CATCH UP WITH CLASS CHAT
30/01/2012 Ho ho! Ha Ha Ha! Thank you to all students who attended Laughter Yoga evening. I appreciated your fulhearted participation and support in what was an unusual practice in our yoga class to say the least. I think I can safely speak for all of us in saying that laughter really is great medicine and gives enormous release however we WILL be back to normal practice next week!!!
23/01/2012 General practice - good to see the consistancy in attendance............ practice makes perfect!
17/01/2012 Detox Practice Up the pace -Twists at every turn - Kapalabatti -Sweat it out finally Tratak and Viparita Karani mmmmmmmmmmm!
9/01/2012 Happy New Year to you all! A fantastic start back with a whopping big full moon allowing us to slow down and nurture the cool, femminine, reflective energy of the moon. Nice way to wean ourselves back into pratice after all the festivities and to reflect on what has come to fruition in our lives and what no longer serves us. The moon sequence slow , smoothe and healing, focussing more on lateral opening.was challenging because it was new not difficult. Now that it is patterned into our neuro pathways..bring on the next full moon!! (Feb 7th)
FESTIVE BREAK
19/12/11 A great way to end the year with a candle light yoga night. It was practiced in the library where it was quiet and cosy. The soothing and flowing asana, the soft music and the room dimly lit with scattered candles gave a different dimesion to our evening making it easier to go deep within and ignite the flame in our hearts to burn ever strong and bright. By the end of the night, everyone's inner light visibly glowed from the inside out.
Tratak on a candle was our final meditation. OM OM OM
5/12/2011 and 12/12/11 Were both a general practice enjoyed by many before the Christmas rush.
28/11/2011 5/12/2011 Our namaskars were brilliantly done last night with beginners completing 12 rounds and Intermediate 18 rounds. Unanimously, the sun mantras were favourite for rythm and sound. We began by observing the breath, then the chakras, then the sun mantras finishing with seed mantras. Closed the night with meditation on the chakras. Amazing!
14/11/2011 and 21/11/2011 General practice and great work yogis
07/11/201 Anahata was our focus last night with lots of heart opening asana. Opening the heart physically lifts our spirit and makes us more receptive to giving and receiving.
31/10/2011 A good turn out for the night of Halloween. No one ventured in fancy dress but we had fun night as once again we prop, prop, propped it up!!!
This time around Working with Props there was a huge difference in arm and core strength so well done yogis. Also many of you opening nicely to wheel. All still working hard at splits applying ahimsa non harming and santosha contentment for where we are at. Drawing back, will in the end, take you further!
27/10/11 Another General Practice with emphasis on grounding.
18/10/11 General practice this week with many newcomers present "welcome" I hope you will continue your journey with us for a while .
11/10/2011 Autunnal Practice last night tuning in with the season and reducing the excess of Vata within our bodies. Slow, intense ,strong and extremely grounding were the asana this week as was our sun sequence. It took a bit to adjust from our faster flowing vinyasa but once into the slower rythm it gave a deep peacful and grounding warmth with lot's of time for reflection or to refine postures. We finished with a healing meditation/pranayama on the 18 marma points that align up the centre of the body like a ladder. Ayuraveda is yoga's sister science and would suggest our diet be grounding and nutritional to suit the season, ie: porridge, soups , stews, root vegetables , wear autunnal colours red, yellow, orange and walk in the fresh air taking sun on the face when it peeps out from the clouds! If you want to find out your Dosha then click on Ayurveda on the menu and do the quiz!!!
4/10/2011 Preparing for next weeks Autunnal practice we made our practice a detox session , with twists at every occasion,,,,,,,,squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze the toxins out! Kapalabhati breath and finishing with a sublime Viparitakarani. Great work yogis!
26/09/2011 Feeling restored this morning yogis??? All who attended should be feeling energised and peaceful after last nights restorative sequence. When you really let go, the body opens relaxes and restores. It's a nurturing that should be enjoyed from time to time. Next week will be normal practice and times. See all who can. Namaste!
19/09/2011 a general practice with many old and new faces among us. Reminding everyone that next week is restorative practice . Hope to see you there.
12/09/2011 With such a stormy night I was amazed at the turn out, so good to see such an interest. Welcome to the new beginners I hope you will experience all the benefits of yoga and journey with us for a while. Intermediate worked with the wall in many different ways tonight as an aid to stregnthening, opening and aligning our bodies it was fun and gave us yet another perspective on yoga practice.
5/09/2011 Sahashara was our last chakra whitch we ended with an invertion.
29/08/11 Good to see many of you getting back into our regular yoga routine. Almost completed our journey through the chakras with this week looking at ajna chakra with various practices including tratak
22/08/11 Regular class times begin again :
6.30 -7.10 Beginners and 7.10 - 8.40 intermediate
YOGA CARDS CAN BE BOUGHT IN CLASS
11/07/2011 the second night of SummerTime sessions and the surprise of a new hall to use for the next 4 weeks. Adapting to new situations especially if unexpected is part of what yoga is about...................learning to be unruffled or attached to what is going on around you. Observing and acting in a focussed and calm way. When the unexpected springs on us our breath is always there to get us through, just be ready to receive the reassurance of the in breath and the soothing and relaxing detachment of the out breath!
4/07/2011 Was the start of the Summertime Yoga sessions. With holidays and the kids off school it's harder for many of you to make your ususal yoga slot so for 6 weeks there is only one class running from 6pm - 7.30pm and will be suitable for all abilities. Hopefully many of you will still be able to drop into a few sessions throughout the summer and not abbandon completely the great work you have done over the year. Welcome also to the newcomers recently joined and thank you everyone for letting me know your favourite themes I will put a new calander of events together very soon as the first night will be at the end of August
14/06/2011 After our initial loosening off and culminate to our "wild thing" pose we continued with a few rounds of Suryanamaskar followed by some stregntheners /openers, thereafter it was then all about balance and what a balance session it turned out to be. Many of the less practiced asana were now opening to us. Towards the end we were left feeling light, peacful and dare I say "balanced!"
07/05/2011 General practice working thoroughly every part of our bodies and minds. Welcome and namaste to a few newcomers last night and always a pleasure to see the regular faces whose practice just gets better and better. Well done for your commitment to your.......self.
30/05/2011 Class theme night last night and great turn out and fun for Kundalini yoga.I'm sure you all enjoyed the different approach to yoga (the same goal at the forefront) and if any of you didn't then receive this occasion as a chance to have a one off experience of this type of yoga. Your throat chakras definately received a great work out.
Thank you Clare for your assistance!
27/05/2011 Day 1 and mission accomplished !!!!!
The last day and the most glorious finale to our 20 day yoga challenge. Surya now higher in the bright morning sky than when we started 20 days ago was looking down, sending in approval of our efforts, his warming rays to our faces and toes. Elated to have achieved what we set out to do but also a little sad as this was the last time we would roll our mats out together in the early morning stillness. Ever grateful to the magestic bandstand for accomodating our practice in the park. We could not have done this without it's cover, protecton and of course the bunnies, birds and all of nature as it looked on in support.
Excellent efforts from those last standing but also for the few of you that had to withdraw half and three quarters of the way through for very valid reasons. Everyone without a doubt in my mind experienced the stillness and the purity of the prana offering you abundant energy to front the rest of your day. I am also sure that a need for personal practice has been instilled and all will have found an inner stregnth when the mind begins to whine.
I wish each yogi well as you continue on your individual journey to : "become the change you want to see" (Gandhi) Namaste............ Linda
26/05/20111 Day 2 completed and just one to go!!! Weather was dry and cloudy but a little cool. No need to lead this practice as everyone is well into the "flow" linking breath and movement beautifully. Last day tomorrow yogis rain, hail or snow!!!
25/05/2011 Day 3 completed on our countdown and two days remaining!!!. All of us cagely leaving home this morning as uncertainty set in to whether after yesterday's storm the weather would hold out. Entered the park to find an uncanny stillness and devastation due to yesterday's strong weather conditions. The aftermath of plants and small trees literally torn from the ground along with broken branches could be seen scattered all around . There were only a few solitary bunnies venturing out from their burrows even the birds were very quiet and apparantly unsure of how the day would unfold. Surya did not pop out from behind the clouds but the temperature was tepid.
Comforting to see our faithful bandstand was still standing and in one piece, always ready to offer us shelter. It has now become a special and sacred place to practice. The early morning prana was prominent . The wind had wiped the day clean of all impurities and was firing us up for practice. We moved with such lightness and concentration........ just a joy to be part of this growing energy. Namaste yogis!
Fingers crossed for tomorrow we are so, so close!
24/05/2011 Day 4 Alas our practiced was abandoned in the park!!!! Weather too bad so each yogi carrying our their complete practice at home.
24/05/2011 Yoga Class tonight had few attending due to the terrrible wind and rain. For the brave few who ventured out we went through the yoga 20 in the park practice to give a taste of what the very dedicated yogis are practicing daily now. It was interesting and enjoyable. We finished up 10 minutes earlier than normal due to the howling wind reminding us that the weather was getting worse. See all who can next week for theme night which is : Kundalini!
23/05/2011 Day 5 completed. The commitment to early rising and rolling the mat out has without doubt been instilled. Only half practice again today due to the blustery rain however still left feeling refreshed and energised. All present have endevoured to finish the floor work at home. Only 4 days to go and the weather threatens our challenge but we are determined to see it through if not outdoors at least at home. Benefits are truly being felt physically and mentally ...............great work yogis!!!
20/05/2011 Day 6 completed. Our third week yogis and 5 days to go!!!!Almosted defeated today as the weather was dull and threatening rain . Most of us turned up and with the best will in the world we managed to get half our practice done. Suryanamaskar, our standing and somewhat shaky balance postures. The blowing rain and chill factor got the better of us as yoga is definately not nice in the cold and wet!! Finished early agreeing to complete our floor postures at home. We took with us our sunflower seeds to plant and think of them symbolicly as our thoughts. Sowing the seeds and nurturing them is all it takes to potentially grow and create great things!!!
Have a lovely weekend and see all who can make it for the last week of our challenge on Monday!
19/05/2011 Day 7 completed in our countdown and 6 days to go!!! Great morning again for yoga, the weather and also to taste Zilla's bread ......... yum! (not a mantra by the way just "tasty") Our savasana had an "enlighting" moment today as we were noisily aroused by an inquisitive and friendly dog. His owner had a good old chuckle as we all shrieked in chorus. Not sure if we were more alarmed or the dog! On his departure, we easily sank down again into the depths of our being to enjoy the fruits of our early morning practice. This time around we were gently awakened by the warming rays of the rising sun on our toes. Bliss!
18/05/2011 Day 8 completed in our countdown and a beautiful fresh morning again. No one complaining whatsoever about the "outdoor Yoga" it's a real treat ......but the early morning rise mmmmm! Just a tad difficult from time to time. It's said to take 40 days to make a change that sticks and 90 days to break an old habit so we have a bit to go before it becomes stress free.
Practice flowing however like a sail moving in the breeze. WE are clearly in the present moment as each posture flows from one into another with our attention fully in it's beginning, middle and end taking us from one present moment to the next.
17/05/2011 Both Yoga classes at Queen Anne were general. Great to see regular faces continuing their practice. A quiet practice with focus on the breath and the present moment. Picking up on a few basics to work in safety and progression. Good work yogis.
17/05/2011 Day 10 and 9 completed. Both mornings increasing our practice and flowing through with ease. Yesterday was dry, cloudy and nippy and today cloudy but reasonably warm. This is our third week yogis and amazing all of you that have rarely or never faltered but even if you have only experienced one session of rising early the seed has now been planted!!!!
13/11/2011 Day 11 and the 2nd week completed. Looked as though we were going to be soaked today but the skies held out and surya is now shining not just high in the sky but in the centre of our hearts. Energy is building up in everyone in the form of body strength, willpower/focus and uplifted mood. Feels so ....good that next week will be a breeze!!!
12/05/2011 Day 12 completed. Early morning was grey, cloudy and fresh but still giving us the very best of each day. A strong, flowing and meditive energy is visibly evolving in our practice. Thinking for a moment today about the quality of prana ie; the pure state of prana in the morning air and prana within certain food and water. Setting our intention to be more selective when choosing them.
11/05/2011 Day 13 completed! Good news and bad news today. The bad: earless bunny has fallen prey to an attack from nature so will no longer greet us daily as we gather in the bandstand. I like to think he is saying to us from his bunny hole in the sky "appreciate everything and live fully in the present moment our time here is uncertain!"
The good news is that we seem to be receiving brilliant weather for our early mornings and our yoga is still going strong, becoming easier as time goes on. A flowing and energising practice this morning.
10/05/2011 Day 14 completed in our Yoga 20 countdown. One or two of us feeling a little tired but enthusiasm still very much with us all. Today was an almost silent practice moving to the breath and sounds of nature. It was truly beautiful and many of you showing growing strength, focus and balance in your postures with this consistant practice. Results are coming, very well done yogis!
10/05/2011 Class last night was a slower flow as we had been away for the Monday holiday so feeling a little stiffer. Focus last night was in easing and reminding our bodies of our yoga and spending a little time on our
balance postures. Good to be back and astonishing that two of the yoga 20 challenge were at evening practice too!
09/05/2011 Day 15 completed. Glorious morning and every one here for the 2nd week running. Upping our practice a little working deep into the physical and the breath body. Feeling good..... light, open and energised. Everyone finding it easier to get up too ! Keep up the good work!
06/05/2011 Day 16 completed on our Yoga 20 countdown. It was drizzly today but possible to practice beneath the shelter of the bandstand. Rising and practicing early doesn't seem to be a problem for anyone. Well done yogis one week down 3 to go even earless bunny is impressed. For a few, later in the day, they feel sleepy. Try bedding earlier at night you will soon find that your need for sleep will lesson as time goes on. Others are already feeling enegized. Running can make you feel like that too but yoga goes further than muscles, bones and cardio work out ..........it seeps into the physiology of the body, the senses, the breath, the mind and leads you to your inner self and wisdom. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!! Namaste till Monday.
05/05/2011 Day 17 completed on our countdown. Earless bunny there again with a standing salute to welcome our early morning presence! He should definately be our mascot. Warmer today 8 degrees. The hat helps, so do the leg warmers. Due to the cloudier sky for some it was hard to get up this morning, no names mentioned, we were all there in mind and body. In this first week our biggest challenge is definately our commitment and so far no one is faultering. In these ambrosial hours when prana is at it's purest connection to nature can be truly felt. Gandhi's words "There is no way to peace, peace is the way" become meaningful in the morning's stillness.
04/05/3011 Day 18 completed on our countdown to sucess! Beautiful morning again and yogis have you noticed the earless bunny who is there to greet us on arrival? Welcome to another yogi joining us in our practice. Even colder today so increase the layers , bring hats , wear two pair of socks for seated postures, double mats and anything you can to feel warm! Keep up the good work as the days go on our mind will challenge us and try to find excuses . Look for the positives when this happens and remember if one of our yogis reached the Hymalyas we can reach the bandstand in the park!!!
o3/05/2011 Day 19 of yoga 20 challenge done and dusted. Feeling good but a little colder this morning. Energy feels great. The park is beautiful at this time. All the bunnies are out, birds are singing, the blossoms smell sweet as they paint the park with beautiful colour. Rising in the distant horizon our wonderful surya looking on as it extends it's rays into a bright blue sky. Wonderful!
02/05/2011 Just back from the first morning of our........................
personal yoga 20 challenge and feeling ama-a-a-zing! Thank you to all who are with me on this and hope one or two more will be there from time to time to greet the sun. It feels so invigorating.... it should be bottled!!! Tomorrow is day 19!!!
02/05/2011 Reminding everyone that there is no yoga at Queen Anne tonight however, you can join me at Keavil on Wednesday at 11a.m. or better still come to the park 5.50 a.m. at the bandstand, at least for the Monday that there is no yoga at QA!!!!! Already 8 definate appearances for the whole challenge and about 6 who will drop in from time to time. Challenge yourself........ I dare you!!! Meantime as you consider the thought I leave you with a heartfelt Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
27/042011 A general class during which we practiced our sitali breath in case we overheat on our Yoga 20 challenge!!! We should be so lucky! Also looked at arm spirals and pleased to see that many of you found a huge difference in your down dogs.
19/04/2011 Brilliant turn out for the restorative yoga. Great that yogis can see the benefits of this practice. Easily done at home but nice to meet ocasionally and chill together and be guided through your restorative flow. Look out for developments of Clare's eye yoga excuse the pun! Easter Monday classes as usual and May 2nd closed for public holiday . Yoga 20 challenge starting 2nd of May. Not too late to come along!!!
11/04/2011 Another general class with dedicated work from all present. I have been pleasantly surprised at the numbers throughout the holidays. This really demonstrates how yoga becomes an integrated part of life. Next week is restorative yoga (in the library) so looking forward to that. Remember for the yogis that can't make it or don't enjoy it - normal classes will resume Monday 25th April. Still drumming up names for the personal yoga 20 challenge, 6 so far, looking for at least another 4!!!! Could that be you????
4/04/2011 Great general class yogis. Beginners are progressing well, each of you at your own perfect pace. By now some of you should begin to feel the lightness of body and the mind becoming calm ......yet alert. These are your first feelings of well being with lot's more to come . Meantime, cherish the present moment and keep practicing. Intermediate students...what can I say! So very, very focused with your intent and attention in everything you do. A delight to pracice with you all and a privilige to observe you in your continual and very individual progression. See all who can next week in class. Om shanti!
29/03/2011Welcome to more newcomers last night. "Namaste" Practice was a general class simply opening and strengthening the body in all directions , forward, back, side, twist, balance, inversion and extension. Tackling new and familiar angles and positions emphasise the fact that where your intention and attention go your energy will follow. Good work yogis!
Some of you have been telling me how much you are enjoying class and that you would like to practice twice a week. Due to present commitments I am unable to arrange another class but thinking about an extra one over the summer on a different night. Let me know your thoughts!
22/03/2011 The chakras were at the forefront of our pratice and the appropriate asanam serving the purpose of opening and balancing each chakra. Visualisation of their colour, meditation on their qualities and chanting their seed mantra intensified this work. We have the task this week to raise our awareness and watch our thoughts, moods actions and habits as some of our "stuff" just might surface giving us an opportunity to address our karma and samskaras.
15/03/2011 Welcome and namaste again to each new start yogi who came last night. Good to see so many taking up the practice of yoga. A general practice last night with focus on our feet and how they connect us to the ground and our inner core. Work with it yogis it's suttle but it happens all day long just need to raise our awareness!!! Next week focussing on Chakra balancing asanas, mudras, visulazation and mantra.
8/03/2011 Our "core" was ever present and engaged in asana as we worked through practice, lighting our agni (fire) in the belly. This fire washes out the negative thoughts and habits and opens us to new positive thoughts, habits and beginnings. Using the Ganesha mudra and chant "Om Gam Ganapatayai Namaha" reinforces our intention and opens our minds and hearts to new beginnings.
1/03/2011 Last night's session allowed all of you who were present to view the use of props in a new light. Great tools for perfecting or deepening postures. Not only did you feel new areas opening in your body due to the correct alignment that they helped you maintain but they also added to your confidence........ what seemed impossible is now becoming possible.
Our circuit of about 14 different "tools" ranging from us hanging from a belt on the wall in dog, then using the wall for shoulder stand and handstand prep to draping over back arches, to makeing good use of belts and blocks in many asana , also sand bags to weigh us down and bolsters to prop us into sublime postures. This was VERY different to our flowing vinyasa. Our creativity was surprisingly stimulated into seeing props within our own homes such as chairs, work tops, balls, couches ect.
The consenses from all was definately to PROP, PROP, PROP it up!!!
See you next week yogis for our usual flow.
22/02/2011 Welcome and namaste to more new additions to last night's class! It was a general class working into all areas of the body and bringing fire into the belly (agni). Our balance postures challenging us to dare, to focus and be in the moment. Those standing splits by the way are advancing by the week. Each yogi working in alignment to their own full expression of the posture and always ready to flow into the next remembering the importance to flow out as well as you flowed in! Good work yogis!!! Next week we will be working with props.
15/02/2011 At last Candle light yoga to the soothing music of Wah.
Somehow the candle lit room encouraged even more an inner dialogue
between mind and body. Conversing with our emotional and physical sensations and useing our breath to free us visibly enhanced everyone's practice. It was smoothe and flowing, riding on the breath, directing us more and more within to the centre of our being. Ears and hearts were opening to our inner teacher and light.
Our final meditation Tratak ( gazing) at a candle. It couldn't be anything else!
If you missed this special evening don't worry we will be doing it again at some point.
8/02/2011 Apologies for not having candle light yoga last night Q A did not know there was a school booking too and aparantly the two sets of lights are linked .........clever! Not to worry we yogis think on our feet and go with the flow. The evening ended up being an intense heart opening session working on that old anahata cultivating openess and positivity in our hearts uplifting our spirits! Perhaps, the change of practice was meant to be as candle light next week will fall on St. VAlentines day Oooooooh!
1/02/2011 February already! Last night we welcomed a few more yogis to join us in our practice "Namaste and welcome " to each of you. Our practice was a general one and good to see everyone's energy levels back to normal. Next week we will be practicing in candle light! Hope to see all who can make it!
25/01/2011 Well yogis with last night's class we are well and truly back. Many familiar faces present and a couple of new ones too....... so "Welcome" to anyone there for the first time.
Our practice was more intense than dynamic as we explored lateral opening. I hope today your prana will be circulating more fully and that you find new freedom in the rib cage. OM SHANTI
18/01/2011 Welcome back to class yogis! Many of you starting back last night after the festive celebrations, a little rusty but full of good intentions and resolutions!!
Last night was the 2nd class back after the year and took us through a detox practice with lot's of Kapalabhati between sequences to cleanse our respiritory system of stale carbon dioxide, stimulate the brain and also help shift all those negative thoughts and emotions carried forward from 2010. We will achieve that shining face!!
It was a good all round body work out with a twist thrown in at every opportunity to wring out our interal organs in particular or digestive system helping us with the elimination of toxins.
Ending with a delicious 10 minute Viparitakarani (legs up the wall) . Asana of a thousand benefits and in this final asana our focus was on restoreing energy and draining lymph.
Remember today DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! and rest if you feel tired .......you will soon reap the benefits from your cleansed body and mind and be drenched in abundant energy!