Yoga – Altai Healing

Yoga with Lizzie

Let us not extinguish our candle within but let it shine out beyond what we see and what we perceive to see.

I invite you to join me in my weekly practice. I offer you my own unique yoga style, it’s what I do daily and have been for over 40 years.

Since being diagnosed with arthritis in my mid-teens yoga has been a life-safer. For me, its heart is within meditation and mindfulness creating space both within and without, focusing on harmony between mind and body as a tool for self-healing, peace and contentment.

The style I have created has been taken from snippets of the numerous types of yoga I have practiced over the years. It includes a measure of Hatha, a dash of Kundalini, a slice of Pilates all topped off with a warming cup of my own take on yoga.

Mark and I have kindled this love and unique style of yoga to share with you.

“Thanks again for being such a joyful teacher and I feel that your voice carries a lot of healing and uplifting positive energy which along too with your positive approach makes you a wonderful yoga teacher.”

Nicola, Winchelsea Beach

“It is always inspiring when you share your practice with us.”

Elaine, Hamstreet

“I freely admit that I’m no superwoman! And, that the challenges of family and work life have, over the years, had an impact on both mind and body. Through Lizzie’s welcoming, informal and supportive yoga classes I am gently relaxed and strengthened for the week. I thoroughly recommend that you experience some of Lizzie’s magic and positivity.”

Sarah, Brookland

“The person who lives life fully, glowing with life’s energy, is the person who lives a successful life.”

Daisaku Ikeda

Making the Most of Your Yoga

Connect the dots to find your magic and nurture some self-love. Yoga along with simple meditation and breathing sessions all help you to create the optimal balance in both your Yoga practice and your life.

Benefits of Yoga

Begin where you are, yoga is all about you, this is a time purely for you, time to harmonise mind, body and breath. We mostly start the class with a chance to let go of what has already been and release us from what is next focussing on the now. It is a good idea to set your own intention for the class, this may be breathing deeply throughout the class, or to practice not judging yourself or others, this may also include offering gratitude for the opportunity to use yoga to care for your body.

The most important part of class is to listen to your body. As you grow in your practice you kindle a deep connection to your body and an even deeper understanding of what it needs to aid it’s wellbeing and self healing. Remember yoga should never hurt, and you should never ache after a class. If you experience any sharp pain, immediately pull back or return to a resting pose such as child’s pose, mountain or easy seated.

You may notice new sensations, challenges, or openings in your body. Those are perfectly normal and beneficial. If you’re ever in doubt whether what you’re feeling is safe, err on the side of caution and come out of the pose. Additionally, use your breath as an indicator. If your breath becomes ragged, unsteady, or you find yourself holding your breath, it can be a sign that you’ve exceeded your limits. Take a break and a few deep breaths before returning to your practice.

Yoga is not a competition, no one wins or loses, we are looking for progress not perfection. The most important thing is to enjoy the journey and not just look to get to the destination.

Regular practice will reap many rewards. If you are a beginner or even advanced enjoy the lessons that come from learning something new, honour your needs during the process seek support as you require it and know that everything happens in its own time.

Safe Practice

Always start a home practice with time to collect yourself, let go of what has been, release from what is to come, connect with now.

1. The Breath This can be achieved by focusing on the natural breath. Once you have a sense of the dance of your breath in the body you can then begin to control this by deepening and lengthening it.

2. Gentle Full Body Warm-Up This can be Tibetan tapping. Please email us if you are unsure.

3. Balanced Practice A good home practice consists of a mix of standing and floor asanas, twists, backbends, forward folds and balances, finishing with at least 3 minutes relaxation. For every movement to the left you must take it to the right. For every forward fold you must include a backbend. Always keep a balanced practice.

FAQ’s

Being live is the closest experience to a face to face class, corrective work is able to be achieved along with the social atmosphere with plenty of giggles and fun.

Social interaction, safe practice as we can monitor you to the best of our ability. If it were not live the experienced would be little more enhanced than a pre-recorded video.

For the initial 1-2-1 , we will need your camera on. Theoretically, after that you could turn it off for classes but this would create an experience more like a pre-recorded video rather than a face to face class.

This is not a difficult procedure. We will send you a link via email to your selected class, from there you click on the link and follow the instructions it takes not more than a few seconds. See also ‘Connecting to us’ page.

A laptop, tablet or smartphone with internet connection and an email address, mat or soft floor (preferably not slippery), a block this could be replaced with a large book, cushion and blanket.

Lizzie has had arthritis since childhood and it doesn’t stop her. There is always a way of accessing yoga, whether it requires using a chair or adapting your position safely to work for you, guidance will be given.

Set your device to optimise your view. It is important for us to be able to see as much of each other as possible. Therefore not too close to your mat and without the light shining on the screen.

A peaceful environment, no phones, no interruptions, ask the rest of the household to respect this time for you. Enough space to stretch out, although with a little shuffling around even the smallest space can work.

There is a timetable available on this website.

Due to these uncertain times we would prefer to connect rather than not and therefore we are suggesting that you pay a donation. This would be as a monthly subscription. The suggested donations are £20 per month for one online class a week or £40 per month for unlimited attendance, but please feel free to donate what is appropriate for you and your circumstances. There is a minimum donation of £1.

To cover the admin fees to process the payments online.

Yes, these are charged at a set rate of £22 per session.

Yes, gather together as many people as you like and we will work with you to achieve a time for the session that works best for all. Please bear in mind the classes that are already scheduled when talking to your buddies.

Any age and ability are welcome. Children under the age of 16 require an adult with them. Chair yoga is available for those with limited movement.

No, clear instruction will be given.

Please see the ‘Making the most of your practice’ page.

No, yoga is non-competitive and non-judgemental.

No, the structure of the class will aid this.

Yes, yoga is hugely beneficial to those with breathing issues as part of the session is devoted to breathing practises.