Hello and happy solstice. 

This is a deeply restful restorative yoga practice for you. 

The breath, our travelling companion for life, can take us into deep states of relaxation and peace. I hope you enjoy this practice 🙏

Blessings of the longest night to you. Here's a poem to guide you into the coming journey towards the light. 

All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

This is a yoga nidra that I wrote for the Embodiment Restorative Yoga series. Every Autumn I run a series of workshops which progressively take you on an inner journey and a celebration of rich inner life. This Nidra uses a visualisation of stars to illuminate the inner body. Apparently this year, Wintering is in, so this is an absolute essential for any budding Winterers out there, or anyone who, like me, relishes any opportunity to introvert 🌚

Join me for the final workshop in the Embodiment series 22nd December 7 - 9pm online - a special Solstice practice. 

www.yogabynature.org

info@yogabynature.org

Here's part two. A live class I recorded at my Gentle Yoga class on a Thursday morning. You can come live to this one on Zoom if you like! I wanted to share it because it's focused on joint freedom and the class participants loved it so much I thought you might too. 

The cold can creep into our joints and make movement feel uncomfortable. This can happen at any age but those of us in our forties and beyond, especially us menopausal women can really feel it. This class shows you thay you don't have to feel uncomfortable - there is pleasure and ease to be found in the body, whatever your condition. 

Have your usual yoga props around you and be near a chair or wall if that helps you balance. If you have a resistance band and a massage ball or a dowel, have that around too. 

Lots of love, Morven x

www.yogabynature.org

Get in touch! info@yogabynature.org