Making Yoga a part of your life

By Clair Yates

The past two years has led many to make changes, to prioritise their mental and physical health in a way they hadn’t before. As part of these changes lots of people have taken up yoga or returned the practice in a more committed way.

I’ve seen in my own classes - and have heard from other yoga teachers that they are finding this too - class participants seem to be appreciating the benefits of yoga on a deeper level than before the pandemic. For some attending a class once or twice a week is enough, for others the changes they feel after a yoga class lead them wanting to know more, to start to want to make yoga and the teachings of yoga part of their life.

This is how I felt back in 2007. Though I had dabbled with yoga for many years, in 2004, suffering with a bad back, I’d started to attend yoga classes in earnest. My back soon improved but that’s not why I became hooked, though I couldn’t put my finger on it, I began to feel happier and more comfortable living in my own body and I wanted to know more. I’d been attending 3-4 classes each week but this still didn’t feel like enough, because in reality there is only so much yoga you can learn in a class environment. Fortunately one of my teachers, Mohini Chatlani was about The foundation course changed my life. Being part of a group of like-minded students, meeting regularly and going deeper into the teachings of yoga, the philosophy, the history, taking time to cultivate a regular physical yoga practice, progressing our confidence to create our own sequences and to try different postures and practices, developing our ability to reflect on how we respond to life with its inherent challenges, all over the course of 10 months, contributed to a real change in how I feel and connect to life.

If you’re reading this and you can relate to the feeling of wanting to know more about yoga than the average class can teach, to the feeling of wanting to make yoga part of your life, I recommend taking some kind of yoga course where you will be part of a group meeting together over a period of time. There’s an energy in being with like-minded people and an accountability in being part of a group that meets regularly and time to build an awareness and absorb the teachings in a way that really can make yoga part of your life.

I’m excited to be planning to teach the foundation course myself this year, knowing I’ll get to go deeper into the teachings with those who are interested and share my love for yoga. I’ll get to watch others life-changing experiences which is a real joy. There will be foundation courses starting with various teachers in this area throughout 2022, so if you are interested in making this year the year you make yoga part of your life, let me know and I can point you in the right direction.

Wishing you a deeper connection to yourself in this new year.

Keep taking good care of yourself, Clair.

clair.crestyoga@gmail.com

Most babies learn best when they see, hear, touch, taste and smell.

"Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?"

Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie

Sneak a peek, it's all amazing!

WooHoo!

Our multi-award winning classes will introduce you and your baby (or babies) to a world of sensory delights, where you can relax, spend quality time with each other and enjoy meeting other new parents.

Specifically designed from birth to aid your child' s development, the programme is packed with an incredible variety of sound, smells, sights, textures, music, dance, signing and massage - and you 'll never experience the same class twice!

www.babysensory.com

Classes run across North West Kent Greenhithe, Gravesend, Dartford, Ebbsfleet & Trosley Park

Contact: 07952579044 nwkent@babysensory.co.uk

It' s time for Toddler Sense! A place where structured play goes hand in hand with imagination, the freedom to explore - and ADVENTURE!

Each week has a unique theme, creating a whole new world of magical delights. Imagine zooming through space, partying like pirates or scuba diving in a magical sea!

Our programme is founded on decades of scientific research and its structure will help prepare your child for school. Available from 13 months - 5 years.

Steve Cook postcard final:Layout 1 27/1/14 12:15 Page 1

Classes run across North West Kent Greenhithe & Gravesend

Contact: 07709838528 nwkent@toddlersense.co.uk

STEVECOOK

DOUBLEGLAZINGSERVICING, REPAIRSANDINSTALLATION

NO CALL-OUTFEE! NOVAT!

Mob: 07747 015223 Tel: 01322 412791

45 Knole Road, Dartford, Kent. DA1 3JN. E-mail: stevecook3@icloud.com *New address*

OVER30YEARS’EXPERIENCE

Mostcommonproblemsthatarise withdoubleglazingcanbesolved quicklyandcosteffectively:

• Misted,crackedorbrokenglass • Drafts,leaks&condensation • Sticking,looseorbrokenhandles • Window/doorsnotopening,closing • Patiodoorsnotrunningsmoothly • Catflap&letterboxfitting/replacement • Lockandkeyreplacement