A warm and sunny welcome.
Stressed? Overwhelmed? Unable to cope?
Are things getting on top of you?
Too many things to do, and not enough time to do them?
Do you ever feel as if you are lost at sea, sinking beneath the waves, drowning?
Or at the foot of a mountain with the insurmountable task of scaling its heights, never knowing if you will reach the summit?
You are not alone.
Life today seems to be crammed with things that we feel we 'should' or 'ought ' to do. We have numerous duties and responsibilities, but sometimes find ourselves with little space to execute them with joy, love and spontaneity.
Taking time for ourselves is neglected either through guilt or lack of time. We can become bogged down with worry about our loved ones, over financial worries, or over concern about world and global issues in general, until we find ourselves depleted of energy, feeling impotent, incapable of creating change and unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
So many people live with these feelings, but feel too ashamed to admit to them. After all, everyone has problems, don't they?
Well, yes, they do.
But I believe that we can all reach the summit of the mountain somehow, or at least find the resources to keep putting one foot in front of the other and aim for the top, and to remember to enjoy the journey and savour the view.
The aim of this blog is to provide a moment of peace and calm, a haven from the chaos, and a safe, tranquil shelter from the storm with tips and advice on ways to combat stress, and random bits and bobs that I find uplifting, inspiring, fun and informative.
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I trained as an actress and have been working professionally since the age of eleven. In my mid thirties I discovered yoga, and subsequently trained for 3 years to become a yoga teacher: I have released two best selling yoga dvds : Yoga and You and Yoga for Life.
Oh, I am also a working mother of two girls aged 21 and 17.
I hope you enjoy the blog as it develops, twisting and turning on the winds of life, and ebbing and flowing like the tide. It is my aim, at the very least, to share a little knowledge and spread a little joy.
Please feel free to comment and share or email me at leahbracknellyoga@hotmail.co.uk
I look forward to sharing this journey with you,
all blessings, Om Shanti, Peace
Leah
Great idea Leah, looking forward to reading your blog posts, namaste
ReplyDeleteFungo x
Thank you, Fungo. And I look forward to sharing with you, and welcome any thoughts and feedback that you might care to add. x
DeleteHi Leah, I have been using your yoga DVDs for many years but I find it hard to get the breathing right. When you say breathe in and lift your arms, does that mean just one long slow in breath. I find myself holding my breath until I have to exhale. Fungo x
ReplyDeleteHi Fungo, in yoga we aim to harmonise breath and movement, but it is the breath that is the guide, the point of initiation. So when I say, for example " inhale and raise your arms" , yes, you are right, the whole movement corresponds to the length of the breath. We all have a different capacity, and I know that it is hard when you are working with a dvd, but use the dvd instructions as a guide , so if you find that I work too slowly for you ie I appear to be taking a lengthier breath, just work at a speed or rhythm that you find comfortable and appropriate. The key is not to ever strain or force yourself and let the breath flow. If you find that you need to work a little quicker than demonstrated, that's no problem, use the pause before the next sequence, as a moment of meditation within the posture, or to witness how you are feeling, check for any tension that you may be holding or observe any thoughts that may be emerging.If there is time take a gentle breath in and out. This is all part of the practice too. People have written to me before, some saying that I work too fast, some that I work too slow, and all from the same dvds. The key is to find your own naturel pace, and let the breath inform you.It is the same if there are certain postures or sequences that don't feel appropriate for any reason: learn to adapt them safely, work within your boundaries of comfort, or visualise them, never force it. In time the body and breath change and yield if we are considerate of ourselves. But don't get hung up on the breath, just relax and a naturel rhythm will emerge. the reason that I include so much instruction around the breath, is so people will know for their own practice, and I find that it is often neglected on dvds, but it is a fundamental aspect of the physical practice of yoga asanas. If you like to do your own practice a simple rule to remember is, (mostly) that you inhale when the movement is one of opening and expansion, and exhalation occurs when returning, lowering or folding the body eg inhale rise up on your toes, exhale as you lower back down. I do hope this helps, and thank you for your question. I will be writing more about the breath on the blog, as it is fundamental to all aspects of relaxation , stress relief and a healthy body and mind. blessings to you, Leah
DeleteThank you for your detailed reply Leah :) I think I'm concentrating too much on getting it right and tensing my body making my breathing restricted. Then I get frustrated and give up for a while, but I will relax and stick with it this time. Fungo x
ReplyDelete