A Deeper Stretch

Eloise Handleigh
1 day ago
2 min read

Hey everyone,

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this week’s classes.

Priorities

To me, priorities mean being clear on your values and living in alignment with them. My current main priority is my health. Being in a fibromyalgia flare-up can be challenging, but I’m prioritising looking after my mind and body.

Another of my main priorities at the moment is working towards reducing the time I spend doomscrolling on Instagram Reels. I can find myself mindlessly scrolling for longer than I intend to, and I notice it often leaves me with a headache. So I’m trying to gently shift that time towards things like reading and art instead.

In yoga, the number one priority is always the breath. The breath comes before the pose, keeping us grounded and present. It also helps us notice where our energy is going, where to soften and release, and where to engage our muscles.

Intention: I honour what matters most.

Guided savasana inquiry questions

What are my top three priorities right now?
Am I living in alignment with them?

A deeper stretch

Introducing A Deeper Stretch, a new blog section where I’ll share more about yoga practice, philosophy, history, and alignment.

The 5 Main Styles of Yoga

Hatha Yoga – Slow, gentle, and great for beginners.

Vinyasa Yoga – Flowing movement linked with breath.

Ashtanga Yoga – Strong, structured, set-sequence practice.

Iyengar Yoga – Alignment-focused, often using props.

Yin Yoga – Slow, deep stretches held for longer periods.

I’m trained in Vinyasa yoga, but I love all styles. I usually begin classes with Hatha to warm the body, move into Vinyasa flows, building toward a peak pose. After that, we shift into a slower, Yin-like cool down to encourage deeper release and relaxation.

Life lately

I went to a Doja Cat concert at the O2 with my best friend Emilie, and it was such a fun night of dancing and singing. I’m a big fan of female rap, and she’s been my top artist on Spotify for years, even if I don’t listen quite as much anymore.

This week I’ve started running again. I’m back to week 1 of Couch to 5K after about six months off due to injury. I’m really happy to be easing back in, as running helps with my fibromyalgia brain fog and tension headaches. I used to run regularly at school, so it feels good to reconnect with it slowly again.

I’d love to work towards joining Parkrun soon, as I know a few of you do it, so I’ll keep you posted!