January 2018

Dear Yogis

How has your January been? I hope the year is starting out beautifully for you and you’re taking care of yourself this Winter. If not, it’s never too late to change that by giving yourself some completely guilt-free self-love and investing in YOURSELF. Afterall, we can’t give our best self out until we fill our cup first. Take a look below at my upcoming retreats which are sure to leave you feeling revived, refreshed, sunkissed and nourished from the inside out!

I’m adjusting to life in Africa and enjoying the amazing experience living and working in Morocco. If you fancy joining me for some much needed Winter sun, yoga & surf come and see me at Surf Maroc – I’m here until early July.

I’ve added below an exploration of one of the juiciest yoga asanas for surfers and office workers alike – Garudasana or “Eagle” pose! I hope you enjoy.

Sending you a lot of love, peace & light this February

Catherine

RETREATS

GARUDASANA

Check out the blog for my exploration of the juiciest shoulder & hip opener – Garudasana, Eagle Pose!

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Welcome to one of the juiciest shoulder and hip openers – Garudasana or Eagle pose.

I’ve been drawn to this asana a lot since arriving in Morocco. It’s wonderful for surfers to get deep into the shoulders and wonderful for those of us who’ve been working a little too hard at the office, driving, texting, typing etc etc. If you take the variation including the legs as well it’s a true test for our balance and gets deep down into the fascia of the hips – a place where we tend to store a lot of tension and trauma.

The Sanskirt name can be broken down to:

Garuda = Eagle

Asana = Seat or commonly translated as “posture”

In Hindu mythology Garuda is known as the king of birds. He transports the God Vishnu and is eager to help humanity fight against demons. According to some definitions, the name Garuda can be defined as “devourer” because Garuda was originally identified with the “all-consuming fire of the sun’s rays”. This balance definitely gets that internal fire going in the belly, solar plexus “manipura” chakra. It takes a lot of core strength and balance to hold the pose but like me you may like to focus sometimes on just the arms or just the legs.

Variations also include cupping your shoulders, lifting the elbows away from the body to still get that same shoulder stretch. Or clapping the backs of the palms to touch if there isn’t space to bind and find the palms. With the legs you can practice crossing the knees and don’t worry about tucking the toes behind the back calf muscle. All of this can come with time.

You may also like the variation here lying on your back and using the exhale to lift the elbows to the knees, inhale to come down, for a deep core workout. 10 reps, rest and then another 10 reps is a good number for me!

This pose really calls to me and fits my practice at this time as I tend to wind myself up in knots inside my head worrying about things.

Through yoga we learn that although life is constantly changing, we can find balance, peace, stillness, and get in touch with our true essence in the midst of the chaos.

The aim of Garudasana is wind ourself up in a physical knot so that we can then deeply unwind and release. When it comes to that exhale at the end of the pose spread your wings and soar!

The benefits of this posture include:

• Improves balance
• Strengthens your inner thighs and ankles
• Stretches your calves
• Opens up space in the upper back

Take your time, be patient have fun experimenting and remember to do both sides!

Happy New Year Beloved Yogis!

What’s in store for you this year? What dreams do you want to manifest into reality in 2018? Are you making major changes like me – changing countries, careers, relationships? Remember, you don’t need to be a NEW YOU, simply celebrate the already wonderful unique things about you and INVEST in YOURSELF. 

It’s time to finally re-TREAT yourself to La Dolce Vita.

JOIN ME IN BEAUTIFUL ISCHIA
22-29 September 2018

Enjoy a true slice of la dolce vita in stunning Ischia. As well as plenty of energising and deeply relaxing yoga, enjoy soaking up the Mediterranean sun, savouring delicious authentic Italian cuisine and relaxing until your heart’s content! Pure heaven!

ACCOMODATION

Expect simple, comfortable en-suite rooms situated in a charming cobbled village 

We are 5 minutes walk from both the beach and the famous Thermal Gardens where you can relax in the springs and indulge in beauty treatments and massages

Our own garden is filled with kiwi vines, flowers and lemon trees next to a beautiful vineyard. The upstairs terrace looks out over the roof-tops to the sea

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Everything you need to enjoy the “sweet life”! 

7 nights at the charming family-run Casa Benedetto*

Daily energising morning yoga

Daily blissful evening relaxation yoga with meditation

A special yoga nidra practice (yogic sleep guided meditation)

7 Delicious breakfasts

7 nourishing vegetarian home-cooked dinners, lovingly made by our Italian hosts from the freshest local ingredient

*3 Euro tourist tax payable locally

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

Private yoga tuition*

•   Flights & transfers – you will need to fly to Naples (super cheap on EasyJet from London Gatwick!) From there you will be met and transferred to the venue. Group transfers are 40 Euros per person each way including the ferry (payable locally). The transfer, including the ferry, will take between 2-2.5 hours

•    Lunch, snacks & beverages

•    Treatments & excursions

*Available on request

HOW MUCH?

SOMEWHERE ELSE?