Self-care Yoga
HOW TO USE YOGA TO HELP YOU BECOME BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY STRONG.
Claire is an experienced local yoga teacher.
Local yoga teacher Claire from Angel Yoga Surrey met up with us to discuss how you can include yoga in your self-care routine to help lead a less stressful, happier life.
With a growing awareness of our mental health, how does practising yoga support mental well-being specifically?
Yoga has been proven to calm and center the mind through its breathing practices, postures and meditation, reducing anxiety and depression. It also sharpens the brain. Just as lifting weights strengthens muscles, when we practise yoga, our brain cells develop new connections, changing brain structure and function, which results in improved memory, awareness of thoughts and the language we use, especially how we talk to ourselves.
In terms of physical health, what specific aspects of yoga practice can contribute to overall wellness, and how can individuals incorporate these into their self-care routines for the new year?
Yoga really is a whole package. One of the things I love about yoga is that it’s non-competitive. No one body is the same, so why should one exercise be the same? In yoga, one asana can be done in many ways, adapting to the individual. When we practise yoga postures (asanas) so much is going on. If you asked most people what a yoga posture does, they would say stretch, but take, for instance, Pigeon Pose. This pose improves the range of motion in the hips, strengthens the muscles that support the lower back, stretches the tendons around the lower spine, and connects to the Psoas muscle (known as the muscle of emotion) located in the lower region of the spine. When we hold a pigeon, we connect to this muscle to help relieve trauma, fear and anxiety.
Are there specific yoga poses or sequences that you recommend for individuals looking to enhance their self-care practices, and why do they work well for promoting both mental and physical health?
Generally, the poses we do not like or try to avoid are the poses we need the the most. If I could pick a sequence, I would say to make sure you move your spine in all 7 directions. This should be the focus of every yoga class, and it is one of the unique benefits of yoga. Everything originates from the spine. It is the first thing that is formed in the embryo. In yoga, we have a saying, you are as young as your spine is flexible, so try to incorporate Flexion (a forward fold), Extension (Back bend) Lateral side bend, Left and Right (Triangle Pose) Rotation, Twist, Left & Right and Ayial Extension (Lengthen, Ie Mountain Pose).
Many people set wellness goals in the new year. Can you suggest any ways that people can ensure they introduce yoga regularly into their weekly routine?
I would say if you are new to yoga or even trying to set up a regular routine, I would recommend practising first thing in the morning; I still run online classes for this reason. We practise at 6.30am for 30 minutes before the rest of the house wake up and the working day begins. There is no time for the excuses to kick in or day to life to get in the way. By 7am, we have finished our practice and are ready for the day. In Yoga, we believe early morning is that pure time of day to practise as the sun rises, keeps us in line with nature and fills us with gratitude for all that we have and our amazing bodies that are always doing their best to serve us.
What makes yoga a unique and effective tool for self-care, and why would you encourage someone to consider yoga as part of their New Year's resolutions for a healthier lifestyle?
I think yoga is like a life secret. Once you experience its benefits through finding the right teacher and the right style that suits you, you will not want to stop! It's the whole package, body, mind and breath. We lead busy lives always rushing, always doing. Quite often, we have simply forgotten how to slow down or feel guilty when we do. Yoga teaches us to listen to our body. It has infinite wisdom. When we slow down, we tune in or turn inwards. Coming onto our yoga mat, we refill our often depleted cups. Try it! Notice how you feel at the start of the class and how you feel at the end.
Yoga can be tailored to any level and is great as your self-care regime.
Tell us a bit about your retreat. What can attendees expect, and what makes going on a yoga retreat so effective?
My next retreat is in the world-renowned Yoga Venue of Santillan, Spain, just 20 minutes from Malaga. It is a venue that I have been using for the last six years. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and mountains, completely at one with nature. The sort of place that you just do not want to leave. My last retreat had a 100% rebooking rate, each guest got so much from that week in the sunshine that they knew they wanted to do it all again.
During our week together we delve deeper into our yoga practice with 2 yoga classes a day. Morning is a Hatha Yoga practice and Evening a Yin/restorative practice.
We incorporate transformational workshops too. This March, I will be sharing the healing tools of Ayurveda to bring the body back to health and balance. We have a workshop on the Power of the Mind with our self-image queen Tanya. We work on how to shed limiting beliefs and find our inner power to go for the things we want and love ourselves unconditionally. We will have a further workshop with Maya, our Holistic therapist, who will be sharing the Intuitive Power of Crystals, offering her unique treatment of using ancient techniques of Qi Gong, Crystal Therapy and Egyptian tools to unblock trauma and pain stored in the body.
All meals are either homegrown or locally sourced and included in retreat price. There will be optional evening meditation and relaxation sessions with therapists offering an array of healing treatments too. On-site, there is a saltwater swimming pool, Padel court, acres of gardens, and nature walks, and all guests will have their own room with a balcony or terrace.
So, why go on a yoga retreat? To take time for you.
We spend a lot of our days/time caring for others or busy in our work/home life that our needs are quite often last on the list. If we keep living this fast-paced life with no time for self-care or pressing pause, we will eventually burn out, leading to sickness/disease, causing damage to not only just our bodies but our mental and emotional health. When we take a week on a retreat we allow time to stop, we allow time to listen, to process, to uncover the blockages to release stresses and tension. We meet like-minded people, fill our bodies with nourishing foods (that we have not had to source or cook), build community and connection, and, most importantly, come home to ourselves.
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