Enough, already!!

‘Tis no longer the season to be jolly, etc (unless being jolly is a full-time thing for you, which isn’t a bad idea….), so let’s get back to it. eh? All classes are back on – and don’t let a bit of snow get in the way of getting to class – I’ll come and pick you up in my snow-mobile if necessary……

Yoga Peeps interview

I recently made a special guest appearance in the Yoga Peeps audio podcast.  Yoga Peeps is an American website which features interviews with yoga practitioners from around the world.

I feature in Episode 75. Check it out by clicking here…

CLASSES: End of ‘09/Start of ‘10

Freestylers! Just a reminder that my last class of ‘09 will be 7.30pm at Toc H Hall, Tunbridge Wells, Tuesdy December 22 (with a meal afterwards in a lovely local Italian restaurant!). And my first class of ‘10 will be at Stonemonkey, Leamington Spa, 9.30am, Saturday Jan 2. Happy holidays!

WORKSHOP NEWS

Thanks to all who attended my last workshop of ‘09 in Birmingham – and thanks to Tony for organising it. I think I’ll be there again around next April/May. First workshop of 2010 will be at Shambhala Studios, Leigh-on-Sea ( www.shambhalastudios.com ) on Sunday, January 17. Contact Lyn at lyn.long@ymail.com to book.

Teacher Training 2010

Includes: 2 day Thai Yoga Massage and Anatomy & Physiology with Kathryn Ellis and 1 day First Aid For Yoga with Michael Bond

March 27-April 6, 2010, in Warwickshire.

88 Yoga Alliance hours stand-alone course. With the opportunity to continue your education and increase your YA hours to 200.

Cost: £650

Places are limited. Early booking recommended. A £100 non-returnable deposit secures your place.

For early bookers, there is a fully-kitted out house available to share, owned by one of my friends/students in picturesque Wellesbourne.

Dynamic, challenging, vinyasa-orientated and still with a nod towards ashtanga, my own take on yoga, The Freestyle Yoga Project, is geared towards encouraging teachers and students to think for themselves and investigate what’s going on over the side of their particular yogic box. No one style of yoga holds all the answers and so can be potentially limiting. Freestyle works in the context of ‘vinyasa krama’ – the sequencing of breath/movement postures to a particular end. Want to open those hips/backs/hamstrings? Want to nail the jump-thru/jump-back/handstand? It’s all in the preparation. Sequence a series of postures over an hour or so that address those parts of the body that require warming and opening, then carefully attempt the desired pose. This is intelligent yoga. One size does not fit all.

So, how does one teach such a free-flowing class? I will show you. There will be nuts & bolts instruction on how to carefully adjust a body in numerous yoga postures and then student teachers will be investigating how to create flowing, vinyasa sequences depending on their students’ needs/requests or particular themes you may want to lead your class through.

Teachers will learn to apply their own personalities to their classes and students will learn to tailor their practice to suit how they feel, what their bodies need and what pose they want to improve on.

One day, all yoga will be practiced and taught this way….

Please note: you do not have to want to become a teacher to attend this TT – the course can also offer a deep insight into your own practice. However, this is not a course for newcomers to yoga – it is advisable  that you have a couple of years practice under your belt before you sign up.

To apply, please email me an introduction to yourself outlining your yogic experience and some basic personal background information.

Also note: although this is not a traditional ashtanga TT, it is rooted there and thus is dynamic and challenging. You do not have to have a dynamic yoga background to join us, but if you do not, know that we will be working extremely hard.

I would also like to point out that I do not believe the idea of ‘pass or fail’ has any place in yoga. Students who stay the course will be issued with a ‘certificate of completion’ and will have earned 88 Yoga Alliance hours. I will then sit down individually with each of you and advise you on what Ifeel your next steps should be. For those wishing to continue their education and increase their YA hours to 200, I will invite you to work on a 1-1 basis with me and observe, shadow and assist any classes/workshops convenient to yourself.

Further details to be announced soon…

For more information, contact Mark on 07833 624398 mark@vinyasa.co.uk