November 2026

Educator yoga dates will be updated by Wednesday 4th November so check back then for updates.

Happy November lovely friends and yogis,

Welcome to November - a time of transition to cosy evenings and frosty mornings a lovely gateway to holiday festivities. The theme for this month's newsletter is how to use your yoga skills to remain true to your authentic self and how that can benefit you in this fun but busy season.

November is the perfect time to check in and see if you are respecting your true values and using your time and energy to the benefit of your full potential. Just as the leaves fall off the trees, revealing their authentic selves in the shapes of their bare branches, November gives us examples in nature as to how under all the busy daily life we to have 'branches' which are our true selves. Being true to our self can to bring more ease into our lives. Living a non- authentic life can be draining and even detrimental to our health.

The five yamas encourage us to follow the path to enligtenment and discovery of our best self. The yamas are a yoga philsophy which was first written in sanskrit, by Patanjali, somewhere between the second century BC and 5th century AD. The Yamas ask practitioners to avoid violence, lying, stealing, wasting energy and possessiveness. Self authenticity lies in the second yama Satya or Truthfulness. Satya embodies not only speaking the truth but speaking kindly to others and to yourself. Satya encourages us to elevate ourselves by staying truthful to our feelings and beliefs.

This time of year especially we can start to become overwhelmed. Holiday invitations and obligations combined with expectations of others may make it seem impossible to stay true to our authentic selves.

This energy drain is also addressed in Patanjali's yamas; the Brahmacharya or Energy Moderation. Modern interpretations have used the simile of your personal energy being as though you have limited resources . For example if you only have $100 you would use it wisely and thoughtfully. Knowing that it will run out and you should utilize it with care. Your energy is the same, it is not an endless resource and you should thoughtfully allocate its distribution.

So that is what yoga philosophy says, but your own personal yoga practice can help you too. Yoga invites us to listen to our body and mind and trust them in the poses we take and in the quietness of savasana. There should be no expectations of compliance on the mat - it is your mat, your body, and your mind. Nobody understands 'you' in the same way you do. No-one has had your lived experience; no one has had the journey which has led you to this 'moment' in this 'day'. What was a "yes" last time you practiced does not mean a "yes" today. And that is okay. On and off the mat.

A yoga instructor should act as your guide offering alternatives and allow you to be completely comfortable in your own autonomy. If a pose that doesn't feel right to you or if there is an adjustment which you prefer not to have you should feel completely comfortable saying "no". Off the mat friends, family and co-workers should give you the same grace to trust yourself in your decisions and even more importantly you should give yourself the same grace.

Let November be the time to start treating yourself off the mat with the same grace and autonomy as you treat yourself on the mat. Let November be the month to give yourself permission to say no. Let your experience on the mat guide you.

Let the knowledge you have learnt in this newsletter as permission to say 'no' in NO-vember. If saying 'no' to something means conserving energy for a greater good and allows you to stay true to yourself do not feel guilty about saying no . Saying no is often hard for us but we can learn lessons from yoga and stay mindful in our decisions. Let November also be KNOW-vember - knowing that when you say "yes" you have consulted your authentic self.

Let this November be the time to start treating yourself off the mat with the same grace and autonomy as you treat yourself on the mat. Let November be the month to give yourself permission to say no. Let your experience on the mat guide you.

Here are some Affirmations to help your resolve:

I am worthy and deserving of respect.
I have the right to prioritize me.
I trust myself to make decisions that support my growth and happiness.
I am strong and capable of making healthy boundaries.
I am not responsible for managing other people's expectations.
I can gracefully decline what is not for my greater good.

Remember, in Yoga theory saying "no" to others is not an act of aggression or selfishness; it is a vital expression of self-preservation, ethics, and inner balance. Rather than being viewed as a rejection of somone else, setting a boundary should be acknowledged as honoring a deeper commitment to truth, non-harming, and personal duty. "No." Is a complete sentence. If you would like to explore some ways to say "no" with grace and integrity. Click HERE to go to our subpage - how to say no.

If I can help you in your yoga practice or on your mindfulness journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Let me know your thoughts and observations HERE I will be sure to reply.

Laura McCracken

Owner of Red Cat Yoga

You can find more red cat yoga mindfulness and yoga click HERE

Our own Red Cat Monthly Moment - Hello Alfie.

Upcoming events

Yoga at the Ivy FitNess Center on Fort Carson

4:30pm every Wednesday

$3 per class. Tickets available from the Front Desk.

Cat Yoga at the Biscuit Lounge Cat Cafe in Old Colorado

9:45Am 7th and 14th November.

$25 per person Click HERE to find out more and reserve your space.

FREE Educator Yoga

3:30pm PINION VALLEY ELEMENTARY.

Date to be announced.

Yoga 24/7 on youtube @redcatyoga

Boat POse

(Navasana)

Choose your variation from one above.

Benefits

Engages core and improves core strength.
Stimulation of organs and circulation.
Energizing, de-stressing and relaxing.
Stretches and lengthens the body.
Good for alignment and posture. Flexibility and range of motion.
Balance and emotions.
Releases tension in the lumbar region.
Releases stress and tension.
Increases concentration.
De-stressing and relaxing.

did you know we have a whole page dedicated to POses ? CLICK HERE

Thank you so much for reading this - you are so valued.

Please consider joining me in a community lesson or private lesson - in person or online. I would be honored to assist you in your Yoga or Mindfulness journey.

Find out more HERE