The Happy Yoga Podcast

Yoga for Tired People - One short yoga routine a week delivered to your inbox. To do as you are, no need to get out your mat or change your clothes. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne.Hey Tired Yogis, Have you ever felt like the world is moving too fast? Maybe your mind is racing, your energy feels scattered, or you just need a moment to reset. Let me share a simple yet powerful technique: Box Breathing Meditation.What is Box Breathing?Box breathing is a mindfulness technique designed to calm the nervous system and bring clarity to your thoughts. It’s called “box” because the rhythm is structured like a square: equal parts inhaling, holding, exhaling, and pausing.Think of it as a mental reset button. Whether you're dealing with stress, need focus, or just want to feel grounded, this practice works wonders in just five minutes.Why It Works* Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System: This technique calms your body’s fight-or-flight response, helping you feel more at ease.* Focuses the Mind: By concentrating on the rhythm, it’s easier to let go of distractions.* Improves Breathing Awareness: Intentional breathing helps you tune into your body, improving oxygen flow and reducing stress.Try It Today!Here’s how you can start your own 5-minute box breathing practice:* Find a quiet space and set a timer for 5 minutes.* Sit comfortably with your back straight.* Follow the 4-4-4-4 pattern. (You can count in your head or use the meditation above.)* Notice the sensations as you breathe.* Remember this is your practice, build up slowly and it’s totally fine to change the count if it feels too hard. It’s not a competition.Share Your ExperienceHave you tried box breathing? I’d love to hear how it works for you! Just leave a comment letting me know Here’s to finding calm in just five minutes! 🌿Take a breath,Jo This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Yoga for Tired People - One short yoga routine a week delivered to your inbox. To do as you are, no need to get out your mat or change your clothes. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne.Hey Tired Yogis,I am going on holiday next week which I am very excited for, but it does mean I have spent the day running around like a blue arsed fly trying to work out what I need to pack, sort for the cats, and plan so that things run smoothly when I am away.It’s a nice problem to have but I have been reminded of how much I rely on my yoga practice to keep my mind from just rattling away from me. And in particular I have been using the Slow down, Turn in, Let go meditation today. This is something I’ve developed over the years and is a combination of lots of different practises put together, and it’s super easy and quick. You simply:Slow down, Turn in, Let goSlow down and arrive in the momentTurn in and let yourself be as you areLet go of any pressure you’ve been putting on yourself.And you repeat as often as needed. I hope you enjoy!Love Jo xxPS This Mondays Yoga for Tired People is a soothing face massage for stress relief and tension headaches so keep an eye on your inbox. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Yoga for Tired People - One short yoga routine a week delivered to your inbox (free members get access to one a month on the first Monday of the Month). To do as you are, no need to get out your mat or change your clothes.If I said to you that I meditated for four minutes every day, you’d probably not think that was very much. Now if I told you I spent 24 hours of every year in meditation. Well that would seem like a long time, a meditation worthy of Master Shifu from kung fu panda.And the wild thing is that 4 minutes a day over a year adds up to 24 hours, that’s an entire day and night meditating from less time than it takes to watch the adverts in Corrie. Small actions compound over time. You may not have time to sit for 20 minutes two times a day, but I bet you can find a snapshot of four minutes. So I hope you enjoy this meditation, it’s simple but very effective.If you do it don’t forget to comment, as I enjoy it very much when you do. Much Love!Jo xx This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Yoga for Tired People - One short yoga routine a week delivered to your inbox (free members get access to one a month on the first Monday of the Month). To do as you are, no need to get out your mat or change your clothes.Stop! It’s posture reset a clock.Just swooping on in as a reminder to do a little stretch.Give me a comment if you joined in 🥰A Friendly ReminderBefore you begin any new yoga practice or exercise routine, I highly recommend consulting with your healthcare provider. It’s important to ensure that these activities are suitable for you, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. Engaging in yoga carries some risk of physical injury, and by participating, you agree to do so voluntarily and assume all associated risks. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve been buzzing around like a blue arsed fly today, running from one errand to the next with my brain going 10 the dozen. And then I remembered. I can only do one thing at a time. That the hurry I’m bringing to the task is coming from inside me. And that it’s possible to be busy and have a full day without adding extra pressure on myself.This is something I’ve learnt, and remembered about 100 billion times in my life so far, and I’m sure I’ll have to learn it again another 100 billion times in my lifetime ahead.But for now I’m enjoying this breath and moment of calm.And I hope you are too. 🌸 This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.Well you should be so proud of yourself because you’ve made it all the way to class 5. It’s been so wonderful going on this journey with you, reading all the comments on the classes has been the highlight of my week.If you have missed any of the previous classes you can always go back and catch up, or you might want to revise or revisit on of the sessions. Previous classes can be found here Join Our CommunityI’d love for you to become part of our growing yoga community. Stay connected, get a yoga tutorial delivered to your inbox every week, and find inspiration from fellow yogis:* Join Our Yoga Community:* Listen to Our Podcast: Happy Yoga PodcastA Friendly ReminderBefore you begin any new yoga practice or exercise routine, I highly recommend consulting with your healthcare provider. It’s important to ensure that these activities are suitable for you, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. Engaging in yoga carries some risk of physical injury, and by participating, you agree to do so voluntarily and assume all associated risks.Thank you for joining me on this beautiful journey. Your dedication to learning and growing through yoga is truly inspiring. Remember to comment and I’ll comment right back.Until next time, keep breathing, keep stretching, and keep smiling. 🌸Warm regards,Jo This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.Hello, lovely yogis! 🌿Welcome to week four of our Beginner’s Yoga Course! I’m so excited to see you here, showing up for yourself and your practice. It’s been a wonderful journey so far, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into our yoga exploration together. Before we get started, please make sure you’ve completed classes 1 through 3. This course builds progressively, and I want to ensure you’re fully prepared to get the most out of today’s class. You can find the links to the previous classes below. 🙏Class BreakdownThis week, we’ll focus on a few key areas to help deepen your practice:* Managing Energy Levels in Yoga Practice: Understanding how to balance your energy throughout your practice, ensuring you feel invigorated but not exhausted.* Breathing and Movement: We'll explore how to sync your breath with your movements, enhancing both relaxation and strength.* Proper Alignment and Breathing: Emphasis on the alignment of your body in various poses, paired with mindful breathing techniques.* Stretching Techniques and Relaxation: Learning new ways to stretch and relax, ensuring you leave the mat feeling refreshed.What You Need to Practice Yoga at HomeStarting yoga at home is wonderfully simple. Here’s what you’ll need to get the most out of your practice:* Yoga Mat or a Non-Slip Surface: A good foundation is essential.* Comfortable, Flexible Clothing: Ensure you can move freely.* Optional Props: Blocks, straps, or cushions can offer extra support.* A Calm, Quiet Area: No need for perfection here—just enough space to stretch comfortably.* Water: Stay hydrated throughout your practice.Links to Previous ClassesIf you need to catch up, here are the links to our previous classes:* Class 1: Introduction to Yoga* Class 2: Building Foundations* Class 3: Deepening the PracticeJoin Our CommunityI’d love for you to become part of our growing yoga community. Stay connected, share your journey, and find inspiration from fellow yogis:* Join Our Yoga Community: * Listen to Our Podcast: Happy Yoga PodcastA Friendly ReminderBefore you begin any new yoga practice or exercise routine, I highly recommend consulting with your healthcare provider. It’s important to ensure that these activities are suitable for you, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. Engaging in yoga carries some risk of physical injury, and by participating, you agree to do so voluntarily and assume all associated risks.Thank you for joining me on this beautiful journey. Your dedication to learning and growing through yoga is truly inspiring. Remember to comment and I’ll comment right back.Until next time, keep breathing, keep stretching, and keep smiling. 🌸Warm regards,Jo This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.So, what even is the pelvic floor anyway?Our lady bits, mula bhanda, space between your legs, woohoo, privates, place that you wee from.These are all names for the pelvic floor I have heard in different classes over the years, but none of them are very helpful if we can’t actually visualise and name the anatomy of the body. Every single one of us has a pelvic floor, and most of us have a vague idea that we should be doing something to keep them healthy. But we’ve got so many things to do it’s easy for it to slip down, and then off our list. Only coming to the surface when something goes wrong, or somebody brings it up ( hi it’s me, forever bringing it up).This video is a whistle stop tour of the anatomy of the pelvic floor so that you can have an idea of what exactly the pelvic floor is and it’s function which hopefully will make the exercises a bit easier. Also it’s just really interesting,Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.Well I’ve blinked and we’re already at week three of our Complete Beginners Course. I have so enjoyed reading everyone’s messages of everyone who has joined in, it’s been wonderful to hear from you all. So a big shout out to everyone still playing along, you should be so proud of yourself! If you do this class don’t forget to comment, and I’ll comment right back 🥰And if you’ve not managed to get your mat out, don’t beat yourself up, it takes time to build a habit so give yourself permission to start again (or start at all!). This weeks class theme is Non-Stealing, which is the third of the Yamas in yoga philosophy. If you want to learn a bit more about yoga philosophy, I have a podcast series you might enjoy. https://www.happyyogacommunity.com/pages/happy-yoga-podcastClass Breakdown ▸ What 'non-stealing' means with regards to yoga ▸ Breathing exercises ▸ Wrist care ▸ Relaxation techniques What You Need to Practice Yoga at Home ▸ Yoga Mat / floor with a non-slip surface ▸ Comfortable and flexible clothes that you can move around in ▸ Props such as blocks, straps, or cushions for support (optional) ▸ A calm and quiet area with enough room to stretch (doesn't need to be tidy!) ▸ A drink of water nearby Comment, like, and subscribe for more! **Disclaimer: Before beginning any new yoga practice or exercise routine, Happy Yoga Newcastle strongly advises consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure the activities are appropriate for you. Participating in any exercise session, including yoga, carries the risk of physical injury. By choosing to engage in this yoga practice, you acknowledge and agree that you do so voluntarily, accept full responsibility for your participation, and assume all associated risks.** This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Trapped wind is awful, it’s seen as a bit of a joke but it can be terribly painful and really impact your life.And it happens to every single one of us.So save this video to try next time you find yourself windily challenged and hopefully you’ll be pumping away in no time.Please note that this is for people who don’t have underlying health conditions, it isn’t a substitute for medical advice or support.Not suitable for pregnancy. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.Welcome to the 2nd class of our Beginner's Yoga Course! The hardest bit of yoga is always getting to the mat in the first place so, schedule it in, unroll your mat and get ready to feel so good about yourself.These classes build on each other so please do class 1 before you start this class (the link is below) 🙏 Class Two Breakdown ▸ The theme of the class is Satya (Truthfulness), the second of the yoga Yamas.▸ We go through some breathing exercises and relaxation.▸ We explore Warrior Two pose.▸ Yoga forward fold technique with breathing exercises. ▸ Relaxation and SavasanaWhat You Need to Practice Yoga at Home Starting yoga at home ▸ Yoga Mat / floor with a non-slip surface ▸ Comfortable and flexible clothes that you can move around in ▸ Props such as blocks, straps, or cushions for support (optional) ▸ A calm and quiet area with enough room to stretch (doesn't need to be tidy!) ▸ A nearby drink of water Comment, like, and subscribe for more! Have you done the previous classes? To learn more about the yoga philosophy listen to the Happy Yoga Podcast: **Disclaimer: Before beginning any new yoga practice or exercise routine, Happy Yoga Newcastle strongly advises consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure the activities are appropriate for you. Participating in any exercise session, including yoga, carries the risk of physical injury. By choosing to engage in this yoga practice, you acknowledge and agree that you do so voluntarily, accept full responsibility for your participation, and assume all associated risks.** This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Headaches can be caused by lots of things but when they are caused by tension in the neck and shoulders you might find relief with some gentle stretches and self massage.Don’t just wait until the headache has started doing releases regularly can be preventative too.Give this a save for when you need it. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Someone asked me recently if I had any tips for practicing yoga during grief.And the answer is no. Not really.To practise yoga is to practise life, and just as with life, there’s no right way to do it.We’re all just humans trying to navigate this absurd world with these absurd bodies, in this absurd thing called life.We can learn so much from the wisdom in these traditional practices but we have to walk the actual path alone.And at the same time it’s a path that all humans must travel; connected in our aloneness.All I can offer is to listen, to see your humanness and hope you see mine.🌺🌺🌺🌺 This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

A yoga space for people who hated PE. Hosted by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. I’m so glad you’re here.Welcome to our Complete Beginner's Yoga Course! How exciting that we’ll be going on this journey together. Today’s class is quite slow and is focused on getting us used to being on the mat and doing yoga.Yoga isn’t about being competitive, or being ‘the best’, it’s about learning to listen to your body and finding peace with where you are. This might feel strange at first, especially as it goes against the hustle culture that we live in. So give yourself time, and maybe do this class more than once.Go at the pace that works for you, feel free to leave bits out or modify the postures in any way. Everything I say is a suggestion, you are the expert in your own body.The course is centred around the 5 Yamas in yoga, I briefly talk about each one in every class, but if you're curious and want to know more about Yoga philosophy - head to the Happy Yoga Podcast which explains all (link below). If you do the class please leave a comment and I’ll comment back! Class Breakdown ▸ Intro. (This one is quite long but it’s worth listening too, the rest of the course gets going straight away)▸ Standing posture and breathing techniques in yoga. ▸ Twisting and centring postures. ▸ A fun balance. ▸ Relaxation techniques and self-care. What You Need to Practice Yoga at Home ▸ Yoga Mat / floor with a non-slip surface ▸ Comfortable and flexible clothes that you can move around in ▸ Props such as blocks, straps, or cushions for support (optional) ▸ A calm and quiet(ish) area with enough room to stretch (doesn't need to be tidy!) ▸ A drink of water nearby Listen to the Happy Yoga Podcast: https://www.happyyogacommunity.com/pages/happy-yoga-podcast **Disclaimer: Before beginning any new yoga practice or exercise routine, Happy Yoga Newcastle strongly advises consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure the activities are appropriate for you. Participating in any exercise session, including yoga, carries the risk of physical injury. By choosing to engage in this yoga practice, you acknowledge and agree that you do so voluntarily, accept full responsibility for your participation, and assume all associated risks.** This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Happy Yoga Magazine, a yoga space for people who hated PE. Written by Jo Hutton a Senior Yoga Teacher living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect yoga tutorials, meditations and reflections. Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here.I love all my writer friends and desk dwellers, but my goodness you are all terrible at giving yourself breaks.Try this one minute yoga routine to give your wrists and posture a rest.Share with all your writer friends, especially those who don’t take breaks!Give me a ✍️ if you did it.Don’t forget I have the complete beginners course starting next Monday, five yoga classes designed for people who have never done yoga before. Just subscribe to join in. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

I hope you enjoy Happy Yoga Magazine. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. There’s an option to contribute to running costs if you wish. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara) is the fifth of the eight limbs of YogaIt is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.When we withdraw the senses, we're not trying to switch the senses off, we are just becoming attuned to the subtle. Easier said than done in this over-stimulating world we live in because there's so much information being fed to our brains all day, every day.In this episode Jo explores why we sometimes feel discomfort when we try to withdraw our senses.  It takes practice to "switch off" and ground yourself.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Postures (Asana) is the third of the eight limbs of YogaIt is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.Asana means the physical posture, the seat that we take for meditation.In this episode, Jo talks about the evolution of Asana. She explores the extreme "instagrammable" postures and her belief that they are symptomatic of our society where people may be placing their personal value and worth on achieving them. Jo reminds us that these extreme postures do not make someone "better" at yoga, and how we should all practice Yoga at our own physical & mental pace. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Mindful Breathing (Pranayama): Part 2Pranayama is the fourth limb of Yoga.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.This episode has been split into two: this is the second, which will focus on the energetic entity of Pranayama.In this episode, Jo explores the spark of life and how our lives link with the natural world through breath. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe

Mindful Breathing (Pranayama): Part 1Pranayama is the fourth limb of Yoga.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.This episode has been split into two: the first will explore Pranayama in terms of breathwork, and the second will focus on the energetic entity of Pranayama.In this episode, Jo explores the importance of breathing techniques in your yoga practice, and life in general! We learn about the impact breath has on our nervous system and how we can control our states through inhaling or exhaling.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyyoga.substack.com/subscribe