I have a treat in store for the holiday period. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄Chocolicious Yin/Restorative Yoga Mini Retreat When: Thursday 28th December Where: Sarah's home garden studio Time: 2pm until 5pm If you are longing for some rest and re-group time for your body, mind and soul in between Christmas and New Year then this mini-retreat will definitely tick that box. We will indulge in a long practice of slow, stretchy yoga to undo any tension and muscle soreness, followed by a yoga nidra to help your body completely relax and rest. We will end the retreat with an indulgent (non-dairy) hot chocolate and festive treats and a chance to reflect on the year and maybe share hopes and dreams for 2024 This mini-retreat will leave you feeling refreshed, renewed and ready for New Year Use this link to book: https://sarahlouyoga.com/chocolicious-yin-restorative-yoga-mini-retreat/ or if on Instagram head over to the bio. Hope to see you there. 🚀🚀🚀Early Bird Discount (10%) is available until December 10th. #sarahlouyoga #sarahlouyogaminiretreat #smallclassworkshops #smallclassyoga #bedgroveminiyogaretreat #aylesburyyoga

This Week's timetable…

REST AND RENEW Last class in 2023. Looking forward to taking you through some restful yin yoga and finishing with a long yoga nidra (relaxation) It's cold outside but the studio is toasty. Link to book in Bio or head over to www.sarahlouyoga.com and click on book a class. #sarahlouyoga #aylesburyyoga #aylesburyyinyoga #smallclassyogaaylesbury

Classes this week… This Sunday is our last Rest and Renew Class of 2023. 👉🎅🎅🎅If you want a chance to take a mind and body MOT before the Xmas countdown then this class will help you stretch out, rest and recharge your batteries. Head over to my bio to book (if on Instagram) or click on this link: https://bookinghawk.com/event/sarah-lou-yoga/756/rest-and-renew-yoga/26318 #bedgroveyoga #sarahlouyoga #smallclassyoga #bespokeyogaaylesbury #yogaaylesbury #bedgroveyoga

My favourite pose for targeting both the pelvic floor and core (plus legs, arms and back)?🤔😁 🚀🚀🚀THE BEAR PLANK 😍Why not give it a go. 👉Grab a cushion or block, get onto all fours and squeeze whatever you've got between your inner thighs 👉Bring your hands under the shoulders and the knees under the hips. 👉Root down through the finger pads, firm up the arms, and press the shins and tops of the feet into the floor. 👉Inhale and as you exhale, continue to squeeze the cushion or block and lift the knees one inch off the floor. 👉Hold, making sure the hips don't dip downwards (push the floor away to help keep the back steady) 👉You will feel this everywhere especially the core, pelvic floor and inner thighs Let me know how you get on and what you think.🤗 #privateyogaaylesbury #privateyoga #sarahlouyoga #movefeelbetteryoga

😉What's your favourite 'first thing in the morning pose?' 💓Mine' gotta be Cat and Cow. Simply hop out of bed (or maybe crawl, depending on the day) and starting moving. The great thing about Cat-Cow is that you can vary it to get in a side bend and twist. Bending and moving the spine in all of it's directions (forwards, backwards, sideways and rotationally) gives it the best MOT and will help you move and feel better for the rest of the day. What's your favourite morning pose?😍😍 #sarahlouyoga #movebetterfeelbetteryoga #privateyoga #smallclassyoga #aylesburyyoga

What's on… #sarahlouyoga #smallclassyoga #bespokeyogaaylesbury #yogaaylesbury #bedgroveyoga

A bit of chakra love for the weekend… #chakralove #aylesburyyoga #sarahlouyoga #autumnclasstheme

The ancient yogis knew a thing or two about body mechanics and the power of the breath is one of them. Essentially our breathing system is the control centre of the body, and it is fundamental for a healthy and functional pelvic floor and core. This is not just any old breathing though. In yoga, we consciously breathe using the diaphragm – our main breathing muscle. The diaphragm (a dome-shaped muscle that sits at the base of our rib cage) can be seen as the centre of our core system. This beautiful muscle works closely with the innermost abdominals (the transverse abdominals) and the pelvic floor. You might be sitting there thinking – well Sarah, I breathe every day but I still have issues with my pelvic floor. My answer to you, is that, yes we all breathe every day but how are you breathing? When we rush about doing our day-to-day stuff many of us breathe higher up, using more of our accessory breathing muscles (the chest, shoulders and neck for example). It is quite hard to breathe with our diaphragm. This is why a daily dose of yoga is great because it gives us a chance to pause, reconnect and breathe more efficiently. Read more in my blog post (link in Bio) #sarahlouyoga #aylesburyyoga #smallclassyoga #privateyogaaylesbury