Yoga with the Selendyne

OM Yogis

Today's yoga is inspired by the beautiful Selendyne.
This is a series of pranayama practices, that you can build upon over the coming months.
Taking us through the foundations of belly and full yogic breathing to a full Anuloma Viloma pranayama with retention. We look at the purity of breath and how by practicing this pranayama we can pull in more pranic elements and purify energetically through the Nadi System. In preparation to work with other pranayamas and the kundalini. Or just to increase our energy levels and respiratory health.

A practice to simplify / find subtlety / shift energy 

This is a step by step practice that is suitable for beginners.

Please set sacred space to practice.

Abdominal Breathing (15 mins)

Begin with this practice and feel welcome to stay with this until it's second nature. It's foundational for all the other practices. Relaxing and preparing the nervous system for pranayama.

Full yogic Breathing (10 mins)

Once you have Abdominal breathing established, move on to this. Learn to breathe a 3 part breath using full lung capacity.

Single Nostril Breathing (15 mins)

So moving on from the last two practices, we get used to breathing consciously, to a count,  out of each nostril separately. So eventually we breathe from both sides evenly.

Alternate Nostril Breathing without retention (15 mins)

Next up we practice switching to and from each side - left and right - Ida and Pingala - Sun and Moon - Balancing.

Full Anuloma Viloma (15 mins)

Once all the above practices are established and can be done without strain, you're ready to move on  to this. We add the retention to increase prana - as prana concentrates as it rises . We balance out and fully purify the nadis. This pranayama is foundational preparation for all others.

Breath Meditation (15 mins)

"If you can do something with the breath, you will suddenly turn to the present.
If you can do something with the breath, you will attain to the source of life.
If you can do something with the breath, you can transcend time and space.
If you can do something with the breath, you will be in the world and also beyond it."

Osho - Meditation the first and last freedom.

VIDEO PRACTICE LINK

Vishnu mudra 

 Chin Mudra

Gratitude to Alexis Cartwright's Animal Magic cards.
The subtle, the unseen and unknown.
For breath & for life
The Selendyne.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Buffalo

OM Yogis!

Today we practice with the buffalo. 'The Great Give away'.
Staying Soft and open of hands - No weight bearing on the arms. We stand strong on our legs - ready to give.

A good Practice for Slowing down / grounding / Finding centre

VIDEO PRACTICE

Buffalo 1 (35 mins)
A short sequence of gentle standing postures.
Asanas include:  lunges / Warrior 1 & 2 / Triangle /  Pyramid / Side angle / Chair.

Yoga Nidra (31 Mins)
Yoga Nidra for healing and transformation.
Allow the body intelligence to heal and restore itself in yogic sleep.
Lie down - stay alert - experience. GIVE the being what it needs 💛
Suitable for beginners

 My musings with the Bufallo...

'Synonymous with the buffalo are the first Americans . I can hardly separate the two. For me, one conjures up an image of the other. 

I recall reading about  'give-away' and being touched by this. A medicine man described how it was not in the accumulation of things that a man was considered honourable or wealthy. Rather it was shown by what he gave away. What a person could give, instead of how much one had.  

I think about how we give. 
Do we make a song and dance? 

Is the song and dance honouring of the other, deeply personal, private, sacred, or ceremonial in nature?  
Or does it magnify the identity and ego, making us 'ever such kind people'  'giving at our own expense' ' martyrs for the cause'  and 'Oh so spiritual ?'

How do we sing? How do we dance? Is it kind? Is it noble? Is it real? 

I think about the buffalo.   

This magnificent animal, , Gave so much to the lives of these indigenous peoples.
Food, Warmth, shelter, life. He gave all this steadily. Without fuss. Without advertisement. He carried the burden/honour  of being ' Buffalo ' with longevity, and such quiet dignity. With the greatest integrity. And his people respected him for this. Such a powerful precious creature.

The buffalo perhaps understood the 'give away' better than I could ever hope to. 

I pray that I am able to give better. Remembering, Its not just what I give, but how I give, and why I give that counts.'


With gratitude to
Mum for giving so much so often. 💛
Dad for quiet strength and steadiness 💛
Yogi Amrit Desi
Jo Tastula
Alexis Cartwrights 'Animal magic cards'
The Buffalo

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Frog

OM Yogis!

Today we practice with the Frog.
Lets work up a bit of a sweat and cleanse. A croaking frog is said to herald the rain and replenishment of the land. And Big transformations!
We will get silly and jump around a bit in this one, Embracing the 'sense' of humour and lightness and floating away on a lily pad to finish - lovely!

A good practice to Uplift / stimulate / Strengthen

These practices are most potent when done as a whole.

Please set sacred space to support your transformations!

VIDEO PRACTICE

Frog 1 (30 mins)
Snoring and laughing. Breath of fire. Sun Salutations with moving variations.

Frog 2 (30 mins)
Standing Poses - not too serious!
Keep a block handy for 'froggy folding'.

Frog 3 (23 mins)
A 'Floored' Frog strengthen and stretch out - Rock n roll n release.

Beautiful lotus flower..that you are! (12 mins)
Lie Back - float away and let go! - 'Beautiful Lotus Flower that you are!'
This meditation is Perfect for a Sunny Savasana.
Suitable for beginners

Lotus meditation is read from "child of light Meditations" by Alexis Cartwright.

Many thanks to
the magic of the frog and all who give me a spring in my step - you know who you are!

Please Note - Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session From May 2020.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Crab

OM Yogis.

Today we work with the Crab and her feminine magic. We look at the emotional tides of the self. We look at wholeness - ourselves as a full moon.

This is a YIN practice so please wear layers if you feel the cold. Give yourself plenty of blankets, enough to create a bolster - or a bolster is even better!

A good practice to Embrace self acceptance / be nurtured / stretch out

Please create a quiet warm space to support your experience.


Crab 1 (30 mins)
In this section we look at speaking to the first thing.

Asanas - Butterfly / straddle / Janu A/ forward fold /  Dragon
Yogis choice : Saddle with or without a bolster (see picture below)  or lying back over bolster with the legs in neutral or resting in Savasana.

Saddle pose.

Dragon pose. 

Props - bolster and or blankets and or cushions.

Crab 2 (32 mins)
In this section we revisit all poses from Crab 1 and complement this with a meditation, to help us embrace emotional acceptance.

Crab 3 (22 mins)
Balancing the emotional body.
This can be done in Savasana to complement part 1&2.
We move through the Chakras using intention and colour to release and balance the emotions.
This exercise is from Alexis Cartwright's 'beyond doorways'
Suitable for beginners.

My Musings with the Crab

"Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate'

'That is whole. This is whole. from that whole this whole came. From that whole when negated or removed what remains is whole.' - Upanishads.

It is not easy to let emotion flow, without twisting it into something low.
My emotional body is wild and watery. Tears accompany sadness, pain, anger, confusion, laughter, and happiness.

I want to open my heart. How do I know I'm in my heart?  I'm crying a lot. All day. And more.
However, I have to cling on,  amid this cascading water. I don't want to fall out of my heart be swept into the illusion that says my feelings are down to anyone else.

My feelings are mine.
My emotions are sourced from the well spring of my heart.
All emotion is part of the wholeness of self.

 I can still feel all of my feelings without dropping into a low attitude of blame and shame. So I cling to the cliffs of higher consciousness. 'You gotta so through it - to get to it.' 'breakdown to break through' feel it to heal it'.

It's incredible how the moment I reclaim my feelings - I feel Re-energised. Empowered. Whole.
I am a full moon. I stand strong in my Luna self. All my feelings are a part of the whole.

But Fragmented and broken down - thrown out into my world or projected onto those I love - my feelings can feel like lunacy. And My feelings Always pinch me first. Owch! Its ever so painful to watch myself behave like a lunatic. Forgetting 'I am whole'.

This journey, this space race, is to remember and embrace both - Empowerment and healing as equal parts of the whole . To empower my fullest, brightest, emotional, heart based, intuitive, Luna self.
And to heal the lunacy of the emotional body - when it is not felt and flowing. To heal the dams before they burst. To dredge the depths of stagnated and stuck emotion. Its not pretty but  I cant do one without the other.

Because I am whole. I am a full moon.
I create and I am guided by the tides of my heart.

I am the crab too , floating on the gentle waves in the sunshine, yet  tough enough to cling to consciousness and feel my emotions when the storms set in, in darkness.

I reclaim my feelings, as the crab. I heal.
I return to wholeness, as the moon. I am empowered.

Irrespective of how I may feel - I am whole.
I am energy in motion. E MOTION."



Many thanks to
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
Giselle Mari
The Crab.

Please Note - Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session From May 2020.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Seahorse

OM yogis,

Welcome to a practice with the seahorse. We will dive on into balancing polarity, in a practice that looks at the relationship between the Sacrum and the Cranium and other pairs of opposites.

A good practice to Explore / balance / Stabilise 

Practice video

Seahorse 1 (27 mins)
Undulating movements / Kapalabhati pranayama
Asanas included : cat-cow / low lunge / uttanasana / malasana

Seahorse 2 (35 mins)
Asanas included : Tree / high lunge twists / Camel / Low lunge / pigeon / fire log /

Inner triangle Meditation (12 mins)
Looking at prana and apana - opposing forces finding balance.
Suitable for beginners.

Spinal undulations (10 mins)
Small and mighty lower back care!
Suitable for beginners.

With Thanks to
Alexis Cartwright
Tias little
Tara Judelle
And the Seahorses!

My Seahorse musings....
"Undulation.
Fluidity. The healing of flow.
Feeling point and counter point.
Rocking gently between polarities - rocking horse.
Becoming aware of the opposing centres- top to bottom, and bottom to top.
One must feed the other.
Male and female. Suppress one - suppress both. The inequality is illusory. One must feed the other. Or both will suffer. Male and female - each giving role and vitality to the other. One must feed the other.
Finding balance between both. Both. Balance.
Tail supports head.
Head drops down to tail and rests.
All triangles balance.
Into potential beautiful geometry of opposition. - Sri Yantra.
Trust that it could come.
Let go, and drop the sacrum -like an anchor bone sinking deep, deep down.
Gentle Coaxing.
Rock a bye
Seahorse. Rest."

Please Note - Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session From May 2020.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Hare

OM Yogis,
Welcome to this practice with the Hare. We will look at how animals are so much more advanced than us when it comes to releasing tension in the moment. And how they use movement to shake off  anxiety before it takes root.
Today's movements also work with the lymphatic system - which are the organs and tissues that team together to release toxins.
Hopefully this will leave us with some fresh insight and respect for our amazing body wisdom.

A good practice to Shake off and out / catch up with self / release 

VIDEO LINK

Hare 1 (27 Mins)
Asanas : I think these are all pretty easy to decipher!?! Hopefully!
Props : Cushion or block to sit on

Hare 2 (33 mins)
Asanas : Same as above.
Props : Same again! Please adjust the movements to suit your body. Feel welcome to sit out what is not appropriate or appealing! You can dip in and out of these movements too.

Fearless Meditation (20 mins)
A meditation to release fear from the Subtle body working with the 'Root' 'Heart' and '3rd eye'.
Suitable for beginners


Thank you to
Alexis Cartwright's 'animal magic cards'
Nareena Gaia
Transference Healing - for ongoing release :)
Becky May - embrace the shake! ;)
Kia Miller
The Hare.



My Musings with the Hare....

"I offered someone a lift, and approaching the car I said ' I hope you don't mind, it might be hairy' He looked worried. I realised he didn't know I was referring to dog hair but instead thought I was a reckless driver. Very funny.

This draws a  great comparison . The hare and associations with fear. Running scared. or caught in the head lights.

When I look into my energetic body I can feel a lot of movement. Speed. There is energy running for sure. I ponder the difference between, fear, excitement, and high energy. These experiences often blur into each other. They are fast, they become a blur.

I think about the Hare. How animals release fear and trauma by shaking it off. Check it out. Animals shake stuff off a lot. 

Humans on the other hand often suppress the emotional responses and store them inside. 'I will deal with it later - right now it's not safe to show how I really feel.' 'Shit maybe its not even safe to 'feel' how I really feel'. 

I look inside my energy body. And I feel that which I have stored for later. I see how I froze like a rabbit in the headlights. Lumps and bumps of stuck energies. Not very funny. A hazardous road for sure.

This freezing up, this human taught suppression,  is in direct opposition with the highly charged movement of fear or trauma or even excitement. 

If I brace myself against it, I shall  create a 'fight'. A fight inside of self.

Stuck in opposition. Unable to move. Worse still. So afraid - Unable to feel. Disconnected from self. Unsure of the way forwards or back.

 And it's the dissonance of this situation that shakes inside , not so much fear itself.

The fear of fear. Frozen in vibration. Shaking but still.. Disconnected from how I feel, and how to feel. Floored. Trapped. Cornered.

 Dissonance is heavily stressing for all  human beings.

The Hare teaches 'Flight'. As I work with the hare I am encouraged to move faster. To catch up with myself. To run with the fear. The hare chases the fear out of me. I am not running away. I am alongside. Bounding. Accelerating. Creating a spring in my step. Instead of being afraid or ashamed of fear. The Hare runs alongside it.

I think of how athletes or actors prepare to perform.. they move..they make noise..They make ready. They make ready to step into the adrenaline.

I look into my energy body. I see how I'm shifting in vibration to catch up with held fear...It moves and I move. I work here. I step into. I leap into it.  I work with. I do not try to be rid of. I work with. I come into a relationship with what shakes, with what blurs, With the speed inside. 

Eventually I slow down, or does it slow down?  - I feel my energy settle, I settle. Has the fear been released or integrated? I do not know. 

But it is still and I am still.. I have caught up with myself. Thanks to the wisdom of the hare. 

Today the hare taught me to get moving. 

To face self - to know self.

To RUN energy to meet self.

To catch self - and calm self.

Now I am Hare. (sorry!) 

And for Now I am free of the burden of fear. ( woo hoo!! boing!)" 

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Bee

OM Yogis,

'That may be...but you are light.'
Today we work to glimpse our lightest brightest self..
We remind ourselves of the importance of the hive.. Worker Bees all together make honey.
And We intend to feel the embodiment of our light and connect to our community.

A good practice to connect / appreciate / uplift 

Can stand alone - but best buzz comes from doing all practices together!

Please set a sacred space ( this one is gorgeous in the garden!)

Video Practice

Bee 1 (21 mins)
Drop into the nectar! Hum! Sunny Salutations!

Bee 2 (25 mins)
Buzzing flowers!

Bee 3 (25 mins)
Bliss and bless!

'I am light' meditation (14 mins)
Read from 'child of light meditations' Alexis Cartwright.
Suitable for beginners.

Love and Gratitude to
Swami Jyotirmayananda
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
Kate O'leary
Becky May
Gemma Cook - flower Gal!
All the loftys
Kia Miller
The Bee.

My musings with the Bee.....
"Light with what is heavy.
Like a Bee.
Tiny wings miraculously lifting an impossible body. Uplifting. It can be done. Against all reason - ridiculous essential buzz.
Light -  sweeten the hive.
Lighten ourselves and the amrit flows.
Feeling the places, the sugar got stuck. Crystallised honey pressing on the joints.
A light-worker on her knees for too long.
Its time to stand up. Its time to move.
Doing the unstuck this body starts to buzz.
Amritham.
Honey- 'I am light'
I Choose Light.
Born of the light.
Light will lead me home."

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Raven

OM Yogis,

Welcome to this practice with the Raven.
We look at the Magic of 'Death for rebirth' How sometimes we have to let go of the old in order to embrace the new. We look at the power of surrender using the opposite 'Contraction' of effort, to encourage deep relaxation.
In a yogic sense, we learn about the kindness of deep surrender and through this develop new relationship with birth life and death cycles.

A good practice to Surrender / flow through / make new

VIDEO PRACTICE


Raven 1 (25 mins)
Flow through Sun Salutations - look at the cycles.

Raven 2 (39 mins)
Flow through a series of standing postures then stretch out for Savasana.

Savasana Practice (17 mins)
A relaxation
Suitable for beginners

The raven and the void (19 mins)
A meditation.
Suitable for beginners

Thanks to
Tias little
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
Jo Tastula
The Ravens.


Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Gnome

OM Yogis!
Find your inner Gnome with me today!
This practice looks at patterning. Flow through patterns of movement and experience how the body loves a pattern. Look at choosing patterns for your earth body that strengthen and support you.

A good practice to  plug in / Move through / find ease 

Gnome Video practice

Gnome 1 (26 mins)
Flow through - Warrior variations / triangle / half moon / chapasana / low lunge / twists / balances / squats and the familiar pattern of vinyasa.

Gnome 2 (30 mins)
 A continuation and add on to part one with a few more balances including eagle / warrior 3 / and stretch out in pigeon and mermaid.

Both practices include 'Earth Body Grid Alignment procedure' from 'Beyond Doorways' By Alexis Cartwright

My musings with the Gnome......

"The body holds the being.
Its only right that the being hold the body in return.

Constantly, the body does its best. To hold, protect and love us right.
We can create patterns of love inside and out, to love the body back.
The being loves a pattern - something solid it can stick to.
May your patterns serve you well.

Remember to listen. Stay soft enough inside. Wrap the light of the awareness around the body regularly and keep that body warm.

When the mind decides whats possible the body becomes caged.
When the body intelligence is trusted, it can guide the self to freedom.

There is a Gnosis buried in the body. Truth and spiritual wisdom.
Dive dip - Dig in - Be nourished by the element of earth inside.

Theres much room within!"

Thanks to
Tara Judelle
Alexis Cartwright
The Gnomes.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Crystal Fairy

OM Yogis,

Away with the fairy's looking at arising and subsiding and the space beyond that.
We look at ourselves as jewels of vibration and frequency. Doorways of unique information - living crystals!

A good practice to listen / feel the subtle / develop gratitude for the inheritance of yoga & each other

Crystal Fairy 1 (15 mins)
Arising and subsiding Sound meditation.
Alternate nostril breathing
Savasana - subside.
Props : cushion or chair to sit.
Suitable for beginners

Crystal Fairy 2 (15 mins)
Surya Namaskara - Arise and subside.

Crystal Fairy 3 (25 mins)
Sivananda asana sequence.

Crystal Fairy 4 (26 mins)
Savasana - tense and release - auto suggestion.
Suitable for beginners

Tiny fairy (3 mins)
A Tiny 3 minute meditation that never fails to get me smiling!
Suitable For Beginners


Click here to practice together on you tube

My musings with the crystal fairy...
"Lines of light,
Stretching back in time, and far away in space.
Lines of learning and information.
Lineage. Traditions. Downloads. Doorways.
Passing though people objects and places.
The worlds' beyond worlds' wide web of consciousness.
Each being fully charged, plugged in, and wired up to different and intersecting patterns.
Our lineage becomes genealogy, tradition, teachers, origins.
And everything is accessible through each other.
We are doorways for one another.
We are the keepers of our own unique light lineage.
We bring all that we are forward, when the conditions are correct.
Lines of light."

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Bear Self

Strong like a bear.
Bare self - true self - Strong self
Its funny how the road to true strength, requires us to strip bare.
Only the very strong are brave enough to be real and to be honest.
The bear self is exactly 'As Is'.
It growls and scratches. It whimpers and roars. It lumbers around aimlessly, only to rise up when it is most needed.
Be your best Bear self - natural and without falsity.
You exactly as you are - after all, 'a bear can rest at ease, with just the bare necessity's of life. 
YEAH MAN' 

Builder self

Always, we are building, or ready to build, even though we might not realise.
Look at what has been built so far. A personality. Self esteem. Relationships. A life.
And it happens on it's own. We are master builders.
Imagine what we could build consciously.
What can we strengthen or construct, that is good? What can we build upon?
And what is up for demolition, what is broken or tired and needs pulling down?
Digging deep into the self ,we could lay new conscious foundations that are strong, healthy and loving.
Trusting the mechanics of a listening universe, that approves our plans, and is ready to assist.
Builder self - lets get to work.

Yoga with the Elephant

OM Yogis,

This is a four part practice with the Elephant. Each can stand alone or fit together for a fuller experience. For me, the elephant is synonymous with Bhakti yoga or devotional love. So We will be doing some chanting along with asana, meditation, and Mudra.

A good practice to Sing happy / stay humble / be held

VIDEO PRACTICE

Elephant 1 (18 mins)
We chant a homemade and humble Jai Ganesh - beautiful as a morning meditation.
Props : Pillow or chair to sit.
Suitable for beginners

Elephant 2 (30 mins)
This section is a little Asana and mudra practice to complement the heart space and give love to the body.
Props : Optional block and strap

Elephant 3 (10 mins)
A humble and homemade Ganesha Shadanam - asking Ganesha to help us overcome any obstacle that prevents us from accessing the heart.
Props : pillow to sit upon.
Suitable for beginners

Elephant Meditation
A guided Meditation - Be carried by an elephant.
This meditation is inspired by and draws from my friend and fellow Yogi Kate O'leary.
Suitable for beginners

My elephant Musings ...

"Unconditional love surrounds and permeates the whole. We are made of love. We are born of love.
Yet we forget love. We feel cut off from love, from self. A longing to return to love. The way back is love. The way home is love. The first step on the road is love. And beyond the destination, is love.

To feel is love. To perceive is to feel love. Feeling is loving. Our perception once purified is love. To tune into self is loving. To set intention is loving prayer. For love reveal love to all.. and for all to be open to love. A heart of love, ears of love, eyes of love.

We cannot know love. Love is living and can only be experienced. We recall love and re-experience the knowing then we realise love never left.

The word is love- who sings the word? The voice of love! Through doorways beyond doorways, into love. Through the self. To the cosmos. Love.

Ears open. Ears wide. Elephant ears. Open to the voice of love. We receive the music. Of love. And it wraps itself around us like a warm blanket. The practice holds us close in the light of love. So that we can know ourselves, as forgetful. And remember love never left. Like a great elephant, love never forgets us. Bhakti is the remembrance of love.

BIG LOVE."

BIG THANKS TO
Alexis Cartwright
Sivananda London
Kate O'Leary
Krishna Das
Alex Van Frank
The Elephants.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Echidna

OM Yogis,

Welcome to this practice with the Echidna. In which, we will look at the heart. We work with the Ribs as more of an essential protective structure and less of a cage for heart. We look at self defence mechanisms and unmeant hurt. This practice is about feeling safe enough to soften our spikes and access the heart.
Expect to really stretch out the shoulders in a restorative way. GO Lightly here if you have any shoulder issues. Remember to be gentle - like the little echidna.

A good practice to Open up from the inside layers /  be unconditional /  tend to the heart

Video Practice

Echidna 1 (24 mins)
Props : 2 Blocks are essential. Or Bolsters and Blankets for Supported fish pose. See pictures below.

Echidna 2 (26 mins)
Props : Blocks are essential. Or Bolsters and Blankets for Supported fish pose. A rolled up mat blanket or towel for Supine shoulder opener. See pictures below.

Echidna 3 (27 mins)
Props : Block for supported bridge. And perhaps a block for prone shoulder stretch. See pictures below.
Blanket for Savasana.

Green light of the Heart (15 mins)
Props : Blanket / eye pillow.
Suitable for beginners



As promised here are some pictures of key postures for this practice . Supported Fish Pose on Blocks (Echidna 1 & 2 ) / Prone T shaped shoulder stretch  (Echidna 3) / Rolled up mat or towel supine shoulder opener (Echidna 2).

My Echidna Musings....

Just done my practice. This week working with the energy of the Echidna. To be fair I don't know much about these little guys..funny little hedgehogs! Anyhow this morning asanas were all about the upper back, throat, rib-cage, heart chakra stuff.

Admittedly recently I've felt a lot going on here. All too aware of old pain, hangups, crap hanging around, cropping up, doing its thing. Strangely accompanied by feeling of expansion, sensations in my chest that are weirdly pleasurable considering there's a simultaneous feeling of emotional pain rising.

So I started to practice. Yeah there's emotional pain. But the body helps me along. She gives me a focus through which there is perspective..Something else apart from my story. My story waves Hello. Things I did I feel were wrong. Lies I told when I was young, that I have lost control of. People I wish I could call without the complications that would come. But also there is that feeling of space between the structures of my body, flooding with breath, Bursting old dams, Bringing new life.

The story informs as the body soothes. The story says 'I'm scared, scared to trust others with my heart, scared of the part I will play in my own annihilation'..inhalation...exhalation...let it go.....
I pray that I can surrender what is ready to leave, I feel the pain of gripping on..let it go...
I see my adult body, full of patterns that tell me its not safe. I think of my child self. The freedom of that physicality..pain free..free....let go...
I see the spines I have placed around myself. Mechanisms that are automatic and mostly unnecessary.
Let go... soften..its safe..surrender..
The prickles I feel with the external, the prickles I feel internal..they hurt me. They always block and hurt me first. So let them go. let them go. Soften. let go.

Bit by bit the body escapes me.. She starts to take the wheel..
Bliss, becoming the passenger.. the happy prisoner of Infinite space and endless love. I remember love.
Love is ever present in the space between the tiny contractions of illusory pain.. I remember a time in my story where I felt unconditionally loved, my back rubbed in circles, safe.
I feel life, chi, prana in my body, pulsation of energy, resonant with love.
What was not my friend becomes kind, understanding and congruent as I surrender to myself. As I fall deeper into heart. Heart expands beyond me. Heart is everywhere.
I have fallen back into love. It was always there. Love is always there.
I hold mudra and make sound. Sound comes from the heart. It sounds different to me when I sound in this way. From the heart. lovable loving and loved...

Funny little hedgehog!

Many Thanks to.....
Nareena Gaia - for having so much compassion with my prickles! And for teaching me to see my spiky self in a soft and loving way.
Alexis Cartwright's 'animal magic cards'
Felicia Tomasko
Kathryn Budig

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Snake

OM Yogis,

Today we practice with the Snake, and a Kundalini (of course!) Kriya to transmute and release old energy for transformation! Exciting!
SO, If you're feeling any old, tired, unwanted, or negative emotion today - this practice hopes to help you shed it like a snake shedding skin.

A good practice to Release / Transform / Relax

VIDEO PRACTICE

Snake 1  (30 mins)
Snake 2  (25 mins)
Snake 3  (25 mins)

I think the asanas are pretty straight forward to follow lovelies.
Props : Cushion or block - lots of seated stuff.
Blanket for padding and for Savasana

Love and Thanks to
Geraldine Rowland - For introducing me to these awesome practices.
Kia Miller - yoga Glo Goddess!
Snatnam Kaur 'RA MA DA SA'
Alexis Cartwright's ' Animal Magic cards'
The Snakes.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Swan

OM Yogis.

Here is a practice working with the Gorgeous Swan. As an essential aspect of this practice please make a bigger effort than you might usually to build a sacred space beforehand. The Swan requires a sacred tranquil place to practice lovelies, so build a beautiful nest to hold you. The asanas today are flowing and we build movements into a dance of sorts. Savasana is a silent time when you can 'reflect' within your sacred space. Create and enjoy the beauty inside and out.

A good practice to be Gentle / dive in / reflect

Swan practice video link

Swan 1    (22 mins) 
Swan 2    (32 mins)
Swan 3    (22 mins)

These practices could possibly stand alone BUT are best in succession.
Asanas : Too many to mention! I do the best I can to guide you through - but wouldn't be surprised if this one left a few of us lost in the reeds from time to time. If that happens breathe deep, be patient, take a moment, forgive me, and just pick it back up when you do!

Savasana is silent for reflection. Lie down, get still, and see what rises to the surface of the water.

Also included is my temple keeper video - going deeper into sacred space.

TEMPLE KEEPER VIDEO

Thanks to
Alexis Cartwright
The Swan 

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Falcon

OM Yogis.

Here is a Practice working with the Falcon. This practice is designed to release a tight mind - allowing space for free thinking and flight through the raising of energy.

A good practice to Clear the mind / soothe headaches / generate energy

These practices do stand alone - but are best in succession.

Please set a sacred space.

Video Practice

Falcon 1 (25 mins)
We meditate upon the bones of the face and Cranium bringing space and relaxation.
Followed by a brief facial massage and neck stretches.
Asanas : Happy baby / leg Raises / Cat Cow / Undulating folds
Props : Cushion for sitting.
Suitable for beginners

Falcon 2 (35 mins)
Asanas : Sun Salutations / Straddle / Locust / Cobra / Shoulderstand / Savasana
Pranayamas : Breath of fire / alternate nostril breathing.
Props : Blanket for Savasana.

Falcon Relaxation (23 mins)
Relaxation for Energy and Space.
This can be done in Savasana as a beautiful and powerful complement to the practice.
Suitable for beginners

Gratitude to
Alexis Cartwight's 'Animal Magic'
Ann Redfearn
The Falcon.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Dove

OM Yogis.

Here is a practice working with the Dove. The Dove reminds me that each practice is a moving, breathing, singing, feeling, prayer, and that yoga is a path of self and God Realisation.
Each practice purifies and enlightens us.
Practice - purify - pray.
So this practice is intended to be simple in instruction. Between You and God.

A good practice to Move / commune / rise

I guess you could do this as separate practices - but as always Id encourage you to take all three in succession whenever possible.

Video Practice

Dove 1 (33 mins)
Dove 2 (33 mins)
Postures - There are plenty here - This is a bit of an ashtanga short form class.
Props - Possible block.

Temple Meditation (11 Mins)
This meditation is beautiful to do in Savasana following asana practice.
Suitable for beginners

Happy Practising lovelies!
With love and gratitude to all my teachers past and present.
Nabs Hadi for 'Ashtangled' laughing and love especially.
Alexis Cartwright for the 'Animal Magic' inspiration and 'Child of light' Meditation.
And to the Dove.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

yoga with the Sylph

OM Yogis!

All love to you today. 💙

Welcome to this practice inspired by the Sylphs. Today we work with the Air Element with a voice based practice of Mantra Meditation and Gentle movement.

A good practice to Express / Elevate / soothe

Please set a sacred space.

These practices all stand alone. They also unite beautifully.

Video Practice

Sylph 1
(25 mins) Props : cushion or chair.
Practice the Antar Naad Meditation
Followed by 'Throat blossoms' Meditation.
Suitable for beginners

Sylph 2
(20 mins)
'The Seven Sounds of Love'
Practice this journey of singing and moving through love and the Chakras.
Props : None, this exercise is done standing.
Suitable for beginners


Sylph 3
(20 mins)
Mantra Practice ; OM Tara tutare ture so ham.
Heart Meditation.
Suitable for beginners

Guardian Angel Meditation
You can do this to finish in Savasana.
This is a 'child of light' Meditation by Alexis Cartwright.
I include this because Sylphs are often mistaken for Angels and that's as good an excuse as I need!
Suitable for beginners

May this practice lighten and enlighten 🙏

Special thanks to,
Chloe Goodchild
Tias Little
Alexis Cartwright
Nirinjan Kaur
And the Sylphs!

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Dragon

OM Yogis

This yin based practice works with the Dragon. We look at personal power and issues relating to the power centre of self. This is a yin practice that addresses the lower back in particular - the area behind the solar plexus. We will look at Ego and Ego distortion,Tolerance and heat, and how we use our energy and hold personal power.

A good Practice to Stretch out / centre / Hold 

Dragon 1 & 2 must be done in succession. NOT Stand alone.
Meditation is designed to compliment this practice - but you can do this separately if you wish.

Please set sacred space to get the most from practice.

VIDEO LINK

Dragon 1 (40 mins)
Poses : Sleeping pigeon twist /  Reclined Gomukhasana legs / Happy baby / Hamstring stretch / Malasana / Child's pose.
Props : Block and strap

Dragon 2 (30 mins)
Poses : Sleeping pigeon / Bridge / pelvic tilts / Savasana
Props : Block and strap
NOTE : on the second side sleeping pigeon twist I say ' Twist and come onto your ankle' when I really mean 'Twist and come onto the sole of your foot' ...Anatomy training in action or what!!.. Please forgive and correct. 💛

Empowerment meditation (12 mins)
Suitable for beginners

VIDEO LINK practice together!

Special thanks to
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
Felicia Tomasko
And all Dragons Everywhere!

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Fox

OM Yogis,
This practice with the Fox is a journey that twists and turns us towards observation and detachment.
Its designed to get us untangled from drama and to give us freedom from others and others freedom from us!

A good practice to Turn things around / sit comfortably in the heat / detach 

Practice 1&2 Must be done in succession lovelies. They DO NOT stand alone.
The meditation can be done separately. As always best results come from committing to practice this in its entirety as 3 parts.

Please set a sacred space to support your experience.

Video Practice


Fox 1  (32mins)
Poses : Variations of twists / Ujjai pranayama / breath of fire pranayama / uddiyana bandha
Props : blankets for support

Fox 2  (32Mins)
Poses : Variations of twists / Bridge / Savasana
poses : blankets for support / optional strap
Please note in part 2, on the final twist, there is a chance to stretch out and bind the top leg....I forget to mention this on the 2nd side so please forgive me and take your own initiative!

Fox Meditation (20mins)
Suitable for beginners

I hope this is of use - if so please share.

Thanks to
Alexis Cartwright - Animal magic cards and for the Severing Karmic Pain Procedure in 'Beyond doorways'.
Nareena Gaia for teaching me how to detach from my drama.
Vipassana Meditation - just observe!
Felicia Tomasko
Barbara Ardinger
And the Foxes!

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the dryad.

OM Yogis!

Here is a practice working with the magic of the dryads or tree spirits. We will work with building the inhalation and our capacity to receive. Dryad magic renews us when we are tired - much the same as a few deep and nourishing breaths.

A good practice to Breathe in / shift energy / create calm

These can be done as stand alones but are best in succession!

Please set yourself a sacred space to practice.

VIDEO PRACTICE

Dryad 1 (17 mins)
Poses : Warrior 1 / triangle / Forward Fold / Cat Cow
Props : Optional block for triangle.

Dryad 2 (22 mins)
Poses : Bridge / Locust / Cobra or Sphinx
Props : Blanket for Savasana / optional block if your bridge needs supporting!

Magic Tree Meditation (13 mins)
This meditation connects us to the energy of trees, helping us to feel safe and connected to the earth.
It supports the release of stress and creates tranquillity in the mind and body.
Written by Alexis Cartwright ' Child of light meditations'
Suitable for Beginners

I hope this is of use - if so please share xxx

Thanks to
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
Rod Stryker
and the Dryads.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the dragonfly

OM yogis.
'You are an invisible rainbow of colour light sound and spirit' - Lets explore this with the Dragonfly!

A good practice for Concentration / colour healing / sound awareness

Please create a sacred space to support you in your practice.

Practices can be done separately but are best in succession!

Dragonfly Part One  (30 mins)
Pranayama takes us into the energetic self, and then we explore Sun Salutations using focus colour and mantra as we move.
Poses - It would be helpful to have a rough idea of traditional Surya Namaskra
Props - A blanket for Savasana & a cushion for seated pranayama practice.

 Dragonfly Part Two (35 mins)
Moving top to bottom - bottom to top through the Chakras. Re-coat yourself with colour.
Poses - Child's / Dolphin or Headstand / Half spinal twist / Fish or Staff / Cow faced (gomukhasana) /
Head to knee (Janu A) / Tree / Standing forward fold /  Boat (Navasana) / Bridge or wheel .
Props - blanket or block if needed.

 Chanting the Chakras (17 mins)
Sing to your Chakras - recharge your colour chart!
It might be useful to write these mantras down and have handy to avoid confusion! ;)
LAM-VAM-RAM-YAM-HAM-OM-SO HAM
Suitable for beginners

I hope this is of enjoyment or use lovelies! - If so please share xxx

Big Thanks to
Alexis Cartwight's 'Animal Magic Cards'
Chloe GoodChild's 'Awakening Through Sound'
Su Menon - for introducing me to the power of Mantra. :*
And The Dragonflies.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Crocodile

OM Yogis.

In this practice we will journey into stillness and see its advantages.
Crocodile is the master of stillness and understanding archetypes. This meditative practice looks at the archetypes within asana and how the understanding of this, can enrich a practice. We look at the possibility of developing an understanding of the universal story through the power of stillness and symbolism.

A good practice to Be still / Role play / See stories

Yoga with the Crocodile can be done as two separate practices but is best done as a whole.

Please set a sacred space to support your Practice.

Crocodile part one  (27 mins)
Poses :  Savasana /Mountain / Warrior A/ Yogic squat / Staff pose / Cat Cow / Child's pose
Props : Blanket as we begin in Savasana.
Crocodile part two  (31 mins)
Poses : Side Plank / hero / seated spinal twist (ardha matsyendrasana) / Reclined pigeon /
Props : Blanket for Savasana.

I hope these are of use - if so feel welcome to share.

VIDEO PRACTICE

Special thanks,
Alexis Cartwright
Nareena Gaia
And the crocodiles.

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.

Yoga with the Gargoyle

OM Yogis.

I hope you are all doing good.
Today's practice is inspired by the Gargoyle. Holding poses a little longer - becoming statuesque - embodying our strength as it stands in the moment.
Gargoyles are thought to have been placed around sacred buildings to protect them. We will look at how we can use the inspiration of the Gargoyle to feel stronger and safer inside of ourselves.

A good practice to Strengthen / Hold self / Develop security

These practices could be done separately I guess, but are best done in succession.

Please set a sacred space for self to support your practice.

Please also feel welcome to take child's pose instead of dog if tired. Remember we are building strength not burning out!

Video Practice

Gargoyle part one
Gargoyle Part one - 25 mins.
Please familiarise yourself with these poses : Downward dog / Plank/ low lunge/ Three legged dog  (Although, during this recording I call it one legged dog?!? poor dog! ;) ) Wide legged forward fold.
Props : optional block.

Gargoyle part two
Gargoyle Part two - 25 mins.
Poses: Warrior 2/  Triangle / chair / Tree / standing splits
Props : optional block.

Gargoyle part three
Gargoyle Part three. 30 mins.
Poses : High lunge /  head to knee pose / boat /  forearm plank or dolphin or headstand
Props : Blanket for savasana.

Guided Meditation
Meditation. 10 mins.
'Magic Cloak' from Alexis Cartwright's Child of light meditations.
This meditation helps to clear feelings of fear or worry. It Re-energises and encourages self belief and a strong sense of self. - its one of my favourites, and complements this practice beautifully.
Suitable for beginners

I hope this is of use - if so please feel welcome to share.

Special thanks to;
Alexis Cartwright
Marc Holzman
& the Gargoyles!

Please Note -
These Practices are recorded as rough drafts!
They are imperfect and need polishing... But I love them and feel they are worth a share!
Most of the asana practices on this blog are intended for the progression of an established practice of yoga. Over time I will try to add more stuff that is suitable for beginners. This will be clearly labelled as Suitable for beginners.
Its worth revisiting this blog if you are interested in this, as I will be adding more beginners practices to each session as time goes by.

Namaste beautiful's,

Love Julie.