Winter Yin Yoga, Cacao and Soundbath Experience

SCHEDULE

2pm- 3pm

1 hour of beautiful Yin Yoga with Susanna founder of School of Creative Wellness.

Susanna is a creative and yoga teacher. Qualified as a 200hrs YTT, Breathwork Coach and Stretching Coach. With a background in art and design education she requalified and set up the School of Creative wellness to help women integrate self care into their daily lives. She approaches wellness in a holistic way using creativity, the science of wellbeing , yoga and breathwork and loves nothing better than to hold space for women with warmth, compassion and care.

Yin involves long hold poses, using breath and gravity to sink into each pose. Working your fascia at a deep level. The gateway to meditation, returning over and over again to your breath and your body.

Benefits of Yin Yoga

• Improving circulation.
• Enhancing the range of motion of your joints and ligaments.
• Encouraging you to connect with your breath.
• Improving emotional balance.
• Reducing symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
• Increasing your overall flexibility.

3pm - 3.30pm

30 mins to enjoy your warm cacao, connect with others and reflect upon the Yin session.

Health Benefits of Cacao

• Antioxidant properties. Cacao contains flavonoids, a compound found naturally in plant-based products. ...
• Anti-inflammatory properties.
• Reduce 'bad' cholesterol.
• May prevent cognitive decline.
• May help with sleep.
• Relaxation and happiness.
• Improved exercise recovery.
• Supports heart health.

3.30pm - 4.45pm

1 hour of sound bath with Jez Smith Ancient Sacred Sound with 15 mins to slowly come back and leave unrushed.

Jez Smith is a qualified sound therapist through BAST and COSH. As a partially deaf musician with over 35 years experience, he combines multi-sensory approaches to playing which focus on a deep understanding of vibration and resonance. This experience creates an immersive, meditative and restorative approach to using these beautiful instruments which is different from many other practitioners.

Benefits of sound baths

• Feeling calmer/less stressed.
• Muscles that feel looser.
• A greater sense of relaxation.
• Pain relief.
• The ability to sleep better.
• Improved mood.
• Better body awareness/being more in tune with your body.

ARRIVAL

Please arrive 10 minutes before the class is due to start so you can lay out your mat and lay down to settle before the class begins at 2pm.

ADDRESS

Itchen Abbas & Avington Village Hall.

Main Road, Itchen Abbas, Winchester SO21 1BQ

THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO BRING

You will need to bring the following:

• yoga mat
• Pillow/ cushion
• Blanket
• Any props you may wish to bring for Yin (not essential but if you have blocks and a bolster you may wish to bring, alternatively you can use cushions and rolled blankets if you wish to elevate your self in forward bends or support your knees if you have knee pain etc) the class is designed without the use of props so it is not essential, just bring them if you need them.
• A small favourite mug or cup for your cacao or herbal tea.

It is important to remember to bring these things because equipment is not supplied and essential for the experience.

THE CACAO

The cacao will be made with oat milk, a pitch of cayenne, pink salt, reishi and local honey. A few of you are allergic to chocolate so if any of these ingredients are not suitable and you wish to bring some favourite herbal tea please do. Susanna will also bring some with her.

LINKS

If you are new to Yin yoga, cacao or sound baths here are some references for you.

https://www.healthline.com/health/gong-bath#takeaway

https://www.playingintime.co.uk/ancient-sacred-sound-sound-therapy

https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/types-of-yoga/yin/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/yoga/a700152/yin-yoga/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/cacao-7490807

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a41339969/cacao-vs-cocoa/

This experience is suitable for complete beginners. It will be a beautiful session and the main objective is to combine the senses, feeling gentle movement and stretching to work your fascia and connective tissues, tasting and feeling the healing benefits of cacao, gentle conversation if you feel you want to connect with others, and bathing in sound. The whole experience will calm your central nervous system, allow you to connect with your bodies and minds, to switch off and allow yourself some very important time just for you. Come with an open mind and savour the experience. I feel honoured to host this event and thank you for investing in this time with us and more importantly for investing in an afternoon of self-care for yourselves.

I can’t wait to meet you all.

xx Susanna