Hello! Welcome to our Yamala Yoga Monthly Newsletter for November.
Summer is well and truly here, which means longer days, warmer nights and a sweatier yoga class 😉 But don’t let that put you off commiting to a regular yoga practice as the days heat up – getting your body ‘summer ready’ has never felt more right with Yamala Yoga! We will show you how in this months newsletter.
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✽ General Yoga at the Paddington Annexe, Paddington. Our classic Yamala Yoga style class with plenty of flows, deep stretches and meditation suitable for everyone (including beginners, children and advanced yogis!). Casual Classes are $15 or $100 for a 10 Class Pass. Please note that these classes run in conjunction with the state school term.
- Tuesday evenings @ 6:15-7:00pm
- Sunday afternoons @ 4:15-5pm (please note that there is no yoga on the 11th November)
✽ Mums & Bubs Yoga at Soul Pantry, 31 Wolverhampton St Stafford: Each Wednesday @ 9:30am-10:15am are a real treat! Prices for the Mums & Bubs Yoga is only $5!! Practice yoga in the gorgeous surrounds of Soul Pantry, as your little one plays with our gorgeous babysitter (Meg) and the other kiddies OR get them involved with the stretches. Tell all your friends, kids from 0-5 years old welcome. It’s a lovely class, with coffee and chats to follow at the Soul Pantry Cafe. **Onsite Parking available.
Just a reminder that unfortunately we don’t have eftpos facilities available at this time. So please remember to bring cash or do a bank transfer for your passes. Just ask us for bank details if you don’t have them already.
THIS MONTH’S TOP STORIES
How to get your body ‘Summer Ready’.
We are constantly bombarded with images of ripped guys and girls, barely wearing any clothes, lounging on the beach…an awesome 6-pack, no wobbly bits, a teeny waistline and rock hard muscles. Don’t we wish we looked like that this year, sitting on the beach drinking a cocktail…..ummm NO! While we think it’s great to get fit and use summer as a motivator to drive a great exercise program or healthy eating diet, the truth is your body is already summer ready! And yoga has the tools to help us be ‘summer ready’ all year round.
As you know, yoga is a perfect mix of toning and strengthening exercises for the entire body. But there is also more to yoga than just the physical movement. The breathing, listening to your body, and mental clarity you get from a regular yoga practice is arguably the most important aspect to loving and embracing your body as it is (aka, making your body ‘summer ready’).
That means, loving every inch of your body so that you no longer feel the need to be something you’re not. Being kind enough to your body to embrace any ‘flaws’ (well, honestly….who is perfect?!?!), and have a great time on the beach regardless of if you have washboard abs or not.
We are all beautiful and unique in our own way (ahhh, sounds so cliche!), and once you start loving YOU for who you are, we promise that life will just flow. We do harp on a bit about this at Yamala Yoga, but it really is something we are so passionate about. So, our tips for an awesome summer this year?
- Drink plenty of water
It’s hot out there, and you will honestly glow from the inside out if you keep your fluids up! AND you will feel so much better for it too!
- Keep up your yoga practice
We know its hot, and we know you would rather be sipping that refreshing beer on the back deck. But by regularly scheduling in a little yoga into your daily routine (even just 10 minutes will have you reaping the benefits), your mind and body will thank you in so many ways! Bring more focus and energy into your day, as you breeze through the silly season with ease and grace.
- Eat fresh, seasonal foods
Who wants to be slaving (and sweating) over the stove each night! Why not try to incorporate more satisfying salads into your weekly dinner routine, or make a refreshing mango smoothie for breakfast. By loading up on good fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil), healthy proteins (lean meats, fish, eggs, tofu and legumes) and many fresh salads and veggies….you will be glowing from the inside out in no time!
- Stay positive
It’s a no brainer. If you’re spending your day feeling down and out about your life or your body….then you’ll never feel ready to embrace the fun and join in with the rest of the gang over summer. Embrace what you’ve got. Remember you are not fat, just as you are not a hairy toe or a mole on your face. You are YOU, and you are absolutely bloody fantastic just the way you are!!!
- Do what you love
Try not to get too caught up with all your day to day jobs and weekly to-do list. Remember that most jobs will still be there to do tomorrow. Try to enjoy and embrace something you absolutely love each day, weather that’s a morning walk with your pooch or an afternoon play with your kiddies. Take the time to really soak up each moment, because really….that is what living is all about.
- Don’t judge others
Just as you don’t want to be judged, it’s not fair to judge others. You don’t know everything about someone else’s life or what they are going through. Try to be fair and understanding. Show compassion throughout your life and enjoy the rewards. The old saying from Roald Dahl is just perfect here. “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”- The Twits.
- Love yourself
Loving yourself means listening to your body, it means treating your body with the self respect it deserves. This is not a vain thing to do, it is essential if we want those around us to love us just as we are. This one is tricky, and often a work in progress (gosh…we all have bad days!). But stick with it. Each morning think of two things you appreciate or love about yourself, and just take it from there. Words of kindness to yourself here are SUPER important. Remember #6….don’t judge others? Well the most important person to follow this rule is with yourself. Don’t judge yourself. Sounds easy, but can be really challenging.
Now you’re ready to jump head first into Summer! Give yourself the love and compassion you deserve and show those around you how it can be done! If you’ve got kids, lead by example. We want our children to grow up knowing that they are amazing just as they are. That we don’t need to act or look a certain way to be accepted. If we respect our bodies, we will move it in a way that feels good (hello yoga!!), and fuel it appropriately with fresh and seasonal produce! We also know how to celebrate and party (yes, wine/beer/cake!). Everything in moderation and shared as a fun experience with others is what living is all about. Don’t restrict your life by worrying about each mouthful you swallow or miss out on all the fun little moments in life because you’ve spent 2 hours at the gym each day. Find activities you love to do and enjoy summer with loved ones this year.
Something a little extra….
Meditation for the busy people
The end of 2018 is creeping up, and chances are your new years resolution have long been forgotten, but it’s not too late! Maybe ‘Meditate More’ has been a resolution for a while but you just never get round to it, or you tried for a bit and it was just a bit too hard to keep going? Well, here are a few simple and quick ways you can incorporate meditation into your daily routine to help build your mindfulness practice from the ground up.
Keep breathing
Simple as that. Just take a deep breath in and slowly release.
Take a moment to enjoy your coffee
Every morning when you make your coffee (or tea!!), take a few quiet moments to really just BE. Even if it’s only for 2 minutes. Smell the coffee, hold the cup in your hand and notice the heat coming through the cup, take a sip and really savor the taste. Do this every time you have a coffee, and you’re on your way to a mindful day 😉
Waiting for the bus
Instead of just sitting and scrolling through your facebook feed, why not take a few moments to notice what’s going on around you? Can you hear any birds chirping? Is the breeze blowing the leaves on the trees around you? Notice the people walking past. Just observing what is going on around you and being truly present is the key here.
While your lunch is heating up in the microwave/while you are eating lunch
Take your lunch break to focus on what is going on around you. Enjoy the smells, tastes and textures of your meal. Although it might be tempting to just shovel your food in as fast as you can, and scroll through Instagram…slow down a little to notice the delicious meal you are about to eat.
Try a moving meditation
When you go for an afternoon walk, use the opportunity to do a moving meditation. As you move, bring your awareness to your breath and to your movement. Yoga is also great for this 😉
When you’re jumping into bed
Take a moment to reflect on your day and to be grateful for what you have achieved. We happy for what you’ve got in your life, and take a big deep breath while you relax into your mattress.
If you squeeze in a couple of these throughout your day, you’ll build a regular meditation practice. Eventually, you might even feel like you’re able to spend 5 minutes a day just sitting and being.
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❝The thing about meditation is; you become more and more you”- David Lynch.