We recently came together with local NW8 brand Everyday Phenomenal to host a wellness event focusing on pranayama (breathwork), yoga asana (movement) and community.  

With winter and the festive season in full swing, it was more important than ever to double down on wellness practices- trying to keep a semblance of balance and feeling good even when work deadlines approach, Christmas parties being numerous and eating and drinking indulgently rife.

New and existing members of the local wellness community gathered at The Studio at TRIBES one Saturday morning at 10.15.

After everyone found their yoga mats, we kicked off by introducing Everyday Phenomenal founder and local NW8 mum Ayesha Mustafa. Ayesha told us about her background in sustainability and her focus on feeling good inside and out by prioritizing wellness practices and community. She went on to explain how EP is for dynamic, busy women who try to curate their consumption by making smart and conscious choices. The clothes are made using organic natural fabrics.

I then went on to explain and guide our wellness practice (Hello, I’m Sanya by the way, TRIBE’s head of yoga!).

We dived into the holistic philosophy of yoga - acknowledging that it is much more than just the physical poses often seen in the West. In fact, the physical poses (asana) are just one of the eight limbs of yoga that also include moral disciplines, ethics, breathwork and much more.

Yoga, while offering incredibly good exercise ultimately aims to create unity in the world and increase people’s consciousness - creating a deep send soothing sense of wellbeing during the process.

I then guided our guests through two pranayama (breathwork) exercises. Starting with simple yogic breathing we focused on using the full capacity of the lungs and belly trying to deepen the inhale and lengthen the exhale using the diaphragm to push the air up and out of the body. Yogic breathing benefits include improved breathing, increased oxygen circulation in the body, and calming the nervous system. It’s therefore excellent for mental health.

As it was a chilly winter morning, the second pranayama we did was Bhastrika, aka “Bellow’s Breath”. This is a great method of warming up the body by building internal heat. It’s excellent for strengthening the abdominal muscles and detoxing and nourishing the digestive system. We did Bhastrika by inhaling strongly through the nose, engaging the abdominals and exhaling forcefully through the nose by squeezing the abdominals. the inhale and exhale in Bhastrika are done at speed.

Following the pranayama, we were all suitably warmed up and got straight into the physical yoga asana practice. It was a challenging flow but pose variations were offered for all levels including our first timers and our regular yogis. The practice left everyone feeling physically invigorated, and with a sense of mental calm and clarity.

The event was finished off with some yummy fennel tea and refreshments, a little shopping and trying on EP clothes, mingling, fostering community, and of course some amazing goodie bags, courtesy of our brilliant brand partners.

Thanks goes to
Vera’s Cafe on Blenheim Terrace, My Cottage Cosmetics, Revive Active, Virtue Drinks, Mister Freed