About me
Penny Zannikos
Most recently, as the home team grew up and moved away, I have rediscovered a love that has drifted in and out of my life for more than 25 years - yoga. I have embraced the fact that this is what I am supposed to do, this is my journey and it doesn’t matter that I tried to ignore it for so many years! I truly believe if you need yoga it will come to you when the time is right and that's exactly how it's supposed to be.
I also rediscovered my love of the outdoors and being in nature by becoming involved in climbing, mountaineering, running and hiking. These two things combined changed everything: nature and yoga. If I can try to make a difference to someone else through yoga, then I have achieved what I hoped, and if I can keep making a difference through yoga then there is no better outcome of sharing what you love.
I am grateful for all of it. My journey, choices, setbacks, comebacks, learnings, triumphs, growth: my yoga path.
Since moving to the Highlands in 2021 I have felt such a connection not only with the community that we are lucky enough to live amongst but also with the landscape and environment - it is in me and nowhere has ever felt more like home! I not only wanted to feel as though I was contributing, I knew I wanted to provide a yoga community and safe, supportive and inspiring place people wanted to come back to time and time again. Running weekly classes over the past year has not only given us that space but has also enabled me to run more events such as workshops and online classes and in the future, I dream of planning small mini retreats - hopefully coming your way soon! Our yoga community offers support and friendship while rejuvenating our wellbeing and empowering each other, filling that space with the gift of time, for ourselves. We would love to meet you, come and join us on this journey!
Hatha Yoga
Traditionally Hatha Yoga is a catchall term for any type of yoga that combines poses (asanas) with breathing techniques (pranayama). Many of the popular yoga styles in the west like Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, restorative etc fall under the umbrella of Hatha.
Although the term 'hatha' has also evolved and is used to describe a particular style of yoga that is typically slower paced with a focus on correct alignment. Often holding the poses for several breaths and clear instructions aimed to align and use the breath to soften and deepen into the pose. Hatha classes will vary from teacher to teacher, some work towards a peak pose while others may have a sequence that starts seated, with breath work, maybe a meditation, moving through standing, twists, inversions, back bends, prone and supine poses and always ending with savasana the closing relaxation.
Is Hatha good for beginners? Yes. Due to the often slower pace, emphasis on correct alignment and posture, with clear instructions Hatha is great for beginners and seasoned yogis alike.
The word "hatha" can be translated two ways: "force" or "sun" (ha) and "moon" (tha). Yoga means to unite or "yoke".
Yin Yoga
While “yang” yoga focuses on your muscles, yin yoga targets your deep connective tissues, like your fascia, ligaments, joints, and bones. It’s slower and more meditative, giving you space to turn inward and tune into both your mind and the physical sensations of your body. The poses are held for a longer period of time than other styles so yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues while also teaching you how to notice what is happening in the body and to honour how that feels by either increasing or decreasing your 'edge'.
Yoga's origins can be traced to northern India over 5,000 years ago while the practice of yin yoga is based on ancient Chinese philosophies and Taoist principles which believe there are pathways of Qi (energy) that run through our bodies. By stretching and deepening into poses, we’re opening up any blockages and releasing that energy to flow freely.
What are the benefits to Yin Yoga? On top of the benefits listed below with yin you are strengthening all the 'small' bits, the glue that holds us together! Think of your fascia like shrink wrap around your muscles and bones. When this connective tissue is underused, it becomes less elastic which can lead to aches and stiffness.
Elastic fascia and mobile joints lead to better flexibility, which is one of the key benefits to a regular yin yoga practice. Because fascia needs longer sustained stretching to actually affect its elasticity, yin is one of the most effective ways at improving your flexibility and releasing tension.
Who is Yin yoga good for? Everyone. Yin is the perfect balance to those intense exercises, providing a slower, more meditative counterpart to help you create the right balance.
Yin yoga is also for anyone who is dealing with injuries or a chronic condition like arthritis or osteoporosis as this style in particular is a more restorative practice and can be a great starting point for anyone interested in meditation as it has such an internal focus.
If you have any questions on either Hatha or Yin please do send me a message, I would love to hear from you!
