Yoga by Nature Podcast

An autumn-inspired yoga practice for yoga teachers, exploring aparigraha, celebrating and respecting vata, and the pathways of the lower limbs. This is part of a new series of classes in The Teachers Circle mentoring and CPD group for yoga teachers, which gives you a teacher-level practice plus inspiration for your upcoming month of yoga class plans. Visit The Teachers Circle for upcoming teacher inspiration, mentoring sessions, yoga teachers retreats and CPD.    Through standing poses, flowing movement and balances, we explore the connection from sitting bones to heels, finding rooted steadiness alongside movement and space. Building towards half moon pose, we explore the feet firmly rooted in the ground and the body suspended in the air around us. We close with breathwork and rest, making space for the need to stay grounded through change, while celebrating the energy, activity and inspiration of the season. Have a block and a belt to hand, with a wall nearby for balance if needed. I always love to hear feedback and requests! Contact Morven on [email protected] 

I offer you this deeply restful Yoga Nidra practice for the transition from summer into autumn. Through breath awareness, a gentle journey through the body and the warmth of the imagined sun, you are invited to gather the experiences and memories that will nourish you in the months ahead, while releasing what you no longer wish to carry. The practice concludes with a visualisation of gathering the abundance of summer, followed by a choice of sankalpa—or heartfelt intention—to accompany you into the next phase. Allow around 70 minutes and make yourself somewhere warm and comfortable where you will not be disturbed. With every step you take, through every breath of life, may you be blessed with the clarity and courage to tend to your truth and know your own heart. 

I have been doing this yoga nidra myself since I recorded it at a live class on Monday. It's so relaxing and soothing. I take you on a journey of exploration within the fabric of the body, observing the sensations to take you out of your busy mind.  Make sure you are somewhere you won't be disturbed, and if you sleep it's a win! That's what most of us need. Even if you don't though, it's still going to help your energy and your stress levels.  I have just published a new yoga course - the Healing the Whole Person yoga programme for cancer patients. It's a yoga and mindfulness programme to support people recovering from cancer treatment or living with cancer. In it, there is a yoga nidra for cancer as well as yoga classes for all stages of the cancer journey. Learn more about it  HERE

This mindfulness meditation guides you to safely and consciously lean into pain with tenderness. Compassionate acceptance helps you to cultivate a new, inclusive relationship with pain and trains you to realise the nuances of what can seem like fixed pain.  This approach can be helpful for people living with chronic pain who are looking for a way to accept pain without becoming overwhelmed by it.  This meditation was recorded live with a group on the Move Out of Pain course at Omni studio in Weston-super-Mare, UK.  I have just published a new course - Healing the Whole Person yoga programme for cancer patients. Learn more about it HERE

Don't have time to meditate? Here is a short snack of calm that you can bring into your busy day to help you feel calm and connected.