At Winter Solstice

During winter we let go of light just as trees let go of leaves, we look towards cosy and warmth and probably more time indoors, and we should rest more as our ancestors once did when they followed the seasons and the longer nights more closely than we do today.

Winter is nature's sign to slow down, let go of brighter months and spend more time resting and reflecting. The cycles of the seasons can support us so much if we listen, feel and follow them rather than fight against them.

This blog invites you to reflect on your year and take time to rest. I also share some beautiful words from the poet and philosopher John O’Donohue.

Meditation, Yoga philosophy, Yoga and WellbeingSarah CloverDecember 17, 2024yoga quotes, yoga philosophyComment

10 Ways to Use a Blanket

This blog is about using a Blanket to support your yoga. You can buy specific yoga blankets, but any firm blanket will work.

BKS Iyengar was credited with popularising the use of yoga props through his school of yoga. Over the years many yoga props and supports have been developed to support the spectrum of yoga poses but you can’t go wrong with the basics. Simple yoga props include: belts, bricks, blocks, blankets, chairs, bolsters, cushions and using a wall.

A blanket can be a useful support for any yoga student. In this blog I share a few ideas on how to use your blanket to support you in ten common yoga poses.

Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga Practice, Yoga TipsSarah CloverNovember 8, 2024yoga tips, yoga class

N.O.U.R.I.S.H. yourself by creating a 'To Be' list

Lots of us have ‘To Do’ lists – but do you have a ‘To Be’ list?

I came across this idea recently and thought it was brilliant. Ensuring that you have time to just ‘be’ is so important in our busy world. It’s more important for our health and wellbeing than all the stuff we have ‘to do’.

In this blog is a little inspiration to create your own ‘To be’ list, using the acronym N.O.U.R.I.S.H.

There’s also a PDF you can download to help you.

Going Upside Down

When we think of yoga poses that take our body upside down, headstand and shoulderstand probably spring to mind first.

But there are lots of yoga poses that take our head lower than our heart that are much more accessible, and provide the same benefits.

In this blog post I show you 5 simple and accessible inversions and explain the benefits of going upside down.

10 Ways to Use a Belt

This blog is about using a Yoga Belt. You can buy specific yoga belts, but any soft, non stretchy, belt will work or even a long scarf.

A belt can be a useful support for any yoga student to help you to support a yoga pose; find your way into a yoga pose more fully; and in restorative yoga, belts can be really helpful to help hold parts of the body so that the body can rest and enjoy the benefits of the pose without the effort of holding the pose

In this blog I share a few ideas on how to use your belt to support you in ten common yoga poses.

Ten Years, Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga Practice, Yoga TipsSarah CloverMarch 19, 2024yoga tips, yoga class, Ten Years

B.R.A.I.N.

In this blog post I explain the acronym B.R.A.I.N.

It is a really useful tool to use when making choices, and is especially well known in the world of Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, when having to make choices can come quickly and without much warning. I’ve included a free B.R.A.I.N. card to print out to use at antenatal appointments, through labour, birth and postnatally.

B.R.A.I.N. can also be used by anyone for day to day, and more complex decisions. I invite you to have a read and see if this tool could be helpful for you.

A Mindful Month

January, a new start. Welcome to the new year.

If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that I am not one for new years resolutions. Why add more pressure to your life?

Instead I like to think of intentions. Intentions feel more gentle, they offer less chance for failure if we don’t ‘stick’ to them like resolutions. Intentions are a way to offer some direction, but with space for curiosity and time to explore the journey we we make our way towards them.

This year I’ve created a ‘Mindful Month’ to start the year. A little prompt for each day to find a mindful moment to re-connect to yourself, to take a pause, to do something that brings you some joy and as a result will bring you into the present moment. More happiness, less stress.

Read the blog here and access your free download to stick on your fridge…

Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga PracticeSarah CloverJanuary 1, 2024yoga tips, mental health, top tips

10 Ways to Use a Chair for Yoga

In this blog post I continue to celebrate 10 years of teaching with the first in a series of ‘Ten Ways to use...’

This blog is about using a chair. You can buy specific yoga chairs, but any sturdy dining room style chair without arms will work just as well.

In this blog I share a few ideas on how to use your chair to support you in ten common yoga poses.

Ten Years, Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga Practice, Yoga TipsSarah CloverSeptember 11, 2023yoga tips, yoga class, Ten Years

10 Reasons to Try Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra means ‘yogic sleep’. It is an effortless yoga relaxation and meditation practice that anyone can do, by themselves with an audio recording or with the guidance of a teacher in person.

Yoga nidra brings you to a deeply relaxed state of mind and body, whilst you are still awake. This is the state between sleep and wakefulness (called the hypnogogic state in psychology), where you float between consciousness and unconsciousness, being aware of the resting state of the body and mind as it is happening in the moment.

Yoga nidra has been shown to be effective in supporting and healing many areas of body and mind including stress, tension, anxiety, insomnia, pain, trauma, addiction and PTSD.

I have found yoga nidra to be one of the best ways to relax and release my body completely, and one of the easiest ways to enter the meditative space. It really is effortless.

In this blog I offer ten reasons why you should try yoga nidra, and a link to ten free yoga nidra practices on my website.

10 Ways to Use a Yoga Brick

In this blog post I continue to celebrate 10 years of teaching with the first in a series of ‘Ten Ways to use...’

This blog is about yoga bricks. After yoga mats, they are probably the most widely found yoga prop.

If you are new to yoga and got a yoga brick with your first yoga mat, you might have been wondering what it is for. If you are a more experienced yoga student you may be familiar with ways to use a brick in your practice.

In this blog I share a few ideas on how to use your brick for ten common yoga poses.

Ten Years, Yoga and Wellbeing, Yoga Practice, Yoga TipsSarah CloverMarch 17, 2023yoga tips, yoga class, Ten Years

Occasional Thoughts Blog

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