Tag: Meditation

Posted on

The Mental Health Emergency

The Mental Health Emergency is a study published by leading mental health charity Mind in June 2020 which looks specifically at the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, and the results are terrifying.

It found that 60% of adults and 58% of young people reported worse mental health.

Young people and those with existing mental health problems were worse affected.

57% of adults and 53% of young people with no prior experience of mental health problems had a lower than average mental health score.

44% young people & 44% of adults have not or rarely felt relaxed during lockdown.

Adults reported concerns about being unable to see friends and family, anxiety about friends/family catching coronavirus, not being able to go out, feeling bored and restless, anxiety about themselves catching coronavirus.

The top five concerns for young people that made their mental health worse were feeling bored/restless, not being able to see friends, not being able to go outside except for essential reasons, feeling lonely and feeling anxious about family or friends getting coronavirus.

The top five positive coping strategies used by adults were connecting with friends or family online, watching TV or films, spending time outside, doing household chores (e.g. cooking and cleaning) & listening to music or the radio.

The top five positive coping strategies used by young people were connecting with friends or family online, watching TV or films, spending time outside, listening to music or the radio and going on social media.

What strikes me about almost all of these things is they are dependant on external gratification and so the chances of disappointment are really high.

When everything around you in life is so uncertain now is the time to start a yoga, meditation & mindfulness practice.

Find something that gives you a sense of inner calm and connection, be your own anchor in a stormy sea.

If you’re struggling with mental health please contact your GP and for further help contact your local Mind or Rethink.

I teach regular yoga for mental health and mindfulness & meditation classes at Mind In Haringey and have uploaded a special yoga for mental health follow along video on my Youtube Channel which you can see below and you can also find other practices on my channel which may be of help during these turbulant times.

Posted on

triyoga opens this week!

I have two new classes at triyoga as their schedule has had to change because of the Covid guidelines. My first class back is in triyoga Shoreditch this Thursday at 12.45-2pm which sold out almost immediately. The good news is that you can still join in online via zoom! I’ll also be teaching another new class in Camden on Wednesday 5th of August 9.30-10.45, this will sell out too so be quick but again you can join via zoom as you can with all triyoga’s classes.

Both classes are vinyasa flow and suitable for all levels.

I’ve cut down my therapy work at triyoga and you can find me in Shoreditch on Mondays 10.30-2pm and Camden Wednesdays and Fridays 5-9pm. Due to cleaning in between clients I will have even less availability so book in nice and early. My first day back for massage is this Friday at 5pm and I still have a space left.

Look forward to seeing you on the couch, on the mat, or online.

Book here
Posted on

Freedom in Isolation

I’m finding it hard sitting here writing this, I feel I should come out with some words of wisdom or advice.  This whole thing is so enormous and so terrifying it’s difficult to put it into perspective.

The fear of falling ill, of loved ones becoming sick, the fear of financial ruin and the fear of loneliness and isolation are very real for many people including myself.

I’ve spent the last twenty years practicing self-cultivation, many hours spent alone in meditation, studying philosophy, psychology, martial arts and of course practicing yoga.

I feel so grateful for this now as I have a great relationship with my family and with myself.  I know who I am, what I’m about, what I want and what I need.  I have many interests and hobbies to occupy my time and when I don’t, I’m happy to be alone and enjoy silence.

Many people at this time will struggle with this.  The sick, the vulnerable, people already struggling financially and those who are already isolated will suffer greatly.  Even those who on the surface appear to have a great life filled with exciting activities, full work schedule, activities with friends and family all nicely structured and ordered, may now find that they don’t have the great relationship they thought they had with their kids and partners.  They may now feel anxious or angry that they can’t play golf, go to the gym, go and see friends in the pub or get to that yoga class.  They may find now that the things that have so far kept them happy and fulfilled are useless and they are left feeling empty and scared.  This will be hard for us all.

This is the time to dig deep into your inner resources and find out what you’re really about and to find the joy in just being.  

We’re lucky that we live in this electronic age and that there’s so much available on the web to help us.  I will, as promised to the clients I teach there, be posting some of the practices from my classes at Mind in Haringey and Rethink on my YouTube channel, I hope that some of these help.

Please try this Yoga Nidra for sleep, pop some earbuds in and listen to it when you’re in bed and ready for sleep.  Even if you don’t think you have problems with sleep, try it for five days in a row and notice any changes in how you feel, you may be pleasantly surprised!

As worrying as this situation is…

…it will pass.