Now that we are all a little more comfortable with living our yoga online, class numbers in our livestreams have exceeded the max given by our Zoom plan. We apologise that some of you have been unable to get a spot in our classes as the signups increased above 100 participants. But we are happy to announce that the class capacities are now up to 500. As you've invested in us, we've been able to invest in the next tier of account and can serve our community and even see it grow during these uncertain times.

No more waitlist. From today, you are guaranteed to get a spot in your favourite classes on our online timetable. Enjoy!

ZOOM

• This is live streamed and not recorded. 
•  This is only for your fellow Meadowlark Mysore practitioners. 
•  Please mute your side of the channel, if direct dialogue and guidance needed, unmute and ask your teacher questions as needed.  
• We will be able to see you (if you choose to use video) and will offer support and guidance. 
  • This method is about supporting our regular practitioners who already know how to practice with some maturity.  We will provide you with support, accountability and community to be able to find steadiness and growth in this unusual time.  
  • Just like the...

The yoga world is in a period of rapid transformation, as we see studios and teachers move their class offering online.  But what does this mean for your practice?  It won't come without it's own challenges but this new way of practising can really bring its own benefits:

• It'll be easier to squeeze that class into a busy day without having to factor in travel to and from the studio or late returns home past dinner time.
• No childcare? No problem!  Let your kids watch you practice. Let them join in.  Let them ask questions.  And if it ends with you all in a mess on the floor, let it be :)
• Some folk can be anxious practising in a room with others.  Online practice means your classmates are with you in spirit but you can enjoy the solitude of a personal practice (unless of course you have kids... see above!)

So how do you maximise your online experience:

• If possible create a designated practice space in a corner of your home.  Make it beautiful with...

Our number one priority as we follow COVID-19 developments is to keep our staff, teachers, and students healthy and we know how important yoga is in that equation!

Here are our recommendations and actions to keep our community studio within government guidelines without foregoing our time on the mat:

• Please refer regularly to this blog platform where we will be posting updates on our policies
• Engage in live updates on social media - Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
• At time of writing (12th March), all classes, courses & workshops continue to run as normal.  Please join us!
• Please DO NOT attend classes in the studio if you are feeling unwell, displaying any cold or flu symptoms.  Late cancellation has been relaxed so do cancel out at any time if you are not well
• If you attend a class in the studio please wash hands very thoroughly before and after class.  Please use hand sanitizers provided as you move through the studio
• Please spray clean your mat after...

by Penny Horner

“Activity and rest are two vital aspects of life. To find a balance in them is a skill in itself. Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have.” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Celebrating Silence: Excerpts from Five Years of Weekly Knowledge 1995-2000. 

Finding that balance between activity and rest is difficult in today’s world where we feel a need to be ‘doing something’ at all times. I looked around the carriage on a train recently as we sped alongside the beautiful Northumberland coastline. And it seemed everyone, including me, was using a phone or laptop, letting the scenery pass away unnoticed in our need to be occupied. It has become normal to speak of ourselves as being stressed. This is reflected by mental health statistics consistently showing increases in stress levels. (A 2018 UK survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that in the past year, 74% of people felt so stressed they have...

Frankie Culpin gives us an insight into the practice she turns to when she's getting back on the mat and why it works for her; and some tips on how you can get back into your practice.

So many things can take us away from our practice and I'm sure that most long-time yoga practitioners have had periods of hiatus. I have a short and accessible practice that I enjoy and therefore use to coax myself back on the mat if for one reason or another I’ve not managed to practice for a while.

I won’t write out the whole practice in full, but it includes:

Starting in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) or sitting on my heels in Vrjasana and doing some chest and shoulder openers, gentle side stretches and twists.

Before making my way into Mountain Pose (Tadasana), I like to dangle and sway in a rag doll forward fold before taking my time to slowing roll up to stand.

Sun Salutations with low lunges

Core warm-up work such as Sphinx roll-ups

Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

Lunges-low lunges then high lunges...