# Soul Conversations
> 30+ years of wisdom shared online and in-person with guided Yoga & Meditation practices, classes and support on your path to inner calm
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).
## Pages
### Soul Conversations: Finding the Stillness Within
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/about/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:10:42.000Z
Soul Conversations is an independent publication launched by me Linda Johnrose.
For over 30 years, I have been a guide for those seeking to withdraw their energy from the busyness of the world and redirect it inward—to the spine, the spiritual eye, and the sanctuary of peace that lives there.
My own journey hasn't been a straight line. It has been shaped by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, and the profound lessons of surrender found in recovery from major surgery and the reality of living with chronic illness.
I am not the source of your peace; I am simply walking alongside you, pointing the way so you can discover that the sanctuary you seek has been inside you all along.
The start of one of our Soul Chat Walks
## Ways we can Walk Together
I have scaled my offerings back to ensure that every interaction is intentional, simple, and restorative—for both of us.
All deep-dive work and coaching take place within my **Clarityflow** sanctuary.
#### **1\. Soul Support** with Map 1: Rest
Soul Support is where the Maps of the R.E.A.L. Method (Rest, Ease, Align, Live) are walked, in your own time. Map 1 is the first stretch of the path you walk with me. It arrives Path by Path, each one a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation. You listen in the HIRO app, and there's a quiet space under each Path to share what you noticed or ask a question.
**Investment:** £65 a month
[Join Soul Support](#/portal/signup)
### 2\. YiNidra Supper
An occasional evening together to be "put back together" through deep relaxation and community.
*\*Please note this is an in-person gathering - you need to be in the hall with us to benefit.*
*Yin yoga, Yoga Nidra and Supper together for a complete night off.*
- **Investment:** £25
[Book Your Place ](https://buy.stripe.com/8x24gzgST6UU8Iq16C2VG09?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### 3\. The Digital Sanctuary Relaxation Audio
Five tracks, six minutes to twenty-nine, over an hour in total. Take one on its own, or mix them into a full practice.
- **Investment:** £15
[Digital Sanctuary Relaxation Audio Set](https://mpkhpug0.clarityflow.com/p/mXIqjbEcyUB4M?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### 4\. 1-2-1 Guidance
Personal guidance through one Map, walked together over about four weeks. Whenever something comes up, send me a voice note, video or message. No rushing to a live call, just a steady, mindful conversation.
This also includes 50% off in-person retreats and Soul Walks in the Lake District, once we've walked together for a while online.
[Enquire about 1-2-1 Guidance](mailto:linda@restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### My Guiding Principles:
- **Connection to God/Source:** The North Star.
- **Wellbeing:** Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
- **Intellectual Culture:** Studying the Path.
- **Prosperity:** For me and you so that we can have time to be still.
- **Social:** Finding others like us.
> *Be still, and know.*
If you want to
> Rest from the World
> Relax your Body and Mind
> Revive Your Soul
## Join the Conversation
This blog is a collection of my "research"—the ramblings, realisations, and recipes (yes, including the cookies) that come from a life dedicated to **Simple Living and High Thinking.**
When you subscribe, my weekly post arrives in your inbox, and you get a free 30-second reset and a ten-minute relaxation to keep.
I promise never to add to the "noise."
## Sign up for Soul Conversations
30+ years of wisdom shared online and in-person with guided Yoga & Meditation practices, classes and support on your path to inner calm
Subscribe
Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
**Data protection**
Any personal information you provide to us via the website is governed by our [Privacy Policy](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/privacy-policy/).
### YOGA: The Path of the Fluid Body
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yoga/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:36:00.000Z
Yoga is the practice of aligning the physical body so the soul can reside in stillness. Whether you are exploring the traditions or looking for a practice you can do from home, find your rhythm below.
Don't know your Yin from your Iyengar, have a read of a[ summary of styles](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-yoga/), traditions and different schools, as I attempt to sum up just what yoga is.
If you are ready to join me in Penwortham on a Monday, click the link to book your place on a mat.
[BOOK A CLASS](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/monday-at-st-leonards/)
> Can't get to Penwortham?
## You have two options;
### **Get a class in your pocket:option 1**
I have professionally recorded a class experience that you can listen to whenever you want.
Five tracks, six minutes to twenty-nine, over an hour in total.
A welcome, breathing, beach visualisation, yoga nidra, and a bonus asana practice.
Mix them however suits you, or take one on its own.
[Download a Class](app.hiro.fm/channel/yoga-with-linda)
### Practise at home in your own time:option 2
Move beyond a single recording.
Map 1 of the R.E.A.L. Method walks you through the same withdrawal and stillness I teach in class, at your own pace. Map 1 is the first stretch of the path you walk with me in Soul Support.
**Your Practice. Your Rhythm. Your Real Life**
Map 1 arrives Path by Path, each one a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation. You listen on your phone, and there's a quiet space under each Path to share what you noticed or ask a question.
Walking our souls home
Start Map 1, learn the R.E.A.L. Method, and see if it's for you. Even if you decide it's not, you'll leave with real skills to help you rest from the busy world.
No fixed time, no class to get to — just five minutes wherever you already are, whether that's the car at pickup time, the kitchen while tea's cooking, or the ten minutes before the house wakes up.
Begin to withdraw from outward stimulation and redirect your energy inward to the spine, at your own pace, in your own life.
Your Practice. Your Rhythm.
£65 a month. Cancel whenever you choose.
[Begin Map 1: Join Soul Support ](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
> Join our community of souls
> We are all walking the same path
> Let's share this part of the journey
> Join the conversation
> Share the meditations
> Learn new techniques
**We are waiting to sit and walk with you**
_This page is for subscribers on the Soul Support tier only._
### Meditation practice is the bridge back to your own inner sanctuary
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/meditation/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:38:30.000Z
Whether you are beginning your journey or deepening your rhythm, you can explore the foundations here:
## What is meditation?
[Read my thoughts here](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-meditation/)
## What is REAL meditation?
and how can it fit in your life?
[Read All About it HERE](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/)
## How to sit for meditation
Click the link for more
[How to sit](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/how-to-sit-for-meditation/)
## The Hong Sau Technique
Click for the what, why how
[Hong Sau](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/hong-sau/)
## Start the R.E.A.L. Method
Map 1 is the first stretch of the path you walk with me in Soul Support. It arrives Path by Path, each one a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation, so you can build your daily rhythm on your own terms.
[Begin Map 1: Join Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
### Soul Support
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:53:48.000Z
***Welcome to a space designed for your Soul’s return to Spirit—a sanctuary for those seeking deep spiritual connection, free from the weight of dogma and 'churchianity'***
There is no performance here, no live schedule and no mandatory social engagement. It is a quiet digital sanctuary where you can work through Map 1 and follow our weekly Soul Conversations at your own pace.
Think of the comments under each Path as a peaceful meeting place, there when you need a quick dip in for a query or a moment of shared insight, but always optional.
Whether you prefer the solitude of the solo walk or the support of a like-minded circle, the sanctuary is here to hold you as you find your way home.
## The R.E.A.L. Method
After 30 years of gathering wisdom, I am distilling these teachings into a practice of returning home. We move away from outer stimulation and redirect our energy inward, toward the stillness of the spine and the clarity of the Spiritual Eye.
- **REST from the World:** Initial withdrawal from outer stimulation to quiet the nervous system.
- **EASE into the Body:** Moving from busy senses into a fluid, relaxed physical state.
- **ALIGN with Spirit:** Guided redirection of energy into the spine and upward to the Spiritual Eye, anchored in the teachings of my Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda.
- **LIVE in Presence:** Maintaining your Inner Sanctuary as you step back into the world.
## Soul Support Membership
Join month by month, and stay for as long as it serves you.
### What you receive:
- **Map 1 of the R.E.A.L. Method**: the first stretch of the path you walk with me. Four Paths, each a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation, arriving Path by Path and walked in your own time.
- **The Foundations bundle**: the same Relaxation Audio Set that's £15 on its own, included from day one. Guided relaxation and Nidra, breath practice, and a guided asana sequence.
- **Members' relaxations in the HIRO app**, to listen to whenever suits you
- **A quiet space under each Path** to ask a question or share what you noticed, always optional
- **New Paths as I add them**, included in your membership
- **Member access to selected workshop recordings**
- **Two in-person sessions a month**, if you're local — join me at the hall as part of your membership.
- **Priority access** to all online workshops, plus early booking for in-person YiNidra Suppers.
****Begin Your Journey Home**
Click below to join Soul Support and begin Map 1.
[Join Soul Support ](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
## My Rituals for a Holistic Life
These are the practices that sustain my own sanctuary and form the bedrock of everything I teach. A few things that I just can't live without
- **The Practice:** Yoga, Meditation, Energization Exercises, LLV & Essential Oils, Fasting, Epsom Salt Baths.
- **The Elements:** Cold Water Swimming, Grounding, Time in Nature.
- **The Rhythm:** Sabbath Rest & Soul Conversations.
## Not ready to join the Sanctuary yet?
> Stay connected
We are always having a conversation. Join my email list to receive weekly reflections.
## Join the Soul Conversation
Gain access to post comments/questions
[Sign up ](#/portal/signup)
### Welcome to Soul Conversations
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/welcome-to-soul-conversations/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T13:02:20.000Z
_This page is for subscribers only._
### A Free 30-Second Practice to Release the Tension You're Carrying
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-sensory-reset/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T16:50:58.000Z
A Free 30-Second Practice to Release the Tension You're Carrying
Click Subscribe below, choose the free option, and this practice is yours straight away, plus a longer ten-minute relaxation for when you have more time. No cost.
_This page is for subscribers only._
### The R.E.A.L. Method
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:39:28.000Z
Much of your tiredness comes from your energy leaking out, through your eyes, your ears, your phone, the constant pull of everything demanding your attention.
> Working hard is only part of it.
The R.E.A.L. Method is a practice of returning home to yourself, at your own pace.
There's no new skill to master and nothing to add to your day. It is a way back to a stillness that's already yours.
## **What R.E.A.L. means**
Four stages, each one building on the last:
- **REST**: Withdraw from outer stimulation. Learn where your own energy is leaking out, and how to close those leaks.
- **EASE**: Move from a busy, muscle-gripping body into one that's genuinely relaxed.
- **ALIGN**: Redirect that settled energy inward, toward real stillness.
- **LIVE**: Carry that stillness back out into your ordinary day.
**How it works**
Each stage is called a Map, made up of a handful of steps called Paths. Each Path is a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation, and you listen on your phone.
Map 1, REST, is arriving Path by Path over the coming weeks, so you're never handed everything at once. There's nothing to tick off and no deadline to meet. If life gets in the way and you come back to it a month later, it's exactly where you left it.
Map 1 is the first stretch of the path you walk with me in Soul Support.
You listen in the HIRO app, a simple audio app, and there's a quiet space under each Path to share what you noticed or ask a question. It's always optional, and there are no live sessions to attend.
**Your practice. Your rhythm.**
Begin to withdraw from outward stimulation and redirect your energy inward, at your own pace and in your own time.
Your Practice. Your Rhythm.
£65 a month. Cancel whenever you choose.
[Begin Map 1: join Soul Support ](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
### Map 1 — Begin the R.E.A.L. Method
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/map-1/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T17:41:20.000Z
Underneath all the noise, your calm and stillness are still there, inside you.
### The world is just designed to pull you away from it.
You've probably got friends who rave about yoga, meditation, or similar classes — the ones who swear by it, who always seem calmer than everyone else. Maybe you've thought about trying it yourself, but never quite got there.
This is a different way in — you don't need to come to a class, or know anything about yoga, to begin here. Whether you're tired, stressed, or simply overwhelmed, all you need is a few minutes and the willingness to notice what's actually going on for you.
More often than not, it's this: your energy has been pulled outward for so long — into everyone and everything else — that the quiet part of you has gone unheard for a while. Map 1 is the first step back to it.
> It isn't a yoga class.
> It isn't a guided meditation recording.
It's four short guided steps, each working the same way I've taught for 30 years — ***you notice what's actually there, you become aware of what it's doing to you, then you're given something real to do about it.***
No class to attend, no Zoom to join, nothing to keep up with. You go at your own pace.
## What Map 1 actually is
Four Paths, each a gentle step back to the stillness that is at your centre:
- **Rest** — stepping back from the outside world's pull, just for a while
- **Ease** — moving out of the busy, thinking mind and into a relaxed body
- **Align** — finding that quiet centre that's already yours
- **Live** — carrying that stillness back out into an ordinary day
> The Paths help you to notice, to become aware, then choose the real next step that's right for you.
On Path 1, you'll discover what's actually pulling at your energy — and for each pull, you're given an anchor to steady yourself against it.
By Path 4, you'll have real tools to help you carry that stillness back out into your ordinary day.
**Path 1 on the Map starts wherever you are.**
> You don't need to know the way.
> Just take the next step.
[Join Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
> £65 a month
> Cancel whenever you choose
## What you get
**Map 1 is where you begin, and it lives inside Soul Support, my membership.**
- All four Paths, ready to work through in your own time. Each one is a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation, which you listen to on your phone.
- A quiet space under each Path to ask a question or share what you noticed, if you'd like to.
- Members' relaxations in the HIRO app
- New Paths as I add them, included in your membership
- For members local to Penwortham, the option of two in-person classes a month
- Member access to selected workshop recordings
**No live calls, no schedule to keep**
> Come back to it when you want to.
> Leave it when you don't.
## Why would you need a map?
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone:
> **"I don't have time for a practice."**
There's no class to attend, no schedule to keep. You're learning simple tense-and-release techniques — learn them once, use them anywhere, whenever you actually need them.
> **"I've tried meditation before and couldn't sit still, or my mind wandered too much."**
Map 1 isn't about sitting still. It's about developing your awareness — once you notice, you can do something about it. Map 1 shows you what to notice, then gives you a real, simple method to come back to that inner stillness, whenever you need it.
> **"I don't want another thing I have to keep up with."**
There's nothing to keep up with here. No streak to protect, no daily task. The Paths are on the phone that's already in your pocket or bag, ready whenever you need them. It is a monthly membership, so if you find you're not using it, you can cancel whenever you choose.
If you're ready for more calm, less noise, click the button and I'll show you the first step.
[Soul Support Sign Up ](#/portal/signup)
### The Full Release
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-full-release/
Last updated: 2026-09-30T11:31:55.000Z
This is the tense-and-release practice, the one I teach week in, week out.
Used in relaxation sessions, yoga, YiNidra and meditation, and any time your shoulders have crept up round your ears.
Use it whenever you need your body to let go.
No experience needed, nothing to get right.
You press play, and you let your body do what it already knows how to do.
## Pop your email below and it's yours
### Subscribe for free
No spam— just this, and the occasional note from me when there's something worth sharing.
_This page is for subscribers only._
### Thank you — here are your recordings
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/thank-you-here-are-your-recordings/
Last updated: 2026-09-18T13:04:08.000Z
[Download Your Recordings Here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1N6phbwv1ktnVCMfXo%5F46SpIYsXLfgoP0?usp=sharing&ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Privacy Policy
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/privacy-policy/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:01:48.000Z
**Linda's Yoga Limited – Our Commitment to Privacy Protection**
*As it relates to restrelaxrevive.co.uk*
**Introduction**
At Linda's Yoga Limited, we take the privacy of our website visitors and service users very seriously. This Privacy Policy outlines the methods by which Linda's Yoga Limited collects, utilises, discloses, and safeguards your personal information when you access our services. By using this website or engaging with our services, you acknowledge and accept the practices described herein as implemented by Linda's Yoga Limited.
**Information Collected**
- Personal Information: This includes, but is not limited to, your name, email address, telephone number, postal address, and any other identifiers you provide in the process of contacting Linda's Yoga Limited, registering for our services, or completing website forms.
- Usage Data: This covers details related to your visits on Linda's Yoga Limited's website, including traffic statistics, location data, and other communications data.
**Use of Information**
- To administer, operate, and maintain the Linda's Yoga Limited website and services.
- To address your enquiries and satisfy your requests received by Linda's Yoga Limited.
- To analyse feedback and continuously improve the Linda's Yoga Limited website, products, and services.
- To provide you with service-related communications and, subject to your consent, marketing materials from Linda's Yoga Limited.
- To comply with legal obligations and defend the lawful interests of Linda's Yoga Limited.
**Disclosure of Information**
We work with a small number of trusted service providers to run our website and services. Your information may be shared with:
- Ghost – our website and email newsletter platform
- Airtable – for managing member and enquiry records
- Stripe – for processing payments
- HIRO – for delivering our private audio to members and buyers
- YouTube (Google) – for hosting videos shown on our website
Each of these providers is bound by their own data protection obligations and only processes your data to deliver the service they provide to us. We do not sell your personal information to anyone.
Your information may also be disclosed:
- Where disclosure is required by applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes.
- To safeguard the rights, property, or safety of users of Linda's Yoga Limited or others.
**Data Retention**
Linda's Yoga Limited retains personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:
- Member and client records are kept for the length of your membership or relationship with us, plus a further period afterwards where we are legally required to (for example, financial records for tax purposes).
- Enquiries and leads that do not turn into a booking are kept for 12 months before being deleted.
**International Transfers**
Some of the third-party services we use (see 'Disclosure of Information' above) store data outside the UK, including in the United States. Where this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, to protect your data to UK standards.
**Cookies**
Our website may use cookies to understand how visitors use the site and to improve your experience. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.
Some pages may include content from other services, such as audio from HIRO or videos from YouTube, and these providers may set their own cookies.
**Your Rights**
You are entitled to:
- Access the personal data Linda's Yoga Limited holds about you.
- Request the rectification of inaccuracies or incomplete information.
- Request the erasure of your personal data, subject to legal and regulatory constraints that apply to Linda's Yoga Limited.
- Object to or restrict the processing of your data under certain circumstances by Linda's Yoga Limited.
- Withdraw your consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
- File a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your rights have been breached by Linda's Yoga Limited.
**Revision of Privacy Policy**
This Privacy Policy may be amended periodically by Linda's Yoga Limited. All changes will be posted on this page, and, where appropriate, communicated via email. Continued use of our services following any policy amendments signifies acceptance of the revised terms.
**Contact Information**
Should you have any queries, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the data practices of Linda's Yoga Limited, kindly contact us at:
Email: [linda@restrelaxrevive.co.uk](mailto:linda@restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Registration number: ZB021483.
### You're in. Welcome to Soul Support.
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/welcome-to-soul-support/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T16:11:07.000Z
**What happens next**
1. **Look out for an email from Soul Conversations.** That's the name of my blog, and it's where your sign-in emails come from. If you don't see it, check Promotions or Spam. To come back at any time, use the sign-in link on the website and a fresh link will be emailed to you.
2. **Your audio.** The Paths and members' relaxations are listened to in the HIRO app. I add each new member personally, so you'll receive an invitation from HIRO to the email address you joined with. Nothing for you to do until it arrives.
3. **Start with Map 1, Path 1.** Map 1 is being added Path by Path over the coming weeks. You'll get an email from Soul Conversations as each one arrives, so you don't need to keep checking. If you don't see it, look in Promotions or Spam.
Each Path is a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation. There's no rush and no right pace, and you can come back to any of them as often as you like.
Each Path is a short spoken talk followed by a relaxation. You can come back to any of them as often as you like, and there's a quiet space underneath each one if you'd like to share what you noticed.
**If something doesn't turn up**
Reply to your receipt email or write to \[email address\], and I'll sort it personally.
I'm glad you're here.
Linda
## Posts
### How to Stay Firm and Steady When Life is Flowing and Rushing All Around You
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/how-to-stay-firm-and-steady-when-life-is-flowing-and-rushing-all-around-you/
Last updated: 2026-10-08T11:10:29.000Z
If you're running on adrenaline, your nervous system can't tell the difference between a work deadline and a tiger chasing you.
Both feel urgent. Both feel like threat. So your body grips. Your shoulders climb. You're clenching onto your own life without even knowing it.
> I know this intimately.
It took me far too long to find what I'm about to share with you.
#### My Journey to This Teaching
I've been meditating and teaching yoga for over 30 years now. I'm a disciple in the lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda, and I've taught thousands of people the practices that have kept me centred.
***But for years, I was still gripping.***
I was still holding tension in my body even as I taught others to release it.
What I was searching for — what I finally found — was that quality of being firmly centred, grounded and rooted in my inner haven of peace, that stillness and calmness, no matter what was happening around me.
And once I understood it, I saw how powerful these simple techniques I teach actually are.
#### Where This Matters
I've had to give evidence in court. The breathing practice centred and calmed me before I walked into the courtroom and kept me balanced as I gave evidence.
I've used this practice through childbirth - days in labour at home and then bluelighted across town for an emergency caesarean (let's not even begin with everything that happened in the weeks after, in and out of hospital!).
I've raised children with it.
I've lived through difficult situations in my work and family life.
And most recently, I've had to rely on it completely — through a burst appendix, peritonitis, and the ongoing health challenges of CFS/ME that I'm managing now.
> The techniques are simple.
> You can do them quickly, easily.
> **But they are so powerful and so effective.**
They carry us through so many different situations and circumstances in life — the ones we expect and the ones that blindside us.
That's what Path 2 is about - finding your way to stay centred and calm as life whirls all around you.
Because, as one of my mentors says
> "Life won't stop lifing"
It isn't what happens to us that matters; it is how we respond to it and where we let our energy go.
#### The Two Qualities We're Working With This Week
In the ancient teachings — especially in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras — we talk about two qualities: Sthira and Sukha.
> Sthira is steady and firm.
Think of the earth element — grounded, rooted, like a rock, like a mountain.
> Sukha is soft and easy.
Think of the water element — flowing, fluid, the way water moves.
If you stand at the side of a stream and there's a rock in the middle, you watch the water flowing around it. The rock stands steady and firm. The water rushes around it, and if the rock is firmly rooted, it doesn't move with the water.
That's what we're cultivating — the steadiness without the rigidity.
The ease without the collapse.
Or think of a gorgeous dress, soft, silky material, almost fluid. But it's hanging on a coat hanger — something steady and strong — so it keeps its shape. That's your body and your skeleton. Steady and firm underneath. Fluid softness on top.
Let me tell you what 30 years of teaching has shown me works. Not theory. Not wishful thinking. Actual, lived experience.
#### How the Nervous System Actually Works
When you're stressed, your subconscious (which is primitive) doesn't distinguish between a massive work project and a wild animal chasing you through the woods.
Both trigger the same response in your nervous system.
It doesn't care whether a threat is a work deadline or a tiger—when your subconscious detects danger, it goes into overdrive.
Your body flips into fight-or-flight mode.
Releasing that grip is an active choice. It's a skill you can learn — and it's one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop.
#### What's Actually Happening Inside
**Your muscles grip onto your skeleton, ready to move it away from danger.**
Blood is redirected from your digestive system to your large muscle groups—your legs, your arms, your torso.
> You're being prepared to run or fight.
But here's where it gets you: without blood flow to your belly, digestion stops cold - there is no time to stop and poop when you are running from that tiger (or bear, do bears........?)
> You can't eat; you can't process food. Over time, you develop digestive issues.
> Your sleep suffers too—you can't rest deeply when your nervous system is primed for danger.
> Your breath gets shallow.
> Your jaw clenches.
> Your shoulders creep up toward your ears.
> Do you recognise any of those?
You start to feel trapped in your own body.
This is the grip—your *muscles* gripping, on autopilot, because your subconscious is still running ancient survival software.
Here's what I learned: you can't think your way out of a nervous system convinced you're in danger.
> You have to *feel* your way back to safety.
#### Finding Steady and Soft
In Sanskrit, *sthira* means steady, firm, stable.
*Sukha* means soft, easy, pleasant.
In yoga, we're taught to find both at the same time—a paradox that actually describes how a calm nervous system feels.
Imagine that rock in the stream. The rock doesn't fight the water; it's solid and unmoved. The water flows around it, soft but consistent. That's what we're cultivating: your steady centre, with ease flowing through it.
Your muscles need tone to hold you upright.
Your nervous system needs to settle so you can breathe.
Sthira-Sukha is both.
If you want to keep building this steadiness, Path 2 lives inside Soul Support. It's where I guide you through the R.E.A.L. Method, so that steady, soft centre becomes something you can find for yourself, any time, not only when someone is guiding you.
The full practice for this path is below.
If you're not a member yet, join Soul Support to step onto Path 2 and start practising this week.
[Join Soul Support ](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
_This post is for subscribers on the Soul Support tier only._
### Could Your Kitchen Be Making You Tired?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/map-1-path-1/
Last updated: 2026-10-02T15:16:02.000Z
**Where Your Attention Goes**
Stop for a moment where you are. Feel your feet on the floor, or your weight in the chair.
> Let one slow breath out.
Now notice what your attention is doing. It might be on the hum of the fridge. The glare of the screen. The laundry basket in the corner, quietly waiting. A phone that might buzz. A diary full of tomorrow.
None of it feels like much. But your attention goes out to each of these things for much of the day, and by evening it's common to feel flat and drained without having done anything that looks like hard work.
I think of these as sensory leaks: the places where your attention is pulled out through your eyes, ears and skin, away from your body.
You can feel them in the body. The jaw tightens. The shoulders creep up towards the ears. The breath goes shallow and high in the chest.
### Try this today
Each time you catch one of those, pause and ask: what is pulling at me right now?
You don't need to fix anything.
Noticing is the first step.
You can't anchor a ship if you don't realise it's drifting.
Coming through!
So that's where we start: finding out where your attention drifts.
Then learning some anchors.
This is the beginning of Path 1\.
**Try the noticing today, wherever you are.**
Once you're aware of those leaks, you then have four simple ways to bring your attention back, plus a guided relaxation to listen to lying down.
The rest of this Path is included in Soul Support. Map 1, Path 1
_This post is for subscribers on the Soul Support tier only._
### When Plans Change: A Door Closes, Another Opens
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/when-plans-change-a-door-closes-another-opens/
Last updated: 2026-09-24T19:21:34.000Z
I was meant to be launching this week.
The R.E.A.L. Method, all of it, live in Clarityflow. ✔️
The Snug ready. ✔️
The membership dashboard glowing. ✔️
I had it mapped out: a soft launch, a few founding members, the momentum building quietly.
Everything I've been building for two years, ready to step into.
Then the GDPR thing hit properly.
Clarityflow — lovely as it is to navigate — has no UK compliance pathway. No UK Addendum, no Data Transfer Impact Assessment option. Just an EU contract and a gap I can't ethically ignore, especially when I'm working with health data in questionnaires.
I'd done the research, hoped it might have changed, but sitting with it this week, I knew: I couldn't ask my members to join me in a space where their data wasn't held to the standard I hold myself to.
As Yogananda said,
> "Trials are meant to awaken rather than punish you, and a calm mind helps you see the truth clearly."
That's what this has been.
Not a punishment.
An awakening.
When a door closes, another opens — but we often regret the one we can't enter.
What I hadn't counted on was this: stepping back, clearing the space, and realising the door that was closing wasn't the dream.
> It was just one route to it.
**The loneliness of the backstage**
What's caught me most isn't the delay.
It's the texture of these last months — the solitude of the admin. The Airtable schema building. The DPA forms. The privacy policy rewrites.
The hours in spreadsheets and compliance tabs, all alone with my laptop and a question that wouldn't let me rest:
> *Is this actually the way?*
The CFS/ME makes it worse. A day spent troubleshooting tech integrations costs me two days of rest. But there's something else, too — this work of building a business online doesn't have the presence of teaching.
My Monday class, nearly 30 years running, people in a room who know my name: that's real exchange.
***That's what I'm made for.***
The web pages and the databases and the DPA forms?
That's necessary. But it's a solitary labour.
So I sat with it. And I thought: what if I stopped trying to build this in a place that *feels* like the wrong room?
## **The new door**
I'm moving everything.
Not away from the plan — toward it, but differently.
> This website for the core.
> HIRO for the audio content (the practice recordings live where they breathe, not locked behind another platform).
> YouTube for anything that requires a video ( I already have hundreds on there - ask if you need the link to get behind the password protected ones).
**A simpler, more integrated landscape.**
Fewer platforms. Less admin choreography. More direct: me, the content, the people who choose to be there.
**Will it take longer?**
Yes.
**Will it be more work at first?**
Probably. But it's work I can do on my own terms, without waiting for someone else's infrastructure to bend to UK law.
***And that's worth something.***
The delay isn't punishment — it's protection. A chance to see the path more clearly before we walk it.
> I'm seeing it more clearly now.
The trials will keep coming. But with a calm mind, I'm finally seeing what I actually need.
Oh, and the meditation really helps!
Reacting not responding
Lx
### Why I'm Building a Community, Not Just a Practice
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/why-im-building-a-community-not-just-a-practice/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:36:31.000Z
Paramhansa Yogananda said,
> "If you want to grow spiritually, serve my work."
For years I read that as something for monks and people with more time than me.
Lately I've read it differently.
> Service can start exactly where you are.
In my case that's a kitchen, a garden, a Monday night class in a church hall and a laptop on a Wednesday.
> Nobody has to leave their life to do it.
Three things have become clear to me, and they're shaping what I'm building.
**1\. Begin where you are.**
You don't need a retreat or a quiet week. I've led retreats and loved them, but the stillness doesn't depend on them.
You need one ordinary moment where you stop and turn inwards.
The stillness is already there. Most of us have never been given permission to go and find it in the middle of a normal day.
**2\. Find your people.**
I've practised on my own for over thirty years, and I've also been taught in company.
I can tell you the two are very different. Sitting with others who are quietly turning in the same direction steadies you in a way that reading about it can't.
Yogananda called this ***satsang***, which simply means good company on the path.
**3\. Stillness and conversation belong together.**
Meditation is where we go inwards. Conversation is where we find out what we've been carrying, and hear that someone else has carried it too.
Each one needs the other.
Without the conversation, the practice can become a lonely thing you do in a corner.
Without the practice, the conversation goes round in circles.
Let's not circle back to my 80s meditation practices!
I have gone around in circles for years. Some of the things and people I found in those years have stayed around and some didn't.
> That is life.
(Asha has a lovely analogy about Karma and life circles that are like sticks of Blackpool rock. I will save that for another day!)
Through all the circling and spiralling, there has been one steady pull: towards stillness, and towards good company on the way there.
That's the aim behind [Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/).
I want to create a place where tired, ordinary people can practise and talk honestly with each other, without performing or keeping up.
I'm not standing at the front of it as the expert.
I'm walking alongside you, and everyone arrives with their own experience.
If this sounds like company you'd like, you're welcome. You can find out more on the [Soul Support page](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/)
And if you're not ready for that, stay listening to the conversation here or on the mailing list.
Reading these blogs and replying with a thought is a good place to begin.
Take one quiet minute today wherever you are, and see what you notice.
With love,
Linda
### The Two Pauses
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-two-pauses/
Last updated: 2026-09-16T18:59:51.000Z
There's a moment in every breath most of us never notice.
At the very top of the inhale, just before it turns — a pause.
At the very bottom of the exhale, just before the next breath begins — another pause.
We rush past both of them, most days. Breath in, breath out, on to the next thing.
But those two points of stillness are always there in you, in every single breath, whether you notice them or not.
This relaxation invites you to find that stillness in the pause of the breath.
I recorded this a while back, and it's stayed with me since — not because of anything clever in it, but because of how simple the teaching is.
> There's nothing to do at the pause.
> No technique, no fixing.
> Just noticing it's there.
When the breath pauses, the body pauses.
When the body pauses, the mind quietens too.
There's no movement of the breath, and therefore no movement of the body, no movement of the mind — just for a moment.
That's not a special state you have to earn.
It's not somewhere far away.
It's built into the way you already breathe, right now, today, whatever kind of day it's been.
If you've got twenty minutes and somewhere to lie down, press play on the link above and see what you notice at the turning points of your own breath. No need to control it, or change it, or do it "right." Just watch.
This is the kind of stillness Map 1 of the REAL method guides you back to — finding it for yourself, without needing a recording each time.
### The Ocean Within: Finding Your Sanctuary
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-ocean-within-finding-your-sanctuary/
Last updated: 2026-09-05T09:05:48.000Z
We often move through our days like ships caught in a storm—except it's not the wind that rocks us. It's the demands of everyday life.
Expectations. The need to perform. Endless stimulation.
When the luxury life isn't all smooth sailing
For those of us seeking vitality, peace and calmness, the noise isn't just external. It settles into the mind and body too, quietly draining our reservoir of peace.
### The Art of Withdrawing
Our vitality is not found in doing more. It's found in the deliberate art of withdrawing — pulling energy back from the senses, from outer stimulation and busyness, and redirecting it inward, to the spine, and up to the Spiritual Eye (keep an eye out for an upcoming blog on how the Spiritual Eye fits into all this).
Gurus and meditation apps tell us;
> *"Just release all distractions. Consciously withdraw your energy from the periphery of the body inward. Willingly disconnect from involvement with the outside world. And relax into your inner haven of peace."*
Easier said than done, most days😆
### Mirroring the Stillness
When I spend time in the Lake District, I am constantly reminded of the power of water.
When the wind dies down and the surface of the lake turns to glass, it perfectly mirrors the mountains above.
Our inner state is much the same.
When the internal waves finally settle — when we consciously set down our mental burdens — we stop being tossed about.
We become the reflection itself.
> Clear
> Undisturbed
> Whole
### Bringing the Sanctuary Home
This isn't meant to stay on the meditation cushion. It's a state you carry with you — into a stressful meeting, into the middle of an ordinary day.
That haven of peace is inside you all the time.
If this speaks to you, the [**R.E.A.L. Method**](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/) is where I teach exactly this — how to withdraw, settle, and come back to that reflection, in your own time.
The techniques I share help you find the simple anchors that you can use in your everyday life.
### 30 second reset for you
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/30-second-reset-for-you/
Last updated: 2026-08-29T15:41:56.000Z
It's been a busy week working from my bed due to vertigo — not busy in the way that leaves you frazzled, but busy in the good way. The kind where something's quietly coming together.
I've been building out the online side of what I teach, so it's easier to share a proper moment of rest with you, even on the days I can't be there in person.
If your shoulders have crept up towards your ears today there's a small practice waiting for you — thirty seconds, nothing to prepare, nowhere to be.
You're already on my list, so if the page asks you to subscribe, that's just for anyone new finding it for the first time — for you, it's simply yours, no cost, straight away.
Consider it a little gift while I keep creating — and a small preview of what's to come. I've got something else in the works I'll be sharing more about soon.
[Take the 30 second reset](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-sensory-reset/)
No rush, no pressure — it's there whenever you want it.
Take care of yourself
Lx
---
### Talk is Cheap (So Why Charge £5 to Comment?)
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/talk-is-cheap-so-why-charge-5-to-comment-2/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T14:54:20.000Z
### A bit of news before we get into today's post.
Map 1 of the [R.E.A.L. Method](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/) is finished and ready to start, whenever you are.
The Snug — our community space — is properly open. And everything below now reflects where things actually stand, not where they were a few months back.
Everything here is free to read, but joining in — commenting, chatting, asking questions — needs a small £5 membership. Here's the honest thinking behind that, and I'd genuinely love to hear from you if you decide to join in.
### Yes, why should you have to pay to join the conversation?
Well, the good news is that you can read most of what I am going to share for free.
Yes, totally free to browse and peruse information on meditation, yoga, relaxation, essential oils, holistic living and whatever else is moving my soul towards home.
However, if you want to join the conversation and share ideas, ask questions or just generally chit chat about what I share, well then...
## Talk is Cheap
so they say....
I am of the opinion that if we were to have an actual conversation, then we would sit down over a brew (brew or cuppa? - guess that depends on where you are from).
Ideally there would be tea or coffee AND cake
Maybe even homemade cookies - check out my Oat Cookie recipe, using essential oils. I mix it up and change the flavour weekly. Citrus oils are wonderful - lemon/orange/tangerine but my favourite at the moment is ginger and cinnamon.
So, for less than the price of that brew and cake, we can chitter chatter for a whole month at just £5 to view the chat, comment and join in.
### I will be sharing;
- Yoga postures and how to do them, why to do them and how they can help you physically/mentally/emotionally.
- Paramhansa Yogananda quotes and teachings, including the wonderful Energization Exercises that I recently completed my teacher training for.
- Energization Exercises - a 15-minute sequence that is incredibly simple to do yet has had profound impact on my life as I learn to live with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
### We will be;
- Meditating
- Reading philosophy
- Sharing podcast suggestions
- Inspiring each other
**and so much more.....**
It is likely I will include some blogs on essential oils and how my family use them.
We cook, bake, clean and bathe with them and it is hard not to share something I use so much - however, if it is oils that you mainly have an interest in, then you may prefer to browse the [Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/RestRelaxRevive/) we established years ago.
Photo by [Amr Taha™](https://unsplash.com/@amr%5Ftaha?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)
💡
I've finished my brew and want more?
If you like what you see and want to get more involved, perhaps join a session in person or online, then Soul Support is the place for that.
### With Soul Support you get;
- Map 1 of the R.E.A.L. Method — plus the Relaxation Audio Set (usually £15 on its own) thrown in as a bonus from day one
- Permanent access to the Snug, our community space, whenever you want to drop in
- The growing Soul Conversations library, updated weekly
- Two in-person sessions a month, if you're local
- Priority access to online workshops, and early booking for in-person YiNidra supper
[Learn more about Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/)
## Why should you listen to me?
Very good question, I would say listen to your heart and soul. See where they are leading you.
I am walking along my own path, I would love for you to walk with me for part of it.
I have studied yoga and meditation since the 1980's and I have been teaching since the late 90's. It doesn't make me an expert, but it has given me some signposts along the way and maybe those paths are what you are looking for right now.
## Sign up for Soulconversations
Finding the way back home for our souls
Subscribe
Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
### The Field Near Glastonbury
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-field-near-glastonbury/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:39:23.000Z
*What eighteen months of doom-scrolling taught me about escape*
For eighteen months during lockdown, I was bed bound.
Days ran into each other.
My main occupation was my phone, scrolling for hours, watching the world seem to come apart at the seams.
Somewhere in that scrolling I started noticing something odd.
Conspiracy theories I'd first heard whispered in the 1980s were back, dressed up as brand new revelations.
Same shapes, same fears, just recirculated for a new generation of frightened people.
It unsettled me more than the theories themselves did - how easily fear repeats itself when people are frightened and isolated enough to reach for anything solid.
By the end of it, I was having what many would call a dark night of the soul.
I didn't want stillness by then.
> I wanted out
I packed up and went to live in a field near Glastonbury with a community of people growing their own food, living off the land, and giving away what they grew for free.
### On paper, it was everything I believed in.
I'd gone looking for a place where the outer world couldn't touch me, and what I found instead was the same human muddle I'd left behind.
These were simply barefoot in a field instead of sitting behind a desk.
I'd nearly blown up my family and my marriage chasing a stillness I thought only existed somewhere else.
I got a mosquito bite on my foot that turned infected. The compost toilet and the well were both a walk across the field, and some days I couldn't manage it.
**No phone signal.**
No one close enough in my corner of that so-called community field to notice or ask.
I had gone looking for a community of like minded souls and found myself more alone than I'd ever been at home.
**That's the part nobody tells you about spiritual awakening.**
You can dismantle everything - your routine, your home, your marriage, your whole map of your life — and still find yourself standing in a field, unsettled, because the thing you were running from was never actually *out there*.
Paramhansa Yogananda talks about carrying your own portable paradise with you - a stillness that has no fixed address, that doesn't depend on where you're standing or who's around you.
Actually it's in not out 😏
Turns out the truth wasn't out there after all.
The field wasn't the problem.
The running was.
I came home.
Not because the dream was wrong, but because I realised the sanctuary I was hunting for a field to hold was something I already had the means to build in my own front room, my own body, my own breath.
That's the whole of what I teach now, really.
You don't have to escape your life to find the stillness underneath it.
### **You have to stop looking for it somewhere else.**
That portable inner paradise is already there, inside, waiting for you whenever you want it
*If any of this stirs something in you — the doom-scrolling years, the wanting out, the sense that peace must be somewhere else - I've built something that starts exactly where you are, no field or compost toilet required. A simple, easy-to-follow path you take at your own pace, to find that inner stillness for yourself.*
No packing required. Just you, wherever you already are.
[Take the First Step: Join Soul Support ](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
### Simple Living, High Thinking (And why "more" is making us miserable)
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/simple-living-high-thinking-and-why-more-is-making-us-miserable/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:40:19.000Z
## A 30-year perspective on finding the "inner peace"
I was sitting in my garden this morning, listening to the birdsong, and a phrase kept circling my mind - one that has been my compass for almost three decades, since I first read a battered old copy of *Downshifting: The Guide to Happier, Simpler Living*, by Polly Ghazi and Judy Jones, which still sits by my side today:
**"Simple Living, High Thinking."**
In our modern world, we've accidentally flipped the script. We've ended up with Complex Living and Low Thinking.
We spend our energy managing "stuff" — cluttered calendars, endless notifications, the ego-chatter of social media.
> Or is that just me❓
We're so busy managing the complexity that our thinking becomes shallow.
> We react instead of respond.
> We complain instead of explain.
I've spent 30 years teaching yoga in Penwortham, and the biggest transformation I see in my students doesn't happen when they master a difficult pose.
**It happens when they start to simplify.**
When you simplify your outer life — your calendar, your living space, your reactions — you create a vacuum.
> And the soul loves a vacuum
That empty space is where "High Thinking" lives. It's where we finally hear the conversation that's been trying to reach us for years.
That quiet inner voice that is our truth, whatever name you want to give it.
> **How do we start?**
### We use the R.E.A.L. method:
1. **Rest** — Today, find 5 minutes of Sabbath. No phone, no book, just you and the silence.
2. **Ease** — Instead of reaching for a distraction, take three deep breaths. Let your shoulders drop. Feel the energy already in your body.
3. **Align** — Notice where you're gripping — your jaw, your shoulders, your grip on the day itself. Can you let it release, just a little?
4. **Live** — One of my classes' favourite guided relaxations is the "let go, let go more, let go even more." Give the rest of your to-do list that same permission today.
> **What can you let go of today?**
So here's the question I'm actually sitting with today, and I'd love to know yours too:
**If you genuinely gave yourself permission — not "when things calm down," but today — what's the first thing you'd let go of?**
Leave a comment below and let me know — you'll need to sign up (free) to join in, but I'd genuinely love to hear what you'd let go of.
And if you're the kind of person who'd rather sit with questions like this alongside others walking the same path — not shouting into the void of social media — the Sanctuary is exactly that. Somewhere to pause. A hearth to warm your hands at, not another feed to scroll.
*Linda Johnrose*
*30+ Years of Yoga Wisdom*
**P.S.** Ready to simplify your path to peace? If your mind feels like a browser with 50 tabs open, let me help you close a few.
[Take the First Step:Join Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/#/portal/signup/6553a94c102737000120b789/monthly)
A little more, just for you.
That copy of *Downshifting* is properly battered now — cracked spine, dog-eared pages, the whole thing. I've moved house more times than I can count, and it's always come with me.
What I didn't say above: it wasn't really about "doing less." It was permission. Permission to stop treating a full calendar as proof I mattered.
Lx
### Rest, However Much Time You've Got
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/rest-however-much-time-youve-got/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:42:35.000Z
I've had a few people ask lately what to do when they can't make it to Monday's class, or don't live close enough to come at all.
I dug out something that's been quietly working for over twenty years.
These tracks aren't something I've just put together. I recorded them over 22 years ago, in a proper studio, sound booth and all, before I had children I wasn't expecting to have. They were sold as a CD to raise money for charity, back before I opened my own yoga studio. That CD sold out years ago.
People still use them. I bump into people in town who tell me they still listen, sometimes years after they first bought the CD.
Now you can listen to them on your phone: a welcome, a breathing practice, a beach visualisation, a full Yoga Nidra, and a bonus asana practice. Six minutes to twenty-nine, over an hour in total.
Take one track on its own, or stack a few together: asana, breathing and nidra for a full session, or breathing and nidra when time is short.
They're in an app called HIRO, which is a private audio app made for listening to recordings like these. When you buy, it takes you through to HIRO to complete your purchase, and the tracks are there for you to play whenever you need them.
£15, and they're yours to listen to whenever you need them.
[Get it here](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/yoga-with-linda?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
With peace and stillness,
Linda xx
### A Year On From the Hospital Bed
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/a-year-on-from-the-hospital-bed/
Last updated: 2026-08-01T17:30:50.000Z
This time last year I was in a hospital bed on morphine, recovering from a burst appendix and peritonitis. I didn't know, lying there, whether I'd come through it properly.
I remember being grateful, simply, that it happened while I was at home, not somewhere in the middle of nowhere with no help nearby.
A year on, almost to the day, Campo gave up.
Engine light on, battery light on, booked into the garage for the 11th of August.
> No trip to the Lakes this week.
I'd been looking forward to it, or thought I had, until the moment came and I realised I wasn't actually looking forward to going at all.
The old me would have driven it anyway. Would have pushed through, ignored the warning lights, made it work somehow. That's exactly the kind of thing that led me to a hospital bed a year ago.
This year, I didn't drive it. I let the van sit, and I stayed home instead.
Turns out Campo probably knew what it was doing.
Kendal Calling was on this weekend, the motorway's been a nightmare, and I'd have sat in traffic for hours just to arrive exhausted before I'd even started.
Maybe not every warning light is a crisis. Sometimes it's just good timing wearing a different coat.
What actually happened with that day was quietly ordinary. Hotel emails needing replies. A big international group checking in. A form for packed lunches to sort.
All admin that could be handled from home.
Home with two loads of washing pegged out on the line (thank you Pete - I scrub the stains he does the lifting and pegging).
Not the peaceful mountain scene I'd pictured for myself. Just an ordinary Thursday, dealt with as it came.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, I found a few genuinely quiet minutes anyway.
That's stayed with me more than the Lakes trip would have.
For a long time, I thought stillness needed a particular setting.
> A fell
> A waterfall
> A quiet beach
> A retreat centre
> Somewhere far from home
A place quiet enough that peace could finally reach me.
This year has been teaching me something different: that stillness has to be findable exactly where you already are, or it isn't much use to you at all.
It's the same thing I've been quietly building into REAL, if I'm honest. Not another course to push through, not a system to perform. Just simple tools, taught slowly, for finding that stillness wherever you actually are — no fell required, no waterfall, no need to wait for the "right" setting to arrive.
A year ago I couldn't have told you I'd feel better missing a trip rather than pushing through to make it happen.
> But that's where I am.
Slower to prove things (everything is slower - I physically have no choice!), quicker to listen to a warning light, whether it's on a dashboard or in my own body.
If you're carrying something similar, some version of pushing through when your body or your circumstances are quietly telling you not to, I hope you can find a moment today to actually listen.
With peace and stillness, Linda xx
### A year later
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/a-year-later/
Last updated: 2026-07-28T14:58:53.000Z
I didn't send this on the weekend, as I usually do. I was in Coniston, supporting Adam, who works security for the Montane Lakeland 100/50 event there.
So this blog/newsletter is coming to you a little late, and a little different.
Last year I did the same thing. Same event, same job, standing beside Adam in the dark. I went home on the Sunday, taught YiNidra on the Monday night, and then.....**my appendix burst.**
I have the photo from that night. And I have one from this year, in daylight, same two faces, one year on.
This year I didn't do very much at all, by most measures.
I made bacon butties. I gave Adam my camper van to sleep in. I rounded up a sheep that had wandered somewhere it shouldn't. I gave a bath oil treat to one of the hotel regulars, who'd just finished the 50.
None of that would go on a list of achievements. But it's the whole point, really.
A year ago I was pushing through, teaching a class the night after a weekend like that, running on the fumes of duty.
My body ended the conversation for me, because I hadn't.
This year I showed up, did what was needed, and let that be enough.
> No performance.
> No proving I could still do it all.
Just a bacon butty, a borrowed bed, a stray sheep, and going home when it was time to go home.
That's the shift the R.E.A.L. Method keeps trying to teach me, over and over, in ways I don't always want to learn.
> Rest isn't the reward you earn after you've done enough.
It's the thing that lets you keep showing up at all.
I'm not saying this as someone who's cracked it. I'm saying it as someone standing in the same field a year later, still learning the difference between showing up and using myself up.
**What would "enough" have looked like for you, this weekend just gone?**
With peace and stillness,
Linda xx
### Did you notice it wasn't me?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/did-you-notice-it-wasnt-me/
Last updated: 2026-07-22T12:47:48.000Z
Hi,
Small confession.
My last post started with a photo and an idea. I gave it to AI, it wrote the piece, and I gave it a half-assed edit before it went out. I was tired. I cut a corner I shouldn't have.
Reading it back properly, with a coffee and a clear head, it didn't sound like me.
Too many big words doing too little. Not how I actually talk to you.
I've gone back and rewritten it properly, in my own words. You can read the real version here 👇
\[\]
Here's the honest bit underneath the confession. This is exactly why I don't think AI can replace a real guide on a spiritual path.
It can help me organise a thought when my CFS is fogging my brain. It cannot replace 30 years of sitting with people, or knowing what's actually true for me versus what sounds good on a page.
You deserve the real version. So here it is.
With peace and stillness,
Linda xx
### A Year Without Numbing Out (And the Sudden Stop That Changed Everything)
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/a-year-without-numbing-out/
Last updated: 2026-07-22T12:26:58.000Z
A few days ago, a quiet notification popped up on my phone: **365 days.**
One whole year without alcohol.
Not the first time - many of you will know I previously went a few years without alcohol. However it crept back in, and not only did it creep in, there were certainly nights when far too much crept in!
### The Time Since app
I downloaded this app to help with a fast that I was doing and decided to challenge myself to see if I could go a month no alcohol - little did I know the universe had other plans and how radically my life and business were about to be changed - thanks burst appendix!
In the online business world, we are constantly bombarded with messages telling us to become "daily sales machines," to chase relentless volume, and to build frantic, hyper-active ecosystems that require us to be plugged in 24/7\.
> If you know me, you'll know that just does not resonate
It is a world that mistakes exhaustion for achievement.
And the noise it creates gives you a natural urge to numb out at the end of the day, just to survive the chaos you signed up for.
For me that is what alcohol was - a way of numbing out the world (and other stuff but that's for another day)
I didn't choose a year of complete clarity.
It wasn't some big brave business decision to step off the hamster wheel.
But the universe, it seems, wanted to make sure I locked the door behind me.
### The Forced Intervention
A few weeks into this new commitment to no alcohol, my appendix burst.
In true Linda style I didn't do it simply - I did it during a doctor strike that meant hours sat in A&E that led to peritonitis, life saving surgery and a long, slow recovery.
In the past, a crisis like that might have felt like a cruel interruption to my plans.
> Looking back now, it felt more like the universe stepped in
It delivered a profound, uncompromising full stop
##
I could no longer wing it on adrenaline anymore.
I couldn't even sit at a desk.
Busyness simply wasn't an option. I was forced into total, uninterrupted rest.
> Withdrawing, On Purpose
### Redirection: From Outward Noise to Inner Alignment
When you are forced to a complete standstill, you actually learn how peace works.
You realise sanctuary isn't somewhere you travel to.
> It's already there
When the outside world gets shut out, whether I choose it or a burst appendix chooses it for me, something happens.
You stop being pulled out by your senses all the time and you come back into yourself.
You notice how the body actually feels. Any aches, any tension, any places holding on.
You notice what's running through the mind, and you let it sit to one side. Not gone, just not the focus. The past is gone anyway. The future hasn't happened.
All there really is, is this breath, right here.
This isn't about clinical shortcuts or quick-fix marketing tricks. It's the practice Paramhansa Yogananda taught, long before I ever needed it that badly. From that quiet centre, the need to hustle just isn't there anymore.
### An Invitation
I'm sharing this today because I'm opening the digital sanctuary I've been building.
This is for anyone who's quietly exhausted by the constant demand to produce, push through, keep up.
You don't need more busyness. You don't need another app/book/calendar prompt or another system that treats you like a machine.
That burst appendix taught me, the hard way, to stop and actually rest. Turns out that's when you build something that actually lasts.
I'm opening 3 spaces inside ClarityFlow for gentle, asynchronous guidance. Not live coaching. Not another packed schedule. A quiet, steady space where we work at your pace, and you get to come back to your own centre.
If that's calling you, reply to this email or send me a message.
Not sure what Clarityflow is - just ask
With peace and stillness, Linda xx
### When the Mud Mask Washes Off: Sustaining the Inner Anchor
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/mud-mask-inner-anchor/
Last updated: 2026-07-13T14:58:01.000Z
There is a distinct kind of quiet that settles over the Lake District fells in the sunshine.
Right now, we are in the middle of an unusually warm, dry stretch, and last week on what was easily one of the hottest days of the year, I went and sat in not one but 4 saunas!
The fells weren't their usual misty gray; they were baking under a bright, relentless sun. The tops hazy with the heat.
Still in post-holiday haze myself after a wonderful family holiday in Cornwall, I was treated to a beautiful three-hour thermal journey with my daughter.
Imagine sitting in a panoramic sauna, watching the heat shimmer across the tops of the dry fells.
Imagine the contrast of sweating in the intense afternoon sun, then submerging into the cool, absolute relief of an infinity pool looking out over the lake.
We sat there together, faces covered in thick mud masks, laughing at how ridiculous we looked against such a majestic backdrop, sipping iced tea to keep cool.
Getting ready to sit in the cocoon chairs
> It was pure luxury
We were waited on hand and foot, every 20 minutes or so someone would appear with a treat - cold towel, iced tea with frozen watermelon, moon things - coconut and sponge with ice cream inside. Brownies, whipped feta - I am going to have to stop, or I will be drooling at the memory of it all.
It was a wonderful, sensory-rich withdrawal from the outer world.
But as I sat in the steam room, inhaling the wonderful Eucalyptus aroma, a familiar truth dropped into my heart.
A truth that every modern spiritual seeker eventually has to face:
> *What happens when the mud mask washes off?*
What happens when we leave the coolness of the infinity pool, get back into a hot car, face the traffic, and step right back into the noise of laundry, emails, and daily performance?
If our peace is entirely dependent on a paid reservation, a change of weather, or a three-hour thermal journey, then it isn't truly peace.
It is just a temporary intermission.
The moment the external conditions change—the moment we are back in the thick of our usual, demanding environments—the calm evaporates, leaving us right back where we started: exhausted, overstimulated, and hunting for the next escape.
True vitality doesn't belong to the spa. It belongs to the sanctuary you carry within you.
To read the rest of this post and learn the specific practice of redirecting your energy inward to the spine, log in or enter your email below.
### The Art of the Internal Shift
To cross the threshold from temporary relaxation into an unshakeable, sustainable rhythm, we have to understand exactly what a spa morning is actually doing for us—and how to replicate it without needing a booking.
The thermal journey works because it forces a physical sequence upon us.
The intense ambient heat and the embrace of the water demand that we stop looking at our phones and stop processing external data.
It coaxes us out of our busy, analytical minds and forces us down into the fluid body.
In my[ **REAL method**](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/tag/the-r-e-a-l-method/) framework, this is the essential transition of **Rest** and **Ease**.
But to make that feeling last, you cannot stop there. You must know how to *anchor* it.
This requires a deliberate redirection of your consciousness.
It means **withdrawing your energy from its constant outward movement through the senses to outer stimulation and busyness, and redirecting that energy flow inward to the spine and upward to the Spiritual Eye.**
When you are looking out at a magnificent fell baking in the sun, your energy is flowing *out* through your eyes to meet the landscape.
To sustain that mountain-like stillness when you return home, you must practice pulling that exact same energy back inward.
### The Real Infinity Pool Inside
The next time you feel the sensory overload of your daily environment creeping back in, close your eyes and visualize the landscape of your own body.
- **Ground into the Earth:** Feel your base root. Connect to the solidity of the earth beneath your chair, just like the ancient rock of the fells. Even in the heat of a hectic day, you are safe, stable, and held.
- **Embrace the Water:** Move your awareness up to the second chakra. Remember the cool, spacious fluidity of the lake. This is where we let go of rigidity, allowing our energy to become soft, adaptable, and refreshing.
- **The Ascent:** Instead of letting that energy scatter back out into the room through your senses, draw it tightly inward to the center of your being. Imagine channeling that fluid, vital energy directly into the base of your spine.
- **The Spiritual Eye:** Guide that current up the line of the spine, lifting it past the heart, all the way to the point between the eyebrows—the Spiritual Eye.
This internal pathway is your true inner sanctuary. When your energy is anchored here, focused and lifted, the external world loses its power to drain you. You are no longer looking *for* peace; you are looking *from* peace. The mud mask washes away, the heatwave breaks, but the internal alignment remains completely intact.
### Practicing in the Habitat
You do not need a three-hour thermal journey to feel life-giving vitality.
You simply need a sustainable practice and the willingness to look inward rather than outward for your fuel.
If you are ready to stop relying on quick fixes and want to learn how to build this unshakeable inner anchor into your actual, messy daily life, I am here to guide you.
We do this work together through simple, deep, asynchronous support—allowing you to learn, practice, and realign at your own pace, exactly where you are.
Join us in the Digital Sanctuary to find your Inner Anchor
[Start Here ](https://mpkhpug0.clarityflow.com/p/S013VjVgqcodl?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Deeply Rooted in the Wrong Things
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/deeply-rooted-in-the-wrong-things/
Last updated: 2026-06-06T12:21:10.000Z
Watching Pete dig out a very overgrown plant, I am reminded that nature doesn't apologise for being unruly.
When a plant takes hold in the wrong spot—perhaps too close to the foundation, or simply in a place where it no longer serves the garden—it becomes a source of tension rather than beauty.
For years, we let this patch of our garden grow wild, putting off the hard work of clearing it.
## Why?
Life, illness, and the sheer busy-ness of "doing" got in the way.
It’s a perfect mirror for how we often live our lives. We become deeply rooted in habits, roles, and expectations that have long since overgrown their purpose.
We are anchored, yes, but to things that drain our energy instead of nourishing our inner sanctuary.
## The Weight of Overgrowth
When we are rooted in the "wrong things"—whether that’s constant performance, the pressure to be everything to everyone, or simply the busy-ness of daily life—we lose our ability to find true stillness.
We get pulled from what Paramhansa Yogananda called our "Portable Paradise".
> Our Inner Sanctuary of Peace
Like the roots tangled against the brickwork in that picture, these patterns start to feel like part of the structure of who we are.
But they aren't. They are just overgrowth.
The act of digging the garden roots out is physical, visceral work.
(Thank you so much Pete 😍).
But so is the act of digging out our habits that no longer serve us - habits that like that plant, slowly took over bit by bit.
It requires us to acknowledge that what was once a small seed of a habit has now become a sprawling, difficult tangle that requires effort to remove.
But the relief that comes when the soil is finally clear? That is the beginning of vitality.
### Finding Your True Anchor
To find our way back to the Inner Sanctuary of calm and peace, we must learn the practice of withdrawing energy from outward movement through the senses to outer stimulation and busyness and redirecting the energy flow inward to the spine and upward to the Spiritual eye.
We don't need a total life overhaul overnight.
We need moments.
We need to learn how to consciously release the tension we’ve been carrying in our bodies because of the things we've been rooted in.
If you are feeling tangled in your own life, I invite you to start with a small, intentional shift.
Practice the art of letting go, even if just for a few seconds.
**\[Click below to access my free 30-second Tense and Release exercise\]**
This is a simple, effective tool to help you begin the process of clearing your own garden, creating the space you need to realign with your true rhythm.
### Are you feeling ready to start digging out the roots that no longer serve you?
> Stop the performance.
> Start the reset.
> Experience the first stage of the R.E.A.L. Method.
##
## **Experience the "Rest" Stage**
Use this 30 second audio practice to help you begin the process of withdrawing your senses and finding your centre.
*You don't need an hour to find your sanctuary. You need to interrupt the performance. Press play, release your jaw, drop your shoulders, and feel your energy shift.*
Tense mouth and shoulders
0:00
/29.45
1×
## **Ready to go deeper?**
### If this moment of release felt like a homecoming, know that it is only the beginning.
The R.E.A.L. Method is a journey for those ready to move from exhaustion to calmness and vitality.
the real method
[](https://buy.stripe.com/00w6oH0TV7YY0bUg1w2VG0a?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Enter the Digital Sanctuary and find your stillness
[Start the Journey ](https://buy.stripe.com/00w6oH0TV7YY0bUg1w2VG0a?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
I look forward to seeing you in the Digital Sanctuary, and for now, I am off to make Pete a well earned bacon butty!
### 🛼🐾It seemed like a good idea at the time... 🦆🐕
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea/
Last updated: 2026-05-30T20:08:33.000Z
Finding the grace in our "wrong turns."
We’ve all said it. Usually while looking at an over-committed calendar, a project that drained us, a failed relationship, a haircut we regret, a "shortcut" that left us hopelessly lost.
Or, if you were 11-year-old me in the spring of 1981, it was going roller-skating with your dog and somehow ending up under a bus.
In my defence, I only put my dog on her lead as we neared the main road of the quiet village we lived in.
How was I to know that at the exact moment the express coach came through, the local ducks would decide to take an excursion from the pond?
The photo, obviously isn't me.
There is no video evidence, thank goodness—this was 1981, long before everyone carried recording instruments.
Just a memory of a spectacular, duck-induced blunder and a very clear thought:
***"It seemed like a good idea at the time."***
I used to look back on that story—and many of my adult choices—with a groan and a roll of my eyes.
But after 30 years on the yoga mat, I've learned to laugh at those moments a bit more.
They are just part of the scenery on this human journey.
At any given moment, we are all simply doing the absolute best we can with the awareness we have right then.
When we make a choice that leaves us exhausted overwhelmed, or feeling completely off-track, we aren't failing—we are simply a soul trying to find happiness, peace, or security in a temporary fix.
We are looking for ***Sat Chit Ananda*** (Ever-new Bliss) in the busyness of the world.
Paramhansa Yogananda was so beautiful on this topic. He said:
> *"The past is gone; it can no longer harm you. If you have made mistakes, forget them. They are only your 'bad habits' of the past, but they are not you."*
He also reminded us:
> *"A saint is a sinner who never gave up."*
When we are caught in the relentless momentum of daily life, our energy naturally gets scattered outward through the senses.
We react to every bit of outer stimulation and busyness, getting so lost in the "doing" that we lose our grounding.
In the **R.E.A.L.** method, we talk about the **Soul Spiral**.
Your path isn't a straight line.
Sometimes it feels like you're looping backward or sliding down, but if you keep breathing and keep practising, you realise that wide curve is actually carrying you inward, back to your centre.
No, no, no that looks like a fun spiral slide not a Soul Spiral
The R.E.A.L. way to find self-grace doesn't require a massive lifestyle overhaul.
It’s just a gentle, deliberate shifting of your energy before you sleep:
1. **Rest:** Put down the mental whip. Stop the inner commentary and the "what-ifs." Take a deep breath and recognise that the past version of you was just doing their best. Drop out of the analytical mind and let the senses rest.
2. **Ease & Energise:** Move out of that rigid, tense state and let your body soften. Let go of the need to manage everything for just a few moments. By bringing your focus completely back to the now, you stop your energy from leaking into past regrets.
3. **Align & Aware:** Ask yourself: *"What was my soul actually looking for when I made that choice?"* (Usually, it’s just love, peace, or security). Then, gently withdraw your energy from the outward demands of the world. Redirect that flow inward, down into the spine and upward to the Spiritual Eye—your true inner sanctuary of peace.
4. **Live & Let Go:** Step into the rest of your evening feeling grounded. If God and the Masters don't hold your past blunders against you, why on earth should you?
Tonight, as you lay your head down and the house goes quiet, give yourself permission to let it all go.
Say to yourself: *"It seemed like a good idea at the time. I am a different person now. I am free."*
With light and love,
**Linda**
*30+ Years of Yoga Wisdom*
**P.S. Ready to start fresh tomorrow?**
If you feel the weight of a busy week sitting in your shoulders tonight, you don't have to carry it into tomorrow. My **15-Minute R.E.A.L. Digital Audio** is designed for moments exactly like this.
It’s a quiet space to help you withdraw from the noise, reset your nervous system, and step into tomorrow with a clear, steady posture. It is like a "Reset" button for your soul.
**\[The recording is waiting for you in the Sanctuary Library - please drop me a message if you need help finding it\]**
###
### The Art of the Simple Seat: Why Stability is Your First Act of Kindness
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-art-of-the-simple-seat/
Last updated: 2026-05-23T12:55:01.000Z
**This weeks focus:** *Ahimsa* (Non-violence) and the *Muladhara* (Root) Chakra.
In a world that demands your constant performance, the most radical thing you can do is sit still.
I teach sitting on a chair - no need to cross yer legs!
"Rest" often feels like another task on the to-do list.
However a true sanctuary begins with **Ahimsa**—the practice of non-violence toward your own nervous system.
And that starts with sitting yourself down and getting still.
> **Establishing the Seat**
In Yogic terms it's Asana, which literally means "seat" (but often gets translated as posture).
Before we try to expand our consciousness, we must first learn to settle the physical body; it is in this simple act of grounding that we finally find the space to breathe.
By rooting, and grounding ourselves into the earth, stabilizing the physical sheath (*Annamaya Kosha*), we stop the "leaks" of our vital energy.
We can do this in standing poses like mountain (Tadasana) and tree (Vrkasana).
Or we can use seated postures like staff pose (dandasana) or simple crossed leg (sukhasana) - although not simple for everyone, that is why I love the fact that we sit on a chair to practice in the REAL method.
Although not on the ground, we can still connect with the earth element through awareness of our root chakra - Muladhara.
> A simple seated posture can give us so much
We aren't just sitting; we are coming home to the stillness that exists within.
**As Paramhansa Yogananda said:**
> *"Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become."*
## Ready to stop performing and start resting?
Weekly wisdom to help you ground your energy, align your spine, and cultivate calm. No fluff, just soulful support for your journey
Subscribe
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No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
This week, in our seated posture we have been practicing withdrawing energy from the outward movement of the senses and the busyness of the world.
We redirected that flow inward to the spine and upward toward the Spiritual Eye.
It is here, in the alignment of the spine, that the "Simple Seat" becomes the basis for helping us feel our inner peace.
We practice on the yoga mat and in a chair, where it is easy.
This trains our body, mind, and nervous system to remain steady even when we step back out into the busy world.
Watch: Finding your Simple Seat (Member Exclusive)
The wisdom of the seat is only the beginning. To help you integrate this into your daily rhythm, I’ve shared a video demonstration on finding your 'simple seat' and a guide on redirecting your energy flow below.
Join the Soul Conversations community to unlock the full practice.
## How to Sit
Find your sitting bones - pull the flesh of your bottom out from under you, have a wriggle and get comfortable.
Rest the back of your hands on your thighs at the junction with your abdomen. Palms turned up, fingers soft.
Lift your breast bone, draw your shoulders back and slide your shoulder blades down towards your waist.
Keep your neck long, throat soft and chin parallel to the floor.
> That is it!
What we do is in the video included in your group archive on Clarityflow - do ask if you need any help.
### Beyond "Death by Email": How to Reclaim Your Energy Refund ⚓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/beyond-death-by-email-how-to-reclaim-your-energy-refund/
Last updated: 2026-05-16T10:31:33.000Z
We’ve all felt it—that heavy, dragging sensation where your energy is being pulled in a dozen different directions before you’ve even finished your first cup of tea.
Maybe for you, it’s "Death by Email."
(that phrase came from one of my 1-2-1 clients this week, and it really resonated - [see previous blog](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/midlife-midweek-mumblings/)!)
Or perhaps it’s "Pain by Password."
(anyone else drowning in passwords?)
It’s that moment your body braces itself against the digital inbox, the mounting to-do list, or the visual clutter of a room that needs tidying and a washbox that needs emptying.
When we brace, we leak energy.
We aren't just doing tasks; we are fighting ghosts, all the would be, could be, should be.........
In the **R.E.A.L. Method**, our first milestone is **REST**.
> But this isn't about a nap
It’s about stopping the "Performance Leaks" and reclaiming your internal sanctuary.
## The Performance Leak:
### Are You Leaning In & Tensing Up?
Notice what happens when you sit down to check your messages.
Do you "lean in" toward the screen?
This physical lean is a sensory hook. Your energy is moving outward, following the busyness of the screen, and leaving your center behind.
You have become a victim of the inbox rather than the witness of it.
And your shoulders are possibly rising up to meet your ears.
80's shoulder pads anyone?
## Try this
The next time you notice you are getting shoulder earrings, give this technique a try;
## **The Withdrawal Anchor:**
- **Sit Back:** Find your sit-bones.
- **Lift the Spine:** Lift your breast bone, draw your shoulder blades towards each other and then release them down towards your waist.
- **The Result:** By changing your posture, you signal to your nervous system that you are anchored. You are no longer being "dragged."
## The Somatic Leak: The "Squeeze & Release"
When "decision wariness" hits—that tightness in your chest or the weight on your shoulders—your muscles are holding onto a future that hasn't happened yet.
This is a somatic leak.
To plug this leak, we use the **Squeeze & Release**.
> **Try this:** Inhale deeply and squeeze every muscle in your body—fists, shoulders, face—for a count of three. Then, exhale forcefully and "throw" the tension away.
This is a physical Withdrawal Anchor.
You are releasing the hook that future decisions have in your muscles and returning yourseld to the present moment.
## The Visual Leak: The Foundation of Stillness
We’ve all stood in the middle of a messy room (haven't we?) and felt the "Visual Leak"—where the untidiness feels like it’s draining your battery just by looking at it.
Before you move a single object, find your **Tadasana (Mountain Posture)**.
Stand still.
For 30 seconds, don't look at the mess; look at the space behind your eyes. Remind yourself that the sanctuary is inside you.
When you move from this place of REST, you move with leverage, not just labor.
### Claim Your Energy Refund
When you use these anchors—whether it’s sitting back from the screen or the Squeeze & Release—notice that split-second **Energy Refund**.
It’s that moment where the world stops pulling at you, and you start feeling anchored in your own vitality.
**I’d love to hear from you:** Where are you feeling "dragged" today, and which anchor are you dropping to stop the leak?
*Peace and stillness,*
**Lx**
**PS. next time we deal with the washbox overload**
Stay tuned for how we tackle Mount Washmore
### Listen: Monday Night Practice
*Below is a link to the recording from our Monday session at St Leonard's.*
*Use this 20-minute practice to move from busy senses into the fluid body and find your own "Energy Refund."*
This platform only allows me to upload a few minutes of audio.
As a subscriber you should have access to either HIRO podcast app or the Digital Sanctuary.
Please note some of these may have been added after you first subscribed.
If the access hasn't worked for you, please just post in the comments or drop me an email/message and I will send you the recording
### Does Non-Violence Start With Your Own Exhaustion ❓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/does-non-violence-start-with-your-own-exhaustion/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:14:18.000Z
We’re just wrapping up the first week of our Founders' cohort for the **R.E.A.L.** method, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the word "Ahimsa."
Usually, we hear "non-violence" and think of big, global peace. But what if it starts much closer to home?
Like, on your sofa?
Or in the way you treat your own tired bones?
For most of us (looking at you, yes, you reading this), our daily life is a constant leak of energy.
We are pinned to the "busy senses"—responding to every ping, every demand, and every "should" that floats into our orbit.
**Is it just me, or is being "high-functioning" actually just a polite word for being chronically overstimulated?**
Aaandd relax
### The Stable Seat
In our Monday class at St Leonard’s, we are going right back to the beginning:
**Annamaya Kosha** (the physical body) and
**Muladhara** (the earth element).
We won't be doing anything fancy. No pretension. No sweating through a "workout."
Instead, we are going to practice the act of **Rest**.
True rest isn't just collapsing; it’s a choice to stop the energy leaks.
It’s the "Stable Seat."
The Sthira and Sukha of Patanjali (keep following that is in future weeks).
It’s deciding that your body deserves a foundation that isn’t made of sand and caffeine.
> **The Pivot:** We withdraw our energy from outward movement—that frantic pull of the world—and start redirecting it inward to the spine.
It’s like coming home from a long, windy walk on the fells and finally closing the heavy front door behind you.
The wind is still out there, but you?
> You’re inside now.
### It is Grace Over Groundhog Day
Ahimsa, in this first week, is simply about **self-kindness**.
Moving from "exhausted" to "supported" is a technical move as much as a spiritual one.
When we align the body, we stop fighting gravity.
We stop performing.
We realize a sanctuary isn't a place we have to hike ten miles to find.
Or catch a plane to a far off location.
It’s right here inside us - our own **Portable Paradise**, that **Inner Sanctuary** of **Peace** and **Calm** that I teach every week in class.
And in this week's class we are going to find it there at the base of the spine, waiting for us to stop moving long enough to feel it.
(I might need to go put the kettle on now—even writing about rest makes me realize I need a seat myself!)
**We’re deep in the work with our current founders right now, but if your "inner battery" is currently flashing red, know that there is a way to find stability without adding more to your to-do list.**
More soon,
Linda xx
**R.E.A.L. Note: What is this method that I teach?**
- **Rest:** The initial withdrawal from outer stimulation.
- **Ease:** Moving from busy senses into the fluid body.
- **Align:** Redirecting energy to the spine and Spiritual Eye.
- **Live:** Maintaining that sanctuary in the "real" world.
### Midlife, Midweek, Mumblings
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/midlife-midweek-mumblings/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:11:46.000Z
No Soul Musing this week, just midlife, midweek, mumblings.
Or maybe I should say grumblings but that doesn't have the same alliteration.
> So why am I midweek mumbling?
It has been a few days, no over a week to be precise, of trying to communicate with bots.
So many bots that I have actually lost count of them all.
Welcome to the 21st century Linda!
Bot 1 - Zoom communication
Bot 2 - PayPal
Bot 3 - Starling Bank
Bot 4 - Fussy Deodorant
Bot 5 - An online product that charged me twice
Bot 6 - A pension provider
Bot 7 - Amazon
Bot 8 - the independent seller on Amazon
> Not sure who needs yoga more, me or them!
Let me explain, in case you are interested (if not just scroll to the comments and tell me your bot frustrations, surely I am not the only one❓)
Or scroll down and find the link for the free relaxation.
The screenshot below is just one of many from my email inbox - well, one of my email accounts, as I have
> My personal email
> My own business email
> My website email
> And then the two email accounts that I manage for the hotel
🙈
I bet those of you that have known me since I started teaching all those years ago are chuckling away.
Remembering 90's me
> Miss No Phone, No Tech
and now look at me, all tech, no access!
Why all the emails? Why Botwar?
The screenshot that starts botwar
> February 2026
Zoom took my annual payment.
I no longer actually need a paid subscription with the way I now work.
I had meant to cancel it before it renewed, but, well, life, funerals, getting ill again - all those things meant I missed the cut off.
So, I cancelled the renewal for NEXT year.
For February 2027
This year is paid, it was too late to cancel the recurring subscription.
> 18 April 2026
ZOOM - renew your subscription in 30 days, or lose all your recordings.
### Hang on, I have paid
A bit p'd off that I have, but figured it gave me and Adam time to download all my recordings and put them in the new Digital Sanctuary that we are building.
And so started the back and forth and the hours - it really has been so many hours now that if I billed Zoom at minimum wage rate, they would owe me a few years subscriptions at this point.
Zoom say they refunded this year's subscription.
> My bank doesn't have it.
> PayPal doesn't have it.
> I don't have it and my account and recordings are gone.
Zoom bot won't talk to me because - get this, you'll laugh
I do not have a paid subscription, my account has been reverted to the Free one.
You can't access support unless you pay for a subscription - you know, the one I paid for but don't actually have!
PayPal bot won't talk to me because it is over 30 days since the payment was made.
Starling bank have been the most helpful - I think I am actually getting humans in that chat. 🤔
It is still an ongoing dispute.
Zoom emailed me three times yesterday
> Email one - as we have not heard from you this case is now closed
> Email two - thank you for your patience, we are escalating your case
> Email three - a copy and paste of an email from a few days ago that says nowt really.
> FUSSY?
Yeah, maybe I am for wanting what I actually paid for, but the Fussy issue is a different matter - I will let you follow that one in the FB group
> Bot 5
Digital product, all done online.
They charged me twice.
I immediately emailed them.
(And tried to cancel it with my bank - they couldn't as it was pending at the time)
Currently waiting the providers bot to open the email.
The payments are no longer pending, they've left my account.
Bank won't act until I have at least had email from the person I paid, TWICE
> Bot 6
At this point I am writing off the money paid into this pension provider and seriously questioning why I ever thought I should be a sensible adult and pay into one.
> Bot 7
As part of looking after myself and dealing with my CFS, I have gone back to the dietary guidelines that helped me recover last time.
I needed GF seeded bread, only place in UK that had it was via Amazon.
Parcel delivered promptly, except by squishing six loaves into a 'too small' box, someone had burst the vacuum seal.
Maybe a bot did the packing???
We now have a science project that has gone from green mould, to blue mould and is currently turning white.
I have photos and videos, drop me a message if you are home educating. It really is fascinating.
Sadly my two have graduated homeschool and now go to work, there is zero interest in mould projects.
Have you ever entered the cycle of fun that is Amazon refunds ❓
First they said it hasn't been delivered.
Then they said it's non returnable.
Around in a circle I went, and around, and around 🌀
### You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) 🌀
### 1984 single by Dead or Alive
I tried to insert a record emoji here, you know, like an LP, vinyl. Seems android have done away with it.
Maybe the bots didn't recognise what it was and deleted it 🤔
Oh to go back to the 80's
Life was simpler - wasn't it❓
All this tech has helped, but at what cost❓
How easy I could (and at some points did) become frustrated over these last few days.
Thank goodness for yoga breaths, years of teaching and it is pretty ingrained now
Breathe in, 2,3,4 \* Pause \* Breathe out, 2,3,4, *\** Pause \*
Or even better the breathing technique that Paramhansa Yogananda gave us that I teach in my REAL method.
Got to love that double inhale, tense, hold, double exhale
## Back to those bots
Get back on track Linda
Ah, yes. The bots.
Safe to say, I have been thoroughly discombobulated with these bots.
So much so that it has had me revising and reviewing part of my new way of working.
Take a breath here, \*drumroll\*
I have been using Ai, yes, bots are in my laptop.
I have used 21st century tech to help me 'leverage' (Gemini taught me that 😘 )
I am also about to invest a lot of money in an Ai system to help deliver me to you in a way that reduces digital tech overload for you.
> Oh the irony
I have been very particular and spent a lot of time researching a platform that respects my time and yours.
One that will not overwhelm me and that will allow me to work around my current health challenges, whilst still sharing all the stuff out of my head with you.
A platform that will allow you to easily access my
> Brain - slightly scary thought
> Voice - need a little help getting to sleep, I'll talk you there
> Body - just yoga poses, no internal camera shots will be shared
All delivered digitally, using Ai bots
> BUT
And it is a BIG but, I am keeping control
I am keeping it small and intimate
Thanks Ai, but not quite the picture I had in mind
The tech is doing the heavy lifting so that you get access to me, just like friends messaging back and forth.
I am so blooming excited to share this.
At the moment I have just a few people helping test it.
There are still a couple of founders places left at the knock down guaranteed for life £65 price - get your bot to message my bot with the word "Founder" and I (not my bot) will message you the details.
For now here is a link to a free relaxation, I am off to practice my Energization Exercises in the garden.
Then I am going to have a go training my new bot.
Link to my free podcast
[The one where we focus on the tense and release](https://app.hiro.fm/products/68cc66c20e65c90034835ec3/episodes/69270fcca0fae10022d313cc?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
[Click Here to Listen ](https://app.hiro.fm/feed/68cc66c20e65c90034835ec3/ep/69270fcca0fae10022d313cc?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
If your bot didn't like that link post in the comments, my bot has multiple ways of sharing 😆
### The Fullness of Stillness: Redefining Value in the Quiet
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-fullness-of-stillness-redefining-value-in-the-quiet/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:14:29.000Z
It is easy to measure a life by the tangible output of our days - the miles walked, the projects completed, the tasks ticked off a list.
When chronic fatigue and the physical aftermath of surgery force those lists to shrink, a dangerous narrative often begins to whisper:
> *Am I living only half a life?*
> *Is this existence now half-full, or half-empty?*
Then there is the old chestnut of not being able to pour from an empty cup, oh there are so many, er what are they 🤔 - metaphors? anyways I am getting sidetracked, yet again.
> Maybe I need to put the kettle on?
For many of us, particularly in the rush of the modern world, we tie our sense of value to productivity.
We feel we must be constantly "doing" to be worthy of "being."
Or is that just me?
But as I’ve sat in the quiet of my home and garden this week, wrestling with the physical pain that arises when I push beyond the boundaries my body has set, I’ve been forced to confront the truth behind that exhaustion.
All whilst ignoring the multitude of jobs that need doing in the garden🙈
### The Mirror of the Mind
I am my own harshest critic. I will be the first to admit that.
When the body asks for rest, the mind often demands movement.
There is an illusion that busyness equals status, and that stillness is merely a waiting room for the next task.
Yet, as I have been spending my days resting, I’ve had the grace of sitting in the sunshine, reading *Revelations of Christ* by Kriyananda.
Immersing myself in Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings has served as a powerful reminder that our true worth is not found in the hustle bustle of the world, but in the sanctuary of the soul.
That calm inner stillness that I have been teaching about and sharing with others for about 30 years!
That personal inner sanctuary of peace that we all have, the true centre of each and everyone of us (if you've ever been in a class in going to bet you heard that as if it was my voice in your head😆).
### Changing the Flow
Why do we feel we must be perpetually busy to be valued?
Perhaps because we are looking in the wrong direction.
We are so often caught in the outward pull of stimulation, tethered to the sensory world’s demand for constant productivity.
The path back to wholeness, stillness and peace begins by **withdrawing energy from that outward movement through the senses to outer stimulation and busyness and redirecting the energy flow inward to the spine and upward to the Spiritual eye.**
oh look it's that stuff I have been teaching for years again!
When we stop the outward scramble, we don’t find an "empty" life; we find the space where the Divine resides.
When I stop measuring my day by how much I "did" and start measuring it by the depth of my connection to that inner calm - the aspects of God - the glass is no longer half-full or half-empty.
It is overflowing.
### The Practice of Gratitude
The pain I feel is a signal, not a failure. It is a prompt to practice the very advice I so often give others.
Instead of judging my limited capacity, I am choosing to count my blessings:
- The warmth of the sun on my skin.
- The profound wisdom available in my books.
- The peace found in the stillness that the mountains of the Lake District taught me to cherish.
- The joy I find in meditation.
My healing is not about returning to the "busyness" of who I was; it is about honoring my body as it is today.
By letting go of the need to be "productive" by the world's standards, I am finally giving myself permission to be whole.
Whatever your week has looked like - whether it felt full of activity or heavy with the necessity of rest - I hope you remember that your value is inherent.
You are not living a partial life if you stop and say no to doing more.
You are simply learning, as I am, that the most important work happens when we stop, look inward, and realize that the peace we seek is already here.
> *How are you choosing to view your own "glass" this week?*
*Are you measuring your value by the noise of the world, or the silence of your own inner sanctuary?*
### A different kind of invitation...
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/a-different-kind-of-invitation/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:12:28.000Z
I’ve spent much of my life helping others relax, but my recent recovery and journey with ME/CFS have taught me a deeper truth: we don't need more "to-do" lists.
We need a way to redirect our energy flow inward, to the spine and the spiritual eye, away from the noise of the world.
I am moving my focus away from the "busy" side of my business to create something more grounded.
I’m calling it the **Digital Sanctuary.**
It’s a place to learn the R.E.A.L. method at your own pace.
No live sessions to "show up" for—just a quiet space where you can access my teachings and message me directly whenever you need guidance.
I’m inviting **10 Founding Members** to help me build this nest for £65/month (this price will stay locked in for you forever).
If you want one of these spots, or if you’d just like to grab my professionally recorded relaxation set to start your journey, simply **reply to this email with the word "Sanctuary"** and I’ll send you the next steps.
With peace and stillness,
### Time is like cake
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/time-is-like-cake/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:15:19.000Z
Love this from my Harvest app
I'm really finding this true right now, you might notice it's a little quiet from me right now.
Just as we were getting back into a rhythm after a family bereavement we were hit with the sudden passing of our family matriarch.
At the moment days are long and full of appointments, phone calls, planning, reminiscing and chasing paperwork!
I'm so grateful I learnt meditation techniques - all those years that I thought it was 'difficult' were actually wonderful preparation for times like now.
Let the world spin around you
Meditation keeps me centred, from that centre I can more clearly see which slice of cake needs attention and make sure I don't end up with just crumbs!
Right now my focus is on family but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about sharing this calm feeling with others
Over the last 25+years of teaching I've felt so blessed to be able to help others find their centre.
My teaching has developed and changed over the years BUT the relaxation has always been a main part of all that I teach - it's what has kept people coming back 🥰
I've particularly loved sharing Yoga Nidra, the deep relaxation - the one that for years my daughter thought was called Need Yah!
She's not wrong, we do NEED it
Each month on the last Monday we do YiNidra in our session at St Leonard's
45 minutes of Yin poses followed by 40 minutes of Nidra (timings are approximate)
Taking that relaxation further I'm introducing a supper element to the evening
Chance to have a total night off, no need to rush home after relaxation to get your tea. Anyone that needs to get back for family/pets can take their supper home, those that can stay will get to enjoy time with other like minded souls.
This month's supper is a choice of Vegetable lasagne or Beef hotpot and yes there will likely be cake, or cookies 😋
Monday 30th March 6.30pm for YiNidra, supper at 8pm - bring a container to take some home😘
Are you joining us ❓
### I feel like chicken tonight
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/i-feel-like-chicken-tonight/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:12:37.000Z
It's Friday night, I'm in Preston, there's only one place I should be.
Eating chicken and rice at Gran Gran's.
That's what Friday has meant for almost 28 years since I was welcomed into this wonderful family.
Instead I'm laid on my bed, exhausted, mentally drained, emotionally spent.
I was going to edit and upload the blog I had prepared,
> but that can wait for another week
I'm posting because I made a commitment to those of you that have trusted me with your contact details, your time and your energy.
I promised myself that I would post consistently as I share this real method for helping others find their inner haven of peace in this busy, crazy world.
So, I'm staying in touch with you because I truly value the fact that you give your time and energy to what I share.
This week's blog that I had started to prepare with tips for inner peace
> that can wait for another week
There's loads you can already access on my website/YouTube/Podcast.
The info I was going to share about reincarnation, Karma, physical bodies, astral bodies and how it all connects,
> that can wait
Everything can wait for another week, another blog/podcast.
As relevant as the subject may have been as we grieve the loss of our beautiful matriarch, it can all wait as I take time for family.
Today, I'm in your inbox, honouring the commitment to be consistent BUT, I've nothing other than to tell you how grateful I am.
### I am grateful that;
> My meditation practice keeps me grounded,
> Paramhansa's teachings on karma and reincarnation reassure and comfort me in knowing that our consciousness is eternal
> And how blessed I was to have been loved by the most wonderful mother-in-law that anyone could ever hope for.
Good night, God Bless Agnes, there's a huge Friday night hole but boy did you leave us some fantastic memories.
Love you 💖
### You are a great soul
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/you-are-a-great-soul/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:16:00.000Z
That's it, that's this week's blog/newsletter.
Letting YOU know that I consider you a *Great Soul* and how happy I am to have you in my life.
That was my morning musing as I sat drinking my coffee with an amazing view.
I was pondering about what to call YOU as I'm putting together all my teachings to offer in an easy digital sanctuary.
(I have almost got it all packaged up ready to offer the world - eek!)
Last week I watched a training about how to launch what I have been working on.
In the training they kept saying "your clients"
### Client?
That just feels stuffy and a bit clinical really. Not at all aligned with what I am offering.
### Student?
Well, we're all students really, I'm simply sharing what works for me on this soul journey home.
### Friend?
Yes, most of my friendships have started on a yoga mat BUT do friends ask you to pay?
That reminds me of a painter decorator friend who doesn't do 'mates rates'. Why would a true friend want you to undersell yourself - wow did that gave me a different perspective.
> Er, great souls Linda?
Yes, anyway, back to these great souls that you and I are.
I love that term, Asha uses it all the time and that resonates so well with me and what I am building in the Digital Sanctuary.
The Digital Sanctuary that I am hosting is a space away from the busy in person and online world.
It is a space to learn and share ideas for resting from the outer world to relax our bodies, minds and revive souls.
The aim is to find our still, calm inner sancuary of peace.
I am not looking for clients.
I want to join with fellow students of life.
Friends walking the journey home to our own personal inner sanctuary.
I truly hope that your great soul will join me soon.
Thanks for reading this far, as a thank you, here is a short relaxation from one of my classes - totally free, not even mates rates. Just a short unedited, recorded on my phone 6 minute relaxation.
You will need to lie down for this one.
Enjoy *Great Soul*
Basic TR inner haven portable paradise recorded SL 13 Oct at 19 37
0:00
/370.858666
1×
### Practising what I teach
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/practising-what-i-teach/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:12:49.000Z
In the past two weeks we celebrated a family 89th, an 18th and we had a breavement.
I am doing what I teach, resting from the world, trying to relax and staying in touch with my soul.
Work is paused, family is first.
Nature and quiet time are needed.
## Meditation has kept me sane
Many times in my life I have turned to yoga and meditation for support and this week I truly felt the deeper meditation practise that I have developed as part of my Kriya preparation and Disclepship training over the past few years has definitely helped .
We learn the techniques on the mat and in the chair when it is easy to practice, with guidance from a teacher.
Once learnt those skills then come easier when we really need them in times of crisis.
We perhaps struggle to establish the habits on our own, and this is why I love the community that I belong to and the one that we are creating in the new digital sanctuary that I am building (on pause just for now)
I am still pottering in the background, distracting myself where needed.
I was due to start the first cohort of the REAL method and the Healthy Home Detox, and whilst we are not joining together online just yet, I will share here a little from that first week's lesson
### REAL week one
Are you feeling pulled in a dozen directions?
The "noisy world" often demands our energy for things that don't serve our soul.
This week, we begin our **R.E.A.L. Path to Holistic Wellbeing**.
We start with the first, most essential step: **REST.**
In my lineage, Paramhansa Yogananda taught that the body is the Temple of God. Before we can meditate, we must "Prepare the Temple."
This isn't just about sleep; it’s about **withdrawing our energy** from the outside world and anchoring it in the Spine.
You may have heard me mention this in classes - Pratyahara, withdrawal from the stimulus of the senses
**Your Practice This Week:**
1. **Switch off:** Find 5 minutes to turn off all stimulation.
2. **Scent:** Apply a drop of **doTERRA Balance** to your feet or wrists.
3. **Align:** Sit tall. Feel your spine as a channel of light. Let your weight be heavy, but your heart be light.
We are moving from searching in the busy outer world to the inner joyful Soul and it starts with the courage to simply rest from the world.
I’ll see you in the Inner Haven.
With love and light,
**Linda xx**
### From Chaos to Clarity
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/from-chaos-to-clarity/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:12:59.000Z
## From Chaos to Clarity: Can the R.E.A.L. Method support Your Spiritual Journey?
Many of you know (burst appendix and complications aside) that I spend half of my week in the lovely Langdale Valley in the Lake District.
Being there it is so easy to find stillness.
Walk a few minutes from where I park up in Campo and it is like another world, there is calm and peace but there is also a lot of movement and energy - wind especially!
There is water as well, lots of water. Tis the lakes after all, we have rain, more rain and rain.
This water flows into the calm lakes and tarns, great for cold water dips or sitting beside and gazing at. Whilst the tarns can be still and peaceful, the water in them has often provided the energy of the waterfalls.
So much power and energy, yet also very relaxing to sit beside (unless you missed the loo stop!)
I love wandering on my own and sitting in solitude, I do also enjoy the occasions when some of you join me for a Soul Walk and Talk.
Soul Walk & Talk
Discussing spiritual journeys, working out our next steps on our individual paths. Helping guide each other to discover those steps.
Reviving ourselves ready to return to everyday hustle and bustle.
The last few years wandering in the valley, I found myself reflecting on this spiritual path I have taken, especially my discipleship with Paramhansa Yogananda.
Conversations with many of you, tell me I am not the only one to feel a tug-of-war between our inner spiritual life and our desire to serve the world.
We ask ourselves: *Should I retreat into the silence of my own soul, or should I share the tools that have helped me find peace?*
> Does that resonate with you?
As a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, I’ve realized that these are not two separate paths.
Yes, I am tempted to escape the world, live in the woods and stay well away from the modern world.
Away from the busy, the noise, the chaos, the overwhelm
> BUT, I have a family, friends, commitments
The burst appendix and months in bed recuperating from complications has been a blessing in disguise.
I have done a lot of meditation, I committed to my Discipleship Vow - only 38 years after my first yoga class - never let it be said I rush into things!
I discovered a way to share my teaching and knowledge of all the things that I love - yoga, meditation, hiking, baking, essential oils, holistic natural life.
I am looking forward to sharing the **R.E.A.L. Method** (Rest, Relax, Energise, Awaken, Live) over the coming months.
For now I have a few wonderful souls helping me to test the digital sanctuary we are creating.
A place inside our tech but a place that invites calm rather than adding to the overwhelm and chaos.
Not just another meditation app that gets used a few times but then gets forgotten in the busy online world
As part of the process to create this sanctuary, I had to come up with an AVATAR - not like the ones I am used to in my lineage (Jesus, Paramhansa, Lahiri, Sri Yukteswar) but an Avatar that would be the person looking for what we are creating with our digital sanctuary.
So I did what the kids do - I turned to Ai
My Ai is actually called Gem and she is a Gem
Apparently my Avatar is "Seeking Sarah" - I told a few friends and fellow yogis about Seeking Sarah and they immediately recognised themselves, so perhaps this Ai is on to something
Are you a "Seeking Sarah"?
### Meeting "Seeking Sarah" Where She Is
We all know a "Seeking Sarah."
She is the soul who is yearning for something deeper but finds herself drowning in the "busyness" of modern life.
Her energy is constantly scattered outward through the senses, exhausted by the demands of the world.
To help the Sarahs of the world, we must provide practical, natural solutions that create an **inner sanctuary of calm.**
### The R.E.A.L. Integration
Through my **Rest Relax Revive** program we are bridging the gap between natural health and spiritual depth, a method to help Sarah find her way back to her inner haven of peace
- **Rest:** We begin by honoring the body’s need for stillness. Using grounding oils like Vetiver or Spruce, we anchor the **base root** element. When the body rests, the soul begins to speak.
- **Relax:** We use the water element—fluid and flowing—to release tension. This is the vital step of **withdrawing energy from outward movement through the senses and redirecting the energy flow inward to the spine.**
- **Energise:** We use Paramhansa Yogananda's Energization Exercises, yoga postures and essential oils to energise and revitalise
- **Awaken:** As the fire element of the third chakra ignites, we move from mere relaxation into awareness. We realize we are not our fatigue; we are immortal children of Bliss.
- **Live:** Finally, with the lightness of the air element, we bring this peace into our daily lives. We save time, money, and energy not just for "efficiency," but to ensure our gaze remains fixed on the **Spiritual Eye.**
### Serving Others
Sharing these natural solutions of yoga, meditation and essential oils is a form of *Karma Yoga*.
When I help someone simplify their life through my Facebook group, [*Save time, money and energy with natural solutions for holistic wellbeing*](https://www.facebook.com/groups/RestRelaxRevive/), and now on the new digital sanctuary platform we are creating, I am not just talking about oils or schedules.
I am not just sharing yoga postures, breathing practices, guided relaxations and meditations.
I am helping them find peace, calm, stillness the "Art of Living."
I realise now that, whether I am on a yoga mat, meditating on a chair, cold water swimming in a mountain tarn, giving an AromaTouch treatment or filling doTERRA samples in the studio, every action is an opportunity to be a channel for the Master's teachings.
> "Self-realization is the knowing—in body, mind, and soul—that we are one with the omnipresence of God."
### Your Invitation to Stillness
Are you ready to stop the outward leak of your energy and start your journey inward?
Whether you are a "Seeking Sarah" or a seasoned seeker, we are going to remind ourselves that the tools of nature are here to support your soul's journey.
Keep an eye on your inbox for details of upcoming classes and courses, soul walk and talks, lake retreats and so much more, all to help you find your way back to your Inner Haven Of Peace - it is there inside you all the time.
**Want to get on the waitlist?**
Post in the comments or drop me a message
**Want a nosey at the essential oils group?**
Please note access is only available on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/RestRelaxRevive/) right now, we are in the process of moving everything over into a much calmer environment, one that is easier to find just what you need, when you need it.
### B̶e̶c̶k̶h̶a̶m̶ real news
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/beckham-real-news/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:25:04.000Z
The doors have closed (for now)
Thank you so much to everyone who offered to help test the new platform.
All pre Founder places have now been allocated and we're starting to get to grips with chat features and course settings 🫣
We're building a platform to take away the tech overwhelm and busy.
I realise that sounds a bit contradictory!
But I can't wait to show you what we're creating
A space away from the hustle bustle, a haven of peace and stillness, a resource of wellness tips and ideas all in one place
I'm so grateful to my little band of pioneers helping me navigate this setting up phase.
It's going to be so wonderful when we open the doors again in a few weeks and invite others to be shown around.
Follow me to your inner sanctuary of peace and stillness
If you were one of the many that applied/messaged/received links and haven't been on boarded into a group, please don't worry.
As soon as there were enough to get the walk started we set off.
I've added your names to the top of the wait list to get in as a Founder when we "soft launch" in a few weeks - for now there's just a few of us, testing the links and finding the paths.
Right now, I have more than enough souls to shepherd through this trial phase - I have to ensure I respect mine and their time, so this advance party is just a small band of brothers and sisters
We will come back for you soon 🥰
Post in the comments or drop me an email to get first notice for the Founder places opening up
### Maybe this is why you can't meditate
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/maybe-this-is-why-you-cant-meditate/
Last updated: 2026-01-10T22:08:02.000Z
𝙸 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝❗
𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
> Do you think you just can't do it❓
To be clear, I do practise meditation but I've always been unable to do the visualisation that is often taught in many techniques.
Then I saw an article about something that was on Radio 2
In Jeremy Vine's show, there was a feature about Aphantasia, a term coined by Professor Adam Zeman from University of Exeter 10 years ago.
Ongoing research continues to learn more, it is thought to affect 1% of the population; and I think I'm in that 1%
𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡
It is people who have the inability to create mental images.
It's called a blind mind's eye.
I've always struggled to do visualisation, yet I'm a very creative person and very capable of producing sketches, drawings and paintings
Over the last 30 years of teaching I've led thousands of hours of visualization technique relaxations and yoga Nidra, yet I'm unable to actually see at the Spiritual eye myself.
Now I have a scientific name for it!
Maybe this is why people think they can't meditate 🤔
The best example to show how this works is to think of an apple.
In your mind's eye, picture an apple of any sort, see its colour and texture, stalk and leaves.
> Can you see it?
Can you visualise an apple in your mind's eye?
🍎🍏❓
> I can't
I know I'm thinking about an apple, I know what an apple looks like, but I just can't see it in my minds eye.
Apparently, the small number of people with this condition are often creative speakers, writers and photographers using their skills to fill the gaps neurologically.
That would explain my artistic ability and (as my students would affirm) why I can talk a good visualisation!
So that was today's, learn something new, my 💡 moment and I'm off to read about Aphantasia - a different way of processing information.
## What was your learn something new this week?
Post in the comments, or drop me a message
I would love to learn another something new
##
### Help me, help you
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/help-me-help-you/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:13:08.000Z
𝟭-𝟮-𝟭 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟰/𝟳 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀
I'm looking for 3 people to help me trial a new platform
Offering 1-2-1, 24/7 access to me 😁
Just to clarify, you can message me 24/7 but you won't get an immediate answer
I am all about managing time to create space in life, so there will be a delay if you message me at 4am or when I've no WiFi!
But you will get a faster response than waiting for an appointment or arranging a Zoom time
> What's the offer❓
I'm offering my time and knowledge for free
> 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝❓
I'm all about the holistic, spiritual approach to life
I'm looking to offer truly personal mentoring that gives you what you need now to get what you want in your life
Whether that's a personalised yoga plan, meditation practice, essential oil routine, physio, chance to explore the meaning of life, I have resources to share.
## Maybe I should call myself the KOSHA coach
you know - those physical, mental, emotional, spriritual layers that make us human
If you're interested in a personal coach for any kind of combination of the following
> Holistic lifestyle
> Natural health solutions
> Natural cleaning solutions
> Better sleep
> Using nature's remedies
> Balancing emotions
> Releasing physical tension
> Overcoming illness/injury
> Losing weight
> Work/life balance
> Yoga
> Meditation
> Essential oils
> Your Spiritual journey
Drop me a message, let's have a chat and see if you can benefit
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁❓
📖 A personal plan of action
🎥 Personalised videos to guide you
📚 Library of resources to access anytime you need. Including video, audio, PDF
💬 Ongoing support with easy messaging between us via Voice note/text/video
🖥️ You can access the messaging platform on your phone/tablet/computer/laptop
This is for you if you are looking for a personal coach to
> Rehabilitate physically
> Increase energy
> Improve sleep
> Reduce stress
> Reduce toxic load
> Support mental health
> Improve emotional balance
> Without pills and potions
(well maybe some essential oils😁 if that's what's helpful)
> A totally natural solution
A truly personal to you tailored approach to your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, health
### Interested/intrigued to know more?
Drop me a message, let's chat
I need 3 testers for my system, all you will pay is the costs of the platform to host the messages back and forth - it is less than the price of a chocolate bar per day
**I'm going to give you 3 months of my time and knowledge for free to help me test the platform**
As a thank you, you will have life-time access at the reduced price
> This isn't AI
You get 24/7, 1-2-1 access to 30+ years of yoga study and teaching - personal coaching that fits around your life commitments
I could charge thousands for this but I am currently only wanting to offer this to people that I already know, and that know me and my teaching.
### Total honesty?
I am not looking to make myself crazy busy, this platform has been suggested as a way to help others without overwhelming me.
I am intrigued to see if it could help others
### *REST from the world RELAX body and minds*
### *REVIVE souls*
What a world that would be - are you interested in helping me see if we can put that out there?
### ❓puɐʇspɐǝɥ ɐ op oʇ ǝʌɐɥ I oᗡ
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/puatspa-y-a-op-ot-ay-i-otha-most-definitely-not-no-headstands-o/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:13:19.000Z
❓puɐʇspɐǝɥ ɐ op oʇ ǝʌɐɥ I oᗡ
Most definitely not, no headstands or shoulder stands in the classes I teach.
There are many reasons why I don't teach these postures in group classes.
> Bbbut they're good for you
Yes, I know the importance of inversions and why yogis practice BUT not everyone is built to headstand.
As for shoulder stands, I see so many practiced that put considerable stress on the neck joint - all the messages to and from your brain travel through that junction, why risk damaging it?
Oops
I'm not saying one incorrectly practiced head/shoulder stand will damage you for life, but repeated incorrect practice will certainly impact your health.
## So what do you teach❓
In my classes I focus more on function than form.
Perfect, correctly aligned poses are a very Iyengar style of teaching.
That is not what we do in our Monday night classes at the hall or online.
I do use techniques that I learnt in my many years with two brilliant Iyengar teachers - hence the use of blocks, belts and bolsters.
However, I use the adaptations to help people get into an adapted, supported posture.
This way you learn how the pose should feel, and you get to experience the benefits without the strain or risk of injury.
If you want to learn headstand, my group classes are not for you.
One day maybe when I have space for another 1-2-1 student, then I will teach you, but not right now.
## Ok, so what do we do in class?
If you join a class at the hall or via Zoom, you will notice we tend to follow this format.
> Savasana - lying on the floor (some people choose to sit in chairs)
> Settle and switch off - I guide you to let go of the outside world and spend time bringing your conscious awareness into your physical body. We notice how we feel physically, mentally, emotionally.
> Breath awareness, once settled, you bring attention to the breath and introduce a technique to help calm your body and mind. This is especially effective in calming your nervous system.
> Gentle postures combined with breath - mixture of supine, standing, seated postures. Again, some choose to practice in a chair throughout the whole session.
> Guided relaxation
**That is it**
That is a pretty standard class - oh, except last Monday of each month we do YiNidra, more on that [here](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yinidra-what-is-it/)
The aim of all the classes is to bring you to an awareness and experience of your inner stillness, to connect you with your inner haven of peace that is within you always.
It just tends to get drowned out in the noise of the world.
## Ready to join us?
[Book your inner stillness here](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/monday-at-st-leonards/)
In 2026 Monday evening classes are being livestreamed via Zoom, you can sign up to join live or get the recording in the [Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/) members area
### My 2026 is going to be messy
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/my-2026-is-going-to-be-messy/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:13:30.000Z
I'd love you to join the mess
Those photos are just some of the lesson plans, workshops, retreats, teacher training that I've delivered over the last 30+ years.
I'm uploading onto digital platforms, all the relaxations, meditation and yoga classes that I taught over the past 30+ years.
I already have hundreds of hours of recordings that I have built up (covid and Zoom thank you!) and yes I can just edit those.
**BUT**, I am finding sitting at a laptop does not motivate me as much as teaching and delivering the sessions to actual human beings.
I need some guinea pigs
Er, human beings or guinea pigs??
> I am sure you get what I mean
I don't work well without deadlines, having someone to teach these sessions to, keeps me on track.
As well as classes I recorded in lockdown and at the hall since, I also have all the courses, workshops, retreats and teacher training that I have delivered over the years - boxes and boxes of handouts and worksheets📚
Dragging over 30 years of information and studies out of my head and off the paper handouts into digital format isn't going to be clean and easy.
No slick AI productions here
> I have an idea of how to do it
I just need to get into Zoom, record and upload - that's where you will hopefully join me
Once uploaded, they will be offered and sold as standalone mini courses.
> For now though
I am offering you the option to get ***free*** access to everything as part of [Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/).
**This is how I plan to teach it all**
> Monday night yoga via Zoom 6.30pm
> Monday Meditation clinic 8pm
> Have a 1-2-1 session with me
> Online and in person workshops exploring different topics that support our spiritual journey
> Want to join me?
Join one or all the sessions, all included in [Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/), plus recordings if you can't join live
## What exactly are you teaching?
What are the topics?
## Monday 6.30pm
This is a regular yoga class.
We have a settle down, switch off from the world, then work through gentle postures with the breath before a guided relaxation.
Suitable for everyone, the emphasis is on getting rid of tension in the physical body, mind and nervous system, so that we enjoy a deep relaxation.
> Drop in any week
> Join live or watch the recording when it suits you
> Get the Zoom link via the Soul Support members area
## Monday 8pm
The REAL meditation method - an easy to follow technique, in just four sessions you will learn the simple steps to meditation.
Simple to learn but then maybe you need support to practice - that is where this session and the online support are useful.
> Ask questions, practice together, get help as you need it.
> Drop in any week
> Get the Zoom link via the Soul Support members area
## Group sessions
Here are some of the upcoming topics for the group sessions and Monday 8pm Zoom class
> The FAST system, how Food, Activity, Sleep/Stress, Toxins affect our spiritual journey
> REAL method
> Patanjali Yoga Sutras
> Affirmations, what, why and how to use them
> 8 aspects of God
> Chakras
> Karma and reincarnation
## 1-2-1 anytime
Let's get together, either on a walk, with a coffee, or over Zoom.
Chat about where you are on your spiritual journey, what your next steps could be, what has you currently puzzled, or whatever your soul is pondering just now.
Already a student? I would love to interview you for the podcast.
Join for a month, learn what you need, drop in and out of the membership at anytime - only join the topics that interest you. It is yoga based - totally flexible.
> **Got any thoughts/comments/questions?**
Post in the comments or drop me a message, I look forward to sharing our spiritual paths in 2026
### A Christmas gift for you
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/a-christmas-gift-for-you/
Last updated: 2026-09-29T18:28:40.000Z
> A note before you read on: this post is from last year, and some of the pricing and offers mentioned have since changed. You can see what's currently available on the [R.E.A.L. Method page](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/) or [Soul Support](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/).
On Monday we had our last class of 2025.
To say it has been a strange year would be an understatement.
Undergoing emergency life saving surgery and then having a long recuperation period has had mixed blessings.
One blessing was more time in meditation, always very welcome.
All be it most of my practice had to be supine, or propped up on multiple cushions due to the abdominal surgeries.
Divine Mother has a hand in our lives in ways that may not seem obvious at first.
All that time confined to bed gave me the opportunity to learn some new skills.
I am still a work in progress but I have learnt how to record and upload to the podcast.
## How does it work?
What is the benefit for you?
I am using the HIRO platform, you will need to upload the free app - link below
On there you will find I have 3 channels
> Class in Your Pocket
> Soul Conversations
> Soul Support
***Class In Your Pocket***
This is like a regular yoga class with asana practice, breathing practice, visualisation and yoga nidra.
You can play individual episodes or combine for a full session - depends on your time and needs
It is a one off £15 payment to download and you can listen anytime, anywhere, as often as you like.
***Soul Conversations***
This a free channel where I plan to upload conversations along my soul journey.
There will also be interviews with students, friends and others who choose to walk part of their path alongside mine.
[***Soul Support***](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/)
Soul Support is the path you walk with me, £65 a month. It starts with Map 1: four Paths, each a spoken talk followed by a relaxation, arriving Path by Path. You also get my Foundations audio set from day one, and relaxations for members in the HIRO app, a private audio app you listen in. Under each Path there's a quiet space to share how it went for you. Members also get priority access to online workshops, selected workshop recordings, and two in-person classes a month if you live near Penwortham.
> My Gift To You
As a Christmas gift, I have uploaded the relaxation from this week to the FREE channel.
As part of our relaxation we practised creating space for peace to enter the body.
This practice helps us connect with our inner calm centre.
By practicing during our relaxation we can train the subconscious to default to calm when outer circumstances may not be as peaceful as we would like.
Take 15 minutes out of your day to retrain your subconscious.
Download the app and listen anytime, anywhere.
## Click Here For the Recording
You will be redirected to HIRO
[Listen Now](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
> ***Wishing you a very Blessed Christmas***
***and prayers for a peaceful 2026 - or at least the ability to remain calm and centred.***
> ***With love Linda x***
### 🍪 Cookies
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/cookies-2/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:14:27.000Z
### Did you accept the cookies?
Ah, if only we actually got a cookie every time we clicked that link on the internet
I still do not fully understand the internet cookies
BUT
I do know how to bake a pretty good oat cookie using essential oils (EO) for flavour.
Today I am playing around with flavours - this is how I do the *Relax* part of *Rest, Relax, Revive*
I am hoping there will be some left to gift my Yogis at our Candlelit Yinidra for Christmas class on Monday
In case you're not coming on Monday, this is my gift to you - a basic cookie recipe and the opportunity to [choose what you receive from me in 2026](https://forms.gle/HYjpCnR5qvnaFCRB9?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
So far today's cookie flavours are
> *Lemon and ginger*
> *Orange and cinnamon*
> *Cardamom and lime*
> *Baking Spice*
> *OnGuard*
That last one might surprise those of you that know the blend
I've always said the smell reminds me of Christmas - well, it has got orange, clove and cinnamon in
First time I tried it on food was on popcorn in a class and everyone loved it
Since then I've made cookies with it and it's been a hit PLUS OnGuard boosts the immune system so I'm counting those ones as therapy cookies 😁
## Er, I thought this was a Yoga & Meditation blog?
### Yes, but no
The [REAL method](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/) that I teach is holistic and what we eat plays a very big part in what we are
> *So cookies are essential😁*
You can opt out by choosing which topics you receive email updates about [here](https://forms.gle/hdmbu1JpZRfuSJBn6?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
> Skip the drop down part if you don't like cookies
#### All the cookie stuff
I was hesitant at first about ingesting essential oils.
There are plenty of warnings out there telling you not to.
****Obviously, please do your own research.**
For over ten years now, there's only been one company that I have trusted when buying essential oils
I love their sourcing policy and how they support the growers and distillers.
As for ingesting oils - I would trust these EO far more than synthetic flavourings available in my local supermarket baking aisle.
Quality and purity aside, the taste is fresher, cleaner and a little goes a long way.
A lot of the advice on ingesting essential oils is based on out of date practices, where the oil was often blended to make it go further and /or there was no guarantee of purity and being free of pesticide contamination.
NOT ALL essential oils are suitable for ingestion.
A reputable company will label those that are - always check the label AND NEVER buy from the internet.
If you need help sourcing pure, guaranteed oils, please drop me a message and I will happily help you.
The oils on Amazon and other sites are often mixed with fillers and then resealed.
****READY TO BAKE?**
I often double or even triple the basic recipe.
Here is a [video reel of how to make the cookies](https://www.facebook.com/reel/436102568602665)
So how much EO to add?
That will depend on a few factors
Quantity of recipe/EO used/personal taste
When I double the recipe I tend to use about 12 drops of lemon and 4 drops of ginger for my ginger and lemon cookies.
It is worth remembering that the citrus oils tend to run out of the bottle fast - I had a very lemony fruit loaf last week due to fast oil.
With the spice oils I tend to use less drops, but I often just go with how I feel.
The taste with EO is much sharper and cleaner, you only need to use a little.
Keep an 👁️ out for updated recipes as I try and keep track each week of the different mixes I play with.
You might also like to have a 🔎 in my [FB group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/RestRelaxRevive/) for more oily inspired recipes.
****Here are some ideas to get you started**
Cinnamon - baking classic
Cassia - similar to cinnamon but I think it is slightly sweeter. It is also cheaper than Cinnamon oil 🙂 and can be used in place of cinnamon
Ginger - on it's own or mixed with lemon, 😋 yum
Any of the citrus oils individually or combined, choose from Lemon, Lime, Wild Orange, Tangerine 🍋🍊
Cardamom - not everyone's favourite
Caraway - ooh Goosnargh cakes anyone?
The purpose of this blog is threefold
> to wish you a blessed, joyful Christmas
> to let you know to keep an eye out for a recording of the Christmas Yinidra, deep relaxation heading to your inbox this week
> to give you a choice in what you receive from me (cookies are an option)
I am so protective of my time and energy and I want to make sure that I honour yours as well.
> Below is a link to a form
I teach and share various topics and realise they may not all be relevant for you
Please take a few minutes to tick some boxes and help keep me from filling your email with stuff you neither want nor need in 2026.
> **Have I made you choose to want a cookie?**
Post in the comments or drop me a message and I will aim to have some next time we meet
For now, here's that form
Save your time and energy, only receive emails for topics that interest you
[Choose what you receive to your inbox ](https://forms.gle/XvuWqt4RvHT2BTQBA?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
As always, you can share any thoughts, comments or questions down below.
### Is yoga self improvement ❓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/is-yoga-self-improvement/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:17:40.000Z
Hmm, now there is a question.
Yoga definitely helps us to improve, there is no denying that after any session we can feel that we have done something to
> Improve our mood
> Improve our sleep
> Improve our emotional balance
> Improve our flexibilty - physical and mental
> Improve our physical health
> Improve our mental well-being
> You get the picture?
**So, yes,**
Yoga helps us to improve ourself
## BUT
ah, there's always a but!
I tell my students that yoga is actually
> Self realisation
> Self awareness
Through our yoga practice we become more aware
Then through that awareness we naturally make improvements
We become aware of the real self, and through that awareness true self improvement and growth occurs
We become what and who we truly are, what we were made to be
### and that's REAL self improvement
As we get to know ourselves as part of the Divine, the Universal Spirit, the Cosmic Consciousness, God (or however you feel comfortable naming that which we all come from)
We become
> Real
> Authentic
> Balanced
(not sure about that GOD word? Check out the blog [What/who is God?](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-who-is-god/))
## So is it Self Improvement?
and if so how can Yoga help?
Through yoga practices we become more Self aware
We gain awareness without expectation or criticism
As we practice postures, breathing and/or meditation we learn to observe
> The body, the breath, the mind, the emotions
We notice what works, what doesn't
How we feel before, after and during certain things
What changes within us as we do a particular practice
Which [styles of yoga](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-yoga/) suit us and which don't
It starts with the physical - that feeling of needing a forward bend to release the spine after a deep backbend
**but**
as we are more than just a physical body, all of our layers are affected - keep an eye out for the blog on *KOSHAS* for more about those layers that make us human
As we practice a side bend or forward bend we learn
> What we need to put us back in balance
Without putting ourself down, we learn from a mistake and grow - overstretching physically brings definite muscle awareness!
This also happens in meditation practice and studying the texts of yogic philosophy
Our practice on the mat and on the chair is our space to learn and grow
and if we make a mistake we get to
> Keep the lesson from the mistake but not the memory
Like I say in class, awareness without expectation or criticism and it extends beyond the mat and chair into our family life, our worklife and all those roles that we live.
## Have you started yet?
How is your Self feeling, physically. mentally, emotionally?
Tell me in the comments, or drop me a message, I would love to know any awareness you found on the mat, on the chair or just sat with a brew.
### Annihilate or Recreate❓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/annihilate-or-recreate/
Last updated: 2025-12-06T09:13:06.000Z
This week I allowed someone to reduce me to tears.
I let them get inside my head and project their insecurity onto me
They caught me before my meditation (my phone tried to change that to medication but that's an altogether different blog)
## Lesson #1
Lesson number one is;
Don't engage with the world in person or digitally until you've recentred yourself with meditation Linda
Twas my own fault for picking my phone up before I had reconnected to my inner haven.
From there I can respond rather than react
Recreate the moment rather than annihilate the person winding me up
> Have I always been like this❓
Heck no, I've always said that without yoga I would either be dead from drugs and alcohol or in prison for murder.
My temper and fighting ability were pretty well known
Even with just yoga I was still very reactionary.
The calm never lasted long after getting off the mat.
Meditation changed everything.
Especially the techniques I have been practising the last couple of years
> Now I recreate myself in natural pauses through the day
My calm centre lasts longer, I respond to situations rather than reacting - not always, I'm far from a saint
## Lesson #2
Regular, consistent practice helps
Lesson number two is;
You have to train your nervous system BEFORE you find yourself in situations
Fortunately I didn't react too badly, I didn't share my angry thoughts in response and annihilate the relationship.
Maybe my calm does last longer these days
Those short daily meditations are having an effect
I did put the phone away and practice a 10 minute technique so the rest of my day didn't go skewiff.
**How do you respond when others push your buttons?**
I would love to hear any tips or techniques you use, and in the meantime there is a short recording down below that you can listen to
I am always looking for others to sit with, to share the calm and spread the peaceful stillness.
I would love to practice the techniques with you, so that you can
> Recreate yourself in the pauses of your day
**We all have them, the moments in between**
> Traffic lights
> Meetings
> Phone calls
**Waiting for**
> The kettle
> A bus
> The washing machine clock to catch up
I love helping others withdraw to their portable inner temple of peace/silence/calm.
Join us any Monday, in person or via Zoom
Want to give it a try right now?
This was recorded in a recent class so the quality isn't great due to the echo in the hall but it'll give you a recentre right now
Dancing light at st leonards
0:00
/427.093333
1×
### Fly Pie or Flylady❓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/fly-pie-or-flylady/
Last updated: 2025-12-03T15:12:23.000Z
Sat at the hospital (not me this time!) pondering whether I need Dead Fly Pie or some Flylady inspiration.
Have you had Fly Pie❓
It's an Old Dungeon Ghyll favourite, sustenance on the fells or post wander
Those of you local to me might think of it as similar to Eccles cake or Chorley cake
Currants (not dead flies) brown sugar and butter in lovely pastry that's more like shortbread😋
I could probably do with that right now and a cup of coffee
Flylady is the lady whose systems have kept me and my family sane with all the to and fro with my own recent hospital stay
I'm currantly sat, back at the hospital, feeling grateful for her wisdom.
I was introduced to Flylady years ago, whilst home educating the kids.
My calmest, most organised friend had 8 kids under the age of 10
Her home was clean, organised and peaceful - mine was CHAOS
It's still CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) but that's due to a hubby who is slow to embrace the systems - if you know him, you know 😂
Is my home spotless now - heck no
Does my sink shine every night - that's another no
But there was a clean toilet for my daughter to cling to whilst being sick in the middle of the night
All thanks to Flylady teaching me to swish and swipe - something I've been able to do even whilst incapacitated
The stairs weren't too bad of a hotspot so the paramedics could get up them
Thank you Flylady
Go check her out here if you aren't already a Flybaby
[FlyLady: Routines & Cleaning - Apps on Google PlayCleaning Made EasyApps on Google PlayFlyLadyPlus](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.FlyLady.Premium&ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Prefer the Fly Pie❓
I'll meet you in the valley and if you can't make it, just ask I'll bring you a slice back - if it survives the journey 😘
How do you keep your home organised and juggle everything?
Any tips gratefully received, give me something to read whilst sat waiting test results
### What exactly am I offering you?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-exactly-am-i-offering-you/
Last updated: 2026-09-01T12:42:32.000Z
Give me the next few minutes and I will sum up all the ways that I want to help our souls move together along our spiritual paths.
> I believe that we are all spiritual beings that exist on this earth to learn our karmic lessons
> *A note before you read on: this post is from last year, and some of the pricing and offers mentioned have since changed. You can see what's currently available on the* [*R.E.A.L. Method page*](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/the-r-e-a-l-method/) *or* [*Soul Support*](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/soul-support/)*.*
Our eternal souls are tied to a physical body by our ego and breath.
I know from experience that we can use that breath and our body to guide the soul.
Everyone is on the path back home - even those souls that do not realise it yet.
> Will we make it in this lifetime?
Unlikely, but we can have a blooming good go at moving in the right direction.
## What is the point in trying?
If as you say it's unlikely to happen?
That is a fair question, however any movement in the right direction is going to help.
My teaching is rooted in the philosophy of Karma, re-incarnation, chakras, yoga, meditation, Kriya yoga and how simple techniques practised easily and regularly make a big difference to each day.
> The breath can help set our souls free on the path back to our source
If those topics don't interest you or have you slightly intrigued, then what I am proposing probably isn't for you right now.
If on the other hand you are curious to see how the breath can help set your soul free, stay in the conversation with me.
> Big claims there Linda
Yeah, and it has taken me over 30 years to get to where I feel I can actually put into words what I have always known inside.
However, my story is for another day, this is all about you and what you can get from time spent here
Or guy, everyone welcome
## What have I got to offer you?
My idea is for a community that shares what works for them as we help each other along the spiritual path.
> I want 2026 to be the year that we meditate together
It truly is the best way to move our energy back to that eternal source we are all made of.
With the aim of teaching and sharing meditation with like minded souls, I am starting conversations, inviting questions and asking you to join me in 2026.
This isn't AI automated content.
> This is REAL humans coming together
Making use of the technology available to support each other as we all muddle along on this earth.
Oh, and I do muddle, that is why I am offering the first group of souls lots of free and discounted stuff whilst we work out the way forward.
I believe the modern term is BETA testing, so let's beat it
Good job we're not letting AI guide us
## Back on track Linda
Ok, so I am looking for a group of people to have a conversation with
## Soul Conversation
LIsten to the chatter, join in when you're ready
#### Soul Conversation here is all the free stuff
Here are all the free resources so you can join the conversation now or just eavesdrop
***Read the** [***blog**](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/hong-sau/)
***Get the free newsletter with relaxation tips to your inbox**
***Listen to the free Soul Converstion** [***podcast**](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
***Follow Rest Relax Revive on** [***Facebook**](https://www.facebook.com/restrelaxrevivewithlinda)
***Watch a** [***YouTube** ](https://youtu.be/ZCiJ7JR0JTU?si=TQEwazkMoeiuOWtO&ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)***video**
***Relax with Lake District and Cornwall inspired reels on** [***TikTok**](https://www.tiktok.com/@restrelaxrevivewithlinda?is%5Ffrom%5Fwebapp=1&sender%5Fdevice=pc&ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Is it religion? A cult?
Great question and if it was I would be impersonating Kate Bush right now.
No hill running will EVER be involved
I don't do fell running, but I would, to get away from organised religion and cults.
## Who is it for?
Anyone who wants to explore their spiritual path
This is for people, like me, that think of themselves as spiritual but not religious.
Master described it as
> Christianity without the churchianity
### Master? So it is a cult
Most definitely not, the Master I mention is Paramhansa Yogananda
The author of Autobiography of a Yogi
> We are getting off track Linda
We are, but I want to be clear that although I am a Disciple of Yogananda and part of the worldwide Ananda community, this conversation and support I am offering, is to share what I have found useful in my REAL everyday life.
> I've spent decades going in circles, thankfully they were spirals that led ever upward!
This isn’t about teaching something new or re-inventing the wheel.
Neither is it just something you receive once a week in a class or once a season on a retreat from the everyday world.
It is about having Soul Conversations and getting
## Soul Support
For those that want more
Your soul already knows the way home, and I hope that sharing my REAL method of meditation with you will help make that journey swifter and smoother.
I am offering some tools to use in your home as you live your 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 everyday life.
**REAL** methods that fit easily into your day, around everything you already have to do.
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 steps to take, that are simple and time effective to achieve stillness.
Then in that stillness you can develop consciousness of your soul's connection to Spirit.
## Soul Support
What is that then?
#### Soul Support
Everything you have access to with the Soul Support membership
***Listen to a yoga class**
***Learn to meditate online and in person**
***Join a weekly Zoom meditation clinic to get help and answers**
***Listen to a relaxation**
***Listen to a visualisation**
***Learn about the yoga postures - what, when and how to do them**
***Learn about Chakras, Patanjali, Karma and so much more**
***Learn how to use your breath for quick relaxation**
***Join in a book study**
***Sit with others online or in person**
***Find a meditation buddy**
***Join a live yoga class in person or online**
***Have access to discounted retreats/classes/workshops in the Lake District and Cornwall**
***Full access to the private podcast channel**
***Members area of the website with resources that go deeper than the blog articles - I will go over the BWY foundation course but with an Ananda perspective**
***Full access to the private podcast channel**
**All for less than £1 per day*
***TOO MUCH STUFF?**
**Think of it as a library - just take what you need today, the rest will still be there tomorrow*
### Keeping it REAL for real people in the real world today
I see Soul Support as a way to show how spirituality can sit alongside life when we can’t just bugger off to an ashram
It is all about providing resources for busy 21st century humans to
> Rest from the world
> Relax body and mind
> Revive soul
## How?
Whether you have five minutes, quarter of an hour, an hour, a day or a weekend
Soul Support teaches the REAL method, the 5.4.3.2.1 method that I use.
Simple daily steps to keep you rested, relaxed and revived.
#### REAL Meditation Method
****The method I use is based on the 5 aspects of REAL life**
****1** Self-realisation – soul connection with GOD, consciousness aligned
****2** Health – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, digital
****3** Intellectual culture – what do you read/listen/watch
****4** Prosperity for self and others – thrive or survive
****5** Social status and popularity
As I typed that I realised the first letters spelt SHIPS
Let's hope mine hasn't sailed!
I teach a ****four week to REAL meditation** technique that anyone can learn and practice anywhere.
## Soul Support
[Claim Soul Support Now](#/portal/signup)
Soul Support – goes deeper than just a conversation as you take those next steps on your spiritual path.
It is a monthly membership, less than a £1 per day that supports you on your spiritual journey.
You will be asked
> Where are you on your spiritual path?
> What is the next step for you to take?
> How will you take that next step?
> What do you need?
> How can we walk/sit with you?
> A class/mentor in your pocket whenever you need
## Classes you can access anytime via the app
## HIRO APP PODCAST
Ah, yes the podcast has 3 channels
> There are 3 channels on the podcast
#### The free and paid podcast links for HIRO app
[****YOGA WITH LINDA** ](https://class-in-your-pocket-2.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yoga-with-linda?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Class in your pocket £15 download
[****SOUL CONVERSATIONS**](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
****Free channel**
Expanding and chatting from the blog, Soul conversations is a free show that aims to get more conversation going with others who are walking the spiritual path.
Let's see where our paths may cross and where we can walk alongside and help each other.
There will be interviews with students
Questions and discussions to help you explore
Where are you on your spiritual path?
What is the next step for you to take?
How will you take that next step?
What do you need?
How can we help you?
Plus
Ideas to help you Rest Relax Revive
Rest from the world, learn how to weave moments, minutes, hours, days of stillness into the 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 life you live now with your current life commitments
Relax your body and mind with simple techniques that work quickly
Revive the connection/remembrance of your soul and Spirit
and then there is
[****SOUL SUPPORT** ](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-support?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
This goes deeper and supports you as you take those next steps.
Here you will find all the recordings, easily accessible from your phone/tablet/computer, whenever you need.
> No matter which path you choose or how our paths cross, my aim is to help you find your community of souls walking home
> A community that share together
> Helping each other take that next step on the spiritual path
Whether you need someone to
> Sit with you and plan the next step on the route
> Sit and watch the view with you as the world goes by
> Walk alongside and answer the queries you have
> Show you what they found to be the easiest way around the obstacles you face
> Prefer to walk solo?
I get it, I often feel the same
That is why everything is created so you can walk your own path with the tools provided.
Walking solo you can still
> Download Class in your pocket
> Listen to the Soul Conversation
> Read the blog
> Get free newsletter
> Learn the meditation technique
If ever you want more, the option is there to join the conversation at anytime.
> Thank you for reading all that!
## The next step is yours
> Continue to listen to the free conversation
or
> Join the conversation
or
> Be a BETA tester and get discounted access to Soul Support
## I'm ready for more
Where do I find it?
[RIght Here, Click NOW for Soul Support](#/portal/signup)
### I got a real breath of fresh air this week ❄️
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/i-got-a-real-breath-of-fresh-air-this-week/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:14:35.000Z
This week my wonderful hubby drove me up to 'my other home', the Langdale valley - if you have never been, I thoroughly recommend a trip.
There truly is a reason the campsite is called GREAT Langdale.
I should maybe clarify that we did not camp - not even in Campo.
If you know my husband, you'll know he's not a camper.
I pulled some strings and treated him to a warm comfy bed at the Old Dungeon Ghyll.
That photo is taken by the kissing gate.
However, risk of freezing together meant no smooching on this occasion 😘
### Let's get back to that breath of fresh air
Ah, yes.
The breath - the whole reason for this blog.
In our meditation clinic this week we are discussing why the breath is so important for helping us to relax and meditate.
## Does it have to be out in the cold?
Definitely not
As wonderful as the icy fresh air was for blowing away the cobwebs, we have yogic techniques that do not require a trip to the valley or up a mountain.
In the meditation method we use, you sit on a chair in the comfort of your home (or wherever you may be).
Ideally not too warm an environment or you may fall asleep as you relax.
### Need a reminder?
[How to sit for meditationGrab a chair, give me the next 5 minutes and I will get you started meditating. No crossed legs, no chants, just you and a chair is all you needSoul ConversationsLinda Johnrose](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/how-to-sit-for-meditation/)
### We use the breath to help relax the body and the mind
The breath is what ties our soul to the physical body and the ego.
It is the link between ego, consciousness, mind, emotion and even our energy levels.
It is also the tool we can use to free ourselves from the delusion of this material reality we exist in.
Using the breath in meditation will help to free our souls into ever existing bliss.
> Pretty big claims there Linda
I know, but I invite you to try it and see.
## But I can't meditate
I have tried, it just doesn't work
Oof, do I empathise there.
Despite teaching yoga and relaxation for nearly 30 years, I can honestly say it is only in the last 5 years that I have finally 'clicked' with the meditation.
> I had read all the books
> Tried all the techniques
> Listened to all the teachers
Then I discovered - or perhaps I should say 'rediscovered' my Guru.
That's a story for another day.
This blog is getting too long.
> We are sitting together on Wednesday at 7pm
Join us on Zoom - drop me a message for the link if you don't have access to the Soul Support section of the website.
## What else is happening this week?
Free stuff to read/listen to
### Soul Conversation all the Free stuff
> Podcast in it's final edit to be uploaded soon
> Over 15 articles on the website now
> YouTube relaxations
> YouTube Yoga classes
> Relaxations on Soul Conversation Podcast
### Soul Support Paid stuff
> [YiNidra](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yinidra-what-is-it/) class Monday 6.30pm, in person at the hall or via Zoom
> Meditation Clinic Wednesday
> [Class in Your Pocke](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/class-in-your-pocket-2/)t Podcast
> Relaxation and guided meditations on Soul Support Podcast
> To keep it simple
> One off drop in sessions are £15
> Monthly Soul Support, access to everything is £30
## Sign up for Soul Conversations
30+ years of wisdom shared online and in-person with guided Yoga & Meditation practices, classes and support on your path to inner calm
Subscribe
Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
### We create tension to relax❓
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/we-create-tension-to-relax/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:23:58.000Z
Yep, crazy as it sounds we increase the tension in our body to help it relax.
Sounds kind of counter intuitive doesn't it?
> BUT, give it a try and see
Go on, make a fist, squeeze your fingers around your thumbs and then relax your fingers.
How do your hands feel?
Bit fizzy?
### Not convinced?
Take 30 seconds and give it a try - just press play
Tense mouth and shoulders
0:00
/29.44
1×
I could give you loads of scientific facts and links to articles to explain this, but all you need to know is
It is the basic relaxation we use in yoga classes, tense and release, progressive relaxation.
If we asked you to relax, not much happens.
When we increase the tension and the awareness in a specific area, we are taking the consciousness and energy into that body part.
The increased tension and awareness helps the body to relax on the subconscious level.
This principle is used in the energization exercises.
## Energization❓
I thought we were relaxing
Ah, yes we are BUT it all relates to consciousness and energy - stick with me and over the next few weeks it will all become clearer.
If you want to learn more about the 15 minute routine that will give you more energy than a triple espresso shot or a bull with wings, you can read [what are the energization exercises here.](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-are-the-energization-exercises/)
## So, we tense to relax AND to energize?
Yes, we do.
We also tense to meditate.
Are you trying to confuse us?
There are 3 phases to meditation
> Relaxation
> Concentration
> Expansion
In the first phase we relax both the body and mind.
We have a few techniques to help relax the body and one of the most effective is the tense and release that we did at the beginning of this blog.
### Want a simple practice to try?
Keep an eye (ear?) on the podcast platform for an upcoming clip from a recent meditation clinic.
[Soul Converstion Podcast](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Want to join a 4 week to meditation success group?
### Got questions?
Post in the comments, join the converstion..............
### How to sit for Meditation
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/how-to-sit-for-meditation/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:14:43.000Z
In the REAL meditation method we sit on a chair.
Yes, you could sit cross legged on the floor, kneel on a meditation stool, sit on a Zafu/blanket or use any other type of meditation aid.
BUT unless lotus posture comes naturally to you, we prefer to make this accessible for everyone, so to keep it real for everyday, we use a chair.
Any chair will do (I have the "Any dream will do" singing in my head as I type that)
> Preferably a chair without arms
This helps with the position we need for our hands.
> Sit away from the back of the chair
> With an upright spine
Sat ready to start meditation
> Feet flat on the floor
Feet should be flat on the floor.
If necessary place a yoga block/folded blanket under your feet, so there is no strain maintaining your posture.
> Hands resting on thighs
Rest the back of your hands at the juncture of your thighs and abdomen.
Hands resting at juncture of thighs and abdomen
## That is it
All you need to get started meditating is a chair to sit on.
### It really is that simple
Lift your chest, draw your shoulders back and let your shoulder blades melt down towards your waist.
Sit upright with a relaxed spine.
## and off you go...
> Ah, yeah, this is where we often come unstuck
Don't worry, in the weeks to come we will look at different elements of the technique that I use every day.
The REAL method that helps to keep me connected with my inner haven of peace.
Plus you can always join us at the meditation clinic on zoom.
The clinic is there for you to get any questions answered and as a space for us to sit and practice together.
In the meantime, here is a 3 minute practice from a recent meditation clinic to get you started.
Sit on your chair and have a listen
Sit in chair intro audio
0:00
/193.442666
1×
Longer version will be uploaded to the [podcast platform](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### *Post in the comments, let me know how you get on*
### What a week!
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-a-week/
Last updated: 2025-11-15T17:43:05.000Z
I am still convalescing but.....
I taught a couple of in person classes, it is great to be with people teaching in person - all be it I am having to sit in a chair and I can't actually join in, yet!
I did have a little drive to the class at Cottam, and if I didn't have to reach down for the handbrake in Campo then I think I could drive more.
Can you guess I am itching to get back up to the valley?
## What did happen this week?
> I uploaded a new blog, all about the [Hong Sau](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/hong-sau/) technique, we use this in every meditation session.
> I taught[ yoga and relaxation at St Leonard's](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/monday-at-st-leonards/)
> I taught yoga and relaxation at Cottam Community Centre
> I uploaded a [FREE relaxation to the podcast channel](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
> We started the meditation clinic; an online Q&A and practice together session for all things meditation
> Did my first reel with subtitles - is Tik Tok ready for meditation?
> That is a lot of "I"s
Yeah, it is a bit, I did this, I did that....
### but
they have been done so that you can access my classes and teachings, either in person or digitally
### **in fact**
Someone bought a copy of my yoga class - a digital recording of me teaching postures, breathing and a choice of relaxations.
My first digital sale on the new platform
Look out for CAT posture in coming weeks
Maybe this new way of doing things is going to work.
How good is that?
A class in your pocket to listen to anywhere/anytime
Or even to gift to someone who can't get to a class
## **There were some other celebrations as well**
We had a 60th and a 40th birthday in the family, our 16th wedding anniversary and now we are planning a 21st and an 18th
Going to need that relaxation recording and some Hong Sau meditation to keep up with all the celebrations
> Grab your [FREE relaxation on the podcast channel](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/soul-conversations?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
If you missed the email with the Hong Sau technique and recording, you can read it here
[Hong Sau Blog](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/hong-sau/)
Want to check out that reel?
I haven't braved Tik Tok yet, I shared it to FB though
Let me know what you think
## Check out the FB reel
don't forget to like!
[Open in FB](https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1aUViGAstJ/)
### Hong Sau
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/hong-sau/
Last updated: 2026-06-06T20:41:22.000Z
An ancient technique that is very simple to learn and has such profound effect.
I will let the words of Paramhansa Yogananda speak first about this wonderful practice
> Give your heart a much needed rest!
> The purpose of the Hong-Sau technique is to help you free your attention from outwardness, and to withdraw it from the senses,
> For breath is the cord that keeps the soul tied to the body.
> Man lives in an atmosphere of air, which he requires even as a fish requires water.
> By rising above the breath in breathlessness, man can enter the celestial realms of light, where the angels dwell.
> By dispassionately watching the breath coming in and going out, one’s breathing naturally slows, calming at last the peace-disturbing activity of the heart, lungs, and diaphragm.
Just think about that - giving the body a true rest, letting the heart and lungs slow down. How stress relieving is that?
The heart never gets a rest, it pumps tons of blood all day and night, 365 days a year, not even getting a rest when we are asleep.
It truly is the most worked (and overworked) organ in the body.
Hope you aren't eating whilst reading
Hong-Sau technique is a scientific method for resting the heart.
## Why do we do it?
What are the benefits?
Benefits of practising Hong Sau are the same as meditation benefits, however the focus on the breath and consequential slowing of the breath enhance these benefits.
> Heart rate is slowed, reducing strain, wear and tear on this vital organ
> Increased longevity
> Increased energy
> Life Current/energy/prana, distributed over the whole body, renewing cells and preventing their decay
> Mental calmness and clarity
## How do we do it?
## Listen to me guide you
Hong Sau technique
0:00
/333.824
1×
## Prefer to read and then practice?
Sit upright, use a chair unless you are truly comfotable cross legged/kneeling
Lift your chest, draw shoulders down and back, keep them soft
Have your chin parallel to the floor
Hands resting comfortable at junction of thighs and hips
Relax the body - use the tense and release technique
#### Tense & Release Technique
Inhale and tense the body
Hold for a moment
Exhale and relax the body
Repeat 3 times
Move awareness through the body consciously relaxing each part, from toe to head
Practice regular breathing for 3 rounds
#### Regular breathing technique
Inhale for count of 8
Hold for count of 8, unless there is any reason for you to not hold your breath.
Exhale for count of 8
Repeat x 3
Introduce the mantra Hong Sau
#### Hong Sau mantra
Watch the breath
Make no attempt to control the breath
As the breath flows in naturally, mentally say Hong
As the breath flows out naturally, mentally repeat Sau
Simply let the breath flow in and out of its own accord
Aim to feel the movement of the breath in the nostrils, mentally repeating the mantra with each inhale and exhale
If there are pauses between the inhale and/or exhale, enjoy the stillness
If (when!) the mind wanders simply bring it back to watching the breath and repeating the mantra
After a while try to feel the breath higher in the nostrils–where the nose joins the forehead and then higher still at the point between the eyebrows
(more in a future blog about the relevance of these points in the body)
Enjoy any pauses between natural breaths, the stillness is very peaceful
To end the practice inhale deeply and exhale 3 times (IN: EX. EX. EX)
## When should we do it?
How often and for how long?
Ideally incorporate this practice into your regular routine. It is an integral part of the [REAL meditation technique](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/) that I teach and is a step in the kriya yoga meditation technique as given to us by Paramhansa Yogananda.
Twenty minutes, twice a day would be ideal.
However, don't make a rod for your back.
This should be a technique you enjoy and look forward to - once you feel the benefits and enjoy the connection with your inner stillness you WILL want to do it!
Great yogis have been using Hong Sau for centuries to experience the calmness it produces
> If you have the time, practice the technique longer —indeed, as long as you like. I myself, as a boy, used to practice it for seven hours at a time, and thereby achieved a deep state of breathless trance.
> Paramhansa Yogananda
## What about entering the realms of angels?
(the quote from Paramhansa at the beginning of this blog)
Caveat here, the highest results cannot be attained in a day or even in days.
You can though have the experience of calmness from your first day of practice.
### Angels?
Well, let me know how you get on.
My own experience of practicing Hong Sau, has taught me that my body exists only partially by breath.
Watching the breath destroys the identification of the soul with the body and breath and helps separate ego from it.
Breathing becomes rhythmic and calm.
Watching the breath calmly, calms the mind
A calm mind and breath quiet the motion of the heart, diaphragm, and lungs.
## What do the words mean?
Sanskrit to English
Not only does the practice help lengthen man’s lifespan, it is also a practical method for rising above body-consciousness and realizing oneself as the Immortal Spirit.
The words, Hong and Sau, are a Sanskrit saying, that has mantric power.
I will do a separate blog on Mantra - we need to tie this blog up before it gets too long - you can always post questions in the chat or join us at the meditation clinic on a Tuesday in Zoom.
The simplest translation that I will give here, is “I—am He.”
I will finish as I started with some words from Paramhansa Yogananda
> Solve the mystery of death
> In sleep, we experience sensory relaxation.
> Death is complete, though involuntary, relaxation of the spirit from the body.
> It comes after the arrest of the heart’s action.
> By the Hong-Sau technique, one can reach the point of relaxing even the heart, and thereby rising above its compulsion to outwardness, experiencing death consciously, and eliminating one’s sense of the mystery of death and the fear of dying.
> One can learn, indeed, to leave his body voluntarily and blissfully at death, rather than being thrown out of it forcefully, often as a complete surprise.
> Hong-Sau will help to put you in contact with the Great Spirit, who is present in you as your soul, and whose expression is vibration
> Results will positively come, and deep calmness will be yours.
> Higher intuitions will come to you after prolonged practice, and you will find yourself in touch with the unexplored reservoir of divine power.
I would love to practice with you and invite you to join us to experience the inner calmness this practice brings.
You can either come to a yoga class where we often use Hong Sau as part of our relaxation or join one of our online [meditation](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/) sessions.
### Got questions?
### Thoughts....
### Insights....comments?
Post in the comments and start a conversation
### Let me know how you felt after practising
### Yinidra - what is it?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yinidra-what-is-it/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:14:51.000Z
That is me, supine in Campo practising my yoga nidra - everyone's favourite practice.
The one that has kept some people coming back to my classes for over 20 years!
Looking at that photo of me in the van has me thinking that one day that will be my body in a hearse on its way to a funeral – rather apt that the posture we use is called Savasana, which translates as Corpse pose.
> Wow, way to start a blog Linda, funerals and corpses!
If you have spent any time listening to my teachings, you will know that I believe in karma and reincarnation. They are very much principles of Self Realization and the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, whom I am a disciple of.
More about those another day, though.
This blog is all about the sessions that I call Yinidra.
Funny story, for years when I taught this my daughter would climb into my lap during the relaxation and have her hands and feet massaged by me as I talked the group into their relaxed state.
Years later she heard me talking about Yoga Nidra and realised it wasn’t called “need ya”.
However, I think I like that name because we all "need" nidra in our lives.
So, what is this Yinidra?
## Yinidra
YIN yoga & yoga nIDRA
It is my melding of two practices into one blissful session. We practice some Yin yoga poses and then Yoga Nidra.
> Do we need to practice yoga postures before practising yoga nidra?
Not according to this study on PUBMED that disproves what I was always taught
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22866996/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22866996/?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Conclusions: Yoga Nidra relaxation produces favourable changes in measures of HRV whether alone or preceded by a bout of Hatha yoga.
So, there you have it
We do not need to practice postures to benefit from yoga nidra, we can just go straight to the relaxation.
BUT a yin practice is a perfect practice to help us get still and comfortable BEFORE we get even more still and relaxed in Nidra
## What exactly are Yin poses?
If you were to peek in on one of my Yin sessions, you could be forgiven for thinking that we are all just lying about on the floor not doing much.
You would be right; there is not a lot of movement in a Yin session.
We get comfortable in mainly supine postures, and we stay in them for a few minutes at a time.
In fact, the best Yin poses are held for up to 20 minutes.
> 20 minutes in a pose?
Yep, but we use, blankets, blocks, cushions and pillows to get super comfy.
The whole idea of Yin is to be still and that can’t happen if we are uncomfortable.
Usually in a group class the maximum we hold is 5 minutes – got to make sure there is plenty of time left for that deep nidra relaxation.
> Why practice Yin?
Yin is very nurturing; we are creating space in our life.
Time out from the busy world to be still.
People enjoy this time of quietness and contemplation.
Students are encouraged to look for the spaces, the pauses, between the inhale and exhale.
To enjoy the rest in those still pauses.
There's a reason why my yogis love a yin yoga practice.
The last Monday of each month, when we practice Yinidra is everyone’s favourite class and my most watched recordings.
Some yin poses will be simple but can be challenging as we hold them for longer periods of time.
I always give suggestions for modification and adaptation where needed. This ensures the poses are safe and comfortable for the individual.
These poses can create a feeling of stillness in the body as we begin to pay attention to what is really happening, right here, right now.
> Living in the present moment with the present breath is a yogic principle.
Watching the breath, noticing sensations in the physical body and feelings in the emotional body, we can develop our awareness of how we react and respond to stimuli.
The wonderful benefits and feelings that yin yoga can give us are a great counter balance for busy lives.
Got to keep the balance
Taking time out for ourselves is vital for physical, mental and emotional well-being.
> Try this simple yin pose (grab one of my relaxations to listen to whilst you practice)
Pin man Supta Baddha Konasana
## SUPTA BADDHA KONASANA
### Bound up, supine, angle pose
Grab some cushions for under your knees (you can also use a yoga strap to support your legs), a bolster/blocks/pillows for your spine.
Put a relaxing essential oil on your feet and breastbone - lavender, Balance, Adaptiv are great ones to use as you practice this posture.
This is a great stress relieving posture that also aids digestion and helps relieve tension in hips, lower back and groins.
It is a really good one for women to practice at any time of the month.
> For more details on postures, check out the asana list in the members section
If you like you can listen to one of my relaxation recordings as you rest in the pose.
With practice we learn to increase the time spent in silence.
There is always thought and always sound from the outside, but we learn how to tune out and rest in our inner silence - BLISS!
## What about the Nidra?
ah, yes, the need yah
Yoga nidra teaches us to let go, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.
I just typed yoga nidra into PubMed and 84 results came up; scientific studies that have been done on this wonderful technique.
Modern science catching up with the ancient Yogis
There are even studies that show the helpful effect of yoga nidra on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients
> So what is it?
It is a deep relaxation, often called yogic sleep BUT I don't want you to actually go to sleep. Not that we will mind if that is what you need.
In Yoga Nidra you lie in Savasana and I guide you into a deep relaxation.
Years ago I couldn’t do this, I left classes before the relaxation, I just couldn’t lie there and do it.
I now realise, I just hadn’t found the right teacher for me, the right voice, the right pace and the right language.
Or maybe I was just an over stimulated teen in the 90's who didn't recognise a good thing 🙄
I have since studied various Yoga Nidra courses, I have taught other teachers how to teach this amazing technique and now, after meditation, it is my favourite practice.
Ideally we should allow 45 minutes to get the full benefit of practising.
I have however got a mini nidra practice that I recorded professionally that takes just 8 minutes. [You can find it here](https://class-in-your-pocket-2.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yoga-with-linda?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
## Why practice Yoga Nidra?
I could write pages and pages on the benefits, how everyone can benefit from the practice, how it helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Here are just some benefits
> Helps in relieving muscular emotional and mental tension
> Relaxes the mind by relieving stress and anxiety
> Results in increased energy levels
> Can help heal endocrinal imbalances and aid optimal functioning of the endocrine system
> Improves creativity
> Leads to improved senses and more cultivated body awareness
*and the list goes on......*
Give it a try and see if you have any to add to the list
Want to try Yinidra – 40 minutes of yin poses followed by 40 minutes of nidra?
Join us on the last Monday of each month – you won’t regret it.
You can join at the hall or via Zoom – no need to drive home if you Zoom
#### YiNidra Session
Last Monday of the month, Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra
[Book YiNidra session](https://buy.stripe.com/9B65kD323a760bU3eK2VG08?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Below is a full Yinidra session for Soul Support members. This was recorded at St Leonard's during one of our sessions.
Click the link and it should take you through to the private YouTube channel - you'll find other class recordings there also.
### I finally did it
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/i-finally-did-it/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:15:00.000Z
That is me pressing "GO LIVE" on my digital upload.
A yoga class with me via your headphones/speakers.
I have ummed and ahhed for years, I have tried so many different ideas and I have become overwhelmed and procrastinated.
I guess convalesence from life saving surgery has it's uses!
## So what exactly have I done?
Many years ago I went into a professional recording studio and recorded a CD (how us oldies listened to stuff back in the olden days)
Funny story, the guy in the recording booth went to sleep during Yoga Nidra!
> Using headphones should prevent your phone smacking you in the face
I have taken the tracks from the CD and uploaded them on my podcast platform so that anyone can now download and listen.
There are 4 tracks and an introduction/safety announcement.
If you have attended any of my classes or workshops since 1998 you are going to feel right at home.
If I had a £ for every time someone has said I should record my voice or they wish they had me with them when it is time for sleep, well, I wouldn't need to sell this!
## What Do You Get?
For your money
There is a half hour (ok 29 minutes, but who is counting?) asana practice.
I guide you through a series of postures, linked with the breath.
This is my basic, core class, suitable for all abilities.
> Plus
A six minute breathing practice to get you focused on deep breathing.
> Plus
A twelve minute relaxation with a beach visualisation.
> AND the one that everyone wants
Yoga Nidra, the deep relaxation.
Everyone's favourite, the reason people have been coming back to my classes for over 25 years.
***Eighteen minutes of BLISS***
You can play individual episodes or combine for a full session - depends on your time and needs.
If you play all the tracks it is just over an hour out of your day for a yoga class that you don't have to drive home from.
### So let's get to the nitty gritty
I am simplifying my life and that includes all my classes and pricing - lying in a hospital bed post life-saving surgery tends to have the effect of getting one to reassess things.
> So, how does that affect you?
Single drop in classes are £15, these uploads equal a single class.
Therefore for £15 you get lifetime access to the tracks.
## Want more?
Already know and like my sessions
[Sign up for a monthly subscription](#/portal/signup)
[JUST GIVE ME THE £15 RECORDING](https://app.hiro.fm/channel/yoga-with-linda?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Real Meditation for Real People
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/
Last updated: 2026-09-01T13:25:51.000Z
So I'm gathering thoughts, reading through notes. Pulling it all together ready to deliver a 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 meditation method for 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 people living in the 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 world - well, those that resonate with me at this moment in time
Using my ethos of resting from the world, relaxing body and mind to revive our souls. Making use of this blog platform to start conversations - go ahead, comment and join in at the bottom of the page
## Keeping It REAL
Your soul already knows
Your soul already knows the way home, it's our ego that's gotten in the way
I've spent decades going in circles, thankfully they were spirals that led ever upward!
### So what is my idea for a REAL method of meditation?
Let's get 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 and play with acronyms, some words that come to mind are
Rest Relax Revive 𝗥
Energise Exercise Enjoy Ease 𝗘
Aware Accept Allow Align 𝗔
Let go (into love & light) Live 𝗟
### A REAL method for REAL people
I want to teach people a method that can fit into their 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 lives.
Not just something to receive once a week in a class or once a season on a retreat from the everyday world.
I want to give people the tools to go home and live their 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 lives with
the stillness and peace they find in these sessions.
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 steps to take, that are simple and time effective to achieve stillness.
Then in that stillness developing consciousness of their souls connection to Spirit.
Spirit doesn't need anything for happiness, it just is.
It is pure truth, ever new, ever renewing bliss
## SAT CHIT ANANDA
Ever existing
Ever conscious
Ever new bliss
> SAT CHIT ANANDA translates from Sanskrit as
> Ever existing
> Ever conscious
> Ever new bliss
This is what we are, this is our true consciousness, this is Spirit
Each soul is made in the image of Spirit and therefore each soul doesn't need anything for happiness, it just is.
It is pure truth, ever new, ever renewing bliss
Spending time in meditation, developing conscious awareness in stillness, connecting with our divine inner nature - returning to Spirit is what the 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 method is all about
## 𝗥
Rest Relax Revive
Rest Relax Revive
Rest from the world, learn how to weave moments, minutes, hours, days of stillness into the 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 life you live now with your current life commitments
Relax your body and mind with simple techniques that work quickly
Revive the connection/remembrance of soul and Spirit
## E
Energize Exercise Enjoy
Energise, Exercise, Enjoy
Learn a simple 15 minute sequence that will energise you without caffeine or supplements. All you need is your body and your breath
Yoga postures to help you on all 3 levels - improve/repair, maintain, uplift
Find exercise that you enjoy to keep your physical body healthy so as not to disturb stillness with discomfort
## A
Aware Accept Allow Align
Aware, Accept, Allow, Align
Develop Awareness of....self
Learn to Accept
Allow so there is no resistance - energy is drained resisting what is
## L
Let go into Light and Love
Let Go Into Light & Love
Let go of resistance
Learn to flow
Give it to God
Create Space for light/love
Be a channel for light/love
> Did that resonate with you❓
> Want to try the 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 method❓
*Drop me a message or post in the comments, I would love to start a Soul Conversation with you*
> Ready to try some meditation❓
#### In Person Meditation at St Leonards
One meditation class in Penwortham
[In Person Meditation](https://buy.stripe.com/cNi4gzdGH9322k23eK2VG06?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Use the link to book a session where you will learn the techniques taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi - the book that Steve Jobs read every year and gifted to all his funeral attendees!
> Is one session enough................
Whilst it is a start, you will definitely get more benefit from a regular meditation practice and so we have created a monthly pass that gives you access to classes at the hall for a month and as a bonus you can have access to the online library - if that's your thing.
You can also try the yoga before the meditation, help your body get rid of the day's tension and sit more comfortably on the chair.
#### Monthly in Person Class Pass
Access to all class sessions in the hall
[Monthly In Person Class Pass](https://buy.stripe.com/28E5kD323a762k2cPk2VG07?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Yoga Nidra
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yoga-nidra/
Last updated: 2026-05-02T13:20:26.000Z
That's me practicing my Yoga Nidra in Campo.
For years my daughter thought that I said "Need Yah" and, well, she wasn't wrong.
We all need some Yoga Nidra in our lives.
## What is it?
Yoga Nidra is a guided deep relaxation. The Sanskrit word Nidra is often translated as sleep.
> BUT
The aim is to not go to sleep, rather we aim to hover just between sleep and waking.
That lovely state where you have let go of all the cares and worries of the day and you are just about to drift into a wonderful dreamland.
> **Sleep but not sleep? How is that possible?**
It all depends where you are beginning from
> Do you need to get rid of some physical tension so that you can lie down comfortably?
> Do we need to slow down your racing mind?
Ideally you would practice AFTER your asana practice. However, that isn't always practical and you can practice Nidra independent of other practices, whenever you need a revive.
In a relaxation session where we are going to practice yoga nidra, I would first talk you through a full body relaxation.
Most likely we will use a tense and release technique to get rid of any residual tension. Then the magic begins as I talk you through the Nidra steps.
Do NOT worrry, I am not going to hypnotise you
Don't worry, although some people have described it as "like hypnosis", I most certainly am not trying to hypnotise you and get you to give me your bank details or eat a raw onion!
I will guide your awareness around your body to experience the different parts of your body and how they feel. We will not be moving the body parts, the only movement will be your natural breath - this will slow down as you relax.
In a longer Nidra practice we will use some visualisation techniques. These can be relevant to whatever our current interests or area of self improvement are.
In a similar way to hypnosis, the mind is very receptive whilst in the Nidra state. So this is a good time use your affirmations (blog coming soon on affirmations).
## What are the benefits?
Too many to list in one blog, but I will give it a go
Here are just some of the benefits of practising Yoga Nidra
> Helps relieve muscular, emotional, and mental tension
> Relaxes the mind
> Relieves stress and anxiety
> Helps treat insomnia
> Enhhances memory
> Increased energy levels
> Aids the healing of endocrinal imbalances and optimal functioning of the endocrine system
> Improves creativity
and the list goes on, but I'm sure you are getting the idea
> It is good for you
## Do I have to lie down?
Ideally but other options are available
The ideal position for Yoga Nidra is Savasana, also known as Corpse posture.
This is because we want the body to become a dead weight, where you have let go of all holding - conscious and subconscious.
Once the physical body is relaxed and "let go", we can work in the Super Conscious and experience true rest, relaxation and revival.
My husband has this position well and truly mastered
If you are not able to lie in Savasana, do not worry, I have nearly 30 years of experience at helping people adapt and find their comfortable pose.
Post in the comments and I will happily share modifications for you.
## **Ready to give it a try?**
Subscribers can access a mini Nidra recording in the Soul Support member area.
Settle yourself down and listen as I guide you to your inner sanctuary of peace in only 18 minutes.
### Not a member yet?
Here are some other ways to experience the benefits of Nidra
## Class In Your Pocket
Includes Mini Yoga Nidra
[Download to your phone](https://class-in-your-pocket-2.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/yoga-with-linda?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
We practice Yoga Nidra on the last Monday of each month at St.Leonard's
Come along to the hall and join us for a Yin Yoga session followed by Yoga Nidra
A Yinidra session, now that is something we all need!
A true NEED YAH as my daughter would say.
#### YiNidra session
Last Monday of the month, Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra Session
[Book Your Relaxation ](https://buy.stripe.com/4gMeVddGHfrq3o602y2VG05?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### What/Who is GOD?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-who-is-god/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:15:14.000Z
Well, if ever there was a word that produces an immediate emotional reaction in any of my classes, this would be it
### GOD
A word that is used over and over in everyday life.
If you do not see/hear one OMG per day, did you even engage in the outer world?
It is one of the most familiar words in our vocabulary, yet it is a very confusing word. A word that I have found to have a profound meaning, BUT it took me years to get there.
### What does that word GOD actually mean?
As a word it has no meaning unless you apply some theology or a set of beliefs to define it. It is a difficult word to define and tends to only mean what someone elses dogmatic explanation gave it.
Ask someone what God means to them and you will likely get a response such as
> I don't believe in God
> I am spritual but I am not religious
The dictionary merriam webster gives this definition;
### Here are some other definitions I picked up over the years
Cosmic consciousness, infinite, beyond and within all creation, omnipresent, ever-existing, Spirit.
God cannot be known by intellect or the mind, we have to feel, experience, realise His existence (I will come to the Him/Her debate later)
The true purpose of life on earth is to know God
God is the quiet inner peace that we experience in meditation
God is the supreme unmanifested absolute Spirit
The causeless Spirit beyond all creation
God is one, centre everywhere, circumference nowhere
Your own higher consciousness
So many words to describe one 3 letter word!
So many words to describe one 3 letter word!
I was once told, God is simple, all else is complex. The mind is drawn to complexity, the heart likes lots of desires and here the confusion begins.
Personally, I think that words are useless to describe what the experience of knowing God is.
We each need to have our own conversation/relationship with him.
### OK, let's quickly address the HIM/HER
Male/female pronouns exist at the human level.
God as Spirit is beyond human form and therefore beyond the division of sex, there is no duality. Language gets us all tied in knots and takes us off track, it is a conversation for another day, another blog.
As humans we are limited to a 3D experience of body, senses, knowledge, power and language. God/Spirit/Source is omnipotent/omniscient.
So, for us to try and understand or experience God in 3D, well, that is very limiting and confining - how can we possibly put limit on something that is infinite?
It is beyond the comprehension of human mind and senses, understood through intuition and soul perception. Experienced in stillness, at the centre of our being, the journey to God/Spirit/Source is inward NOT outward.
This is not religion - this relationship has no man made dogma and rules to follow.
It is not being guided by someone elses interpretation when we are more than capable of having our own experience.
I teach methods to get our body still, our mind calm and for us to create the space in our human life to experience what God is.
### The Sanskrit for God is
## Sat Chit Ananda
Ever Existing, Ever Conscious, Ever New Bliss
Here is a great reel where Asha, a teacher that I follow talks about God and that ever existing, ever conscious, ever new bliss that is God
In coming weeks I will share classes and meditations on the;
## 8 manifestations of God
We will look at, and discuss how we are a channel of God's Spirit when it is manifested as
LOVE
PEACE
LIGHT
SOUND
CALM
ENERGY
WISDOM
DIVINE JOY
At different times and in different situations we will resonate with different manifestations of God.
If we can put aside our human limitations and the restraints of our thinking minds we can remember where we come from and what we are.
My hope is that you will find the path that leads you closer to that union with God. That your individual soul will merge once again with Spirit as you remember or realise that you are that Spirit, ever existing, ever conscious, ever new bliss.
I look forward to conversations with you as our souls navigate their path home.
The destination is the same for all. The route, the views and the methods are all unique. Let's help each other take that next step.
> God hides himself and yet he advertises himself in the flowers, in the gentle breeze and in all other lovely things. You don't see his name written in these things but you behold a hint of his presence, he says follow the trail of beauty, I'm hidden somewhere in it's heart.
Paramhansa Yogananda
> God sleeps in the rocks, dreams in the plants, stirs toward wakefulness in the animals, and in mankind is awake to his own ego - individuality.
Indian scripture
> Though I manifest Myself in all things, I am identified with none of them.
Bhagavad Gita
## God is for everyone
Everybody is looking for God, but, not everyone is conscious of that search.
We are all using different methods to find that Ever Existing, Ever Conscious, Ever New Bliss.
Our individual soul knows that it is looking BUT our ego gets in the way.
EGO - a conversation for another day
## What does the word God mean to you?
Post in the comments, start a conversation
### What are the Energization Exercises?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-are-the-energization-exercises/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:15:21.000Z
### Great question, but first, I will turn it back to you -
> What do you currently do to energize yourself?
### How do you recharge yourself?
Do you have a daily routine that supports you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
**Or...**
> Do you try to run on empty too often?
I now realise that for years my body was running on adrenaline and cortisol overload as I juggled running two businesses and a home whilst home educating and being mum taxi for two kids.
Oh and let's not forget a pony that needed feeding and exercising🙄
The really crazy thing is one of those businesses was my yoga classes and retreats - all aimed at helping others to switch off and relax!
It is probably no wonder that I got ill in 2020\.
It was a combination of things that led to me being confined to my bed for almost 18 months.
I knew of the Energization Exercises, but I had never fully got to grips with practising them.
I had become more used to relying on coffee to keep me going.
Now, I cannot imagine life without the Energization Exercises.
In fact, you would not be reading this blog if it weren't for the effect they have had on me.
My life is so much improved, I have energy for work, I can spend more time with my family without getting tired and my concentration is back to a level that allows me to do all the things that I love.
The effect on my life has been so remarkable that I decided to complete the teacher training course with Ananda Worldwide.
This allows me to share the wonderful effects of practising Energization Exercises.
For latest in person or Zoom classes, please ask in the comments.
Once learnt, the Energization sequence takes approx. 10– 12 minutes to complete the series of exercises.
Less time than it takes to brew a decent cup of coffee, and far more effective at reviving and recharging you.
## Is this a new fad?
Far from being the latest fitness or mind/body craze, the Energization Exercises that I teach were initially called Yogoda having been developed (discovered?) and taught by Paramhansa Yogananda in 1916\.
He started using them whilst in charge of a school for boys in Ranchi.
Young boys full of energy but in need of a way to channel that energy, as he writes in his *Autobiography of a Yogi.*
In time he expanded them into a set of 49 exercises, which, once you become familiar with the routine takes about 10–12 minutes to complete.
### So, what is the theory behind the exercises?
We are made of energy and our bodies are the outward expression of that energy.
Everything we do, say, and think is determined by the level of our energy and the direction it is moving - either inward or outward (more on that to come).
Once we understand how our energy patterns work, and how energy is at the root of everything then it is possible for us to use that knowledge and apply it to change our lives.
We already know and control our energy by will - imagine coming home from a long day at work to a sink full of dirty dishes. Most of us would just want to flop on the sofa, having no energy to tackle the washing up. Then, if the phone rang (or more likely WhatsApp pinged) and a friend you hadn't seen for ages, whose company you love, is in town for just tonight, how much energy would you now have to get up and go meet them?
Energization Exercises are like that call from a long-lost friend.
## What do these techniques offer?
For the Body, Mind and Soul
To quote the back of the booklet Energization Exercises available from [Ananda](https://www.crystalclarity.com/en-gb/products/energization-exercises-booklet?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
> In the Body: boundless energy, vibrant good health
> In the Mind: better focus, overcoming habits and attitudes
> In the Soul: stillness and openness
### For the Body
- Vibrant good health and wellbeing from daily recharge of body cells
- High and consistent energy levels
- Release physical, mental, and emotional tension trapped in the body
- Recharge the body batteries instantaneously
- Direct healing energy and get better quickly
This isn't exercise like you are probably used to, this is exercise that anyone can do, that is simple to fit into your daily life and will give you benefits beyond your imagination.
> *“The whole purpose of true exercise is to awaken the inner source of energy which we have ignored throughout our lives.”*
> *Paramhansa Yogananda*
The Energization Exercises of Yogananda teach us how to recharge our body battery and gain control over our subtle energy (prana - see upcoming blog).
We do this by using will, with awareness of energy, to consciously draw cosmic energy into the body and direct it to specific body parts.
When we learn to control our energy we can also control our thoughts.
### For the Mind
- Focus with ease
- Guaranteed success in any endeavor by applying energy needed to overcome any obstacle
- Absence or decrease of negative moods
- Ability to overcome unwanted habits or attitudes
- Attract the right people and circumstances in your life
This technique can help you develop positive habits and attitudes. Leading to a feeling of fulfillment in the present, and helping achieve success in any endeavor.
### For the Soul
- Increased control of energy deepens meditation
- Quickly attain stillness of mind and openness of heart
- Attract the blessings of God, saints, and masters
- Deeper connection and harmony with the universe, your higher Self, and God
## Who wouldn't want all that?....but
### How much time will it take out of my day?
The full set of the Energization Exercises of Paramhansa Yogananda comprises 39 individual exercises.
Once you become familiar with the routine it takes about 10–12 minutes to complete.
### What exactly do you do in the sequence?
The main technique is tensing and relaxing specific body parts in turn.
If you have ever practiced relaxation with me then you will recognise this way of working with your body.
### How much space do I need?
You only need enough room to swing your arms and to be able to step forward one stride.
### Do I need to buy special equipment?
No, all you need is your body and the willingness to try.
### Where can I learn how to do them?
You can join me in person or via Zoom on a Monday evening at 8pm.
You can join me on a bespoke retreat in the beautiful Langdale Valley in the Lake District.
### Can't wait to join a session with me?
Here is a great video from the school that I trained with and the teachings that I follow.
> "When your body becomes recharged from the Infinite Source, then you will learn to smile from your soul."
> *Paramhansa Yogananda*
## Want to try a class?
Join me at the hall - click the link to book
[In Person Class](https://buy.stripe.com/4gMeVddGHfrq3o602y2VG05?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### What is yoga?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-yoga/
Last updated: 2026-05-24T14:19:23.000Z
If only I had a £1 for every time I have been asked this question!
Put that question into your favourite search engine and you will open a real can of worms.
You will discover phrases such as
"Yoga is a meditative process of self-discovery and liberation. It is a diverse collection of practices that aims to control the mind, recognize a detached witness consciousness, and free oneself from the cycle of birth and death".
> yogabasics.com
**YES it's that**
"Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy. It began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being."
> nccih.nih.gov
**and YES it's that**
"Yoga (union) implies duality (as in joining of two things or principles); the result of yoga is the nondual state ... as the union of the lower self and higher Self. The nondual state is characterized by the absence of individuality; it can be described as eternal peace, pure love, Self-realization, or liberation."
> Wikipedia
**and that**
## but what does that actually mean?
in plain simple language
Let's look at some of the phrases often used to describe yoga, then I will explain the different branches of yoga, styles of yoga and schools of yoga.
## What is Yoga?
without the gobbledygook
**Yoga means union**
It does indeed mean union, the root of the word yoga is from the Sanskrit 'yuj'.
Yuj means to yoke, to harness, to team together. In the context of yoga as it is known in the west, this union has different levels.
Firstly, we are uniting our mind and consciousness with our physical body - developing our awareness of our own body and mind.
From this, we then develop awareness of our soul and then practice techniques to help us unite our individual soul consciousness with the universal cosmic consciousness, often referred to as God.
This is not so much us developing into a union but more a remembering where we come from. Gaining an awareness of our connection to everything and the underlying unity of all things - quite something to get our human minds around!
Stick with me, in weeks to come we will talk more about soul, consciousness, self-realization, awareness and so much more.
For now, take what resonates, leave the rest on the shelf to come back to later and ask any questions in the comments - start a discussion and let other souls converse with you.
**Yoga is an ancient practice**
Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy.
Seals have been discovered that show human figures in various yoga postures in the Indus Valley. These seals date back more than 5,000 years.
There have also been findings in Egypt - check out Kemetic yoga, founded on claims that yoga in Egypt predates that of India. Hieroglyphics on the walls of the pyramids are said to depict Pharaohs in yoga poses.
Who knows, and let's face it we could discuss/argue forever, and it wouldn't take us any closer to our own union of soul and Spirit.
So, let's leave the origins wrangling to others and save our energy for our spiritual journey.
**Yoga is religion, specifically Hinduism**
hmm, here is another "if I had a £1 for every time".
Yoga is not a religion; it is not Hinduism. However, the more you dive into it, the more you will find Hindu influences. Depending on which branch and school of yoga you follow there will possibly be some strong Hindu influences, but yoga is not the Hindu religion. It is in fact a science....
**Yoga is a science?**
Yes, most definitely. It is the most ancient science and has links with Ayurveda the most ancient science.
BUT it is not Ayurveda.
Yoga postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) are used in Ayurveda alongside other things such as dietary considerations and massage.
We work (experiment?) with the physical body through postures and breathing. We learn what strengthens, what relaxes and releases the muscles and joints.
This is known as hatha yoga - more on that later.
When we have relaxed and released the physical body, we can then sit for periods of meditation and explore (experiment?) the mind.
This comes under the banner of Raja Yoga.
## What are all these yogas you talk of?
Ah, so far I have mentioned Hatha and Raja, there is also Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, Mantra yoga and then there are the schools of yoga such as Iyengar, Bikram, Viniyoga. I will explain each more fully in time.
**BUT and this is a BIG BUT**
I will not be discussing Gin yoga, Goat yoga, Puppy yoga or any other current marketing ploy. Including the latest rebranding of Somatic Yoga.
If they get people onto a mat and interested in learning more, then there is some benefit to these trends, BUT they are gimmicks and marketing ploys of the modern world.
I am not going to spend time and energy discussing how alcohol lowers consciousness when yoga is aimed at raising consciousness. Puppies and goats create distraction rather than peace and stillness.
If gin, goats, puppies are on your mat then I think it is safe to say that this conversation is not for you today.
The aim of all the yoga paths is to lead us to Self-Realization and union with God - at least that is how all the paths originated before humans started running off down tracks chasing goats!
But hey, let's not stand at the bottom of the mountain arguing over which path up is the easiest/fastest/best/most efficient.
Gate to the Cumbria Way at the back of the Old Dungeon Ghyll
We all find our own path and the walk that suits our current incarnation (more on that when we get to the blog on Karma).
For now, let's be thankful the ancient Rishis devised many routes with equal opportunity for us that allows for varying backgrounds and different intellects.
You may prefer one path or like me, you may find different paths helpful at different times in your life.
In coming blogs, I may look at each pathway a little more, for now here is a brief overview of the main pathways of yoga.
### Hatha Yoga
Probably the most commonly known, and the one that most people are actually referring to when they say they do yoga.
Any practice that involves working with the physical body and the breath is a form of hatha yoga.
Within hatha yoga there are many branches and individual schools of yoga that all have their own way of doing things.
Maybe if time and energy allows, I will write a blog detailing each school and their individual traditions more, but really all you need do is search the internet and you will find plenty of articles already explained Iyengar, Bikram, Yin, Dru, and so on.
Hatha yoga involves systematic positioning and control of body and mind.
The practices are designed to help bring balance and harmony to our body and open our mind to our unlimited spiritual potential.
### Mantra yoga
Often referred to as the yoga of sound, although mantras may be chanted aloud, they can be used internally with no outward sound at all.
We will definitely be looking at mantra more, especially when I share Paramhansa Yogananda's teachings on affirmations.
### Bhakti Yoga
The yoga of devotional practice. I always have an image of the Hare Krishnas you meet on the high street with this one. Spreading love, peace and devotion to Guru and God.
More on Gurus in a separate blog - gee I am creating a long list of more to come!
### Jnana Yoga
The yoga of union by knowledge, cognition, wisdom, and intellect.
For me, this one sits alongside many of the other paths - kind of like the map. It can give us the knowledge and information for the direction to go, but we must actually have the experience of the walk and take the steps.
### Karma Yoga
The yoga of union by service to humanity, self-sacrifice, selfless action. Awareness and wisdom in action as we live in the world.
Karma is the law of cause and effect and will have a blog all of its own.
It is a natural law, one that man, no matter how hard he tries, or how deluded he is otherwise, is unable to change.
All action has an effect. All karma must play out and all karma is fair.
Yeah - took me a few years to wrap my head around this one, but when I did, it was surprising how much clicked into place in my head.
If you cannot wait for me to get around to sharing a blog on karma, then I thoroughly recommend having a read of chapters 8, 9 and 10 of this book.
Prefer to listen/watch?
Asha has some great book studies on her [website](https://www.anandapaloalto.org/ashas-archives?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk). Or if you like to share with others in 'real life' join our community and let's study together.
In this video she discusses the chapter on karma in Swami's book
So, karma, the yoga of action. You will read and hear a lot about karma and reincarnation if you stay in this Soul Conversation.
This lesson was the one that really shifted everything for me, the one that gives me so much peace in my everyday life, no matter what is going on around me or whatever trials and tribulations I am going through.
### Raja Yoga
This one is called the Royal yoga - due to the Sanskrit translation of Raja.
For now, I am going to refer to it as the yoga of union by mental control.
This is the banner that meditation practices come under but it is so much more than just meditation, and when we start to discuss meditation we open up a whole other conversation.
In a nutshell, yoga is an ancient science, with many paths, styles, schools, traditions and techniques.
All with the ultimate aim of helping us unite our soul with Spirit and help us remember where we came from - whatever name/title/label you want to give that ultimate source of all creation.
Over the years I have worked with Iyengar teachers, mantra teachers, Viniyoga teachers, yin teachers, kundalini teachers and so much more.
My classes reflect all these different styles and traditions in varying levels that change as I change.
> "What kind of yoga do you teach?"
My answer to this question is always, I teach Linda yoga.
I share whatever I have learnt and am currently practising myself and then I help others find their yoga, their own unique path home.
If you are curious and not sure what yoga you have been doing, post in the comments and let's see if we can trace the lineage of your practice.
## back to those what is yoga descriptions
"Yoga is a meditative process of self-discovery and liberation. It is a diverse collection of practices that aims to control the mind, recognize a detached witness consciousness, and free oneself from the cycle of birth and death".
> yogabasics.com
Yes, yoga is meditation - see separate blog for [what is meditation](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-meditation/).
It is about self-discovery, discovering our true self.
It is most definitely a diverse collection of practices - this is where all the different branches and schools come in.
Different ways of practising the postures and breaths, different techniques of meditation.
All aimed at controlling the mind.
NO, not like that.
This is not some kind of outer mind control or hypnosis.
It is learning your own mind, remembering who you are without the conditioning of the outer world and the stimulation of your senses.
Becoming that detached witness.
**What is the cycle of birth and death we are freeing ourself from?**
Ah, reincarnation and Karma - that is going to get a blog and a conversation all of it's own in coming weeks.
**A spiritual practice that has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being.**
Yes, it is a spiritual practice but in some places the spirituality has been removed and it has become a physical class with the emphasis on spiritual reunion replaced by focusing on the physical and mental benefits.
Again, if it gets humans to engage, then there is benefit here. I personally had no spiritual inclination when I began. I was 19 years old, I just wanted to sleep better and not have to take anti-depressants. Talk of God, Spirit, Consciousness just closed my ears.
There are many physical benefits to practising any combination of the postures, breaths, or meditations.
In this blog I will share those benefits but the overall aim of Soul Conversations is to walk our souls back to God - see what or who is God blog.
## Yoga can
Promote physical and mental well being
Help you sleep better
Reduce aches and pains
Calm anxiety
Improve concentration
The list is endless, if you have yet to try it - what is stopping you?
### **Union of the lower self and higher Self**
Now this is the biggie, the whole reason yoga exists.
In fact it is the reason we exist.
To unite our individual (lower self) consciousness with our Spirit (higher Self).
The aim of it all is to get eternal peace, pure love, Self-realization, or liberation.
It has taken me over 30 years of practice and study to find the language to share this with others, will you join me in the conversation?
#### St.Leonard's Monday Classes
Yoga and Meditation in person classes
[Book a class](https://buy.stripe.com/4gMeVddGHfrq3o602y2VG05?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
Post a comment below and let's chat if you have questions
### Classes at St Leonard's on a Monday
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/monday-at-st-leonards/
Last updated: 2026-10-05T12:19:01.000Z
## **Yoga 6.30pm Monday**
## Join us for Yoga Class
90 minutes YOU time £15 per drop in session
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## Access to ALL yoga sessions
£40 per month
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## How to find the hall
[Rest Relax Revive Yoga & Meditation Classes 30+ years experience, Marshalls Brow, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9JA](https://share.google/0N4Mysj9zSujjlRNE?ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
### Driving
From Cop Lane, turn left into the church car park, we are in the hall at the back.
### By bus
You need the number 3 Stagecoach bus from Preston bus station. Ask for New Lane and you get off by the old vets practice at the end of New Lane.
## Recordings of past classes for members below
_This post is for subscribers on the Soul Support tier only._
### What is meditation?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-is-meditation/
Last updated: 2026-09-03T15:07:08.000Z
Mention the word meditation and what springs to mind?
Quite probably an image of someone sat like I am in the picture.
Perhaps even someone in full lotus posture, with their hands held in some kind of mudra - thumb and finger touching.
You most likely have the sound of them chanting aum running through your mind right now.
Oh, if I had £1 for everytime someone has done that after I've told them I'm a yoga, relaxation and meditation teacher.
However, if that's what you're looking for, then I'm not the teacher for you.
We sit in chairs, we don't chant, light candles or burn incense.
I like to keep it REAL - that's an acronym you're likely to see a lot in coming months.
YES WE SIT ON CHAIRS
Real meditation for real people with real 21st-century lives.
Yes, I could teach you how to get flexible and sit in lotus - join any of my physical yoga classes.
However, I believe in making the benefits of meditation accessible for everyone. Even my knees and hips resist long periods sat cross legged and I've been practising physical yoga for over 30 years.
As for chanting, we don't chant aum or even om. Unless we are doing a specific mantra class.
Let's face it, chanting can be a bit intimidating, especially if you only just met the people you are sat with.
Heck, I would not feel comfortable chanting in front of my husband and I have known him over 25 years.
We do sit with an upright spine, not on the floor, we use a chair.
No mudras (hand gestures/positions) other than palms facing up on our thighs.
No candle gazing, we close the eyes and lift the gaze to the centre of the eyebrows - the spiritual eye (more on that in another post sometime).
Spiritual ❓
😲 oh, I went there.
Did you think meditation was just about the mind?
## Is it Religion?
No, but I will mention God
Now this is where I often lose people.
To be honest thirty odd years ago when I first looked into meditation, the idea of God had me running away.
Or going round in circles trying to work out how it all fit together with the world I saw around me.
Back in the 80's I would probably have described myself as an atheist.
Now I realise I was simply confused about what religion is, what spirituality means and just how much mankind had messed with the whole thing.
In recent years I have discovered some wonderful teachers in the lineage of Paramahansa Yogananda.
You may have heard of him and his famous book Autobiography of a Yogi.
Not sure if it is actually true, but, I was told that it was the only book that Steve Jobs had on his iPad and that he re read it every year.
Through these teachings I have discovered the language that helps me explain to others what I have always known inside.
Now, I understand Christianity without the churchianity.
I know where I fit in the great cosmic universe.
I understand that my soul is simply on it's way home to God and for now it is caught up in this physical, material body, tied up with my ego.
I know that most of the time I forget who I truly am as I engage too much in the physical world and not in the bliss of Spirit - lots more to come about that bliss.
For now I'll use the words of Paramahansa Yogananda
> "It is time you remember who you are: the blessed soul, a reflection of Spirit"
I don't do religion, there is no dogma here.
I will use the word God, feel free to replace it with a word that resonates for you - see the blog Who or What is God?
[What/Who is GOD?Well, if ever there was a word that produces an immediate emotional reaction in any of my classes, this would be it GOD A word that is used over and over in everyday life. If you do not see/hear one OMG per day, did you even engage in theSoulconversationsLinda Johnrose](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-who-is-god/)
I will refer to Jesus and the teachings most commonly shared in churches with reflections from the many bible studies I have completed over the years.
I will teach you how to rest from the world, relax your body and mind and help your soul remember.
There are two Bible verses that have been consistent throughout my life and spiritual search
I love and prefer the Passion Translation of this well known verse
> "Surrender your anxiety.
> Be still and realize that I am God."
### Two sentences, that for me are what life is all about.
Get still - rest from the world
Surrender your anxiety - relax your body and mind
This will help you to realize who you are and who God is
It's not so easy though is it?
That's where the second Bible verse comes in...
> "Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden?
> Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.
> Simply join your life with mine.
> Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please.
> You will find refreshment and rest in me.
> For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear."
For me, that is what meditation is - rest, refreshment, an oasis in this crazy material world that I have to live in.
So, I offer to teach[ REAL meditation](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/) that fits into our real lives.
A spiritual journey that weaves through our everyday real life responsibilities of home, work, family and friendships.
Sure, I would love to live in the woods in a totally committed spiritual, self realization seeking community.
However, that would be an escape, and not my reality. It would mean leaving my husband and my kids - something tells me they are a big part of this journey.
Are you ready to join me❓
Intrigued to learn more❓
You can simply keep reading the blogs as and when I get round to uploading them.
Or you could join the soul conversation.
For a small monthly fee you can comment and question.
Or if you really want to jump in, you can join any of my classes in person or online — or start Map 1, a four-week self-paced course you walk through at your own speed. Classes are still offered in real time as we learn, walk and grow together, if that's what calls to you. Whichever way you begin, you'll have access to recordings and teachings to come back to.
BUT I'm looking to create a community of souls to walk alongside, whether that's dropping in for one session out of curiosity or staying to walk alongside us for a few sessions, months or even years.
A community of fellow souls having a conversation as we walk along our own personal spiritual paths.
Dip in online, sit with us, walk with us. Ask those questions, share your thoughts, comments and observations.
We are all going in the same direction, eventually.
I'm looking forward to sharing meditation with you as the vehicle I love to use to try and get there.
Join the conversation, join a class, listen to a recording.
Take whatever your soul needs right now.
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### Not everything is as it seems
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/not-everything-is-as-it-seems/
Last updated: 2025-10-07T19:12:41.000Z
That photo may lead you to believe that I am a fully competent, got it all together, blissed out yoga, relaxation and meditation teacher.
Some days perhaps, BUT that's not my 24/7 reality.
It was a professional photo shoot, I was totally out of my comfort zone having my photo taken. I have rarely seen a photo of me that I like.
On that day in July 2022 I was emerging from a long period of illness that had seen me spend 18 months or so, unable to get out of bed.
I was totally lost - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Post viral chronic fatigue had kept me from my friends, family and business.
I actually enjoyed the photo shoot, as the picture would suggest.
In that photo though, the laughter is not what it may seem.
As I put my head down I realised that it wasn't mud that I had just stood in!
Many thanks to the wonderful Carolyn at [redcurlphotography.com](https://redcurlphotography.com/?fbclid=IwAR2w%5FADHmYU4GqumqlPn5pNcnwx5MNHgeSISXLeE8ME19EFwUUGLubAZAqU&ref=restrelaxrevive.co.uk)
I now have loads of great pictures that I love and can use in this new blog
We hung out at the local park in my campervan - literally
Be prepared to see even more crazy pictures that I love and can use in this new blog.
A blog where we can share conversations to keep our souls connected in the 21st century, building a community that uses yoga, meditation, reading, podcasts and more to travel the path home.
So, pictures are not always what they seem. The reality is that I am often a tired, wrung out mum of teenagers. Trying to run a home, keep a business going, a marriage connected and the finances in the black.
I'm looking forward to sharing what I've found helpful to me and finding out what works for you.
I'll share walks in nature, wild swims in waterfalls, cookie recipes, bible verses, essential oil blends for baths and whatever is going on that helps me right now in real life.
The biggest helps with my CFS battle have been;
Nature
Silence and solitude
[Meditation](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/real-meditation-for-real-people/)
Epsom Salt baths
Fasting
[Energization Exercises](https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/what-are-the-energization-exercises/)
So expect lots of tips and ideas of how you can use those to help you as you;
Rest from the world
Relax your body and mind
Revive your soul
Join me for a soul conversation, I would love to read your comments, observations or questions
### Beginning meditation
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/beginning-meditation/
Last updated: 2024-04-28T11:08:17.000Z
Last night we began our new meditation for beginners group.
So excited to share this time with others as we lead our souls home.
Meditation isn't about learning to do something, it's more a remembering.
Remembering who we are - eternal souls.
I'm still learning how to use this blog site. So I'll keep it short.
I recorded the guided meditation (please comment if you would like the recording)
Just 16 minutes, treat yourself to finding the peace within you.
Homework for the group was to try and practice this through the week until we sit together again next Monday.
I hope you'll join us on this journey
### Why am I doing this?
URL: https://www.restrelaxrevive.co.uk/why-am-i-doing-this/
Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:15:44.000Z
Great question, why am I starting a blog?
It is an attempt to pull together 50+ years of my soul journey here on this earth.
If you're reading this then it's likely I sent you a link or you already know me.
For those that don't I am Linda Johnrose. I have been teaching yoga, relaxation and meditation since the mid nineties - over 25 years, yet I only feel like I am 25!
I was drawn to yoga and meditation as a 19 year old who struggled with depression and insomnia. My GP offered anti depressants and sleeping tablets on the same prescription and I did not trust myself to not take them all at once. Looking for a more natural option I joined a local yoga class in a hall with a group of women old enough to be my mum or even grandma.
That class set me on the path that I still wander. The same path that we all walk as humans - the spiritual path that leads our soul home.
I have struggled over the years with the concept and name GOD and I know that many who attend my classes/workshops/retreats have similar reservations.
I invite you to join me as I pull apart the words like God, religion, spirituality, soul and so many more. To get behind the language and help ourselves to find the stillness that we each have inside of us as we learn to connect with our true inner bliss.
There will be bible references, there will be yoga sutra references, there will be Bhagavad Gita references. I will attempt to explain their relevance to our everyday 21st century life here on earth, because as much as I believe that we are all spiritual beings, I also know that we live in a physical body on the physical earth and we need to interact with the other souls all around us.
I invite you to join the conversation, ask questions, share thoughts and ideas and make friends with other souls along this path.
I can guarantee tips and ideas that will help you get still and feel that peace within you as I share my techniques to;
## Rest from the world, Relax your body and mind to Revive your soul