Create change through restorative yoga

“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day.” Rumi

Annie Edwards is one of our retreat teachers, she loves the written word, weaving poetry and philosophical inspiration into her classes and places emphasis on ample time for rest and relaxation. Here she talks about some of the things that inspire her and what she likes to share in her classes. Get a peak of what to expect on our 42 Acres yoga weekend 18-20 October 2019 with Annie Edwards who is co teaching with Will Wheeler.

Life is full of beauty but also hectic and stressful, often leaving us feeling depleted and ungrounded. If you have been feeling a little stagnant yoga-wise recently or simply desire the opportunity to open up to change then allow mudra, mantra, stillness and pranayama to be your medicine. If stress, grief, loss, heartbreak, financial worries, illness, tension, disappointment or fatigue are getting you down, a delicious combination of gentle heart activating restorative poses will help. These practices enable the body, heart and mind to relax deeply and change will set in.

Using nourishing heart opening poses we come back to the full spectrum of our humanity. I find having my favourite chants playing (Snatam Kaur) while I am teaching and poetic offerings to guide me from cherished writers such as Rumi, Kabir, Hafiz, Mary Oliver and Mark Nepo, add depth. Add a sprinkle of mudra and mantra and let the healing begin. 

How does it work? It is best to have an experienced teacher hold the space and guide you and then you will lusciously release. When we hold simple and accessible poses for longer periods of time, we go beyond the muscle and dive deep into the fascia and connective tissue of the body. There is an incredible physical and energetic release during the practice and you will drop down into your parasympathetic nervous system – allowing the body to heal itself. When we work on grounding ourselves, we feel supported and rooted, and then we open up into the heart and the heart channels, physically opening and releasing the shoulders, arms, upper back and chest. Adding mudra, mantra, stillness and breath helps to loosen our grip on our to-do list and the roles we play. We are able to cultivate a restful state of being that reconnects us with our basic nature of open heart and open mind. Then we can find and manifest the change that we need.

Transformation can be difficult, but always so nourishing. As we explore the organic unfolding of our respective journeys we often find fear holding us back. Through our practice of yoga using heightened emotion to cleanse enables us to face the change that is meant to happen. 

The inspiring autumn retreat at 42 Acres from 18-20 October is the perfect time to reflect on the upcoming changes you want to make. This retreat will be designed for you and your body. We will use the power of mudra, mantra and pranyama to open up to the changes that the magical, autumn season brings. Explore transformation as we move through dynamic yoga in the morning and restorative practices in the evening. You’ll notice a greater sense of ease and relaxation all around so you can return to life with more energy and enthusiasm. The perfect tonic to a busy lifestyle! A wonderful opportunity for you to relax your mind, rejuvenate your body and reawaken your spirit. 

“The winds of change blow through our life, sometimes gently, sometimes like a tropical storm. Yes, we have resting places—time to adjust to another level of living, time to get our balance, time to enjoy the rewards. We have time to catch our breath. But change is inevitable, and desirable.” Melody Beattie

Tags: uk yoga, yoga weekend, yogaonashoestring, yogaretreats

Categorised in: Adventures, Asana, Holidays & retreats, Meditation, Relaxation, Well-being, Yoga