As another year draws to a close it is time to reflect and plan ….
Part of our reflection over the last few weeks has been on the Niyamas – codes of discipline and observances:
Saucha – cleanliness of thought and body
Santosha – contentment
Tapas – energy to get things done and burn off negativity
And this week is Svadhyaya….. When we use the yoga practice of svadhyaya—self-reflection – our actions can become much more than a way to achieve something external; they become a mirror in which we can learn to see ourselves more deeply. If we are willing to look at behaviors, motivations, and strategies we habitually use to maintain our own self-image, we can use Svadhyaya to pierce through the veil that this self-image creates and into the nature of our own deeper being. Svadhyaya is also self-study and using spiritual texts to help us find deeper meaning to ourselves and give us inspiration when we are struggling against the grain of our normal habits…….
The body-based nature of our yoga practice also makes it especially powerful for those of us who have a tendency to get caught up in our thoughts or emotions or inner-dialogue. By learning to stay in touch with our bodies on the mat, we can cultivate the skill of checking in throughout the practice, using any experience of tension or agitation or “dis-ease” in our bodies as a reminder to check in with and redirect our thoughts – to take a moment to observe: “I am clenching my jaw…” or: “My back is tense…” and then to ask: “What am I possibly protecting myself for or from?” By building this awareness – particularly of our personal patterns in terms of where and how we manifest different imbalances – we can carry the self-awareness developed on the mat into all avenues of our lives.
We will therefore be practicing Svadhyaya on Tuesday at 5.50pm along with focusing on providing some calm in the busy build up to Christmas …. I look forward to seeing you then .. please let me know if you can make it for the last session of the year.
Going forward in 2016 the yoga sessions will run as much as possible alongside the school terms, therefore the first block of sessions will be from:
Tuesday January 5th – Tuesday 9th February inclusive
Block booking for the 6 weeks will be £48.00
£10.00 for a drop in
As the sessions can get quite full and there will be a maximum of 10 people per session please let me know if you would like to reserve a block of 6 and I will hold you a place. If you cannot make a session and let me know at the time you book your block then it can be carried over to the next half term. (If you have sessions to carry over from this year then reduce your payment by £8.00 per carry over session)
Payments can be made online:
Please email for details.
Finally the next 8 Week Course for Stress and to Enhance Wellbeing will be on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm and the dates will be announced shortly …if you know anyone who might like to register their interest please send me an email or text.