Yoga by Nature Podcast

Dear All, Thanks for listening. I have recorded this class so I can offer you a really mellow, supported practice which will help to open your shoulders, heart area and your hips. We use some props like an extra rolled mat (or blanket will do nicely) for under the spine, a bolster (or cushion), and of course it's always good to have a blanket and an eye pillow too.  I'm in Spain now, teaching on a...

Dear All,  This is a twenty minute meditation on the body. It's not strictly a relaxation but it is very relaxing! I often do this instead of having a nap as it's so refreshing and brings me right back into my body especially if I have been doing a lot of heady computer work.  Just lie down somewhere quiet and comfortable and enjoy it! You can do it seated if you like to do these sessions during y...

Dear All, This is a yoga class focused on supporting pelvic floor health. It was recorded live at Penny Brohn Cancer Care in Pill, Bristol and it is suitable for anyone who wishes to improve their pelvic floor awareness and strength, lower back strength or general core stability. This class is gentle, restorative, calming and mellow. If you're looking for crunches and kegels, you're in the wrong p...

Hi! thanks for tuning in. This class is Level 2-3. If you are new to yoga, look for a Level 1 as this class will be too in-depth.  We do poses to release the psoas and also some funky shoulder stretches. Some of the poses require a photo accompaniment and you can find support with images on the Facebook Group  here . We flow a bit, go upside down a bit and generally explore in a strong and a subtl...

Hello! Welcome to this podcast. Inspiration for this class was taken from Judith Lasater's fantastic book about yogic living called Living Your Yoga. I've also magpied a bit from Mark Williams' book Mindfulness, and the rest is from me. This was recorded at Arnos Vale Spielman Centre, Bristol.  Being a Yoga and Mindfulness class, there is more talking at the begining than usual as I unpack the the...

Dear All, Welcome to this meditation that I offer here to help you answer the question for yourself, "What's so good about the here and now?".  Please find yourself a comfortable seat, taking as many cushions or blocks as you need to be able to sit tall. Sit with your back supported by something if you need to, or come and sit in a chair. Only do this meditation lying down if you are sure that you...

Hi thanks for listening.  Yoga and Mindfulness aims to acknowledge and embody all aspects of a yoga practice. There will be seated meditation, mindful movement (full asana practice) and a body meditation at the end and a beautiful poem that I found in the Mindfulness book by Mark Williams.  There are some ideas in here about how to integrate your yoga "off the mat" and how to bring the peaceful, c...

Hello and thanks for listening.  The following is a really good detox Hatha yoga practice with some focused work on balancing the kidney region, maintaining alignment and finding strong foundations. I recorded this one at Totterdown Methodist Church on a Friday morning with a fantastic group of women who are all great fun.  You can visit me on FB at Bristol Community Yoga  which is my page, or you...

Dear All, This class is very mellow. Good for you if you want to practice but need to be gentle with yourself. We do a fair amount of hip releasing poses on the mat, and also gentle backbends and shoulder openers.  If you'd like to try meditation, this is a good way in - relaxation, gentle movement and and focus leading towards a meditative state.  I hope you enjoy this class. If you have any ques...

Dear All, This class is one that I recorded for those who have limited space to practice, or limited mobility. The whole practice can be done sitting in a chair.  I have reposted this one, as I unpublished it a couple of years ago when I changed hosting services. It was recorded when I was still using the name Bristol Community Yoga podcast.  I hope you enjoy the practice. It's short and sweet.  L...

Dear All, This class was recorded at Bristol City Yoga at the Yogatrail on the 13th Sept. A wonderful all-day event where studios across Bristol offered free classes to one and all. I was delighted to be able to take part and offer a restorative class as the last class of the day.  We were packed to the rafters at the BCY studio, and had to turn some people away, so here is your opportunity to do...

Dear All, Thanks for listening. This is a yoga nidra practice I recorded in the Lake District whilst teaching on retreat a couple of weeks ago. I hope you can sense some of the calm and quiet of the secluded location! Please make sure you have 30 mins to be really quiet and still. This relaxation can be done lying on your bed, on your mat, on the bus, plane, train - anywhere! If you'd like to come...

Dear All, Thanks for listening. This class is a fun and flowy class designed to ease up those outer thigh muscles and hamstrings, we also do some poses that help to release the psoas muscle  (you feel that one in your side belly and the top of your thigh). prepare to sweat a bit with this one, it's fairly high energy with a relaxing warm up and a guided relaxation at the end.  If you're not sure a...

This class is a women's yoga class (although men, you can do it too if you want to reconnect to your body and relax!). It's a very gentle practice and is good for you if your body needs some really tender care. We do some static poses and some gentle flow - it's a balance of poses which will nurture softness and encourage relaxation. We begin and end with a relaxation and some mindfulness practice...

Dear All, This class, you will notice, is an old class. Several classes dropped off the list when I changed from Podbean to Libsyn hosting services. It was recorded in 2012, but as yoga is 5000 years old I figured its age doesn't matter too much.  Some of the info will be outdated - my email now is communityyogabristol@gmail.com and the host web address is  http://yogacommunity.libsyn.com/  and no...

Hello All, You'll notice I have cut the chat from the beginning of this podcast so you can go straight into your meditation. This makes this a good practice for your commute or if you would like to practice this meditation regularly.  The Lake Meditation is taken from Jon Kabat Zin's "Wherever you go, there you are", a stroke of genius of a book and a good place to start or deepen your mindfulness...

Dear All, This is a class I recorded live at the Southville Centre in Bristol. We explore the concept of Wholeness and Oneness and how that applies to our yoga practice and to our lives off the mat. We begin with a sitting meditation and then move into a dynamic asana practice, finishing up with a relaxation. Focus in this class is on integrating as pects of ourselves and integrating ourselves wit...

Hello All, Thsi class is very very mellow! If you want to rest, calm your digestion and develop easeful breathing then this is a good class for you. It's suitable for anyone following the yogaThrive programme for cancer support and those who are .looking for a calming, supportive yoga practice.  Please go to  www.bristolcommunityyoga.co.uk  for more information about  me. You can get in touch with...

Hi thanks for listening. This is a Yoga and Mindfulness class where we concentrate on cultivating gratitude as a foundation for manifesting our desires. When we are grateful for what we have, we are content and when we are content our minds are not full of self-limiting stories that hold us back from creating what we truly desire. Try it, it works.  The class comprises an opening talk for a few mi...

Hello all,  Thanks for listening. This is another yoga nidra practice, I recorded it at the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre in Bristol with my lovely PB ladies who love yoga.  With this one there is a visualisation so you may go quite deep. Yoga Nidra is more than a relaxation  - you are going deep into your consciousness and contacting the subconscious at its deepest level, so after practicing mak...

Hello, Namaste! Here is a deep relaxation for you that I recorded at Penny Brohn Cancer Care in Bristol. Yoga Nidra is not just relaxation though, it's a journey into your consciousness - don't be surprised if you go into a waking dream state, this is very common and you may drift in and out of consciousness without being aware of having slept. There are some yoga nidras I have been doing for year...

Hello, Here is a Hatha Flow practice for you. If you enjoy being creative with your yoga and finding new ways to link the poses together in a flow style then this is the class for you. If you have never done yoga before then this is not the class for you! Take a look at some of the Hatha classes I have published if you would like a basic yoga class.  Please get in touch with any questions or comme...

Dear All,  This is a Restorative Yoga class I recorded at the Penny Brohn Centre in Bristol. It's suitable for anyone who wants to gently stretch, wind down and relax, and for anyone following the YogaThrive course for cancer support.  Please see the Facebook group  for pics of poses that may be tricky to visualise from verbal instruction.  I hope you enjoy the class! If you have any questions or...

Hi thanks for listening. This is a basic Hatha yoga class suitable for beginners and also for more experienced practitioners who are looking for a class with plenty of standing poses and tips on how to functionally build core strength. This class is also suitable for YogaThrive participants who are following the programme for yoga for cancer support. Come on retreat with me (Morven Hamilton), Ali...

Dear all, thanks for listening.  The following is a good, all-round flow yoga practice - it'll be easier to follow for those with some prior experience of yoga so I suggest going to some classes with a teacher before trying this at home. I have a bit of a cold in this one so please bear with the funny voice and the occasional cough! You don't need anything fancy, just your beautiful self and your...