Your Space: Yoga, Reiki, Massage
Sarah and Yoga
Yoga in daily life... yoga has been a part of my life on and off for many years. As a dancer initially I was attracted by the physical aspects of the practice. When I took the British Wheel of Yoga Foundation course in 2006 my eyes were opened to the bigger picture. As I have developed my understanding of this vast and far reaching philosophy my life has changed. Step by step, yoga is becoming my way of life, influencing how I think, walk, talk, breathe and eat, the practice of yoga can be applied to everything!
Yoga around the world... after the British Wheel of Yoga Yoga Foundation course I was able to take some time out to travel in Asia and Australasia. During this time I imbibed yoga as a way of life attending Hatha Yoga classes in Pokhara, Nepal; Goa, Dharamsala, Uttarakashi and Rishikesh in India. In Wellington, New Zealand I took classes in the Satyananda and Astanga traditions. I spent time at a Satyananda Ashram in Golden Bay, New Zealand then went on to complete a one month intensive Sivananda Yoga teacher training course at the Sivananda Kutir ashram in the Himalayas of India.
Ashram life... during my ashram stays yoga was my life 24/7. I experienced asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), meditation, yoga nidra (psychic sleep), kirtan (devotional singing), mantra (chanting of sacred passages), kriyas (cleansing practices), karma yoga (work around the ashram), Jnana yoga (study of sacred scriptures). Other studies included philosophy of yoga, anatomy and physiology, diet and nutrition. Since returning to England I have completed further teacher training with Yoga Professionals.
Evolution of yoga teaching... having initially trained and worked as a dancer and dance teacher my yoga teaching is informed by my knowledge of the body and movement gained through many years of dance practice. This underlying body awareness coupled with my personal journey deeper into yoga means that my teaching is constantly changing and evolving. Influenced by the clarity of Sivananda yoga, the philosophy of the Satyananda tradition and the flow of Astanga yoga, my current focus is to bring people to a place of calm where the body can rest and restore itself. By focusing on the co-ordination of breath with movement, fluidly mobilising the joints, gently stretching the muscles and building strength through holding postures the mind begins to settle. Every session ends with a period of relaxation to absorb the effects of the practices and all the good work achieved during the class!