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Interview for the YOGA MAGAZINE

This summer I was interviewed for the YOGA MAGAZINE, feel free to have a read 😉

 

Nestled in the heart of Eastbourne’s ‘Little Chelsea’ is a beautiful and quirky loft space where the Yoga Life Studio has made its home. A place of tranquil calm and warm welcome for all, its manager Eva Kristlova is passionate about how yoga can help others and transform local communities. Hers is a mission of compassion and care – to meet people wherever they are and help them to discover their life purpose.

 

“Being real and following your true self is so important, being in your heart and not trying to be someone else. Connecting with who you are. Your authentic self.”

 

Eva, tell us a little about yourself – your journey so far …

 

I was born in Czechoslovakia and I grew up in a small community, surrounded by family and friends. I moved to the UK in 1996 and I really missed that sense of closeness and belonging, knowing that someone had my back. I began to search, hoping to recreate a community which is supportive, non-judgemental and open to everyone. After living and working in London for 7 years, I moved to East Sussex with my family. We now live in Exceat, right by the Cuckmere River between Eastbourne and Seaford and I work full time running the Yoga Life Studio and teaching yoga there and other locations in East Sussex.

 

How did you get involved with yoga?

 

I studied with the British Wheel of Yoga in Seaford, East Sussex under the tutelage of the wonderful Janet Bond. I cannot thank her enough for her discipline, dedication and trust in me. Even before I qualified, I started to teach at the Yoga Life Studio in Eastbourne, where I also undertook responsibility for its day-to-day running and met my firm friend and yoga partner, the inspirational Wenche Beard. With Wenche we have shared many special moments together – from opening the teacher training school here in Eastbourne to taking our students on life-changing yoga retreats in Greece and Egypt.

 

What do you enjoy most in life and in your yoga practice?

 

Spending time outdoors is a great passion of mine and I absolutely love taking people to unusual locations for yoga classes. Years ago, I started running a class on our local beach. At first, only one or two people came to join me; but now I am joined by a large and faithful group of like-minded yogis, some of whom will even change their work hours to come and join me! I am blessed and humbled to be surrounded by these people who come throughout the year, whatever the weather, to be part of our group, our community. The camaraderie is wonderful; we have rested in Savasana in 0° and paddled in the sea in the snow! We simply love being crazy yogis together!

 

We live in a beautiful place and I am lucky enough to live close to the stunning Seven Sisters where I regularly offer sunset yoga classes overlooking some of Sussex’s most famous landmarks – the white cliffs, the oxbow lakes of the Cuckmere River and the gorgeous English Channel. When I am not on dry land, I take the more adventurous yogis on the river for some SUP yoga which is so much fun!

 

In my classes I like to inject a bit of lightness and fun. Life is serious enough so I want to give my students a sense of freedom and playfulness. I recently started teaching on a local Alpaca Farm! The Alpacas are unbelievably cute and the therapeutic effect of combining a gentle yoga class in the presence of these beautiful animals makes everyone so calm, happy and connected to nature, it’s very special.

 

Tell us a bit about the Yoga Life Studio and what you offer …

 

The studio is tucked away in a converted stable block in a quiet and popular area of Eastbourne. We only relocated this year so this is a new and exciting chapter for us all. We offer a wonderful selection of classes that attract many yogis, both locally and from further afield. Our classes are open to all – from complete beginners to seasoned yogis. Our classes range from gentle Hatha yoga to more powerful Vinyasa Flow. We have antenatal and postnatal classes for new mothers and fun aerial yoga sessions too; and plenty more besides! We also host so many wonderful courses and special events. We are home to the Yoga Life Teacher Training course which is facilitated by Wenche and myself (the next one starts April 2020); Yogabeats with the David Sye Foundation; Yin, Yoga and Cake; Cacao Ceremonies and more!

 

My vision for Yoga Life is rooted in my deep sense of community. I want to be of service to others and create a welcoming and safe space for people to come to, where friendships are formed and beautiful connections are made (even if it is just with yourself). I want our space to be sanctuary where everyone is welcome to come and be part of our yoga family. We run drop in sessions for all and community sessions which are facilitated by volunteer teachers where all donations received go directly to local charities which help those who are most vulnerable in our local area. We also love to take part in free events in and around Eastbourne – recently I have been at the Beach Life festival here in Eastbourne, offering free yoga sessions on the seafront which was a great success.

 

I am just starting to realise how many people’s lives we are making better, how what we do here matters. I believe that sharing yoga is a real privilege and a gift that we can pass on to others. Our clients can see how much we love what we do and knowing that we can make a difference to someone’s life is the ultimate reward. Yoga is all about sharing and giving; living in the way that makes you and everyone around you feel good. If you want to be happy then give!

 

The Yoga Life Studio is based at The Stables, 25 South Street, Eastbourne – please feel free and welcome to come and receive a big yoga hug!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga in the Yurt – Stone Cross

In the heart of the East Sussex countryside is The Well Being Centre which is a wonderful healing place and somewhere I love to go. There are two yurts, one for classes and one for treatments (massage, healing etc). The setting is idyllic, surrounded by wildflowers, herbs, fields of sheep and a friendly grey horse called Smurf – the owners are so lovely and are regulars to my classes as well! It truly is a hidden gem, only fifteen minutes outside of the busy town of Eastbourne!

In the yurt you can feel the wind blowing into the canvas, you can hear the rain tapping on the roof, you see ladybirds and spiders on your mat, you hear the sheep calling and birds singing, it is truly beautiful. In the winter we have a wood burner to keep us warm and the gentle pop and crackle of the fire is so soothing and in the summer, we lift the sides of the tent so we can enjoy the warm sunshine and cool breeze as we practise.

My class at the yurt is full of loyal and supportive yogis who turn up no matter what the weather and in return they are treated to a gentle relaxing class concluded by a deep relaxation time, enhanced by my crystal bowls to seal our special time together.

There is a common theme running throughout all of my outdoor (and regular indoor) classes. The key principles of community, support, love and kindness to all are integral to what I am trying to achieve. Yoga is not about performing the postures perfectly and looking hot on your Instagram feed. Yoga is about being present, mindful and kind to yourself and those around you. Creating and being a part of a yoga community is like meeting a whole new family and this is at the very heart of all I do here at the Yoga Life Studio. Come and join me and find out for yourself!

SUP and Yoga in Cuckmere Valley

SUP yoga – Cuckmere Valley

 What do we do when we want to spice our practice up? We head to the river, of course; and not just any river – the beautiful River Cuckmere in the Cuckmere Valley, made up of a gentle meander and several oxbow lakes – absolutely perfect for SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) combined with a few yoga moves for those who are feeling adventurous!

I take groups of around twenty people on the river at one time and we all have an absolute blast. Before we climb onboard, I explain how to get on and off the board, how to stand up (Downward Facing Dog or Yogic Squat are my preferred options) and how to get back down if balance deserts us! We all wear life jackets but luckily the water is fairly shallow so it is a nice, safe experience for all and it wouldn’t be a complete experience without falling in a couple of times anyway!

Paddleboarding is an amazing way to strengthen your core, which is essential to all yoga practice. There is a method to staying centred and balanced; and moving gently on the water is the ultimate mediation. The key to paddleboarding is the same as yoga – you need to stay present, focussed and soft, going with the flow of the river. If you start moving too much and lose that focus, you are sure to end up in the water!

As for yoga on the paddleboard, it is not as hard as you would think! Once you have mastered simple balance; Bridge pose, Cat/Cow stretch, Cobra, Downward Dog and even the Boat and Child poses and Seated Spinal Twist should be safe and easy enough to try without falling in. One of highlights however is just resting in Savasana on your SUP. Imagine just lying there, the river gently carrying you while you watch the soft fluffy clouds and listen to the restful sounds of nature all around you. Sheer bliss. The experience this gives you is out of this world. You will feel alive, inspired and free all at the same time!

My favourite times on the river are sunrise and sunset. I offer small, intimate sessions for one or two people to come and experience these special times of day with me. We take our SUPs out onto the river together which is quiet and peaceful at these times, no other people, just the calm water, the wildlife and the breeze and we meditate together, watching the sky changing from pink to blue with only each other for company. This is the ultimate beginning or end to your day, so peaceful and nourishing; there is nothing better!

Just a little highlight of my paddleboarding life … I was once floating on the river when I saw a sheep in distress who had fallen into the river! My first thought was to call the farmer but I knew that might be too late for the poor sheep, so I thought maybe the sheep could climb on my board! I stopped my board next to the poor thing and patted it, like you would for a dog, encouraging it to climb aboard … and it did! From there I managed to get it to the grassy bank and to safety. I think we were both a bit shocked but the sheep was safe. From then on, I have always been on the lookout for any sheep that might need rescuing.

 

Zen Do by the Sea

Did you know that there is a new style of pre wedding partying?  Forget the Hen Do and say Namaste to Zen Do! Mindfulness, yoga, beautiful scenery, nature walks, meditation and connections on totally different level.

Calm the pre wedding nerves, let go of planning and organising; instead invite peace and tranquillity into your day, soothe the nervous system and prepare for the big day.  Just what everyone needs right? And not only the bride to be, but all involved!

I had the pleasure of organising such a hen/zen do for one of the London yoga teachers, Sarah,  who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city and brought her party to the East Sussex Coast, the beautiful Seven Sisters Country park.

This is what happened on the day:

I met the hen party in the morning and we took a leisurely walk across the rolling hills of South Downs to our special yoga spot overlooking the Cuckmere River.  We were met by several curious sheep who observed our yoga practice with a great level of interest. The views were absolutely stunning, the sun was shining and the girls started to switch from busy to zen.  Gentle mindful class, fun partner work and blissful relaxation were needed by all.

After the yoga practice we continued our journey to the beach, where we laid our mats on the pebbles and got creative. We used our bodies to create different words, such as LOVE, ZEN DO and SARAH. Out came the goody bags with little bottles of bubbly and various well being bits and bobs, we all cheered for the bride to be and enjoyed some down time on our stunning beach.  Sun was shining and it was a lovely treat for those who don’t live on the coast!

Lunch was booked at the local country pub and after our hearty meal we could not wait to try some paddle boarding! Testing our balance on the water, trying to stay dry and not falling in the river was great fun! The girls set off on their boards giggling, happy and ready for challenge.

The day finished with Yoga Nidra and cake that we all shared on our picnic blankets set up by the river. Even the cup cakes had little yoga figures stick men drawn in icing, made by the bride! Perfect end to a perfect day and fun memories to treasure for ever,

No hungover – instead a feeling of being completely recharged and high on the fresh air, yoga, prana, friendships and love! I think this is definitely way to go and can’t wait to organise another Zen Do.

Come and have a zen day by the sea (no wedding necessary!) – I will look after you 🙂

Eva

 

Beautiful testimony from one of my special students – Thank you!

It’s thanks to Eva that I ever came to and continued the wonderful and magical practice of yoga. I often wondered if I hadn’t gone to her for my first class and if so many of her other students hadn’t gone to such an incredible teacher who was so welcoming and kind  would we have continued this life affirming practice of yoga with such enthusiasm over the years. Eva’s enthusiasm is contagious and she has a huge warm smile to everyone she meets and she radiates positivity. A quote by Roy T Bennett sums her up perfectly as she does this everyday to anyone and everyone who she meets ‘Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.’

She embodies the yogic principles on and off the mat running a mixture of classes including classes for the local community where all the proceeds go to the Yoga Beats charity which help Palestinians and Israelis caught in the conflict and selection of other local charities that Yoga Life Studio supports.

Eva has a deep affinity with nature and a lot of her yoga classes take place in the great outdoors. Some of my highlights of Eva’s unique yoga classes this year so far include watching the sunset whilst in the Warrior One pose surrounded by adorable ‘baaing sheep’, feeling a deep sense of peace paddle boarding on a silent river followed by a tranquil yoga class feeling the grass beneath our feet and an ‘alpaca yoga class’ that took place in a farm where during Savasana you could hear the alpacas feet walking in between the group. In a digital world where we need yoga more than ever for a connection to ourselves, nature and each other Eva’s classes are the perfect remedy and the perfect chance to just slow down and be yourself.

Georgina Warrick

 

Have you tried Alpaca Yoga?

There is a very special farm in Selmeston… Alpacas, ponies, sheep, pigs and chicken live here..together with their loving human family. When the owners of Jijies Rest Alpaca Farm contacted me asking if I would consider running a yoga class with alpacas there I didn’t have to think long, immediately I said ‘of course I will’!

The alpacas are super friendly and cute, all 25 of them including 5 babies! They are really curious about all that we do and love the food that we bring them (its  a bucket full of muesli) Each time we come to the farm they get a bit more friendly and adventurous, we can hear their soft steps around our mats, they sniff our backs when we rest in Balasana, they watch us carefully when we come up into our Tree pose. I am sure they will strike a pose one day soon too!

We are keeping the class limited to 10 participants to ensure a really special and therapeutic effect for both the animals and our yogis.

The highlight of the class is arriving on the farm, walking towards the alpaca field and  as soon as they spot us they start running towards us greeting us and lining up curiously  observing us with their beautiful big eyes  and waiting to be fed.  Once we settle on our mats they join our circle as if they are planning to practice with us.  They have the funniest and totally adorable faces! As my yogis say this is the best class around, you will leave totally high, smiling from ear to ear and completely recharged. The healing power of yoga and animals!

SUP with me!

It’s that time of the year again when we love to be near the water and enjoy the sunshine. And what a better way to take in the natural beauty of our countryside than from a safety of a paddle board (lol).

I am now offering private Sunrise and Sunset SUP sessions with Meditation, Pranayama and Yoga thrown in – but if you prefer I can just take you for a ride! I will create a bespoke session to suit you, I can’t guarantee that you won’t fall in but I can promise you an amazing time!

Some of the benefits will include:

Private time on the river and stunning scenery

You will learn to stand up and operate the paddle board

Completely switching off – you need to focus on your balance so there is no time to worry about anything else

Good workout for your core, legs, arms; focusing on balance

Beautiful photos that will be sent to you

 

I offer 1-2-1 or 1-2-2 sessions, weather permitting. Location is the Cuckmere Valley BN25 4AD

For more details email me on info@yoga-life.co.uk

Eastbourne.online Radio interview

Eastbourne has a brand new radio station called Eastbourne.Online and I met up with the lovely Sonia and Chris to talk about yoga.  We had a good chat about yoga benefits, how important it is to have a little bit of ‘me time’ to de-stress, relax, strengthen our body, loosen our tired muscles and joints and simply take some much needed time off – letting go of our daily worries and stresses and catch our breath.  Letting go of analysing, overthinking and putting our wellbeing first once in a while.. ideally daily.

I am hoping to see Sonia and Chris at the studio soon – I think that a gentle restorative class would be just the ticket! So watch this space and I will keep you posed. In the meantime if you want to listen to me going on about yoga – here is my interview 🙂

Listen here 🙂

Marsa Shagra Beach Yoga Holiday March 2018

By one of our beautiful yoga girls:

Our group of twelve Yogis, led by Wenche and Eva, touched down in Egypt on 22 March; all excited and all not really knowing quite what to expect.  To say the week’s experiences surpassed every single person’s hopes and dreams would be a massive understatement.

The eco camp is magical and as you set foot on the sand and gaze at the beauty of the Red Sea and the peacefulness of your surroundings, an overwhelming sense of calm fills you.  The tents are amazingly comfortable and definitely fit the Western definition of ‘glamping’ with friendly staff sweeping them daily, making the beds and providing fresh towels.  As for their location on the shoreline of the Red Sea, how blissful to fall asleep and wake to the sounds of the waves lapping the shore.  Every single diet and taste was catered for in the beautiful terraced camp restaurant including a dedicated egg chef at breakfast and a pastry chef who made the most irresistible desserts.  As for the coffee/beach bar where you would most likely bump into Stella, the camp dog; coffee, tea cake and soft drinks were available all day together with cake if you fancied it.  You could pull up a chair in the shade or a bean bag in the sun and simply relax as the sun glistened on the sea in front of you.

For the intrepid within our group Eva and Wenche had arranged plenty of optional trips including riding camels into the desert to meditate at sunset, swimming with ancient giant turtles in a beautiful bay and taking a speed boat out to Dolphin House reef to swim with the dolphins when they returned there in the early morning.  Khalid, our super knowledgeable and hilarious guide for the week took care of everything and everyone.  Some of the group did trial scuba dives with Red Sea Diving Safari and most days we would walk out into the sea to the breathtaking local reef and snorkel.  Never have I seen so many vivid colours in the coral and the fish – it was like watching Blue Planet but seeing it with our own eyes.  To add to the relaxation many of us had a massage in the massage tent on the camp.  Everyone agreed they had never experienced a massage like it, emerging to say they felt to be floating with every scrap of tension released from their body.  In fact many went back a second time to the masseur/healer we called ‘Magic Hands’.  The Bedouin Bar, run on the camp by a beautiful Bedouin family, was great fun at the end of day where we could sit with our feet in the sand and gaze at the stars overhead with a glass of wine and an apple shisha.  In fact one evening a surprise party was arranged for us complete with Bedouin musicians, dancing, a beach fire and the most enormous telescope to give us a close up window on the stars.

And all this before I get to the yoga!  To practice yoga and meditation overlooking the sea in Egypt is truly exceptional.  Something about the ancient land beneath your feet creates a deep connection with nature, the earth and the elements, which we so often lose in our busy day-to-day lives.  And to be led by teachers like Wenche and Eva is unbelievable.  Every morning and every evening we met as a group on our mats for an hour and a half practice which always unfolded some new understanding of ourselves. I have never practiced yoga in the way we practiced, the total freedom to listen to your own body and move how you needed to move was liberating.  The explanation of the thinking behind the principles of yoga was enlightening and the encouragement to explore yourself was inspiring.  It was the most uplifting and transforming experience and one for which I will always be grateful.  Our final practice which included partner yoga and group yoga positions was just great fun and cemented the ties between us all.

And finally, this eclectic group of fourteen individuals, many of whom met for the first time in Egypt have formed friendships that will last a lifetime.  So much joy was shared, so many barriers were broken down, such honesty and care was given.  The trappings and restrictions of everyday life were stripped away and people could ‘just breathe and be’.  That is the rare gift that Egypt gave us all and why so many of us are hoping to return very soon.

Thank you Wenche and Eva – without you none of this would have been possible xx

Ease Restless Leg Syndrome with Yoga

EASE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME WITH YOGA 

My good friend has been suffering for a long time, tried and tested many different techniques and remedies with not much help. She asked me to create a yoga programme that would help her to ease the symptoms and more I look into it more people I come across who suffer with this condition.

So what is the Restless leg syndrome?

It is a disorder that causes uncomfortable, urgent feelings in the body. It is considered a neurological sleep disorder. Those with restless leg syndrome can have a variety of symptoms including a need to move or shake the legs, a crawling sensation, or a tickling or itching feeling. Many people with restless leg syndrome also experience twitching or jerking of the limbs during sleep.

At this time, there is no known cure for restless leg syndrome. The most common treatments include a daily light exercise routine, cutting out caffeine, nicotine, white sugar and other stimulants, and establishing a more restful sleep environment.

In addition to regular yoga practice, particular postures can help relieve the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. End of day yoga and meditation routines can help the sufferer create a stable evening and relaxed mind for bedtime.

Each person has their own unique experience and each person’s path toward healing is often equally unique. Below are my tips on how to manage Restless Leg Syndrome based on my research:

Any yoga posture that releases nervous energy from the legs will help. Postures like Standing Forward Bend, Downward Facing Dog, and Goddess Pose release tension and nervous energy from the body. If energy is constructively released from the body, it should improve your odds for less restless leg syndrome flare ups and a healthy sleep session.

Perform yoga poses that work the thigh muscles and also those that flex and extend the solar plexus and pelvis. I have found that forward bends, backward bends and spinal twists are all beneficial as well as specific poses that contract the thighs such as the chair pose and the warrior pose series.

If you want to practice just one posture, try ‘legs up the wall’ – that will feel really good! Legs up the Wall pose is good for aiding circulation within the legs. The pose should be held for five to twenty minutes, depending on the ease of the pose for the practitioner. If there is discomfort in the back, a bolster or blanket can be placed under the small of the back.

All poses should be performed very slowly with great attention to the body and breath.

Practice alternate nostril breathing before bed (Contact me for instructions).

Cut out caffeine, nicotine, white sugar and other stimulants.

I have created a yoga sequence designed especially for this condition. I would be happy to share this programme with any sufferers so please do get in touch and hopefully we will find a way to help you with your busy legs!

Eva xxx

Yoga for restless legs with Eva Kristlova

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