The Yoga Room is seven !

I can't believe it's August already and  we see another return to festival madness as the tourists descend on Edinburgh. There are lunch time festival classes running 3 days a week again at the Yoga Room.

Sadly, due to my crazy work/life balance I am unable to be part of the proceedings this year. Looking after a toddler, running a business and doing a commute whilst 23 weeks pregnant is all starting to take its toll and I'm trying to cut back and to do less.

I will be taking my mat leave at the end of this term and will be glad to have one less ball to juggle for the next year anyway.

I have been doing a very slow and lethargic practice most days, one that is a world away from my practice during my pregnancy with Molly. Primarily, this is because i am so busy and secondly because i rarely have the energy to do more than the 1st half of the primary series. I am also a lot bigger and heavier than I was with Molly and  of course I'm not using udiyana, Ashtanga just doesn't feel wholly appropriate.

Pregnancy really is a time of letting go, thankfully I am happy and safe in the knowledge that it will all return in time.

Thanks to all of you for continuing to come to my classes! I almost forget to mention that the Yoga Room is 7... What an amazing journey running this business has been. I have met some wonderful people through my love of yoga and I hope the studio continues to blossom and grow.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Happy birthday Miss Molly

Molly is 2 today and we are taking her to Blairdrummond Safari park as the weather is glorious in here...

Other news:

We started this month by sharing our joyous news that I am pregnant and expecting in November.

I have been exhausted and have battled morning sickness, but am now over the worst of it at 15 weeks pregnant.

Although excited, I am also sad to be putting my Ashtanga practice on hold again for several months.

I know that some women continue with a dynamic practice throughout their pregnancy, but for me I feel that it's a wonderful opportunity to slow down, tune in to my body and to enjoy a different experience of yoga.

I know that this precious time of nurturing my unborn child will pass very quickly and before I know it I will be back flying through second series. So, patience is the key here.

I am now planning my maternity leave and have a host of exciting teachers set up to cover when I am away. I am yet to confirm a couple of them, so I won't spill the beans yet!

I can announce that Lucy Scott will be teaching a workshop on the 18th and 19th October. The workshop is almost full, so for anyone who wants to get the benefit of Lucy's vast experience of yoga, please book soon.

Sadly, Stacey has had to rush off to the states to look after her dad who is extremely ill. Hopefully she will return soon, she will be be sorely missed.
Jane will be covering her classes for the next few weeks. You can read more about her on my website...

The new summer term starts in 3 weeks and I know that we are all hoping that the sun will shine. Yoga in the heat is the best way to practice! Indian style....

Ro x

Spreading the joy of Ashtanga!

It's been busy times for the Morris family! I have had the busiest term EVER seen at the Yoga Room and I have also started teaching a class in Dunblane. This class has been a wonderful experience... I had thought that starting out would be hard, but Dunblane seems to be a hive of fit mothers looking for a way to de -stress and keep in shape. A perfect target market for Ashtanga yoga!
I love sharing this practice, it is so rewarding watching people reconnect with their bodies. I have had some lovely feedback from this beginners class and I am hoping to develop my teaching practice here in due course.
Life never seems to sit still and I have been connecting with my practice dutifully every day to help combat the affects of stress. With my life as a busy working mother, I feel as though I need the practice more and more and I am grateful that Molly naps for two hours plus at the moment! Plenty of time to practice and to do the laundry... After the ecstasy comes the hum drum of daily life.
Thank you all for booking at the Yoga Room again and thanks to all the lovely ladies in my Dunblane class... Your commitment has brought the joy of teaching into my life. Thank you thank you xx

The autumn term at the Yoga Room is drawing to a close just in time! My batteries are low and I am in need of a recharge.
Molly and I are both going into hibernation mode as the temperature drops and the days get shorter. My regular yoga practice is suffering as i have less energy.

This is partly due to the fact that Molly is still getting up at 5.15am ready for action! I have also pulled something in my shoulder and neck. It is time for us to slow down methinks...

Molly let me know how she is feeling today as she fell asleep i the middle of the room whilst preparing for a Xmas party:

We will be staying at home today!

The Yoga Room is hosting charity classes this week, the schedule is:
Tuesday 19:00 Mysore style
Wednesday 19:45 Mysore style
Thursday 18:00 Led class
Hope to see you there!
Ro x

As the nights draw in.....

Ha, unbelievable that is has been 3 months since I last wrote in my blog. Life moves at such a rapid pace these days and I find myself forever chasing my tail.......

I have attempted to write this several times, but Molly has thwarted my efforts every time. She is tucked up in bed, meaning that I can catch up with all of my admin.
Molly is all consuming at the moment, but I am enjoying my time with her immeasurably. At 17 months old, she is turning into a wee person and her humour and personality are really starting to shine through.
.
We moved back to Dunblane 6 weeks ago and it has been a wonderful move for the family Morris. We are so enjoying being in the country and back in our wonderful house. We suddenly have so much space and Molly can run around and work off some of her endless energy.

So that the Yoga Room can continue to flourish, I spend 3 days a week in Edinburgh and love the contrast and buzz of city life. I am so blessed to have the best of both worlds.

We ran our 12th retreat in Loch Katrine at the start of this month:
 Thanks to all the lovely ladies who joined us, it was a wonderful group and  joy to be in Stronachlacher again.The sun shone for us on the Sunday allowing us to get out and about and to take in the awesome scenery of the Trossachs.

My students will be excited to hear that I am about to get a new heating system installed at the Yoga Room.. This will be a real treat for my regulars who have been through a number of cold winters in the Yoga Room. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me over the past 6 years (can you believe the YR has been going that long?!). The new heaters will be in by the weekend and we will all be able to all enjoy the luxury of a timer and thermostat!

I am going to make an effort to update my blog every month at least.. I have a reminder on my phone for mid December, so keep checking for updates!

Ro x

Keeping it simple

Once again, there has been a huge gap since my last entry. Life has been so full that I rarely have any 'me' time these days and I if I get a moment on my computer, it's usually time spent catching up on admin.

I have been indulging in lots of festival events - most of them kiddie centred. I have also been teaching lunch - time Festival classes at the Yoga Room which has been an absolute joy.... The Edinburgh festival is an awesome event and I love the quirky and interesting people that it brings to the city.

It has been fantastic returning to this wonderful city and living directly opposite the Yoga Room has been great for my business. I often pop in to sweep the floor or do a practice ( when Molly allows this!) and I love the fact that I don't have to spend half the day travelling to get there.

Keeping it simple has been a valuable lesson for the Morris family and one that we are going to take forward... we now plan to move to the Edinburgh area, so that we can keep things easy. I didn't realise how much of a juggle it would be to run the business and be a mum and I am excited that we are going to take the step of having a permanent residence in this wonderful and diverse city. We just have to sell our house in Dunblane- easier said than done in the current market. Watch this space.

This summer has been a busy one for the YR and i am enjoying every second of teaching; it grounds me and and, gives me a bit of 'me' time. It is amazing how much of yourself can be lost when you become a mum. I embrace every joyful second on my mat now and appreciate the quiet space all the more since having Molly.

Yoga mama

Another period of change for the Morris family.

Sadly, our wonderful kitty cat was killed in a hit and run last month. It was a difficult time for us all and I still can't believe he is gone.
We moved house last week which has meant a new start for us all. Simba (our other cat) has had to quickly adapt to losing his brother and moving in a very short space of time. He is doing well considering and thankfully, he seems to be able to go with the flow. A lesson we could all learn....

Molly seems pretty out of sorts and has suddenly become very clingy. To the point where I can barely leave the room without her attached to my leg!..... She is now 10 months old which is apparently the age where babies experience separation anxiety. This, coupled with the move has been quite discombobulating for her.

On a brighter note, I have loved moving back to Edinburgh! I am excited about being closer to the Yoga Room and am looking forward to getting some day-time classes up and running in time.

My yoga practice has suffered with the move and I am now paying someone to look after Molly whilst I do a practice in the studio. An expensive practice, but so worth it!!

I will keep you all posted on the new classes afoot. I have just done a training in baby yoga, so I will be teaching that in due course. It is Molly's 1st birthday in June, so we have a party penciled in for the 8th June. Save the date!

Back to work

Another 6 weeks have flown in since I last wrote my blog. 
 
It's been a time of change for us all as I went back to work in January. 
I was full of trepidation leaving Molly for two nights a week and was unsure as to how she would react to 7 mummy - free hours a day. I needn't have worried, she barely noticed my absence 

and  her two carers (my mum and Andy) are having a ball looking after her. 
 
The Yoga Room has flourished  in my absence and I have absolutely loved going back. The

 business has certainly  been well looked after, thank you Stacey, Jo and Yvonne! 
 
My yoga practice has been on a long and difficult journey since my pregnancy and birth of Molly. 
I always do my yoga when Molly naps. Mostly this is for an hour,  occasionally less. This has 

become an important and central focus to my day and I am disappointed when her nap is short and she wakes up prematurely. 
 
I have  gone through periods of sheer exhaustion and days where i have dragged myself to the mat. I am now delighted to see that my energy has returned and I can embrace this wonderful 

practice once again. 
 
I stepped things up a gear recently and have been practising second series.   My body 

remembers the poses, my  bandhas are strong again and my back  has loosened off. It has 

taken me 8 months to get back to this place . Eight months of laborious, patient  primary series. The progression has been painstakingly slow and frustrating, but I suddenly feel that I am 

reaping the benefits of my efforts. 

The ashtanga practice is truly awesome.... I feel like I have rediscovered an important part of 

myself and I am excited to see glimmers of my previous physical ability, 

 
We have 10 weeks remaining of our lease in Glasgow and our plan is to move back to 

Edinburgh. Andy has managed to convince his work to give him a couple of Edinburgh work 

days and I am looking forward to returning to my wonderful community of friends and students at the Yoga Room. 
 
My mum has bonded so strongly with Molly and it  will be a sore one to see us go, but we are only 50 minutes  away and I am going to enjoy less stress as i will be working and living in the 

same city for the first time in 3 years,  I won't know myself! 

 Molly just gets cuter every day...................................................................................
 

Molly's 1st Christmas

It's been a busy couple of months and I haven't written an entry for some time.... 
Molly's 1st Christmas was a hectic affair. Twelve family members were squeezed around our kitchen table whilst Andy and I cooked up a storm. Tensions were running high at the start of the day when we realised that we didn't have enough crockery and pans. Everyone pulled together though and by the late afternoon we were more relaxed as we settled into a night of playing games. 

Molly was full of beans and totally over-stimulated by the end of the day meaning she was up all through the night... 
I haven't slept properly now for 7 months. A friend of mine wisely said that it is the sleep deprivation that gets you in the end. Too true . Most days are spent in a confused and foggy haze. I am currently up every hour from 3am with Molly, she then wakes up at 5.45am and is full of beans. She certainly has a lot of energy. 
Andy is currently away on a ski holiday for a week and I am experiencing the full force of Molly's energy as a lone parent. Thankfully my folks have let me move in with them for the week to ease the strain. The week has gone from being stressful to restful. My mum has been amazing support and I am very much enjoying having my dinner made and my clothes washed, I might just move in permanently! 
I am returning to work on Tuesday next week and am feeling torn emotionally. I am looking forward to getting back to my work and my practice, but it'll be hard to leave wee Molly. This is where the real yoga practice begins....

Ro xx

www.edinburghyogaroom.com

The past couple of weeks have been a lot better, my mastitis has cleared and Molly has been sleeping better.  She is now eating some solids, though as you can see, most of it ends up on her face!

Her teeth are coming through and is teething on and off. Our wee baby is getting bigger and I can hardly believe that she will be 6 months old on Saturday! It truly has flown by, it's now just a blur of sleepless nights and hours spent on the sofa milking like a cow.

I am now feeling ready move out of the land of gaga gogo, and I am getting back into work mode now.
This began on Monday with the launch of my shiny new website: www.edinburghyogaroom.com. I am so thrilled to share this site with everyone and am so proud of my husband for creating it. Thank you Andy, you have given me two wonderful gifts this year!!!

The Yoga Room schedule is up and the room is super busy for 2013. We are investigating new methods of heating the space as well and hope to have a swanky new heating system by the New Year. Watch this space.

The booking page is now open on my website....book soon and prepare to get healthy after the excess of Xmas and the New Year !

Ro x

Surrender

A tough week.... I was just starting to get my body back and was finding time to practice after tucking Molly into bed at night.

I was just starting to feel my way into second series again and to my delight, I accomplished Titibasana into Chataranga  ( as easily as it came to me in the days pre pregnancy!). I was also finding time to do Savasana - a vital pose that has been missed of late so that i can attend to my needy baby.

 Sadly, I have had a recurrent dose of mastitis and have now been ordered to rest fully. No more practice for me. Frustrating, but my body is telling me to surrender.

I am on my 3rd course of antibiotics and am utterly exhausted as Molly was awake every two hours last night needing a feed! Not exactly restful.....

This little being needs me and I have given my body to her so that she can grow healthy and strong. I understand now the sacrifices a mother has to make. 

I miss my teaching practice and my yoga and I miss Edinburgh .....

It will pass,

RO xx

Winter retreat 2012

I have been trying to write this entry for a week now, however Molly has ensured that I don't have a second to spare for anything but her needs!

We were on our annual retreat in the Trossachs last weekend. The setting was the beautiful Lake of Menteith in a beautiful coach house. We awoke to this outlook on the Sunday morning:

As ever, Layla was on form with  her wonderful culinary delights. Cath wasn't present on this one as she was heavily pregnant and has now given birth to a wee boy ( a whopper at 9lb 8 oz!). I wish her well with her recovery from what sounded like an amazing, yet long and drawn out birth.

Mirium was on site in Cath's place doing massage. Sadly, we have had to say goodbye to Mirium as she is off exploring the world. I wish her all the best with her adventures. 

Molly was the star attraction on the retreat and everyone was bowled over with the sheer volume of smiles that she can produce on a daily basis!

It was a very happy weekend, thanks largely to the beautiful participants on the course.
I have now booked the big house in Stronachlachar for the spring retreat on the 8 - 10th March. All details will follow soon on my brand new website. Watch this space as it is currently under construction and in it's final phase.....................................

Autumn comes

It's been a busy month for me!

Sadly, my Grandpa passed away early October. He was a ripe old age at 89 and had a full and happy life. My Grandma has been left on her own after 63 years of marriage and is totally devastated. I feel so sad for her and I just hope that she has the strength and courage to move forward in this new chapter of her life. He will be sadly missed by all.

The Yoga Room continues to grow and thrive. I am so busy with wee Molly, I am finding it increasingly difficult to get the time to do the admin and bits and pieces that need constant attention. I have my mum to thank for the fact that i have managed to do ANY and her support has been invaluable at this time.

I have now come down with a bout of mastitis and am feeling very run down with it. I am on antibiotics, so feel pretty rubbish. I had booked a weekend workshop with John Scott starting this Friday that I have had to cancel. I was hoping to get back into my practice, but have been thwarted once again! I have been doing an hour most days when Molly is napping, but was looking forward to some adjustments ... it's just not the same practising on your own. Ah well, it will all happen in time I am sure. I m only 19 weeks on from child birth, I still have a long way to go to get back to where I was.

We have been spending most weekends at the caravan and I am looking forward to another one there this Friday. Lots of rest is on the cards so I can get over this illness.

Molly climbs her 1st mountain in Argyll

Maternity leave

I was supposed to return to teaching last A fortnight ago, but couldn't countenance the wrench from my baby. She is only 15 weeks and although I miss teaching and all of my students, I made the decision to stay at home with my bubba for another 3 months. 

Stacey has stepped into the breech and is now teaching Tuesdays at the studio

I am eternally grateful to her for Allowing me to extend my maternity bubble. She has been a wonderful support and her teaching has been gratefully received by all. 

Thank you to all my wonderful clients as well for your support during this time. Apologies, I will return in January as Molly will be 7 months and hopefully I will feel more ready to be without her for 7 hours. 

Molly continues to get bigger and more beautiful as time goes by. Her smiles warm me to the soul and she has become more Alert and very active... I watched with pride as she rolled onto her belly yesterday. Only a mother could show such excitement at her babies small progress! 

Every days blurs into the next as my sister, mum and the babies Do lunch, movies, baby massage and trips to the pool. What fun maternity leave is! 

We have also been spending more time at the caravan and Argyll is such a beautiful part of the world, we are trying to get as many trips in as possible before it gets too cold.

I hope to touch base with all of you soon!

Love from the West

Ro x

I really don't know where the past three months has gone! I have existed in a baby bubble for the duration and have loved every second. It has been challenging at times, but I really didn't realise that it would be so much fun....
We had our first family holiday in Argyll for a fortnight at our caravan. There is so much to see and do up there and some of the scenery is awesome.We were sad to leave, but have stored many happy memories of our time there........

I have spent this week catching up with my mum and sister, who's bub is now 7 weeks. We are spending our days at the movies, swimming, shopping and lunching. Maternity leave has been a very restful experience.

 I have also committed an hour a day getting back on the mat and I am now doing most of primary series. I have taken my time in getting back into it and I am now enjoying my practice more than ever. It has become a very important hour of 'me time'.......

I will be returning to teach at the Yoga Room on a Tuesday night from next week. I am apprehensive about leaving Molly, but she couldn't be in safer hands ( my mum and Andy will be looking after her). It will be wonderful to catch up with all of my wonderful clients, but part of me is scared of bursting the maternity 'bubble' that I have created. I will be fine once I get back into it. The 1st night will be the hardest I am sure.

Ro x

We have spent the past couple of weekends up at our caravan in Argyll. The weather has been appalling, but it is so lovely to get out of the city and to get some good quality family time.

 I have finally been able to do a full yoga practice! I am taking full advantage of Molly's long mid morning nap and I managed full primary series this morning. I loved second. It has been about 6 months since i did any Ashtanga and i was surprised at what my body remembers. My Mula Bandha requires a wee bit of work after giving birth, I have to say! Hopefully it is just a matter of time before I get that, and the rest of my practice back. 


I still plan to return to work one night a week from September. I have mixed feelings about this... I am excited to return to my wonderful business and to see all of my friends but I will be sad to leave my beautiful little girl.  I am glad it is only one night a week and that my mum and Andy will be doing the baby minding. I couldn't imagine leaving her with a stranger and pity women that are forced to do this early on in their babies life so that they can return to work.


Fingers crossed the sunshine of today will continue this week so that I can really enjoy some decent walks in the West End with my baby!

Molly is now 4.5 weeks old and the weeks really have flown in.  Every day is different on this journey and I have good and bad ones ( depending on how Molly is feeling ). In the main, I am loving spending time with my wee baby and watching her change and grow. 


The relentless rain has been difficult as we have been cooped up n the house some days. On my more intrepid days, we have been getting out to baby and mummy yoga, and baby cinema and the Grosvener in the West end. Getting out is more challenging in this weather, but more important to ensure that I don't go stir crazy!


We are being even more adventurous this weekend and are heading off to our caravan in Argyll. I am excited to be getting out of the city and getting some quality family time. Andy is off on Monday as well, so I have help wit the wee bub for the entire 3 days - luxury!


I am going to get back into my Ashtanga this week and hope to do some very gentle practice. A friend of mine said that her milk supply dried up as she started doing a strong Ashtanga practice 3 weeks after the birth of her child, so I am going to tread carefully... I am so enjoying breast feeding and would hate to jeopardize this.


I have attached lots of pictures of wee Molly. My dad was up from Wales last weekend, which was a real treat.I have added a shot of him, the proud Grandparent!

Exhausted after a night of wriggling 

Molly's 1st smoothie!

I surrender!

Ro x

It's a girl!

Our baby was born on the 9th June and weighed a perfect 6lb 13oz

She is now a week old and the past 7 days have been full of heightened emotion, utter exhaustion, complete elation, contentedness, sore nipples and of course, the one they warn you all about: no sleep!

Despite the sore nipples and the lack of sleep, I am in good health and healing well. 

Molly now weighs more than her birth weight and is eating vociferously. I am spending hours on the sofa feeding and enjoying this wonderful bonding experience with my wee one. It is exhausting though and I have barely left the house in the past 9 days. 

Andy has been strong support throughout the post natal part and also coached me through the 7 hours of labour and birth. We were lucky enough to have a natural birth; an amazing experience for all three of us.

I am looking forward to getting back to my yoga practice in a few weeks and am pleased to be back in my pre pregnancy jeans already! It would appear that the 13 years of yoga have paid off; my strong abdominals have helped to keep the bump nice and compact throughout my 10 months of pregnancy. No stretch marks as well, yipee! 

The Yoga Room continues to thrive without me. I am overjoyed to have left my business in such good hands - especially now when I need strong support around me. 

I have attached some pictures of my beautiful little one. More to follow!

Ro x 

Only 4 days to go!

It really is just a waiting game now. I am due in 4 days, but do not feel as though baby is ready! I expect every woman feels the same at this stage....large and very fed up!

I have been spending a lot of time with my family and have been as active as my ever expanding bump will allow. So, I have been as busy as possible.
We had a triple birthday celebration on Sunday for my two sisters and step dad ( see pic ).  I had a super hot curry as I hear that this can get things moving....... sadly, no luck!

All is well at the Yoga Room ( so I hear! ) and I am very happy with the way things are going with my cover teachers. It has been hard to take a step back and I am now missing my practice terribly. I have been doing preggie yoga classes, but the challenge just isn't there. I miss the amazing connection that one gets when practicing Ashtanga. I am a dynamic, active person and Ashtanga resonates well with my personality.

Ah well, everything is transitory and this phase will change and our bundle of fun will be here soon... bring it on!

Love to you all from a very rainy Glasgow

Ro x

Moving on......

A big week for me, with a house move and a driving test in the space of two days! We have moved to the West end of Glasgow after two years in the country. The move was hellish and the cats were very unsettled to start with - as was I!

Andy and I are, however already feeling the benefits of having family support on-hand and also a massively reduced commuting time for him. We are now trying to get the house shipshape in time for the arrival of our wee bub in a few weeks.

It was hard to say goodbye to my wonderful clients as well and I miss everyone terribly. I anticipate a return to teaching fairly soon do watch this space for updates on that front.

I am still managing the Yoga Room, so I can't put my feet up just yet. If you would like to book for next term, you can do so here : http://www.ro-yoga.com/summer%202012.pdf

Or, just drop me a line and let me know how you are dong.............

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Ro x