I’m very excited (and a little nervous) to start teaching live classes in Helensburgh. It will be lovely to share the many benefits of Seasonal Yoga and meet people from the local community.
If you live locally please Join me on Monday the 24th of February, in the lovely hall of the Templeton Annexe (next to the Civic Centre) for a 4 week introduction to the unique and uplifting seasonal yoga experience that aligns your body and mind with the natural rhythms of the seasons. In each class, you’ll learn how to work with your energy, moving in harmony with the time of year to feel more balanced, vibrant, and at ease.
Seasonal Yoga helps you manage your energy, cultivate inner calm, build strength, balance and flexibility. Alongside yoga, you’ll also experience elements of Breathwork and Qi Gong—powerful practices that enhance relaxation, flow, and vitality. The class is also suitable for those who prefer a seated practice.
This is more than just a class—it’s a welcoming community where you can recharge, reconnect, and leave feeling both deeply relaxed and beautifully energised.
“Yoga is not about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down” – Jigar Gor.
This quote is a reminder that yoga is a practice that focuses on self-acceptance and learning about your body instead of focusing on the end result.
2025 and we are finally settling into our new home in Helensburgh. We are loving living here, so much to do and everyone has been very welcoming and friendly.
Winter is the season to withdraw and hibernate, to go inwards and just like nature, store our energy in preparation for Spring.
Take time in your day for solitude, time for you to rest, read, relax and recharge.
It is also a time to be brave and maybe try something new. A new course, a class, a new hobby? Something you’ve always wanted to do but the little voice in your head has stopped you from doing. Be brave!
I’m going to be brave and start teaching a live class in Helensburgh (alongside my regular Zoom classes!). It’s a bit daunting after teaching on Zoom for so long but it will be a good way of getting to know some people from my new community.
If you live in or near Helensburgh and would like to join me on a Seasonal Yoga Journey please get in touch by text 07832963335 or email lizh19.yoga@gmail.com
I’ll be teaching a four week block for beginners (or experienced yogis) on Mondays 1-2pm from the 24th of February till the 17th of March at the Templeton Annexe beside the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre. Classes will include Breath work, Qi Gong, Yoga poses and a lovely relaxation at the end of the class and are suitable for all (you can use a chair if you wish). You will with a feeling calm that will sustain you through the ups and downs of life.
I hope you will come and join me in my new adventure!
2023, a new year, a new beginning, a sense of optimism and potential.
I would like to extend a warm invitation to you to join my Zoom Yoga classes. Making time for you, prioritising your wellbeing, putting your health at the top of your To Do List!
My amazing and wonderful Zoom community
The beauty of Zoom is in its convenience, and that no matter where you live you can join us in Houston (Scotland). Here are some more advantages of Zoom…
you only need to log on a few minutes before the class starts at 10am
no travel time required
no need to get dressed (pyjamas are fine!)
you can turn your camera off if you don’t want to be seen
make yourself a cup of tea a few minutes afterwards
there is no one to compare yourself to, it’s your yoga, your way
You will still have the feeling of being part of a group rather than practicing alone with a video
all classes are recorded so that you need never miss a class. Recording is sent out later that day if requested.
The first 30 minutes of each class is always a standing or seated practice (no getting up or down from the floor). It always includes…
Breathwork (for calming the mind and lots of other health benefits)
Joint mobilisation (a gentle MOT for our skeletal system)
Qi Gong exercises to mobilise your energy, clear any stagnation, improve balance and coordination
We round off this section of the class together by gathering in the emotions, energy or feelings we want to support us for the rest of our day. If you need to you can leave the class at this point, or leave the recording running and join us for the last 10 minutes of relaxation.
The next 30 minutes contains more Yoga Asanas (poses) that work with the energy of the season we are in. Winter energy is slower and deeper, a sense of storing our energy to see us through til Spring emerges. This part of the class may include moving from standing to seated poses, but you can adapt poses to your needs on that day.
I hope you will accept my invitation to join me and my lovely online community of yogis.
Every class will end with a powerful and restorative relaxation (5-10 minutes). For some yogis it is their favourite part!
The classes are on
Mondays 10-11am
Thursdays 10-11am
Please email or message me if you would like more information and the joining codes for the classes. I hope to see you in class soon 🙏 The first class of 2023 is on Thursday the 5th of January at 10am
This is one of my favourite seasons, the colours of the leaves against a blue or grey sky, the sense of nature gathering it’s energy inwards, the trees letting of their leaves, a time to gather our own energy inwards and keep ourselves strong and healthy for the colder months ahead.
So what can we do to boost our immunity?
FOCUS ON THE BREATH. Try to spend a few minutes every day focusing on breathing deeply through your nose into your abdomen, allowing the belly to rise as your diaphragm pushes the organs down (giving them a little internal massage at the same time), extending your exhalation, making sure you’ve emptied your lungs before your next inhale.
Breathing mindfully and slowly removes stress from the body, eliminates toxins and switches on our parasympathetic nervous system, helping us to feel calmer and more in control.
A great breathing technique for balancing and calming the mind
LET GO. Just as the trees let go of their leaves in order to conserve energy for the new growth in Spring, we should let go of old habits, beliefs and even relationships that no longer make us feel good or healthy.
Try clearing out your cupboards, wardrobes, and notice how much lighter you feel when these spaces are less crammed with things you no longer wear or eat (check those sell by dates!). Spend more time with the people who lift your spirits and less time with those who pull you down!
SLOW DOWN. Take time to acknowledge and consolidate your own energy. Coorie in with a good book, wrap yourself in a throw and light some candles. Listen to what your body needs, that might be an early night, coffee with a good pal, an Epsom salts bath, a walk in nature, whatever makes you feel restored and comforted.
EAT. Warming soups and stews. The colour of the season is white. Cauliflower, leeks, potatoes etc. Pungent flavours such as garlic, ginger and horseradish also help to eliminate mucus. Try to reduce consumption of red meat and dairy as they are mucus forming.
MOVE. Try to build in a short exercise routine every day that allows the body to move, stretch and keep your circulation moving. Stagnant energy leads to stiffness, pain or even illness.
A great practice for every day!
Gather your energy inwards, store it deep inside and enjoy this beautiful season. Sending my love to all 🙏🥰
This season is a transitional season, moving from the expansive energy of the Fire Element and the Yang seasons of Spring and Summer to the more consolidating and inward feel of the Yin seasons of Autumn and Winter.
Some find this transition difficult, it heralds colder weather, the start of the school routines, less sunlight and darker evenings. Others look forward to the slowing down and moving away the high energy of Summer. As we spend more times indoors it can be a great time to take up a new hobby, finish off a project or even learn a new skill or language.
The organs associated with Late Summer are the Stomach, Spleen and Pancreas, all playing a part in digesting and processing our food. As well as thinking about which foods nourish and support us we need to think about the impact of our thoughts on our wellbeing. We also digest our inner chatter and negative self talk has an effect on us both physically and mentally. It’s worth taking time to notice your thoughts and inner dialogue and ask if they support and nourish you or drain and deplete your energy, which may impact on our immunity.
This is a time to look inwards, a time to build your core, your inner strength, your ability to cope with whatever challenges come your way. Taking time to notice the mechanics of our body from the insides, our heart, lungs, digestion is key to knowing how we tick and helps us to head off illness aches and pains sooner rather than later.
If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it when it screams
The practice of looking inwards is known as “interoception“, how your brain perceives your body, transmitted by receptors on all of your internal organs. Tuning into these signals isn’t as easy as tuning into our 5 senses, but it has a huge impact on how we learn to regulate our emotions and manage our mental wellbeing. There is more and more research into this subject and I’ve added a link to a recent article in the Guardian. Listening to your own body’s messages is the first step and then interpreting that information rather than reacting on automatic pilot. Feeling tired? try a quick nap rather than a coffee. Feeling hungry? Maybe have a glass water before reaching for food. Learning to read and understand your body’s signals is empowering as you take responsibility for your choices.
Late Summer is a great time to build yourself up in preparation for the colder months ahead. Choosing the things that nourish and sustain us, the food we eat, the way we treat our bodies and our mind. Try to build in some daily exercise, gardening, yoga, walking in nature, anything you enjoy will be good for building your general sense of wellbeing and as a result boost your immunity.
Tai Chi / Qi Gong is great for working with your internal energy and boosting your immunity. Look out for outdoor classes and if you live near me in Houston, Renfrewshire why not try our Chi on the Green classes on Tuesday mornings!
If you can’t make it to a class Mimi Kuo-Deemer does a lovely 16 minute Qi Gong practice on You Tube for the Earth Element. Why not try it out for 21 days and see if it helps to nourish you both inside and out.
Stay well and embrace this season of slowing down, grounding and anchoring to the present moment.
Early Summer? Isn’t it strange when the weather doesn’t match our expectations and our desire for warmth, sunshine and blue skies!
The beauty of our hedgerows
This short season is the warm up for the arrival of full Summer. The time to start stretching our fascia and connective tissue, preparing for that full on expansiveness (and hopefully heat) of Summer.
Introduce a daily stretching routine. The Dao Yin of the Dragon is an ideal practice to warm and stretch the connective tissue while also guiding and moving energy through the entire body
It strengthens the spine, keeps the joints mobile and deeply massages the internal organs
Hydrate, drink more water
Body brush before your shower and take time to massage in oil or moisturiser afterwards
How about a cold shower or wild swimming? Research confirms the physical and mental benefits of both
Connecting to your emotions 😀😢😂😝🤨😫😡😳😱🤯
Make time to connect to how you are feeling. Checking in with your emotions is a practice you can repeat throughout your day. It’s easy, just ask yourself “How do I feel?” and then acknowledge the emotions without judgement. Just like the breath emotions can come and go, if we let them
Who or what makes you feel connected? Make time to catch up with friends, activities or places where you feel a deep sense of support and connection
And finally, how is your mind?
Check in with yourself regularly and without judgement
If your mind is busy and stretched in lots of different directions try to make time for meditation, a walk in nature every day or treat yourself to a new journal. Writing down your lists, thoughts, worries is a great way to empty your mind and create a space for calmness and a sense of space
Happy Early Summer. May all your connections be happy ones 🤗
As we move out of Winter and hibernation this is the season to look forward to warmer days, more daylight hours and hopefully the opportunity to get outside and meet up with friends and family.
It’s a great time to clean up our act, matching the energy of the season with our own growth and expansion.
Spring cleaning our home, detoxing our bodies and minds and making plans for how we want to live well in the forthcoming months.
Deciding to make changes can be daunting but if you break it down into small steps and recognise your achievements and accept your missteps it seems a bit more possible. Never underestimate the power of starting over again with renewed determination.
A little book full of practical tips
Start small. Have a look at the different areas of your life and score them from 1 – 10 (with 10 being perfect!) be honest and then decide which lower score you want to try to increase, even by a couple of points!
Health. Consider all aspects, physical, mental, spiritual, nutrition, sleep, exercise and so on. Score each element and then choose one area you would like to improve. Spring is a great time to detox the physical body and that can lead to great benefits to all areas of your wellbeing. It doesn’t need to be extreme, maybe not eating anything after 7pm to give your digestive system a rest or cutting out alcohol, caffeine or carbonated drinks for a month would be achievable.
Home and garden. Time for that Spring Clean? Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start with one room or one task and then see it through. Open the windows, listen to an inspiring or funny podcast or radio programme and the time will fly by. The sense of achievement will be worth the effort.
Money. Time for an honest audit. Where does your money go? Mortgage and bills? Buying things online that you don’t really need or even want. Do a wee inventory and make your money work for you. If it’s a new kitchen, car or dare I say it holiday commit to saving for it now!
Work. How has it been for you? Has their period made you reassess your goals? Is it time to explore new careers? Or if you’re retired is it time to get back to learning. There are so many interesting (and free) courses available on a huge range of subjects. https://www.futurelearn.com/
Relationships. With lockdown our relationships and contact with others has changed beyond recognition! Which relationships do you miss? Is it time to find a way to reconnect or is it time to let that relationship go, leaving more time and energy to spend with the people who lift you?
New plans and ideas. This is the best time to dream and explore new interests, hobbies or projects that you haven’t manage to get round to.
Take one small step, commit to it for at least a month, and keep going back to it if you falter. Celebrate successes, no matter how small. Keep a note of how you’re doing, noting how you feel, physically and mentally.
If you’re struggling, team up with a friend and encourage each other to keep going. Imagine yourself in a month’s time from now having achieved your goal, or even just being a little step closer to that bigger, long term goal.
More and more I am drawn towards the ancient art and science of Chinese Tai Chi and Qi Gong and I am experiencing the benefits from my own daily practice. This exercise system allows us to discover and work with our own internal energy and strength. This system is rooted in nature and in the cycles of the seasons and the elements and internal organs associated with each season.
The Five Elements.
Qi Gung (Chi Kung) is a skill and vital energy work that is acquired over time. it is a form of self care through personal practice to protect our health and still our busy minds. It is an easy and accessible system of energy enhancing exercises and moves that coordinate movement with inner consciousness. If practised regularly it increases your energy, improves your health, boosts the immune system and lowers cortisol levels in the body, reducing stress and anxiety
Tai Chi (Taiji)
Tai Chi is one of the best known martial arts, based on Qi Gong and martial art techniques from thousands of years ago. It uses contrasting and complimentary movements, slow and soft and rather than fast and hard, thus balancing the qualities of Yin and Yang in the mind.
Yin and Yang Symbol
It is defined by a series of postures and movements which form a journey of graceful moment, flowing from one to the other until coming together in The Form. Tai Chi improves balance, coordination, flexibility, muscle strength, cardiovascular and mental health. It is gentle enough to be accessible to all as a standing practice or can be practised in a chair, however it can also be challenging for even the fittest!
The essential principles of Tai Chi are based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism (pronounced Daoism) which recognises the need for natural balance in all things and the need to live in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature. Balancing Yin and Yang energies (activity and rest, balanced diet, mind and body)
With both of these practices the idea is to start slow, observe the movements and then practise them many times to experience the benefits deep within your body. Working with the mind to move the body, where the intention goes, the energy flows.
I recommend you find a practitioner to follow on You Tube and start your own exploration into the benefits of incorporating a short Qi Gong practice into your daily life. Repeated practice will benefit not only your internal wellbeing but also your mental wellbeing.
If you would like to try some Qi Gong and Tai Chi, the first 30 minutes of my Yoga classes contain exercises from both, you can join the class and then leave after 30 minutes if Yoga practice is not for you!
I would recommend you have a look at the following videos to whet your appetite.
Great daily practice
Book recommendations
The Qi Gong Bible, Katherine Allan, is a useful, helpful and interesting book as is Wood Becomes Water , Gail Reichstein, which gives a more in depth insight into the 5 Elements and Chinese Medicine
I hope you enjoy your exploration of this fascinating subject.
Well, this has been a very different Christmas from last year! We had to adapt and transform our usual traditions into something that worked for everyone. For us it meant opening presents in the garden, catching up with loved ones on Zoom and having a quieter and less stressful festive season than usual. We are very grateful to have the space and opportunity to see loved ones and boy do we appreciate it more than ever.
A Christmas like no other!
So it’s Winter, the season to slow down, conserve our energy and build our resources in readiness for Spring! Covid has forced us into living quietly, not dashing around the shops and learning yet again to appreciate the small things.
The organs associated with winter are the Kidneys and Bladder and they are at their peak from 3pm -7pm. Our kidneys are like our batteries, they give their energy to all other organs in the body, this might explain why we often feel tired in the late afternoon, our batteries need recharging! An easy way to do this is to have a wee nap or stand up and give your kidneys a rub with soft fists, while breathing deeply. A few minutes later and you’ll be ready to go!
The element associated with winter is the Water element. This element represents stillness and reflection, looking inwards, working out what supports us and what drains us. Water is also forceful and can erode obstacles in its path, it also has the ability to go round obstacles and we should try to mirror this by going with the flow, finding a way round the obstacles in our lives. Another lesson we have had to learn while living with a pandemic.
It’s often hard to find the motivation or energy to maintain a regular daily practice in the cold winter months, but by moving our bodies gently by walking, Qi Gong, Yoga or just standing up and stretching we keep our Chariot in good working order, ready to carry us through life no matter what the terrain or conditions are like. I have a daily Qi gong routine that helps boost my energy and maintain strength and suppleness, you might want to try it too!
Daily Qi Gong Routine
To finish with, here are some tips to help support your wellbeing this winter.
Meditation, take 5 or 10 minutes each day to sit quietly, with a straight spine and follow your breath, you will feel the benefits if you can practise every day.
Try to go to bed early and get up later with the sunrise
Magnesium spray and Epsom Salt Baths are great at this time of year
Take time to reflect on the year, what were the highs and the lows, what would you like more of in 2021? This is an ideal time to journal, dream and plan.
Plant the seeds of your dreams in your mind and let them sit underground until Spring. Don’t set yourself up for failure with New Year’s Resolutions, plant your seeds, prepare the ground and let them grow when they are ready
Read inspirational books and watch uplifting films. Feed your soul.
So, I wish you a calm, restorative and thoughtful winter. Stay well and make your self care a priority, that way you will have the resources to share freely with others.
I love Autumn! The colours, the energy, the light! It’s the time to gather inwards. Just as nature slows down so should we, rediscovering what is truly precious to us. It’s the time to let go of what no longer serves you or even holds you back!
Lungs, Large Intestine and Diaphragm (in pink!)
The organs associated with Autumn are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. Covid affects the lungs and therefore it is very important that we strengthen our lungs through working with the breath, Pranayama. Try to bring your attention to your breathing throughout the day, breathing deeply into the abdomen, ribs and upper chest (the full yoga breath) https://vimeo.com/67381274
The Metal energy of the season supports us to let go of the old and stale in our lives, much the same as the Large Intestine removes our waste products! Nature, as ever, leads the way, with the trees letting go of their leaves. When we remove the old we create space for new ideas, vision and inspiration to create more of what is truly important and precious to us.
Warrior outside Killelan Church Hall, where I used to teach live classes
The emotion associated with Autumn and the Metal element is grief. We all experience loss and separation and it is appropriate to feel grief at these times. However, when the Metal energy is blocked or not in balance we can become stuck and we may experience excessive emotions which we are unable to process.
Covid has changed our world. For me I had stop teaching live classes as well as not being able to see my family and friends in person. I really miss these experiences that I frankly took for granted. However, I have now discovered connection via Zoom and am very grateful that my Houston regulars (and their friends and family) now join me online for classes.
Zoom Yoga Autumn Outfit, for the Lungs
So what can we do to support our Lungs, Large Intestine and our general wellbeing in these challenging times.
Breathe! Start every day with a breathing technique of your choice: Full Yoga Breath; Bhastrika Breathing : counting the inhale and extending the length of the exhale. Maybe you could try out #Breathpod. https://www.breathpod.me on Instagram for some live sessions. Also read Breath, James Nestor for a fascinating insight into all things breathing related
Slow down, work out what you really enjoy doing and fit in time for it every day!
Have a clear out! Let go of those clothes, books, toiletries, things that you no longer need or that no longer spark joy #mariekondo, https://konmari.com #theminamilists, https://www.theminimalists.com
Find your gratitude. What makes you smile? Who are you grateful for? Now make time to tell them and do it with a smile, call, letter, text or through your actions
Cut down on refined foods and sugar, they can be mucus forming
Read this book and share it with a friend!
Feel good read!
And so my friends, enjoy this season of gathering inwards. The Danish embrace the short days and long nights by “coorying in” or as they call it, Hygge (book by Meik Wiking might inspire you) https://www.meikwiking.com/books
Light your candles, look out your cozy throws, eat warming soups and stews and look after yourselves!
Yoga with Liz 