Rarely do we take time to listen to our bodies; to our breath. Yoga allows us this time to develop an inner awareness. With a regular continued practice of yoga we can change the way we feel about ourselves and change the way in which we interact with those around us. We can develop a more healthy body; a healthy, peaceful mind and a healthy emotional state of being. We find ourselves more in tune, in balance and harmony.
We’ve written a little more about our approach over on this page.
“Yoga is a way to restore our lost wholeness, our integrity as complete human beings, by unifying the personality around a centre that is silent, unbounded, spacious and joyful.
“The techniques of yoga are methods of purifying the nervous system so that it can reflect a greater degree of consciousness and our lives can become an increasingly positive force in the world.
If these techniques are correctly practiced the whole nervous system is revitalised, the body enjoys better health and more energy.
“The rested mind is freed from the burden of past experiences and perception is restored to its primal freshness. Thought and activity become coherent and integrated, life becomes richer and more fulfilling.
“Yoga is not a religion, its techniques however will gradually lead you to the direct experience of those truths on which religion rests. Yoga is a catalyst that allows us to grow in whichever direction is natural and life supporting.”
– Alistair Shearer
Yoga is an holistic practice working on all levels, physical, emotional and spiritual.
Asana brings strength, stability, flexibility and freedom of movement, and will encourage all of the bodies systems to work more efficiently. Asana will help in stabilising the emotions.
Breath awareness and pranayama will benefit the respiratory system. Breathing more efficiently will bring more energy and vitality into our lives. It can help us to relax and sleep well also enabling us to cope with life’s stresses and strains.
Relaxation is a highly valuable part of practice. It is in the moments of stillness and quiet that the body can absorb and process the benefits of yoga. Relaxation is natures way of giving the body chance to recharge, refresh and rejuvenate, calming the mind and emotions. The deep relaxation of Yoga Nidra will improve our quality of sleep, it has many other benefits from relieving stress and anxiety to significant pain relief.
Our practice will lead us ultimately to meditation, the quintessential purpose of yoga. Meditation has been widely researched and recognised as having a profound effect upon our mental health and wellbeing, helping towards enabling us to step back from habitual thoughts and emotions so that we can view them with complete clarity and perspective.
A clear mind gives us the ability to make well informed decisions with respect to every aspect of our life, enabling us to live it to it’s full potential.
“We have a lamp inside of us.
The oil is our breathing, our steps,
and our peaceful smile.
Our practice is to light up the lamp”– Thich Nhat Hanh