What is Compassionate Yoga?

Movement affects our mood and emotions. Compassionate Yoga can be integrated into your counselling sessions, or bespoke mindfulness and meditation sessions. The styles of Yoga and Movement Kim offers are Embodied/Intuitive yoga, Gentle Somatic Yoga,  Therapeutic Viniyoga, Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa.

Kim’s Compassionate Yoga is rooted in Somatics and embodied/intuitive movement.  Somatics is a therapeutic approach based on the work of Thomas Hanna, with specific movements to increase length, flexibility and strength of muscles which is particularly helpful in easing/relieving persistent pain and long-term health conditions.  The movements are simple and gentle, and yet are incredibly profound as they re-educate and rewire the brain and nervous system and improve our posture through interoception and proprioception.

Embodied/intuitive movement also encourage us to feel into our body (interoception) and become aware of where it is in space (proprioception) encouraging us to move and hold ourselves in ways which feel pleasant without pain, strain or yanking.  Quite naturally our ego and the ‘striving’ and ‘attainment’ of forms is unnecessary and irrelevant, and we let them go.  As we are feel sensation more there is less room for thoughts to creep in and we trust ourselves more, improve our self-confidence and self-esteem and begin to treat ourselves with more kindness and compassion both on and off the mat.

It is also the way I teach yoga and encourage you to treat your body which is ‘compassionate’. There is no pushing or pulling to strain into a particular form. We will treat our bodies kindly using helpful aids and adaptions (e.g., yoga blocks, cushions, blankets and yoga straps) ) to allow the pose to meet you so that you can be fully embodied and aware during the class rather than feeling pain, strain or judging yourself against others. The sessions are not for you if you want to do Instagram sexy yoga!  These classes promote safety of your joints and anatomy because each body is different and is made differently.  You will leave feeling very different to how you started and, over time, you will have increased your range of movement, mobility, strength and flexibility so you can get back to doing what you used to love, or enjoy doing what you do for longer.

My Compassionate Yoga classes promote safety of your joints and anatomy and are open to all levels. The class can be built around what you feel you need and might include breathwork (Pranayama) and meditation. These one to one bespoke sessions also make an excellent stand-alone if you are yoga-curious, have a particular health need or concern, or wish to work on a particular form/shape/asana, or prefer to avoid groups.

 

Why not have a private one to one yoga session?

Private yoga sessions are a great way to begin yoga, perhaps you want to learn some basics before joining a class or have a health concern or need.  Or perhaps you are a yoga teacher wishing to develop your own practice?

Private sessions are totally bespoke, tailored to your identified wants and needs so you can achieve the maximum benefit possible for you. You will receive your individual session plan with detailed instructions for you to practice at home.  It may be a one-off session or perhaps you would prefer to meet fortnightly or monthly (or whatever works for you) to work progressively towards your goals. Sessions typically include movement, breathwork, meditation and relaxation with the particular mix guided by you.

Sessions can take place live on Zoom or in person at the Aptitude Health and Fitness studio in Farndon, near Chester CH3 6QP. The initial session lasts 75-90 minutes to include time to talk through your needs and health concerns over a cuppa. This may also include an assessment of your posture and range of movement. Thereafter, sessions last 75 minutes. There is usually a 30-45 minute yoga practice (the postures or asanas) with breathwork and meditation/relaxation to close.

You can ask questions at any time throughout the sessions and, with your consent, there will be hands-on assistance within the postures or asanas. I present yoga, mindfulness and meditation in a secular way and am very happy to delve deeper with you into their spiritual underpinnings if you wish. Please book in a free 15 minute chat if you are unsure about anything!

Weekly Yoga Classes in Wrexham

Weekly Compassionate Yoga classes incorporating Gentle Somatics, Viniyoga, Embodied and Intuitive movements are held Tuesdays at 7.30pm for an hour, at The Pilates Centre on the first floor Bryn Estyn Business Centre, Bryn Estyn Lane. LL13 9TY.  There is no disabled access to this floor unfortunately. To secure your place, please book directly with the venue here.

Compassionate Yoga with Kim is not about doing head stands, arm balances or sitting in the lotus position! Instead you are encouraged to feel into your own body whilst we are moving or in stillness.  How we move and the shapes we make may not look like what you consider yoga to be as we are exploring our inner bodily sensations and where our body is in space, rather than trying to achieve cookie-cutter versions of forms/asanas.  We are finding places to move into or stay in that feel pleasant or interesting and so alignment is less important which helps us move from what we think we look like externally into what feels good to us individually.  I LOVE to see everyone in class moving differently and honouring what they need mentally and physically.  The classes are slow and flowing and we often keep low to the ground throughout the session.  This means that you will come away feeling grounded, rested, stretched, relaxed and many participants say they have the best sleep of the week after my class!

Workshops and Day Retreats
Have you considered hosting a well-being day in your workplace or organisation? Yoga, mindfulness and meditation are accessible to all bodies.  Please contact me directly to discuss the needs of your organisation or event.