NykiYoga

11/10/2026

✨ A little celebration… I’ve completed my Chair Yoga Teacher Training at OrangeYoga CIC • Yoga Cheltenham with hugely knowledgable yoga therapist, teacher trainer and chair teacher, Ruth Henderson-Cash Ruth Henderson-Cash🧘‍♀️💚

There are so many misconceptions that chair yoga is “too easy” or simply sitting in a chair and stretching. My training has given me a whole new appreciation for just how much chair yoga has to offer- to my mat-based classes as well as chair work in its own right. It can be challenging, empowering and deeply beneficial, making yoga more accessible to people of all abilities. Im really excited to start teaching it… coming soon 🪑

30/09/2026

When we chant Om and keep our attention on the breath, slow the breath, feel the vibration in the body and listen carefully to the sound, something quite simple happens:
We become present.
There are some small recent studies suggesting that Om chanting may be associated with changes in brain activity, heart-rate variability and stress markers that support relaxation and nervous-system regulation.
The research is still developing and many of the studies are small, so I don’t think we need to make grand claims about what Om “does” but we dont need to - we can simply experience the practice for ourselves.
The slowing of the breath.
The vibration of the sound.
The gathering of attention.
The feeling of becoming present.
If you feel self-conscious chanting Om, then perhaps Om is exactly what you need to chant.
And if saying it aloud feels too much, you can always chant silently in your head. Interestingly, research has found that both vocal and silent chanting have been associated with reductions in cortisol and self-reported anxiety, although the effects were slightly different.
I like to practise Om in the car — eyes open and attention on the road, of course!
Only when I’m safely able to keep my attention on driving and preferably on familiar, relaxed journeys rather than when I need full concentration.
For me, there is something about having a little time and space to myself, allowing the sound to fill the car and feeling the vibration through my body.
I can start a journey feeling scattered, tired or caught up in my thoughts and arrive feeling calmer, lighter, more present and positive.
It reminds me that yoga doesn’t always have to happen on a mat.
Sometimes practice can be as simple as taking a breath, making a sound and giving ourselves a few moments to become more conscious.
And that’s one of the things I love about Om —
you don’t just hear it, you feel it. 🕉️✨

29/09/2026

In yoga philosophy, Aum (or Om) is a mantra — an intentional sound — traditionally described as the sound of the universe, or the sonic representation of time itself.
The sound is made up of three phonetic parts, followed by silence. These can be understood as representing different states of mind, body, the material world and the cycles of time.
A — “Ah”
Represents creation, our waking state or consciousness, our physical world and the past.
The sound is felt in the belly.
U — “O”
Represents abiding, our dream state or subconscious, our mental world and the present.
The sound moves towards the chest.
M — “Mm”
Represents dissolving, our deep sleep state or unconscious mind, the causal plane and the future.
The sound is experienced as vibration in the head and neck.
And then comes…
Silence.
The fourth part — beyond the three states of time — is sometimes called Trikalatita: that which is beyond past, present and future.
It points towards the idea that while our bodies and minds are bound by time — ageing, memories, anticipation and anxiety — our deepest sense of self can be experienced as timeless.
I love that the practice doesn’t simply stop when the sound ends.
There is this moment of silence afterwards.
Nothing to do.
Nothing to make happen.
Just listening.
The practice of chanting Om is about allowing each sound to flow into the next as one seamless exhale. Every Om is slightly different, and each time we begin again, we try to create that sense of oneness in the sound.
Perhaps that is part of the invitation of Om:
to experience the whole rather than getting caught up in the separate parts.
Next time, notice what happens when you listen to the silence afterwards. 🕉️

27/09/2026

OM (AUM) is the sound of the universe. Come and find out more about what time mantra means and how we can practice it. Mondays 6pm at The Garron Centre in Llangarron Village hr9 or Thursday mornings 9.15am Llangrove Village Hall Perfect for beginners or experienced yogis alike. Www.nykiyoga.co.uk

The first time I came across chanting om in a yoga class was in London in the late 90s.
It took me by surprise.
I thought yoga was just about stretching and here we were, somewhere in the back streets of Notting Hill, chanting “OooooMmm” and feeling a bit weird!
My ego liked the fact that it seemed exotic and different, while my sense of awkwardness caused my heart to race a little. I felt far from grounded or calm. In fact, looking back, I was on high alert for what might come next.
What followed was a fairly regular Ashtanga yoga class, but that first experience stayed with me.
Many years later, as a yoga teacher, I found myself avoiding sequencing Om into my classes. I worried that it might make people feel awkward or self-conscious.
Surely the job of yoga is to expand consciousness, not become caught up in self-consciousness?
Although, now that I think about it, perhaps there is something valuable in noticing that discomfort.
If we can step out of the mind that watches and judges and into the awareness that simply observes, we may discover that even our discomfort has something to teach us.
Our modern world often encourages us to turn away from discomfort — to scroll past it, distract ourselves from it, numb it, or find something to make it disappear.
So perhaps feeling a little odd chanting Om isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
So I’m starting my classes with a few OMs this Autumn. 🕉️
And I’m curious to see what happens.
Do you chant Om? How does it make you feel?

27/09/2026

The first time I came across chanting om in a yoga class was in London in the late 90s.
It took me by surprise.
I thought yoga was just about stretching and here we were, somewhere in the back streets of Notting Hill, chanting “OooooMmm” and feeling a bit weird!
My ego liked the fact that it seemed exotic and different, while my sense of awkwardness caused my heart to race a little. I felt far from grounded or calm. In fact, looking back, I was on high alert for what might come next.
What followed was a fairly regular Ashtanga yoga class, but that first experience stayed with me.
Many years later, as a yoga teacher, I found myself avoiding sequencing Om into my classes. I worried that it might make people feel awkward or self-conscious.
Surely the job of yoga is to expand consciousness, not become caught up in self-consciousness?
Although, now that I think about it, perhaps there is something valuable in noticing that discomfort.
If we can step out of the mind that watches and judges and into the awareness that simply observes, we may discover that even our discomfort has something to teach us.
Our modern world often encourages us to turn away from discomfort — to scroll past it, distract ourselves from it, numb it, or find something to make it disappear.
So perhaps feeling a little odd chanting Om isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
So I’m starting my classes with a few OMs this Autumn. 🕉️
And I’m curious to see what happens.
Do you chant Om? How does it make you feel?

20/09/2026

🧘‍♀️✨ Yoga is a personal practice.
You don’t need to be flexible.
You don’t need to know what you’re doing.
And it definitely doesn’t need to look a certain way.
Start where you are.
Move in the body you have today.
Listen, breathe, explore and make the practice your own.
Some days you’ll feel strong.
Some days you’ll feel wobbly.
Some days your biggest achievement might simply be showing up. 💛
There’s always something to work towards — but yoga isn’t about chasing a perfect shape. It’s about being curious about where you are right now.
So come as you are.
Your yoga is yours. 🌿
Come and practise with me — no experience, flexibility or fancy poses required. Mondays evenings in llangarron hr9 and Thursday mornings llangrove village hall. Www.nykiyoga.co.uk

14/09/2026

Yayyy 😃 we are back in The Garron Centre for yoga tonight 6-7pm. See you there. If you are new to yoga, do feel free to pop along-mats and blocks provided. It’s a welcoming group and a gentle sequence that we can tailor up for challenge, if needed. No experience necessary-

I have practised various styles of Yoga on and off over the years and I still love the magic of a Yoga class. Whatever the style, it’s impossible not to come away from Yoga, feeling better than when you went in!

06/09/2026

Monday 7th September 6pm -7pm mindful mondays yoga class will be outdoors. Park at the garron centre and we can meet there for 5.45pm and walk 3mins just a few doors away, to Dan and Annes beautiful garden. Bring warm layers for a standing and seated class and something for a bring n share picnic supper afterwards until 8pm. Www.nykiyoga.co.uk first class free