A Bit About Me

Hi, I am originally from Derbyshire and I am 69 years old [as of March 2024!], who loves being a Grandma! I am lucky to be able to split my time between The Outer Hebrides and Derbyshire. I am just really ordinary and cannot reach my leg behind my neck, perform a handstand or stand on my head. And I have no wish to! I put weight on, I lose it again!

I started my working life as a shorthand typist aged 16, and very slowly progressed to training as a Counsellor at Derby University and that has been my main work ever since. Which has included the training and Supervising of Counsellors for many years.

I began Yoga in my 20's for a couple of years [1976-1978], but didn't re-discover it again until 2000 and I quickly knew I wanted to become a Yoga Teacher and qualified with the British Wheel of Yoga as soon as I could.

As a Reiki Master, I offer Holy Fire© Reiki Attunements Online and often re-attunements from Usui Reiki to Holy Fire©, so others can experience and work with the wonderful Reiki energy, and amazingly...... sending Reiki energy to my yoga students in my classes too. I undertook extra training and Attunement in order to feel satisfied about giving and receiving Reiki Online.

I am often asked what is the main difference between Usui Reiki and Holy Fire © Reiki? None really, all Reiki originated with Dr Usui. The main difference being with Holy Fire© Reiki, is that the healing energy is not coming through the Practioner, the healing energy is coming from the Divine Highest Power, which is Love.

I am aware that we can 'Westernise' Yoga too much and so I prefer to stay as true as possible to the ancient concepts and Philosophy of Traditional ancient Yoga. All that constant 'hip opening' and sun salutations are not for me anymore!

Slow Yoga might be a small 'niche' market, but all the marketing tools in the world say; "Teach what you love"! And I am. I have no wish to be an Instagram sensation! I built this website myself, [yes, it shows, I know! It really isnt mobile friendly !]. I love teaching this style of yoga and I know there are others out there who no longer want to practice the more Power Yoga's styles.

Maybe you........................

ARE:

Over 45 and might be beginning your Yoga journey - or re-kindling it

OR:

just want a slower pace to their yoga practice that takes into account the aging process

I have practiced the Power and Fitness Yoga's in the past, but prefer this more thoughtful and Mindful way of practicing. My wrists prefer it too!

I believe many students need and prefer this way of practicing yoga. I am not ultra thin or flexible, I am just me. Yet, this style also compliments the stronger yoga's. The slow, unhurried deep moves are based on Vanda Scaravelli's teachings and provide a beautiful balance to the more physical styles.

I have been lucky to attend many workshops with talented Teachers who actually met Vanda and learnt directly from her and I continue to meet and work with teachers who have been taught by THESE same teachers, so my journey just goes on and on. I am in no way an expert on Vanda's teachings. I can only call myself, very loosely, a "Vanda Scaravelli-inspired teacher" as I continue striving to keep learning more and more about this amazing approach to Yoga. Learning to 'un-do' as opposed to 'do' yoga. And practice 'non-attachment' to the effort in the pose and find the ease in the post instead/as well as. No violence on the joints, my inner voice much softer and kinder to myself.

Yoga, for me, is not just a once a week class, it is more about incorporating yoga into ones life daily, so it doesn't become just about the physical work. For instance, being aware of your breath daily, hopefully hourly! Stopping every now and then in your busy day [there is an App for that somewhere!] to just stop and watch the breath, maybe taking 10 or even just 5 minutes to put your feet up against a wall, and stop and 'be' still. Anything, where you can just 'be' and listen to your inner voice.

Begin slowly with a Meditation practice, again, taking 5 Minutes a day to sit in quiet stillness is just amazing. "Be good to yourself", my Dad always used to say, I never really new what he meant when I was young, I never knew I would be using his words some 60 years later!

'Be Here Now' speaks to me. Be here without ego, competition and those busy thoughts. Practice self care and self soothing.

I don't think I will ever retire!

I look forward to seeing you in class, Julia

Link to my YouTube Page

MY ETHOS TO SLOW YOGA

Take care of your joints and develop more inner awareness with juliashawslowyoga

A little about my approach to yoga.

Firstly, I hope this is the start of your new Yoga and Meditation journey. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, slow yoga gives your body a chance to really become aware of our sensors and the information they can tell us about our body [we have millions of sensory receptors]. Slow Yoga gives us the time to 'hear' what these sensors are telling us [although I must add that Yoga is not the only way to improve these].

This style of Yoga is for anyone who may have tried Yoga classes - but stopped - maybe because they class was not quite what you were looking for or expected. I know I have felt quite intimated in the more Power yoga type classes - they just have never suited me. This Yoga will also suit someone totally new to Yoga, or for anyone who is having to modify their Yoga practice, maybe because of age related changes to their body. I know I am probably in the minority of Yoga teachers as I no longer teach some of the familar poses, such as; pigeon, head stand, shoulder stand. I do however like to encourage all my students to keep what we call a "Beginners Mind" in Yoga which helps us to stay open to the possibilities that each pose contains.

I am also drawn to de-bunk some of the many yoga 'myths' that are around too!

Also the 'shape' of the poses are not the most important part of your Yoga practice, so we leave the 'pretzel' shapes behind! Safe alignment is still studied, but without violence to the joints, we are curvy beings! And some of our limbs and joints were not designed to be stretched, opened and forced into unnatural positioning. You could end up focusing on the discomfort instead of experiencing deep inner nourishment to the joints and an absolute sense of calm.

What to expect from my Classes:

* A good place to start for the Over 45's and all Beginners

* A good place to recover from injuries, poor health and if you need to increase your mental wellness

* A good place to come to if you have been disillusioned with yoga, its hype and myths!

* Simple uncomplicated teaching
* Engineering for the body!
* No Sun Salutations, head stands or shoulder stands!
* Build resilience to Stress and its Triggers, wherever those stresses are coming from.
* Reduce Depression and Anxiety [there is a whole science around this!]
* Breath work practice to 'remind' the body how to relax
* Improved sleep and the motivation for much needed self care
* Trust that your body CAN practice yoga, especially if you have been deterred by some of the more difficult 'shapes' you may have seen yogi's practicing!
* Setting more authentic and powerful Intentions

I believe its a good place for Beginners to Online Yoga to start yoga with, as there are minimal adjustments required, so it is very safe. And the more experienced who would like to have a different approach to their Yoga practice by slowing down, using breath and gravity to release tension in the spine and using this approach as a counter-balance to their Power Practices and other fitness works.

ONLINE CLASSES ARE DIFFERENT TO ATTENDING FACE TO FACE CLASSES.

We have to modify our Lesson Plans as we cannot be in the room to modify your poses, but we can make suggestions for adjustments via the screen. We have to ask you to take responsibility for own Yoga Practice to keep yourself safe from injury, and ask that you never practice anything that does not feel right for your body. Always follow your own instincts. Sit down whenever you need to rest, that is GOOD practice. Have your room warm, maybe dim the lights, try and have an empty stomach, have water to hand, and of course, a blanket, extra socks and a pillow if you need one for the relaxation afterwards.

Please inform me privately, by email, of any recent, or long term injuries or conditions, whatever they may be, we can work around most health issues. I respect your privacy totally and will never sell or give away your information, email etc.

"You will be amazed to discover that, if you are kind to your body, it will respond in an an incredible way" 'Awakening The Spine' by Vanda Scaravelli

If you have any queries please get in touch

Let's Talk Yoga