Yoga with Julia

13/10/2024

It started one sunny Friday morning when I opened the door to a meeting room and saw the trainer. A real firefighter, a sergeant with biceps like Popeye the Sailor’s. Hmm, winked at me my inner naughty demon, perhaps the morning is going to be fun after all. And it was.

Although that not why I have decided to write this post.

There was something which stuck with me more than Popeye’s biceps. He told how often when firefighters arrive at the scene fire wardens say: ‘I think everyone is out of the building…I think…’ He asked not to give this ambiguous answer. As people’s lives at stake and they can’t go with uncertainty. If you are not 100% sure that there is nobody in the building affected by the fire - say I don’t know if everyone is out. If you have checked your designated area and nobody was there, say it. Not confident everyone is out? Admit it.

Apparently it can be hard. I’ve seen people acting with this uncertainty in my life and, I THINK, can understand why BUT I also feel it’s not ok. If one can’t admit they are not confident or they haven’t done something or they struggle to admit something they have done, it weakens our systems, societies, companies and ourselves. Once we defined our boundaries we can keep / widen it (please choose the right option 🙃).

Don’t start with I THINK 😜

Sincerely yours,

Me, newly qualified fire warden and always a yogi, looking at the world through a spiritual lens 😘

18/05/2024

Has your life ever felt like groundhog day?

There are days when it almost feels that one is not living but navigating through life on autopilot.
Then after number of weeks, months, years one wonders where did the time go…
Sometimes trying to remember what one did last week becomes a challenge as days blur into one.

If this feeling is familiar, I invite you to join my yoga class.
Yoga doesn’t give answers but provides tools for self learning and reflection as the m,re is no cookie-cutter solution and nobody knows better than you; true inner you.

To explore this together book free introductory class via https://forms.gle/pEbu719BorgPRn7d7

16/05/2024

I am so excited about starting my new yoga class on Monday night at St Luke’s Church, Stanmore.

The introductory class is on 3 June and is FREE but please book your place to avoid disappointment.

Classes are from 6pm to 7.30pm, so time to finish work and still have the rest of the evening free!

*They say it’s not a style of yoga, it's a teacher’s style.*

About me and my style: I have been practising yoga for over 15 years, qualifying as a yoga teacher 6 years ago.

I have done meditation training, breathing workshops, studied the history of yoga, Sanskrit and many more which I will tell you all about at the introduction class on 3 June.

For me yoga is not about postures, or even breathing and meditation, important as they are, but about living a fulfilled, mentally and physically healthy life.

If that speaks to you, I would love to see you at 6pm on 3 June at St Luke’s church hall, Stanmore.

Booking form is the comments.

30/04/2022

On February 24 the world has changed and despite all the evil all the goodness in people came up. Once a yoga and dance studio in Lviv has turned into a shelter for those who lost their homes.

The studio used to support up to 200 people per day with food, a place to sleep and warm clothing, and currently 60 people live there. They also offer free yoga, first aid, and self defence classes. Many of my fellow yoga teachers and their students are at the studio at the moment, helping those in need. More info here https://en.in.yoga/Help-UA

Isabell Britsch, my mediation TT’s teacher kindly agreed to host a one-hour session of breathing, movement and meditation at 4pm on Saturday 7 May to help raise funds to support the studio. This will be offered in person at Yogahome, Stoke Newington, and also live online. I will join the session via live-stream and will explain a little more about my connection to the studio.

The class is £15 and all donations will go directly to the yoga studio shelter via the gofundme page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-yoga-studio-in-ukraine-serving-as-shelter?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

If you’re unable to attend the class, you can also donate via gofundme directly.

Booking for the class is via Yogahome: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/asp/main_enroll.asp?fl=true&tabID=8 (you need to scroll down to find the class).

03/03/2022

I couldn’t sleep last night. Not that I slept well for the last 6 nights but tonight is particularly heartbreaking. My hometown is being destroyed by Putin. I am not going to put pictures of horror, it’s plenty of them on bbc. Instead I will tell the world about Kharkiv.

So Kharkiv is educational and scientific centre, it has 59 (!) universities! 59! We call the city “students’ capital”. One of them is one of the oldest in Ukraine, been partly destroyed today by missile from Putin. Another - National Law Academy, my alma mater, is in Ukraine’s top law universities (I am being polite here, it’s number 1))) Commentaries to National laws made by academics of the Academy are being used in the courts, that’s how highly they are rated.

Kharkiv is heavy and military industry centre, there are factories to build tractors, tanks, plane turbines etc. You can see why Putin is so desperate to occupy it.

Kharkiv is arty and not only with clever and funny graffiti but with more than 20 (!) theatres including one philharmonic. I am glad my mum went to the philharmonic theatre just few days before the invasion. I have also personal dear memories and stories connected to it. At the high school I have been asked to do a journalistic project - to write about one of the heritage in danger sort of sights. I chose philharmonic theatre. At that time it was in a horrible state with leaking roof, needing immediate renovation as it’s hall was a copy of one of the halls in Tuileries Palace. Being roughly 15 years old I found the main conductor at the time (the head nowadays) and asked for a video interview. Being a very passionate about the theatre person he agreed. We made a lovely video showing how important it is to restore our city and national heritage. I don’t know how much of a difference it made but years later the philharmonic theatre with amazing architecture has been renovated. Guess what, you know already, don’t you? Yup, Putin dropped the bomb on it today.

Kharkiv is also a centre for trade. We have Barabashovo market which I think is called the biggest in Eastern Europe! It is huge indeed.
The rest in the comments ⏩

25/10/2021

14/02/2021

On the occasion of St Valentine’s Day sharing amazing lecture about emotions, desire and sexuality in classical yoga ❤️

The lecture "Emotions, Desire, and Sexuality in Classical Yoga" works to identify misconceptions and debunk myths around human sexuality in the yogic texts. ...

21/12/2020

I think I am all set for the Christmas holidays

10/02/2020

Breath not only activates the body, it is the basis also of the functioning of brain and mind. Although it is an automatic function, controlling the breath can enhance daily life. Worry, anger, agitation and excitement all affect the way you breathe, interfering with the harmony and the flow of energy. Paying sensible attention to the way you breathe is the foundation of effective living. (c) Howard Kent

27/01/2020

Fabulous pregnancy teacher training with and supportive, kind, loving, funny and unique souls. Feeling inspired and empowered 🥰

09/12/2019

The great teacher inspires (c)

Посредственный учитель излагает. Хороший учитель объясняет. Выдающийся учитель показывает. Великий учитель вдохновляет.
Уильям Артур Уорд

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward
#ксюниныняшечки #йога #йогахарьков #медитацияхарьков

02/12/2019

Yoga can transform attitudes, habits, and outlooks from negative to positive, thus permitting the individual more of a freedom to enjoy life in a relaxed and healthy manner.

(c) Howard Kent, founder of the Yoga for Health Foundation.