Alice Billerey Yoga

Alice Billerey Yoga Vinyasa Flow & Yin Yoga I All Levels Welcome I Corporate & Private Classes I Yoga & Food Events

200 Hour Certified Yoga Teacher I Fully Insured I Vinyasa Flow & Yin Yoga I All Levels Welcome I Corporate & Private Classes I Yoga & Food Events

Maternity leave is coming to an end… bitter sweet ❤️❤️
03/09/2025

Maternity leave is coming to an end… bitter sweet ❤️❤️

Not much yoga, movement or massage content round here I’m afraid. I’m fully immersed in maternity leave. I’m half way th...
02/06/2025

Not much yoga, movement or massage content round here I’m afraid. I’m fully immersed in maternity leave. I’m half way through in fact, how time flies! Saying that, I have started to organise my timetable for returning to work in October (keep eyes pealed for more on that in due course). Already it feels bitter sweet.

Those very early days of maternity leave felt really hard. I’m not ashamed to say I struggled. I felt slightly disillusioned to be honest. And a part of me pushed against this new world (that was quite different to how I imagined) that was unfolding before my eyes. In hindsight I wish I was able to lean in a little more, instead of resisting the change that was inevitable. Now I’m trying to savour this tiny bubble of love whilst slowly slowly welcoming pieces of myself back, hoping to return to a new kind of whole.

2 months ago in hospital waiting for our Mags ❤️📷
21/03/2025

2 months ago in hospital waiting for our Mags ❤️

📷

Becoming a mum ✨The transition from maiden to mother has been rife with conflicting and confusing emotions. Nothing can ...
25/02/2025

Becoming a mum ✨The transition from maiden to mother has been rife with conflicting and confusing emotions. Nothing can prepare you for motherhood. The reality and challenge only becomes apparent once you’re thrown into the deep end. It’s a real balancing act between keeping another tiny, non-verbal human alive, whilst maintaining one’s own health, wellbeing, and semblance of identity.

From the moment my baby was placed on my chest to now, 5 weeks on, the love I feel for her moves me to tears daily. I’ve spent hours in these early days of motherhood gazing at her sweet little face, feeding her, rocking her, cooing, singing, smiling, laughing both at her and out of the sheer joy that she brings. The bond I have with her feels natural and unparalleled to the bond I have with anyone else. I don’t really have the words to best describe it at this point. AND YET I’ve felt sad, confused, lonely, exhausted, frustrated, enraged, resentful. On speaking to other mums I’ve been reassured that “what you’re feeling is normal.”

So far it’s been a very steep learning curve. One that has tested my patience and resilience to the max. I remind myself daily that it’s a privilege to be someone else’s everything 🌍 Yet of course there’s a part of me that misses my old life, which was beautiful and abundant in it’s own right.

I’m currently at a point now where I am trying to surrender to it all. To be ok with the fact that loving my baby each day, and keeping her alive and thriving is enough. I would like to be more active, go to the gym, attend a yoga class, get a massage, read a book, listen to a podcast whilst going for a walk, bake cookies, arrange meet ups with friends (that don’t involve meticulous timing around nap time!) travel, go on holiday, attend a workshop or a training, blow all my money that month on something I don’t really need… the list goes on… These aspects of life will return (maybe not the frivolous spending 🫠), but for now I’m someone’s mama.

Pic. 2 - Maggie day 1
Pic. 3 - Maggie 5 weeks

03/01/2025

6 mobility exercises I’ve done consistently throughout 3rd trimester 🤰🏽

In the final weeks of pregnancy I’ve found that working on my hip mobility has eased lower back pain and has enabled me to stay relatively mobile. I’m definitely at a stage now where I need more rest and can’t walk as far comfortably. But all of these exercises have seen me through up until this point (40 weeks) and have been gentle enough to perform most days.

1) Side-lying Hip CARS (controlled articular rotations) - a great way to lubricate the hip joint by rotating it through its full range in a controlled manner. It’s a great way to warm up before any compound movements too (think squats, split squats).

2) Internal rotation clams - internal rotation of the hip increases the size of the pelvic outlet e.g. the space between the sit bones. Which can help in the final stages of labour. As a yoga practitioner where positions that bring the hips in to external rotation are often biased, this is something I’ve really had to work on daily.

3) Side lying adductor raises - these got surprisingly difficult the further into pregnancy I got. Working on adductor strength can improve overall pelvic stability and mobility.

4) Squats (body weight / weighted) - maintaining hip mobility by focusing on range and form.

5) Hip thrusts - I’ve really enjoyed these as a way of isolating the glutes and I’ve also enjoying working on some much needed hip extension after spending many nights sleeping in a curled up position on my side.

6) Standing balance (warrior 3) to split squats - Here I’m working on integrating some core work and unilateral movements (working one limb at a time) in a functional way (i.e. maintaining the ability to get up and down from floor).

What’s your relationship with rest and relaxation? This is often one of the questions I’ll ask my massage clients. Quite...
08/11/2024

What’s your relationship with rest and relaxation?

This is often one of the questions I’ll ask my massage clients. Quite often I’ll get the response that rest and relaxation isn’t something that comes easily or naturally. Or that massage is one of the only times a person truly feels relaxed. Sometimes people explain to me that active forms of relaxation, often running / exercise, helps them to feel relaxed and clear of mind. Others will tell me that passive forms of relaxation such as soaking in a hot bath helps them to unwind.

Practices, rituals or activities that help us to unwind and relax i.e. that help us to modify or stunt the stress response are crucial to living well.

Whilst massage is a wonderful way to relax, I’m also an advocate of self efficacy, and encourage all my clients to find ways in which they can help themselves to relax. I often suggest yogic tools and principles as these can be active forms of relaxation I.e. they engage both body and mind, without overstimulating the nervous system (such as asana, meditation, yoga nidra, pranayama, self reflection, journaling) but I’m aware these practices are not for everyone.

I’m also a fan of passive forms of relaxation such as slumping in front of the television or soaking in a hot bath, but those methods alone, I feel, are not enough when it comes to offering the body true rest.

Rest and relaxation can take on many forms and perhaps it’s a good idea to build a tool box of methods that include both active and passive forms, in order to meet our own needs, and to help offset the demands of living in a busy overstimulating world.

Happy relaxing this weekend! 🫶❤️

💤Online Class: Bedtime Yin & Nidra💤✨20th October✨20:00-21:00✨£7 (live class or recording available for 14 days after)Thi...
03/10/2024

💤Online Class: Bedtime Yin & Nidra💤

✨20th October
✨20:00-21:00
✨£7 (live class or recording available for 14 days after)

This online class went down so well last month I’ve decided to run it again this month. Gift yourself an hour of rest, here’s what others said about the last session.

“I took your advice and got ready for bed and went to bed after the session. I had a lovely sleep. I didn’t actually get up from my mat until 21:20 as I was drifting in and out of light sleep.”

“I really enjoyed last night’s class and really relaxed into it - I fell asleep on my mat for an hour afterwards before transitioning to bed!”

“Thank you so much for a wonderfully relaxing session, just what I needed!”

“Thank you for a deeply relaxing session Alice. You may have seen Dora the cat joining in!”

Get your PJs ready, and of course pets welcome! Link in my bio to book.

I’m in nesting mode and spending a lot more time at home and in the kitchen. It’s got me reflecting on my childhood and ...
27/09/2024

I’m in nesting mode and spending a lot more time at home and in the kitchen. It’s got me reflecting on my childhood and the connection I have to food and the comfort I get from being in the kitchen.

I was very lucky growing up to have my mum at home throughout my early childhood. Her being at home meant that every evening, without fail, we would get a home cooked dinner. Despite often not having the most nutritious breakfast (usually your standard bowl of cereal) or school lunch (this was pre Jamie Oliver, back in the turkey twisler days) dinner was always guaranteed to be wholesome and nutritious. Dad would often be home late from work, arriving towards the end of dinner or after we’d finished. But me, my sister and my mum would always sit down at the dinner table together. And the rule was you can’t leave until every scrap was gone!

Mum was, and still is, a great cook. And I’m very grateful for the effort that was made, even though our young palates weren’t always kind or appreciative. I remember one night being served a spinach and ricotta cannelloni and thinking it was the most disgusting thing I’ve every tasted, obviously it wasn’t and I’d devour a dish like that today, but at the age of 6 or 7 my palate was just not mature enough and I remember expressing my disgust quite honestly to my poor mum, who’d probably spent at least 90 minutes preparing it for us.

I would often go into the kitchen around 6pm (after neighbours had finished) and help set the table, and she’d give me little jobs to do such as slice the cucumber and tomatoes for the side salad, or make a french dressing where she’d teach me how to find the right balance between the olive oil and the vinegar, or I’d get to stir the pot and add seasoning. Sometimes I’d just watch and ask questions, and over time I’d learn the basics. To this day there are many dishes I just know how to cook, the processes are almost instinctive. Mum was good at getting me involved, and I’m sure this is where my curiosity around food and cooking began.

We didn’t have a lot of money in those early days… CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

Bedtime Yin & NidraThis Sunday 22nd September8pm online£7 (live / recording)Book via the link in my bio I’ve had periods...
19/09/2024

Bedtime Yin & Nidra
This Sunday 22nd September
8pm online
£7 (live / recording)
Book via the link in my bio

I’ve had periods of disturbed sleep and poor sleep quality (I’m currently going through one of those periods now) and one of the things I’ve learned through experience, but also in my training as a yoga therapist, is that deep rest can be cultivated outside of the window we give ourselves at night. Which can alleviate tiredness and fatigue and reduce anxiety around sleep at night.

Yin & Yoga nidra are a fabulous combination in calming and soothing the nervous system. Practicing before bed might improve our chances of falling off to sleep, as well as improving the quality of sleep. And if sleep is still elusive at least you can rest peacefully during the practice and receive the healing benefits of deep rest.

The invitation on Sunday is to tend to and care for yourself. You’ll be sent an email before the practice with some suggestions on how you might set up your home environment and organise your evening so that you optimise your chances of getting a good nights sleep.

I hope you can join live so we can connect in person, but if not I will send the recording of the practice afterwards.

Book via the link in my bio ❤️😴

🍂Bedtime Yin & Nidra - Online Autumn Equinox Special 🍂🍁Sunday 22nd September🍁8pm online🍁£7September 22nd marks the Autum...
09/09/2024

🍂Bedtime Yin & Nidra - Online Autumn Equinox Special 🍂

🍁Sunday 22nd September
🍁8pm online
🍁£7

September 22nd marks the Autumn Equinox where we say good bye to summer and welcome in the longer evenings. What better way to honor this change in season by gifting yourself an hour of deep restorative rest.

Swap the Sunday night ‘Netflix and chill’ for something more restorative, and join me for a deeply relaxing bedtime practice. I shall guide you through a sequence of yin yoga postures (longer held passive stretches) to help tease out physical tension, followed by a deeply relaxing yoga nidra (yoga sleep), which is a guided meditation to help lull you into a deep state of rest. This practice is designed to be done just before bed (or even from bed!) where you can enjoy the healing benefits of a good, deep and restorative night’s sleep. Setting you up nicely for the week ahead!

Please book your place via the link in my bio, the price for this session is £7. If you can’t join live I can send you the recording afterwards, just pop me a message to arrange this.

Address

London
SE4

Telephone

+447809429549

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Alice Billerey Yoga posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Alice Billerey Yoga:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category