I am honoured to be teaching a half hour flow on behalf of The Private Yogi at the OM yoga show in Alexandra palace, London.
Come and speak to me or the team before the class, I will be there from 9am. I will have to dash off after teaching but the lovely teachers from the private yogi will be there afterwards to have a chat and find out more about what The Private Yogi does.
Can’t wait to see some of you there, I you want a place come early to grab a mat!
So 4 weeks ago today, a freak accident whilst adjusting a student left me with a broken rib. Now me being me, what do I do? “Oh its nothing… but ow its really sore… stop being a baby, suck it up and carry on!” I carried on teaching the class, ignoring my own pain and denying it was ‘that’ bad.
Next morning I wake up and my whole side is black with bruising, I am in severe pain but I just shrug it off, ignore my body telling me to stop and seek medical attention… for 2 weeks. I even attended a training weekend! Admittedly I did have to sit in the corner for most of the second day as I was feeling sick with pain.
It took some convincing to get me to actually check it out and when I did it was a reality check. I am not superwoman, I can’t just carry on regardless. This stubbornness to stop comes from my time dancing where admitting you were injured may jeopardise your position so you just get a load of steroid injections and continue. It is also the reason dancers (especially ballet dancers) end up broken by the time they retire at if your lucky 35ish. I am not condoning this behaviour and something needs to happen in the industry to give dancers more stability and support so they don’t feel pressured into doing this.
Anyway, sorry I got side tracked! The point is my mind went into this way of thinking automatically. Even though I spend every single day telling people to listen to their bodies and not to push themselves, to stop if there I any pain… And this is fine, in my regular practice I am mindful and aware of my body but for some reason when it comes to actual injury I know the theory but when push comes to shove I struggle to implement this for myself.
However anyone who has broken a rib knows that the pain is such that even breathing normally feels like your dying so carrying on ignoring it was not going to be sustainable and I was forced to stop my own practice completely and reduce my teaching schedule significantly.
and what happened?
Nothing, the world has not stopped spinning, no catastrophes have occurred…I am still here and haven’t had any kind of mental breakdown.
You see it was fear that was preventing me from looking after myself. Yoga is the only way I can keep myself relatively sane, it’s what got me from being a revolving door patient in mental health services as a shadow to living a full life and re-finding myself. 
(ok that sounds cheesy but its true so deal with it. It was my fear that taking away my physical practice and pranayama would send my back to the dark days. That everything would suddenly fall apart. I’m not saying yoga has made my life perfect by any means, every day is still a struggle, but the thought of moving backwards was worse than putting up with excruciating pain.
I learnt that I can just practice my meditation and the different mind set that comes with a yoga practice can carry me through. I can actually do this on my own, it is me doing it, the yoga is helping but its a tool… holding my hand rather than carrying me.
My next worry – how am I going to teach without moving?! How can I still pay my rent?… more on that tomorrow!
As some of you know I have relocated from The Sound Lounge on Monday evenings. Unfortunately I was unable to get another venue nearby for Monday evenings so I am now running classes on Fridays!
These classes will take place at Tooting Methodist Church Hall, entrance in Longmead Road. New students the first class is FREE! after that its £11 drop in or £50 for a 5 class pass or £90 for a 10 class pass. If there are financial difficulties please contact me directly as we may be able to come to an arrangement that is more manageable.
Please bring your own mat!
6:00pm-7:15pm will be Pregnancy Yoga and 7:30-8:30pm Vinyasa Flow
Pregnancy yoga is suitable for mums and bumps from 12weeks, after your 12 week check. Its a great way to meet other mums to be and share your journey, offering support and companionship, whilst building confiedance.
So what happens at pregnancy yoga? After setting up your mat we go around the room to introduce ourselves, say how many weeks pregnant you are and let everyone know how you are feeling and if there are any issues e.g.pelvic girdle pain or low lying placenta. (don’t worry if there is anything you think I should be aware of but don’t want to tell the group just let me know at the beginning before we start.) This is usually a nice way to share experiences and anything that you have tried that helps with making things easier.
We will then go through some gentle flowing movements and yoga postures to get the body moving and also learn some techniques to ease common discomforts e.g. lower back pain or tense shoulders. Movements will also give you some ideas on active birth positions and breathing techniques to keep you calm and relaxed during birth. Other techniques including sonic massage for your baby will also be utilised. We will also have a section on Pelvic floor exercises and learn to gain more control over this area.
All this will be followed by a relaxing meditation, if you are taking hypnobirthing classes feel free to bring in a copy of any of the scripts you are finding particularly helpful. This section of the class gives you time just for yourself and your baby, without any distractions or things you need to be doing… bliss!
Vinyasa Flow is a mixed ability class, from complete beginners to advanced 
practitioners, a basic level of fitness is required as this style of yoga is a continual flow where each movement moves into the next, a bit like a dance. There is a focus on strength, stamina and improving flexibility, but also a sense of fun and playfulness. We incorporate, Physical movements (Asana), breath work (Pranayama), relaxation and meditation for a well rounded class. Be prepared to get a bit hot and sweaty! As always in yoga you can take it at your own pace and rest as much as needed. I will offer modifications and adjustments throughout so you can tailor the class to your own needs.
Hope to see some of you there! Any questions or for more info contact me Here
Love and Light
Harri
Hi everyone,
It has been a long time since I’ve given you guys an update, so figured it was time to take stock and review what I have achieved over the past year.
This time last year I was midway through my yoga teacher training with YogaLondon. I 
was super nervous, didn’t think I’d be able to pass the exams and thought it was highly unlikely I’d be able to actually lead a class. I cannot quite believe how far I have come in such a short amount of time!
There have been ups and downs, moments where I have doubted myself and my teaching, a few negative experiences too, but all in all becoming a yoga teacher has been the best decision I ever made. My confidence has grown, I’m finding my own voice, learning so much and meeting the most amazing people along the way.
My classes are growing, I am teaching in multiple venues, and formats which is amazing and it just gets better and better, the more I learn, the more I realise I have to learn. Each and every new yogi or yogini who attends my classes has something to teach me, and help improve my teaching. I am excited to be just at the very beginning of my career. 
You finish your teacher training and that is the starting point, the real learning happens on the job. Initially you are learning the art of teaching and beginning to find a unique teaching style but once you feel confident to deliver a safe asana class, that’s when the real teaching of yoga starts, when you can allow your students the time and space for their own discoveries and begin to bring in deeper elements to give them the tools to progress.
I have trained as a pregnancy teacher, begun my 500hrs training, my ‘yoga bookshelf’ is overflowing. I have taught my first workshop, taught at my first class at a festival, and been to some exciting venues doing cover work. I completed my Reiki Level 1 a couple of weeks back with a friend and student. (this was amazing and I will be writing about this in the near future… keep a look out!)
Business wise it has been a baptism of fire! I had no clue at all what I was doing when I first qualified… ok I still have no idea what I’m doing but I feel more confident in finding the right people to help me and I’m getting by with less terror and panic. We will see how long this lasts when I attempt to do my tax return!
So what’s next?
I plan to complete my 500hr training by this time next year. I have several workshops planned to deliver for late summer/early autumn. I am beginning to investigate doing more corporate classes. I have just hired a new venue to replace one which wasn’t working too well for me. Two new classes are starting on the 26th May – Prenatal yoga 6:00pm -7:15pm and a vinyasa flow class 7:30pm -8:30pm both held in Tooting at Tooting Methodist Church Hall in Longmead Road, every Friday. See classes page for more details. There is so much I want to do and so little time! So I’m aiming to take each day as it comes and really live in the moment, focusing on the positives and aiming to be kind and compassionate to myself as well as everyone else.
I recently listened to a talk by Judith Hanson Lasater, where she spoke about effectively teaching beginners. In this talk one of her points was that as a teacher we should have our teaching values clear in our minds, to be able to utilise them in the class setting. This got me thinking! What are my teaching values?
I believe that teaching values are always evolving. When you first finish your yoga teacher training the main focus is on being able to safely deliver a class that is interesting and your students enjoy. As the skill of delivering a class develops and becomes more natural, I have been thinking more about how I am teaching, what are my intentions, how can I keep my teaching moving forward, whilst remaining true to my own values?
Judith Hanson Lasater encourages us to come up with 5-7 teaching values, so here are mine!! (In no particular order)
Downward dog is one of the most synonymous yoga poses. It appears in practically every yoga class, all over the world. So what is it that this pose is actually doing, how does it benefit us, what is its purpose and how do we do it!
Believe it or not, Downward Facing Dog aka Adho Mukha Svanasana is a resting pose. It gives us time to check in with own body during the yoga practice. Here we have a chance to notice what our minds are doing, are we focused on the breath? Have we lost all focus and started planning what we are having for dinner? Now we can re-find our focus and ensure the breath in steady and that we are breathing fully and effectively. We can allow the heart rate to come back to a calm pace during a dynamic vinyasa class.
It may be a resting pose but there is still a lot to think about (before we can take that pause) to make sure what we are doing is safe and sustainable for the body in the long term.
So you’ve managed to get your alignment sorted out and you’ve refocused on the breath, you’re taking a pause to reset, but what are the benefits of doing this at all?!
As it is considered an inversion it has all the benefits of being fully upsidedown. see Why go upside down?!
It is a foundation pose which prepares you for many asana, both in terms of alignment, flexibility and strengthening.
There is a benefit to digestion as the internal organs are stimulated. Other health benefits include relief for back pain and sciatica (in some cases) As a stable weight bearing pose it is a great option to include if you are aiming to improve bone health. It can help to reset the spine, especially after any complicated twists or arm balancing.
For mental health, it calms the system and can be both stress relieving and help to lift mood. Somewhat confusingly it can be energising and help with fatigue or can be soothing to help you sleep.
Basically it’s the cure-all of yoga poses!
Hello, it’s been a while since I last posted here!
I’ve been slacking with my blog writing, well actually I’ve been writing them just not typing them up.
Any way I hope you’ve all had a lovely break over the holidays and are ready to begin a new year with some positive yogi vibes. Classes have restarted and its great to see all my returning students and fingers crossed I’ll be meeting a whole bunch of new people to share the yoga
journey with.
The past 5 months have been a bit of a whirlwind, I sometimes get caught up in the whole, I’m not a good enough teacher, I’ll never be able to make this work, cycle… but then I realise its been only a matter of months since I qualified! I have set up 3 of my own classes, (which are growing via work of mouth), a regular studio slot, 2 online classes, cover classes and I can be hired for private or duo classes… In reality it is an amazing achievement! Not forgetting I have also completed my prenatal and mum and baby training and will be starting the first module of my 500hrs qualification in February (Anatomy)
My next steps? I am currently looking into venues for more classes and am contacting
some interesting people about possible collaborative projects… watch this space. I am also trying to organise my time better so that I can bring you regular content and some resources to use at home.
I’ll end here by asking you to think about intentions rather than resolutions this year. I resolution can be rigid and difficult to stick to as they usually don’t come about natural
ly. Allow yourself to work on intentions which arise naturally when you listen to your body and reduce the chatter in the mind.
Namaste
Harri xx
Take a class with me from the comfort of your own living room! It works a bit like skype – you can see me, I can see you but you can’t see the other students. Yagavar soon to be featured in OM Magazine!
You pay £10 per class and you can keep the class for a week to practice whenever you like.
Click here to go to the Yagavar site and book your class
Tuesday 6:15-7:00 Early Morning Flow
More to come soon.
When I started Pregnancy Yoga teacher training, I wasn’t intending on teaching specific classes but more to understand how to integrate pregnant ladies into my usual classes. I wanted to feel comfortable and have enough knowledge to be able to welcome them safely and give them appropriate modifications.
However, after completing the training at Yoga London with the lovely Anja Brierly Lange and Caroline Smith, I am actually quite excited to start both prenatal and Mum &Baby classes.
At times the training was a little overwhelming, and I swung wildly back and fore between thinking I might like kids some day to basically never ever going to happen and back again. I’d not really thought about all the details about pregnancy, birth and the Postnatal time before. The lectures with Verona (An amazing midwife) were enlightening to say the least – I have a whole new sense of amazement at the whole miracle of life and motherhood.
Yoga is fantastic for pregnancy in many ways including preperation in mind and body, useful active birth positions, or movements to strengthen the body, or ease discomfort as well as offering a great community.
Mum and Baby yoga is a great opportunity for new mothers to come to a safe, friendly space and meet others who are going through the experience of having a new baby in the house. Without having to leave their babies or find childcare, women have an opportunity to focus on themselves whilst on the mat. There is time to escape the huge list of things to do and just spend time with the baby without any pressure – only acceptance and a moment to relax, to take some time to feel like themselves again!
for more on the benefits energetically see this post How does Yoga support Pregnant Women Energetically?
I’m planning to start Prenatal yoga and Mum & Baby yoga in the new year. Looking forward to welcoming my first Ladies and Babies, I will keep you posted on classes times etc. as I sort things out. In the mean time, if you are interested in these classes pop me an email!
Pregnancy – from 14weeks -> Birth
Mum & Baby – 8weeks -> Crawling
Harri xx
It has been nearly a month since I completed my 200hrs Yoga Teacher Training with YogaLondon (highly recommended). The first few days I was on a high – I’d just graduated and felt I was ready to launch myself into teaching. A week later I was full of doubts!
‘You’ve finished your YTT… but can you actually teach real people?’ This was what was going round and round in my head. Friends and family had become fed up of being experimented on relentlessly during my training, so any teaching practice since had involved teaching my imaginary student, using my loud teacher voice, in the living room whilst my cat was either trying to sleep on my mat or join in. I’m pretty sure the neighbours think I’m insane!
I was starting to feel quite panicky about the prospect of teaching my first class. What if I just freeze? What if I can’t remember my sequencing? What if my class is boring and my students don’t want to come back? What if? What if?
So what actually happened? Arriving I felt quite anxious but setting up the room and greeting the students I somehow lost all those fears and doubts. It was amazing, I absolutely loved teaching. I felt prepared, nothing I had predicted happened. The class went well, with a nice flow and all the students worked really hard. It wasn’t a struggle, it just felt so natural. I had managed to offer appropriate modifications and alternative asana for those with injuries,everyone was smiling. The feedback I got at the end of class was really positive, everyone said they enjoyed it and even asked if I taught other classes!I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
So if you are prone to anxiety, like me, and you have just qualified then really don’t worry. It is completely normal to have some doubts and fears but dont let the what if’s stop you.”Paralysis by over analysis is deadly” Assuming you’ve had good quality training there really is nothing to worry about.
Good Luck – Harri x
yogalifewithharri 