Breath by Breath

Eloise Handleigh

Sep 11

4 min read

Hey everyone,

I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend and have been enjoying the classes!

Here’s a little recap of the last two themes we’ve explored:

Self-love

I find this one a challenge to talk about because self-love is difficult, but so worth it.

We are always so willing to love on our friends and family, but it can be hard to love ourselves the same way. I know I have said things to myself that I would never dream of saying to anyone else, so why am I any different? I’m sure we all feel this way at times.

But self-love is a practice. We’re not going to love ourselves 100% of the time because life happens, but it’s about being gentle and understanding with ourselves. Finding time to do things that make you feel happy and most like yourself. Trying to change our inner dialogue to be more nurturing and compassionate.

That’s where the practice of yoga comes in. It’s not about achieving specific poses or looking a certain way, but about moving our bodies in ways that feel good, and that is an act of self-love in itself.

It’s about prioritising your mental and physical health by carving out a moment just for you to check in with yourself and reconnect with your breath. It’s also about showing up for yourself and honouring your body’s needs.

You probably know this by now, but yoga has changed my life and made my relationship with myself so much better. Just taking things day by day.

Intention: I give myself the love and compassion I deserve

New Beginnings

I plan my themes weeks in advance, so come Monday morning I get out my folders and revisit what I’m teaching that week. The themes have a funny way of aligning with what I need and are a reminder that I do have to practise what I preach.

So this Monday, I woke up in a lot of pain with my fibromyalgia. I kept pressing snooze and thought, “This is going to be a bad week.”

But no. Every breath is an opportunity to begin again ✨

We often think new beginnings have to start on 1st January or on a Monday morning, but they can really happen in any moment. Mindset is key here. I write in my gratitude journal every morning saying, “Today is going to be a good day.” Even if I don’t feel like it in the moment, I’m choosing to put my best foot forward.

Not long after my diagnosis of fibromyalgia, my mum came up with the acronym TIA, standing for “turn it around”. This is a reminder that the next breath is a new beginning, an opportunity to choose again and step out of the funk I’m in.

I still repeat the words “TIA” to myself when I’m finding things difficult, and it really helps to shift my mood and actions. So, a little thank you to my mum and dad for helping me turn things around day by day and for always being my cheerleaders.

The practice of yoga shows us that we can begin again by choosing the variation in the poses that feels good, or by being kinder to ourselves when we’re in longer holds. You can begin again at any time.

Another quote I love, which my dad told me as a young teen, is: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” 10 words. 2 letters each. Couldn’t be more powerful.

We are in the driving seat. It’s about choosing what direction to go in.

And by no means is it always possible to have a positive mindset, especially during difficult times. Just know that things will get better.

Breath by breath.

I think you can tell how passionately I feel about this, and even writing this is a further reminder to myself.

Intention: Every breath is a new beginning.

Life Lately 🌸

I had the most fabulous bank holiday weekend in Norfolk with my family.

My little 2-year-old nephew is growing up so fast. He’s busy chatting away, and the best thing is hearing him call me Lulu (my childhood nickname) and “Ewoise” (that’s how he says Eloise).

He loves all things mermaids, Thor, Bluey, Hulk, Mary Poppins and tridents. It’s so lovely to see his personality grow, and I’m always saying that he and my dad are the only men I need! Both such good guys.

My parents also had a summer party for people in the village, which was so lovely. My parents are quite literally the social secs of Salthouse at this point. LOVE!

I also went to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to see Jay-Z perform with my best friend Ivy. We were about three people from the barricade at the front in the standing area, so we were SO close.

Not going to lie, I knew next to no Jay-Z songs, but I was hoping that Beyoncé would join him for a song. It was the actual date of her birthday, and that day she released the deluxe version of B’Day, 20 years after its original release.

But she didn’t perform!!! Gutted.

We did spot her in the audience though, and everyone sang her Happy Birthday.

But Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean from the Fugees and Giggs performed, so hope was not lost!

The best part of it all was seeing my best friend so, so happy! 🤍