Yogalates

Award winning Yogalates has been developed by Louise Solomon over the last 15 years and is the integration of the very best of two exercise systems, Yoga and Pilates.

It is a movement system that develops strength in all the major muscle groups of the body, enhances stamina, flexibility, balance and calms the mind and the spirit. Particular attention is paid to building strength and endurance in the body’s core stabilising muscles, this enhances spinal / pelvic awareness protecting the spine against injury and promoting good posture. The breath is emphasised as a point of focus throughout the practice, developing mental clarity.

Yoga Nidra

What is Yoga Nidra? it is simply explained as yogic sleep. A state that is b a level of conciousness between waking and sleeping. It encourages the release of stress, negative feelings and perhaps the letting go of negative long held beliefs that no longer serve us. Yoga Nidra does this in a very gentle way. It is safe and anyone can do it from children to seniors.

To practice yoga Nidra , find yourself a quiet private place where you will not be disturbed. Generally one would lay down on your back making yourself comfortable using a cushion underneath the head, blocks and or bolsters under the backs of the knees and thighs to rest out the lower back. You will then be guided through a body scan where the parts of the body are brought to your attention and to relax and let go as you focus on each one. This continues up and down the whole body.

The awareness of the breath is an integral part of yoga Nidra and so you will be guided how to get the best result. Belly breathing through the nose is so important because it exercises the diaphragm and fills the lungs to their full capacity and so switching on our para-sympathetic nervous system. This is the part of our nervous system that is responsible for our rest and digestion and so switching off the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for our fright, flight or freeze response to the stresses in our lives.

Ben Wolf is a Yoga Teacher ClinicalHypnotherapist and Dream Yoga practitioner with a profound depth of experience and understanding in his field:

“ Neuroscience shows that there is a breath rate for you that is your own personal sweet spot where head, heart, lungs and the major organs of the body all resonate and a coherent , synchronised rhythm waves and pulses throughout all your systems. This brings with it a harmony, wellness and great feelings of relaxation, zest, energy and control quite unlike anything you’re currently experiencing. Its simple. Its effective. Its life changing”.

At the end of my yoga classes we always practice a short yoga Nidra. At the end of the yin yoga restorative workshops it is a much longer session.