Yoga in Motion

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Consider yourself a beautiful mosaic, made up of all the people who have touched your heart and inspired you.
Each person adds a unique colour, flavour, and essence to your life, creating a vibrant picture of who you are.
Think of each cherished moment as a piece of a puzzle, fitting perfectly into the bigger picture of your life. This fusion leads to a masterpiece that no one else can replicate because no one has the exact same experiences as you.
Your journey reflects a full rainbow, filled with deep, intense colours that show your joy, sadness, love, and growth.
Every interaction has shaped you, giving depth to your character and making you a truly unique person in this world..

🖋️C.E. Coombes
🎨 Credit to unknown artist

Serendipity Corner 🌈

A very cold 50 ° yoga class today outdoors in SouthWest Florida. Hat, gloves, coat & legwarmers. But we got warm by flowing to Billy Joel, Elton John & Queen & had fun!
Gotta love these True Yoga Warriors! 🧘‍♂️ 🧘‍♀️ 💞

Helps calm your nervous system. Give it a try!
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Deep Breathing Exercises to Lower Blood Pressure (4-1-6-1 Guided Breath for Hypertension Relief) Looking for natural ways to manage hypertension? Discover one of the most effective deep breathing exercises to lower blood pressure! This guided 4-1-6-1 breathing pattern is a simple, non-pharmacological technique designed to help you calm your nervous system and support healthy blood pressure levels. In this video, you'll be guided through a precise 4-1-6-1 paced breathing pattern Inhale softly for 4 seconds, Hold gently for 1 second, Exhale slowly for 6 seconds Pause again for 1 second. Repeat This specific rhythm optimizes your breathing to around 5 breaths per minute, a rate scientifically shown to enhance relaxation and cardiovascular health. How this Deep Breathing Exercise Helps Lower Blood Pressure: - Activates Your Parasympathetic Nervous System: Shift your body from the "fight or flight" response into a "rest and digest" state, promoting overall tranquility. - Reduces Stress Hormones: Consistent practice helps decrease cortisol levels, a key factor in stress-related high blood pressure. - Stimulates the Vagus Nerve: The extended exhale in the 4-1-6-1 pattern directly stimulates the vagus nerve, leading to a lowered heart rate and improved blood vessel dilation. - Enhances Vascular Function: Regular paced breathing can increase nitric oxide bioavailability, relaxing arteries and improving blood flow throughout your body. Research highlights that an optimal breathing rate for blood pressure reduction is typically between 6 to 10 breaths per minute, with patterns around 5-6 BPM being exceptionally effective. Consistent daily practice of these deep breathing exercises can lead to clinically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. For more breathing exercises to lower your blood pressure and heart rate, check out the Pocket Breath Coach app. With the app you can: - Customize inhale, exhale and hold lengths - Save your favorites for easy access - Schedule daily reminders to do your favorite breathing exercises - Use it offline and even with your phone locked. - Enjoy relaxing backgrounds like beaches, rivers, and night skies. Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice or prescribed treatments from your doctor. Always consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your health regimen. #boxbreathing #stressrelief #wellness #mentalhealth #breathing #breathwork #recovery #yoga #HRV #meditation #lowerbloodpressure #LowerBloodPressureNaturally

Happy Valentines Day Yogis!

In Tuesdays class we learned 'Scare the Bear" Pose & we are all hoping we never REALLY have to use it. In today's class we chose Intentions around Love, Peace, & Unity. ❤️ We introduced Dancer Pose & reviewed Bow Pose. Lots of balance & proprioceptive moves.

Great article for my yogis. Highlights my classes.
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If I could only focus on 5 habits to prevent falls as I age, it would be these:
1. Balance practice 2–4x/week
Balance isn’t a personality trait. It’s a trainable skill; your brain, inner ear, eyes, and feet working together in real time. If you don’t practice it, you lose it. Simple work like single-leg stands, heel-to-toe walking, or turning your head while standing can dramatically improve stability over time. Small doses, often, beat heroic workouts.

2. Leg strength training weekly
Strong legs are shock absorbers. They help you catch yourself, step over obstacles, and recover when you trip. Training the big movers (glutes, quads, hamstrings, calves) improves power and reaction time, not just “strength.” Think squats-to-a-chair, step-ups, split squats, calf raises. The goal is confidence in the movements you actually use.

3. Vision/hearing checks on schedule
Falls aren’t always a “clumsy” problem, they’re often a sensory problem. Vision affects depth perception and hazard detection. Hearing affects balance systems and spatial awareness more than most people realize. Keeping prescriptions updated and addressing hearing loss early is a surprisingly high-impact fall-prevention move.

4. Walk on varied terrain (safely)
Perfectly flat surfaces don’t prepare you for real life. Sidewalk cracks, curbs, gravel, grass, this is where stability gets tested. Walking on varied terrain trains your ankles, feet, and nervous system to adapt quickly. Start safe: supportive shoes, daylight, familiar routes, and a gradual increase in challenge.

5. Make your home environment safer (lighting, rugs, rails)
Most falls happen at home. The fix is often boring and incredibly effective. Better lighting, removing loose rugs, clearing cluttered walkways, adding grab bars/rails, non-slip mats, and a nightlight can prevent a life-altering injury. This is one of the rare health upgrades that works immediately.

Why these five matter
Fall prevention isn’t about being careful. It’s about being prepared. These habits train the systems that keep you upright: balance, strength, sensory input, adaptability, and environment. Independence is built on boring fundamentals.

Generating Joy class tomorrow at 11am

Hands Up for an exciting first class with these Olé Yogis. We challenged our balance, learned new poses, crawled, danced to Michael Jackson Beat It song with scarves, and so much more. New drop-in students always welcome. Come join the fun & get healthy! 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️🧘

Happy February Everyone!

Airplane pose at the Quito Airport! ✈️

Malasana pose in the Red Mangroves at Isabella Island, Galápagos, Ecuador.