Welcome to U Can Yoga
My intention is to give you the space to nurture yourself as you breathe, strengthen and stretch your body and mind.
I encourage you to tune into your body and move safely, with awareness through your yoga asana (posture) practice as you find your own expression of yoga, access your true nature and come back home to yourself.
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YELLOW ••• Did you know that yellow is the colour associated with Late Summer and that the element is Earth? Earth represents nourishment (both physical and emotional), grounding and abundance. The pair of organs associated with the Late Summer in TCM are the digestive organs of the Stomach and Spleen.
In functional terms the Stomach (yang organ) is responsible for receiving and breaking down food while the Spleen (yin organ) plays a significant role in filtering and storing blood and supporting the immune system. In TCM the Stomach and Spleen provide nourishment and support to our mind and spirit, as well as security and stability, both emotionally and physically. (It is worth noting that even if an organ has been removed, its meridian remains.)
This short (but important) transitional 5th season from the yang into the yin part of year is about becoming centred, grounded and balanced. It is the ideal time to nourish ourselves and nurture our true essence in preparation for the cooler months ahead.
The primary associated emotion is worry. When Spleen and Stomach Qi and Earth energy are out of balance we may become prone to rumination, overthinking, anxiety, lethargy, poor boundaries with others and find it challenging to concentrate. When in balance, we feel secure, relaxed, compassionate and better able to go with the flow whatever the circumstances may be.
Take some time to enjoy the outdoors and make the most of what is left of the summer weather, engage in slower practices like yin yoga, cultivate mindfulness, look after your digestive system and your sleep routine. Nourish yourself in the best possible ways that you can.
Join me for online for 🌼 NURTURE & NOURISH - A LATE SUMMER YIN & YOGA NIDRA WORKSHOP 🌼 Saturday 4th September 2-4.15pm via Zoom. Once again AT LEAST 50% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO @brixtonsoupkitchen. Link in bio for full details and to book your place. 🌼(This workshop is open to all levels though it is not suitable for pregnant students.)
LATE SUMMER YIN YOGA - HALF SADDLE POSE ••• Late Summer - TCM’s fifth season - starts around the third week of August and is associated with the Stomach and Spleen. As well as stimulating the Stomach meridian, Half Saddle can also be a satisfying stretch for the quads and hip flexors. In this short video filmed @embodyvauxhall, I show some propping options for this pose (full video can be found on my YouTube channel).
For more like this, join me today and each Friday @embodyvauxhall for Yin & Restorative 5.45-7pm (reduced class class sizes - max 10 spaces - for your safety) 🙏🏾💛
(If coming to an in-person class isn’t possible for you, I’d love you to join me for my upcoming online Late Summer Yin & Yoga Nidra Workshop on Saturday 4th September - sliding scale pricing and at least 50% of proceeds will go to @brixtonsoupkitchen - link in my bio for details 🙏🏾💛)
SWITCH OFF SUNDAYS 📵
Sundays are perfect for recharging.
If you're looking to spend a bit less time online then how about joining me for #SwitchOffSundays - one day a week away from all social media.
Allow yourself some space and time away from your screen to recharge.
THE HEART & SMALL INTESTINE ••• In TCM these are the pair of organs associated with Summer. In this video filmed @embodyvauxhall I am using a bolster to support my arms and forehead in Melting Heart Pose. Other meridian lines that can be stimulated here are the Lungs, Urinary Bladder, Stomach and Spleen.
For more like this, join me tomorrow and each Friday @embodyvauxhall for Yin & Restorative 5.45-7pm (max 10 spaces to comply with social distancing) 🙏🏾💛
(If coming to an in-person class isn’t possible for you, I’d love you to join me for my upcoming online Late Summer Yin & Yoga Nidra Workshop on Saturday 4th September - sliding scale pricing and at least 50% of proceeds will go to @brixtonsoupkitchen - link in my bio for details 🙏🏾💛)
Re. my previous post, if you are perimenopausal too, my Cooling Excess Heat mini-practice might be of help. Link in my bio 💜
Thanks Gabriella @my_menopausestory for sharing my story 🙏🏾💜
If you are reading this and are perimenopausal too, my mini Cooling Excess Heat practice (swipe through) might be of help - link in my bio for the YouTube link 💜
#Repost @my_menopausestory with @make_repost
・・・
Paula Hines @ucanyoga1 is a senior yoga teacher and writer moving through perimenopause.
We’re grateful to Paula for being the first person to share her story on our page. And she does so with candour, embracing her menopause journey as a Black woman with acceptance, curiosity and positivity.
There is a void of research and representation focusing on Black women going through perimenopause, menopause and beyond. Thankfully, there are trailblazers like @menopausewhilstblack and @blackgirlsguidetomenopause whose efforts are changing this.
All women go through the menopause and whilst our journeys are unique each and every one of our stories matters. There is so much power and resonance when we share our stories. It also does not just affect our generation, by sharing our stories we can better prepare the next generation of women to experience this.
Do read Paula’s full story, like, comment and share to empower other women to share their stories.
If you would like to tell your #mymenopausestory please DM us or join our community by clicking the link in our bio
NURTURE & NOURISH: A Late Summer Yin & Yoga Nidra Workshop •••
Saturday 4th September 2021 | 2.00 to 4.15pm BST | *£20 recommended price
(*sliding scale pricing available – see below) Link in bio to book 💜
Venue: Online via Zoom
• Once again at least 50% OF PROCEEDS WILL GO TO @brixtonsoupkitchen
My last seasonal yin and yoga nidra workshops had to be postponed due to Covid, so I am excited to be able to resume this series online. Here are the details…
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are Five Elements that are central to nature’s cycles and are reflected in the cycles of our bodies.
Late Summer is TCM’s fifth season and is particularly significant as it is when we transition from the Yang (hot, bright) time of year to the Yin (cool, dark) time.
The energy of Late Summer is connected to the nurturing element of Earth and the Stomach and Spleen. This is the last surge of growth before Autumn’s harvest, so this is an especially important time utilise the last of summer’s abundant energy to nurture ourselves and cultivate the transformation this season facilitates.
Part one of this workshop will be a Stomach and Spleen yin practice to help address Qi stagnation. In this slow practice, each pose typically lasts three to five minutes. This will prepare us for part two of the workshop – a yoga nidra practice.
When Stomach and Spleen Qi is imbalanced we can experience low energy, digestion issues, a lack of clarity about our life purpose and overthinking. Emotionally, Earth is full of worry and anxiety when out of balance. When balanced, we can feel more grounded, nourished, relaxed and secure, whatever circumstances may come our way.
This workshop is open to all levels but it is not suitable for pregnant students.
Sliding scale pricing is as follows:
Pay It Forward – £25
The Sustainer – £20
The Preserver – £15
Link in my bio to book or visit
https://ucanyoga.co.uk/events-news/ 🙏🏾
DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT ••• Resposting myself from 2017 - the year I started switching off from social media on Sundays. If the idea of a ‘cold-turkey’ social media break feels a bit daunting, join me for one day a week away from social media. Your nervous system will thank you 💙
#Repost @ucanyoga1
・・・
SOCIAL MEDIA SWITCH OFF SUNDAYS 📵 👉🏾 Disconnect to Reconnect.
Do you ever find yourself reaching for your smartphone 📱on waking, or being online right up to bedtime?
During the summer I took a week-long Social Media Holiday (see earlier posts for details) - one week away from all social media platforms. Though I enjoy social media, I find it is all too easy to for 5 minutes to turn into 10 or 20 minutes or more (!) of scrolling.
Does any of this ring true for you?
Aside from studies showing that the blue light emitted from our smart phones and computer screens can hinder sleep, research also suggests a link between spending extended time on social media and experiencing negative mental health outcomes.
Just a few things I noticed from
my week-long social media holiday 👉🏾 I found my mood was brighter, I slept better, and I enjoyed more time reading (real books, not an eReader). With this in mind I've decided to keep my Sundays social media free ever since and so, ‘Switch Off Sundays’ was born! 😀 If you're looking to spend a bit less time online then how about joining me for Switch Off Sundays - one day a week away from all social media. This can also be a great place to start from if a whole week off social media feels like too much of a leap for you right now.
Whatever your plans, enjoy the rest of your weekend 😊
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Just posted a photo https://www.instagram.com/p/CY_1Kl6Iw1S/?utm_medium=twitter
The February issue of of @OMYogaMagazine is out now. Read it in print, digitally or online. In my column this month, I write about @MindwalkYoga’s Black Women’s Wellness Retreats: Being nourished, being seen https://www.ommagazine.com/being-nourished-being-seen/
February issue is out today!
📸 cover star is Jenni Lydell photographed by Wanda Bogacka Plucinski