This year has taken us on a rollercoaster of twists and turns, and many of us have missed out on the chance to pause and reset that our long-awaited holidays so kindly provide. That’s why here at On the Beach we’re trying to bring the refreshing holiday feels to you, with the Virtual Beach Break.
So, we’ve teamed up with the lovely Lucy from Luce Yoga, to bring you your very own Yoga Escape, from the comfort of your home. But before we dive straight in, we wanted to learn more about the benefits of yoga and meditation from an expert. Here’s what Lucy had to say…
Often people come to Yoga through the physical, they start going to yoga classes and slowly they start to notice changes, changes in the body and then also some emotional changes. They might start to feel calmer, the chatter in the mind gets quieter they are less reactive. This was my experience and it led me to delve deeper into the wealth of yoga philosophy (which still very much continues to this day, it never ends) and go on to take my initial teacher training.
What are the benefits of yoga?
Yoga regulates the nervous system as there is a balance between active movement and stillness – outward energy and inward mindfulness. This combination is what balances the nervous system (the sympathetic and parasympathetic) and is what ultimately leads us to feel calm after a yoga practice. This state can also be achieved through breathwork (sometimes also known as Pranayama) and helps to take us out of the ‘fight or flight’ and into a more relaxed state of ‘rest and digest’. With continued practice, this becomes a state we can access with more ease and can be a very empowering form of self-preservation and care.
More on meditation
Meditation is also a super useful tool for life and another great way to connect to yourself. Meditation (and Yoga) aren’t about getting rid of all the thoughts in your mind, which I think is a common misconception. It’s about creating some space from your thoughts so we can choose what we react to, we can see ourselves with more clarity and we can connect to an inner quiet that is accessible to us all.
Yoga and meditation (or mindfulness) are trendy buzz words these days and it has become much more commercialised (it was pretty underground and often viewed as weird or ‘just for hippies’ until the early 00’s). Now, everyone is talking about it and if Instagram is anything to go by its very mainstream (not to mention full of unrealistic postures for most people, but that’s a whole other blog post!).
It’s all about connection
The truth is that Yoga in its essence is not mainstream, because it’s about connection. A connection to yourself, a connection to the present moment and to the world around you, and that isn’t so easy to ‘sell’ because for me it involves sitting with myself, connecting to my physical and energetic body through (generally) gentle movement and regulating my breathing. Stop the press!
At its core Yoga is simple, available for anyone and a beautiful tool to help navigate life.
A beach Yoga class – just for you!
Not only has Lucy given us a great introduction into just what makes Yoga so good for us, she’s also filmed a fantastic beach yoga session from the gorgeous Carcavelos Beach in Portugal. You can follow on from your home below and have your own yoga escape from the comfort of your living room!
Lucy’s top mindfulness resources
And of course…. there’s always Yoga with Adrianne.
Where can we find more from you Lucy?
We don’t know about you, but when we heard about all these incredible benefits – we were sold! So where can you find more from Lucy and start discovering the benefits of yoga and meditation for yourself? Well, Lucy runs a weekly Slow Flow class and she also offers private Yoga – which are both available online. Find out more about class times and read more great Yoga info from lucy on her website. We’d also recommend giving her Instagram a follow for amazing yoga inspo and some dreamy beach pics too.
Enjoying your mindful escape? Treat yourself with our virtual beach break.
