Beautiful Yogi/nis, As summer draws towards its close, it’s the perfect time for transformation and self reflection. Time to process the old and breathe in the new. Some of you may have practiced at home, some may have tried other yoga classes, but for most of us, next week will be our first chance to return to the mat. Yogis, this should not be a daunting prospect. Your Yoga practice awaits you, with no judgement or expectations. But if you are struggling to get your head around your return to a regular yogi practice, here are a few pointers. You can always try the slower paced class on Wednesday evenings, even if you had advanced beyond that point before you stopped practicing. Taking a more gentle Hatha yoga class will give you the chance to catch up and enjoy your practice. Be wary of setting unrealistic goals. If you haven’t been to a class in a while, deciding to practice three times a week may set you up for a tough time. Start small, then build your way up. Don’t despair if your practice doesn’t take off right away. Give it rime. Remember, patience creates balance. It’s been a little while, so take it easy, even if that means half the class in child’s pose. Remember, your practice is just that—a practice—not a performance. Remember, yoga is so personal, so intimate. We all have our own uniqueness that we are dealing with – shape of our, events that we are currently moving through in life, old injuries, genetics – so you really have to discern how do you tailor the pose….what feels right for you. Take it slow. You might want to get the first practice back over with, but please don’t rush it. Keep it slow with deep breathing, mindful transitions, and an extra breath or two in each pose to allow your body to recall what it has been missing during your hiatus. Rally a yogi friend to keep you on course. A buddy that, If left waiting at the entrance, will text you until you get off the couch and onto your mat. I sometimes struggle more with comparing my practice to my own former self than I do with anyone else. My mind can race back to how easy poses were a few years ago. Don’t do this! Remember to follow the wise words of Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. It may help to take a few minutes after each practice to record how you feel-before, during, and after practice. Then read through the notes every week or so and savour your growth. Remember, we all fall off the yoga wagon from time to time. It’s ok. Just hug your knees to your belly, give yourself a little love, and get back on the mat. The yogi life will wait for you, for as long as it takes for you to get started. Vinyasa Class, Monday 05 Sep, 7:30-8:45 pm, Market Square – Linking breath and movement to give your practice that flowing dance-like feel. Restorative/gentle Hatha yoga class, Wednesday 07 Sep, 6:30-7:45 pm, Market Sq – This is a perfect compliment to the power yoga class some of you do, also the perfect compliment to the busyness of life. Within this practice, we just find the balance, stillness and switch the mind off. Hatha yoga class, Thursday 08 Sep, 9:30-10:45 am, St Mary’s Church – This class is going to focus on strengthening the shoulders and upper back. Shoulder injuries are very common and are often the result of living in a rounded, hunched up position all day long. Since everything we do is in front of us, we tend to roll the shoulders forward, weakening many of the muscles of the upper back. I hope you have all had a great summer and look forward to seeing you all next week. Om Shanti