Yoga for Supple health

Supple Health is a phrase that has been in my mind for years and it's been on my mind an awful lot during these strange times (covid-19 lockdown) Where I have had lots of time to think about how to take my yoga forward- how to keep growing and evolving as a yoga teacher. I even once set up a Facebook page called supple health but at the time it seemed to confuse people as to whether I taught yoga or not (maybe I was confused too), so I closed the page (self doubt and not enough confidence to carry it through). I even did a talk on the open evening of The health hub about supple health - OMG that feels a very long time ago - 2013!  

Well I do teach yoga and I teach it as supple health - supple in body, supple in mind, supple in MindBody connection. 

I also use the term yoga as sustainable movement.

I am now comfortable and confident in that.

How would I describe Yoga for supple health? yoga as sustainable movement.

I would begin by saying what it is not -
                                                               Advanced yoga poses 
                                                               Fixed routines or poses
                                                               Flexibility alone
                                                               Formal - dogmatic 

It is -
           Exploration of the range of movement with joints and muscles
           A space to connect with and understand YOUR body
           A practice that will build into a full body maintenance system
           A fun lighthearted yet respectful approach to yoga and wellness 

What are the benefits of yoga for supple health -
        Improved range of movement within your joints, without compromising the stability of the joint.
        Improved muscle tone/strength improving active/safe range of movement.
        Improved functional movement patterns - help you 'move' through life with more ease.
        Improved overall physical and mental wellness

Supple a definition: Bending and moving easily and gracefully.

This is something I believe we can all achieve with a little bit of practice and resolve. 
A MindBody that moves well feels better to live within. 

Move Better, Feel Better.

        
Here's to supple health, sustainable movement and wellness 

Sarsha 

Yoga teacher and founder of Yoga Movement Studio. 

Yoga as supple health.

Yoga as sustainable movement and mindful stillness.

                                                                                 
 
                                                       

Gurus & Guides - Off the mat

When I first came to yoga it was purely on a physical level, I wanted my body to feel better
and move better.
I didn't want to have to live and be defined by my back pain. 

But along the way I became interested in the whole of yoga, physical, spiritual, mental
and ethical.
Some of this made me feel like I was failing as a yoga practitioner and at times I felt like
I was compromising either myself or yoga as I thought it should be. 

Through my journey as a human being I have had several teachers, influence'rs, guides,
gurus (whatever word you choose to use here) some well known some just everyday
people who have no idea the impact that they have had on me and some who do know.
Some where yoga related and some where not.
We are all teachers, influence'rs, guides, gurus in our own way. I believe we should grow
through and with many teachers and not be totally dependent on one.  I truly believe
we should take the teachings we need and that resonate with us and make our own path.
You don't have to agree with everything or believe everything a person says to benefit
from some of their teachings/offerings. Sometimes we may wonder far from a particular
teaching/lesson that did resonate with us only to return to that teaching sometime later
and realise that the path of life has prepared us more fully for the deeper resonance of
that teaching.
Life is about circles. Sometimes with have to come around a second, third,
fourth or more times to fully understand a teaching. I believe the best way for this to
happen is to have many teachers, to see the teacher in everything. And do not hold someone
else's value/belief as your own, especially if you have your own unanswered questions/doubt
about that belief.

I am constantly a student and I seek new teachers all of the time, some I stay with longer
than others, some I keep returning too, but I keep my mind open to new ideas and new teachers.
Some of my most valued teachers show up in my classes week after week, for this I an eternally
grateful.
It is great to have someone who is wise and offers wisdom when you most need it. It is also
great to get more than one perspective on any situation, Having many teachers will provide
that for you. And I have found the best of all teachers never give you answers anyway, they provide
with the knowledge to know your own answers and offer a straight forward non-judgemental view on
life.

I am authentically me, I evolve and grow constantly.
My back pain is gone and my mind is my own.
I am secure of my yoga journey now.
Through all of this I now believe that that there is no compromise when you are truly being
the best you, you can be.

Namaste 🙏

Sarsha 💖