Laura Gilmore Yoga

I have wanted to do this for so long & usually feel like i do a few half hearted attemts but this is close!!

i decided to just share what i'm up to, what i love, what keeps me sane-ish.

So if some rolling around to feel good is your vibe I'll be here sharing some attempts at ideas to stay strong (not in a gym!) 😝

Yoga & Pilates teacher we do not need to be so worried! Your body is designed to move in every direction. Imposing a fixed muscular pattern over natural movement can prevent the core responding as it is designed to and re-enfoce gripping and tension. It can inhibit pelvic floor function, and create incontinence problems.

I know for sure that some of you feel better controlling the movement of the spine in specific ways- there are always exceotiuons but the research CLEARLY shows (many times) that we do not need to protect the back. And even if we did core- control is not the way to do it!

Consciously contracting that one area adds compressive load to the intervertebral discs, which is associated with pain, not prevention.

One papers worth knowing about:

“Abdominal Drawing-In Maneuver is Less Effective for Core Stability During High Load Tasks” (Aragón Salamanca, Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024)

Follow for more in this movement science series.

I still can't belive how many are here. Thank you for your follow and sharing this little corner of insta

I am refocusing on who YOU! And shifting the attention from me is how i first got the confidence to teach yoga 27 years ago!

Reframing socials in exactly the same way i hope helps to.

I took challenge to try to getmore confident talking to camera. Thank you Jessi. For sharing this very authentic approach which somehow i felt i had lost.

Because while talking to class or my trainings and even recording class comes naturally. Talking to socials, to the lesser known audience is hard.

But then I realised I DO know you! You feel the same things I do. So come say hello.

And if you are new here - welcome! Follow along for the messy real yoga and midlife!

Instead of usual "vinyasa" chaturanga- updog I integrate these scapula - shoulder - back muscle (erector spinae group) throughout the practice.

So we get some really good intelliegence- awareness and new movement options going on ie the good stuff pain science shows us helps ease pain.

Make it easier?

1. Raise head/ chest on folded blanket

2. Rotate arms same way if getting confused!

3. Skip the backbends and just work on shoulder.

4. CAUTION: some hypermobile folks/ hypermobile shoulders do not do well w internal rotation.

Follow for more teaching ideas. 💕

Can we please shift from the idea of yoga as a cure all. 😭You can do ALL the yoga, the nutrition (plus a bit of chocolate & occassioan drink in my case!), the supplements ALL the HRT and still struggle.

But according to various posts on insta you only need one restorative pose, or one specific supplement and you're fine!

This is not me seeking advice or sympathy but a shout out to recognise we are all different. ADHD & menopause can be a lot.

Life w teens w ADHD & poorly mums can be a lot...

I am fine BUT lets normalise yoga AND therapy & HRT & whatever else we need.

Ok hols time! Lets see how that goes 💕

And see you Wednesday for the live from Cornwall!

I am a proponent of what I call inclusive yoga- yoga that often suits us neurodiverse folk who might LOVE to move. Love a challenge! Yoga that recognises differnt nervous system needs- more in the free workshop next week!

All the postures can be explored in SO many ways. Always as a way to awaken awareness 💜

I couldn’t get words out in time but:

1. 3 leg Downdog at wall- externally rotate upper leg & kick= wake up glutes & hamstrings.

* Do this first. Keep lower hip where it is and work to stabilise both arms *

Option to repeat this OR move onto any of:

2. Swivel back foot to wall open leg turns- get used to feeling of leg lifting

3. Bend knee take foot off wall PRESS lower foot down & or to wall (personal preference)

4. If you have long hamstrings catch toe or belt- lift up from lower hip.

Your students may just be amazed by the difference!
(Or maybe not!) 😎

It’s also fun to work from table top of side plank with knee up not an option :)

FREE workshop on the nervous system is next Wed you can comment on the last post if you’d like the link for this and all my free workshops & blogs.

Happy half term folks! Wish me luck camping w teens :)

This is the adapt & adjust asana I taught last weekend. Thank you so so much everyone who came. 💜

The aim is to make even “simple” poses inclusive by understanding the various parts of the poses.

I always think it’s yoga maths- you learn each part then maybe add them together one day!

There are a few little videos and clips of you want more let me know!

Also FREE WORKSHOP- next Wed 27 May to understand better the nervous system and how to support students best (and ourselves) applying what we know from recent studies. I’ll add link to stories (or comment on last post for the link!!)

Curious to know more? ⬇️

This module is a part of the 300hr teacher training,
Next intake is October but bookings open soon. Download the prospectus for the early offer & best price! Details in bio.

Comment "LIVE" for link to FREE live workshop on 27th May (recording also avaiable). I decided to put on a live session / workshop to clarify what the science is saying (as far as I can tell)

AND what it means for us as yoga teachers. So you’ll come away w some clarity & practical techniques.

YES RECORDING AVAILABLE!!! But I am preparing a resource for teachers and will share for those who can come live.

Time is always is UK time! So it’s wed 27 May 4pm BST (British summer time)

I already had the date for some trainees but figured we can open it up and add some free resources!!!

Please tell your friends. I get so many qus relating to this (& upset messages) and I just can’t always reply and send personal responses. BUT I will do what I can to share more and I TOTALLY get it if you feel threatened or upset when the ideas change.

Sending love people

x

PS I am NOT pretending to be a neurologist! But I put in the HOURS to be thorough w the research

PPS My adult life has been: working w people w ADHD/ autism etc. Working w refugees who were tortured in psychotherapy - gardening project and Trauma sensitive yoga. So I am not trying to jump into therapy lane but I love working somatically. 💜