Sometimes life can be so full of chaos and strife, we get caught in our own & indeed in other people’s turmoil. It could be in work a call from your boss or colleague at 5pm on Friday. The tie to family & kids that becomes so wearing when love is attached to all the emotion. Or as I experienced this morning even on the tennis court, letting my emotions run away with me! We forget that we can simply breathe. Choosing how to respond is a powerful state to embody. It’s also a practice. Whatever is going on, choose to take a breath, to soften your gaze or even close your eyes. Remember the gifts of life that reside within. Try not to judge those who spin chaos around you, instead offer them the gift of patience. Try not to judge yourself so harshly, practice loving kindness to yourself.

Peace, happiness, freedom. These are not gifts some-one else can give you, rather they are gifts that you give yourself. In the words of George Michael a few months before he passed in 2016 –

“Be good to yourself, because nobody else has the power to make your happy”

George Michael, 2016.

Freedom starts when the chains of negative thought are lifted. Reading an essay this morning by Jack Kornfield I was reminded how Nelson Mandela behaved when leaving Robbin island. He left with his spirit and dignity so strong that his spirit changed South Africa and inspired the whole world. And so just like Nelson Mandela you can choose to be strong in the face or turmoil and chaos, choose to embody your ever loving, every kind spirit.

Join me for class this week –

Tuesday 10am, online Morning flow. A class to build strength, 7 day recording sent after class.

Wednesday 7.30pm Seapoint Sunset Yoga. It’s set to be 16 degrees. There may be some showers before 7 so bring a spare mat or ground sheet to put under your mat. It’s always a good idea to wear layers, bring a blanket and keep warm until you’re flowing x

Thursday 7pm online WindDown yoga, 7 day recording sent after class.

Saturday 11am Yoga in Herbert Park. It’s going to be around 17 degrees for Park yoga this week.

To book into class click here. If you are coming to class regularly with me there is a monthly offering, 30 days of Yoga for €50, it’s the most cost effective way to practice. All classes included, click here. There is also a 4 class pass with a discount for class click here to purchase that.

For those out Blackrock way I will be teaching a regular 6.15pm class Friday at YogaHub Blackrock so please join me, to book into this class please book in through MindBody.

Have a wonderful week,

Much love

x Chris

The energy of the solstice is all around us. Today I woke up and could feel the heat pouring in my window. The earth is literally pulling towards the sun at it’s maximum tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Typically Celtic people light bonfires, we have come out of long cold dark days and it is a welcoming to newness, to light and hope.

People will gather at Stonehenge, where the stones are gathered to frame the sunrise and sunset. In China the summer solstice marks the start of the Yang force decline and the return of the Yin force.

It’s also the perfect time of year for outdoor yoga and I would love you to join me Wednesday at 7.30pm at Seapoint. The flower circle will be there and also a fire pit. The invitation is to come and write what you would like to leave with this point of the year. Burn the paper, let it go and invite the warm summer energy into your body as you flow into the evening. Bring some paper, a pen, warm blanket, your coat, swimming togs and towel if you are going to join me in the water after. It will be high tide so we can walk around the Seapoint and jump in. Book in here.

If you can’t make that then join me Saturday at 11am where we practice Vinyasa and some juicy holds. Book in here.

For those who want to practice with me during the week please join me online Tuesday at 10am or Thursday at 7pm. Tuesday’s class is all about learning, so if you want to break down poses, fancy trying some new poses or want to build strength in your body this is the class for you. Thursday is WindDown yoga. It’s the perfect way to release. Book into these classes here.

If you are around Friday in Blackrock then join me at 6.15pm for a flow built all around breath.

Have a wonderful week,

So much love xxx

Chris

It does strike me quite often when I think meditation or Āsana is the cure to whatever crap I’m feeling, that leaning into practices is great but it’s the sustained healthy practices each day that are actually what nurtures me. So ask yourself you do overindulge at the weekend, but are overly strict during the week? Do you overexercise and then do nothing on some days? Do you practice mindfulness and meditation and then not have healthy relationships? All of these touchstones in life are guiding beacons to where you need to show up for yourself in your daily life.

Just as you move through Āsana and the breath is guided to where it is needed most. Let your intuition guide you as to where you need to channel your energy throughout your day. Over tea this morning with a friend I was reminded of all those times I forget to check in and ask how are you? It means we move further away from tuning to what our own body and spirit needs. So take a moment right now, close your eyes, breathe. Ask yourself what do I need. Be honest, say it whatever it is. Now be curious how can you make that happen. Now realise it. Write it down, become it. When you need to revisit it, throughout your day. Bear in mind you might just need tea, and that’s fine also. Great things happen over tea x

A sustained commitment to self-care, to joy, to being curious and creative in your life starts with each morning. Wake up, feel gratitude for being alive. Tell the people around you how you feel. Meditate, enjoy your morning routine, tea, breakfast. Exercise, practice Yoga, take walks in nature. Feel the power of connection to yourself by creating and practicing great habits. This sets you up for today, tomorrow, this year and all the years to come.

Come practice Yoga with me this –

Tuesday 10am, online Morning flow. A class to build strength, 7 day recording sent after class.

Wednesday 7.30pm Seapoint Sunset Yoga. It’s set to be 19 degrees, can’t wait. We had a gorgeous dip after yoga last week. You don’t have to get into the water it’s also lovely to watch the sunset. Remember to wear layers, bring a blanket and keep warm until you’re flowing x

Thursday 7pm online WindDown yoga, 7 day recording sent after class.

Saturday 11am Yoga in Herbert Park. It’s going to be around 17 degrees for Park yoga this week.

To book into class click here. If you are coming to class regularly with me there is a monthly offering, 30 days of Yoga for €50, it’s the most cost effective way to practice. All classes included, click here. There is also a 4 class pass with a discount for class click here to purchase that.

For those out Blackrock way I will be teaching a regular 6.15pm class Friday so please join me, to book into this class please book in through MindBody.

Have a wonderful week,

Much love

x Chris

Each week there are more and more people joining class. There is something about Yoga that keeps bringing us back to the mat. It’s a technical term called the Yoga high. If you have experienced that calm, restful state after Savasana it’s all thanks to the parasympathetic nervous system kicking in. This is in thanks to deep breathing, being outside and expressing gratitude, moving in a gentle way to appreciate your body. All of this is telling your body you’re safe.

Everything we do changes the structure and chemical composition of our brains. Yoga actually helps to retrain your brain to be positive, to face challenges in an open hearted and lighter way. To understand that you can meet stress, heartache, hurt and pain you don’t need to run away from these, rather use your learnings. Can you meet life’s obstacles in a learned and body wise way. This is neuroplasticity, training your brain to be calm in the face of a crisis.

So the next time we are in a pose you don’t like and I say take 5 breaths, smile, breathe and relax into the pose.

Practice with me this week –

Tuesday 10am, online Morning flow. A class to build strength.

Wednesday 7.30pm Seapoint Sunset Yoga. It’s set to be 16 degrees with a high tide.

Thursday 7pm online WindDown yoga

Saturday 11am Yoga in Herbert Park. It’s looking like 17 degrees for Park yoga this week.

To book into class click here. If you are coming to class regularly with me there is a monthly offering, 30 days of Yoga for €50, it’s the most cost effective way to practice. All classes included, click here. There is also a 4 class pass with a discount for class click here to purchase that.

For those out Blackrock way I will be teaching a regular 6.15pm class Friday so please join me, to book into this class please book in through MindBody.

Have a wonderful week,

Much love

x Chris