Gemma Murphy Yoga
Calm. Peaceful. Focused. Like you’ve somehow got your life together and you’re gliding through the week with herbal tea and a serene smile.
But the truth?
Most of us arrive on the mat feeling a bit frazzled. A bit stiff. A bit distracted. Sometimes a lot.
Yoga isn’t something you do once you feel better.
It’s something you do to feel better.
Are you curious about my yoga classes? Wondering if you need to be flexible, which class is right for you, or what to bring? Look no further!
I receive a variety of questions about my yoga classes, and I’ve compiled the answers for you on my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
If you’ve ever wondered whether being flexible is a prerequisite for joining my classes, or if you’re unsure which class suits your needs and goals, the FAQ page will provide help. Additionally, you’ll find guidance on what to bring to the classes, ensuring you’re fully prepared for a comfortable and enjoyable experience!
Doors are now open for yoga classes in Rugby starting on Tuesday 17 June! Book now.
I hope to welcome you soon on the yoga mat.
Hen dos bring together a mix of friends and family, sometimes meeting for the first time. Between the excitement and the plans, it’s easy to forget to slow down and enjoy the moment.
A yoga session offers a pause — a bit of breathing space in the middle of it all. There’s no need to have done yoga before. These sessions are gentle and welcoming, with space to laugh, rest, or just enjoy moving your body without any pressure. It’s not about achieving anything — it’s about softening, noticing, and being in good company.
Join Me at Houlton Family Day – Saturday 28th June
I’m really looking forward to being part of Houlton Family Fun Day in Rugby on Saturday 28th June, and I’d love for you to join me!
At midday, I’ll be leading a feel-good, stretchy 30-minute flow in the Barn – suitable for all levels, whether you’re brand new to yoga or have been practising for years. It’s a chance to breathe, move, and enjoy a moment of calm in the midst of a vibrant community day. Bring your mat and come along for a joyful mini-practice.
Our Heart Work series has been diving into the idea of Ahimsa—non-violence—not just towards others but towards ourselves.
This week in class, I talked about a book I read as a child called The Twits. Do you remember how Mr and Mrs Twit are so cruel and bitter? Over time, their unkind thoughts and actions don’t just shape their personalities—they even start to affect their physical appearance. It’s a children’s story, but the message is powerful: the way we think, speak, and act shapes who we become.
This summer, I’m bringing something new to the mat—a three-week Yin Yoga mini series with a focus on deep, functional stretching for the parts of the body that tend to hold on to tightness: hips, spine, shoulders.
Whether you’re a regular mover or spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, we all have areas in the body that can feel a bit stuck. Yin Yoga offers a way to gently work into those places using long-held, floor-based postures that target the connective tissues—helping to release tension, improve circulation, and support healthy mobility.
One of the core teachings of yoga is that everything is in a constant state of change. This idea—Parinamavada—reminds us that nothing stays fixed. Not our bodies, not our thoughts, not even the way we feel in a pose from one day to the next.
In our current Flow Yoga series in Rugby, called Heart Work, we’ve been exploring backbends as a way to connect with this idea. One week, Bridge Pose might feel strong and open. The next, it might feel tight or awkward. And that’s completely normal. But it can still throw us, can’t it? We might think, “Why doesn’t this feel the same as last time?” or “I thought I’d moved past this.” It’s easy to assume that progress is a straight line, but Parinamavada reminds us it’s much more fluid.
Yoga invites us to meet ourselves just as we are today—not as we were yesterday or how we think we should be. When we let go of that fixed idea, we begin to trust the process a bit more. And maybe even be a bit kinder to ourselves along the way.
Change isn’t failure—it’s a sign of life. Some days we’re energised, other days we’re not. Some poses feel accessible, others feel out of reach. It all moves, it all shifts, and that’s part of the journey.
If you’ve ever stepped onto your mat expecting things to be just like they were last time and found them completely different, you’re not alone. That’s yoga in action—showing us that each practice is its own experience.
The next time you step onto your mat, stay curious. Notice what’s shifted, without judging it. Let your breath help you meet the moment with openness, not resistance. Instead of fighting change, maybe we can lean into it.
Backbends can feel vulnerable—they literally open us up. But they also teach us resilience. They show us that we can bend, adapt, and still stay steady. They’re a reminder that even when things feel uncertain, there is strength in softness and power in staying open.
Wherever you are in your practice, let this be your reminder: you don’t need to be the same every time you step on the mat. You just need to show up, breathe, and let whatever unfolds be enough.
Our latest yoga series is called Heart Work. Over four weeks, we’re focusing on a trio of backbends including Bow, Camel, and either Bridge or Wheel — giving ourselves time to build strength, mobility and confidence.
Backbends can feel uplifting and energising, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. Some days they feel open and spacious, other days a bit awkward or emotional. That’s all part of the process. These poses ask quite a lot — not just from the body, but in how we respond to what comes up.
To support this, we’re drawing on a helpful idea from the Yoga Sutras. In Sutra 1.33, we’re encouraged to practise four attitudes to help calm the mind and create more ease in ourselves:
“By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and equanimity toward the unkind, the mind retains its undisturbed calm.”
(Yoga Sutra 1.33, translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda)
Putting this another way:
– Joy in the success of others
– Friendliness towards those who are happy
– Compassion for those who are struggling
– Equanimity towards those who challenge us
These might sound simple, but they’re often far from easy. Feeling genuinely happy for someone else’s success, or staying balanced when someone tests your patience — these are big asks on a tough day. But this is why it’s called a practice, not a perfect. We’re learning how to soften, how to respond rather than react, how to stay steady even when things get stirred up — both on and off the mat.
Backbends have a way of bringing things to the surface. They ask us to lift, to open, and to trust. That might feel exhilarating. It might feel vulnerable. It might feel like both, all at once.
So whether you’re exploring backbends in class or at home, the invitation is the same: take your time, stay connected to your breath, and notice how you respond. You don’t need to force anything. Let the pose meet you where you are.
Heart Work is about creating space — in the body, in the mind, and in the way we approach ourselves and others.
I was checking the weather forecast and saw that temperatures are set to rise here in Rugby – hooray for that! I’m looking forward to more time outdoors, pottering in the garden and enjoying a barbecue or two, and feeling the sun on my face. And it got me thinking about sun salutations.
They’re such a regular part of yoga classes – especially in vinyasa or flow-based practices – that it’s easy to go through the motions without thinking much about them. But have you ever wondered where they actually come from, or why we practise them?
The name Sun Salutation comes from the Sanskrit Surya Namaskar, meaning “salute to the sun.” In ancient India, the sun was seen as a vital source of energy and light – both physically and spiritually. People would rise early and offer prayers or movements in honour of the sun, as a way to welcome the day and connect with something bigger than themselves.
The flowing versions of sun salutations we’re familiar with today have more recent roots. In the early 20th century, yoga teachers started blending traditional postures with breath-led movement to create something dynamic and accessible – a way to build heat, focus the mind, and shift energy. Over time, this evolved into a staple in many modern yoga classes.
What’s lovely is that there’s no one “right” version. Sun salutations come in all sorts – from simple, gentle flows to more energising and complex sequences. Some include lunges or twists, others are tailored for slower days or beginners. You’ll even find styles that build in restorative pauses or focus more on strength. There’s something very adaptable about them – they can suit your energy and needs on any given day.
They’re not always at the start of class either. Sometimes they weave into the middle of a sequence, and sometimes they’re left out altogether. They’re a tool – a way to link breath and movement, to feel your body waking up, to create a steady rhythm. Like much of yoga, they’re there to support your practice – not define it.
Sun salutations offer a lot, in a short space of time. Practised regularly, they can help to:
So whether it’s sunny outside or not, sun salutations can offer a moment to move with purpose and presence. A way to shift from thinking to feeling. From rushing to arriving. And maybe that’s reason enough to roll out your mat and have a go!
Balance, as it turns out, isn’t always still.
There’s a moment when you lift your foot and extend it forward in hand to big toe pose – Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana – that feels like anything could happen. You might hold steady and breathe through it… or you might wobble, laugh, and have another go.
When I first started practising this pose, I thought the aim was to stay perfectly still, like a statue. But over time, I’ve realised that real balance isn’t about freezing in place – it’s about responding, adjusting, and staying present through all the little shifts.
This pose has taught me a lot. About patience, focus, and letting go of the need to get it “perfect”. Some days my leg lifts easily. Other days, I bend the knee or use a strap and just work with where I am. It’s all part of the practice.
Physically, hand to big toe pose is brilliant for:
It’s one of those poses that works both body and mind – grounding and uplifting all at once.
So, if you find yourself wobbling – on the mat or in life – know that it’s all part of the process. Balance isn’t about being perfectly still; it’s about finding your centre even when things shift.
And each time you fall out of a pose and come back in, you’re not just building strength in your body – you’re strengthening your ability to adapt, stay grounded, and keep going. That’s the real practice.
If you’re interested in joining my Weekly Flow Classes, they’re currently fully booked until 3rd June. To get early access to new class openings, join my mailing list and be the first to know when bookings are available. I don’t send a ton of emails – just the important stuff.