April 2025 Theme

April 2025 Theme

As Spring progresses, it reminds us of the flowing tide of the sea. The tide is flowing into our lives filling us with new opportunities, new affirmations and new challenges. In order that we can open up to all of this, we must surrender to the sea, to the incoming tide of our lives. We are to be washed afresh, blessed by the seas gentle touch and cool caress. 

The incoming tide offers us a chance to change, a time to be refreshed after feeling the stark bareness of Winter. Our Yoga practice can reflect these things as we move with greater ease in the gradually increasing warmth of the season. 

You may wish to listen to the sound of the sea as you practice, to feel your incoming tide awakening you within. 

1. Begin in Swastikasana, Virasana or another comfortable seated             position where your spine is lifted. Take a few moments here to breathe. Bringing your attention to your breath, notice each inhale and exhale and how the breath mirrors the sound of the sea. Breathing in your fresh tide as the waves come close;  breathing out and releasing any concerns or tensions to be washed away in the waves.

2. Moving into Adho Mukha Savasana to feel the earth at the four points of contact. Bending the knees to push the hips up to the Sun. Inhaling as you lift the knees up into the thighs and exhaling as you release the calves and heels down. Breathing here for a few breaths; feeling how you are connected to the earth whilst rising up to the warm sunshine. Exhale to come out of the pose. 

3. Coming to Tadasana. Moving into Virabhadrasana One. Feeling the chest open, the arms stretching from the side ribs and the bend of the right knee as you release to the ground beneath you. Feel the breath alter as the arms are lifted. 

Repeat with left leg leading. 

4. Coming to sit on the mat. Move into Ardha Matsyendrasana with the right leg bent up. Feel the stretching and squeezing of the internal organs as you release the blood flow, opening up your internal tide. Hold the twist whilst breathing normally for a few breaths. Release slowly with an exhale. 

Repeat with the left leg bending. 

5. Come to Savasana or another position where you can be still and comfortable for relaxation, making sure you will be warm. 

Return to your breathing, like the sound of the sea. 

Relaxation- Incoming Tide

You are by the sea. The day is warm and sunny and as the sea rolls in you can feel the vibrations of its energy beneath where you sit. The sea rolls towards you and you feel a salty splash on your face. The tide moves out, ebbing away. The sea is loud and full of movement. Its endless restlessness, yet with such a restful influence on you. How strange that something so noisy and full of forceful movement should stir up so much peace. You stare at the foamy patterns in the water as the sea begins to swirl around your feet and you feel almost hypnotised. Breathe in the fresh clean air as the sea becomes a part of you. Watch the sunlight shimmering like tiny diamonds upon the waves. Feel yourself here, just you and the sea reaching out to touch you. Your nervous system soothed by its gentle caress…

Bring your awareness back to your breath. With two exhales bring your hands onto your body. Feel the movement of your breath beneath your hands like the waves of the sea…

Namaste.