Online Pop-ups Over Autumn/Winter

Combat darker, dreicher days with cosy, relaxing and uplifting guided home practices…

I’ve decided to put on a few online pop-ups at different times from my regular weekly classes (see the Timetable page for those). I will aim to vary the times/duration/content so I hope there will be something for everyone. I will add to the post below as the autumn/winter progresses.

Yoga Nidra Sundays 7^th and 14^th January 8pm. By donation – raising funds for UNICEF Children in Gaza Appeal. 

Scroll down to see feedback from the last online Yoga Nidra in December!

All welcome, no previous experience needed.  Yoga Nidra is essentially a longer guided relaxation. There are different kinds, but if you already do yoga, you’ll be familiar with many typical elements from the shorter relaxations at the end of general yoga classes (e.g. body scans). When I’ve previously done online Yoga Nidra sessions, they last 25-50mins, depending on the Nidra style.  People always tell me afterwards they can’t believe how quickly the time went, and how relaxed they felt!  

• The Zoom Meeting Room will open at 8pm sharp and we’ll begin by ten past. 
• After you’ve joined the Meeting Room, you can choose whether to have your video on/off, then make yourself comfortable in any position, whether supported Savasana, seated, or lying in another way – including in your bed if you want to drift off to sleep straight afterwards.
• Make sure you’ve thought in advance about how you want to lie, and have all your comfort items to hand – blankets, eye pillows, cushions, bolsters, chair to put your lower legs up on…Whatever suits you best.
• You may wish to go for a walk or do some yoga or other exercise before the relaxation.  
• Plan to take it nice and easy afterwards – no leaping off the floor and getting in your car to drive somewhere!

On 7^th January, the Yoga Nidra is an adapted Satyananda Yoga one. This tradition includes Sankalpa – setting an intention – in the form of a short, positive, present tense statement, e.g. ‘I am calm and strong’, ‘I am good enough’, ‘I am relaxed’, or whatever you choose. There is a guided body scan, and the Nidra also includes suggested visualisations of opposites and sensory images, e.g. light/heavy, the image/taste of an apple, etc. Some people like visualising and some don’t, and it is entirely up to you whether you choose to do the visualisations or not. Give them a go if you’re happy to.

The Yoga Nidra on 14^th January will be the same style as the one on Thurs 14th Dec, i.e. drawing on the traditions of the Himalayan Institute. The type of body scan rotation I use most often at the end of general classes comes from this tradition, so will be relatively familiar to you.  A full Yoga Nidra in this tradition often includes long periods of silence whilst focusing on your breathing. Tonight, these silent pauses will be a maximum of two minutes. The Himalayan Institute rotation draws on the chakra system, which is not usually directly mentioned in short body scan rotations, but I will refer to it tonight during this Nidra.

Yoga Nidra Thursday 14th December 8pm. By donation – raising funds for UNICEF Children in Gaza Appeal. SOME FEEDBACK FROM THIS SESSION:

“All I remember was the initial information, and then I resurfaced from a deep dreamless rest.  Completely tranquil and refreshed.”

“That definitely worked for me. I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. My resting heart rate was down at 55. Thank you for making it so good.”

“I found the Yoga Nidra deeply relaxing. I couldn’t believe how quickly the time went – or rather I was in a state where time seemed to stop rushing past and the focus became solely about breathing. I like the fact there was a ‘ritual’ of setting up my room, lighting candles, getting everything cosy – something I am unlikely to do on my own. I’m more likely to lie in bed and listen to a Nidra online, which is fine, but there was something very special about doing the session with others and hearing your – now familiar- voice!”

“I was just so peaceful, I didn’t want it to end! I wear a Fitbit tracker which also monitors sleep. It gives you a score…and first time ever that night I got 91 and excellent! I slept so well, and yet immediately after the Nidra I didn’t feel particularly tired and didn’t need to go to bed early!”

Yoga Saturday 16th December 4pm. By donation – raising funds for UNICEF Children in Gaza Appeal. This yoga session has a theme of ‘Stars & Moons’ and is open to all experience levels. We will be working from: supine-lying, seated, a short time on all fours, standing, and a short time prone-lying. There will be a 5min ‘settling in’ period at the start and 10-15mins guided Shavayatra relaxation at the end. The session will last around an hour and a quarter (to an hour and a half, maximum). You will need your mat, a blanket and perhaps a yoga block (or similar), plus any comfort items you like (eye pillow, bolster, head cushion, etc.).

Props Playshop, 4.30-6.30pm, Sunday 29th October. A chance to enjoy and explore many different ways we can use a yoga belt to strengthen and stretch. As many of you know, I love a longer session, which allows time to warm up, try plenty things, and have a delightful guided relaxation too. Open to all levels of experience and fitness, this workshop will involve supine, standing and prone movements/exercises, but no weight-bearing on wrists or knees (i.e. no Cat Balance, Planks, Down Dog, etc.). You will need your mat, a yoga strap (or equivalent, such as a long resistance band or dressing gown belt) and optionally two blocks (or equivalent such as cushions) plus a blanket for the relaxation. This two hour workshop costs £20, payable on the 29th. Concession spaces at £10 are also available for those currently experiencing financial hardship, thanks to ‘pay it forward’ generosity from two of my yoga regulars. If you have any questions or wish to book a space and get the Zoom invite/link, please email me.

Feedback following the 29th October Playshop:

“I think doing 2 hrs is really satisfying…if that’s the right way to put it! Don’t think I could go back to classes that only last an hour.”

“The extended session flew by. Good to have some new ways to work on shoulder, hip and leg stretches.”

“That was absolutely brilliant!  Can’t believe 2 hours could pass so quickly!  First time in a long time I almost drifted off in the relaxation.”

“My shoulders felt a lot better after this. I enjoyed the yoga belt work particularly.”

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Email me anytime, if you have suggestions or requests for additional Autumn/Winter online sessions!

Autumn Extras

I’m excited to be able to offer some extra pop-ups this season! Read the details below then email me to sign up for any you fancy trying. My plan is to continue any of these which prove popular throughout the rest of the winter.

My regular weekly classes can as usual be seen over on the Timetable page.

IN-VENUE:

Pilates ‘Semi-privates’ in my Fishertown studio, Tuesdays 10-11am. A ‘semi-private’ falls between a general class and private tuition. It is more affordable than private tuition, but with a maximum of three in the group, it is a far more bespoke experience than a general class. There is more individually tailored content and feedback than in a larger class; and most people find it easier to ask questions about particular techniques or exercises than they do in a general class setting. The first two sessions of these will be on Tues 25th Oct [and Tues 1st Nov]*. You can book either or both, at a cost of £15 per session. These are matwork Pilates classes in which the content will be designed to be appropriate for the specific individuals booked in. Please make sure you’ve read my booking and cancellation policy here. (Once you’ve booked a place, it can’t be refunded/transferred to another date – but if you realise you can’t come and wish to give/sell your place to a friend, that would be fine with me as long as your friend can manage the same sort of class as yourself, and you’ve let me know about the substitution). *The 1st Nov session is fully booked.

ONLINE:

Getting moving in the mornings, in the company of others whilst still in the cosy convenience of your own home, is a fabulous antidote to winter blues – I find it reduces my stiffness, lifts my mood, and sets me up well for the whole day ahead. All sessions are 7.15-8am. A Class Pass (entitling you to dop in to any or all sessions) is a great bargain at £24. If you know you can’t make it to many, an individual session costs £7. I will send out the Zoom link for the morning sessions on Monday 24th Oct, so let me know before then if you want to be on the list (if you’re only coming to one or two, you don’t need to book specific dates by then – you can get the link then simply drop in any morning you’re free, and pay by bank transfer that morning. Please also note these sessions will not be recorded).

Tues 25th Oct: Yoga Movement & Meditation. We will spend around half an hour gently moving our joints, easing out stiffness, warming up and stretching out, so we’re ready for about 10-15mins of guided meditation/relaxation/breathing exercises.

Wed 26th Oct: Pilates/Yoga. We will focus on easing out stiffness, mobilising and energising our bodies, stretching and strengthening, with the option of using light weights (around 1kg each; or a couple of tins of beans will do fine) in some exercises.

Fri 28th Oct: Yoga Slow Flow. A ‘less taught’ session, in which we’ll be moving through gently dynamic warm-ups then some more energetic flowing sequences. I will speak a little, but this one is more about watching and flowing along with me, and of course doing your own versions and modifications as you prefer!

Tues 1st Nov: Yoga Movement & Meditation. We will spend around half an hour gently moving our joints, easing out stiffness, warming up and stretching out, so we’re ready for about 10-15mins of guided meditation/relaxation/breathing exercises.

Wed 2nd Nov: Pilates/Yoga. We will focus on easing out stiffness, mobilising and energising our bodies, stretching and strengthening, with the option of using light weights (around 1kg each; or a couple of tins of beans will do fine!) in some exercises.

Fri 4th Nov: Yoga Slow Flow. A ‘less taught’ session, in which we’ll be moving through gently dynamic warm-ups then some more energetic flowing sequences. I will speak a little, but this one is more about watching and flowing along with me, and of course doing your own versions and modifications as you prefer!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

I’ve had several requests for longer/weekend sessions. I love doing these myself, but seem to have a lot on at weekends in Oct/Nov. However, I’ve blocked out in my diary two dates for longer online yoga sessions in December – Saturdays 3rd and 10th December, 3.30-5.30pm. Please ‘save the dates’ for now, and I will let you know details nearer the time…I’ve got two quite different sessions in mind to share with you…

Pilates semi-privates and online morning sessions will continue in November and December if there is sufficient interest – so please do join me for some of the first eight sessions outlined in this post, if you want them to be available longer!

I look forward to doing yoga and Pilates with you soon, Catherine