Why I like to honour the rhythms of nature in my yoga classes

Many of you who have attended my classes will know that I like to often theme classes around the seasons and the natural turnings of nature.

Often in our busyness, we become very distant from nature and its tempos.  We use artificial lighting and artificial stimulants so our natural internal cycles can be disrupted. 

By noticing, and acknowledging the seasons of nature in a yoga class, it also gives us a chance to notice and honour our own natural cycles.

Some people love winter and the freshness of the breeze outdoors makes them feel alive and energised, and yet as soon as it becomes hot they need to slow down and retreat.  Some people are the opposite.


In yoga we learn to tune in to both ourselves, and our environment.  If we go completely inward, we can loose touch with the unfolding of life.  Similarly, if we are too focused externally, too busy, we loose touch with ourselves.

My practice varies with the weather. I might do longer holds of strength building poses in winter to build heat in my body for example, as well as more restorative poses.  In spring, I like to start being a little more active, using pandiculation and somatics to ensure that all of my body start to get moving.  In Summer, I enjoy slow sequences, often with forward folds, and in autumn I like to prepare my body with practices that strengthen my immune system.

I like to honour the marking points of the turnings of the seasons, the Solstices and Equinox’s with special meditations as a way of re-attuning myself to my own rhythms. 

The Spring equinox marks the time where there is an equal amount of day and night time.  Soon, the days will be getting longer.  Plants will start to put out new growth, and flowers smile at us from trees, grasses and every where in between.

In the coming spring equinox class I hope to bring us to a point of balance through the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical poses, becoming more active in our bodies and starting to release any stagnation from winter slowness.  We will use a range of centring techniques to turn inwards, and end with a yoga nidra honouring opposites in nature and ourselves.

All welcome to join me. 
Thursday September 20 @7pm

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