and other wellness practices but also told the stories of those whose lives have been transformed by the activities of the BYF. From trauma survivors, addicts and the homeless, to ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ groups, witnessing these narratives firsthand was a profound experience. It underscores the far-reaching benefits of all styles of yoga as well as other … Read more - How well are you breathing? 10 Top Tips for better balanced breath
Hands up who suffers from summer allergies? Winter sniffles? Or other seasonal, environment or health-related sinus issues? – Breathe easy! Breath is central to both teaching and participating in an effective Pilates or Yoga class. Everything begins with the breath – including the very first thing we do when we are born into the world – we take an inhalation. Breath and the nervous system Inhalation is associated with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) – which is motivating, uplifting and energising. I don’t see it as any accident that another word for it is ‘inspiration’. It is the SNS that … Read more - The magic of union and sharing yoga
When people ask me how I came to yoga, I reply that it wasn’t something I found. It’s very simple. Yoga found me. My yoga story As the saying goes ‘when the student is ready, the teacher will appear’. I had dipped in and out of many classes over the years and can even remember buying a book on sun salutations in 1997 when I was travelling, and practicing on the roof tops of hostels. However, it wasn’t until I embarked on my 200hr yoga teacher training, almost 10 years ago, that I realised the full depth and breadth the … Read more - From Myofascia to Mental health; Pilates from a body-mind perspective
A regular Pilates practice may help with physical fitness and body contouring, both flattening the abs and toning the whole body – a sure-fire motivational factor to attend class for many. However, there is a much, much bigger picture at play. I believe we are in the midst of extremely exciting times for mind-body movement. - Are you your own best friend? Yoga practices to help you find your inner light.
Every time I deliver a yoga teacher training course, students are surprised at how much MORE there is to the practice of yoga. They experience how much yoga can enhance our quality of lives on a day-to-day basis – physically, mentally, energetically, emotionally and spiritually. Hence the increasingly popular phrase ‘transformational yoga’. It can help us to make decisions; it influences the way we communicate; the words we choose; how we may respond to ‘difficult’ e-mails, people and situations; the food we eat; how we spend our time; the way we choose to think and feel; and ultimately, how we … Read more - Discovering Your Inner Energy: A journey to Chakra opening through awareness in yoga
“Where awareness goes, energy flows.“ During a practical class, one of the students on our 200hr yoga teacher training course shared that she saw an image of her chakras and the related colours on the wall opposite her! It was during bow pose (Dhanurasana), a deep heart opener*. “Was that my chakras opening up?” she asked. I gave this some consideration. We had practiced some supine hands-free alternate nostril breathing at the start of the class, progressing to breathing up and down the left and right sides of the body, then bringing our awareness into the central energy channel with … Read more - Unlocking the power of healing: The potential for transformation through yoga and meditation
“You can only heal others when you yourself have TRULY healed.“ I have been feeling a draw to run yoga and wellbeing retreats for many years. Last year I ran my first 2 successful retreats and witnessed some profound shifts amongst the participants who joined. At the end of my last retreat, I understood for the first time what it truly meant to hold space, to shine your light and to share your vibrational frequency with others. During the closing circle, I led with a spontaneous short chakra meditation that I hadn’t planned. The words ‘came to me’ as I … Read more - Are you sitting comfortably? You don’t need to be able to sit in full lotus to focus the mind for meditation.
Meditation and pranayama are powerful tools for reducing stress, improving mental clarity, and increasing overall well-being. But you don’t need to be able to access advanced postures to reap the benefits! During the recent history of yoga workshop I delivered, I shared that there are 84 yoga Asana (postures) identifed in the Hatha Yoga Pradapika. In a series of workshops, Yoga Master Marcel Andres Hopegen stated that, of these, 4 were considered the most significant: Siddhasana – Accomplished pose Padmasana – Lotus pose Bhadrasana – Gracious / Butterfly / Auspicious Simhasana – Lion’s breath Of these, he deemed Siddhasana as … Read more - What’s the difference between a yoga holiday and a yoga retreat?
An authentic yoga retreat calls for some kind of withdrawal; from our hectic, busy, day to day life; from thoughts which tend to come from our subconscious conditioning and habits; and from fulfilling the expectations of our ‘human self’ and others. A retreat is a place where we can slow down, turn within, reflect on how we are living our lives, and whether we wish to make changes to improve our balance, emotions, health, wealth, rel.ationships, and life purpose – in relation with our ‘true self’. The Cambridge dictionary defines retreat as ‘to go away from a place or person in order … Read more - The truth about self-care and pregnancy: the unexpected benefits of yoga and Pilates
I completed my initial training in pre and post-natal exercise during my personal training diploma a few years before I became pregnant with my first daughter, some 22 years ago. Yet, even with all the knowledge I had, the specialist workshops and classes I gave and research I had done around the subject; when I reflect now, there were times when I didn’t listen to the deeper needs of my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. I did all the ‘right’ things in terms of what I ate, I stopped drinking, I didn’t smoke, I exercised regularly and within … Read more
