2016 has been a wonderful year and feel incredibly priviledged to teach such a wonderful group of people.
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Huge love and Om Shanti x
Sunday, 4 December 2016
Christmas Evening with Yoga Me Happy
Thank you so much to all who came to our first annual Christmas celebration on Friday 2nd December.
2016 has been a wonderful year and feel incredibly priviledged to teach such a wonderful group of people.
Huge love and Om Shanti x
2016 has been a wonderful year and feel incredibly priviledged to teach such a wonderful group of people.
Huge love and Om Shanti x
Friday, 2 December 2016
Christmas Drinks! Friday 2nd Dec from 6.30pm
Come and join us to celebrate a year of Yoga with Yoga Me Happy.
This is our first annual Christmas get together, but hoping that it will be the start of something wonderful :-)
This is our first annual Christmas get together, but hoping that it will be the start of something wonderful :-)
Join us at Mirth, Marvel & Maud from 6.30pm
Friday 2nd December
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Final Class at Premier Fitness Club, Finsbury Park - Tuesday 29th November 2016
Following my recent training, I have been spending time contemplating my next step as a teacher and will be focusing more attention on Special Yoga. And so it is with regret that I will be ending my Finsbury Park sessions.
The last class at Premier Fitness will be Tuesday 29th November.
The last class at Premier Fitness will be Tuesday 29th November.
I would however like to invite all the Finsbury Park yogis to join our Dynamic Hatha Flow session every Wednesday at 7.45pm for just £8pp.
Thank you for your understanding and loyal following over the last 4 years.
Namaste
Eliza x
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Monday, 3 October 2016
Position of the month - Standing Bow Pose
Standing Bow Pulling Pose (Dandyamana Dhanurasana)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Yoga Sequence - On your feet all day?
If you find yourself standing in one position all day, or perhaps on hard ground, it's easy to get things back on track with this short, supine sequence to eleviate tired spines and hips
- Knees to chest - http://www.mindfulbody.com/mind/yoga/sciatica-soothers-practice/sciatica-soothers-detailed-instructions
- Figure 4 stretch - http://www.self.com/fitness/2015/08/the-simple-fix-for-tight-hips/
- Supine Spinal Twist - http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/yoga/exercise/YG-IN-0149/supine-spinal-twist-pose
- Legs up the wall - https://www.yogaoutlet.com/guides/how-to-do-legs-up-the-wall-in-yog
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Twist yourself fabulous with the Lord of the Fishes
Get a spring in your step with arguably one of the
most beneficial yoga poses in the book. Ardha Matsyendrasana or Half
Lord of the Fishes Pose is a spinal twist that will help your feel
fabulous in oh so many ways:
- Spine – this pose has obvious benefits for the spine, the
fact that you are opening and releasing the space between the
vertebrae will aid in alleviating back pain, especially that caused
by sitting at a desk etc.
- Alignment – following on from the above, because the whole
of the spine is used, the problems associated with many back
complaints can be helped with this pose, such as sciatica, scoliosis
and lordosis.*
- Digestive system – the positioning of the front of the body
means that your internal organs around your tummy will get mildly
compressed. This means that blood gets restricted to the area and
then, when released, fresh new blood rushes into the digestive
system and stimulates the system to work better.
- Upper body stretch – the chest opens with the full twist,
which serves to stretch the shoulders and neck.
- Hip stretch – because the spine is twisting on its access,
the hips will also feel the effects of the stretch.
- Fertility – there are also some schools of thought that the
reproductive system is also stimulated through the position and
therefore helps with fertility
*please note, any back problems involving discs,
slipped or bulging, consult your yoga practitioner or medical
professional for individual advice, as this position may exacerbate
the problem.
How to…
A step-by-step guide of how to get in and out of
the position
- Sit with legs out-stretched
- Bend the right knee and place the right foot to the left hand
side of the left leg, roughly in line with the left knee
- Make sure that the right hip doesn’t raise and both hips
are on the floor. It may be beneficial to remove the flesh from the
sit bones (underside of the pelvis) with the hands to ensure that
you are sitting comfortably and flat.
- Place the right hand behind the base of the spine for
support, you may find it easier to place the hand flat or come onto
the finger tips, whichever is better to get you in a good position
to make the spine as upright as possible.
- With a deep inhale, raise the left arm up alongside the ear
to stretch the right side of the body.
- Bend the left arm at the elbow and position the elbow to the
right hand side of the right knee, whilst keeping the stretch
through the left side of the body. Do this with your exhale breath.
- On your next inhale, push the right fingertips (or palm if
the hand is flat) into the floor and raise the crown of the head
(the central part of the top of the head, not the chin) to lengthen
the spine and open the front of the body.
- On your next exhale, use the left elbow as a lever to start
to rotate the lower body, from the bottom of the abdomen to the
right, work up from the bottom, so the belly, then ribcage,
shoulders, the neck and the head. Try to avoid taking the head round
straight away, as you’ll get a deeper twist if you start from the
bottom of the spine.
- The twist is active, so every inhale sit up taller and every
exhale twist just a little further, but don’t overstrain the body
and use your breaths.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
If you haven’t practiced this position previously I suggest 2 big inhales and exhales and
then release on your last exhale. If you get more comfortable in the
position try holding for 5 breaths, then a period of 30 seconds to 1 minute to
achieve the full benefits of the pose.
Modifications:
- If you’re having trouble bringing the front of the body close to the right thigh, you may find it easier to move the right foot slightly further forward towards the left shin, as leg-length can determine the best leg-position for you.
- If your right shoulder is hunched closed to the ear you might bend the elbow, so that the shoulder can move away from the head, however if you bend the elbow away from you there is a tendency for the spine to sink, so bend the elbow in towards the spine, which means you still have full support, but the chest is more open.
- If your left shoulder is hunched towards the ear, you may find it easier to bring the left arm straight, with the palm open facing the right hand side. Again, arm length can determine which position is best for you.
- If you would like a deeper stretch for the hips you can bend the left knee whilst still keeping the leg on the floor, bringing the foot back towards the right sit-bone. Do ensure that both sit-bones stay firmly on the floor, if the hips start to raise, then please bring the leg out straight again.
- If you would like to open the chest even further and use more of the body to help you twist further by binding. Once in the twist you can bring the left arm underneath the right thigh and grab hold of the outer edge of the left though or hip. Or, if you’re feeling Über flexible, you can take the right had around the back to meet the left hand and grab the wrist to use the extra resistance to aid the twist.
Please note – if you remove the right had from the base of the spine and there is any sinking in the spine, please replace the hand, as it’s much more important to keep the spinal column upright, rather than binding.
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
YOGA for a fiver
APRIL SPECIAL OFFER
Spring clean your YOGA routine with our special offer. Bring any friend throughout April and get your and their class for just £5 each. Just book your space and add their name to the booking form to take advantage of the deal.*
BOOK
See you on the mat! x*T&Cs - the above deal can only be used once by each person and the 'friend' has to be new to Yoga Me Happy classes - Enjoy!
Monday, 21 March 2016
NEW Wednesday Evening Yoga with something for everyone...
- Suitable for all - Tuesday, 8.45-9.45pm: £Donation
A good old stretch with something for everyone. Ease your way through the week with a strength-building practice which will be suitable for all yogis - Intermediate - Wednesday, 7.45pm-8.45pm: £8
An intermediate session to move your practice forward and deepen your understanding of positions that you already know and new ones to challenge and inspire. This will be a dynamic hatha flow class for those with an understanding of yoga, but not necessarily years of practice, those with a great attitude to yoga and a wanting to learn will be welcomed with open arms - Beginner - Wednesday, 8.45pm-9.45pm: £8
A class to help those who have never done yoga or those who have done a few classes and have left a little bewildered as to what they should be getting from yoga. It's sometimes difficult to start something new, but with these sessions, you'll feel supported and will leave with an understanding of the many benefits of yoga, taught in an accessible way
- Web: http://www.yogamehappy.co.uk
- Email: eliza@yogamehappy.co.uk
- Tel: 07710 621 268
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
FREE Toe Socks for Sunday Yogis
Inspired by a couple of our regulars, the first 25 yogis who book for our Sunday morning classes over the next couple of weeks will receive a FREE pair of grippy socks (either toe socks or cosy toe slipper socks), as a thank you for sticking with our classes even though the floor can sometimes be a little on the chilly side ;-)
Book your space here: BOOK
Friday, 31 July 2015
Bring a friend special offer!
Make a friend smile by bringing them to your favourite yoga class.... Make yourself smile too with our special offer :-)
Bring a friend to any Yoga Me Happy class in AUGUST and you both get your class for just £5!
Mention this offer when booking / on arrival of the class
YogaMeHappy.co.uk
Bring a friend to any Yoga Me Happy class in AUGUST and you both get your class for just £5!
Mention this offer when booking / on arrival of the class
YogaMeHappy.co.uk
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
Why YOGA it's great for men too!
Yoga is a great way to stay healthy and happy for women and men alike, however yoga often gets seen as a women-only environment. Here are some of the key reasons that yoga is fantastic for men too:
- Men often state their lack of flexibility means that they can’t practice yoga, however yoga is about more than this, strength, balance, breath-work, joint suppleness, increased body awareness and so on are also on the cards. Joint and muscle tightness is a great reason to actually attend yoga classes regularly, as the movements and postures work on increasing flexibility and opening the joints to help lengthen and stretch muscles out. This is even more apparent for those who already attend the gym/run/cycle, as these activities impact the muscles and joints, so yoga is a great way to release this tension and strengthen the muscles (i.e. cyclists can benefit from strengthening the core and supporting muscles in the lower back, to help them improve posture and avoid lower back issues).
- Yoga widens range of motion and increases access to more muscle fibres, allowing for more substantial hypertrophy* in any given muscle group to aid the growth of muscles with weight training.
*Hypertrophy is when a muscle is enlarged because its cells are enlarged (it's basically muscle growth on a cellular level).
- Deep abdominal breathing is a huge part of yoga, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This lowers levels of cortisol, a hormone that forces your body to hold on to belly fat, so it helps you to stay leaner. Training yourself to breathe deeply through yoga can reduce stress and cortisol levels in your daily life.
- Another giant benefit of yoga is lowering your heart rate. More intense yoga routines will challenge your heart and breathing rates, which strengthen your cardiovascular system and can lead to a reduction in overall heart rate. Your breathing volume can also improve, providing more oxygen for your body to work as efficiently as possible.
- If you’ve trained for years either weight lifting, running or cycling, the body responds a certain way, setting up particular neurological and neuromuscular patterns that stay the same and serve us in that sport. We breathe a certain way; we move a certain way. We often injure the same muscles or ligaments in the same way. Yoga brings the body back into balance, into its natural alignment to help counteract old or persistent injuries to help strengthen the body and improve physical weaknesses from other forms of sport.
- If you aren’t a regular gym-goer, yoga will offer a way of keeping physically healthy without the sometimes competitive environment of the gym.
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
The end of an era...
 |
| The fabulous, flexible Over 60s at the Yoga Me Happy farewell lunch 3rd September 2014 |
Yoga Me Happy is celebrating a fantastic 10 months of working in conjunction with Age UK Waltham Forest and the Peter May Sports Centre to offer FREE yoga classes for the Over 60s in the Borough.
Eliza Moore, Yoga Me Happy's teacher took the difficult decision to stand down from teaching the class, as she is pregnant with twins and so hands the baton to Vanessa Brooks Fisher, another dedicated Walthamstow yoga teacher.
As we get older, it becomes increasingly important to take care of our joints, our muscles and our all-round well-being, so when Age UK approached Yoga Me Happy to volunteer to teach yoga for the over 60s in the local community, there was no question but to say yes!
The classes are based around traditional hatha yoga, however with use a chair for support and balance and so the classes are suitable for all, and best of all they're FREE! As long as you are over 60 and live in the Borough of Waltham Forest.
If you are interested in joining the waiting list for the classes please contact Emma Tozer at Age UK Waltham Forest:
Telephone: 020 8558 5512
Saturday, 14 December 2013
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 7th to 19th 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
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 7th to 19th 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
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
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
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
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.
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