Treat Yourself with Massage

Only One Week to go until Summer Yoga Begins!

Beginners and more experienced yogis are welcome, everybody can join!

Bring your firends, your own mat and see you next week! 

Cick on photo for more info at the facebook event

Embrace the Transition From Darkness to Light

Summer solstice highlights the beginning of summer when day and night are equally long. This makes it a perfect opportunity to take time to celebrate the sun for its light and warmth. It is time to let go of what has been, shake of old energies and embrace inner and outer transition from darkness to light!

Sun salutations create inner heat, cleanse the body and symbolically honors your inner fire and the sun. Traditionally summer solstice is celebrated with 108 repetitions of sun salutations. However, if 108 rounds of sun salutations seems overwhelming, feel no stress, one sun salutation is better than zero. Set your mind on a number of sunsalutations or set a timer for how long you wish to practice and follow through with your decision. Find a place where you feel relaxed, preferably outdoors facing the sun, and take your time to do as many sun salutations as you feel like doing today.  Allow your breath to be your guide as you move mindfully through the poses, linking breath with movement. 

After your last repetition, place the palms together to gather the energy you have created. Sit for a while and enjoy the vibrating energy of warmth before you lie down in Savasana, final relaxation pose, for a moment of complete surrender.

Thank yourself for practicing, have a blissful summer solstice,

Namaste

Countdown for Summer Yoga

With only a couple of weeks until Summer Yoga begins,

I would like to share this article that I wrote for Yogobe.fi

You don't need the perfect place to do yoga, you can practice anywhere and anytime, honestly you don't even need a mat. All you need is yourself and you will learn along the way how to work with whatever the circumstances are. By bringing your yoga practice outdoors you can begin to experience that the "perfect yoga space" actually already exists within you. 

Click on picture to read the full article

For more information about Summer Yoga in Vaasa, click here 

Morning Yoga - Even for Lazy Days!

Start your day with this morning sequence to get your energy moving and prepare your mind, body and heart for a new day. The mornings are a golden moment for practicing yoga, and this time of year I like to begin my mornings outdoors. However the best thing about this sequence is that there are no excuses - it suits even the "lazy mornings" since it can be done in bed as well!

Instead of hitting that snooze button one more time, rise and shine to this gentle sequence that takes no longer than five minutes. Enjoy!

1. Come into a comfortable seated position, resting the hands on the knees. Option to sit up on a blanket or pillow. Exhale to lower the chin towards the chest. Inhale to begin to roll the right ear towards the shoulder, exhale chin to chest. Inhale to roll the left ear to left shoulder, exhale lower chin to chest. Allow the breath to lead the movement. Rolling the head side to side, for 6 breaths. Optional to begin to do full head circles if that feels okay in the neck. Reversing the direction before returning to center. 

2. Inhale to raise the right arm, exhale to lower down the left hand by your side and lean the weight into the left hand. Rotate the chest open by gazing towards the sky and breathe into the right side body. Three deep breaths before leaning over to the other side.  

3. Inhale to extend the arms up above the head, palms meet. Exhale twist right hand to left knee, left hand behind you to support you and gaze back. Inhale through center, raise the arms and reach through the fingertips, exhale twist to the right, left hand on right knee. Moving side to side with the breath, 3 times to each side. 

4.  Bend the elbows in height with the shoulders with the palms facing forwards. Inhale to open the chest and lift the gaze, exhale to round the back and lower chin to chest, forearms meet. Five breaths, as you arch and round your back to create greater circulation along the spine. 

5. Extend the legs out to the sides, bend the knees if you need to. Either remain seated or begin to lower down into a forward fold. Finding your edge wherever that might be this morning. Awaken the body gently with loving kindness and embrace what is, even limits and tightness. Try to avoid any harsh orders or reaching for results right now and remain here for five deep breaths. 

Slowly begin to walk the hands over to the left, folding the upper body over the left leg. Maybe shaking out the head gently, letting go of any tension or stress. You can sway side to side if that feels good, five deep breaths before beginning to move over towards the right leg. 

6. Return to a comfortable seated position, hands on knees with the palms turned up towards the sky. Close the eyes and notice any sensations in the body and in the mind and observe your breath. Feel the sensations of the ribcage expanding in all directions as you breathe, forwards, backwards and to the sides. To center your mind count your breaths, 10 long deep breaths to clear the mind like a blank sheet of paper for your new day. This is an ideal state to set an intention as well, how do you want to feel today? What energy state do you wish to be in? 

For example, I intend to make someone smile today, or I intend to listen to my own inner voice, or I intend to be kind in words and actions, I intend to be calm... 

Have a great day, 

Namaste! 

Be the Love

"Love should be like breathing. 

It should be just a quality in you - 

wherever you are, 

with whomever you are with, 

or even if you are alone, 

love goes on overflowing from you. 

It is not a question of being in  love with someone - 

it is a question of being love."

- Osho

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www.instagram.com/amandas.yoga/

Walking Meditation

Beat stress, ground yourself, connect to this moment and try a different meditation technique! There are endless ways to practice meditation and especially if you have trouble with finding a comfortable seated position this is an alternative that I recommend. 

Walking meditation can be done both indoors and outdoors, preferable barefoot. So kick off your shoes and find a space where you can walk undisturbed. It does not have to be a huge space, since you will be walking in a slow pace you can walk in a circle without becoming dizzy ;) 

Before you begin, take a moment to scan through your body. Check in with your posture and see if you can let go of any tension or holding on to stress. Begin to sink your weight don into your feet, feeling the earth supporting you. 

Lower your chin to your chest, keep your eyes slightly open with your gaze at your feet. Bring your awareness to your breath and begin to lean your weight over on to one foot. On an inhale gently and slowly begin to lift the opposite foot. Notice the sensations of the foot floating through the air before lowering the heel, planting the foot with awareness. Inhale to lift the opposite foot, exhale to lower. Notice the sensations in the body, the earth beneath your feet and allow the breath to guide your walking space. 

Practice embracing the moment with each step you take, letting go of goals and destinations. Appreciate the ability of walking, the earth beneath you and the sky above you. When your timer goes off, stop wherever you are and just stand still for a couple of breaths and just experience standing, sinking your feet into the earth, feeling a solid foundation beneath you. Either gently open your eyes when you feel ready or sit down and continue with a seated meditation.

Picture of my classmates one morning in Alicante

"Let go of your sorrows, let go of your worries. That is the secret of walking meditation."

- Thich Nhat Hanh