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The Benefits of Yoga by the Lakeside

It’s official: Being near water is good for you!

 

I have recently completed my MSc in Psychology and for my final dissertation I researched the benefits of being in or near water on mental wellbeing. The results showed that there were strong positive connections between spending time near water and increased wellbeing, including:

  • Increased relaxation
  • Reduced stress
  • Improved self-belief (self-efficacy)
  • Improved connection to nature
  • Connection with others
  • Improved outlook on life

I have long been a proponent of yoga outdoors and practice outside whenever the weather in Ireland permits! My research has backed up other findings on the benefits of Blue Space and mental wellbeing (if you are interested in finding out more, then I would recommend the book Blue Mind, by Wallace J Nichols).  Moreover, by practicing yoga near water you also get the added physical and mental benefits of yoga! So get outside when you can and hunt down those beautiful, beneficial Blue Spaces!

Lakeside yoga mediation

Yoga and relaxation by Lough Erne

 

By the way, I am looking forward to starting back with some Lakeside Yoga this summer, with the Lough Erne Resort in beautiful County Fermanagh. I will be taking yoga sessions on Tuesdays at 5pm and and Wednesday and Thursday Mornings at 10am, which are complimentary for guests at the Lough Erne Resort. Please contact them on 028 6632 3230 for details and booking or check out their website www.lougherneresort.com

Tree pose under the trees

Tree pose under the trees

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Yoga Ocean September Yoga Sessions

Welcome Autumn back with Yoga!

Feeling a bit stiff ‘round the edges? Looking to loosen up and wind down? You need some yoga! Join me this September, either online or in person.
⚡️Dynamic yoga will start back online from Wednesday 7th September, 7-8.15 pm. A flowing, more challenging practice for building strength and flexibility (£30 for 5 classes in a row).
🧘 Hatha yoga returns to the Aisling Centre on Thursday 1st September from 12-1.30pm, this is a more gentle yoga practice focussing on traditional postures to stretch and tone, there are also breathing and relaxation techniques to soothe the nervous system. (£30 for 4 classes in a row).
Yoga Ocean Classes September 21

Yoga Ocean Classes September 21

 

Contact me  for details and booking. I look forward to seeing you back on the mat! 🤗🙏
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Yoga at Home: Sun Salutations

Do you want to start a yoga practice at home? Do you wonder where to start, or how to make the time or commitment? The simple answer is Sun Salutations.  

Sun Salutations (surya namaskar) are a series of yoga postures strung together so that they flow from one pose to another. They are called sun salutations because, in India, they are traditionally done first thing in the morning as the sun rises to prepare the body for the practice of yoga.

Don’t worry if it takes a little time to perfect sun salutations; it takes practice to flow from one posture to the next. Begin by practicing each individual posture in the sequence before trying them together. In the beginning you may only manage one or two rounds, but with practice you should be able to build up to 10 rounds.

Sun salutations work the entire body and are an excellent warm up. They build strength and stamina as well as improve flexibility.

Read more

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Taking the First Steps: Starting your own yoga practice

Do you want to start your own yoga practice?

It is challenging to take up something new, especially taking the first steps towards starting your own yoga practice at home.

We have all felt that same sense of trepidation starting a new activity; there is a sense of excitement but also an underlying feeling of foolishness… What if I am rubbish at this? This is my story of how I started practicing yoga.

In these days of instagram and selfies, I see photos of yogis performing wonderful postures in beautiful locations all around the world. Scrolling through some of these images, I had a sudden flashback to how difficult it was for me to step onto my first yoga mat. Specifically, the first yoga mat that I had purchased. I had been to a few classes and decided to buy my own mat. I remember unwrapping it and rolling it out on the living room floor and just scratching my head…

What do I do?

Where do I start? Read more

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Yoga Ocean – Welcome

Welcome to Yoga Ocean.

 

My name is Genevieve Brown. I have been teaching yoga for over ten years now and practicing for over twenty.

My husband, Colin, was a fellow yogi and we studied yoga together in India. When we returned from our travels we set up a yoga business in the west of Northern Ireland. We named out business Yogacare, as we taught yoga to people with physical and learning disabilities, to victims and survivors of The Troubles, to people with chronic illness, to mental health groups as well as sports people and movie stars with injuries. We taught yoga to anyone and everyone…

Eight years after starting up our business together, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. He died four months later, leaving me with the business to look after… and our daughter, who had just turned three.

Six months later I took up surfing.

This is my story…

 

This blog is about sharing with you what I have learned (and am still learning) from yoga, surfing and life experiences.

 

I hope that it may be of benefit to you and others.

 

… Genny

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