Yoga means union, to yoke together – the conscious with the unconscious; awareness with matter(body); the mind, body and spirit with the Divine; the individual with the world. While this refers to a certain state of consciousness or experience, it is also a method to help one reach that goal. Yoga is one of the many methods of balancing mind, body and spirit and attuning to Truth, and though commonly thought of in the West as a physical practice of stretching and strength based activities, it is an all encompassing path and way of life that involves far more than physical movement!
I practice and teach yoga as a system of living. As a teacher of asana, I have moved from mainly teaching Hatha Yoga into teaching gentle yin and restorative classes; working to calm and soothe mind and body and nourish the heart. I also weave trauma informed therapeutic nervous system and embodiment based practices from my work as a Somatic Psychotherapist.
I integrate yoga philosophy in my classes and also offer groups more geared towards the understanding and application of yoga philosophy.
Restorative Yoga.
Restorative Yoga works with supporting the body into a deep state of relaxation and comfort. As the body releases and relaxes, the mind follows, resting in the body’s deep settled stillness…and as the mind releases and relaxes, the body follows -deepening and softening.
Within the practice traditional poses are adapted and supported through the use of props such as bolsters, blankets and blocks to facilitate deeply supportive and regenerative postures, which are held for typically much longer periods of time than in hatha or vinyasa classes.
Restorative yoga is a gentle, slow and kind practice. It works with each practitioner and their individual limits and is accessible and beneficial for all ages, all bodies, all levels of health and athleticism, flexibility and strength. It is a great balance for more yang based practices (such as Hatha and Vinyassa yoga, running and team and individual sports), but also a wonderful practice in its own right; proven to support health, reduce anxiety, pain and depression, deepen sleep, strengthen the immune system, support healing and create more emotional stability and wellbeing.
Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is similar to restorative but sometimes feels to me a little less cozy 🙂 It works with the meredian system and asana to balance, strenghten and restore the flow of chi through the body. Yin yoga works with bringing chi to the bones and ligaments, which are nourished and strengthened by the right amount of pressure and load placed on them whilst holding poses for typically 3-5 minutes. Yin yoga also creates space for the arising of unpleasent aswell as pleasent emotional and physical experience and is a great way to move into practices of mindfullness, self compassion and mental steadiness.
Individual Sessions
Individual sessions work to develop your yoga asana practice and also to support you in the yoga of living – connecting with practices and principles that support your physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing and deepest intention for your life. Your journey is a personal one, and we each need medicine that is personaliased and based on our history, season of life, constitution and goals – what we can receive and use, essentially.
I can help you to develop a personal practice that works for you and continues to evolve as you do.
Group Classes
I hold group classes online integrating self-compassion, nervous system regulation and meditation practices with gentle and restorative yoga; and in person at B Half Moon Studio . Please email me to find my current schedule.
You are also welcome to contact me to organise a private one to one or group class….
07.57.09.88.69 / eliseannmartin@gmail.com
Warm wishes,
Elise