What's your intention? A smart way to start the week...

It’s such a great start not just to the day, but to the whole week since starting my early riser yoga class a couple of months ago. I love it that even on an icy cold November morning like today, a few happy enthusiasts arrive before 7am eager to get going - and of course get warm!
A gentle warm up to unfreeze tired muscles, we watch the breath drift in and out using movements that encourage openness and softness, graduate into standing poses and a few more dynamic stretches to really feel the temperature rise then some simple pranayama (breathing) and finally enjoy a full body scan relaxation - bliss! All in all it takes just an hour to connect mind/body and soul.
Settling in at the start of class, quietly with eyes closed, the mind can open to create a personal intention for the morning practice or for the week ahead (after all when else will there be time for such indulgence?). Practising in this way creates a real, focused and conscious experience. This is not a goal I said, but something more subtle. An intention could be to think kindly about yourself, or to smile more, to befriend yourself, to give yourself a break, drink more water, to rest up … sometimes we can be so busy trying to get somewhere that (even in yoga) we are unaware of the journey and in our haste miss all the good stuff along the way…
When the class is over we all enjoy a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, homemade pesto, homemade beans, polenta and manchego muffins all served with rich ground coffee (herbal options available)… now I ask you, what’s not to enjoy about that?
If you would like to find out more about my beginners yoga practice and how it can lighten up your life, please get in touch with me.