** Easter Break - Kids Yoga **

For kids wanting to try yoga, this is your chance to join our nice group during the Easter break. The classes will run from 8th April to 27th May.

Working with a lovely Yoga teacher (that's me!), offering fun, creative sessions for children (& any parents who want to join in!), combining exciting adventures with stories, games and relaxing techniques designed to stimulate imagination and maintain flexibility.

Classes will be held at the Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BU - just round the corner from Westminster Abbey/Parliament Square as an easy landmark.  If you're free on Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30, we'd love for you to join us. It would be quite helpful to have an idea of how many people to expect, so please email Tammy at  pata_dn@yahoo.com if you're interested.

Balancing Our Doshas

According to Ayurveda there are three constitutions, each made up of two elements, which are responsible for the functioning of the human organism. When Vata, Pitta and Kapha reside undisturbed in their proper place, the body will be supported and is in balance. When disturbed, they cause disease and deterioration in the body.  

Each one of us are made up of a combination of the three types of doshas. People may be of a predominant dosha, but all doshas have the basic elements within them.  

Factors that can bring about balance of the tridoshas are diet, exercise, good digestion, and elimination of toxins.

Click on the link.

Yoga of Heart -- The Healing Power of Intimate Connection

I would like to share with you a video of Mark Whitwell's workshop. Having followed his classes on Sky TV, they served as a good revision of my teacher training course. We both studied in the Krishnamacharya tradition. He, from the source, Professor Krishnamacharya and I, from Marc Beuvain, a student of TKV and Kausthub Desikachar. TKV is Krishnamacharya's son and Kausthub, his grandson.

Incidentally Mark has www.heartofyoga.com registered under his name. I discovered it too late; I was already a few weeks into writing my blog. Hopefully, though, he won't have a an issue sharing the name with me since we both took it from TKV Desikachar's book, Heart of Yoga. 

Heart is Yoga is probably the first book on yoga I have read from beginning to end. It is so interesting and provides a good foundation on the study of yoga. Even as a non-yoga practitioner we can also learn a lot from using the principles stated in the book.

Please click on link to view video.

Yoga Spring Cleaning Practice

Relax and de-stress after work! New drop-in yoga classes starting 12th April.

What: Levels 1-2
When: Mondays 6-7pm
Where: OneKX
http://www.onekx.org.uk/contact.html
Price: £5 per session

Learn to still the mind through asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation. Benefits include clarity of mind, improved strength and flexibility, better sleep patterns and physical/mental wellbeing.

Please wear comfortable clothing. Mats are available. Hope to see you there!

Guidelines for Reflective Walks

On Sunday morning, on the last day of our retreat, we have been given a set of guidelines for the early morning walk. As the rain started to pour, however, we were forced to spend that time in the garden instead. In any case, we can always refer to these guidelines for future walks.

* Enjoy and take notice of the scenery around you.
* Choose one particular object that strikes and resonates with you.
* Look at the strength, beauty and quality of that object and see how it applies to you.
* Think of ways to connect to that object.
* Stay in silence as much as possible.

By taking note of these, we will have a more purposeful meditative reflection while we enjoy the opportunity to go for a walk.

Yoga and Health Workshop

Yoga and Health - European Tour July 2010

With three specialist teachers
Dr N. Chandrasekaran - Saraswathi Vasudevan - Marc Beuvain

Deepen your knowledge and experience of yoga and its applications for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Venues and Dates:

Brussels, Belgium: 10-12 July
London, UK: 14-16 July
Turin, Italy: 19-21 July
Aix-en-Provence, France: 25-28 July

http://www.marcbeuvain.com/home-accueil/home-english/special-event/
Please quote my name when you register! Thanks!

Chanting with Nikki Slade

Last night after a stressful trek to Triyoga for the chanting session, James and I finally made it albeit 20 minutes late. Northern line execs thought it was a great idea to close the Edgware branch to do their engineering works on a Saturday night. On top of that, we were herded into replacement buses, which came every 5 minutes... yeah super!

There were loads of people there, must have been about 60-70 sitting on the bolsters and a few of us on chairs! I have been meaning to come to one of Nikki's sessions but Saturday evenings have always been a problem getting out of the house. People were swaying to the sound of tambourine and drums, clapping their hands or simply enjoying the sound of it all. Nobody cared how well or how badly we sang. At the end we were treated to chai tea. Lovely!

Here is a sample of one of the chants we did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTRHOqnGvMM&feature=related

It was an incredible experience. I never liked chanting; I thought it sounded freaky. Somehow in the past year or so I began to like the sound and started to have more confidence in making and hearing my own sound. I even started teaching my class to chant OM.

If you ever get the chance to attend a chanting session, please try it. Even if you don't want to chant yourself, just listen and feel the energy of the room. Surely you will feel something deep in you that is so pure.... you will feel so free.