"HOW ARE YOU?!"

*ONLINE BOOKING NOW AVAILABLE FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES*

... I ask this question sincerely. I really do want to know.

I hope you are well, both mentally and physically. But if you are not, please know that I am here, forever striving to cultivate some healing/positive energy amongst a community of yogis, to send that healing energy “out there” to you and others who need it, and to ultimately create a happier, healthier world!! 

Last week, I put out quite a personal social media post listing the crazy storm of sh*t that had come my way recently. To which, I had a lot of replies and messages of love, compassion and virtual hugs! Bizarrely, I was surprised by this! It’s not that I don’t think people care that much, but it’s more that I didn’t think the things I had been going through were “bad” enough to warrant such a reaction from people. 

But I think that this just goes to show a few things: 1) our perceptions of things and situations are all completely different; 2) how we react to things usually governs our experience and emotions about said things; 3) people are fundamentally kind and compassionate <3. Even if it seems small, petty or "ridiculous" to you, someone will ALWAYS care about you and your feelings, and want you to be happy and well again! 

So firstly, a BIG thank you to you my lovelies.

A thank you for showing up for me, for supporting me, and making me feel loved.
A thank you for understanding that my life doesn't always run smoothly and sometimes I have to re-arrange, cancel or adjust my offerings to you.
A thank you for allowing me to be human and accepting me that way!

And secondly, I encourage you to speak up if things have been a bit rubbish for you lately. Or perhaps for some time now. I feel that it is so important to talk through any storm clouds that have darkened your path, with someone you trust, and who will help you to find the silver linings to those clouds! As you already know, I am a very open book, and I talk freely about my life, emotions and circumstances. This is because I want to set a precedent; to demolish the stigma and potential judgments surrounding mental health, and things that have occurred in your life that might need addressing. 

Yoga has of course MASSIVELY helped me overcome a lot of my "daemons", but I still have some lurking in the background. I think most of us do. So I am currently in the process of looking in to seeing a healer to help me even further on my journey towards self-love (thanks to my wonderful reflexologist and massage therapist!) What are you going to do?

Anyway, lecture over...

Things have improved a little bit over the last week or so, but I must confess that I am looking forward to a bit of a break over the summer! As much as I LOVE what I do (and I really, honestly do)… I think it’s important that we take a step back sometimes. Especially when things have been a little rough. As with any healthy relationship, you need some space in order to appreciate what you have, and allow your love and passion to flourish…

So the first thing I wanted to do in this newsletter (besides lecture you on speaking out about your troubles!), is to remind you that there are NO YOGA CLASSES DURING AUGUST and I will BE BACK ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND. But what I will be doing at the end of this week is sending you out a few of my YouTube recordings of previous classes for FREE, so that you have something you can do over the holidays … If you miss me that much!! 

The next thing I wanted to do was to give you an opportunity to ask me something…anything?! 

A yogi recently asked me: “could you clarify what you mean in class when you say “telescoping the ribs””? And it dawned on me that I am probably talking a load of rubbish a lot of the time with people wondering what on Earth I’m saying?! 

So I wanted to give you the opportunity to ask me anything you’d like… from “what do you mean when you say…”? To “where can I find some yoga blocks”? Maybe it’s not even yoga related, and that’s totally fine too! 

So, ask away…

................................................................................................................................

And this week in class we’ll be focusing on our root chakra. 

After a weekend of heavy food/drink and a lot of driving, I feel I need some grounding and nourishment.

For those of you who are unsure, the word Chakra (cakra in Sanskrit) means “wheel”, and refers to the energy points in our bodies where our prana (life force) cross over. They are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay “open” and aligned, as they correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect our emotional and physical well-being.

Our first of the 7 chakras is located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae, and is known as "Muladhara Chakra".

The word Muladhara breaks down into two Sanskrit words: Mula meaning “root” and Adhara, which means “support” or “base.

Therefore, this root chakra is responsible for our sense of safety and security on our earthly journey. Balancing the root chakra creates the solid foundation for opening the 6 other chakras above (think of a building with a stable foundation). 

If there is an imbalance in the root chakra you may experience anxiety disorders, fears, or nightmares and be controlling, quick to anger, undriven, and self-conscious. Physical imbalances may manifest as problems in the colon, with the bladder/colon, with elimination, or with lower back, leg, or feet issues. In men, prostate problems may occur. Eating disorders may also be a sign of a root chakra imbalance.

When your root chakra is balanced, you have energy and self-confidence rather than arrogance or fear, and you feel calm, centered and ready for what life brings!

Ways to balance the root chakra:

1) Earthing: Muladhara Chakra is connected to the Earth element, so one way to balance it is to get out in to nature and take a barefoot walk!

2) Yoga: A grounding asana practice can help to open Muladhara Chakra. Poses such as Garland Pose (Malasana), Mountain Pose (Tadasana), Lotus Pose (Padmasana), or Head-to-Knee Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana). But more than any particular asana (yoga pose), how you synchronise your prana (breath) with each movement is the key to get the prana flowing freely along the spine in an upwards direction.

4) Diet: eat earthy, root-based veggies, rich protein and red fruits! Eat easy to digest foods so as to avoid bloating and constipation. 

5) Breathe: Take at least 5 deep breaths up to the crown of your head, and back down to  the root chakra at the base of the spine.  

6) Meditate: The colour associated with Muladhara chakra is red. So during meditation, visualise the colour red. You could see this as a ball of spinning energy, or as the chakra symbol of an upside-down triangle. Use the corresponding hand mudra during meditation too.

Namaste Yogis!

Love always,
Aimee
xxx

P.S. You can also register for/book any of my classes here:

http://www.aimeehillmassageyoga.co.uk/yoga

https://calendly.com/aimeehillyogamassage

* Monday 10-11am Gentle Yoga

* Tuesday 7-8pm Energy Flow

* Thursday 10:15-11/11:15am Mummy & Baby Yoga

* Thursday 6:30-7:30pm Pregnancy Yoga

* Thursday 8-9pm Bedtime Yoga with Nidra

xx