EVERY BODY CAN BE BEFRIENDED

Emma Turnbull, is a yoga studio owner and yoga teacher and trainer at Yoga Wise She attended a trauma sensitive workshop for yoga instructors with me in Essex, January 2019

WHAT IS YOGA?

For several thousand years, people have been practicing yoga and meditation. Modern neuroscience is now able to measure what people in India and elsewhere knew all along.

I’ve been practicing yoga and attending classes since 2001. I’ve been teaching for years (since 2013) and am always conscious of how much I don’t know.

While I’ve studied, trained and practiced a lot and intend to continue to learn and practice yoga for the rest of my life (I can’t imagine starting the day without my yoga and meditation even if it’s a short practice), I still have so much left to learn.

There is so much jargon around yoga – I don’t want to add to it but in case this is helpful information, the yoga I share comes from the Hatha Yoga tradition (although technically, any physical practice could be described as Hatha).

Still, I love sharing ways in which we can use these ancient practices to not only help ourselves feel better in the moment but to create lasting improvements.

WHY TRAUMA SENSITIVE YOGA?

My introduction to yoga, in 2001, was wonderful for pain relief but painful emotionally as I’d be sobbing in Savasana.

Since then, of course, I’ve learned a lot about how effective yoga can be in helping with post traumatic growth as well as regulating (feeling better) in the moment.

You don’t need to be flexible, strong, have great balance or stamina.

Every body can be befriended and working patiently, you can not only build flexibility, strength, stamina and balance but, with practice, rewire the brain and retrain the nervous system.

As well as teaching and including yoga and meditation (mostly mindfulness) in some of my workshops and events (most memorably teaching 120 people some basic breath practices and a little chair yoga at a BACP event), I do a lot of work with individuals who like the idea of mindfulness and body work they can do themselves (as well as other benefits including better concentration, strength, stamina, fitness and flexibility).

BODYWORK WE DO FOR OURSELVES

I work with individual clients and facilitating workshops and I’ve been teaching yoga classes (mostly for beginners, of all ages from late teens to 80s) since 2013.

The emphasis of my sessions, retreats, workshops and classes is mindfulness and self-care. Using the body to help people learn to calm down, relax, ease anxiety and stress, prepare for sleep and energise and lift their moods.

Here’s a simple yoga pose you can do to connect with your inner strength and power while reducing stress, anxiety and panic. You can access free additional yoga, mindfulness and other meditation videos HERE

WATCH SOME OF MY YOGA NIDRA VIDEOS

I’ve been facilitating yoga nidras since 2012 and designing my own since 2013. In 2023, in addition to the new ones I create each week for my online membership group I starting a daily practice again for myself. While I already loved yoga nidra, I’m even more besotted as I’ve noticed the improvement in my focus, concentration, sleep and capacity to rest. I also feel SO much more relaxed about the Sankalpas I’m working towards.

I made this series of videos to explain a bit about what yoga is and how to benefit:

WATCH THIS to find out more about what yoga nidra and trauma sensitive yoga nidra is.

WATCH THIS for some research and benefits around yoga nidra.

WATCH THIS for more on using a Sankalpa (a positive intention or resolve) to, with practice, rewire your brain and make manifesting your goals and dreams SO much easier.

And WATCH THIS for some simple ways to prepare for your yoga nidra practices to maximise the benefits.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I’ve recorded HUNDREDS of yoga nidra videos over the years. Many are in the archives for Extra Embodied (Wellbeing with Eve) members but you can access several HERE

Subscribe for more (including upcoming new yoga nidra recordings) – and let me know if there are specific themes or lengths you’d especially like to experiment with.

You can also watch several videos HERE showing you how to experiment with a range of the yoga poses and breath practices I included in the book, 365 Ways to Feel Better Self-care Ideas for Embodied Wellbeing

READ SOME OF MY PIECES ABOUT YOGA AND MEDITATION HERE

I’ve written countless features, columns, blog posts and more about yoga and meditation since 2004. I hope you find this selection helpful. And you can also search the blog and Substack archives

WORK WITH ME

Weekly live group online self care coaching calls include mind body practices, Yoga Nidra, mindfulness and other meditations and some gentle yoga. FIND OUT MORE

BECOME A CLIENT

If you’d prefer a one to one approach, when we speak (get in touch to book your free telephone consultation), you can book some online yoga and meditation on its own or have it as part of your telephone or online coaching, telephone or online counselling process if you’re finding yourself blocked in any way.

BOOK SOME YOGA THERAPY SUPERVISION OR YOGA TEACHER MENTORING

Whether you want ad hoc or monthly mentoring or supervision, get in touch if my approach appeals. If you’re with Yoga Alliance Professionals, working with me can count towards your yoga CPD.

Click HERE for prices.