Mooncat Yoga

One of the Asana/postures we will be practicing this month is Fallen Star or Fallen Triangle.

This is a strong pose utilising the whole body, with focus on the legs, core and arms, and brings a deep awareness of our breath to sustain this pose.

The benefits of Fallen Star are:

⭐Hip Opening
⭐Deep stretch of the IT band that runs alongside the tight connecting the hip/knee
⭐Core and upper body strength
⭐Heart and chest opener
⭐Balance and coordination
⭐Focus and concentration
⭐Cultivates confidence

We will be holding this pose with a focus on deep breathing, and Ujjayi pranayama if in your practice.

There will of course be options and modifications, such as knee to mat with a pad, blocks under the hand etc. to enable everyone to feel a sense of accomplishment and progression.

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Block Book or reserve a Drop In space, please email [email protected]

With this month comes Summer Solstice...the longest day of the year. Where there is more light that dark, more warmth than cool and more sun than moon. Which will be the theme for this month's yoga classes - Summer Solstice ☀

This month brings the chance to allow balance, nourishment and nurturing energies into your life.

We will be practicing lots of Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) with different variations, plus the return of Dolphin Dips!

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In place, please email [email protected]

The focus in the Mooncat Yoga classes this month is being Open.

To enable us to feel more open and be curious in our practice, we are working on lots of opening postures, with particular focus on the hips. One of the Asana/postures we are practicing is Pigeon/Eka Pada Kapotanasana

Pigeon is a wonderful posture for opening the Hips by providing a deep external rotation of the hip of the front leg.

The benefits of this posture are:

🌙Hip Mobility
🌙 Releases tension from the hip flexors, piriformis and lower back
🌙 Can be very beneficial for Sciatica
🌙 May help with Piriformis Syndrome
🌙 If folding forward, this is calming and restorative
🌙 Stretches and releases tension from the glutes
🌙 Improved posture as this is quite a 'proud' posture
🌙 A progressive posture so builds feelings of positivity and accomplishment

If you have any questions about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In place, please email [email protected]

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As part of our Open Theme, we will be practicing the hand Mudra Pushpaputa Mudra [A Handful of Flowers].

This Mudra is the gesture for Openness and Acceptance, and we will be practicing this alongside 4:7:8 breath

"Only with open hands can we enrich the world, and only with an open mind and open soul can we receive what cosmic consciousness gives us" (Mudras by Gertrud Hirschi).

Benefits:
🌙 Helps release negative emotions, overcomes fear, and restores emotional balance. It is particularly useful for reducing anxiety, stress, and may help with sleep
🌙Heart Chakra Activation 💚: This mudra opens the heart, fostering compassion, love, and a sense of connection with oneself and the universe
🌙 Cultivates Gratitude & Receptivity: It signifies an offering and openness of the heart, and acts as a gesture of acceptance, helping practitioners feel open to new, positive opportunities
🌙 It supports deeper breathing by expanding the chest, aids in improving circulation to the upper torso, and stimulates sensory nerves in the hands.
🌙 Spirituality & Focus: It enhances mental clarity, aids in concentration, and is often used to deepen meditation (Dharana and Dhyana).

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In space, please email [email protected] 🌳🌿🌿🌾

This month we are focusing on being Open within the body, with particular attention to the hips, and the Psoas Muscle.

The Psoas is one of the most important muscles of the body, lying deep within the centre of the core, connecting T12 - L4 of the vertebrae (spine) to the top of the femur (upper thigh).

This muscle has many physical functions:

🌙 enabling us to be upright by creating a curve in the lower spine
🌙 enabling us to walk by moving the leg forward
🌙 flexes and externally rotates the hips
🌙affects our range of motion, joint mobility, flexibility and strength

The Psoas also acts as a bridge between the physical and emotional, holding 'stories' within our body, which is why the Psoas is also known as the Muscle of The Soul.

This is because our Psoas is directly connected to the nervous system, and our survival instincts of Fight, Flight, Freeze response. When the body/mind feels threatened, the Psoas contracts to protect our core. When in a chronically stressed state or unresolved emotional trauma, this muscle remains tight which may lead to lower back pain, hip pain, stiffness, pelvic pain, shallow anxious breathing, insomnia and a depleted immune system.

The following helps release this tension:

✨Side Stretches
✨Lunges to lengthen the hip flexors
✨Leg or knee raises
✨Bridge
✨Breathing/Pranayama: by slowing the breath and calming the nervous system

If you would like any information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In space, please email [email protected]

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In May, the theme is Open.

Looking at being Open within the body, but especially the Hips, and stretching some of the muscles such as the Psoas, one of the Hip Flexors.

We will be practicing 4:7:8 breath alongside Pushpaputa Hand Mudra, and postures/Asana such as Baddha Konasana, Lounge Lizard, Sun Salutation A, Eka Pada Utkatasana plus many more.

The aim this month is to Open the hips, release tension in the muscles around the hips and pelvis and calm the nervous system.

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In place, please email [email protected]

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Mooncat Yoga holds all our classes at the beautiful in Southside Glasgow.

During Spring, the cherry blossom surrounding the hall is simply breathtaking - and makes me feel very grateful that we can use this wonderfully historic space to practice our yoga. The energy of the hall and those who work there is incredibly special.

So, as we practice Tree pose/Vrksasana this week, we shall be visualising these glorious trees and inhaling the sweet scent of cherry blossom.

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In place, please email [email protected]

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As part of our Ebb & Flow theme this month, one of the Asana/postures we will be focusing on is Tree/Vrksasana.

In the Mooncat Yoga classes, there are always options, and here are 5 for you to try:

1. Toes to mat and heel to ankle
2. Toes to a brick or book
3. Foot to Calf
4. Foot to inner thigh
5. Foot to inner thigh with arms overhead

The benefits of Tree are:

🌙Strengthens thighs and glutes
🌙Hip mobility
🌙Shoulder mobility
🌙Foot and ankle health and strengthening
🌙Brings focus and clarity
🌙Helps with stress & anxiety
🌙Enable you to feel grounded and rooted
🌙May help build confidence & self esteem

If you are new to balancing, try placing one hand to a wall or back of a chair for support, sometimes even the awareness of a support is enough to help with balancing.

If you would like more information about the Mooncat Yoga Classes, to Monthly Block Book or reserve a Drop In place, please email [email protected]

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