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2020 and 2021 saw everything we were used to abruptly stop. It took time to establish an alternative way of living.

Re-adjusting (our routines)
Re-connecting (online)
Re-grouping (with ourselves)

With the help of some technical yogis – who by phone guided me in setting up Zoom classes; within a week we had free daily meditations which had to be extended on Fridays for everyone to have a social chat as well. Ireland, Wales, Canada, New York and California, an International group meditating and supporting each other online. Wonderful.

With my IT confidence growing I also started two evening yoga classes and the time-zone allowed the international yogis to join too. These continued right through all the lock-downs, waves and seasons.

We stretched, breathed, meditated and relaxed together and what a joy it was.

Thatsyoga in-person classes are only happening if the space is safe, clean, ventilated and big enough to allow lots of room for each person. I have found that space in Cobh Community Centre, the room is available just one Monday each week at present but this is live streamed too so those who do want to continue online or simply feel like doing it from
home on any particular week, can do so.

In January and February classes will be online only and then for the Springtime, we will be back in our lovely room again.

Thank you all for staying the course with me and let’s continue to work together and have some fun with our yoga too.

As the summer draws to a close and new schedules are prepared, we are required to adjust to a different and sometimes more structured routine.
Winter approaches and the days get shorter, the impact of light and temperature on the human body is huge. We tend to move indoors.
Understanding and responding to your needs will help the transition from season to season.
Light – our bodies absorb vitamin D from the daylight and the energy and emotional boost that we get from a few minutes in the sun can be exceptional, even in winter. If your routine means going to work early and getting home as the light fades, can you perhaps get out for 10 to 15 minutes at lunchtime. If possible let the winter sun touch the back of your neck, the best way to absorb that light.
Activity – moving your body regularly has positive effects on your physical and emotional health.That ten minutes at lunchtime, briskly walking, running outside with the children after school, and signing up for some evening classes. There are so many activities to choose from now, it can be anything from the gym to dance to yoga and tai chi.
Commitment – it takes three weeks to break a habit and three weeks to establish a new habit.Commit to something that you love to do or have never tried before and stick with it for at least six weeks. Then make your mind up as to what’s next, have you enjoyed your activity and want to continue or do you want to try something else for another six weeks.
Food – eat with the seasons, choosing foods that grow this time of year, salads are waning but dark greens such as spinach, chard and kale are just right now. These can be eaten as veg or added to winter smoothies and soups and kale pesto as featured in my last blog.

New beginnings are opening up as September begins.

Let me introduce myself, Aileen Warbrook, yoga teacher, chef, artist, life and travel enthusiast. My first job was in travel, second in food and third time lucky, yoga teacher and retreat organiser.

Thatsyoga was born in 2006 and has evolved from one class a week to my facilitating a variety of classes of all levels each week and running Yoga Days Away and weekend and week-long retreats.

I am also passionate about cooking and sharing fresh, seasonal foods, Gluten free, vegetarian, low Gi and meat and veg all inspire me.

In each Thats Yoga blog I plan to share yoga insights, mindfulness, health tips, activities, funny stories, and separate recipes.

Yoga is changing all the time, new studies on health and fitness are being published and if we share what we are reading, working on and experiencing, we can bring a wealth of information to a Blog. Food ideas are also moving forward; recipes and ways to make food quickly and easily are needed. We all have recipes, tried and tested meals, snacks and treats and I would love to share these with you and likewise hear your favourite go-to meals and snacks.

Urban retreats here at the studio are about staying local, doing specific yoga for the seasons and eating reciprocal foods. We have two hours of yoga/meditation and then two hours of eating, food demos and information on what’s in the food groups used. We round it off with a guided Yoga Nidra relaxation, digesting everything. What a great way to spend 5 hours on a Saturday.

Something to try right now:

Mindfulness with the breath, take a few minutes to listen to the sound of your breathing.

In through the nose, hear the breath in your head, out through the nose or mount, hear the softer exhale. Get into the rhythm of the sound of breath in and breath out.

Close your eyes and just breathe, and listen. This is the very first step in Mindfullness with the breath and can be done on waking, on sleeping, or for a few quiet minutes during the day.

When you finish, before moving, observe how you feel.