I had the most precious moment with my teenage daughters this week. 
 
We had been in lock down for 2 months prior and so, to say the least, it had been an intense time for us individually and as a family unit.  And, as I presume most of world had done, each of us had gone into our own cave of self-isolation, even within the small space of our home. We had all been - knowingly or unknowingly – grappling with our demons and dark, difficult places within in us. And so during these weeks, at times it had felt, like an invisible distance or divide had appeared between us.
 
This particular day took place in the few weeks that our hometown began loosening the isolation; shops opening, 10 people allowed out in groups, school went back a couple days a week. And so there was a lightness emerging, and a feeling of togetherness, even within our usual intimate tight knit family.
 
One of my daughters had some tears, an uncommon thing for this resilient one. She was sitting up in her bed, head slightly bowed down and quietly crying. And so I walked in to sit on the bed next to her. I gently placed my hand on her arm to offer support and comfort, while still allowing her own adolescent space... 

1. Find a daily routine that works for you most days. Ideally we awake by 6am and are making our way to bed by 10am. These times help us work with our own body rhythms and the cycles of nature. When we have a consistent routine, our entire being & particularly our nervous system can relax knowing that there is some sort of structure to our day. In the same way that babies & children like to have routines in their day, so do adults. Eating at similar times each days assists our digestive system to function better by preparing our bodies with naturally occurring digestive enzymes. Ayurveda suggests that generally breakfast be a light, yet nourishing meal; lunch be eaten around midday when the sun is at it’s highest and dinner is eaten as the sun goes down, at least 3 hours before sleep. If you do a lot of travel, there will still be ways you can create a regular rhythm within the irregularity of your routine, such as a practice you do every-time you get off the plane for example: a shower & body oiling, sitting quietly or a 10 minute meditation or a walk. As you develop daily rituals & routines, you will notice a sense of freedom within this nourishing container of time.

​Perhaps you have read or heard stories from hundreds and even thousands of years ago, when women gathered together in sacred spaces.. The Red Tent has been popularised in recent years thanks to the well known book by Anita Diamant, called The Red Tent. Here she tells the story of midwives and biblical characters from ancient times, weaving the life experiences of women coming together in the Red Tent.

​Traditionally, humans did live in tribes and communities with extended families, where a regular and consistent support network was available. This allowed women to retreat into their ‘Red Tent’ when needed, knowing that life would carry on, held by the responsibility of others in the community.

You may be wondering what has been happening at Red Tent Yoga over the last few years… well, I am happy to share a bit about it. Feel free to put the kettle on, put your feet up and read on with a cup of tea.
 
As you may know, 3 years ago, I sold the beloved Red Tent Yoga studio space and passed it onto to a young woman who brought her woman’s business into the space. Then a year later was sold onto another woman her woman’s business. Over these few years, I continued teaching a handful of prenatal & mums yoga classes in the former Red Tent Yoga space, however, basically Red Tent Yoga was on pause for these few years.