Simply Love Yoga

Aim for progress not perfection

My love affair with Yoga

Hi, my name is Samantha Lavery and I teach Seasonal Yoga, Qigong and Seasonal Yin. I'm also trained in Aerial Yoga.

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In 2011, my family and I moved to Sumatra, Indonesia. Until then my exercise of choice was running, but running in such a hot climate did not work for me, so as an alternative exercise my friends introduced me to Ashtanga and Flow Yoga. Like many people I was drawn to Yoga for the physical aspect but it was the benefits to my emotional and mental wellbeing where I found greater reward. This was the start of my love affair with Yoga.

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After three years, we returned to the UK and once settled and adjusted back to normal life, I took the opportunity to train with the Seasonal Yoga Academy in Glasgow. In 2016, I completed my 200hr training course and started teaching. While teaching I went on to complete the 300hr Advanced Seasonal Training Program. Since then I have completed my Masters Advance Seasonal Yoga and 50hrs Seasonal Yin Training with the Academy

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Other than Yoga, I love connecting with people and nature, I have two dogs which gives me the opportunity to walk in the beautiful woods and surrounding fields on a daily basis.

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I love creating positive connections with people; we live in a world where people are feeling increasingly disconnected from each other, leading to loneliness and a feeling of isolation.  I do this through teaching and volunteering; I enjoy giving something back to my community and I'm a volunteer at the amazing show Kynren- An Epic Tale of England.

Seasonal Yoga, Qigong and Seasonal Yin

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Improving your wellbeing is more than just a fitness decision, it’s a lifestyle commitment. My classes provide an excellent opportunity to exercise your body and mind, but they’re also places to meet, share and create positive connections with others. Check out my classes and join my community today.

Seasonal Yoga and Seasonal Yin

Balancing Mind, Body and Emotions
For all levels and abilities

Seasonal Yoga which includes both Yoga and Qigong, is a dynamic flow based practice using the breath to balance our mind, body and emotions with the changing energy of the seasons. 

As in nature, our bodies have their own innate intelligence and mechanisms for internal balancing. In the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each major organ resonates with a particular seasonal energy.  Using our own vital energy (chi or Prana), which flows through the meridians to each major organ of the body. By practicing postures, movement and meridian stretches, we can influence our vital energy or emotional state.

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The practice also includes breath work and meditation to bring us to a place of stillness and can often result in a feeling of calm and bliss. We hold emotional stress within our bodies and Yoga, Qigong, Pranayama and Meditation, helps to release those tensions so you feel lighter, calmer, bringing you to a place of stillness and quiet. 

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Seasonal Yin is a deep meditative practice that works with the fascia, connective tissue, ligaments, joints and bones. It's slower and more meditative giving you space to turn inwards and tune into your mind and body. With these deep stretches we're opening up any blockages and releasing the energy to flow freely. We use props to support the possess so we can work more deeply into the body. Postures can be held for three to five minutes or sometimes more to access the deeper tissue.

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The benefits include: Lengthening connective tissue, increases flexibility, boosts circulation and reduces stress and anxiety levels.

I emphasise the word 'practice'; Yoga is not about creating the perfect pose, it's about being on the mat, seeing how you feel and using your breath to work through the challenges each day may bring. Which is why people with all levels of ability can benefit from a Yoga or Qigong practice.

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Qigong

Bringing balance to the mind and body

Qigong is the movement of energy through breath and movement, it’s good for so many different things; it strengthens the immune system, calms the mind and at the same time energises the body.

Your energy is like a great river that runs through the body. When the river is flowing freely, your energy is flowing, the body is in really good health.

If there is any blockages for example through tension or stress then the river starts to get blocked. On one side of the blockage, you get a build up, a stagnation of energy, then on the other side, complete depletion and then the body is out of balance. That’s when health issues can start to surface.

Qigong works to bring your body back into balance to help maintain good health.

It is one of the most accessible practices for all abilities