Yoga with Lucy-Ann

23/09/2026

Plank Play: Strength, Courage & Bone‑Building Vibration

Today’s strengthening practice is a playful one — and deceptively powerful. I call it Plank Play.

It begins simply: hold plank, step your hands and feet wide, then bring them back together. Repeating. Feeling the rhythm. Feeling the focus it takes to stay steady.

Then comes the playful part — jumping the hands and feet wide, and then jumping them back together. A moment of commitment. A moment of courage. A moment where strength meets curiosity.

What I love about this movement is how much it gives back.

Yes, it builds muscular strength — shoulders, core, hips, wrists, glutes.
Yes, it builds power — that quick, confident activation that makes you feel alive in your body.
Yes, it builds focus — the kind that steadies the mind and sharpens your awareness.

But there’s something deeper happening too.

Every time you jump your hands and feet wide → together → wide again, you create a healthy vibration through the bones. This gentle impact sends a mechanical signal through the skeleton that supports bone density, stimulates osteoblast activity, and encourages strong, resilient bones.

It’s the same principle as hopping, skipping, or dynamic weight‑bearing — but in plank, it’s controlled, safe, and accessible.

Plank Play is strength training…
It’s coordination training…
It’s courage training…
And it’s bone‑building movement disguised as fun.

If you try it today, move with curiosity.

Let it feel playful.
Let it feel strong.
Let it feel like a conversation between your muscles, your bones, and your breath.

Your body loves this kind of movement — and it will thank you for it.

22/09/2026

🌿 Springtime in the mountains of Monchique, Portugal

Spring in the mountains of Monchique is one of the most rewarding times of year to explore this quieter, greener part of the Algarve. While the coastline warms early and becomes busy, the Serra de Monchique maintains a cooler, fresher microclimate that allows the landscape to stay vibrant and full of life. In May, the slopes around Vilafoia are at their best — green, fragrant, and alive with birdsong. It’s an environment that naturally supports rest, reflection, and wellbeing, making it an ideal setting for my 6-night yoga and wellness retreat.

https://lucyannretreats.com/retreat-details.php?slug=portugal-yoga-wellness-retreat

The flora in Monchique is particularly distinctive because of the region’s altitude and humidity. Spring brings a wide range of wildflowers and mountain vegetation into bloom. Rhododendron ponticum appears in purple clusters along higher paths, mimosa brightens the hillsides with yellow blossom, and cistus flowers open in white, pink, and yellow across the slopes. Lavender, rosemary, and other wild herbs release their scent as you walk, and the medronheiro — the Strawberry Tree — is a familiar sight throughout the region. The mountains also hold ancient oak species, including the rare Carvalho‑de‑Monchique, which contributes to the area’s unique ecological character.

Birdlife is especially active at this time of year. The varied vegetation and elevation create habitats for both resident and migratory species. Bonelli’s eagles and short‑toed snake eagles can sometimes be seen circling high above the valleys, while nightingales, warblers, finches, and robins fill the mornings with sound. Swifts and swallows sweep across the sky, and butterflies move between the wildflowers. Even short walks from Vilafoia offer opportunities to hear and observe birds moving through the forest and open slopes, making the area particularly enjoyable for anyone who appreciates nature.

The habitat in Monchique is diverse, ranging from evergreen forest to herb‑rich open slopes. Streams and riparian corridors support ferns, water plants, and small freshwater species, while terraced farmland and orchards sit closer to the villages. This variety creates a landscape that is both peaceful and interesting to explore. Gentle mountain trails offer a mix of shaded woodland, open viewpoints, and quiet pockets of vegetation, providing plenty of opportunities for mindful walking and time outdoors.

The climate in May is comfortable and supportive of both activity and rest. Daytime temperatures usually sit between 18 and 24°C, with cooler evenings and fresh mountain breezes. Mornings can be misty before clearing into bright afternoons, and the vegetation remains lush thanks to spring rainfall. It’s warm enough to enjoy long periods outside, but not too hot for hiking or exploring the surrounding area.

During our retreat, we’ll make the very most of this environment. Time outdoors will be woven naturally into the week — late morning or evening walks, hikes, moments to pause and listen to birds, and opportunities to breathe in the herbal mountain air. Nature in Monchique isn’t just a backdrop; it plays an active role in supporting wellbeing. The landscape encourages the body to unravel and unwind, helps the mind settle, and offers a sense of spaciousness that complements yoga, meditation, and rest.

You can read more about the retreat and booking details here:

https://lucyannretreats.com/retreat-details.php?slug=portugal-yoga-wellness-retreat

21/09/2026

✨ Strengthening Yoga Pose of the Day: Table Top Play

Today’s strengthening focus is Table Top Play — a playful, functional sequence that builds deep core stability, shoulder strength, and whole‑body coordination. It’s a brilliant preparation for stronger flows, steadier balances, and a more integrated sense of movement on the mat.

You’ll begin in Table Top, hover the knees, extend one leg and then the other, reach one hand forward, begin to crawl, explore hip swivels and controlled kick‑outs, and finally settle back into Child’s Pose.

💪 Benefits

Deep core activation — especially the transverse abdominis and obliques

Shoulder and scapular stability — essential for poses like Plank, Down Dog, and arm balances

Hip strength and mobility — through swivels and controlled lateral kicks

Gait patterning — crawling reintroduces primal movement that improves coordination and cross‑body integration

Balance and proprioception — hovering and moving with minimal weight shifts builds refined control

Explore more about core stability or shoulder mechanics.

🧭 Cues to Support Your Table Top Play

Head still, steady, and balanced — imagine the crown floating directly above the spine. No bobbing, no dipping.

Press the floor away — feel the shoulder blades widen and the upper back stay broad.

Hover with intention — keep the knees just off the mat, pelvis level, and breath steady.

Extend the legs slowly — avoid swinging; think of length rather than speed.

Reach the hands with control — keep the torso stable as the arm moves.

Crawl with quiet hips — minimise side‑to‑side sway; imagine moving through honey.

Swivel from the waist — let the hips rotate while the chest stays forward.

Kick out with precision — controlled, lateral, and without collapsing into the supporting shoulder.

Hold the final hover, breathe deeply, then rest and soften into Child’s Pose.

20/09/2026

Every Sunday we hike the coast from Padstow to Stepper Point and back through the dunes — birdlife, wild cliffs, soft sand, steep climbs, stile‑hopping, and sometimes carrying my little old dog when the hills get too much.

It’s our “average weekend”… except it’s anything but average.

This is the place I get to call home.
This is the landscape I walk every day.
And this is the land where I teach yoga, create retreats, and share Cornwall's beauty with others.

Two retreats are open for booking in 2027:
April/May "Yoga & Camping" Retreat in Cornwall
May "Yoga & Wellness" Retreat, Monchique, Portugal

Join me in Cornwall or Portugal: www.lucyannretreats.com. If you are on Instagram, the link is in my bio.

Come breathe, move, hike, rest, and reconnect in one of the most dramatic, soul‑stirring places in the UK.

20/09/2026

YOGA IN WADEBRIDGE...
Come and join me for your regular yoga practice this week 🧘‍♀️

The class schedule is below. All classes are held at The John Betjeman Centre, in Wadebridge (parking available).

Find out more at www.yogawithlucyann.com
Upcoming Retreats at www.lucyannretreats.com
Yoga Words of Wisdom - https://amzn.eu/d/biHMbwQ

Monday 5.30pm - Slow Flow (All levels) - This is an all-levels "Slow Flow" Vinyasa class. We move mindfully, exploring classic yoga postures in fluid, creative sequences. Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, slow flow classes are perfect for learning or reviewing poses and experiencing the art of moving meditation. 🧘‍♀️

Monday 6.45pm - "MEN ON THE MAT" - Men's Yoga Class. Build strength, improve flexibility, and de-stress with yoga and mindfulness. 🧘‍♂️

Wednesday 5.30pm - Vinyasa Flow (Level 2) - A dynamic yoga "flow" class suited to those with some experience of yoga. 🧘‍♂️

Wednesday 6.45pm - Gentle Yoga (All levels) - This class is a mix of gentle, yin and restorative yoga. 🧘‍♂️

Friday 10.00am - Slow Flow (All levels). See above 🧘‍♀️

Friday 5.15pm-6pm - Meditation and Breathwork. This 45-minute class is a complete nervous system reset and a chance to relax. All are welcome, and no experience of meditation or breathwork is needed. This is a donation-based offering. Suggested donation £3-£5

Saturday 8.00am-9.15pm - Sunrise Flow 75 mins (Level 2) - A blend of Slow Flow, Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. ‍ Not suitable for beginners.🧘‍♀️

Please arrive in good time for all classes. Late students will not be allowed entry. NO PHONES are permitted in class.

All classes are £11 per person. Yoga cards are available to purchase for £110 (10 classes with 1 FREE class once 10 classes have been completed).

Please message me for more information or to register for classes if you are new, are a beginner, or have injuries. Thank you 🙏

19/09/2026

**Places are filling**

If you would like to join this hour-long sound meditation and sound bath, message me to book your spot. All are very welcome.

**Sound Meditation & Sound Bath**

"A powerful combination to deeply nourish your nervous system, calm your mind, and invite deep, soulful rest."

On Friday 2nd October (5.15–6.15pm) I’m joined by Sound Therapist Angela Conway (Soultice Sound Baths) for a soothing, immersive meditation session at The John Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge.

We’ll begin with 10 minutes of breathwork to settle the nervous system and help you arrive in a mentally and emotionally receptive state. I will then lead a guided 20‑minute meditation, easing you into quiet, stillness and contemplation.

Angela will close the session with a 30‑minute sound bath using Himalayan singing bowls. Percussion is also used towards the end to help bring you gently out of deep relaxation. This is a deeply soothing experience that supports nervous system regulation, emotional release, and inner quiet.

Sound meditation can help:

* reduce stress and tension
* support nervous system balance
* improve sleep quality
* enhance focus and clarity
* ease emotional overwhelm
* encourage the body’s natural repair processes
* promote better digestion
* create a sense of grounded calm

This session is donation‑based, with a suggested donation of £10.
Half of all proceeds will go to the Betjeman Centre in support of their community work.

If you’d like to join us for this gentle end‑of‑week reset, you’re warmly welcome.
Bring yourself, a mat or blanket, and an openness to rest and restore.

Please message me to book your place.

18/09/2026

**A Moment From Teaching This Week**

A moment in class this week reminded me what it really means to hold space for people.

Holding space isn’t about having the perfect setup or a curated environment. It’s about creating a space where people feel instantly at ease the moment they walk in — whether they’re brand new or they’ve been coming for years. A room where everyone feels they belong, exactly as they are.

I love watching people take up their own welcome space. Not shrinking or hiding in the corner. Not worrying about how they look. Not needing special yoga clothes or the latest “yoga aesthetic.” Just arriving as themselves and moving freely.

When people feel at ease, confident, and comfortable in their own skin, something beautiful happens: they explore the movement, and the practice becomes theirs. Their breath, their body, and their moment to feel deeply.

And that’s the heart of teaching for me — creating a space where everyone feels safe, supported, and part of something. A space where you can soften, explore, wobble, breathe, and be fully yourself.

That’s what I have been reminded of this week. And it’s why I love what I do.

17/09/2026

Meditation & Breathwork Class (Friday 5.15pm)

Vitality is our natural state.

Even when life feels busy, heavy, or overwhelming, the body is always quietly working to bring us back into balance. Our breath, our nervous system, our hormones, our heart rate — all of it is constantly adjusting, recalibrating, and guiding us toward equilibrium.

On Friday at 5.15pm at The Betjeman Centre, we’ll explore this beautiful truth through breathwork and meditation.

We’ll use simple, accessible breathing techniques that help the body shift into a calmer, more regulated state — supporting digestion, sleep, emotional steadiness, and that deep sense of inner vitality we all deserve to feel.

If you’d like 45 minutes of rest and gentle reconnection, you’re warmly welcome. This is a donation-based class. Suggested donation £3-5