Kick start 2019

On Sunday 6^thJanuary, we are thrilled to be hosting our New Year half-day retreat at Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga.

January can be a time for making resolutions and embarking on a new start, but it can also be a time that negatively affects our mood as the excitement of Christmas passes and the long, dark winter days continue.

This is the perfect time to energize and nourish your body and mind with an afternoon of Vinyasa Flow and Restorative yoga, relaxation and crafts. In addition, you can further your relaxation journey with a wonderful treatment with our lovely therapist, Jo. Choose from an invigorating Thai Yoga Massage, soothing Hot Stone Back Massage or tension relieving Indian Head Massage to completely unwind.

There will be the opportunity to rest between classes with a break to enjoy nutritious juices, fruits and snacks. You might like to use this time to snuggle up with a good book, relax in our soothing mediation room or take part in a mindful craft session. 

If you would like to treat yourself further, our studio shop has recently had a revamp – now selling ethically sourced, organic where possible, beautiful yoga and pilates products including clothing, mats, bolsters, eye bags, natural skin and body care and much more.

 The afternoon will also include the setting of intentions (Sankalpa), positive affirmations and a New Year guided meditation.

What is Sankalpa?

Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning an intention formed by the heart and mind – a vow, determination or will. In the Western world we often make a resolution at the start of the year that we will try to do certain things to improve ourselves in the coming year. These New Year resolutions often fail as they come from a place within us that states that we are not good enough in some way. The yoga tradition offers a refreshing alternative to these; the practice of Sankalpa. Looking forward into the year ahead and asking yourself what specific things need to happen to move you forward on your path can help you set specific intentions or mini goals. Discovering your sankalpa is a process of listening – it's not something you need to make up, and the mind doesn't have to go wildly searching for it.

On this retreat we will be focusing on heart opening and twists with an energizing Vinyasa Flow practice followed by a replenishing Restorative yoga session.

Why heart opening & twisting poses?

When we're feeling low or negative, we slump and round our shoulders, or if we sit hunching over a computer all day, it tightens the muscles in the front of the body so heart opening poses can release stress and tension that may be kept bound up in the chest. Heart openers expand your chest and rib cage, making them more receptive and free and when you roll your shoulders back and down and lift your chest, you automatically look more confident. 

Twisting poses help restore the body's natural range of motion, stimulate circulation and release tension in the muscles of the spine, abdomen and rib cage which have a knock on effect of helping the other systems of the body work effectively. Twists are wonderful postures for releasing stored tension in the body, which can have a positive affect on your mental state. They can also give us an instant energy lift.

The combination of the heart opening and twisting poses used during the retreat can transform us physiologically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

Start your year positively – book your space by emailing us at [email protected]or call us on 01245 422556. We look forward to seeing you in 2019!