We are all currently in a global lockdown due the Covid-19 pandemic. Its a very challenging time for many and there might have never been a time in our lives, when our yoga home practice has been more vital and important to get us through this.

I’m currently offering four yoga classes a week via live stream on an app called Zoom. Its great to connect with you live, it means I am sharing from the heart, on the same day as you, with the same news from politicians, that you too have received that day, the same weather, same moon and stars and the same isolation day count!

Nothing beats real yoga, all together, sharing space and a deep connection, but the live streaming is proving popular, I feel more natural and comfortable with it and what I’m hearing from you is that you are really enjoying it too.

There are many ways to practice yoga at home and so many teachers offering a variety of yoga styles from Dynamic Ashtanga Flow to Restful Restorative Gentle Yoga, not only live streaming to you in the moment but also on channels like Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Vimeo. Its very likely your teacher will be sharing something on the web during this time and it is so lovely to stay connected to that person who helps you and inspires you as you move through this challenging period.

To make your new found yoga at home practice a little more special there are various ways you can bring elements in to enhance your space and take you back to the yoga space you love with the yoga teacher you miss.

• Clear as much of a space as possible for your yoga mat, a small space is no problem just try to ensure you have an arms length of space around you and above you
• Unplug phones, door bells and computers to make sure you won’t be disturbed
• Music can be a wonderful addition to a yoga practice, I often send out a link to my yogis before a class to a playlist on Spotify, you can follow me on Spotify  to hear my yoga playlists that you might like, but there are hundreds of yoga type songs you will love on there and on iTunes or Youtube.
• Aromatherapy essential oils are really beneficial to the wellbeing and emotional state as we practice yoga, particularly at the end in Savasana. You could put some oils into a diffuser to burn during your home practice or pop a few drops in your hands and massage, inhaling the aroma, as you move into relaxation. I buy all my oils from the lady I trained with Denise Brown who offers mail order. Their products are inexpensive compared to many and I can guarantee their quality as I use them all the time for my massage work.
• Choose oils that you know your love, or if you need some inspiration you could try the diluted Rose, Neroli or Jasmine oils, Cypress and Black Pepper are very strengthening, Geranium is uplifting and Vetivert is super relaxing and grounding.

• Try creating an altar as a way to bring a sacred energy into your space, you could create one that you can leave out all the time or something very petite that you just bring out when you roll out the mat. Use anything that feel right, a Buddha, candle, fairy lights, all on a special scarf or cloth, some incense, crystal Mala beads, perhaps some angel or affirmation cards. I use these cards by Micheal Singer, author of The Untethered Soul

Most of all, remember a yoga home practice doesn’t have to fully reflect how it feels to go to your regular class. A few minutes of stretching, breathing and finding awareness will be so beneficial at this time, it doesn’t have to be perfect or fancy! Do what you can, even if the children are climbing on you, the cats are under you and the neighbours are blaring out their not so yoga-ish tunes.

It would be lovely to see you in one of my ‘virtual’ live stream classes soon. Classes are currently FREE for NHS staff. If you are one of my yogis already and you are currently struggling financial due to loss of income since the lockdown, please contact me for some free credits, I really don’t want you to be missing out because of your situation. Its hard for everyone right now and there is no shame in asking me for help, it would be pure pleasure to have you join the classes online.

 

Lots of love, stay safe, stay well, stay strong until we can be together again, Saira xxx

Download my blissful Yoga Nidra Guided Meditation on my online shop Lulah Loves.