I could go on and on! It is wonderful to have the opportunity to slow down some aspects of our lives and to spend more time with our children but for many we are also worrying about holding a safe space for our children and jugging work whilst navigating a sensible path through a global pandemic. Our sympathetic nervous systems are in overdrive, our anxiety levels are rising, and we still need to find an answer to solving that complicated fraction!
These 5 tips can help you to stretch, release physical tension and engage the para sympathetic nervous system and quite simply calm down. These can be practised alone or even with your children and teens.
Simply standing with your feet hip distance apart, a slight bend to the knees and take a in a lovely long inhalation through the nose. As you exhale fold forward and down. Keep the knees bent if you need to whilst pressing the feet into the floor to feel grounded and secure. With each inhale lengthening a little through the torso and as you exhale fold further and release. This is a wonderful pose for balancing the nervous system, calming the mind and releasing tension. With your arms you can take hold of your elbows and sway from side to side enjoy some gentle movement (like a ragdoll) or if your shoulders feel tight interlace your fingers behind your back and lift them up as you fold forwards enjoying a delicious stretch for the shoulders.
Drop down onto your knees but keep stretching your arms forward into a puppy pose (if you have a cat or puppy you will see them do this frequently).
Now…. you are ready to sort out those fractions!
Lorna is a former Lawyer and experienced yoga teacher of 18 years well versed in using yoga and breathing techniques to alleviate tension and stress.
She offers a variety of group classes - currently all via zoom.
Classes for adults
Tuesday 7pm Flow and Unwind- a more gentle flow
Saturday 9am Rise and Flow – a dynamic creative vinyasa class
Classes for children
Mondays at 4.30pm Kids Yoga) and teens
Thursdays 5.30pm Teen Yoga and Mindfulness
Website
As a busy working mum of two teenagers, I know that family life can be fun but also chaotic and busy.
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