Lim Yoga

I'm dreaming of a (insert your ideas here) Christmas
2022-12-11 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
The festive period is upon us and if you are wondering where on earth 2022 went, you are not alone.
At this time of year, we are exposed to so much “perfection” – images of joy and togetherness, stereotypes of what Christmas “should” look like, what you “should” do during this time – that there is an inevitable feeling of inadequacy and shame if your festive period doesn’t look like it quite shapes up to that.
It is not unusual for me to write about how it is important to see through the illusion of perfection, but this year I have never felt this sentiment more strongly.
Why? Well, because so many of us are feeling overwhelmed and tired, and are still recovering from or dealing with the changes, challenges and uncertainty of the past three years. As a world we have faced global crisis after global crisis and as individuals we have all had a lot to deal with and are still discovering what that means for us.
And that is why I want to shift your focus from that stereotyped, pressurised festive period, to one that aligns specifically with you. I want you to design your very own bespoke Christmas, and I am not talking the colour scheme of your tree or where you are going to be on the day. I am talking about designing this festive period around what you need and how you are feeling. So often we fall back into historic patterns or behaviours, or we follow family traditions just because we always have. But that doesn’t mean that they have served us well and certainly doesn’t mean they will nurture us this year.
Christmas is an opportunity for most of us, whether we celebrate it or not, to have a little “time off life”, to reset, rest, reflect and to get away from the daily chores and pressures we face. But if we fill this time with activities or pressures of another kind, we just come out the other end feeling even more exhausted.
Take time to design your Christmas now, before the temptation just to fall back into habits or do what other people want takes over.
So, what kind of bespoke Christmas will you design for yourself and how do you work out what that looks like?

Review your year
When things happen in life we tend to just carry on and push through, with little time to stop and notice the impact they have had on us. If we don’t take the time to process what has happened, or we are not even aware of it, those feelings and traumas will return in the future, and often in a more significant way. Take time in the weeks leading up to Christmas to stop for a few minutes and note down what you have been through in the past year and what you have faced. How do these things translate into how you currently feel?
How are you now?
Are you burned out or overwhelmed for good reason? Are you feeling a bit lost because of the immense changes you have faced? The predominant themes of your current feelings and the level of your emotional reserves will be a good indication of what you have been through. Maybe you are sad because you have experienced loss, perhaps you are anxious because things have been so uncertain, or maybe you feel like having a break from the pressure of it all because you have had to manage such a lot. What are your “feeling themes” of 2022?
What do you need?
This third part of the equation will be answered in part by the two above. At Christmas time we often put our own needs last. This year, more than any other, don’t do that, put them on an equal footing with, if not before, others. That is not selfish, it is necessary. Maybe you need a Christmas full of joy and socialising and travelling to see people. But maybe you don’t – maybe you just need to shut out the noise of the world for a little bit and sleep and rest. Maybe you need to not have any timetable, perhaps you need to cry and miss someone you love, maybe you need to get creative and have time away from your mind and cook or bake.
Only you can truly know what you need this Christmas and the best gift you can give yourself and everyone else around you after the past three years, is to acknowledge whatever that is and take action by designing the bespoke festive period you deserve.

It's all about....YOU!!
2022-03-13 08:00 - 17:00
How many demands do you have on you right now? I’d guess that for most of us, it is many – and from all different areas of our lives: family, work, health, friends, finances. Ones from the past that you have to tidy up and get out the door. Ones from the present that are right in your face and urgent. Ones from the future about where your life is going, preparing for what may come.
The pressures of life seem ever increasing. If we are not careful, we get stretched in all directions, and we lose ourselves, our sense of what matters to us, in the process. We all have our own agendas in life – what we want, what we need, where we want to go and what we need from others to help us do this. This is natural and understandable.
It is great to involve ourselves in other people’s plans and support them with their needs and dreams. But what happens when everyone else’s needs get met, but yours don’t? What happens when your agenda goes out the window? It might be OK for a short while, but if it happens chronically, you can start to believe the subconscious message that you are not worth it and that other people’s needs are more important than your own.
So, why do we allow our agendas to be blown about in the wind of life and drowned out in the noise of the world?
We get distracted
If we don’t have a clear vision for our future – for where our life could go and how we could make it happen – we can be too easily distracted when other things happen in life. It is important to identify what your goals are and why they are important to you. Then, if things come along that might prevent you from concentrating on your goals and your agenda, you won’t be so easily taken away from them. What is distracting you from prioritising your agenda? How will you feel in a year’s time if you don’t change what you are doing?
We feel guilty
Sometimes we have grown up being told that other people’s needs are more important than our own, and that we should sacrifice our own needs until everyone else has theirs fulfilled. This is not true. But this belief can make us feel guilty if we prioritise our own agenda over someone else’s, and it can sabotage our lives. Our needs and dreams are just as important as those of the people around us. Why are you making yourself smaller than another? Is that guilt appropriate or constructive? The answer is probably no. Let it go.
We are afraid
Often, we let our priorities get buried because, deep down, we are afraid. We are fearful that perhaps if we allowed ourselves the time and space to work on our dreams and achieve our goals, maybe we would mess them up, or we wouldn’t achieve them, or we would have to accept a new reality of our identity. Maybe we are afraid that we might shine? If we are not comfortable with our own self-worth, this can be really terrifying, so we put our priorities last. But, in reality, it is more frightening to one day wake up and realise you never gave yourself a chance.

New Year's Flow
2022-01-02 10:00 - 11:00
Happy New Year! How about starting off 2022 with a gentle flowing practice? See you on 2nd January to start as we mean to carry on….on the mat!

Christmas Chill Out Workshop
2021-12-12 09:30 - 11:00 | Dr Peter Centre, Baden Powell Way, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8EA
Is the thought of Christmas stressing you out already? Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle!! Come along on Sunday 12th December, 9.30 -11.00am for a pre-Christmas chill out. Expect a slow flow class, followed by a guided relaxation to leave you feeling ready to face the festive season. And, there will be some tasty treats to take away with you! Bring a blanket, pillow or cushion and eye mask if you have one.

Crossing the Rainbow with Liz Larke
2020-05-17 12:00 - 14:00
Join the well known London based teacher, Liz Lark, for a Rainbow Vinyasa workshop on Sunday 17th May 12.00pm – 2.00 pm 2020. Liz will now be teaching a live workshop via zoom during the Covid crisis.
The rainbow is an ongoing theme which Liz will use creatively as a guiding arc for the workshop. Join Liz as she deftly combines elements of yoga, visual images, sound and senses to create a dancelike, accessible yoga arts practice.
Liz has been a teacher for 25 years, teaching creative vinyasa based classes, leading retreats and training teachers for Yoga Campus at home and abroad. A treat not to be missed!
Pleaser see www.lizlark.com & www.yogacampus.com if you are considering training as a teacher.

Please bring your own mat, a yoga block/brick if you have it and something warm to wear for the final relaxation. Stockbridge is a lovely venue but allow time to find a parking space. (Parking is free anywhere on the main street). I anticipate a good take up and places are limited so, early booking is advised.

Yoga for your Lower Back and Belly
2020-03-07 11:00 - 13:00 | The Lights, West Street, Andover SP10 1AH, West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH
Open, breathe, relax, let go…. This mindful, meditative workshop is suitable for anyone needing to make space and time to breathe deeply, reconnect with their bodies and still their minds. You will experience practical antidotes to the stresses of modern life – from the postural issues of sitting on chairs and hunching over computers to the ‘busy brain’ effects of constant stimulus and being constantly ‘on the go’.
Modern stress patterns and postural habits often have us curling into ourselves and shutting down the fronts of our bodies. This is often felt from the psoas muscle that allows us to stand upright and where tightness and tension can be the cause of many lower back, hip, belly and breathing issues. Here we will explore this deep muscular and emotional channel in a progressively softening, loosening, fluid and opening manner to be felt into release in our whole bodies and minds, allowing easier upright strength and body-mind support
You’ll start gently to build up to stronger poses and back down again to end with a a restorative practice. The overall emphasis will be on creating awareness and slowing down to truly feel, to listen and respond to what we need, rather than pushing our bodies.

Email me at helen@limyoga.co.uk for booking information.

BUTTERFLY METAMORPHOSIS
2019-03-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Stockbridge Town Hall, STOCKBRIDGE TOWN HALL,, STOCKBRIDGE, HAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom
Join the well known London based teacher, Liz Larke, for a vinyasa workshop on Sunday 17th March 10.30am – 12.30 pm 2019. Liz has been a teacher for over 20 years, teaching creative vinyasa based classes as well as leading retreats and training teachers for Yoga Campus. A treat not to be missed!

Please bring your own mat and something warm to wear for the final relaxation. Stockbridge is a lovely venue but allow time to find a parking space. I anticipate a good take up and places are limited so, early booking is advised.

Pre-Christmas Tension Tamer
2018-12-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Romsey Pilates, Winchester Hill Commercial Park, Winchester Hill, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 7UT
Feeling frazzled as the festive season draws nearer? Give yourself the gift of time out with Stefania and Helen at their Pre-Christmas Tension Tamer. Stefania will introduce you to some useful self massage and postural exercises to help you to release stress from the neck and shoulders. To round off the session, Helen will lead a deeply relaxing yoga class, focussing on calming the mind, body and breath.
Numbers are limited to 12 so early booking is advised to guarantee a place. Book directly online at www.limyoga.co.uk/events
