Happy New Year Lovely People
I hope you have been enjoying the more restful themes of wintertime, with darker nights – so longer sleeps, frosty weather – with hats & scarfs and having time to relax with plenty of hearty food.
I had planned to write my newsletter at the start of January but due to various factors decided, as winter suggests, it’s better to go slowly and recalibrate. As well as this, you have probably had plenty of New Year – New You’s in your inbox already, so feeling this is more a merging of, end of January -moving to February, as we start to gently gather pace.
We had a lovely rest & reset yoga session at Tranquillity yoga, Herons Ghyll, last week – it really is a wonderful space to practice in with plenty of bolsters, blankets, and mats – to set up for the workshop – it’s all there if you don’t want to bring your own and has a lovely cloakroom & toilet area, with ample easy parking.
There are more planned over the year for each season’s energy – all on Saturday mornings at 11am till 1 pm and relaxing at the end with a seasonal tea and something sweet to treat ( little morsels taste so good after yoga Nidra)
If you are worried two hours sounds a lot or you haven’t practiced for a while, or at all – fear not, we go at a slow, measured pace, with easy instruction, to bring more awareness to the body. Offers are available for postures, that feel difficult, or if you have any injuries or problematic areas. We start with just over an hour’s class of yoga, asanas themed around or sensing into the season – moving into some meditation or breath work, and finishing with blankets, covers, cosiness and yoga Nidra. The time flows by and we gently come round feeling moved and rested with warming tea – last time we sipped on bay leaf, green cardamom, fresh ginger, and cloves – perfect for healing Winter vibes. This is really easy to make at home by popping all the ingredients in a thermos flask and topping up with hot water and sipping throughout the day to keep hydrated.
Upcoming dates for Rest & Reset 2024:
Saturday 16th March – Spring movement 11am till 1pmSaturday 15th June – Summer flow 11am till 1pmSaturday 12th October – Autumn mellow 11am till 1pm
If you would like a space you can book with me or go direct to @tranquilityyoga
£20 per session
“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life & relationships “
TKV Desikacher
There is also seasonal meditation, pranayama & deep relaxation
at Awakening Rose, in my studio, which is again focused on deepening a sense of peace and balance through lead meditation, breath work and taking time out to tune in to how the body feels and connecting to your unique breathing when the mind is quieter. These are shorter in time and are energetically placed near or on the equinox & solstices to honour the seasons.
Awakening Rose sessions
Spring equinox – Wednesday 20th March @3pm
Summer Solstice – Thursday 20th June @4pm (outdoors in garden if weather a delight)
Autumn Equinox – Monday 23rd September @3pm
Winter Solstice – Friday 20th December @2pm
We also gently come back to the day with a nourishing drink and nibble before heading on our way. Booking a must for this as only space for six bodies with good comfort & ease.
£15
I am on the look for somewhere fresh & clear to hold a weekly Friday morning class so if you have any suggestions please let me know.
Moving into treatments there is an exciting Spring seasonal package coming up – available from February 12th – as a three week (ideally consecutive weeks but can be longer spaces if times not possible for you) condensed wellbeing system. Combining three different treatments with a seasonal Ayurvedic & holistic health consultation.
Week one – full consultation taken and session of reflexology to begin physical process.
Week two – body brushing and full body massage with cleansing bespoke blend of aromatherapy oils to create energetic movement.
Week three – cleansing facial to open up and recharge with nourishing mask and steam.
You will receive a wellness write up of advice unique to you – based on your consultation and a PDF of Ayurvedic inspired support on eating and living well.
Whilst we are technically still in Winter in February we are gently moving away from Vata air & ether into a more Kapha earth & water time so feelings of tension, stagnated energies & heaviness can begin to surface from the slow of winter. If you look to nature the ground is ready, the bulbs are surfacing and slowly life is returning. We will bring an awareness in to this through each treatment to guide the body and mind to lighter times. If you would like more information on this please do get in touch, especially with specific guidance that maybe needed – available from 12th February to mid-April as a seasonal treatment.
Separately these sessions would normally be £255
As a seasonal package I am offering at £199 as concise and consistent treatments close together can make a real difference.
(Can be paid as 2 instalments and a deposit if you would like to secure a place – please do ask)
February brings, as ever, the month of love – the wonder of Valentines and whatever that brings with it.
Taking away the commercial side of it, that has built over recent years, my business name – Awakening rose – and my first written piece in a local paper was about Valentines, meaning it’s always something that feels lovely as a celebration of love in all forms to me. Whether romantic, friendship or giving love to self-it’s a time to bring in the love, care, nurture, and the celebration of it.
The rose quartz facial is all about love with hand blended rose oils, massage, crystals of rollers & Gua sha, eye pillows and deep relaxation. This is a 30-minute treatment but does so much – perfect as a little treat, gift voucher or add on with another treatment.
Here is a great winter recipe from Dr Claudia Welch – a wonderful Ayurvedic expert & author of ‘Balance your hormones, balance your life’.
I’ve been making it a lot – revised slightly – to UK ingredients as she is US based.
In Chinese medicine it’s a soup that will ‘awaken the spleen and act as a defence against OPIs – outside pernicious influences’, which translates to pesky germs, of which currently, there seems to be a few. In Ayurveda it kindles Agni – our digestion, whilst pacifying Vata & Kapha so perfect for this time of year. If that means nothing to you it’s a delicious soup and simple to make with (bar maybe the daikon & seaweed) general ingredients you would have around.
Eat it to stay well & eat it if feeling poorly for nourishment.
1 onion diced
2 medium carrots grated
3 celery sticks thinly sliced
1/2 grated daikon
Cup of shitake mushrooms – thinly sliced
2 -3 tbsp grated ginger
Black pepper to taste
Sprinkle of dulce seaweed if you have
2 – 3 TBs of rice vinegar (or cider apple V)
2 TBs maple syrup
Cup of cooked noodles – I’ve been using buckwheat
1 – 3 TBs miso
Chopped coriander to serve and toasted pumpkin seeds
Sauté the onion in coconut oil or sunflower oil
Add carrot, celery and allow to soften.
Add daikon and continue to sauté followed by mushrooms & ginger.
Add seaweed if using
Add rice vinegar, maple syrup and water to cover. Bring to a simmer and taste – season with black pepper.
Cook gently till veggies are ready and add noodles. Add miso last to taste and take off heat so doesn’t denature. Serve topped with coriander, pumpkin and squeeze of lemon or lime.
If you would like more info on Winter wellness and energy then have a look at my winter blog for some more hearty recipes
https://www.awakeningrose.co.uk/2023/12/20/oh-the-weather-outside-is-frightful-but-the-fire-is-so-delightful/
And last but not least there are a couple of places available the weekend of 12th – 14th April at the following retreat at A Sussex house
https://leapmindfulness.com/threeacresretreat/
if you fancy a Springy joyful time of yoga and meditation.
I will there as the holistic therapist if you want to treat yourself and Sue & Sally, the experienced yogi’s will be hosting, plus lots of delicious food, nature walks and firepit.
As ever thank you for reading, wishing you a wonderful end of January and Fabulous February.
