Hello and a big welcome to 2025 - I hope this new year brings with it some lovely hopes, dreams and plans for you and yours! And I trust that Christmas and the weird time where no one knows what day it is (but you do know it is probably time for cheese and chocolate) was a nice break from routine - if you were fortunate enough to be able to take that time off.
Someone asked me an interesting question in that cheese and chocolate filled lull between Christmas and New Year. They asked me what I had learnt in 2024. It was a question that left me pondering for a long time - I thought firstly about the things I had literally learnt, books I had read, training I had undertaken. I thought about the things I had learnt about being self employed. I thought about the things I had learnt that I actually needed to learn more about – boundaries, parenting a teenager, managing complex family relationships, life in general. I thought about the things that I felt I needed to re-learn, such as taking rest when I need too rather than just reminding other people to do so…..
I haven’t come up with a definitive answer, but I suspect it might be that I have learnt what genuine, sincere gratitude feels like. Every day I get to wake up and do something I love. I have met so many amazing people through yoga and sound baths. Sometimes there is a class or event I extra especially love running, sometimes I get the chance to do unexpected things with unexpected people. Sometimes I get to collaborate with other people, last year I worked in 2024 with several other people to help them curate gorgeous events. In most cases I am working with these people again in the first few months of 2025 and I love that! Keep your eyes peeled for these events, I will put them on social media, and if you fancy an afternoon or day of calm with some very beautiful souls then I heartily recommend offerings of both Pause retreats and Pink Rainbow retreats! The gratitude I feel for being able to do this work spills over into a deeper appreciation of everything else; family, friends, and of course nature.
Speaking of nature; something else I learnt this year is that for our ancestors New Year used to start in March. I really love that idea, by March midwinter is over, you have had the time to think, dream and rest whilst it is dark and cold, and when light and life begins to fully return to the earth, that was also when us humans would begin a new year. Ideally we would spend the rest of the winter continuing to focus on taking extra rest, taking time to look within whenever you can so as not to burn yourself out, take time to explore what you want more of and less of in life. And then to do as our ancestors did and emerge with new plans and ideas in March when the flowers, trees, animals, birds and the sun itself does.
So, what is happening in 2025 at Emma’s Yoga Hut!
Our lovely weekly classes are back the week of 6th January – I cannot wait to see you all then! All our classes and stand alone events for January are fully booked already.
Yoga: As of March, the first Friday of every month will have a Friday Rest and Unwind Yin and Yoga Nidra. Join us for beautifully nourishing long held yin yoga poses. Followed by a gorgeously restful Yoga Nidra guided meditation, all wrapped up with organic herbal teas and home made treats. The next one will be March 7th 2025 at Emma’s Yoga Hut in Earley. Everything you need is provided. Booking essential.
Sound: Our Full Moon Luxury Sound baths are fully booked for January and February, But March still some spaces. Everything you need is provided, including doubled up yoga mats for comfort. You will be guided into relaxation, rest in an oasis of soothing sound and then enjoy organic herbal teas and home made treats with moon or seasonal oracle cards before you head out into the moonlight. Again, booking essential.
Not in the Hut:
February 21st Sound bath at Earley Crescent Resource Centre, enjoy a seasonal guided meditation with sound, which gently eases into the restful Sound Bath. Followed by home made bliss balls and oracle cards. With spring just around the corner take this time to cleanse the remains of winter away as we begin enjoy the slow return of light. This has already started filling up so if this sounds like something you would enjoy then hop on quick!
Spring Equinox: I am very excited to be in the planning phases of a Spring Equinox Evening 21st March at Earley Crescent Resource Centre – it will be along the lines of our alternative Christmas night out but with a Spring vibe! This is still very much at the creation stage but I will keep you up to date.
BRAND NEW!
I am collaborating with the very lovely Laura who is a fitness yoga instructor to offer a relaxed yoga and sound event. Laura will run a gentle breathwork and restorative yoga class, which will be followed with a calming immersive Sound Bath. These are going to be the last Friday of the month at 7 – 930pm in Winnersh. Please do get in touch if you are interested in coming along. £20pp
Wishing you a very gentle, peaceful start to 2025. Take care of yourself, remember we are still in midwinter and so it is not quite the time to rush out and start new things - unless you feel like it is the right time for you to do so! I hope to see you very soon!
With love,
Emma xx
(Emma runs Emma’s Yoga Hut in Earley. A tiny garden studio for small group yoga tuition. She is a yoga student and yoga teacher and has practiced yoga for nearly 30 years. She trained with the Traditional Yoga Association right here in Reading between 2016 and 2018 to achieve her 500 hour yoga teaching accreditation. She has additional teaching qualifications in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra. She is an accredited Sound Bath Facilitator and specialises in crystal singing bowls. She teaches Chair Yoga classes at local community centres where there is almost always a coffee and a chat after class. She is passionate about getting the beautiful benefits of yoga out to as many people as possible, Emma tries her best to practice yoga every day, but that doesn't always happen!)
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