I deserve to rest

Do I need to work more/work harder to be able to rest? Do I deserve to rest? Can I give myself permission to rest? 

These are some of the questions that I have been asking myself over the past couple of weeks.

I have been exploring these ideas within myself because I notice (within myself and within others), that we have been conditioned to believe that we are not enough and that we always need to do more, more, more. It can feel exhausting, and it can prevent us from enjoying the rest we need for the body and mind.

I also notice that we are conditioned to believe that rest is a luxury that we must earn, perhaps only through complete exhaustion. I notice that in our society, we celebrate working hard and sometimes we deem rest as "lazy".

Our bodies and our minds need rest. I have been challenging this conditioning within myself and it is feeling incredibly liberating.

I have been resting more, I have been consciously slowing down (as hard as I find this), and I have been doing a little less.

I have been reminding myself that I deserve to rest; not because I have earned it through hard work, but because all humans deserve to rest and all humans need rest for the body and mind to function well.

I share these insights with you in the hope that they may be of use to you too. As always, I welcome hearing your insights!

If you would like to connect, next week I am guiding Chakra & Sound Healing at Astley Sports Village. Plus, a Guided Self Reiki & Chakra Mediation online.

Booking is now open for my 2026 First Degree Reiki Training Course (last 3 places).

See you soon!
Love Sarah Xx

We celebrate collaboration over competition ✨

 We thrive through collaboration, rather than through competition. We believe this to be true, not just with our small businesses, but with all parts of life.

Collaboration nourishes our connections, our relationships and supports us to deepen our trust in ourselves, each other, and in life itself.

In a world that promotes competition, it feels like a radical act to celebrate collaboration over competition.

OUR COLLABORATIONS ⬇️

We collaborate with other businesses in many ways, we book venues, we cover for other yoga teachers, we co-create events with other facilitators, and of course, we support other small business with our likes and comments via social media.

Here are some of our upcoming collaborations ⬇️

NARALI YOGA - ALTRINCHAM
Sound Healing & Restorative Yoga
Join Sarah this Sunday 1-3pm
LAST 4 PLACES AVAILABLE

CLICK HERE TO BOOK VIA NARALI

CHEADLE YOGA - JOIN SARAH & MIKE
Yin Yoga & Sound Healing
Saturday 28th June 1-3pm

CLICK HERE TO BOOK VIA CHEADLE YOGA

NURTURE - UPPERMILL
Restorative Yoga & Sound Healing
Sunday 21st September 11.30am-1.30pm

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Don't let fear control you

I have been thinking a lot about the role that fear plays in my life. At times, I am extremely grateful for my fear as it keeps me safe. And then there are other times where my fear has held me back.

A wise friend said to me many years ago, "let your fear sit in the back of the car, but don't let it drive".

I have carried this nugget of wisdom with me since then. I know that fear has its place in our system, after all, we are wired for safety and survival, but ideally our fear shouldn't "drive" us.

Recently, we have had a fair few newcomers at our ASV Beginners & Improvers Courses. I am always moved by the bravery it takes to show up to a yoga class.

Through the work we do, I am constantly reminded not to let fear control me. I witness our students and retreat guests overcoming their fear and showing up for themselves, and I am reminded to do the same.

Thank you to all those that join our yoga classes, yoga events, reiki courses, and life coaching, for inspiring me and constantly reminding me of what I know deep down.

With love and deep gratitude,
Sarah Xx

Sustaining Small Business

Setting up our google business page has been on our to-do list for years!! Most of our time is used to run our business and offer all our lovely services, so this has not been a priority. 

I (Sarah) started this task last year, whilst also studying another life coaching course and restructuring our entire website, so it was left unfinished.

This week we received our first 5 star review on google (thank you to our lovely friend Sam), and this reminded us to finally look at our google business page again.

Sadly for some unknown reason, our google page was shut down shortly after and has yet to be reinstated. Luckily, we copied all our 5 star reviews and added them to our testimonials.

We would greatly appreciate you taking a few moments to leave us a glowing review for our yoga, reiki and life coaching services. Simply CLICK HERE and complete the form and we will upload your review to our testimonials. We are sending you a BIG thank you in advance, because let's be real here, sustaining a small business is only possible with plenty of community support.

Thank you for supporting us to sustain our small business!
Love Sarah, Jane & Victor Xx

Community Heals

I had a moment in the middle of our class last night. The room was full of lovely humans (this is the case with all our classes). We’d been moving through a fairly dynamic flow, so everyone was sweating. We moved into a balancing posture and everyone was wobbling and falling over, myself included!

I looked around and I thought, wow this is chaos! My exact words were, this is a shit show and I love it!

I was moved to witness that the room was filled with laughter. No one was taking the posture too seriously, everyone was smiling and laughing, and enjoying the chaos.

My heart felt so full (and it still does today).

As I’ve been reflecting today, I’ve been thinking “we created this”. We created this community together, we created these spaces for heartfelt connection. We created safe spaces for exploration, laughter, smiles and a bit of chaos.

I am so proud of all of us, not just myself, Jane and Victor, I am proud of everyone that is a part of our community. I am proud of the community we have created together.

It is a magical feeling to be part of a community. This feeling is healing me in ways that I struggle to articulate. I guess it comes back to our business name. We are called The Yoga Family because that is what we are. Together we are a yoga family. We move together, sweat together, fall over together, we laugh together, we grow together, sometimes we cry together. We’re in this together and I am so grateful for this 💛

My heart feels full.

Thank you!

Love Sarah Xx

Our offerings ⬇️

🦋 TRAUMA INFORMED REIKI & COACHING WITH SARAH

Full details here: www.theyogafamily.com/reiki

✨ YIN YOGA & SOUND HEALING

Sunday 2nd March 11am-1pm

https://theyogafamily.as.me/yinyogaandsoundhealing

@yogainhale

✨ SELF LOVE & SOUND HEALING

Friday 28th March 7-9pm

https://theyogafamily.as.me/selfloveandsoundhealing

@nurturesaddleworth

✨ GONG YOGA

Sunday 27th April 11.30am - 1.30pm

https://theyogafamily.as.me/gongyoga

@supergongspa @yogainhale

✨ FEEL GOOD FLOW

Sunday 6th July 10-11.30am

https://theyogafamily.as.me/feelgoodflow

@yogainhale

✨ YIN YOGA & SOUND HEALING 

Sunday 6th July 12-2pm

https://theyogafamily.as.me/yinandsoundhealing

@yogainhale

Have you heard of the term pronoia?

Pronoia is a state of mind mind where a person believes that the world is conspiring to help them (the opposite of paranoia). 

Sometimes pronoia is described as a delusion, but I don’t believe having this positive outlook is delusional. I'm definitely not delusional, in fact, Sarah likes to call me Realistic Rachel. I can be very matter of fact and I am incredibly realistic, but I’m also a very positive person despite the many struggles that I have faced in life.

When I’m feeling stressed or anxious, I sometimes have a tendency to lean towards a negative outlook. That said, as much as I’m able to, I like to adopt the belief that the universe really does have my back. I love the idea of looking at life through a positive lens whenever we’re able to, because why not!

If you would like to join us this weekend to lift your mood and shift into a positive perspective, we have a couple of places available for Mind Body Soul Reboot & Gong Yoga this Sunday at Inhale Yoga Studio in Hale, Altrincham.

Plus, you can join Victor for Yoga on Saturday morning & Sarah for a Chakra Meditation on Monday evening (both online).

I'll look forward to seeing you soon!
Sending love always,
Jane x

Yoga at Astley Sports Village in Tameside

Our Yoga for Beginners & Improvers course at Astley Sports Village in Tameside start next week.

I know it can be intimidating starting something new, I remember feeling that way when I first started yoga. These classes are a great introduction to yoga if you’ve never done it before. We strive to create a friendly and inclusive space in all of our classes. Plus the group at Astley Sports Village are all so friendly, warm and welcoming. I truly look forward to seeing them each week as they always put a smile on my face 🥰

If you’re thinking of starting yoga for the first time or getting back in to it then here’s a few of the benefits you can expect to receive: 

✨ Increase your flexibility 

✨ Improve your sleep quality

✨ Take care of your mental health 

✨ Reduce stress

✨ Boost your confidence & self esteem

✨ Increase muscle tone

✨ Injury prevention & rehabilitation

✨ Meet lovely people & have fun together

CLICK HERE FOR OUR TIMETABLE

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES AT ASTLEY SPORTS VILLAGE

I hope you can join us at Astley Sports Village! Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions. Love Jane xx

Happy New Year 🌱

I LOVE NEW YEAR!! I love the feeling of a fresh start. Whilst I embrace this beautiful feeling at the beginning of each day, the start of a new year always reminds me of the potential and possibilities that I am yet to tap into.

If you would like to connect and share in the hope of a new year ahead, I am guiding a powerful manifestation workshop on Saturday (4th January). I have been consciously manifesting my dreams for many years and I am constantly surprised by the power of skillful trauma informed manifestation.

As always, my events are welcoming to all! CLICK HERE to enjoy the recording of this workshop!!

Wishing you a beautiful year ahead.
Love Sarah XX

Progress Not Perfection

Progress not perfect 💁🏻‍♀️ It’s been another year of progress, and definitely not a year of perfection. In all honestly, I don’t even believe perfection is a real thing - it’s an illusion of the mind. Here’s some of my progress for anyone that’s interested ⬇️

✨ Self Reiki - it’s never been a daily practice for me, I do self reiki once of twice a week or as and when I feel I need it.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Yoga & Meditation - again, it’s not daily for me, but a few times a week I practice yoga in it’s many forms. I breathe, I connect, I move and I find stillness. Yoga has saved me so many times.

💛 Trauma Informed Support - I reach out for support when I need it (reaching out for support is progress for me). I reach out to those that understand trauma recovery and to those that feel truly safe for me.

🥶 Cold Water Immersion - I rarely post about it anymore, but I’m still dunking myself into cold water regularly (not daily), unusually a few times a week. It’s challenging at times, but I do feel calmer for it.

☯️ Exercise & Rest - this has been a tough one for me. I love movement in many forms, and sometimes I forget to respect my limitations and my previous injuries. This year I’ve done less exercise than I used to do, so that my body actually gets the rest it needs to recovery.

🌳 The Basics - I’ve been focusing on my basic needs that support my trauma recovery and my quality of life. I’ve been prioritising sleep, food and safe human connection.

💛 If you’d like to connect, feel free to reach out to me anytime for support through yoga, reiki and life coaching (all of which are deeply trauma informed) ⬇️

Sending lots of love your way,

Sarah Xx ✨🦋

I see you and you are not alone in this 💛

A note to those that find the festive season the most triggering time of the year…

I see you and you are not alone in this.

I wish I could say that I love this time of year, but I don't. It is without a doubt the most challenging time of year for me. While I rarely share the upsetting details of why it is so hard for me, I will share that I know that I am not alone in this festive struggle.

Over the past couple of months I have had countless conversations with other people that are struggling at this time of year. Each person has a story of personal hardship to share with me.

My intention is to be a voice for all those that are in pain during the festive season in the hope that I can shine a little bit of light into the darkness.

So if you find this time of year tough, if it triggers you, if it brings up pain, I hope that you know that you are not alone in this.

I hope you will take time to take care of yourself, I hope you will set boundaries that make you feel safe, and I hope you will remember your strength, resilience and your power.

Sending you so much love,
Sarah Xx

History of Usui Reiki ~ by Dr Jacques Tamin

Thank you to Jacques for sharing this with us all 💛 We are all blessed to know you. Thank you for sharing your light with us. Love Sarah Xx

Join us for First Degree Reiki Training, Second Degree Reiki Training & Reiki Master Training

HISTORY OF REIKI – MIKAO USUI AND A TEMPLE ON MOUNT KURAMA  

THE REIKI METHOD OF HEALING WAS FOUNDED ON THE REVELATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BODY’S ENERGY SYSTEM AND UNIVERSAL ENERGY. REIKI PRACTITIONERS STRIVE TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY CHANNELLING REIKI ENERGY AND RESTORING BALANCE. REIKI IS USED IN SELF-CARE, FOR CARE OF ONE’S FAMILY, AND IS OFFERED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL SETTINGS AS AN ADJUNCT AND SUPPORTIVE THERAPY TO WELLNESS AND TRADITIONAL MEDICAL CARE. THE FORM OF REIKI THAT MANY PEOPLE PRACTISE TODAY, USUI REIKI, HAS BEEN IN USE FOR JUST OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS.

THE FOUNDER OF REIKI

THE HISTORY OF USUI REIKI BEGINS WITH ITS FOUNDER, MIKAO USUI (1865-1926). HE WOULD BE ADDRESSED AS “USUI SENSEI” IN JAPAN AS A MARK OF RESPECT (SENSEI IS JAPANESE FOR TEACHER BUT IS ALSO AN HONORIFIC TERM FOR DOCTOR OR PROFESSOR). USUI SENSEI CAME FROM A LONG LINE OF SAMURAI WARRIORS AND WAS A COUSIN OF THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN. HIS PARENTS WERE FAIRLY WELL OFF AND SENT HIM TO STUDY IN A BUDDHIST MONASTERY WHICH HE ATTENDED FROM THE AGE OF 4. HE WAS A DILIGENT AND CAPABLE STUDENT. INDEED, HIS LOVE OF LEARNING CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HIS LFE INTO HIS FINAL YEARS.  

JAPAN WENT THROUGH A TUMULTUOUS PERIOD FROM THE LATE 1860’S, LARGELY DUE TO WESTERN (ESPECIALLY BRITISH) INFLUENCE. SHINTO (OR RATHER, A WESTERNISED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE PRACTICE) BECAME THE OFFICIAL RELIGION IN JAPAN. IN DUE COURSE, BUDDHIST SCHOOLS AND MONASTERIES WERE CLOSED, SO USUI SENSEI DID NOT BECOME A BUDDHIST MONK. INSTEAD, HE EMBRACED SHINTOISM AND WESTERN CULTURE DURING HIS EARLY ADULT LIFE. HE WAS MARRIED AND HAD TWO CHILDREN.

HE HAD MANY DIVERSE JOBS, RANGING FROM BEING A BUSINESSMAN, PUBLIC SERVANT AND JOURNALIST. HE WAS WELL TRAVELLED, SPENDING TIME IN CHINA, EUROPE AND THE USA.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND DEVELOPMENT OF REIKI

USUI SENSEI BECAME DISILLUSIONED WITH WESTERN VALUES WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON MATERIAL SUCCESS. HE RETURNED TO HIS BUDDHIST ROOTS IN HIS FORTIES AND STUDIED MORE ADVANCED PRACTICES. AS PART OF HIS TRYING TO FIND A DEEPER MEANING TO HIS LIFE, HE UNDERTOOK A 21 DAY MEDITATION AND FAST ON MOUNT KURAMA IN 1921, WHEN HE WAS 56.

MOUNT KURAMA (584 M) IS NEAR KYOTO AND HAS BEEN A SACRED MOUNTAIN FOR THE JAPANESE FOR A LONG TIME. ITS FIRST BUDDHIST TEMPLE WAS BUILT IN 770 AD. MANY TEMPLES, BOTH BUDDHIST AND SHINTOIST, WERE SUBSEQUENTLY BUILT THERE. MOUNT KURAMA HAD SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR USUI SENSEI AS HIS ANCESTORS HAD WORSHIPPED THERE FOR CENTURIES. USUI SENSEI WAS SEEKING GUIDANCE, SO THIS WAS A PARTICULARLY APT SITE FOR HIM TO PRAY AND MEDITATE. ON THE MORNING OF THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY, HE EXPERIENCED A “SPIRITUAL AWAKENING”. HE SAW A BRIGHT LIGHT AND SYMBOLS (SANSKRIT AND CHINESE). HE DESCRIBES HOW HE HAD ACCIDENTALLY RECEIVED A GIFT OF HEALING FROM “THE INTUITIVE INTELLIGENCE OF THE UNIVERSE”. USUI REIKI WAS BORN.

HE TAUGHT REIKI TO 9 INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING BUDDHIST NUNS) IN 1921. HE FOUNDED HIS FIRST REIKI CLINIC AND SCHOOL IN TOKYO IN MARCH 1922.  

HE WAS HUMBLE, THOUGHTFUL AND GENEROUS. ALTHOUGH HE ENCOURAGED SELF-CARE, HE WAS NOT NECESSARILY GOOD AT PRACTISING WHAT HE PREACHED IN THIS REGARD. FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF CASUALTIES AND HE WENT FROM ONE TO THE NEXT, CHANELLING REIKI. HIS STUDENTS WERE WORRIED FOR HIS HEALTH AND URGED HIM TO TAKE SOME REST. HOWEVER, HE REPLIED THAT HE COULD NOT REST WHILE THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE SUFFERING AND IN NEED OF HELP. USUI SENSEI STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING THE PSYCHE, AS HE BELIEVED THAT THE PHYSICAL BODY WOULD NATURALLY HEAL WHEN IN A MORE RELAXED STATE.  

BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 1926, HE HAD TAUGHT 19 REIKI PRACTITIONERS TO MASTER LEVEL. HE DIED SUDDENLY AT THE AGE OF 61, PROBABLY OF A STROKE.  

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REIKI

DR. CHUJIRO HAYASHI (1879-1940), WAS ONE OF THE 19 REIKI MASTERS THAT USUI SENSEI TAUGHT (IN 1925). HE WAS A RETIRED NAVAL MEDICAL OFFICER WHO WAS QUALIFIED IN SURGERY, CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE.  

DR. HAYASHI’S MEDICAL BACKGROUND LED HIM TO DEVELOP A MORE SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PRACTISING AND TEACHING REIKI, INCLUDING DEFINED HAND POSITIONS OVER THE BODY, WHEREAS USUI SENSEI HAD A LESS FORMAL AND MORE INTUITIVE APPROACH. DR. HAYASHI ALSO INTRODUCED THE PRACTICE OF USING TWO HEALERS SIMULTANEOUSLY, WITH THE PATIENT/CLIENT LYING DOWN. USUI WOULD HAVE A SINGLE PRACTITIONER PER PATIENT, WITH THE PATIENT SEATED.

DR. HAYASHI WROTE VOLUMES OF DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING THE HAND POSITIONS. ONE DAY, USUI SENSEI ASKED HIM WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE LOST HIS BOOKS AND NOTES. DR. HAYASHI REPLIED THAT HE WOULD REMEMBER SOME OF THE CONTENT AND THAT HE HAD HIS EXPERIENCE TO FALL BACK ON. USUI SENSEI APPROVED HIS RESPONSE, TELLING HIM: “YES, YOUR EXPERIENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT”. HE ADDED “AND LET THE REIKI TEACH YOU”. BY THIS, USUI SENSEI MEANT THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO OUR INTUITION, AND THE “INTUITIVE INTELLIGENCE OF THE UNIVERSE” WOULD HELP US TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR REIKI PRACTICE. DR. HAYASHI TRAINED THIRTEEN REIKI MASTERS, INCLUDING A WOMAN NAMED HAWAYO TAKATA (SEE LATER) AND HIS WIFE, CHIE HAYACHI.  

IN 1940, DR. HAYASHI WAS GOING TO BE CALLED UP AS A RESERVIST IN THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES IN THEIR WAR AGAINST THE USA. HE DID NOT WANT TO DO THIS. INSTEAD, HE CALLED HIS STUDENTS, INCLUDING HAWAYO TAKATA, TO BE BY HIS SIDE AT HIS DEATHBED. HE DIED BY VOLUNTARILY STOPPING HIS HEARTBEATS. AT THAT TIME IN JAPAN, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A RESPECTABLE AND HONOURABLE END.

SPREAD OF REIKI TO THE WEST

HAWAYO TAKATA (1900-1980) WAS AN AMERICAN OF JAPANESE DESCENT WHO LIVED IN HAWAII WITH HER SISTER. IN 1935, HER SISTER DIED AND SHE WENT TO JAPAN TO VISIT HER PARENTS.

TAKATA SENSEI WAS SUFFERING ABDOMINAL PAINS DUE TO A TUMOUR, WHICH NEEDED SURGICAL REMOVAL. SHE ALSO SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC ASTHMA, SO WAS IN HOSPITAL IN TOKYO FOR THREE WEEKS TO STABILIZE THIS CONDITION AND TO PREPARE HER FOR SURGERY.  SHE WANTED TO TRY ALTERNATIVES TO SURGERY. SHE ASKED HER DOCTOR FOR ADVICE AND HE MENTIONED DR. HAYASHI’S REIKI CLINIC. TAKATA SENSEI ATTENDED DR. HAYASHI’S CLINIC DAILY FOR FOUR MONTHS AND SHE MADE A FULL AND LONG-LASTING RECOVERY.

TAKATA SENSEI ASKED TO STUDY REIKI AND DR. HAYASHI TRAINED HER IN REIKI 1 IN 1935 AND REIKI 2 IN 1936. SHE RETURNED TO HAWAII IN 1937. IN 1938, DR. HAYASHI AND HIS WIFE VISITED TAKATA SENSEI IN HAWAII, WHEN HE TRAINED HER TO MASTERS LEVEL.  

TAKATA SENSEI ALSO WANTED TO SPREAD THE USUI SYSTEM OF HEALING TO OTHERS. SHE MADE SOME CHANGES TO HER REIKI PRACTICE AND TEACHING. HER PREFERRED POSITION FOR TREATING A PATIENT/CLIENT WAS SITTING CROSS-LEGGED ON THE FLOOR, RATHER THAN DR. HAYASHI’S MORE CLINICAL STYLE OF HAVING THE PATIENT ON A BED OR COUCH. SHE REVERTED TO A SINGLE REIKI PRACTITIONER PER PATIENT, AS USUI HAD ORIGINALLY PRACTISED. SHE HAD NO WRITTEN MANUALS OR NOTES. HER STUDENTS HAD TO MEMORISE EVERYTHING AND ANY NOTES THEY HAD TAKEN WERE BURNT AT THE END OF THE TRAINING DAY!

SHE CONTINUED TO PRACTISE AND TEACH REIKI VERY SUCCESSFULLY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. SHE IS DESCRIBED AS HAVING BEEN A FORMIDABLE PRACTITIONER, A PASSIONATE TEACHER AND AN ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESSWOMAN. WHEN SHE DIED IN 1980 AT THE AGE OF 80, SHE HAD ATTUNED 22 REIKI MASTERS.

TODAY, PEOPLE WHO PRACTISE REIKI USE THE SYSTEM ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED AND DEVELOPED BY USUI SENSEI. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL PRACTICE HAS EVOLVED IN SOME WAYS AND MAY CONTINUE TO EVOLVE (REMEMBER USUI SENSEI’S SAYING: “LET THE REIKI TEACH YOU”).  

AFTER HE HAD DISCOVERED REIKI, USUI SENSEI TOLD HIS FAMILY: “I DON’T WANT THIS TO BECOME A SECRET PRACTICE JUST WITHIN THE FAMILY” (IN JAPANESE CULTURE, THE USUAL APPROACH WOULD HAVE BEEN TO KEEP THIS A SECRET ONLY TRANSMITTED WITHIN HIS CLAN). HE HOPED HIS METHOD OF HEALING WOULD BE SPREAD WORLWIDE. THROUGH TAKATA SENSEI, USUI SENSEI’S WISH HAS BEEN REALISED.

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles ✨

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles 🌻

I intend to use this beautiful mantra to uplift my heart and soul throughout the festive season. Whilst December is certainly not my favourite time of year, I am dedicated to embracing more hope, more joy and more gratitude.

If you wish to connect with me and explore uplifting practices together, there are 4 places available for our Pre Christmas Unwind this Sunday (1st December at Inhale Yoga Studio in Hale, Altrincham).

We'll enjoy 3 blissful hours together. You'll be lovingly guided through a beautiful gratitude meditation, plus gentle yoga, yin yoga, calming breath work and sound healing.

As always, all our events are friendly and welcoming to all.

See you soon!
Sending lots of love,
Sarah Xx

PS. We've just added two extra events between Christmas and New Year! Join us for Nourishing Flow on 27th & 30th December.

Cranberry & Flaxseed Oat Balls

Jane kindly made her cranberry & flaxseed oatballs for my last reiki course and the feedback was so positive that we had to share the recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

¾ cup dried dates, pits removed

½ cup nut butter

2 tablespoons honey

Pinch of salt

¾ cup dried cranberries

3 tablespoons flax seeds

Recipe:

Add oats, dates, nut butter, honey and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Process until mixture is well combined.

Add cranberries and flax seeds and pulse briefly until combined.

Shape into your choice size of ball.

Enjoy!!

Sensitivity is my superpower

Have you ever been told you’re too sensitive?

I know I have. Unfortunately, it’s been intended as a put down. It was mostly when I was growing up.

I thought it was a bad thing when I was younger… probably because I was told that I was too sensitive by people that were attempting to gaslight me.

But being highly sensitive isn't a bad thing. In many cases, this personality trait can actually be a superpower for creating healthy relationships.

I am highly sensitive, and I carry this with pride now. I know that being super sensitive makes me a better person. I understand the needs of my family and my friends, and I am happy to share that the people that deemed me ‘too sensitive’ are no longer in my life.

So I’d like to offer reassurance that if you’ve ever been told that you’re ‘too sensitive’, its not a bad thing. Sensitivity is a great attribute to have!

The world would be a better place if everyone was more sensitive.

Sending love as always,
Jane xx

The C Word

Anyone that knows us well, will know that Christmas is not our favourite time of year. As soon as November begins, it feels like the C word is everywhere.

We appreciate that for many people the festive season can be an incredibly challenging time of year. If you are like us and you find the run up to Christmas challenging, know that you are not alone in this.

Here are our self care tips for these next couple of months:

✨ Prioritise your needs - take care of your body, mind and soul in any way that nourishes you

🚫 Give yourself permission to say no - reassure yourself that you don't need to do anything you don't want to

💰 Take care of your financial needs - you have the power to choose where you invest your finances

📵 Take breaks from social media - disconnect from social media to be able to reconnect to yourself 

🌳 Enjoy nature, sunlight and gentle movement - lift your mood and your vibration

💛 If you would like to connect with us before/during the festive season, we have three beautiful events on offer alongside all our weekly classes and courses.

Sound Healing & Restorative Yoga @ Nurture, Saddleworth
Pre Christmas Unwind @ Inhale Studio, Hale

See you soon!
Love Sarah & Jane Xx

What if the rest of this year is the best of this year?

I love asking myself this question ➡️ What if the rest of this year is the best of this year?

I have noticed that each year as the darker nights arrive and the weather gets colder, many people decide to write off the rest of the year.

Does this resonate for you? If so, what if you shift your perspective and take inspired action to make the rest of this year the best of this year?

What would this look like for you? For me, the rest of 2024 is all about taking brave steps forward towards my long term life goals, whilst remaining consistent with my self care rituals ✨🦋

If you would like to connect with us we have so much on offer for the rest of 2024 and beyond!!

I hope that the rest of this year is the best of this year for you! See you soon 💛 Love Sarah Xx @the_yoga_family

Reiki Magic

I was introduced to reiki by a good friend many years ago who kindly gifted me a reiki treatment... I had never felt so relaxed!! From this experience I knew that I needed to learn more.

After completing my first degree reiki course I knew that I felt the calling to become a reiki teacher. I have now had the privilege of guiding over 100 students on their reiki journey.

Reiki is a safe and powerful form of energy healing. My reiki training courses will teach you to safely channel reiki for yourself (and others if you wish). First and foremost, reiki is for your self care tool kit. Self reiki can be used to relax and replenish your energy, and has so many healing benefits for mind, body and soul.

Reiki has been an integral part of my self care for over 8 years and has supported me to transform my health and my life!

If you feel called to learn more, I am sharing my First Degree Reiki Training in January 2025 in Stockport, Manchester. If you are already trained, you can join me for Second Degree Reiki Training this November (1 place available).

As always, please feel free to reach out anytime with questions. CLICK HERE to contact me.
Love Sarah Xx

“No” is a complete sentence

I was moved to witness our Bali retreat guests settings and maintaining their own personal boundaries during our retreat. This is a subject that is very close to my heart. I have been working on my personal boundaries for a fair few years, and I continue to learn more everyday!

At the beginning of each retreat, I always share our boundaries, and I invite our retreat guests to consider their personal boundaries and to share them if they wish.

We cover:

✨ Bodily autonomy

✨ Saying yes and saying no

✨ Authenticity

✨ Verbal consent for any touch - including hugs

✨ The power and choice to always do what’s best for you (on and off the yoga mat)

✨ Unapologetically taking time and space away from the group whenever needed

✨ Confidentiality

✨ Honouring personal intentions for the retreat

I’m constantly learning and growing 🌱 Hosting our retreats continuously teaches me so much - so thank you to all those that are on this journey with me ✨ Love Sarah Xx