Green Deva

I believe that anyone can practice yoga regardless of their age, ability or physical condition and my classes include staging/modifications to facilitate this.

“Your body is the only place you have to live. You only get one of them and they are temporary. Be kind to it, nourish it, move it, say nice things to it and love it. “

20/12/2025

🎁 DAY 11 OF 12: ELEVEN MINUTES OF YOGA NIDRA

Want to know a secret?

11 minutes of Yoga Nidra = 2 hours of regular sleep

In terms of rest and restoration. During the exhausting holiday season, this is PURE. GOLD.

What is Yoga Nidra?
You lie down (YES, REALLY) and follow a guided meditation that systematically relaxes your entire body while you stay conscious.

You're not trying to sleep, though you might. You're entering the space between waking and sleeping where DEEP HEALING happens.

The benefits:
✨ Dramatically reduces stress & anxiety
✨ Improves sleep quality
✨ Lowers blood pressure
✨ Releases deep tension
✨ Clears mental clutter
✨ Restores your nervous system

How to practice:
1. Find quiet space (lock the door!)
2. Lie on your back, arms by sides
3. Cover yourself with a blanket
4. Use a guided recording (loads free on YouTube)
5. Simply follow the voice
6. If you fall asleep, that's fine!

When to practice:
Afternoon slump - Instead of coffee & biscuits, try this. You'll emerge clearer and more energized.
Before bed - Helps you let go when your mind won't stop spinning.
During nap time - If you have small ones, practice when they sleep.

This requires ZERO effort, flexibility, or skill. Just lie there and listen.

💤 Day 11 of 12. Rest is productive.

19/12/2025

🎁 DAY 10 OF 12: TEN GRATITUDES

Radical idea incoming:

What if, instead of focusing on everything going WRONG (burnt turkey, awkward conversations, forgotten gifts)...

You deliberately noticed what's going RIGHT?

Not toxic positivity. Just honest acknowledgment of good alongside the challenging.

THE DAILY TEN
Each evening, write down 10 things you're grateful for from that day.
They don't have to be profound. Smaller and more specific is actually BETTER.
Examples:
• Hot water for your shower
• That parking space that magically appeared
• Your dog/cat's complete lack of judgment about your eating habits
• One moment of genuine connection
• The smell of pine
• A stranger's kindness in a queue
• The fact you made it through another day

Why this works:
Your brain has a NEGATIVITY BIAS. It spots problems and threats (kept our ancestors alive, makes modern life feel harder than it is).

Gratitude practice literally REWIRES your brain to see the full picture, not just disasters.

You're not denying difficulty. You're creating BALANCE.

💛 Day 10 of 12. Gratitude is a practice, not a feeling.

18/12/2025

🎁 DAY 9 OF 12: NINE BREATHS OF CALM

When your stress levels are through the ROOF, this ancient breathing technique is like pressing your internal RESET BUTTON.

Nine rounds = 3 minutes = Changed brain chemistry

I kid you not. Science backs this up.

ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING
(Nadi Shodhana - sounds fancy, feels magical)

What it does:
✨ Balances left & right brain hemispheres
✨ Reduces cortisol (stress hormone)
✨ Activates your "rest and digest" mode
✨ Calms anxiety FAST

How to do it:
1. Close right nostril with thumb
2. Inhale left for 4 counts
3. Close left nostril with ring finger
4. Exhale right for 4 counts
5. Inhale right for 4 counts
6. Close right, exhale left for 4 counts

That's ONE round. Repeat 9 times.

When you need this MOST:
❌ Before a challenging family gathering
❌ After upsetting news
❌ When you can't sleep due to mental chatter
❌ Before making a big decision
❌ When anxiety creeps in

Fair warning: You'll look slightly odd doing this in public. 😄

🧘 Day 9 of 12. Breath is your superpower.

17/12/2025

🎁 DAY 8 OF 12: EIGHT-FOLD PATH OF BALANCED LIVING

2,000+ years ago, a sage named Patanjali outlined EIGHT principles for living with peace and freedom.

Today, we're going to translate that ancient wisdom into modern festive sanity.

YOUR 8-FOLD HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE:
1. ETHICAL CONDUCT - Don't harm with words (even when Uncle Bob starts his annual rant 🙄)

2. SELF-DISCIPLINE - Practice contentment. Your wonky gingerbread house is PERFECT.

3. PHYSICAL PRACTICE - Move your body. Even just walking. Even just stretching.

4. BREATH CONTROL - Before reacting, BREATHE. Before answering that loaded question, BREATHE.

5. SENSORY WITHDRAWAL - Give yourself permission to leave the party early. Say no to another event. Your senses need rest.

6. CONCENTRATION - Do ONE thing at a time. When wrapping, just wrap. When eating, just eat. Revolutionary.

7. MEDITATION - Create islands of stillness. Two minutes in your car. A mindful cuppa. Watching rain fall.

8. BLISSFUL ABSORPTION - Allow moments of pure joy. A child's face. Your favourite treat. Laughter with old friends. THIS is what it's all about. ✨

You don't need to master all eight. Pick ONE to focus on today.

🕉️ Day 8 of 12. Ancient wisdom for modern chaos.

16/12/2025

🎁 DAY 7 OF 12: SEVEN SUN SALUTATIONS

Here's the thing about the holidays:
We SIT. A lot.

In cars, at tables, on sofas opening presents. Our bodies are CRAVING movement.

Seven Sun Salutations = 10 minutes = Total system reset

No amount of Quality Street can give you what this will:

✨ Every muscle awakened
✨ Heart pumping, blood flowing
✨ Physical tension released
✨ Mental clutter cleared
✨ That lovely warm, energised feeling

When to flow:
MORNING - Before the chaos. Even in your PJs. Sets your tone for the day.
MIDDAY - When you need a reset. Better than scrolling, guaranteed.
EVENING - Shed the day's stress before dinner. Arrive as a human, not a stress ball.

Each round takes 90 seconds. That's LESS time than a passive-aggressive conversation about the washing up.

But unlike that conversation, Sun Salutations leave you feeling centered, strong and capable.

🌞 Day 7 of 12. Movement is medicine.

15/12/2025

🎁 DAY 6 OF 12: SIX POINTS OF BODY AWARENESS

When your mind is spinning with lists and worries, there's ONE place that's always in the present moment:

Your body.

Your body can't exist in the past or future. It's only ever HERE, NOW.

So, when you're spiralling, come back to these six points:
1. FEET ON GROUND
Feel them. Wiggle your toes. You're here, on earth.

2. SITTING BONES/LEGS
Notice where your body meets the chair. Let it hold you.

3. HANDS
Are you clenching? Soften them. Let them rest.

4. SHOULDERS
Are they up by your ears? (Probably.) Roll them back and down.

5. JAW
Unclench. Create space between your teeth. So much tension lives here.

6. BREATH
Where do you feel it? Nose? Chest? Belly? Just notice.

This takes 30 SECONDS or 5 MINUTES - you choose.

Especially powerful when you feel yourself leaving your body through stress, overwhelm, or one-too-many glasses of wine. 😅

💫 Day 6 of 12. Your body is your anchor.

12/12/2025

🎁 DAY 5 OF 12: FIVE SENSES MEDITATION

The holidays are a SENSORY ASSAULT:
Flashing lights. Constant music. Rich foods. Crowded spaces.
It can be OVERWHELMING.

But here's a yogic secret: Your senses can be doorways to CALM instead of chaos.

THE 5-4-3-2-1 GROUNDING TECHNIQUE
(Takes 2 minutes. Works anywhere. No one will even notice.)

5 things you can SEE (really look - light on a bauble, steam from tea)
4 things you can TOUCH (your clothing, the table, your hands)
3 things you can HEAR (carols, laughter, your breath)
2 things you can SMELL (pine, cinnamon, winter air)
1 thing you can TASTE (even just the taste of this moment)

This practice is your portable panic-stopper.

Use it:
• In the middle of a crowded party
• Waiting in an endless queue
• When anxiety starts creeping in
• Sitting by the tree at 2am

Try it RIGHT NOW as you read this post.

✨ Day 5 of 12. Bringing presence to the chaos.

11/12/2025

🎁 DAY 4 OF 12: FOUR-FOLD PATH OF KINDNESS

The holidays have a magical way of bringing out both our BEST and WORST selves.

You know the drill: You're patient and generous one moment, then snapping at your partner over wrapping paper the next.

Here's your yoga practice for today: The Four Directions of Kindness

1️⃣ KINDNESS TO YOURSELF
You burned the roast. Forgot someone's gift. Wearing PJs at 3pm. You're STILL worthy of love.
Mantra: "May I be gentle with myself."

2️⃣ KINDNESS TO LOVED ONES
Even the ones who ask intrusive questions. They're stressed too. A genuine smile or simply holding your tongue = profound acts of love.

3️⃣ KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
The shop assistant who's been on their feet for 8 hours. The person who "stole" your parking space. The delivery driver. A smile costs nothing.

4️⃣ KINDNESS TO THE DIFFICULT ONES
Advanced yoga, folks. Can you hold them in your heart anyway? Even from a distance if necessary.

Today's Practice: Choose ONE direction and practice it intentionally today.

❤️ Day 4 of 12. The practice of yoga is to be kind, not to be perfect.

10/12/2025

🎁 DAY 3 OF 12: THREE GROUNDING POSES

Feeling like you're spinning faster than Rudolph on an energy drink?

Time to come back to EARTH. Literally.

When everything feels chaotic, these three poses will root you, stabilise you and remind your body that gravity still exists (despite what your anxiety suggests).

THE GROUNDING TRIO:
🏔️ 1. MOUNTAIN POSE (1 minute) Stand tall, feet grounded, eyes closed. Press down through all four corners of your feet. Whisper: "I am steady. I am here. I am enough."

🧒 2. CHILD'S POSE (2 minutes)
Knees wide, fold forward, forehead to ground. Let the earth hold you. This is literal surrender.

🦵 3. LEGS UP THE WALL (5 minutes) Lie on your back, bum near the wall, legs up. Close your eyes. This reverses all the standing/shopping/madness.

You can do all three or just pick ONE when you need a reset.

Today's Challenge: Try just one of these poses TODAY. Before bed is perfect.
Which one calls to you?

🌿 Day 3 of 12. Your nervous system will thank you.

09/12/2025

🎁 DAY 2 OF 12: TWO MINUTES OF STILLNESS

Yesterday we breathed. Today we're going to do something REALLY radical...

Absolutely nothing.

For TWO WHOLE MINUTES.

I know, I know. You have a million things to do. But here's the thing: those two minutes will actually make you MORE productive, not less.

How to claim your 2-minute sanctuary:
🚪 Lock yourself in the bathroom if needed
🚗 Sit in your car before going into the shops
🛋️ Hide in your bedroom

Then:
• Close your eyes or soften your gaze
• Notice sounds, sensations, thoughts
• Don't try to empty your mind (impossible!)
• When thoughts drift to your to-do list (they will), gently come back to the present

The gift shops will still be there. The emails can wait.
But this moment?
This is YOURS.

Today's Challenge: Set a timer for 2 minutes. Right now. I'll wait.

Did you do it? How did it feel?

💫 Day 2 of our 12 Days of Yogic Christmas journey.
Tomorrow: Movement that grounds you.

08/12/2025

🎁 DAY 1 OF 12: ONE CONSCIOUS BREATH

Starting today, I'm sharing 12 yogic gifts to help you navigate the festive season with more JOY and less STRESS. No mat required. No flexibility needed. Just simple, powerful practices you can do anywhere.

Gift #1: One Conscious Breath
Before you check your phone tomorrow morning, try this:
• Inhale slowly for 4 counts
• Exhale gently for 6 counts
• That's it. One breath.

This single breath is your reset button when:
❌ Aunt Marge asks why you're still single
❌ The turkey's still frozen at noon
❌ You realize you forgot batteries for ALL the toys

Your Challenge: Take one conscious breath RIGHT NOW as you read this.
Notice how your body feels.
Then tomorrow morning, do it again before your feet hit the floor.

🧘‍♀️ Follow along this December as I share simple yoga tools for a more peaceful festive season.

05/12/2025

🌿 Between Classes: Keep the Practice Alive 🌿

Can't make it to class? Your practice doesn't have to pause.

For our regulars:
Our website has resources to keep you inspired between sessions - whether that's a five-minute breathing practice when life gets hectic or some insight into the philosophy behind what we do on the mat.

For the curious:
If you've been thinking about trying yoga, now's the perfect time to explore what Green Deva Yoga is all about. Get a feel for our approach, our philosophy and what makes our classes different. No pressure, no sales pitch - just a genuine invitation to see if this resonates with you.

Find everything at: www.green-deva.com

Read about our classes, explore yoga philosophy, discover what moving meditation really means, and find inspiration for your practice - wherever you are in your
journey.

We'd love to see you on the mat soon.
🗓️ Tuesdays, 6-7pm – Mayer Hall, Bebington
🗓️ Wednesdays, 7:30pm – Encore Music & Wellness Studio, Hooton

Old friends and new faces, you're all welcome. 🌟

Address

Chester
CH664JF

Opening Hours

6pm - 7pm

Website

http://www.green-deva.com/, https://green-deva.com/holistic-courses/

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