This weekend has been all about Spring. The weather has been amazing and sunny – cold in the mornings but bright and warm throughout the day, with a wee nip in the air at times.

I have been lucky enough to spend the weekend with a small group of ladies doing yoga, walking and welcoming the new season whilst setting intentions for the next 12 months.

Meeting late afternoon on Friday, we soon got chatting and got straight into our first yoga session. This was a yin flow which was a restorative practice. Meaning we held the postures for longer to work deeper in the body as well as to relax.

It was just what was needed after a hectic week and it helped me to get out of my head and focus on being in the moment. It was great to think about the space that had been created for us as well as the space we had created for ourselves by being there for the weekend.

Everyone their was at different levels but that didn’t matter. The good things was no one was thinking about what everyone was doing. We are all there for ourselves and to get the best out of it. Comparison doesn’t come into it.

As the yoga began, running concurrently we had a sound bath to help us zone out and focus on what we were doing. If you’ve not heard of them or aren’t sure, a sound bath is where you are ‘bathed’ in sound waves or vibrations to help relax and de-stress. A perfect combo with yin yoga.

It started off with the lovely lady using a special singing bowl to create a high pitched sound, it was different but very good. She walked around the room and did this every so often to help clear and lift the energy or shift it. Throughout the session she had different sized bowls which created different tones and she continued to walk around. By the end of the session she was on a lower tone and using different items to create sounds.

I really felt the energy in me shift during the session, coming out from a stressful week and trying to be more in the moment. At the end I felt lighter and focused on what was going on around me and ready to embrace the weekend.

There was one sound instrument like a drum, filled with sand or light pebbles, when moved it sounded like waves crashing on the shore. This made me feel like I was right there on a beach, relaxing on the shore. Lovely.

We were in the hall for around 90 minutes and it was beautiful. I couldn’t wait for the rest of the weekend.

We had dinner and following on from there I had a hot stones massage which was the perfect way to end the evening. I was very relaxed and went to bed straight after and had a great nights sleep, ready for the rest of the weekend.

On Saturday morning, we had a lovely yoga session outdoors, it was cold however, it was super sunny. Although I had numb toes and very cold fingers by the end of the session, the rest of my body was ok. It was great to hear the birds singing and look at the beautiful surroundings whilst going through Sun Salutation A. It was refreshing to be out in the morning air. Breathing in the coolness and warming the body up through movement and the heat of the sun. Ahh bliss.

We had free time after our morning yoga session and in the afternoon we came together again to go on a lovely walk. Early evening, not long after we returned from our walk, we met again for yoga in the evening. This session was based on personal growth, intentions and new beginnings.

Setting intentions for the seasons to come and really focusing on what we can do to bring about personal growth. Throughout the practice, which was an asana practice, we were to think about our intentions for the year to come.

At the end of our practice we did a chant ‘Sa Ta Na Ma’ which is great for giving mental clarity, reducing stress and improving memory. This was good to do and at the end of it, we did a journaling exercise about what we were proud of over the last 12 months, what we want to do in the next 12 months, and what we could do to embrace change and let go of what no longer serves us.

Our yoga teacher read out the following quote which really made me think. It’s a good quote about developing and embracing the new. See what you think:

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”

― Cynthia Occelli

This quote has really resonated with me. It gives you two sides to the story, one side looking at growth and the other destruction of the known. What can you do in your life over the next 12 months to move forward. What seeds of thought are you having?

This weekend has been fantastic. Letting go of the old and embracing the new. Paying attention to the here and now and looking ahead at what’s to come. I recommend going on a weekend yoga retreat and spending time with like minded people.

Thank you for reading, have a great week and look after you.

Love Emma xx