An invitation

This coming Saturday morning, I’ll be lighting my candles, laying out my yoga mat and logging on to Zoom to teach a live workshop – the first I’ve done since lockdown – and I’m beyond excited!

I’ve been brewing this workshop (the first in a 3-part series) for some time, and I’ve LOVED preparing for it. Originally, when I first thought about doing it, I had a sense of how transformative it could be, but I didn’t really know the half of it until I started going deep with the research and practising the tools that I’m going to be teaching.

Let me just say that the transformation on a physical and energetic level, has been profound for me. And it truly needs to be experienced to be understood.

It’s great to be doing a workshop series, because I’m always limited in how much detail I can go into in my vinyasa flow classes (‘flow’ being the key to those classes!). Workshops are a great opportunity to take a deeper dive into the learnings that yoga has to offer.

This Saturday’s deep dive is going to be into the core, an area that's both mysterious and miraculous, in equal measure.

I gotta ask, when you read the word ‘core’, what do you think about?

Most people think of the abs, specifically the rectus abdominis or 'six pack muscles', They might think about toning, weight loss and 'abs of steel'.

Of course, there's a place for all the above, but let's look at the big picture for a moment.

The core is sooo much more than your abdominals!!!

The core is the entire muscular column connecting the upper and lower body, and everything within it. The diaphragm is at the top, topped by the rib cage, and the pelvic floor is at the bottom, topped by the pelvis. The spine is at the back, and then there are all the muscles and connective tissues that surround the abdominal cavity and support the spine. The core also includes the hip flexors, which start in the lower back and travel down over the front of the pelvis, keeping it stable or ‘strapping it in’ – these also mobilise the legs and get us moving.

The core houses the solar plexus, ‘gut brain’, and organ systems (digestive and reproductive), and the part of the endocrine system that's responsible for producing and regulating stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

You may be thinking, "but Amy, I’m not an anatomist and I don’t really need to know about this stuff. Just tell me how to get the abs of steel."

Well, even a 2-minute anatomy lesson shows that far from being just a set of superficial abdominal muscles, the core runs so many of our essential processes - breathing, digestion, reproductive health, the autonomic nervous system and so much more. It shows that the core is the body’s engine and the giver of health, life and energy.

When the core is out of balance, it can keep us stuck, stagnant and in pain (think digestive issues, back pain, hip & knee pain, fatigue, nervous system dysregulation and more).

But a healthy, strong core can be a generative, infinitely replenishing source of vitality and power, fueling the active life we want to be living, long into the future.

Revitalising our core can heal our back pain, tackle inflammation, reduce internal tension, release pressure on the nerves and internal organs, and help us regulate our nervous system and manage stress.

Strong abs are just a little bonus that come along the way, in time. But they do make moving feel lighter,  easier, more supported, and more embodied (a pretty damn good bonus!).

Core strength is not just for gym fanatics chasing a six pack! It's for everyone of all ages and fitness levels, to preserve our health and vitality as we age.

So, how can yoga help us to start building a strong, balanced, healthy core?

Introducing Mindful Core Strengthening, a 6-part yoga-based process to wake up and invigorate the core, and finally go from stuck, tired and in pain, to strong, active and energised!

For optimal core health, all 6 elements must be practised regularly, and for Saturday’s workshop, we’ll be practising all of them, with a detailed focus on the foundational tools of Awareness and Alignment.

For more details on the Mindful Core Strengthening process, read my blog post here.

Here’s a quick outline of the workshop's format (this may evolve, but this is how it’s looking at the moment):

10am – arrival & opening circle

10.15am – understanding the core (a potted anatomy lesson)

10.30am – finding your supportive posture

10.45am – core awareness and embodiment (this will mostly be lying down)

11.15am – break

11.30am – a yoga practice of stretching and strengthening, including some dynamic movement to warm the core

12.15pm – a guided relaxation

12.30pm – finish

Some people have asked if it will be 2.5 hours straight of core work, the answer is no! There will some vigorous movement, akin to a normal open-level dynamic yoga class, but there will also be periods spent lying down. With that in mind, please bring a pillow and blanket or anything you need to be cosy. A list of what to bring will be emailed to you when you join.

In the second and third workshops, which are on 5th and 19th October respectively (save the dates!), we’ll be spending more time on the Activation & Release elements for safe, mindful, integrated core strengthening, and the Breath element, showing you how to contain life force energy in your core for more aliveness and vitality!

After each workshop, I’ll be giving you some practices to take away and do on your mat each day. There will be the chance to join the course FB group to share your progress, get support and stay accountable. It’s completely optional of course, but it will help you integrate the learnings into daily practice.

Come join us! The first workshop is live on Zoom, on Saturday 21st September 2024, from 10am – 12.30pm. The investment is £19. Once you join, you’ll receive an email with your Zoom link and all the details.

I hope you'll join. It won’t be the same without you! Click here to book your spot.

Warmly,

Amy xx