When we are all trying to be whimsical and free-spirited in the year of the horse, stretch out your back and get into downward dog! When you’re eighty-five and able to run laps around your grandkids, you’ll be thankful to the ancient Indian practice.
Yoga.
People began to practice yoga 5,000 years ago as a spiritual discipline which focused on mental and spiritual health. Now, we practise yoga world-wide, attending retreats and classes, to aid our physical wellbeing and flexibility.
If you’re like me, and are an avid ‘TikTok’ user, you may have seen the craze of late: ‘opening your hips’. I want to know exactly how practising yoga everyday could benefit my life directly, now, and in the future.
I sat down for a chat in ‘child’s-pose’ with Caitlin Poole, a local yoga teacher, to ask just why yoga can be lifechanging for us to start practising now, as young adults.
Firstly, I asked her just why she practises yoga.
Caitlin- “Initially, yoga to me was always about “stretching” and flexibility, and I viewed it for years as simply another exercise activity. I started going to loads of different teachers, picking up lovely nuggets of knowledge from each of them, and began soaking up the philosophy. “
“There are too many reasons why I practise yoga- but to put it very simply, yoga keeps me grounded, teaches me so much about myself and the type of person I want to be, and is my anchor in life. I practise yoga to have something to live by, something to return to when I feel lost in the chaos, and to have something remind me to let go when I feel myself gripping onto expectations and outcomes”
This sparked my curiosity. I wanted to find out exactly how yoga has improved Caitlin’s life.
“I am both physically and mentally a much stronger person than before I was practicing daily. I respect my body and what it can do for me so much more- I am strong, I can carry my body weight, I am mobile and flexible, all of which are so important for getting older.”
At this point, I was really beginning to see the appeal. My own granny must walk with a stick and can barely leave the house due to her mobility issues. If rolling out my mat and getting ‘zen’ every once in a while, would help me be able to walk when I am eighty, why wouldn’t I?
Caitlin also said, “It has also helped me reframe any sort of body image problems I face both in the past and present- yoga teaches me how lucky I am to be able.”
“I AM ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE THEY SHOULD PRACTISE YOGA MORE!”
“Asides from the physical benefits, like strength, flexibility and mobility, when people come to me for advice, I often find myself using yoga to comfort them…yoga is rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, but its principles still apply to everyday life.”
Finally, I asked Caitlyn the all-important question: What is her favourite pose?
“Eka pada rajakapotasana, or pigeon pose! The posture is intended to open the hips, stretch the thighs, groin, and psoas. The psoa’s are deep core muscles located on both sides of the spine, connecting the lumbar spine to the top of the femur. Emotional stress and trauma get stored in the hips when your body prepares us for fight or flight. Our body tenses up, and prepares to run, and when this physical build up does not manifest, the built-up tension stores in the fascia in and around the hips. Pigeon challenges me to find ‘my edge’ and helps me to release and let go of the emotions being held in my hips.”
Overall, through Caitlins expert advice I have gathered that, not only yoga will aid my physical strength, now and later in life, it will also help me to regulate my emotions and de-stress. I don’t know about you, but I am about to amazon prime a yoga mat and make sure I open my hips tomorrow!
HOROSCOPES
ARIES
ADVENTUROUS AND ENTHUSIASTIC, IMPATIENT, AND IMPULSIVE
An amazing, fun, and fabulous adventure is coming your way this month. You will visit somewhere you’ve always wanted to go to. You will experience a day which will impact you for the remainder of your life.
Your coffee shop of the month: Beatnik
TAURUS
STABLE AND GROUNDED, STUBBORN AND LAZY. SELFISH AND MATERIALISTIC
You will spend a lot of time in bed this month, and that’s okay. You will protect your peace and save up your pennies for an elite summer of sun and fun.
Your coffee shop of the month: Maeve
GEMINI
SOCIAL AND TALKATIVE. FICKLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS. SPEAKS WITOUT THINKING
You will accidentally tell someone how you really feel about them, via a crazy drunken night. But… it will work in your favour; they will feel the same way about you. A new special bond will blossom.
Your coffee shop of the month: Cairngorm Coffee
CANCER
EMOTIONAL AND SENSITIVE, PRONE TO STRESS AND DEPRESSION
No tears will be shed by you this month, thank goodness. Happiness is upon you; your life is looking up. Take a break! You deserve it.
Your coffee shop of the month: Disposition
LEO
CONFIDENT AND CHARISMATIC, PRIDE AND EGO PROBLEMATIC
Your confidence is something to be proud of! You are just that girl! This is your sign to treat yourself to a new item of clothing this month, perhaps something that you’ve had your eye on for a long time!
Your coffee shop of the month: Urban Angel
VIRGO
PERFECTIONIST, ANXIETY. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
You should take a chill-pill Virgo! Give yourself a rest and stop expecting so much from yourself so quickly, a car doesn’t run on no fuel. Take a look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are enough!
Your coffee shop of the month is: Hideout
LIBRA
PEACE LOVING AND DIPLOMATIC, INDECISIVE
You should set something up this month. Take the reins and arrange a get together with friends, or a dinner party with loved ones. Perhaps tea and cake with your grandparents or a night out with the girls. Everyone will love it!
Your coffee shop of the month is: Lovecrumbs
SCORPIO
INTENSE AND MYSTERIOUS, OVER SECRETIVE. JEALOUS
Try to focus on your own goals this month, and not anyone else’s success. Comparison is the thief of joy; please enjoy how far you have personally come. Think about where you were this time two years ago compared to where you are now!
Your coffee shop of the month: Lowdown
SAGITTARIUS
INDEPENDENT AND HONEST, CARELESS AND IMPULSIVE. THINK ONLY OF THE MOMENT.
You’re impulsive, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Do something a little crazy, why not get a new tattoo, or book a holiday to somewhere random. Live a little. Life is too short not to, and you know it!
Your coffee shop of the month: Kate’s
CAPRICORN
RESPONSIBLE AND DISCIPLINED, EMOTIONALLY DISTANT. NEGLECT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.
Cry this month Capricorn! Let it all out! Cry from happiness, laughter, sadness, rage. Feel your emotions and get to know yourself. Weird people out a little.
Your coffee shop of the month is: Throat Punch
AQUARIUS
INNOVATIVE AND INDEPENDENT. EMOTIONALLY DETATCHED. NO COMPROMISE.
Tell someone that you love them. Tomorrow or next week. Express your emotions and let someone know just how much they mean to you. You never know what is around the corner.
Your coffee shop of the month is: Gorse
PISCES
DEEPLY SENSITIVE, FANTASIES NO REALITY
Dream big Pisces! There is no harm in wishing the best for yourself, and you will get there, maybe not this year, but your future will pan out exactly how you imagine it to.
Your coffee shop of the month is: Heart and Bottle
