YH | Finding Your Way Back…

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Whether it’s heat, social commitments, returning to the office or just out of routine…there are many reasons your practice may have fallen by the wayside – we are blessed to have our beautiful teacher Annie Edwards share her story on how she found her way back to the mat after a hiatus.

We also have two more Summer Membership Deals available – but you better be quick!
And if that wasn’t enough, we also have a ton of new workshops to get your interest up, explore new horizons and dive deeper into your practice.
This week we also have Helen share her favourite asana and finally…we have only a few spots left on our Morocco Reset Retreat this October.

FINAL CHANCE | SUMMER OFFERS

Membership Discounts

We’ve had a great response to our Summer offers and we now only have ONE more discounted annual membership & five 6 month memberships left!

Become an Annual Member for only £795

Get our Six Month Membership for only £460

With either membership you will get unlimited classes, 15% off all workshops, access to our recorded library + much more.

You can buy now and choose a future start date. We also offer a one month pause if needed in your membership (to be taken in one go)

HURRY TO GET YOURS

FINDING MY WAY BACK TO PRACTICE
BY ANNIE EDWARDS

Throughout your yoga journey, you may fall out of your yoga routine. I recently felt disconnected and Yoga House brought me back to my mat.

One of my literary inspirations, Toni Morrison, once said, “All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.”
This quote has been a beautiful mantra for me throughout the last few months. I took a hiatus (for no good reason) from my regular daily practice. As a teacher and longtime practitioner, I know that taking time off from yoga practice happens all the time. However, life felt fractured and my cherished patterns felt interrupted and yes, my relationship with yoga felt diminished.

How did I find my way back to the practice that had been my constant and brought me profound benefits for over twenty years?

My love of wellbeing and belief in rest and selfcare never wavered, but my motivation to be on my mat in studio was challenging to find. The “getting started” again is where I needed inspiration. I found myself in shock that I had wandered so far from my own practice. We all have distractions and commitments that keep us from rolling out our mats, but I felt a lack of inspiration deep in my bones. Rumi reminds us to jump in the water, but I simply could not get started.
“Love is the water of life, jump into this water.” – Rumi

Miraculously, Yoga House in Catford brought back the magic and literally called me home. I am so fortunate that I only have to saunter a few steps up the street through the Tescos car park and 100 yards over the bricks of Catford Mews to find my oasis of calm. When I walk through those doors I am greeted and everything melts away. Every special touch from the smiles at reception, to the warm twinkling lighting, to herbal tea in dainty tea cups to the aroma of incense magnificent plants and flowers. All of these elements soothe my soul instantly.

Once through the threshold I find it easier to connect and center. The sacred space of YH gives me a sense of belonging and home. The studio seems to contain a magical essence. Kasia Blackwell has created this place for us and spreads her essence throughout us all. For that I am so grateful. Her inspiration and the magic of other teachers at YH continues to spread the message of yoga and inspires me every day. Through the support of this space, I realise that I always have time for yoga.

Yoga doesn’t take time, it gives time. Spend a few more moments with yourself learning about how your body likes to move and breathe. Our relationship with ourselves is one of the most intimate and rewarding relationships of our lives.

There have definitely been moments during the last three years where I have lost my passion for practice. Thanks to Yoga House and the wonderful yoga community I am reminded that this truly is our path. Like water coming back to the source, I have come back to the WHY of yoga. I do remember why I fell in love with this practice and these postures. It is the poetry of life.

A few tips on how to come back? Start slowly. Restorative or Yin yoga is a bold and wonderful place to begin! Come as you are. Connect slowly with your body and your breath. Re-discover your yoga. Make a sign with a quote and put it on your mirror. BKS Iyengar once wrote: “Yoga is the golden key that unlocks the door to peace, tranquility and joy.”

Remember that no human I know has ever said, “I really regret going to yoga today.” Ever.

Join me at Yoga House, a safe place, a haven in a busy city, on Wednesdays for Restorative Yoga 7:45 pm. Come as you are. Come home!

FIND YOUR MAT…IT’S WAITING FOR YOU

MORROCO YOGA RETREAT
1-5 October, 2022

Join us for this magical Morocco Reset Retreat which will include twice daily yoga. Dynamic energetic Flow in the mornings and relaxing Yin in the evenings. There will be delicious and nourishing meals prepared by the villa’s private chef.

Discover local gems with organised tours; A day hike to Atlas mountains with traditional Berber lunch. And a sunset dinner in a stone desert outside Marrakech, including Alchemy Crystal Bowl soundscape under the stars.

Plus lots of spare time to enjoy the villa, the pool and to soak up the beautiful scenery. The villa comes with a housekeeper to make the stay even more comfortable.

FIND OUT MORE & BOOK YOUR SPOT

PARIVRTTA ANJANEYASANA

Helen shares her love of high lunge twist

This is a lovely posture which stretches spine, hamstrings and hips and shoulders. Once you have warmed up the hamstrings and spine with some half hanuman or forward bends and some supine or seated twists.

From downdog, right foot steps forwards between the hands and knee is directly positioned over the ankle, left fingers spread out and left hand connects with the earth under left shoulder, right leg is strong and straight with quadricep ‘hugging’ up into hamstring.

Inhale: extend from crown of head to back of left heel, lengthening spine

Exhale: hips drop, maintaining engagement of left leg and belly, front ribs and chest gently spiral towards inner right thigh. Neck is long, jaw relaxed. Right arm reaches straight up to the sky, or for more extension, right bicep draws over right ear, palm down, fingertips extend to the front of the room.

Modifications: for tighter hips, drop back knee to earth. For more ease in shoulders, bring right hand to waist as you spiral the chest open to sky.

JOIN HELEN
FRIDAYS | 6.30PM | HATHA | CATFORD STUDIO
Helen will also be starting our new Yoga For Cancer Classes this coming September

LEO NEW MOON GONG BATH WITH JUNIOR

Our signature sound bath run by our qualified Gong Master Junior Valentine, who will take you on a magical sound journey with his three gongs. Setting intentions for our rebirth back to the world and connecting to the universal energy.
Get ready Raw and Rest under the power Leo New Moon Engery.

**FRIDAY 29 AUGUST | 7-8PM | £25* | LEE STUDIO**

*£25 per person or £40 for pair booking
If booking for two, please email support@yogahouselondon.co.uk

STRENGTH FOR YOGI’S WORKSHOP WITH ALICE

Join Alice as you explore different ways in which to approach a posture depending on what you wish to achieve. There will also be anatomical discussion and ideas shared on how to build more resilience in order to avoid pain and injury, thus creating a yoga practice that is more sustainable and has greater longevity.

SATURDAY 6 AUGUST | 2-4PM | £20 | LEE STUDIO

BOOK YOUR WORKSHOP

& LOOKING AHEAD WE HAVE….

TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT OUR COMING WORKSHOPS