Yoga for 'normal people'...... Really??

So not being the typical 'yogi' shape myself, one of my missions is to make yoga accessible to all.

Hence the tag line 'YOGA FOR NORMAL PEOPLE'

I want people to come to my studio and be able practice yoga to their own level, whatever that may be.  I want people to feel comfortable and not pressured to look or bend in a certain way.  So many studios, teachers and fellow class participants can make you feel self-conscious and not good enough.  Not giving you the feeling of inclusion, self acceptance and self-love that you should feel from a yoga class.

I can't achieve a lot of postures in yoga, my body doesn't bend as much as others, but that doesn't stop me from loving yoga and loving all of the benefits that I get from taking part in or from teaching a class.

Like a lot of ladies out there I have chest 'furniture' that can hinder yoga performance, I also have a well loved 'red wine baby belly' which has taken me years to develop (since first child).  These things can get in the way, they can stop you achieving certain postures and binds, they can stop you from breathing properly at times too!  But you just have to keep practising..... I often use the excuse that it is my arms that are not long enough or that my hands are slippy, but in truth if I lost a few pounds it would be much easier!  But who wants to diet?

I may not be able to bind in twisted lunge or breathe efficiently in plough.... but you know what, I have great strength, I can hold a headstand for ages, my chaturanga rocks and hovers perfectly off the mat, my dolphin is strong and my thighs can sit in that evil chair posture longer than most!  We all have our strengths and weaknesses both on and off the mat.  It's about finding yours and working with them.  Yes your yoga practice will constantly evolve, some days it will be better than others and it is important to turn up to your mat without expectation.  As long as you turn up to your mat and keep finding your flow.

Find a studio that fits your vibe.  If you feel uncomfortable, judged, or frowned upon then I say it's time to look for another studio.  Don't ever feel pressurised into forcing the posture, that normally results in injury.  Yogis should not judge or be judged

AHIMSA (non-harming, or non-violence) - As easy as remembering that all beings everywhere have the right to be happy and free.  
Ahimsa is mindfulness.  
Ahimsa is an idea that can grow into a reality if we will it so

 

My vibe attracts my tribe

Yogabomb - Hot Yoga in York for NORMAL PEOPLE

 

Year One COMPLETE!

Well I've done a year and what a year it has been!

Our first birthday bash was awesome..... 16 wonderful yogis joined me on their mats for a hot yoga flow, a few tears, a fuck it meditation and we even harmonised OMs.  Then as promised Jagerbombs at Yogabomb, downward dog (shaped) biscuits courtesy of six pack Sally and lots of prosecco - It was a lot of fun.

860 clients in a year, I'm so pleased with that.  I have met some wonderful new friends, we've shared hugs, tears, sweat, laughter, frustration and flows.  From complete yoga virgins to yogi gurus, yogis and yoginis of all ability levels have walked through the studio door and rolled out their mats.

The studio has held together pretty well, a few housekeeping issues but on the whole it's still looking good!

So what next.....

More of the same, I absolutely love my job.  

Even getting up at 6am to teach the pre-work class after falling into bed at 11pm the previous evening, as soon as the heaters click on, the mind clears, the breath lengthens and the flow starts I completely lose myself in the yogic feeling and what an amazing feeling it is.  The ability to share that feeling with so many other people is magical, I am so lucky to have the opportunity to do so.

Long may Yogabomb continue to tick.....

Namaste York Yogis and Yoginis!

Yogabomb's 1st birthday, our first social AND an awards night!

How quickly is time flying by?  

Only 2 more weeks until it will be Yogabomb's 1st birthday!  A whole year of hot yoga in York!  I'm planning on celebrating with a crazy party themed hot yoga flow, starting with a F**K IT meditation where we all learn how to 'let that sh*t go'......... And ending with the much promised Jagerbombs at Yogabomb which I have been threatening since day one!

But before that I have the Best Business Women Awards Evening in Welwyn, Hertfordshire - Yes indeed.... I AM A FINALIST!!!!

So tomorrow evening I am getting all togged up, leaving my lycra at home and attending the Awards dinner with the moral support of hubby Greg, and my close friends Fran, Melissa and The Palmers.  I have been lucky enough to be shortlisted as a finalist for the Most Inspiring Business Woman award.  I will obviously be delighted if I win but I am also totally chuffed to be a finalist!  Fran has promised to dance on the table if I win so I will be posting photographic evidence all over social media if this is the case!

I really don't think of myself as being 'Inspirational' as i'm just doing something that I love and sharing that with others.  But apparently I am - who knew?

I also would like to mention our first Yogabomb Social which took place last Saturday ...... it ended with lots of gin, knock off fashion and a very bruised chin - that's all i'm saying about it.  But we will definitely be doing it again with the same amount of style and grace!  Watch the Yogabomb diary for details

Coming up soon at Yogabomb we also have;

  • Halloween Flow - Spooktacular flow and playlist and optional fancy dress
  • Yogabomb's 1st birthday flow with F**K IT meditation
  • Chakra Rebalancing 2 hour Workshop with DoTerra Essential Oils on November 18th - more details to follow

Well good luck for me for tomorrow, fingers crossed and all that!

See you on your mats soon Yogis!

Namaste

Award Entries and September Stupidity!

September has been stupid!

Well it's fair to say that September has been a busy month at Yogabomb HQ.

September Stupidity has been an amazing success, 126 eager yogis signed up for 30 days of hot yoga for £30.  An absolute bargain for some!!  Some people just stuck to their usual 1 or 2 classes a week, still getting a saving on their regular price, others decided to really go for it and take the challenge.

We have 2 days left until the end of the month, this last week has seen a last minute flurry of bookings to get that final class in before September ends.  It has been a great way to reward  current Yogabombers, rekindle past Yogabombers and introduce new Yogabombers to the studio and to hot yoga in York.

Feedback has been really positive and the energy and vibe in and around the studio is awesome!  Lots of yogis have found their flow and detoxified their bodies like never before!

In a few days time I will collate the totals for the month and see who is chief Yogabomber and every name will be entered into the prize draw.

Award Entries are in!

I also decided to enter for a few women in business awards this month.  As if I don't have enough on with September Stupidity - I had to write thousands of words about myself and my business.  It sounds pretty easy but I found it so hard!  But to be fair once I got going I found it hard to keep within the word count!  Anyway I entered Yogabomb/me for the Best Business in Health and Wellness Industry and for the Most Inspiring Business Woman categories.  Nothing like leaving it until the last minute, the deadline was Tuesday 5pm and I posted mine on Monday with guaranteed delivery.  Fortunately they did receive my entry and I now have to wait to find out if I'm a finalist! The shortlist of finalists are announced next week so at least I don't have to wait long.

Entering these awards has made my realise how much I have achieved in the last eighteen months and how awesome I am! - No, seriously - how awesome Yogabomb has become.

I opened the yoga studio and put on the classes and teachers...... but it's all you wonderful yogis who turn up day after day, week after week, to find your flow on your mat, to live your yogic journey.  You guys make it all worthwhile..... Namaste. xx

 

 

Yoga For Normal People

It's coming up to the end of September and the children have been back to school for a few weeks now so inevitably I have caught a head cold from one of them.  Every down dog feels like my head is going to explode so I decided to take a day off from yoga - not a full one though that would never happen......  One of my gorgeous teachers kindly covered my morning classes and I arranged to go for a walk to clear my head.

I met up with some of my girlfriends for coffee and a natter, then two of us ventured out for a stomp along the river.  Melissa is a good friend of mine and also runs her own business, providing business owners with PR and Marketing skills, she definitely knows her stuff..... www.campfirecommunications.co.uk

Anyway, we started chatting about where our businesses were at this moment and ways in which we could take them further and develop ideas.  I struggle with being disciplined enough to write a blog on a weekly basis and this is an area that I really would like to work on.

So that is my intention for this week and going forward, I'm going to get my act together and start blogging... I might start bleating on about random things and go off on a tangent every now and again but my business tag line is 'YOGA FOR NORMAL PEOPLE' and that is what i am going to write about.  

How many ladies feel like they are going to suffocate themselves with their boobs in plough?

A lot of yoga teachers who you see online and in magazines (and in some studios) are bikini body perfect types who can bend into all sorts of unimaginable shapes, but in reality how many of us actually look like that and who can bend like that?  I don't and can't!

How many binds are elusive to people because they have a wine/beer belly?

Keep checking in with my blog and each week I am going to look at different postures, giving options for 'normal people'.  After all, yoga at Yogabomb is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, size or ability.  we all have our strengths and weaknesses, I have great upper body strength (for a girl) and a bendy back but my shoulders are tight and my arms are short (my excuse for not binding).  You don't have to be skinny and bendy to do yoga, just willing to give it a go and if that means adapting a posture for your body shape then that's fine too.  

It's all yoga baby!

Yogabomb.... the home of Hot Yoga in York FOR NORMAL PEOPLE

 

Source: www.campfirecommunications.co.uk

Live your life!

It finally feels like summer may have arrived in the UK, with the tentative promise of a few days of sunshine and warmth!

I have been very fortunate to spend a couple of weeks recently in Turkey.  The first week with a close friend of mine at Juicy Mountain, a juice and yoga retreat near Fethiye.  We survived on juices and no solid food OR ALCOHOL for 7 days.  It was a truly liberating experience and we felt amazing afterwards.  9lbs weight loss was obviously an advantage as well as clear skin, bright eyes and bushy tails!  Early morning rebounding sessions to classical music, 3 yoga sessions and meditations every day.  Mountain walks and juice demos, capoeira classes.... AMAZING!

Whilst we were at Juicy Mountain there was a terrorist attack at Istanbul airport, fortunately we were far enough away for it not to affect us, it was good to get home safely to our family and friends.

This last week I went back to Turkey with my family and some friends for a family all inclusive holiday - detox to retox springs to mind!!

Again we had a fabulous time and enjoyed amazing weather, racing down waterslides and eating ice creams! Not quite the same weight loss this time but still relaxing and great to spend time with the children to start their much needed school holidays.

As we were at Dalaman airport waiting to fly home there was a military coup in Northern Turkey and all hell broke loose.  Again we were very fortunate to be able to fly home on time as all other flights out of Turkey were grounded that evening.

So 2 weeks of holidays have definitely shown to me how precious life is and that you need to live life to the full, as you never know what is around the corner....

It's nearly February!

Where did the first 3 months go??

Crazy how fast the time has flown by since Yogabomb's doors first  opened.  

A few stats to share with you....

  • Over 300 yogis have visited Yogabomb
  • 1121 mat spaces have been taken
  • 237 yoga sessions

That's not bad going for the first 3 months!

Our first themed freestyle was a HUGE success - 80's music and Yoga definitely do mix!  February 12th is the next planned freestyle session with the theme being Old Skool Hip Hop.  Book your mat space and choose your track for the playlist!

Candlelit flow for New Year's Day was awesome, luckily no-one caught fire and everyone enjoyed a relaxing but powerful flow, such a chilled out and lovely atmosphere in the studio... watch this space for the next one

So much has happened yet I'm struggling for words to explain it all.

Yogabomb's first 3 months have exceeded my expectations, I have loved it and hated it, had highs and lows, but would do it all again no problem.  I just hope that the next 3 months can be equally amazing and the Yogabomb word keeps spreading..

Find your flow!

#findyourflow #yogabomb #hotyogayork #vinyasaflow #yogaeverydamnday