Archive Yoga Aylesbury

Ever wondered why us yogis keep asking you to notice, share your experience and how you feel? It gives the mind a positive focus and brings you into presence. This is why you feel so good at the end of the class.

Pure presence leads to calm, peace, and deep healing. It can illuminate the unknown and show when healing is complete. As a healer and teacher, I can guide, facilitate and support. The act of Presence is for you alone. In Presence you feel, befriend and integrate all parts of your being.

Presence is the ultimate expression of unconditional love.

It can be fascinating but not always easy or comfortable. I’ve discovered missing pieces of my story, catalysed tears and bathed in lightness of the release. When the time is right and I’m able to hold it, something new arises. This is the highest form of practice.

There is a space in the mandala of life that only you can fill.

Regular practice develops your presence muscle. Start small, where you are with something that works for you. Free flow movement, doodling, are as valid as silent, structured practices. Let it develop as you do. Be gentle and compassionate. There is a reason for your feelings and vulnerabilities, knowing and unknown. You are special, worthy and belong because and in-spite of everything.

We become Whole when in Pure presence of the Self. There is peace and unity.

Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
With unconditional love,
Suzan

🌾 Honouring Lammas — A Time of First Harvest and Inner Ripening

As the sun climbs high in the summer sky and its light softens into the rich warmth of late summer, we come to the sacred festival of Lammas, or Lughnasadh — the time of the first harvest. This is a celebration of abundance, a moment to pause and reflect on what has grown in the earth and within our own hearts. Lammas marks the point where summer begins its gentle transition into autumn, and the first fruits of the season are gathered.

A Time of Gathering and Gratitude

Lammas is a festival deeply rooted in the cycles of nature. Traditionally, this festival was a time to give thanks for the first crops of the harvest — the grain that would sustain families through the coming months. The name “Lughnasadh” comes from the Celtic god Lugh, who was associated with craftsmanship, the sun, and the harvest. In ancient times, people would offer bread and grain to the gods, giving back a portion of what had been gifted by the earth. This was an act of gratitude, acknowledging the earth’s generosity and the delicate balance between giving and receiving.

For us, Lammas invites us to reflect on the ways in which we, too, are harvesting what we have sown. It’s a time to consider what we’ve planted in our lives — whether it be relationships, creative projects, personal goals, or spiritual practices — and what has come to fruition. Just as the earth gives freely, we are encouraged to appreciate the abundance we have received, recognizing the growth that has occurred within ourselves.

Nourishment for the Body, Mind, and Spirit

The energy of Lammas is one of nourishment, not just of the body, but of the soul. It is a time to bask in the bounty of summer and to allow ourselves to savour the fruits of our labour. But it is also an opportunity to examine how we nourish ourselves in a deeper sense — how we nourish our creativity, our connections, and our well-being.

In the bustle of everyday life, it can be easy to forget the importance of self-care and nourishment. Lammas asks us to reflect on this. How are we tending to our inner world? How are we allowing ourselves the space to grow and ripen in the same way the crops do? Just as we take in the first harvest, we must also cultivate the habits and practices that allow our spirit to thrive.

The Gifts of the Season

Lammas is a festival of abundance, but it is also a moment of balance. As we gather what has ripened, we are reminded that the earth is both generous and demanding. This balance is reflected in the way we harvest — we take what is ripe and ready, but we also leave space for the earth to rest and regenerate. It is a time to consider how we balance the energy we put out into the world with the energy we receive.

Consider the things in your life that are ready to be “harvested” — those projects or personal intentions that are now ripe for fruition. It may be a creative endeavour, a relationship, or even an aspect of your personal growth. Lammas offers a chance to pause, give thanks, and reflect on how we can honour the cycles of growth, rest, and renewal that are part of the natural world.

Honouring the Harvest Within

In addition to gathering the physical harvest, Lammas encourages us to honour the harvest within. This is a time to reflect on what has grown in our hearts and minds throughout the year. What lessons have you learned? What seeds of intention did you plant earlier in the year that are now beginning to take root? Lammas asks us to pause and take stock of our own personal growth, to express gratitude for the wisdom and experiences that have shaped us.

We are all, in our way, tending the gardens of our lives — and just as the earth needs rest and renewal, so too do we. Lammas reminds us to take time to honour the fullness of the season, to rest in gratitude for what has been harvested, and to reflect on how we can care for our inner landscapes as we move toward the darker days ahead.

Celebrating with Ceremony and Ritual

To mark Lammas, you might consider creating a simple ritual or ceremony to honour the season. This could be as simple as spending time in nature, offering thanks for the abundance in your life, or preparing a meal with seasonal ingredients. Baking bread, using grains that are central to this festival, can be a beautiful way to connect with the energy of Lammas. You could also light candles in a circle, symbolizing the ripening of the light, and spend time reflecting on what is ready to be harvested in your life.

Gathering wildflowers, making offerings of bread, or lighting a fire to symbolise the sun’s strength are all beautiful ways to connect with the ancient spirit of this festival. Whatever practices you choose, remember that Lammas is about celebrating the fullness of the present moment, honouring the earth’s abundance, and nurturing the harvest within.