“Bee Leaf Yoga's objective is to make the transformative practices of yoga, Pilates and mindfulness available to anyone willing to try them. Encourage individuals to connect with themselves, build strength and evoke laughter. Discover practical tools to move and breathe more fully, within a safe, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere…
The Bee Leaf Yoga Philosophy:
Bee Leaf Yoga is passionate about the environment, human nature, progressive development, collective wellness and collective liberation.
Bee Leaf Yoga appreciates that we live in a pluralist society, recognises and respects that each person's journey to yoga, Pilates and other forms of mindful movement are completely unique.
While yoga helps us to manage stress, along with a myriad of other things, it is vital to remember that this is not why yoga was created and practised for thousands of years.
Yoga is an Ancient Indian practice and has always been about liberation, and the true meaning of ‘self care’ has always been about collective wellness and collective liberation.
Yoga is inherently anti colonial and anti capitalist and the term self-care (first described and promoted as a radical act against oppression by Audre Lorde) has been appropriated, colonised and intertwined with yoga.
It’s (beyond) time to decolonise our minds, spaces, classes and practices. Honour the Ancient Indianroots of yoga, alongside surrounding Asian and South East Asian influential mindful practices. Ensure yoga and mindful movement are accessible and inclusive for all.
Your story, your journey… What can you expect?
Fun, thoughtful classes that incorporate flow, strength, balancing, pranayama, history and philosophy alongside mindful relaxation to decompress and re-energise!
B E E L E A F & R E F O R M E R P I L A T E S
Reformer Pilates is a specific part of the Pilates method for physical rehabilitation and wellbeing, a system created by Joseph Pilates (invented and patented 26 apparatus in his lifetime).
Reformer Pilates focused on helping disabled and injured soldiers recover who were often rendered immobile from combat in their hospital beds - this is how the reformer ‘bed’ or carriage was born.
While Pilates draws influence from yoga (Joseph studied it) and Pilates takes mindfulness and awareness into the body, there are still significant differences in both the philosophies and the principles.
I honour each of the practices of yoga and Pilates with respect. You will experience the approach in teaching each of these disciplines are different, yet can and do work as part of your weekly movement plan and mindful sessions, in their wholeness, beautifully.
What are the six core principles of Pilates:
Breathing: The driving force, using deep, controlled breathing to oxygenate muscles, engage the deep core, and link mind and body, with specific inhale/exhale patterns for each movement.
Concentration: Focusing on the steady movement of your body in the present moment, while engaging all the right muscles and breathing. Enhancing technique, form and mindfulness.
Centering:The powerhouse; lower ribs, pelvic floor/pelvis, lower back. Originating all movement from your core. Being fully present and engaging what Joseph Pilates called ‘the powerhouse’ to keep stability.
Control: Executing every movement with complete muscular control, ensuring proper form over speed or intensity to build true strength and prevent injury.
Precision: Carrying out each exercise with deliberate accuracy, focusing on quality over quantity.
Flow (flowing movement): Connecting movements smoothy and gracefully, like a continuous dance, building stamina and elegance.
