Michelle Finlay Yoga

She'd tried so many different methods, classes and relaxation techniques in the past and none of them worked for her.

She was beginning to think that there was something wrong with her.

She was about to give up but agreed to come along to my class because her friend wanted company but she didn't expect much from the class.

What she got from this class that she hadn't experienced before...

There was time and space for exploration and feeling in various positions and the invitation was for her to land with what felt right in her body today.

From the outset she was given autonomy. She was invited to tune into her own experience that day and to make decisions about what she chose to engage with and what she didn't.

She was given enough options to explore without feeling overwhelmed and she knew that it didn't matter if she was doing it "wrong" or "right" because that isn't the point.

For her, this was a game changer. She not only figured out what works for her own body, but she learnt that she is in charge of what goes where.

She felt trust in herself and trust in her body. This led to her feeling so relaxed because her nervous system finally felt safe enough to let her.

Have you ever had that moment when something just clicked in your practice (or life) because you were given the space to do it your own way?

Grateful for a weekend of friendship, honest conversations about trusting ourselves in this crazy world, and sunshine.

Cups well and truly filled.

Thank you Ali

True story.

A yoga student shared with me recently how much she appreciates my inclusion of the "mind stuff" in the practice.

This is a complete practice. When you watch what your mind is doing in a yoga practice, you begin to notice how it might be affecting your life. From there you can apply what you learn in your practice to your life.

If you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders from your job, it can be the difference between going home and snapping at your partner and kids and knowing that you need just a little bit of space between office and home to decompress so that when you walk through that door, you're more your own self.

If you can't get to an in person class with me, I also teach online and you're welcome to DM to know more.

Dharma often gets taught as life purpose like it's something to do with your job or whatever. But it's more than that.

It's the essence of who you are.

Your unique perspective.

think about the friend that always comes to you when they want the raw, honest advice rather than being told what she wants to hear. It's that!

or

the student who chooses your programme over someone else's because they resonate with who you are, not just what you're teaching.

It's more than what you do. It's how you do it as only you can!

There's a lot of confusion in the yoga world over what Dharma is because of the way it often gets framed up.

Have you ever thought that Dharma is something you must seek and find or something to do with the job that you do instead of the essence of who you are?

Lemme know...

All too often physical ability and self-worth get enmeshed in the yoga room.

As teacher maybe you congratulate the student who nails it and point them out to everyone else as an example.

Or praise the person that tries super hard and almost has it...

but you overlook the student taking a rest because her wrists are sore. (perhaps the student resting is more in-tune with herself and present moment awareness than anyone else)

I'm not saying don't teach poses and don't have fun doing so. I still teach poses and love the physical side of the practice.

What I am saying is that when you learn what's underneath the pose and how to communicate effectively to your students what they can look out for and observe, you're teaching them way more than shapes they can make with their bodies.

They learn to observe themselves and recognise when ego is talking. They learn to trust their own wisdom.

Then the pose becomes a vehicle for conversation and inner dialogue. A way into the practice, rather than the ultimate goal of it.

A seated yoga practice offers a wealth of benefits, especially when practiced regularly

- Improve flexibility and mobility
- Build strength and balance
- Reduce stress and tension
- Support joint health and circulation

All movements are carried out seated or using the chair for support, making yoga accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

Come along, give it a go, and leave feeling refreshed and re-energised! 💚

As a yoga teacher it's not your responsibility to make everyone feel better. Just think about that for a second and what a mammoth task that would actually be.

You're there to guide your students towards their own experience, be that good, bad, happy or sad.

Because that's life - it's not always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes it's storm clouds and thunder.

When you offer them practices that they can engage with and present options and choice, you teach them presence and discernment.

You give them agency and you encourage them to feel, think and decide for themselves.

You have no control of the outcome and nor should you - it's their practice, not yours.

You're doing a great job already!

And when you let go of needing your students to feel a certain way - you're practicing the very thing you're teaching in an embodied way.