Love Yoga Online

We are very excited to announce the launch this year of our sister site Love Yoga Online!  LYO is for all those times that you are so keen to get to class but for one reason or another don’t/ can’t/ won’t and you end up feeling like you’ve missed out on your yoga.  Not any more!  There are many, many yoga videos available to you to stream as a member (costs just £10 per month) and all are available to buy and keep (prices start at £1.50).

LYO boasts a range of wonderful and inspiring yoga teachers from all over Cornwall and beyond as well as a huge variety of styles and specific uses for yoga; Anusara Inspired yoga, Pregnancy yoga, Mother and Baby yoga, Yoga at Work, Seated Yoga, Meditations, Guided relaxations.

Once you are member you will be part of our ever growing community of yoga teachers and students who are there to support and learn together – join us!

As a launch present from us please use the discount code for 50% off your first month’s membership = £5:

LYC50

Live Online 1-2-1 Yoga Class

Welcome to the easiest and cheapest way to get all the benefits from a 1-2-1 yoga class in the comfort of your own home for half the price of an in person 1-2-1 class.  We are all constantly astounded by technology and there are new developments seemingly everyday!  So let’s get involved and get our yoga on making use of the time and money saving benefits that the technology in 2012 brings us.

1-2-1 yoga classes online take place using Skype, which has free video calling capabilities.  All you need is an internet connection, a webcam, a space for your mat and your self!  Using Skype the teacher can demonstrate the physical movements as well see on their screen how the student is doing and make suggestions for correct alignment – the wonders of the modern world!

1-2-1 online classes can vary in length from 30 minutes to 90 minutes and can be fitted into your schedule to make it work for you.  The best part of it is the classes are 50% cheaper than their in person equivalents and there is no limit to where in the world you are.  All you need to do is get in touch and we’ll make a plan to meet up online

The Benefits of Combining Yoga and Surfing

We’ve all heard about how surfers love yoga for their training, so what is it that makes yoga and surfing so beneficial to each other?

When thinking about how surfing and yoga are connected one of the first link that comes to mind is an alert peace.  When we are out floating on our surfboards, or when we are simply lying down in shavasana, there is an active peace going on within us.  Knowing that we are prepared for what comes next can give us a sense of peace.

Trusting in our breathing and in our bodies to respond when called upon in the surf is essential.  Naturally yoga encourages and trains the body to breathe deeply, and gives us the tools to adapt our body to different positions.  Being able to move easily and know that our bodies are flexible enough to survive wipe outs comfortably gives confidence in the water, and enables us to enjoy surfing even more.

Learning to take a moment, to enjoy our natural state of being is a massive step in embracing ourselves and our bodies.  Instead of fighting with our bodies and trying to force them to perform, we go with what we can do and can enjoy the results.  The mentality in which we approach our surfing makes a massive difference to how we ride, how we train, and even our sense of enjoyment from it.

If you surf, ask yourself ‘why do you do it?’, think about what it is that fulfils you, and if you already practice yoga, ask yourself the same questions.  Having a strong sense of yourself, your body and why you love a practice or a sport, helps to give you focus in your life and to make decision that lead on from that good place.

Even if we didn’t look at the mentality of yoga and surfing there are countless benefits physically for both practices.  Yoga promotes and encourages strength, flexibility, health and knowledge of our bodies; surfing thrives on building stamina, strength and toning the body.  Merge the two practices and we have a powerful combination.

Knowing that our bodies can train to be strong, flexible and full of stamina helps us to enjoy riding beautiful waves, whether these are the colder waves of rugged Cornwall, or away in warmer waters around Europe on a surf holiday.  There is a pleasure in pursuing health and fitness for our bodies, especially when the waves are flat.  Just knowing that we are doing something good for ourselves, and for just how good that next wave is going to feel, is very motivating.

So the next time any of us feel like our next yoga session or surf holiday is too far off, have a stretch, enjoy resting in a sitting position, and remember that all the training and potential to ride that wave is within us.

By Francesca from www.surfholidays.com

Debbie is the awesome Finisterre designer, and yogini, she has created a wonderful collection in stunning colours that I wear to teach my classes and to practice in.  So today I am focusing on my favourite Finisterre yoga item (which is a tough one as I am in LOVE with their Lalita leggings) the Tara dress.  As you can see in the photo it is very feminine and flattering, great for adding a sexy twist to your yoga outfit in class but also perfect for anytime wear – dress it up for fun or keep it simple for practical wear.  What more could you want from a dress?!

Really their whole range is fabulous and I am sneaking a few peeks at their active wear as I’m toying with the idea of taking up running – crazy I know – but I’m desperate to get some fresh air in these winter months and walking doesn’t seem to quite cut it against elements.  If anyone has any advice about running or what gear is good ‘beginner’ wear please shout.

Lots of love and Happy Christmas!

Gemma

Due to popular demand we are launching a brand NEW Monday evening Scarlet Yoga Course!

We have been running 6 week courses at the Scarlet on Tuesday evenings which have been going so well we are now fully booked for the next course and are turning people away.  Therefore we are opening up the course for Monday evenings too – the same deal – £60 per 6 week course, class starts at 6.30pm and ends at 8.30pm.  Everyone is welcome – all ages, abilities and levels of experience – and you are welcome to stay for a cuppa afterwards too

For more information see the Scarlet page or if you would like to join us please pop us an email or give us a bell on 07947 647 697.

Bridget teaching at Yoga Rocks

The Yoga Rocks charity event on the beach at Lusty Glaze was a huge success – thank you so much to everyone who helped out behind the scenes, all the teachers for their time and energy and most importantly thank you to all of you who came along to enjoy some yoga, yummy food and great company.

We raised over £1,300 for our two charities which are over the moon about!  We had yoga for surfers on the beach, baby and children’s yoga on the sand, Anusara yoga with Jock, Rhoda and Bridget Woods Kramer.  The wonderful live music started with devotional chanting with Barry and Jo from Elmsgrove Yoga and continued with live music from Funky Acoustica and Tom James.  The auction was such fun with great prizes for those who got involved.  The whole Finisterre team was on hand to help, guide and entertain.

All in all it was a wonderful, uplifting evening on the beach filled with yoga, laughter and lots of love – can’t wait for the next Yoga Rocks!

We are so excited to be involved in organising Yoga Rocks – a brand new yoga charity event – this time held at the stunning location of Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay.  The event is an evening of yoga fun, food, music and chanting on the beach – everyone is welcome; children, grannies and grandpas as well as yogis and those who are yoga newbies.  There will be something for everyone and a luscious Lusty meal to top it off!  Here are the details – for tickets contact us or Finisterre on the details below:

Monday August 15th
6pm – 10.00pm
Lusty Glaze Beach
Newquay

A chance to flex your yoga moves for the first time, or to try a new practice, or come just for Lusty’s famous BBQ and music.

Yoga Rocks the Seaside Sessions is brought to you by…
Finisterre with Love Yoga Cornwall and Om Padma

- An evening of Anusara, Hatha, Iyengar, babies and kids yoga, acroyoga, laughter yoga, and meditation plus Ayurveda consultations and mini massages from the Scarlet Spa ladies
-Kirtan with Barry Kristadas – Devotional chants from India and other traditions.
- Live acoustic sets as the sun sets
- Infamous Luscious Lusty BBQ
- Charity Auction

Tickets £10, including food and unlimited yoga workshops.

All profits raised for …

Precious lives – Cornwall Children’s Charity
and
GNHCT – The Global Natural Healthcare Trust – Helping Children and their families with HIV and AIDS in South Africa

Bring a mat if you have one or a towel if not

For more information contact Finisterre on 01872 554481
or email: debbie@finisterreuk.com

www.yogarocks.org.uk – coming soon!

The fabulous and supremely stylish Boutique Retreats have a huge social conscience and have teamed up with a number of local business to offer a long weekend of “Glamping” at one of their holiday homes in aid of the charity Shelterbox.  The bank holiday weekend at the end of August is up for grabs on Ebay with all proceeds going to Shelterbox and their work in international disaster relief.

The Boutique Retreat team are kitting out the Shelterbox Tent with a full sized cast iron double bed, Egyptian cotton sheets, towels & robes, fairy lights and flowers – what else would you expect?  LYC are donating a personalised yoga class to add to the fun for the weekend and other local businesses involved include Cornish Food Box, Anna Victoria and Trevarno Skincare.

Click here to add your bid for charity on the Ebay page!

Gemma founded Love Yoga Cornwall in 2009 when she moved to Newquay from London after spending time training with the Sivananda Yoga Organisation in India.  The training and the experience of India was incredible and life changing.  The classical system of yoga is an excellent basis of understanding and the learning experience is deepened by the Gurukula system; guru meaning teacher and kula meaning home – students live, work and study with the teachers in an ashram.  The 5 Points of Yoga according to Swami Sivananda are; Proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet and positive thinking and meditation.

Gemma has practiced and enjoyed many styles of yoga; Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa Flow and is currently training with Shiva Rea to complete the Prana Flow 500 hours certification.  Taken from Shiva’s website, Prana Flow is:

an evolutionary method of embodied transformation and radiant health
cultivating inner and outer
strength and fluidity
skill and intuition
vital energy and relaxed being
activation and receptivity
through balanced and creative fluid sequences (vinyasas)
a catalyst for transforming old patterns and paradigms of the body, self and
the world to discover the potency and creativity within
a way of liberating the natural flow of the spontaneous intelligence
a cultivation of the art of yoga including movement, music, sound, visual arts
and poetry to deepen the flow
a way to ride the waves of breath, change and life rhythms
living, loving, serving life in all forms

Scarlet Spa - Indoor Pool

Love Yoga Cornwall are running 6 week yoga courses in the gorgeous tranquility of the Scarlet Hotel Spa.  The classes are held in the stunning, dedicated yoga room with views out over Mawgan Porth Beach and the ocean beyond.  The classes will remain small and intimate to ensure that all participants get lots of 1-2-1 attention and can feel able to ask questions and make comments during the class.  The content of each class will build upon what we have learnt previously to develop each individual’s yoga practice in the way that best suits them, one of the most wonderful aspects of yoga being that it can be modified to suit all body and personality types.

The Scarlet Yoga Course is very special as the venue is perfectly suited to yoga, the Scarlet’s Ayurvedic Spa is warm, welcoming and ultimately peaceful.  There are changing rooms and showers which you are welcome to use, although use of the other spa facilities is not included.

Whether you are a seasoned yogi or have never tried yoga before there will be something for everyone to enjoy and be challenged by, therefore everyone is very welcome.  The benefits of yoga are many; some coming to yoga are hoping to strengthen and develop flexibility of the physical body, others are looking for the peace of mind and relaxation enjoyed by yoga practitioners, what ever your reason for coming to yoga you will take away physical benefits by toning the core and stretching the outer muscles, stillness and increased focus of mind as well as grounding and a sense of calm by connecting deeply to your breath.

The courses runs for 6 consecutive weeks on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 9.30am – 11am and Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm – 8pm at the Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth.  The cost of the course is £60.  Please contact us for more information and course dates.