"Solitude matters, and for some people, it’s the air they breathe." — Susan Cain
Hey lovely,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about energy, not prana, or breath, or the kind we build up in class, but the kind of energy it takes just to be in the world.
You see, I’m an introvert. But I’m often told, “You don’t seem like one.” Maybe it’s because I can teach a room full of people, host a workshop, and speak with confidence. People tend to comment when I'm quiet, which is quite amusing for me as anyone who knows me from my youth will know I was pretty darn shy, and those people would be shocked at how loud I can be these days 😂. And what most don’t see is the part that comes after, after the performance, or after the class or even after the social outing. The quiet retreat, the long walk, the silence, the book, the cup of tea in complete solitude. That’s where I recharge. That’s where I fill back up. In fact, I also need this before.
This is one of the biggest myths we carry about introverts and extroverts, that it’s about how social we are. But it’s not. It’s about how we manage and replenish our energy.
Not One or the Other. We’re All on a Spectrum
Let’s clear something up: introverts aren’t shy (that's a whole other issue), and extroverts aren’t always loud. You can love people and still be an introvert. You can enjoy solitude and still be an extrovert. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, a mix of both depending on where we are in life, how well we’re resourced, or simply what season we’re in.
Extroverts tend to feel more energised around others, while introverts recharge in solitude. Neither is better. Neither is worse. They’re just different ways of navigating the world.
Yoga: A Space for All Temperaments
What I love about yoga is that it holds space for everyone. The extrovert might find balance through the stillness of meditation or breathwork. The introvert might feel enlivened through the community of class or the rhythm of movement. It’s not about changing who we are, it’s about knowing who we are and supporting ourselves accordingly.
That’s the heart of yoga, really Svadhyaya, self-study. One of the Niyamas - our own personal code of conduct. Noticing. Getting curious. Asking things like:
- What truly recharges me?
- Where do I give away too much of my energy?
- Am I honouring my natural rhythms, or overriding them?
Permission to Be Who You Are (Even If It Changes)
I need a lot of solitude, I am perfectly happy on my own and while I love a good party it's actually a monumental effort for me to be social and "on" all the time. Ironic for someone that was once an actor, or maybe not, as I sucked at schmoozing and networking. The idea that I should be more “on” or sociable all the time is something I have struggled with. But now I see that needing solitude doesn’t make me less of an actor or teacher or friend, it just makes me human. It means I’m aware of my energetic boundaries. And that awareness has made me a better teacher, a better listener, and a much better friend to myself.
So, whether you’re the life of the party or the one who needs a nap after it, your energy is sacred. There’s no trophy for ignoring your needs. But there is great peace in honouring them.
A Gentle Nudge for the Week Ahead
Take a moment this week to ask yourself: How do I refill my cup? Is it movement? Is it stillness? Is it conversation, or is it silence? Try to gift yourself a little more of whatever it is you need without guilt.
Let’s stop putting ourselves in personality boxes and start seeing ourselves as the beautifully fluid beings we are.
Introvert, extrovert, ambivert, what matters most is living in alignment with your truth. Honouring who you really are 🌿
What's happening in The Pantry? 🧘♀️
Beginner Plus Starts TONIGHT!
We have just 2 Beginner Plus courses scheduled this year the first one starts on the 9th of June, so get your name on the list and join me on a Monday evening for some excellent pranayama, asana, mudras and bandhas along with some deeper yogic philosophies thrown in the mix.
Sign Up Here
Our Amazing 8-Week Introduction To Yoga
This is a fantastic course that I have honed over a decade of teaching it to hundreds (dare Isay say thousands) of new yoga enthusiasts. I love teaching it. I love sharing it, and I love seeing the results the students get from just eight 90-minute sessions each week.
It really is a fantastic course to upskill, hone, or start your yoga journey, and we have plenty of people take it as a refresher every year or so, as well as bringing their friends and family along to introduce them to the joys of Yoga :)
If you need a refresher or just want to ease back into your practice, join us either on a Monday or Thursday evening and bring a friend ;)
SIGN UP TODAY and enjoy the myriad benefits of a regular yoga practice, plus be part of the best darn beginner yoga course in town.
Restorative Yoga Workshop
Your beloved 2 hours of restorative yoga is back on the last Sunday of June Yay!
Restorative yoga is a completely different experience from most other styles of yoga. Restorative yoga is a restful practice that is all about slowing down and opening your body through passive stretching. If you take a restorative class, you may hardly move at all, doing just a few postures over the course of the session. It is a practice of deep relaxation that emphasises the meditative aspect of yoga, the union of body and mind. Through the use of props for support, many of the postures are held almost effortlessly.
Head here to book your sessions and join Tash for a restful evening of deep relaxation.
AND due to popular demand, our Sound Bath is back for the last Sunday of July!!!!
THIS is the day for you to immerse yourself in a luxurious sound experience. Soak in the tones of Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, rain sticks, wind chimes, hand drums and gongs.
Let me transport you to a lovely tropical Island. Come on in and rest your weary soul.
Check it out
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes
Remember, you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't, you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day :)
Your YouTube class of the week
Here's a lovely, quiet practice to recharge your energies for the coming week.
Enjoy.
As always, sharing is caring, so please share these videos with someone you think will benefit.
See you on the mat, my awesome friend!
With love, breath, and a little bit of solitude.
Tash x
P.P.S Don’t forget to share your Yoga insights on social media with the hashtag #TheYogaPantryLife #Yogaislife
Let’s spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you, you are awesome x
