Tag: self inquiry

Everything in retrograde

Mireille

It’s been a turbulent first half of 2018, astrologically speaking, with big shifts and unexpected changes aplenty. Until end of August there will be up to SIX planets in retrograde, so the Universe is giving us a lot of food for thought.

So what does it mean when a planet is in retrograde? Basically it’s when a planet appears to be spinning backwards. All planets orbit the Sun at different speeds- the ones farthest away will take longer to transit, so from time to time Earth will “overtake” a slower planet as they orbit around the Sun, giving the illusion of the other planet going backwards. 

From an astrological point of view, it is a time to chill the f**k out and reflect. It’s a time for some real talk and to drop some truth bombs- on ourselves. Depending on the planet which is in retrograde, we may even feel the need to rebel and lash out. So no major life decision making, ok? Ok.

Which planets will be in retrograde? At its peak, we will experience Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Mars, Neptune, Uranus, and Mercury in retrograde from now until end of August. Hooo boy.

What does this mean? No need to pull out the tin foil hats. We can use this heavy retrograde period to our advantage. It’s the perfect time to check yourself before you wreck yourself. Have a look at all the plates you have spinning right now. Pay attention to them. What’s necessary? What can you let go of? In some cases, are you making things harder than they need to be? And in others, are you neglecting what needs to be tended to? Review. Regroup. Reprioritise. 

Due to the number of planets in retrograde, it can be a confusing time. If you can’t make head or tail of a situation, I would recommend mediating or being out in nature. Tarot/oracle readings can be particularly helpful during these periods, as the cards will often illuminate things that your conscious mind isn’t equipped to see. If you feel a bit frazzled and discombobulated, hit me up for a reading for some clarity and insight.

If you’re keen to learn more about the energy of retrogrades, here is a great article by the Astro Twins http://astrostyle.com/learn-astrology/retrogrades/ 

Happy retrograde-a-thon, peeps! 

Restorative Yoga Child's Pose Variation

Benefits of Yin and Restorative Yoga

Mireille

Benefits of Yin & Restorative Yoga

There are countless studies, articles and opinion pieces declaring that yoga is good for you. It combines movement with breath, helps us connect with ourselves and gives us some philosophical food for thought, both on and off the mat. But with so many different types of yoga out there to choose from, what makes Yin and Restorative so special?

Yin and restorative yoga both offer similar benefits:

  • Deeply relaxes the body
  • Stills the mind
  • Recalibrates the nervous system
  • Promotes the body’s capacity to heal and boosts immunity
  • Balances out emotions
  • Develops ability for self-inquiry
  • Cultivates a sense of self-love and self-compassion

Differences between Yin & Restorative Yoga

Many people use the terms Yin and Restorative yoga interchangeably, possibly due to the fact that they are both passive forms of yoga, but their philosophies are somewhat different.

Yin yoga is a challenging concept to describe in a short paragraph, as it more of a philosophy than a style of yoga; but essentially it follows a Taoist tradition, incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine meridian theory to the asanas (physical poses). In Yin yoga we play with the concept of an “edge”  which has a powerful impact on opening us up to self-inquiry, a concept that is an integral part of the Yin & Juice yoga philosophy.

The asanas are floor based and held for 3-5 minutes to get the most therapeutic benefit for stretching the connective tissue around joints and the deep layers of fascia. The use of asanas combined with awareness of our breath, helps to promote and regulate the flow of Qi (pronounced chi) through specific energy meridians. The concept of Qi is very much intertwined with the yogic concept of prana, or life force.

Restorative yoga is a passive style of yoga which promotes active relaxation. More importantly it teaches us how to surrender and let go. We use lots of props such as bolsters, blankets and eye pillows to completely support the body during the floor based poses. It’s basically burrito yoga. These asanas are held for a minimum of 5 minutes (in some cases for 10-15 minutes to get our bodies into the optimum state for conscious relaxation). Continue reading “Benefits of Yin and Restorative Yoga” →