2020 marks a beautiful blank new canvas to paint our brand new year upon; it is not only the start of a new year but the beginning of an exciting new decade! 

 

Whether you are into setting goals, making resolutions or embarking upon a new year challenge we did want to share some tried and true ways to make your next 365 days around the sun healthier, more aerodynamic and FUN!

 

1. Do More Yoga.  We have all felt that skip and jump that yoga puts into your spirit. Focus, health and peace of mind are all enhanced.  If you are new to yoga, we’d love to help you access this feeling. 

    

2. Simplify.  Using the yoga metaphor, you don’t need lots of gear, you just need to show up. Excuses dissolve when we realize we have everything we need. There is freedom in knowing the greatest present we can offer is our presence, and our most valuable resource is our time.

    

3. Find Your Edge.   Nothing happens if we don’t try. Sure we want to be patient, and not push ourselves past the point of our current capabilities, but it is at the edge where we grow. 

    

4. Drink More Water.  Your mother was right. Like a plant, we need water to thrive. It is recommended that we drink at least one litre a day. 

    

5. Practice Gratitude.  The only scientifically proven way to increase happiness to to give thanks for all of the elements of our life.

    

6. Remove Clutter.  Less stuff means less stuff to dust, organise or worry about. Like Marie Kando says, make sure an item sparks joy or pass it on.

    

7. Travel.  One of the greatests gifs we can give ourselves is getting outside of ourselves and seeing the world with new eyes.

    

8. Volunteer. More connections to our community and fellow humans also can make us happier. Giving our time, attention and treasure to something we find valuable creates a true win/win.

    

9. Take the Stairs. They are less crowded and getting the heart thumping produces all the feel good chemicals.

    

10.  Meditate. It works. And the more we do it, the easier it becomes.

     

Just like at the beginning of a class, you’ll find when we set an intention and give our practice over to an idea or person outside of ourselves it is easier to soar.  From all of us at The Hot Spot, we wish you an amazing year ahead and a peaceful and joy-filled journey to the new YOU.

 

 

After running a successful yoga studio in London for years, yoga teacher Rebecca Poyurs made the leap and followed her dream of raising her young daughter in bucolic Devon.  There she unbottled her inner entrepreneur and joined her two or her passions, yoga and aromatherapy to create Revkah Aromatherapy which we proudly offer at The Hot Spot Yoga to enhance your practice and life on and off the mat.

 

 

Q: How has aromatherapy impacted your yoga practice?

 

A: Using aromatherapy has added an incredibility supportive and healing layer to my yoga and meditation practice. Since infusing these two holistic practices together, I have been able to amplify my overall approach to my self care and healing that is deeply rooted with the intention to balance and restore my physical, mental and emotional health. 

 

 

Q: Yoga applies focus, balance, serenity and openness. Can you recommend any specific essential oils that complement a regular yoga practice?

 

A: When choosing essential oils to use in your yoga practice, you may want to consider whether you are looking to calm, ground, uplift or balance your energy, as well as the style of practice you will be enjoying. In restorative and yin classes I would recommend using essentials oils that have a grounding and calming effect on the nervous and emotional system such as lavender, chamomile, cedar wood, frankincense and bergamot. My SLEEP and BALANCE blends are a wonderful complement for this.  In more active classes, you can use the invigorating scents of rosemary, spearmint, juniper berry and peppermint essential oils. My AWAKEN blend is a wonderful support for this style of class. When leaning toward a more grounding class or meditation practice, frankincense, eucalyptus and patchouli are wonderful oils to use. These can be found in my CLARITY blend, which has been designed and blended specifically to support yoga and meditation. 

 

Q: Aromatherapy as a CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is being recognized by mainstream health practitioners, why do you think this is happening?

 

A: Aromatherapy as a Complementary Therapy is used in addition to mainstream medical treatment to try to treat conditions in a way that involves your body, mind and spirit. This approach means treating an individual as whole, unique person during intensive medical treatments and procedures (eg. cancer, surgery) and provides natural and alternative ways to manage the physical, mental and emotional stress that can be experienced during these more challenging times.

 

We are navigating a time where there is a particularly strong drive to return back to the use of natural ingredients and more gentle approaches to treat our overall health and wellbeing. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years across many cultures. We are just scratching the surface of their potential. In clinical settings, researchers have focused on aromatherapy for anxiety, depression, pain relief, nausea, and insomnia. In a 2017 study, for example, aromatherapy with lavender was found to promote sleep and reduce anxiety for patients with heart disease. Scientific research of essential oils has increased exponentially and in the last decade - with some incredible findings and results. 

 

Q: Are there any aromatherapy pitfalls to avoid?

 

A: When purchasing your essential oils, it is best to ensure you are selecting a pure grade therapeutic essential oil to receive the true benefits and not a synthetic fragrance. It is helpful to know that the shorter period of time you can smell the scent of an oil for, the purer it is. Scents that last a long time after spray or application are likely to be synthetic.  

 

Some essential oils are sold in dilution already (ie in a carrier oil) This can sometimes be the case with more expensive oils such a Rose and Jasmine, so just be mindful if you are actually intending to buy the purest form of the oil. 

 

Essential oils are potent in their purest form so always ensure they are used in dilution  (ie. in a carrier oil) when applied topically and less is always more when it comes to usage. Those with sensitive skin should use mindfully and perform a small skin test before full usage. Certain essentials oils should be avoided during pregnancy and if you have a medical condition, are taking any medication or undergoing any type of medical treatment, please check with your doctor to ensure that it is safe to use aromatherapy in conjunction with your prescribed treatment programme.

 

Q: What is your go-to scent today?

 

A: Today my go-to scent is AWAKEN to help keep me uplifted and alert. I am having a full-blown admin day! The refreshing and invigorating essential oils of peppermint and rosemary are mindfully added to this blend. They are both incredibly supportive for sharper concentration and focus and to help bring a clearer state of mind.

 

Follow Rebecca and Revkah on www.instagram.com/revkayaromatherapy.

 

You can enjoy Revkah Aromatherapy oils on Thursday evenings at The Hot Spot Yoga during our 8pm Yin + Tonic class.  Feel free to add aromatherapy to any class to enhance your personal space.  Revkah Aromatherapy oils are available to purchase on studio reception.

 

 

 

 

Habits, good or bad, only take 21 days to take root in our minds.  By sticking with something new for 21 days new neural connections are made and new neural pathways are formed. Here at The Hot Spot we have a front row seat to these transformations as new members take on our 3 week Introductory Offer.

 

Beyond a new fitness routine, 21 day challenges can be utilized for many other positive life changes, including meditating, giving up caffeine, unplugging from the news, trying a vegetarian diet, or embarking on a social media detox. Three weeks is a digestible and non-intimidating timeframe to work on yourself and lay the groundwork for significant lifestyle changes.

Although we are all different, here’s a general forecast for what you can expect over your first 20 days:

 

Week 1- Full Speed Ahead

With endorphins pumping and momentum established the first week can offer excitement and break through any soreness, riding a wave to week 2.

 

Week 2- The Resistance

It’s natural to find the second week more challenging. Old habits die hard. It’s best to not overthink things. Show up and work at your own pace, accepting and not judging where your body and mind are.

 

Week 3- The Finish line

The benefits are becoming apparent. A new you is emerging - stick with it! 

 

With a new habit now formed, getting to the yoga mat will be easier and will eventually become second nature. Your next goal is 90 days, where habits become a lifestyle!