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.