Autumn NewsLetter

It’s September 2021 already and it has been an odd year for all of us I am sure.

We hope that you and your families are all well.

It has been a year of growing, shifting and learning for us ay AYE, but we will remember 2021 mostly for what happened on the 22nd July. We have often talked about our Dad in our blogs and in the Shala, because of this many of you feel like you knew him.

On the morning of Thursday 22nd July our Dad woke up, had breakfast in bed, a scoop of his favourite ice cream (he was having trouble swallowing) which he enjoyed so much he asked our mum for some more.
Sometime soon after finishing his second bowl of ice cream, whilst looking out over the beautiful Exmouth Estuary, he fell asleep and never woke up.

He was 94, but it was, and still is, a shock to us all as he was fit and healthy and we all expected him to live to at least 100. After all he had survived near drowning as a baby, WW2 D-Day, crossing the Rhine with the Red Devons in 1945, Meningitis, an electric shock when putting a metal pole through the electric mains, cutting through gas wires and phone wires and falling several times in his 80’s & 90’s down the steep bank, that was his back garden, usually to be found in the middle of Ashleigh Road completely unharmed (few broken ribs one time). When asked by Neil, about how he miraculously remained unscathed he said ‘You just go loose bey’ (bey is devon for boy).

So for him to fall asleep one morning was inconceivable. I spoke to my eldest cousin who said our Dad was her hero and that she had heard that to die in your sleep was

“The Death of Kings”

He would have loved that. He had many sayings that folk will remember. His “Best looking man in Exmouth” is now up for grabs if any man thinks they can compete.

We would like to thank you all for your patience during this time.

September has come now and although Covid still lingers most of us are double vaccinated and feel ready to face the world again. With this in mind we would like to let you know of what is happening in the shala thia Autumn.

As we said this has been a time of shifts as I’m sure it has been for most. We have decided to keep our classes smaller and teach Yoga in a more personal, individual way. Covid has brought home to us how we all come to yoga with varying needs, wants, anatomy’s and minds. Yoga is not a one size fits all and this is where we begin our teaching from.

Jinty has a new class beginning in October- Ashtanga Yoga for Everybody and it is literally what it says!

You may have heard that ‘Anyone can do Yoga’ and then gone to a class and felt a little intimidated because the postures offered to you are impossible.

This could be for many different reasons, maybe you can’t take weight on your shoulders/knees, have an injury, maybe your size prevents you from moving how you would like, you may have a disability or you may have mental ill health or trauma.

Know this- You are not the problem the problem is with how some Yoga classes are now taught. This class is inclusive, not exclusive. You are enough and this is the Yoga. In this class Jinty makes all postures universally accessible to EVERYONE that is in the room.

It doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it does mean that every ‘Body’ can access Yoga. Yoga includes conscious breathing too so this class will include some functional breathing methods too.

The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.
Thích Nhāt Hanh

Our other Scheduled classes remain the same and you can take a look and book here

Jinty will be offering some Menopause Yoga classes and workshops soon, please acknowledge your interest here

Summer has been busy for us, Neil has been helping his wife Lucy at her Beach shop which has never seen as many customers as this year plus teaching along side Jinty at the Mysore classes.

I have been teaching in the Shala as well as teaching 2 classes a week of Ashtanga Yoga to Rugby Player students at Exeter University, who took to it so well. If you want longevity and focus in any sport then Yoga is key. I have enjoyed it tremendously and look forward to carrying this on through term time.

Neil will be away for the winter again at the end of October and I really hope we can keep the classes going throughout the winter of 2022 – we all need it don’t we?

If the class you want is full please go on the waiting list as we often have a cancellation or two.

We also hope to run a retreat next year, who’s up for that? express your interest here

Before I go, did you know that we have our own Podcast, or rather I do with my friend Lou. I’d love for you to take a listen, we’ve also been lucky enough to spend some time on BBC Radio Devon a couple of times through the summer (you can still listen to us here on BBC sounds – 24th August 10-11am- we are on for the whole hour- mostly talking about lovely Exmouth).

This is the latest podcast with one of our amazing Students, Johanna McWeeny a talented musician and writer who has helped write a book about breathing with Patrick McKeown,The Breathing Cure

Diane Danzebrink The Interview – WomenKind Collective

In this week’s podcast we get to talk to the Queen of Menopause Support & the person behind the #makemenopausematter Campaign, Diane Danzebrink. Diane discusses HRT shortages, and what the pre-menopausal Diane would think about the grassroots campaigner she is today. Lou & Jinty find out what age you are your most sexual as a woman, and it’s not what you think, there’s some filthy beauty news and Jinty goes punk after watching Public image Limited at a gig, she also has some very cool fashion news. We have a new WI and there’s a British foodie with a vegan twist and we continue with our Book Collective with Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent. We have a thought provoking quote and of course there’s all the usual shenanigans you’ve come to expect! Our guest this week is Diane Danzebrink she is a wellbeing consultant, menopause counsellor and speaker with professional nurse training in menopause. She is the founder of the not-for-profit organisation Menopause Support which offers menopause education, information, guidance, and support. In 2018 Diane founded the national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign. The campaign is calling for mandatory menopause education for GPs and menopause guidance in every workplace. The campaign has been instrumental in ensuring that menopause has been added to the new RSE curriculum in secondary education in England and continues to call for this throughout the rest of the U.K. Diane explains why she started the campaign and we hear about her own Surgical menopause experience and ask has anything changed? She updates us on the HRT shortage and why we need to keep talking about menopause to ensure we are the generation that makes the positive changes in education, healthcare and workplace. It’s a fun and insightful interview into how Diane became the champion for thousands of women. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFgmHLcdx28eco-XlkWYwUA In the Foodie, jinty cooks up a vegan shortbread, find out how it gets on in our tastes challenge. The Book Collective continues reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, in this week’s read we discuss the patriarchal family that destroys Dinah’s life as she knows it. The good brothers are sold and Dinah’s destiny is about to change. Next week we read to the end of chapter 3 in part 3 Egypt. There’s a new WI from Lou and Jinty for you to join in with, and find out how we got in with last week’s challenge? Sign #makemenopausematter campaign here https://www.change.org/p/make-menopause-matter-in-healthcare-the-workplace-and-education-makemenopausematter?signed=true Our campaign for a Menopause Clinic in Devon is moving closer but we still need signatures on our petition: https://www.change.org/p/wheresmyclinic Or to send your testimonials please email us: menopauseclinicdc@gmail.com And finally, if you would like the templates to send to your MP or CCG please visit our website: https://menopauseclinicfordevon.co.uk — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/womenkindcollectivepodcast/message