Yoga's Popping Up in The 'Stow!

Yoga has long been a favourite with the savvy, health-aware, Londoner, but Walthamstow seems to be lacking the necessary element for its budding audience, a Yoga Studio. When local Yogi, Eliza Moore of Yoga Me Happy, found out about Waltham Forest Council’s initiative to launch a Pop Up Shop in Walthamstow, rent and rate free, she jumped at the chance to apply and create a Yoga Studio.

Waltham Forest Council’s pop up shop, branded ‘Hoe Street Central’, aims to support start-up businesses and community innovators by providing space for them to test their ideas on the market, as well as offer interesting new concepts to shoppers on the high street. Eliza submitted her application to create Walthamstow’s very first yoga studio in this unit with the view to establishing that there is a need for one in the area.

Yoga Me Happy’s motto is to make Londoner’s happy with yoga, Eliza comments, “There are so many benefits to yoga and especially for us, busy Londoners who find it hard to relax and take time out for ourselves. I am incredibly passionate about yoga and about imparting my knowledge and skills to make people feel welcomed on their way in and relaxed on their way out. It has been well-documented that yoga asanas (positions) and pranayamas (breathing exercises) that go hand-in-hand with the physical practice of yoga, create a feeling of general well-being and can alleviate depression, along with a whole host of other benefits, so what better thing to introduce to the thriving community of Walthamstow?”

Eliza already runs classes in Lloyd Park’s Bowls club, however this venue can only be used on a Sunday morning and the limited space means that people often have to be turned away.

Eliza came to E17 just over a year ago and has become a fully-fledged member of the community, she even runs a free yoga class for the over 60s of the Borough at the Peter May Sports Centre. Age UK Waltham Forest approached Eliza a couple of months ago to offer her services to the senior audience and she jumped at the chance to give back.

The pop up studio will be running for two weeks from 7^th to 19^th January 2014 and will be a haven of calm for locals to come and practice yoga, meet like-minded people and try out some fun things like workshops, newbie classes and lots more. “There will be a whole host of classes for all different levels of abilities. I intend to provide something for everyone to give Walthamstow the chance to try yoga on for size if they’ve never done it before or give people a chance to practice locally rather than having to go to another part of London,” says Eliza.

Cllr Mark Rusling, cabinet member and portfolio lead for Business, Employment and Skills said “We're delighted to support organisations like Yoga Me Happy through our pop up shop. I'm hoping to get down there myself! Hopefully, Eliza's business will go on to thrive when she leaves the pop up - that is what we want for all of the organisations we are supporting on Hoe Street."

Subscribe to the Yoga Me Happy newsletter for further details and the yoga schedule for Hoe Street Central on the home page of the website: www.yogamehappy.co.uk

Yoga Me Happy has a new teacher!

Introducing Miss Jocelyn Cox to Yoga Me Happy.

Jocie will be taking Saturday morning classes at Karoon Health Club. The 10am for beginner to intermediate levels and also the 11.45am, newbie class for those who want to learn the basics and progress their practice.

Find out more about Jocie

FREE guided relaxation

In this busy old world of ours, it's so important to relax, but we very rarely take the time to completely switch off and have time for ourselves.

This guided relaxation is 15 minutes of calm to make you feel truly relaxed. The perfect end to any yoga practice.

Click here for details

Position of the month

Dancer (Natarajasana)

STEP 1:

Making sure the toes on the standing foot (as in the picture we'll start off with the left) are facing directly forward and are splayed wide for full grounding and support.

Taking hold of the inside of the right foot with the right hand (little finger closest to the body and the thumb facing the back of the room)

Knees should be close together and in one line, the right knee pointing towards the floor.

Whilst here, tuck the tail bone under and gently soften through the shoulders with a deep exhale.

STEP 2:

Bring the left arm up to the ceiling, inside of the upper arm close to the ear.

Place thumb and forefinger together in a mudra gesture.

STEP 3:

Start to kick the right foot backwards away from the body, lengthening through the arm.

Keep the chest high and the torso upright until the leg is at full extension.

Then, charge the left arm forward, the torso will come down, but try to keep the chest high.

Lengthen the body in both directions by pulling equally on the right arm and reaching the left arm forward.

To release, gently bring the left arm back up and the right knee back parallel with the left knee and gently place the right foot on the floor.


Repeat on the other side.

Position of the Month - Firefly

Firefly (Tittibhasana)

Firefly is arm balance to strengthens the arm joints, firstly the wrists, but also the forearms and shoulders. The position requires core strength to keep the body stable in the position. Along with improving your strength, firefly also works to increase the flexibility of the hamstrings and inner thigh muscles, opens up the upper back and shoulder blades, plus promoting a sense of balance.

PLEASE NOTE: this is considered an advanced yoga pose, so please practice with care. Do not practice if you suffer from any lower back or arm injuries (including shoulders).

 

STEP 1
Come down into a squat position, feet apart, slightly closer together than shoulder width. It's a good idea to prepare the body before coming into the position, so with that in mind, place the hands to namaste and push the thighs outwards with the inside of the upper arms. Lengthen the back by pushing the pelvis under slightly and opening up through the shoulder blades.

STEP 2

Bring the hands onto the floor, just behind the outside the feet, fingers pointing forward and palms flat on the ground. The arms come through the legs with the shoulders close to the back of the knees.

STEP 3

Bring the pelvis down and shift the centre of gravity back to rest the thighs on to the upper arms.

STEP 4

Shifting the body weight further back, start to bring the legs forward and out to the side on an inhale.

STEP 5

Taking the final position by raising the legs even further, broadening the upper back, straightening through the hamstrings and raising the head. Taking long, slow breaths in the final pose.

To come out of the pose, bend the leg back towards the body, place on the floor in front of the hands and come back into a squat.

Yellow Advertiser says Hatha go at yoga

Walthamstow's local paper, the Yellow Advertiser found Eliza's story about starting Yoga Me Happy good enough to write about for the locals.

Find out more about Walthamstow's new Sunday morning classes at the Bowls Club in the centre of Lloyd Park. Click here

E17 Special - Walthamstow residents deal on yoga classes in your own home.

Walthamstow residents are in for a treat with a great discount on yoga classes in your 
own home. 

Ever since I've lived in Walthamstow, I've noticed that there is such a massive community feel in the area, so it's only right that I offer local clients a deal on my yoga classes.

So stay local and get happy with yoga! :-)

Click here for full details E17 Special!

Terms & conditions apply - see website for full details.

Yoga isn't all about getting your leg behind your head!

Fancy getting into one of these positions? World's weirdest yoga poses 

The good news is, you don't have to! Yoga isn't about contortions, it's about working with your body and breath to increase oxygen and blood flow, which makes for a healthy, happy lifestyle. You may be incredibly flexible, but if you're not practicing in a mindful manner and breathing into the asanas, the work that you're putting in is seldom worth it. 

Using various pranayamas or breathing techniques you will gain so much more from yoga than a lean body. Along with the physical benefits, such as improving posture, gaining strength and muscle tone, yoga can give you a healthy dose of oxygen to the brain, which in turn can alleviate depression and make your body function in the way it's born to do. 

Like you - only on the best day ever! 

Click here to find out more about yoga classes in London

Position of the Month

June 2013

Camel Pose (Ustrasana):

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Benefits: Camel Pose, is great for the spine and opening up the whole of the chest; the heart chakra. The position gives the whole of the front of the body a great stretch, helps with menstral pains and strengthens the back and core muscles to improve posture and circulation.

Precautions: Do not attempt if experiencing back pain or have blood pressure issues.

Step 1: Kneel

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Kneel with knees directly underneath the hips. Feet parallel and kept apart.

Step 2: Bend Back



Bring the arms up to shoulder height with palms facing the floor. Lean backwards as far as is comfortable. Take care not to strain the neck and shoulder area.

Step 3: Right Arm 



Take the right arm back to the right heel, taking a firm grip.

Step 4: Left Arm



Take the left arm back to the left heel and bring the head, again, taking care not to strain the neck. The creases of your elbows should be facing forward in to your back.

Step 5: Hips Forward



Push the hips forward to create the final position. Breath deeply into the stretch and stay in the position for 30 seconds to 1 minute for the full benefits. To come out of the pose safely, reverse the steps.

New Classes at Karoon!

May 2013

In addition to the existing schedule, there are now even more classes at Karoon Health Club, Holloway Road. There are also, so time changes to the existing classes including new 'power hour' slots to make it easier to fit yoga into your busy timetable.

Read more...

Position of the Month

May 2013

Turtle Pose (Kurmasana):

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Benefits: This pose improves flexibility and stretches shoulder, thigh and hip muscles. The turtle pose benefits the lungs and heart whilst stengthening the back muscles.

Precautions: Do not attempt Turtle if experiencing any back pain.

Career Changers

Drinking in the sun high on a café terrace in the hilltop Village of Casperia in Italy, Eliza and I had a session to look at Eliza’s ideal career life. In her personal life, Eliza was deliriously happy. However, her work life left her feeling unfulfilled. On paper it looked like Eliza had everything going for her, a well-paid job in London as a marketing manager of major shopping centres and retail property clients. In actual fact, she loved the clients and the team around her and yet there was a gaping hole within her in terms of work satisfaction. 

Read more...