‘LIFE IS A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING:

SECURITY IS MOSTLY A SUPERSTITION’

Helen Keller

Do you ever find yourself repeating patterns in your relationships, classes or internal thought processes? We often get so caught up in being comfortable, or within our perceived ‘ways to be comfortable’ that we resist changing: ourselves, our surroundings or our relationships. 

I was walking along in Kohimarama, the area in which we are living in Auckland, New Zealand, contemplating this very thing, when I saw a tree that had mangled its huge roots around an ugly metal bar. Literally the metal had been there for so long that nature had wrapped itself around it and seen it as ‘normal’: staying put forever, laying down its roots.  I took a photo straight away and began a process of realizing how used to things we really are, as a way of making our ego ‘comfortable’.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all over the place without a fantastic juicer to make my delicious morning green juice, and therefore am literally now travelling with a juicer (my poor long suffering hubby has to carry the darn bags bless his delicious heart)  So even our ‘healthy’ choices become engrained in our psyche enough that we cannot live without them. What about our ‘unhealthy’ choices? The repetitions of failed relationships, our same arguments with family, our inability to speak up when we are in pain: ‘I’m fine thank you’.

Like the root entangled in the tree, daring to bring yourself out of comfort can be scary, something you need to literally re-train your mind to do. The ego perception and identification with what you are like, the things you need, the job you ‘do’ keep you in a place where you believe that these things are what make you more secure. 

Imagine how else this life could be for you, focus on illuminating the possibilities. Every time you feel you do something out of comfort: teach the same class over and again, use the same playlist, chant Om with embarrassment, spend too much money on things that do not elevate your knowledge rather than your insecurities, try this: Aim to not focus on the limitation, flip the switch, turn that thought around. Every day, every hour or every minute if needed, until you begin to gradually retrain yourself OUT of comfort, of security or neediness, of fear, until your thought processes begin to unbind you from the steel roots of your past and begin to bring you closer towards your highest dreams, potential. Towards loving, encouraging and nurturing relationships, towards the true influence that you hold over your inner and outer world.

In the words of Wham!” Choose Freedom! Choose Life! GO GO!!

For an asana manifestation of this, please practice with my new online video class: FREEDOM FLOW

Namaste,

Claire Missingham

NB: Save your eyes from squinting lines: Click on the Vimeo logo to access the second class and to get a full screen version of this one!

‘IN!’ ‘HALE!’ ‘INHALE!’

‘IN!’ ‘HALE!‘ ‘INHALE!’

In a hip-hop stylee, I am donning my trainers and doing as they do here in New Zealand: getting out into the good old fresh air, come rain, wind or shine.

After having some seriously needed R & R in the deep sunshine of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, we arrived here in NZ with our bags full of summer clothes and suncream. Ohhhh noooo... the NZ climate is unpredictable to say the least, especially in Spring as it is here. Now I am very connected to seasonal yoga practice that reflects the natural state of the overriding guna & dosha when I am doing my yoga thang in the UK. My body seemed to my surprise to be ready for Winter, and here we are moving into summer, again.

My perceptions have been literally and physically turned down-under here as in one day we can experience rain, winds and then beautiful sunshine. One thing we noticed was that people are always outside here. At home, especially if it’s raining or cold, we tend to hibernate, and eat accordingly with heavy warm foods. I have had to rid these habits and embrace layers, 3 changes of shoes and varying the times of my yoga practice so I can allow my body to ‘feel’ and understand the connection with nature. I am riding my bike 6 miles along the edge of the shore and having welcoming ‘Hello’s!’  from people riding or running past (albeit faster and with a little more ease than me!!)  - what a way to connect before I practice. Raining at home means hibernation, here it means do the same as you always do, be outside, just with some rainwear on!

So here I go: tying up my trainers and getting outside, to be inspired by the beautiful birdsong, trees and elements...Fresh!

Now let me hear you say!

‘EX!’ ‘HALE!’  ‘EXHALE!’

‘EX!’ ‘HALE!’  ‘EXHALE!’

Claire Missingham X

While I'm away I will be creating free video yoga classes for you, and replenishing the podcasts too, plus writing a book about Vinyasa Flow Yoga. My amazing yogini-assistant Helen Shepherd will be covering my Friday Triyoga class from the end of September 2011.

In the meantime, I only have three workshops left in London this summer before I depart:

- Vinyasa Flow Foundation Immersion - A two day, 15 hour intensive running this weekend (9th and 10th July) at the ISTD2 Studio on Old Street.

- Creative Flow - A workshop at Triyoga Soho on 16th July.

- Samadhi Flow - A special, full length, multidimensional class at the Life Centre in Islington on 30th July.

Please do come along to say hello/goodbye, lap up the vinyasa energy and have a hug before seeing you again in 2012.

With radiant light and love,

Claire

This weekend I'm hosting a donation rockin' vinyasa class in the spirit of dana - the practice of generosity and giving.

Please come and join me and my teacher trainees for a celebratory two hour class this Sunday 12th from 11am to 1pm, offered on a donation basis. Give what you can - it will go towards the studio...

Suitable for all levels so come one and come all! Expect to be challenged as we laugh, sweat and play in celebration of the end of the teacher training programme for this year. (Five inch heels optional!)

NO NEED TO BOOK
PLEASE JUST COME ALONG TO THE STUDIO!

Just a quick note to say Happy Easter and to wish you all a wonderful break. Let's hope that this beautiful weather in the UK continues over the long weekend!

I also thought that I'd let you know we're currently working on a brand new Facebook Page which we hope to publish early next week so, if you use Facebook, please do pop in to say hi and "Like" me.

Have fun!

Claire

Peter Rizzo and I just wanted to extend a huge thank you to all who joined us for classes, workshops, private sessions and meals during the last couple of weeks...it was so great to have so much support and love and laughter going on. 

Keep a coming to class for more! The next workshop is on 9th April at the Life Centre Islington. 

See you soon on the mat, 

Infinite gratitude, 

Claire 

Come along and support us:

Friday 11th Feb

12.45-2.15pm

triyoga soho

2nd Floor, Kingly Court, Soho. 

Come and sweat, laugh and be inspired by this amazing talented musician. 

See you there! 

X

I have danced and danced with my beloved daughter in her ballet skirts around our home, my cherished one I love you

I've realised fully the beauty of being loved completely by someone I love completely, sometimes it's harder to see what's right in front of you... I choose you my darling

I am loved, I give love, I am worthy

I have beaten an addiction (nothing serious BTW!) but it had a grip and I let it go (I'll tell ya if you really want to know...) 

I am grateful, so grateful, for every loving card, email and personal word I hear

I have been humbled to realise I must listen and hear when someone takes time to tell me something positive

I release and I let go of people and past events that no longer serve me  - imagine what we could achieve if we did let go of these things that hold us back

I have forgiven and asked for forgiveness 

Most of all I am grateful for this yoga, my life, my student friends and new people I am going to meet on the path. 

Choosing a spiritual path may not work for everyone, but it works for me, and I want to share it with you

My heart to your heart, we are blessed. 

love love love this new year: 2011

here I am! x 

I know that some of you have been disappointed to find out that Fireflow at Triyoga this weekend was already fully booked but, thanks to so many of you seeking the space to come and set your intention for 2011, we've been able to open up into an extra room and provide some extra places!

 If you're available tomorrow and would like to join us, please click the link for more information and to go to the booking page.

 Thank you to everyone who has booked (or tried to book!) so far and I'll look forward to seeing you on the mat tomorrow.

 See you there!

Claire

I thought I'd take this opportunity to wish you all the greatest of joy at the beginning of this brand new decade and to update with my latest news...

I am excited to be starting the year with Fireflow, my workshop at Triyoga on the 8th January designed to kickstart and focus our creative and spiritual energies to face the challenges ahead and truly embody our new year's resolutions and intentions.

I am also pleased to be able to announce the first of my Teacher Training Intensives, starting this February. Advanced Hands-On Assists and Adjustments is a one day intensive with myself and Peter Rizzo.

Click the links for more details!

Here is to a bright, hopeful and happy 2011 and I look forward to seeing you on the mat and welcoming each of you at one of my classes or workshops soon,

Namaste
Claire xx

Our graduates from the 2009 certification are teaching in many areas of the UK and Europe. Please be in touch if you are interested in learning yoga from one of the graduates. 

Dear Yogi

Claire Missingham is absolutely thrilled to let you know that the beautiful yoga-inspired jewellery that she always wears, SATYA JEWELRY, now has a lovely shop in London, UK!

We invite you to enjoy the beautiful pieces in the store, located at:

28 Henrietta Street in Covent Garden.

Map  

In truth and light, OM x

Satya Jewelry and Claire Missingham

Just returned from an amazing trip to Daylesford Farm, which is an organic farm in the Cotswolds. English countryside at its best...

The theme of the retreat was 'simplicity' and we spent many hours breaking down yoga postures and sequences, meditating, talking and eating copious amounts of delicious vegetarian organic food (plus some yummy organic juices and cakes too)

Bamford Body have opened a treatment room at the concept store in London, and I'm off there later this week to try out some divine massage and well-being techniques, can't wait.

Here are some pics from Bamford retreat, with the lovely Anna.

Peace, Dedication, Patience and Love -Claire

Keep up with the latest on Claire Missingham at Twitter!

Here she'll be letting you know what she's up to, where she's teaching and lots of other bits...

Please also join Claire's Facebook page:



Namaste,

Claire Missingham

thanks again to the beautiful Joanna...

Here are some pics from the workshops and all the fired up souls there...

Clairex

I pay my deepest respects to the mahasadanam of Sri Pattabhi Jois, along with the worldwide yoga community

I studied Ashtanga yoga for many years, and am deeply grateful for the transmission of knowledge that I received through Guruji and the teachings from the second generation of Sharath & Lino Miele.  I had the opportunities to practice with Guruji at the small shala in Lakshmipuram in Mysore, which is now a lifetime blessing. My introduction to yoga was from the Iyengar perspective from Ruth White, and I also certified with Sharon Gannon and David Life, as well as more recent studies with the Bihar School of Yoga and the tantric master Daniel Odier & chakra phenomenon Anodea Judith. I started teaching Vinyasa Flow Yoga exclusively in 2002, now following my own heart rhythm in the flow of yoga and cultivating inspiration from there...

Our creation is that Guru,
The duration of our lives is that Guru,
Our trials and the death of the body is that Guru,
There is a Guru that is near by,
And a Guru that is beyond the beyond.
I offer all of my efforts to the Guru...

Guru Satyam
Guru Jnanam
Guru Anandam                          
Guru Shantih

My Teacher is the Truth,
My Teacher is the Knowledge,
My Teacher is the Bliss,
My Teacher is the Peace,
This is my offering...

We've just finished a lovely retreat at possibly the most amazing yoga studio in the world:  Bamford in Daylesford, Gloucestershire, UK.

Overlooked by the hugest, most beautiful marble buddha we sang, danced and collectively practiced Vinyasa Flow Yoga to the sound of birds, cows and Donna DeLory! Our lunches, snacks & supper were delicious veggie organic produce from the farm, with fresh juices and coffee & organic cakes (naughty yogis!)

Thank you to all those that came along and shared this, it was a really beautiful way to spend a sunny weekend. We are looking forward to making the next weekend even better with local walks and more...

Claire x

These photos are currently on the 'Ray of Light' section on the YJ website, which show a full simple surya namaskar sequence. We've also had some great feedback for the Mama Flow podcast and those of you planning to do the 200-hour teacher training in September will be studying this in greater detail. Plus I am thrilled to be off to San Francisco shortly to shoot the 'Mama Flow' sequence I wrote for Yoga Journal.

Thank you so much to the beautiful Joanna (who is a spitting image of Julia Roberts) for hosting the Chakra Vinyasa Yoga workshop with the fabulous northern yogis!
 
It was a wonderful day...one thing I loved was that everyone was very enthusiastic and open to trying new practices such as the Bija Mantras and lots of chants with the harmonium. Keep the vibes going...
 
The sun is shining today and the world is looking great. Happy Mothers Day... 
 
Claire x

Also, the wonderful yogini writer Lucy Edge (Yoga School Dropout) has penned a new book, 'The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club' which will be out in the summer. It is a beautiful, funny book all about moving from the city to the countryside and many personal journeys in between. I am thrilled that she wrote about the Chakra Vinyasa Flow workshop in the book and we are also going to be offering a reader and some friends the chance of meeting Lucy and a private workshop with me.  

Here a couple pics of the little yogini baby, Amelia Belle, with mummy and daddy.  

Enjoy the sunshine!  

Dance with Life, Move with Grace x

GURU DEVO MAHESHWARAH

GURU SAAKSHAAT PARA-BRAHMA,

Hey everyone

Hope this finds you well and happy..

The first weekend of teacher training at Camyoga went well, some lovely

souls there and we rocked the place with our chakra flow workshops!

Here are some new photos of Amelia Belle Missingham..

See you all at the triyoga Heart Flow workshop

Namaste

Love and Light

Claire x