Tag: 30 days of yoga

I Tried It · September 29, 2017

I Tried It: Hot Yoga

I just completed 30 days of yoga and I’m hooked. I love how yoga calms and relaxes me, how it’s increasing my flexibility and how much stronger I’m becoming.

I’ve started another Yoga with Adriene 30 day challenge, but last week, I decided that I wanted try a hot yoga class to mix things up a bit.

I found a hot yoga class in central London that looked interesting, although admittedly, I was a bit skeptical of my ability to actually complete the class. Not because I was worried about being in a group setting, it was more about my ability to cope with the heat of the room. Real talk: I’ve had low blood pressure since I was pregnant with my son, so being in really hot places always makes me feel a bit light headed.

I decided to give it a go and registered for a lunchtime class at Another Space with the lovely Ellisif.

So here’s the thing about hot yoga that makes it different to the vinyasa yoga I usually do. The class takes place in 32° infrared heat, so you’re doing vinyasa yoga at the normal high intensity, and the heat raises your heart rate even further.

In a nutshell: it’s very hot and you will get very sweaty.

The next time I do a hot yoga class, I will definitely wear fewer clothes. I thought I was being smart, wearing just cropped leggings, a tank top with lots of wicking capability and a sports bra. But even that was too much: there were men wearing only shorts and women in sports bras and short shorts in order to beat the heat.

For me, it was a bit of a mental transition going from doing yoga at home in an airy room with a draft to doing yoga in a very hot room, surrounded by people wearing as little as possible. And I won’t lie: the first five minutes of the class were tough, as I struggled to get to grips with the heat. And then just like that, something in my brain clicked into place and I was finally able to relax into the heat and the vinyasa flows.

The 45 minutes class was a very dynamic, with vinyasa yoga flows and very few breaks.

Reader, I loved it.

I left the class very sweaty but feeling full of endorphins, calm and very focused. And a little happier.

A little note: I wouldn’t recommend a hot yoga class to a complete yoga newbie. My view is that it would be a lot to learn the poses and flows and try to cope with the heat. So if you’re a seasoned yogi or have been doing yoga for a little while, I highly recommend trying a hot yoga class for a little variety.

Do you do hot yoga? Any tips and tricks to share?

Get in touch for to book a free, no commitment 20 minute health coaching call to find out more about how you can improve your health & wellbeing and reduce your stress.

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I Tried It · September 22, 2017

I Tried It: 30 Days of Yoga

Do you do yoga? It’s something I always recommend yoga to my stressed out clients. It’s incredible for reducing cortisol, the major stress hormone, and getting people to focus on the quality of their breathing. In addition, a recent study shows that yoga and meditation can significantly improve brain function and energy levels.

Personally, I used to favour high intensity exercise like spinning or HIIT. I love the feeling of being sweaty and full of endorphins after a good workout. I’ve done yoga over the years, but always tended to favour ashtanga yoga, again for that feeling of having done a great sweaty workout.

Then at the end of July, my right knee really started to bother me and I ended up spraining it after doing a particularly vigorous HIIT session full of jump lunges and squats. I didn’t want to stop working out, but I knew I needed to find something that was gentle on my knees and could help the healing process.

Enter yoga.

I have friends that are yogis and I’ve always watched their Instagram posts of their various poses with a mix of joy and awe. Then when I got injured, I thought: ‘I should actually try this now’.

And so I did. I had heard a lot of good things about the 30 day introductory programme from Yoga with Adriene, so I fired up the YouTube app and off I went.

You might be asking why I didn’t just head to a local yoga class? Well, I’ve always preferred to workout at home. I did the Kayla Itsines’ programme at home last year and loved being able to do a workout in the morning and then quickly get on with my day, rather than schlep to the gym. Rest assured, this isn’t about gym shyness, but rather my own scheduling choice. If I can schedule it, I still love doing a spin class at Psycle or Another Space for the community and camaraderie.

And I digress. The first few days of my yoga challenge were tricky, as I realised how tight my calves, hamstrings and upper back were. In the downward facing dog pose, my feet were virtually in 45 degree angles. I then made it a goal to not only finish the 30 days, but also get my heels further to the ground in downward facing dog and start to build towards doing a proper crow pose.

I also decided to create a bit of a ritual in my yoga practice. I light a lovely candle, get a big glass of water and set my intention of making my practice a moment of self-care.

I found something addictive in doing yoga everyday. Perhaps it was was the ritual, perhaps it was knowing that I was building towards something. I don’t usually exercise every day, but managed to do yoga every day during the 30 day challenge, bar two. Towards the end of the challenge, I started to crave my daily yoga ritual. I really noticed it if I missed out my morning yoga session and would try to do something after J’s bedtime.

So how did I feel at the end of the 30 day challenge? The physical, emotional and spiritual benefits are undeniable. Physically, I am more flexible and toned. Emotionally, I am calmer, more centred & focused and my anxiety has been kept at bay. Spiritually, I am more open and truly grateful to have had this opportunity.

Do you practice yoga or any other bodywork, such as pilates? What are the benefits for you?

Get in touch for to book a free, no commitment 20 minute health coaching call to find out more about how you can improve your health & wellbeing and reduce your stress.

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Links I Love · August 26, 2017

Stories I loved this week.

We’re squeezing the last bits out of summer and starting to think about school. I can’t believe my little boy is about to go into his first year of school. I predict quite a few tears on his first day! I’d love a few tips from moms who’ve done this before.

In other news, I just received my diploma, so I’m officially a nutritional therapist. Now that I’m about to launch my own practice, I’ve been gravitating towards anything about how to launch a business and how to market myself. I would love to see any tips you’ve found useful!

I love kombucha so much and was fascinated to read this secret history of my favourite beverage. (Food52)

Is wellness an epidemic or is it that people don’t feel good and are starting to care more about what they put in and on their bodies? (The Cut)

I’m on day 4 of this 30 days of Yoga challenge and really enjoying it. I’ve been gravitating towards more calming exercise recently, so the yoga has been great to add in with my daily walks. (YouTube)

And it’s a good job yoga is a form of resistance training, because this form of exercise (over cardio) is ridiculously good for you. (Time)

“Frequent use of multivitamin & mineral supplements is effective in increasing micronutrient intakes, decreasing prevalence of most nutrient inadequacies, and decreasing risk of deficiencies of vitamins B6, B12, C, and D in the U.S. adult population. In other words, taking supplements is not just a way to have expensive urine. They can help prevent nutrient shortfalls resulting from modern lifestyles and food choices.” (Nutrients)

I’m a fan of conscious meat eating – knowing the provenance of your meat and what it’s been fed. The most sustainable option is much smaller quantities of higher-quality, mainly grass-fed meat, along with less dairy, more fruit and vegetables, and less processed food. (The Guardian)

“Wellness, I came to realize, will not happen by accident. It must be a daily practice, especially for those of us who are more susceptible to the oppressiveness of the world. I began to understand why she described the practice of self-care as a means of political warfare, how even getting more rest or drinking more water could be viewed as an act of defiance—radical, even.” (Healthyish)

Did you know that there’s a connection between gut health and athletic performance? There are specific bacteria that may help athletes recover from a tough workout faster. I’m intrigued! (Science Daily)

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