Posts By: KellySlade

So how to put into words the experiences of this last week…. I don’t know, but I’ll try.

Thank you to you all. Thank you for trusting me with your retreat, I know how precious your time is and when you choose to spend even an hour of it with me in the class, I’m eternally grateful. But this was so much more.. A whole 5 days of incredible emotions. The journey we have all been on is nothing short of humbling.

So a little bit about this last week… Every single person that decided to retreat with me this week had their own life stuff they needed to process. I learned a little more about each and every one and I loved every minute of it all.

Connections are so important to me. When I decided to run retreats I knew I couldn’t be that teacher that offered a yoga class and then hides away.

I needed to be with them all every step of this retreat. Of course I encouraged time for themselves, stillness and quiet. But I wanted them to know I was there for them, for whatever they needed. I knew energetically and physically at the end of it all I would be exhausted but frankly I do not care. I have never ever laughed so much, cried, hugged, flowed, been still and been continuously on the move as I have in the last few days. I have never known such a group of people enjoy each other’s company as much as my retreat family have done this week.

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I am so incredibly honoured to have come second in the category of best Yoga/Pilates studio in the prestigious Muddy Stiletto Awards 2024. I actually can’t believe it. It was such a shock to even be nominated, but then to have so many of my lovely yogis make the effort to vote for me as well! As you know I’m not officially a studio but a one-woman business owner and retreat facilitator just offering what I hope to be a space for your to retreat from day-to-day life worries and chores.

Whether it be a yoga class, special event, day retreat or even an overseas residential retreat, all my offerings are there for you to enjoy some respite. To relax and be yourself with an awesome like-minded community.

Thank you to each and every single person that has voted, it’s so reassuring to know that you appreciate me and what I create. Each and every one of my yogis are my tribe, I couldn’t be where I am today without you. I will keep aspiring to be all I can be for you, I will keep holding the space, I will continue to build our yogi community.

If you’d like to join me for a class or retreat soon, keep an eye out for my newsletter (subscribe) or visit the classes section of the website to find a time to suit you. If there’s not, there’s always the online library!

Finally the time has come and I can let you all know officially what I have been planning…. Not one, but two overseas yoga retreats! How exciting is that?

When I first offered myself as a yoga teacher, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in a position to plan and host a yoga retreat of my own. But as my little yoga business has grown over the past few years, I am always guided by my yogis as to what they feel would help complete their yoga practise. I am, after all here to serve you. To make yoga accessible to my community, to those who choose to join me for classes, yoga events, day retreats and all the other fun activities I have planned. A common theme was that after Covid we all deserve some me-time.

That after a rather hectic couple of years you need some downtime, time to reconnect back in with yourself.

So after more research than I care to mention, I have found two incredible retreat venues. Originally I was only going to offer one next year, but after 50 of you amazing yogis decided you wanted to be added to the VIP list to be first in the know about a retreat, I had to make some adjustments.

I am inviting you to Alicante in May and Ibiza in October 2024.

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So you’re brand new to yoga, you may be feeling the effects of age creeping up on you as you bend down to slip your shoes on. Or perhaps after a few hours gardening you are laid up for the rest of the afternoon with a bad back. Or maybe even you have seen a few contortionists throw some handstand shapes on Instagram and think ‘I would love to do that!’  

Whatever your reason that brings you to yoga, know you’re in the right place. Generally 9/10 people that look for a yoga class, it’s because they would like a movement based practise and they’ve heard the hype surrounding yoga and would love to give it a go. But what they end up experiencing is so much more. 

Yoga has been around for many years. In fact some early traces were found over 5,000 years ago. But without writing an essay of the history (if you’d like some book recommendations, message me and I’ll be more than happy to provide some guidance), yoga has evolved. Especially for the western world. It’s said there could be over 300 million yoga practitioners in the world… isn’t that amazing?  

But what is yoga? Yoga in its essence means to unite. To unite body and mind.

But to practise yoga is not just physical movement. It’s how we conduct ourselves in our day to day lives. But again, I could waffle on about this for hours. What you’re here for is to reaffirm what you already know… that yoga will make you feel so much freer in your movements. It will increase your mobility, flexibility, balance. It will help prevent osteoporosis, it will lessen stress and anxiety. It will improve interoception which will in turn, allow you to respond to your body earlier so you will become more in tune with your body. You will change. Your body will change, your mindset will change. 

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I am constantly amazed how things evolve. When I wrote my last post with all the plans I had for the year ahead, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have to update it with so much more fun stuff!

When we set a seed of intention.. for me it is to strive to provide the highest quality events and experiences for my yogis; more ideas and opportunities become available to us.

I love to mix it up, incorporating exciting complementary workshops and self-care events so all that attend have the most fabulous, relaxing time. Just a little reprieve from the day-to-day stresses of life, time for them to laugh, breathe and reset.

The most important thing I have found is; I’m not trying to be something I’m not. I’m honouring myself by creating these events with unique ideas which I enjoy doing. For me, this is the ultimate time out – practising breathwork, yoga asana, yoga Nidra and then I am ready to truly appreciate the day. Whether it be a workshop practising mindfulness with a Kokedama workshop (as with the last day retreat), or a delicious brunch courtesy of Deans Place Hotel I find I find I can be in the moment and enjoy being with other like-minded yogis.

So, back to what is coming up for the rest of the year…

I warn you though, a little spoiler alert for whoever reads this all the way through.. So if you prefer not to know what’s happening quite yet and prefer a more timely fashion, don’t click the little button!

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Due to fabulous feedback after my Candlelit Christmas Nidra, this class will now become a regular feature in my timetable. A new monthly Nidra for those of you how would just like to spend an hour relaxing and taking some time for yourself. Time out from the day to day stresses of life. A time to just be. All you need to do is show up, get comfy and receive.

Be prepared to relax body and mind so you can reawaken energised, free from negative thought patterns and anxiety.

More information about Yoga Nidra and its benefits are explained in a previous post. I absolutely love that my yogis are embracing Yoga Nidra.

My first Yoga Brunch event is scheduled for Saturday 5 February. An invigorating yoga practise followed by a delicious brunch at Deans Place Hotel in Alfriston. This is event is already fully booked!

After the half term I am introducing a brand new Chair Yoga course into my timetable.

It is really important to me yoga is accessible for everyone and I hope this offering will appeal to those who find mat based classes challenging. Using the support of a chair more yogis can experience the benefits that yoga can have, just linking breath with movement. Freeing up blockages, releasing aches and pains.

Next up, I have arranged a Spring into Spring Yoga Retreat Day on Saturday 5 March in Alfriston.

A day centred around self care. An opportunity to move and breathe together through an invigorating yoga practise resetting body and mind.

We will explore breath techniques to calm overactive minds to boost mental well-being. Relax completely with an extended yoga Nidra practise that will ensure you leave with a renewed energy and thoroughly nourished with delicious, nutritious food and cake! I am absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with HS Botanics. We are offering you the chance to unleash your creativity by making your own Kokedama to take home and love. This ancient tradition of housing the plant roots not only looks stunning but guarantees longevity and plant health. Even if you’re not usually green fingered!

Please do keep an eye on my website, newsletter and social media posts as there are more plans in the making. I can’t wait to provide a space with you all, hopefully there will be an event that will appeal to you. So you can find some space, some calm so you can embrace your inner self and reconnect.

Since May 17th 2021 when the government lifted its restrictions to allow in-person yoga classes I have taught over 170 classes and 129 yogis. I honestly can not believe it. When I completed my yoga teacher training and then subsequent specialised trainings, I had no idea who, if anyone would come along!

I scheduled a Beginners Course and that sold out within three days, so I arranged another one and the same thing happened. I think in those first six weeks I ran three Beginners Courses concurrently trying to keep up with demand. One thing I was adamant about was not having a large number of people in my classes. When I have attended classes myself and there is a high volume of people, the personal attention from the teacher is lost.

I have met some truly inspirational people, they have formed my yogi tribe and I am absolutely honoured they continue to practise with me.

We have laughed, mixed up our left and right (me more than them!) and have practised together and bonded. I have certainly grown as a teacher, they have increased their confidence, strength, flexibility and mobility. I see the differences in each and every one and this has made me so fulfilled and filled up my happy cup as my daughter likes to say. I know they feel these changes in how their body moves and also I know many of them are experiencing the benefits. A few have remarked their back pain has disappeared, or they are feeling muscle groups they didn’t realise they had and also they are sleeping better too!

What more could I ask for as a yoga teacher?

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So, the last few months have been like a whirlwind for me… hence why I haven’t had time to update my News. I have been so honoured to start teaching some spectacular new yogis. I have been astounded by their enthusiasm, it really is pretty inspiring. When I started my yoga teacher training, I was unsure whether I’d actually teach. When us yoga teachers start teaching, we lose much of our own personal practise which is a very hard decision to make.

Yoga, as you all must know already is really important to me. I absolutely love the way it makes me feel, which is why I decided to overcome my nerves and get on and actually teach.

It takes more courage than you’d think to put yourself out there. This is something I feel so passionate about, that I’d be heartbroken if people decided that actually they hated it and me! My creativity goes into designing thoughtful flows so each of you can feel like you’ve achieved something in my classes. I know yoga is not about ‘nailing a pose’, but I’m afraid all of us have an ego that needs to be nourished from time to time! I just try and keep the ego section in check, by making my classes fun and most of all, not to take it too seriously.

Over 50 new yogis have completed my Beginners 6 week Course. And I am proud of each and every one of them. I have learnt so much from them as they have from me.. a pure exchange of energies and knowledge.

Each and every one has overcome mental and physical obstacles to attend week on week and even signing up again for another round of 6 weeks. These yogis are my tribe, they trust me so implicitly that it’s just so humbling. And they have all become stronger… not only with their muscle definition, but also in their attitude towards me! Being not afraid to tell me how certain sections of the class they find challenging. But what they don’t see, or maybe they do, but I have a better vantage point, is how much their stamina has improved too. It really is so wonderful to see.

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I have been so incredibly fortunate to study at Breathing School with the iconic Ben Wolff at the Shala in London. He is incredibly knowledgeable in the fields of neuroscience and clinical hypnotherapy but has spent the last 10 years studying the effects of the breath on our health, well being and our brain waves. 

So how can I spend 30 hours studying something we all know how to do?

Well, to be honest I did wonder this when I began too. But now I’ve completed the Breathing School course I feel I have barely scratched the surface. As a species we have become incredibly lazy in utilising full belly breaths the way we did when we were babies. Have you ever watched a baby sleep? Seen the rise and fall of their belly as they breathe? Later on in life we seem to lose this skill, choosing instead to only breathe into the top part of our lungs. And then there’s the speed in which we breathe.. actually the optimum is only 6 breaths a minute! Give it a go, I bet you’re not breathing at that rate are you? I certainly wasn’t. 

Then there’s the mouth breathing…..

So many of us are mouth breathers now and actually find it difficult to revert back to nasal breathing. Nasal breathing is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral, providing our body’s first line of defence. Even more important in today’s situation. 

Utilising belly breathing and properly engaging the diaphragm increases the body’s ability to use oxygen by 500% by increasing the blood circulation to the brain. It also helps the body’s ability to use nitrous oxide, the pathogen responsible for oxygen delivery. Up to 20% more oxygen is available to nasal breathers than mouth breathers too. Isn’t that insane? We can just make this small adjustment and our health will benefit no end. 

So that was just the basic breathing part of the course, there was so much more!

Ben introduced us to specific techniques utilising the breath than can help us with anxiety, panic attacks, grief, Long Covid, hypertension, menopause, pain… and the list goes on. 

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So lockdown has been long and dull without being about to teach in person. But I have utilised my time having enrolled on some fabulous courses. In a previous life pre-kids, I worked as a Senior Dental Nurse in one of the most prestigious Dental Hospitals in the country. Although fantastic for my career at the time, it did mean we were referred many difficult and challenging cases including those with Head and Neck Cancer. To cut a long story short, although heart breaking at times, being part of the recovery process was so rewarding.

How can Yoga for Cancer help you? Even if you’re battling chronic fatigue.. there’s a pose and breath technique for that.

When I became a yoga teacher, I did so because I love it so completely and really need you all to experience how wonderful your body can feel! Adding Yoga for Cancer to the list of services I can offer makes me feel kind of complete, if that makes sense. Suddenly I feel like I’ve come full circle back to the parts of my life that gave me the most satisfaction. But this is all about me isn’t it? So what can Yoga for Cancer do for you, how can it help you or someone that you know who is on this journey?

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