Green Deva

16/02/2026

10 Common Midlife Anxieties (and 10 Gentle Yoga Ways to Manage Them)

Midlife can bring changes that quietly unsettle our confidence, freedom or indeed our sense of self, feelings that are much more common than we think. Fortunately, yoga can offer us a steady, accessible form of support during this stage of life.

10 Midlife Anxieties You May Recognise:
1. Feeling less confident in your body
2. Fear of losing independence
3. Worry about health or ageing
4. Difficulty coping with change
5. Feeling “on edge” for no clear reason
6. Trouble sleeping or switching off
7. Loss of purpose or direction
8. Increased self-doubt
9. Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
10. Disconnection from yourself

10 Green Deva Yoga-Based Supports That Can Help:
1. Gentle Hatha postures to rebuild trust in your body
2. Slow, steady breathing to calm the nervous system
3. Standing poses to improve balance and confidence
4. Seated stretches to ease tension and restlessness
5. Mindful movement to reduce anxious energy
6. Grounding practices with feet firmly supported
7. Restorative postures for deep nervous system rest
8. Guided relaxation to support better sleep
9. Breath awareness to steady emotions
10. Regular practice to reconnect with your sense of self

Yoga doesn’t aim to “fix” anxiety - it helps you meet it with steadiness, strength and self-compassion, one breath, one movement at a time.

13/02/2026

Feeling on Edge?

Your Nervous System Might Be Overstimulated – Here’s How Yoga Can Help

Do you find yourself easily startled, restless or easily irritated?
Trouble sleeping, constant tension in your shoulders or racing thoughts can all be signs your nervous system is overstimulated.

For those of us navigating midlife and beyond, when we may be facing changes that shake our confidence, freedom or sense of self, we may unknowingly be keeping our bodies in a state of alert.

Yoga offers a gentle, effective way to soothe this overdrive. Steady movements help release tension, while intentional breathing encourage the parasympathetic nervous system - the part responsible for rest and repair - to activate, easing tension and calming the mind.

Even a few minutes a day can help you feel more centered, resilient and connected to your body.

Yoga isn’t just exercise - it’s a tool for reclaiming your sense of balance, safety and inner calm in a world that often feels overwhelming.

Take a deep breath. Your nervous system - and your well-being - will thank you.

11/02/2026

✨ In case you missed it…

Last week’s blog looks at how Hatha yoga supports anxiety in a practical, reassuring way — building strength and calm at the same time.
No pressure to relax.
No fast pacing.
Just a steady approach that helps your nervous system feel safer and more settled.

If you’re craving calm and confidence in your body, it’s worth a read.

☕ Find it here w.w.w.green-deva.com/blog

09/02/2026

10 Self-Compassion Practices for Valentine’s Month (No Chocolates Required)

Valentine’s month doesn’t have to be about romance. For those of us over 45, it’s an opportune moment to reconnect with ourselves - especially when life changes challenge our sense of who we are becoming.

Here are 10 grounded (non-cheesy), self-compassion practices to support your body and mind:
1. Pause + Breathe – One slow hand-on-heart breath before reacting.
2. Gentle Morning Stretch – Move joints slowly before the day rushes in.
3. Stand Tall Check-In – Notice your posture; soften shoulders, lift chest.
4. Compassionate Self-Talk – Replace “I should” with “It’s okay to…”
5. Slow Walking – Feel each step, especially outdoors.
6. Body Scan – Briefly notice tension without trying to fix it.
7. Seated Grounding – Feet on the floor, name five things you can feel.
8. Restorative Pause – Lie down for 5 minutes with knees supported.
9. Gratitude for Function – Thank your body for what it can do today.
10. Evening Reflection – Ask, “What supported me today?”

Self-compassion isn’t indulgent - it’s stabilising. Small, consistent practices like these help calm the nervous system, support emotional wellbeing, and gently reinforce your sense of self.

06/02/2026

Your Nervous System, Your Heart, and Staying True to Yourself After 45

Your nervous system is your body’s control centre. It constantly scans for safety and decides when to speed things up or slow them down. When it senses stress, your heart rate increases, breathing becomes shallow and muscles tighten. This response is helpful short-term - but for those of us in our ‘middle’ years, dealing with a variety of pressures and changes - the system can stay stuck in “high alert.”

Over time, this overload can affect heart health, raising blood pressure, disrupting sleep and leaving us feeling tense, reactive or emotionally flat. Many people notice they’re no longer responding to life in ways that feel like them - a quiet loss of identity that’s easy to overlook.

Yoga offers gentle support. Mindful, steady movements help release tension, while intentional breathing encourages the body’s natural relaxation response. This encourages a healthier heart rhythm, lowers stress hormones and supports emotional balance. Hatha yoga in particular builds strength and balance without rushing the body, helping you feel grounded and capable again.

Practiced regularly - even for short periods - yoga can help you reconnect with your body, steady your heart, and feel more like yourself, even during times of change.

04/02/2026

🚀 Just dropped!

The latest Green Deva Yoga blog is live — and it explores how Hatha yoga can support anxiety and the nervous system without rushing, forcing relaxation, or lying on the floor.

It’s about steady movement, breath, and choice — especially helpful if you want to feel calmer without doing too much.

If you’ve ever thought:
• “I feel constantly switched on”
• “I want calm, but not overwhelm”
• “I need something supportive, not extreme”

☕ Take a few quiet minutes to read it here w.w.w.green-deva.com/blog

02/02/2026

Why Self-Compassion Matters

Valentine’s month often focuses on caring for others, but for those of us aged 45 years + it’s also a reminder of how much life has changed.

Shifts in roles, health or independence can quietly challenge our sense of security and even who we believe ourselves to be. When this happens, the nervous system can stay on high alert - raising heart rate, increasing tension and draining emotional energy.

Self-compassion practices offer a powerful antidote. Simple acts like slowing the breath, moving gently or speaking kindly to yourself help signal safety to the nervous system.

This calming response supports heart health by reducing stress hormones and encouraging a steadier heart rhythm. Over time, these practices can improve sleep, emotional balance and resilience.

Self-compassion isn’t about self-indulgence or ignoring reality. It’s about meeting yourself where you are, with steadiness and care.

Especially during times of uncertainty, this approach helps you stay grounded, emotionally supported and connected to your sense of self.
Try considering compassion not as something to give away - but as something that begins with you.

30/01/2026

3 Reminders for When Your Practice Feels Hard to Prioritise

You know yoga works. You've felt the difference it makes. But life gets loud and sometimes the mat feels like one more thing on the list instead of the thing that helps with everything else.

Here's what to remember:

You don't practice to be flexible - you practice to stay grounded
The physical shifts are nice, but that's not why you keep coming back. You come back because an hour on the mat reminds you what steady feels like. Because breathwork actually calms your nervous system. Because you leave clearer than you arrived.

It's not just relaxation - it's resilience
Yes, savasana is glorious. But the real gift is what happens when you hold a challenging pose and don't quit. When you notice your mind spiralling and bring it back to your breath. That mental muscle you're building? It shows up everywhere else.

Consistency beats perfection
You don't need to show up flawlessly. You just need to show up. Tired, distracted, stiff from sitting all day - come anyway. The practice meets you where you are and that's exactly when you need it most.

Your mat isn't waiting for you to have it all together. It's waiting for you to remember why you started.

Tuesdays, 6pm – Mayer Hall, Bebington
Wednesdays, 7:30pm – Encore Music & Wellness Studio, Hooton

💚 More at www.green-deva.com

Up

28/01/2026

💫 Last chance to read this one.

Our latest blog looks at how yoga extends far beyond the poses - into how you move, breathe and show up in everyday life.

If starting (or returning to) yoga has been on your mind, this is a lovely place to begin.

👉 Read it here: www.green-deva.com/the-ripple-effect-of-yoga

🌱 When you’re ready, join us for a class.

26/01/2026

The Shift Nobody Warns You About When You Start Yoga

I used to think yoga would quiet my mind. That after enough classes, I'd finally stop the relentless mental chatter, the spiralling thoughts, the 3am worry sessions about things I can't control.

Spoiler: I still overthink.

But here's what changed - and why it matters more than I expected.

Now, I catch myself doing it. Mid-spiral, something clicks: "Oh, there I go again." It's like watching my thoughts from a slight distance instead of being completely swallowed by them. That tiny gap between the thought and my reaction to it? That's the practice working.

Before yoga, there were times when anxiety would take over. A difficult conversation would replay in my head for days. I'd catastrophise about minor things until they felt enormous. And I had no tools to interrupt that pattern -I just lived in it, assuming that's how everyone's brain worked.

After yoga, I still have those thoughts. They still show up uninvited. But now I notice them arriving. I can observe the spiral starting and – most times, not always - choose not to follow it down. I can return to my breath, ground myself in my body, remember that thoughts aren't facts.

That's the real transformation yoga offers. Not an empty, peaceful mind. Not toxic positivity or pretending everything's fine. Just awareness. The ability to witness your own patterns without judgment and the tools to respond differently when you're ready.

It's not dramatic. But it's everything.

Want to experience that shift for yourself? Join us on the mat. Tuesdays 6pm in Bebington or Wednesdays 7:30pm in Hooton. No experience needed - just bring yourself.

💚

Hello, I'm Mandy, a British Wheel of Yoga qualified teacher, teaching group yoga classes and private one-to-one yoga classes in the Wirral and surrounding areas.

23/01/2026

🌟 New Beginnings: A Fresh Start for Mind, Body and Spirit 🌟

January isn't about punishing yourself back into shape - it's about renewal. This month, we're focusing on what actually matters: grounding yourself, building sustainable strength and clearing out what no longer serves you.

What to expect:
Breathwork that steadies your mind and brings genuine calm. Core-strengthening poses paired with deep stretches to create stability from the inside out. Meditation and relaxation practices that help you release what you've been carrying.

Think of it as a reset - not a boot camp.

Who's it for?
Beginners and intermediate practitioners. If you're curious, you're ready. Newcomers absolutely welcome.

When and where:
🗓️ Tuesdays, 6-7pm – Mayer Hall, Bebington (top floor)
💷 £8 drop-in | £30 for 5 weeks
🗓️ Wednesdays, 7:30pm – Encore Music & Wellness Studio, Hooton (top floor)
💷 £7 drop-in

Free parking at both venues. No need to prebook - just show up. Bring a mat if you have one; we've got spares if you don't.

Bring yourself. Bring a friend. Start fresh.

💚 More yoga inspiration at www.green-deva.com ~ sign up & stay connected

21/01/2026

Still thinking about yoga… or meaning to start?

This blog explores how yoga doesn’t change your life overnight - it shifts things gently, over time, in ways you might not expect.

From body confidence to handling life’s curveballs, these ripple effects begin simply by showing up on the mat.

👉 Read it here: green-deva.com/ the-ripple-effects-of-yoga
🧘‍♀️ If you’re curious, come try a class and see how it feels in your own body.