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

Re-writing the Menopause – WomenKind Collective

In this week’s podcast we meet up with the amazing Petra Coveney, founder of Menopause Yoga, who wants to help folks re write the menopause by writing our own Menopause stories. Petra herself is 55 and loving life in her Post Menopause and we are delighted she could join us on this week’s podcast to give us some tips and talk about how stories of our middle age have, throughout History, been stolen by men and often portrayed as mad hysterical hags – but enough about Jinty & Lou! She is on a mission to change this and wants to help all folk write their own Menopause stories. Petra teaches Menopause Yoga workshops, and you will hear how this is a one stop shop, a holistic approach where Eastern wellbeing meets Western medicine. She now teaches other Yoga teachers the MY method which means peri and post Menopausal folk can find MY workshops all over the world. We hear Petra’s story of self-learning and research to combine techniques and bring in many other elements to help woman through menopause. She is a force of nature when it comes to women and menopause and she gifts her 3 tips for menopause that you won’t want to miss. We continue with Fern Riddell’s Sex Lessons From History and we get to know about sex toys through the ages and why California has a hideous history of birth control. There’s a new feature this week, The Movie Collective, Jinty has been to the movies and gives us her review. Lou has an issue with swimsuit sizing that will make Johnny Boden’s ears ring and we announce our Wine Collective for the next episode. The Book Collective continue with Fern Riddell’s Sex Lessons From History and we get to the nitty gritty of orgasms, and technology (dildos) and also learn about California’s appalling sterilisation program that only stopped in 1979. We read the last 3 chapters next week, 12, 13 and 14. The Wine Collective prep for next week with Lou’s choice a rose, Quintessence Mediterranee from Marks and Spencer’s and Jinty’s non-alcoholic choice Cornwalls Pentire Seaward (try with Tonic or ginger beer.) A new slot is the Movie Collective where Jinty becomes Jinty Norman (in homage to Barry). The WI Women’s Aid 1.6 Challenge is well underway and this week Jinty and Lou are over half way through their 16 sea swims for September, the weather is a little chilly but they just keep swimming! Wine: Rose: Quintessence Mediterranee from Marks and Spencer’s £9 Pentire non alcoholic spirits. https://pentiredrinks.com/ Women’s Aid 1.6 Challenge: If you would like to donate or find out more information how you could get involved this September head over to: https://givepenny.com/womenkindcollective_1_6_get_active_challenge?fbclid=IwAR1ak5UzTxWMCnNF4_i8j4RPOAG4hXYHtjkp3WBJ6E-wwMB4IL-HYSvKkXc Or go to: Womenkind Collective on Facebook or Instagram to find out how we are getting on. For details on Menopause Yoga, Re write Menopause and the Menopause Charity https://www.menopause-yoga.com/