I hope this blog post finds you well?
Over the summer Emma’s Yoga Hut is having a hiatus, other than a handful of chair yoga classes and a sound bath at Earley Crescent Resource Centre (details for both at bottom of this blog!) we are on pause. I often talk in yoga about rest, about the importance of listening to your body, and of taking down time when you need it, as the saying goes - you cannot pour from an empty cup. But I don’t want to leave you all without any little yoga treats until September so here are some lovely, simple summer practices for you to enjoy.
Should the weather be warm (we can but hope!) in August then try Sitali Pranayama (cooling breathing exercise) it really does help to cool you down. It isn’t a video of me, because I can’t do the "taco" tongue shape – its a heredity skill so if you can't you just can't, roll with it and use the alternative, I can vouch that the alternative works really well, but I thought it was important that you get to see both versions. Here is someone beautifully explaining and demonstrating, its 2 minutes long Sitali : A Cooling Pranayama - Your Heart Life
Don’t forget you also have your summer sleep meditation to listen to too. If you are struggling to fall asleep. or wake up in the middle of the night and have problems getting back to sleep this can be a helpful tool to support that return to rest. It is also great for a cheeky afternoon nap! The link to the sleep meditation is in the blog post before this one.
I have recorded a simple seated sequence for you to practice if you do Chair Yoga. It is also ideal for anyone taking long journeys over the summer - or if you have ended up stuck at your desk at work for an extended period. It will help gently release tension from the spine, hips and shoulders, put the sound up because I talk you through it!
Taking a few moments during a day to prioritise your self care can be really good for your state of mind. A super simple way to do this is to make yourself a flavoured water to drink across the day, it just makes hydration a little more interesting! My personal favourite is cucumber and mint. Just take a jug, add a few slices of cucumber, and a sprig of mint leaves. Simply leave it in the fridge and refill your cup with it through the day.
Finally, here is the recipe for the date, cashew nut and coconut bliss balls which I made for a our June Sound Bath! These little treats are really nutritious, all the ingredients are wholesome, and they won't spike your blood sugar, because the high fibre content in dates and the protein in cashews balance out the natural sugars in the dates.
Makes about 12:
1 cup Medjool dates, 1 cup Cashew Nuts, 1/4 cup desiccated coconut.
Optional: pinch of sea salt, splash of vanilla extract:
Blend in food processer. Roll into balls and then roll in extra coconut if you like. Put in an airtight container and keep in fridge.
July/August dates for your diary:
Drop in Chair Yoga Dates:
Monday 29th July
Monday 5th August
Monday 19th August.
10 – 11am, £10 drop in (cash only!) at Earley Crescent Resource Centre:
Sound Bath: Friday 30th August – join us for our second sanctuary of sound, surrounded by fairy lights and flowers to mark the final weekend of summer, at the Earley Crescent Resource Centre: Just head to the yoga classes section and book yourself on.
And for those of you who want to get in early, you can book your chair yoga places for September: go to the yoga classes, choose the class you are interested in, spaces are already going fast!
Our weekly classes return week commencing 9th September 2024, but I will be back in touch before then! I hope you all have a beautiful summer, see you 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 often 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, at the moment that involves outdoor practice as much as possible, even though that means both Rhubarb and Custard getting right royally in the way because they think the yoga mat is for them!)
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