Unclench your bum… and other ways to relieve tension and ease pain in your body.

Relax your jaw

Relax your shoulders

Relax your bum cheeks

Where else are you holding, or clinging onto something that isn’t there?

Gripping - Think, hands

Clenching - Think, jaw, bum, pelvic floor

Squeezing/tightening - Think, chest, shoulders, tummy

We unintentionally hold tension in our bodies for a few reasons…

For the most part, protecting and guarding happens around the delicate parts that we want to keep safe or away from harm. Think about your heart, lungs, and sexual and reproductive organs, so often this will be apparent in our shoulders and hips (the surrounding areas) causing tightness or stiffness. I’m doing it right now! I’m clenching my bum and thighs (consciously relaxes her hips and bum)

When it’s cold we create tension in our shoulders and neck or any other parts vulnerable to the cold. Dressing appropriately when we feel cold will help us stay relaxed in our body enough that the only tension we create is in the muscles we are using at the time; walking about or working outside in the garden, or when our body shivers to warm you up for example, yet we choose to ‘stop moaning and get on with it’ clenching and squeezing to protect yourself from the cold.

If we’ve injured ourselves we want to keep that part of ourselves away from further harm, so we 'tense up’ and are ‘on guard’ in that area of our body to avoid, knocking or moving it, and adding to our pain. Rest is the most important part of your healing (repair) process.

After injuries heal or after waking up from ‘sleeping funny’ we tend to continue the protective ‘holding’ which is the opposite of the relaxing and releasing our bodies need.

Movement invites fluidity to our joints and length to our muscles loosening us out, keeping us mobile and improving our flexibility.

Movement or, mindful movement helps remind your body how to relax and helps to release the tightness and tension you are experiencing in your body.

We know the body is an incredible system that can heal and repair itself with time and rest however rest and relaxation aren’t things we find easy to do.

Creating tension in our body however is something we unintentionally, or unconsciously do all the time.

Awareness is what I teach first and foremost; awareness of yourself in the present moment, awareness of your whole body, and awareness of what you’re FEELING in your body.

Even though this level of awareness isn’t always obvious at first, when it happens there’s no switching it off, which is a very good thing!

Self-awareness allows you to relax your body, release tension from your body, help your body to naturally repair and rebalance, and even relieve pain; it’s the key to supporting yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSBR) and somatic movement practices, which are proven to ease anxiety and stress in the body, are the foundation to my work. It’s my personal experience of pain both emotional and physical that led me here and it continues to fascinate me how the tools I share are supporting people, or more importantly helping people learn how to support themselves!

Are you feeling your body changing and want to stay mobile and improve your flexibility?

Have you been avoiding your yoga practice to allow your body to recover but realise it’s time to move a little before you cease up?

Are you living with pain that you want to support mindfully while you build strength and awareness so you can move freely without fear of making things worse?

Have you practised yoga in the past and want to return to the practice for your mental and emotional well-being?

These are all reasons people have joined me and stayed with me in the membership, The Big Love Yoga Community.

I offer 1-1s to all my members so we can get to know each other, understand their unique needs and support their bodies as we move on our mats.

I do all this because we are online in the comfort and privacy of your home and because I care.

I want you to feel, “the best I’ve felt in ages!”

I want you to learn to love, appreciate and support your incredible body, embrace your wobbles, and live a more mindful and connected life.

This is your body, your practice.

Let me help you make it feel good.

Big love,
Becki