Small Group Yoga Classes in Milton Keynes & Bletchley

At Yoga Lily you will experience traditional, relaxing and invigorating Yoga as practiced in Asia for thousands of years at her home studio in Milton Keynes; it is a little more holistic in nature, meaning, it covers not just the physical aspects of yogic practice (like asanas or poses, mudras or locks), but also the meridian energy pathways, breathing, meditation and restorative yoga techniques sometimes lacking in the modern practice.

Explore yoga poses and more

Learn essential yoga poses and expand your knowledge in our blog

Relaxation

Restorative Yoga for the Summer Solstice (夏至 Xia Zhi)

04/06/2017

Restorative Yoga Evening is now fully booked Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga Evening for the Summer Solstice (夏至 Xia Zhi) We warmly invite you to join us and take time to de-stress and unwind with a wonderfully relaxing and blissful, 2 hour Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga evening to celebrate the longest day, Summer Solstice (夏至 Xia Zhi), influenced by the Chinese Solar Calendar. With nature now in full bloom and the sounds of new life fill every bush and tree, there is an unmissable heat of Yang energy in the air. Bring the body and mind back in to harmony with our cooling Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga Evening as we celebrate the tenth solar term. For 90 minutes Lily will take you slowly through a relaxing Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga practice which unwinds deep tensions helping you slowly let go of stress; Then David will guide you through a 30 minute Yoga Nidra—known as yogic sleep—a meditation and conscious relaxation practice that induces total physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Who is it for? Restorative yoga is suitable for ‘every body,’ whether you are new to yoga or a regular yoga practitioner. Just bring yourself, warm stretching clothes and socks, and if preferred your favourite warm blanket (blankets not required as we supply, but if it feels more cosy with your own, your welcome to bring one). Cost: £22 Places are limited so book your space today for this special event. FULLY BOOKED Note: You don’t need a PayPal account to book Date & Time: Thursday 22nd June at 7:45PM – 9:45PM Venue: St John Ambulance HQ. 21 Blackmoor Gate, Furzton, Milton Keynes MK4 1DA CHINESE SOLAR CALENDAR RESTORATIVE YOGA SEASON: Follow our seasonal solar journey in to restorative yoga as we transition through the 24 solar terms. “When we take the time to create ease in our lives, we not only affect ourselves and our own bodies, we also affect the quality of our actions…and the choices we make…and then we begin to affect the world. When we act from deep ease, we will affect people we haven’t even met!” What is Restorative Yoga? Sometimes you’ve just got to slow everything right down. When your life is racing full-speed ahead, so is your mind. Restorative yoga helps provide that physical and mental balance to prevent stress and anxiety, through the use of props that allow you to hold poses longer, giving you all the benefits of deep, passive stretching. Poses like Child’s Pose, Legs-Up-the-Wall, and Savasana are held for up to 15 minutes using bolsters, blankets, pillows, straps, blocks, sandbags, walls, chairs and eye pillows, to support your body in a full, long, and comfortable, relaxing stretch so that tension can slowly be released. The more fully your body is supported, the deeper your sense of relaxation and surrender will be. Because the body and mind relax, literally becoming softer, we also create space to get in touch again with our natural qualities of compassion and understanding of others and self. Benefits of Restorative Yoga Here are the top reasons to spend a little extra time opening up and breathing in the benefits of this nourishing yoga practice.

Sequence Video

How to do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) for a home practice

09/05/2017

How to do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) for a home practice Energize your body as you stretch and strengthen all of its major muscle groups in Surya Namaskar (sun salutation). Just 10 minutes of flowing through Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) has tremendous effects on wellness and can get you out of a mental slump. A daily sun salutation can quiet the mind, develop feelings of rest and joy, and less worry. So boost to your mood with this Sun Salutation walk-through for your home practice only 12 minutes away.

Strength Stretch

Heron Posture, Krounchasana

08/05/2017

How to do Heron Posture, Krounchasana : Yoga pose for stretching & core strengthening Yoga classes in Milton Keynes Krounchasana – the extended leg resembles the neck and head of a bird in this posture. It stretches the hamstring muscles and limbers the hips, knees and ankles. 1. Sit in seated staff posture. Bend the left knee and bring the left foot beside the left hip with the toes pointing straight back or slightly inward but NOT outward. Lean to the right and take your left thumb to the top of your calf muscles. Use the thumb to roll the calf muscle out to the side and iron it down toward the heel. Sit erect once again and press down through the right sitting down to keep the weight equally distributed between both buttocks. The top of the big and little toes should be touching the floor, the knees only just a few centimetres apart. Take note of how your right ankle feels at this stage, stop if experience pain. Try placing some padding under the top of the foot of the bent leg. 2. Bend the right knee and bring it close to the trunk. Hold the right heel with both hands. Straighten the right leg vertically. While doing so use your hands to press down on the heel as if you want to shorten the distance between the right heel and the sitting bone. While it may seem contradictory, this actually helps straighten the leg. 3. Adhere right thigh muscles to the thigh bone and open the back of the right knee, keeping the right leg (neck of the Heron) straight and long. Lifting from the tailbone, Curve in the lower back and slowly bring the chin to the right shin, looking up toward your right foot. If possible, Grasp the left wrist with the right hand. Don’t round the back or collapse the chest. Keep the right leg centred. Stay for 10 breaths. 4. Exhale, bring the right leg down and straighten the left leg. Take a moment to release the muscles then repeat on the other side. TIPS Gaze: Toes Counter Poses: Cobblers Pose, Baddha Konasana East Stretch Posture, Purvottanasana Lighten: Do not go to the final stage Use a belt around the foot and/or bend the raised leg Place some padding under the top of the foot of the bent leg Effect: Challenging, calming Heron Posture, Krounchasana Counter Poses In yoga we use a counter pose in a sequence; For example, a twist follows a backbend to “neutralise” the spine, or a forward bend follows a backbend to help lengthen the spine and calm the nervous system.

Class

Yoga Classes at St John Ambulance HQ Furzton

01/05/2017

New Yoga Classes at St John Ambulance HQ in Furzton with David Yoga Classes at St John Ambulance HQ Furzton – If you are looking for Yoga Classes in Milton Keynes or just a new challenge. Come and explore David’s invigorating and de-stressing yoga in a relaxed and friendly environment – a great, healthy way to share time with friends and like-minded people. David’s small group yoga classes are based on traditional Hatha Yoga principles aiming to balance the mind and body with the exploration of physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and the calming of the mind through relaxing Yoga Nidra and meditation. David teaches a slower paced yoga, weaving held poses with slow flows, poetry and yoga nidra (yogic sleep) in a simple, down-to-earth way, to help you completely unwind and relax after your hectic day. He’s no push over, expect challenges, you’ll need to work for that deliciously long relaxation (Savasana) at the end of class. He’s looking forward to welcoming you to this fun, relaxing and de-stressing yoga class, based at Oxley Park Community Centre. Class details: Thursdays 7:30pm – 8:45pm – Hatha Yoga Class (beginners and improvers) Class cost: Drop-ins – £10 5 class pass – £45 10 class pass – £85 Spaces are limited so pre-booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Venue: Oxley Park Community Centre Redgrave Dr, Oxley Park, Milton Keynes MK4 4TA New to yoga Yoga is for everyone: men, women, young and old. Taking your first step onto the yoga mat is an exciting new beginning. Building a solid foundation is the most important part of your yoga practice. Anyone can do Hatha Yoga because its practice is aimed toward relaxation, stress reduction and management. Learn how to breathe properly and centre your attention on clearing mental clutter – all the while staying fit, improving posture and reaping the physical benefits of the yoga tradition.

Relaxation

Restorative Yoga Evening for Vernal Equinox and the Clear & Bright Festival (春分 Chun Fen)

04/03/2017

The Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga Evening is now fully booked. OUR NEXT RESTORATIVE YOGA SEASON: Follow our seasonal solar journey in to restorative yoga as we enter the first of the 24 solar terms, Spring. 立夏 Li Xia Summer Begins The seventh Solar Term Restorative Yoga Evening Date: Thursday 11th May 2017 at 7:45pm – 9:45pm 夏至 Xia Zhi Summer Solstice The tenth Solar Term Restorative Yoga Evening Date: Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 7:45pm – 9:45pm Contact us for bookings of the next restorative yoga seasons and more information. Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga Evening for Vernal Equinox and the Clear & Bright Festival (春分 Chun Fen) We warmly invite you to join us and take time to de-stress and unwind with a wonderfully relaxing and blissful, 2 hour Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga evening to celebrate the mid-point of Spring (Vernal Equinox), influenced by the Chinese Solar Calendar. As nature blooms and new life comes, we clear away the remnants of the past, give thanks to our ancestors and invite in the new year fully. In China, as the Vernal Equinox (chun fen 春分) equally divides day and night, Chinese medicine believes that as the bodies Yin energy and Yang energy (Qi or prana) must be brought back in to balance through healthy living. Detoxing the liver supplies and releases the Qi energy and brings the body back in to balance. For 90 minutes Lily will take you slowly through a relaxing Yin Meridian Restorative Yoga practice which unwinds deep tensions helping you slowly let go of stress; Then David will guide you through a 30 minute Yoga Nidra—known as yogic sleep—a meditation and conscious relaxation practice that induces total physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Who is it for? Restorative yoga is suitable for ‘every body,’ whether you are new to yoga or a regular yoga practitioner. Just bring yourself, warm stretching clothes and socks, and if preferred your favourite warm blanket (blankets not required as we supply, but if it feels more cosy with your own, your welcome to bring one). Cost: £22 Places are limited so book your space today for this special event. Note: You don’t need a PayPal account to book Date & Time: Thursday 30th March at 7:45PM – 9:45PM Venue: St John Ambulance HQ. 21 Blackmoor Gate, Furzton, Milton Keynes MK4 1DA OUR NEXT RESTORATIVE YOGA SEASON: Follow our seasonal solar journey in to restorative yoga as we enter the first of the 24 solar terms, Spring. 立夏 Li Xia Summer Begins The seventh Solar Term Restorative Yoga Evening Date: Thursday 11th May 2017 at 7:45pm – 9:45pm 夏至 Xia Zhi Summer Solstice The tenth Solar Term Restorative Yoga Evening Date: Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 7:45pm – 9:45pm Contact us for bookings of the next restorative yoga seasons and more information. What is Restorative Yoga? Sometimes you’ve just got to slow everything right down. When your life is racing full-speed ahead, so is your mind. Restorative yoga helps provide that physical and mental balance to prevent stress and anxiety, through the use of props that allow you to hold poses longer, giving you all the benefits of deep, passive stretching. Poses like Child’s Pose, Legs-Up-the-Wall, and

More Yoga Poses...

What you’re saying

Myself and my wife Marylia started Lily’s classes on Monday evening 8 months ago, I found it very challenging at first but excellent and slept so well afterwards. Now we make sure we go every week and try not to miss a class. Marylia used to have back problems but since starting she has had no problems and is much more relaxed. Great class, just need time to be able to do more classes.
Simon Burke, Yogi

Absolutely amazing teacher. Loved my beginners yoga course that much i’m continuing after Christmas, as I asked for this as my present! Thanks David and Lily x

Bekki, Beginners Course

Lily is a brilliant teacher. Very attentive & encouraging with lots of knowledge to share.
Tracy Hayes, Yogi

I’ve started beginners yoga – I’m loving it, in today’s class we got detox tea – I love it thank you.
Abi Daffurn, Yogi

Lily’s classes are truly amazing. I felt instantly comfortable like i’d been going for years. Lily is an excellent teacher & very encouraging!
Lesley Northy, Yogi

I’m addicted to Lily’s yoga classes. It tests your body completely and it’s amazing how good it makes you feel inside and out. Thank you Lily. X
Tina Surti, Yogi

Its great to find a class where the teacher will look after you and encourage you whatever your ability.
John Knight, Yogi

A very lovely calm class. I have already improved so much and can do much more now from when I started. I look forward to it every week.
Stephanie Gowing, Yogi

About Yoga Lily

Lily is an experienced Yoga Alliance yoga teacher. She teaches the traditional, relaxing and invigorating Yoga as practiced in Asia for thousands of years at her home studio in Milton Keynes; it is a little more holistic in nature, meaning, it covers not just the physical aspects of yogic practice (like asanas or poses, mudras or locks), but also the meridian energy pathways, breathing, meditation and restorative yoga techniques sometimes lacking in the modern practice. Yoga is part of who she is, from practicing yoga in the parks of China as a child, to graduating from YogiYoga(China) Institute in 2007, Lili has loved helping and inspiring people ever since. You can help balance your mind and body to give a sense of wholeness and great happiness.