Welcome to your Summer Yoga Home Practice
Introduction
Hello and welcome to Breathing Space Yoga’s Summer Yoga Home Practice. I’m so glad you are bringing your yoga home and celebrating the summer (even if you do these practices at any other time of the year!).
These videos and audio files are intended to support the yoga that you experience in your regular weekly face-to-face class, but they can be used as a stand alone practice. Please make sure that you have been cleared to practice yoga by your medical professional before you begin and please read https://www.breathingspace-yoga.com/medicaldisclaimer
I really hope you enjoy using these resources at home and I wish you a happy summer!
Love Sarah xx
Please feel free to connect at anytime using my contact info in the website footer if you have any comments, questions or queries.
Tips for your practice
find a space big enough for your mat free from distractions
take the practices at your own pace - pause and repeat as necessary
if you only have a short time just do part of the practices, or choose the guided relaxation
if you have longer join practices together and definitely stay longer for savasana if you can
take any alternatives I have given you in class, or that I give you on the videos as you need to if a pose is too challenging for you - remember you can always take a child’s pose or skip a section (a gentle sun salutation version can be found on the resources page of my website)
if you don’t have props to hand improvise with books, scarves and cushions.
if you are struggling to find time or space to do the practices at home just roll out your mat - I promise it will flow from there…
enjoy!
Yoga Asana Practices
Gentle Flowing Practice with Breath Counts
45 mins (includes 5 mins guided savasana and close of practice)
Suitable for all. (Pregnant ladies please skip the section lying on your back).
Props needed: block
This is a gentle grounding practice suitable for all It includes simple yoga poses with gentle breath counts throughout to lengthen the breath and promote release and relaxation.
A great practice for the end of the day, if you are feeling tired or overwhelmed. This is a great practice to calm stress and anxiety.
Note that the video fades to black during savasana and then returns for the close of the practice.
Summer Hip Opening Practice
32 mins (includes 5 mins guided savasana and close of practice)
Suitable for those with a stronger yoga practice - not suitable for pregnancy or ladies up to 12 months postnatal.
Props needed: belt, 2 blocks or a blanket
This practice will open up the hips, working up to Malasana (squat), promote core strength and includes an optional arm balance - Bakasana Crow Pose.
A great practice to work a little harder with a little more pace and to refine some of the practices we have done in class.
Summer Heart Opening Practice
50 min (includes 5 mins guided savasana and close of practice)
Suitable for all - except pregnant ladies. Postnatal ladies up to 6 months do the gentle versions of camel pose.
Props needed: 2 bricks, 1 block and a blanket
This is a real celebration of summer and sunshine. Lift your heart, lift your spirits, open your body. Includes some flowing shoulder openings, sun salutations and backbends which you can take gently or more strongly working toward Ustrasana Camel pose. Please use a blanket under your knees for comfort if you need to or fold your mat over.
A great practice if its sunny, or if you need some sunshine in your life.
The reading comes from the song The Longtime Sun by the Incredible String Band. Look for lovely yoga versions including the one by Snatam Kaur.
Downloadable Audio Practices
Garden Meditation
A 21 minute guided practice recorded in my garden.
Gently connect to your surroundings and draw yourself inwards. Enjoy being in the fresh air. Let the sounds and sensations of being outside guide your practice.
You can practice this meditation in your own garden, or use the sounds on the recording if it's too cold or rainy to be outside.
Enjoy being in, connected to and part of nature and the world around you.
Guided Relaxation
Extend your savasana if you have the time by using this 11 minute guided relaxation. Or take this relaxation on its own to help you re- balance, unwind and relax.
Find a comfortable position lying down (bear in mind if you do so on your bed you may fall asleep!) Great to do at the end of the day or after any yoga practice.
Thank you for practising with me at home!
I’d love to know how you found the practices - please contact me at sarah@breathingspace-yoga.com or 07977093373 with any feedback.
To find out more about my classes in Northwich please go to www.breathingspace-yoga.com - I’d love to see you in class very soon.
A huge thanks to my teachers and their organisations for their wealth of knowledge which I share here for my students:
Bridget Woods Kramer http://www.bridgetwoodskramer.com/ Barrie Risman https://barrierisman.com Jason Crandell www.jasonyoga.com/ Elena Brower https://elenabrower.com/ Rod Stryker https://www.parayoga.com/ Mick Timpsion https://beanddo.co.uk/ all the teachers at https://www.birthlight.com/ all the teachers whose classes and workshops I have attended over the years.
Thanks also to all of the wonderful students who attend my classes and bring new learning every week.