Yoga
Yoga in Sanskrit means unity, and I believe that to be in relation to others but most importantly to yourself. It’s a beautiful practice to create unity with body, mind and soul.
An amazing way to deepen your practice, create a space of ultimate relaxation during your busy schedule or learn how to move correctly through postures in is to book into a private class. Whether working on breathing techniques, learning how to move safely with injuries or simply wanting to learn more about alignment, having a session completely dedicated to yourself with a teacher who is entirely focused on you is a wonderful gift to be able to give yourself or a loved one.
Having done training in Yoga Therapy, I am very much focused on working with injuries in a mindful way to release tension and improve day-to-day life.
If you’d like to get enquire further or book yourself a private yoga class just get in contact.
Below you will find a little bit of information about the different styles of yoga and which one might suit you best.
‘Yoga is the dance of every cell with the music of every breath that creates inner serenity and harmony”
Debasish Mridha
I am currently teaching 4 group online class per week with Move Your Frame.
Wednesday 7:30pm Yin
Thursday 7:15am Morning Flow
Sunday 9am Wake up Well Flow
Sunday 7pm Yin
Click here to view the timetable and book in.
I also teach a Sunday 11am Conscious Flow at Shanti Bee - Heaton, Newcastle UK
Check out the schedule to book in.
Hatha
One of the widely used descriptions of Hatha Yoga is ‘movement’. This practice includes some flow, but is generally much slower-paced than a Vinyasa class, with a large emphasis on breath-movement connection. In a Hatha class there is a greater focus on alignment so you hold the postures for longer, which means that you can build up a strong and safe practice. Holding postures not only increases muscle memory, therefore increasing fitness, but it is also amazing at increasing flexibility. Ha means ‘Sun’ and Tha means ‘Moon’ meaning that it is a balanced practice – for body and mind.
Vinyasa
The name ‘Vinyasa’ comes from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘Breath’; the postures are always connected through breath, acting like a moving meditation. Vinyasa classes tend to be faster paced than a Hatha class, but like in Hatha yoga, no two Vinyasa classes are the same; a variety of postures are used and the teachers create their own personal flows. Classes can either have a specific focus (i.e. Hips and Hamstrings) or it can be a well-balanced flow focusing on all areas of the body. Sun Salutations play a large role in a Vinyasa practice, which yogis say are like spring cleaning for the body, leaving you refreshed, energised and feeling wonderful.
Yin
Yin is a gentle, very nurturing practice, but not necessarily an easy one. It is not a flow style practice but rather a deeply relaxing practice filled with long-hold postures (up to around 5 minutes per posture). This targets not the large muscles but instead the connective tissues – ligaments, bones, joins and deep fascia. Yin yoga has so many benefits, it is an amazing practice for increasing flexibility and also calming down the mind. You work with the breath to help soften the mind, therefore allowing the body to relax and deepen into the postures. A wonderful compliment to a faster paced flow practice, or to an intense cardio and heavy weight filled workout regime.
Restorative
Restorative is definitely one of the most beneficial Yoga practices out there for the mind. A wonderful, nurturing and loving practice where in the postures you use bolsters and cushions to relax the entire body completely. Rather than finding an edge like in Yin yoga, you want to find a point of complete relaxation so that your mind can completely relax too. Restorative Yoga’s focus is on balancing the Nervous Systems, calming down not only the body and releasing tension there, but totally calming down the mind. It is a very meditative practice and you end up leaving the space feeling like you’re floating.
Yoga Nidra is also frequently called Conscious Sleep. It is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. Yoga Nidra is a guided lying down meditation and is a great stepping stone towards seated meditation. This guided meditation is designed to induce a deep full body – physical, mental and emotional – relaxation. One hour of Yoga Nidra is the equivalent to 4 hours sleep, helping you to feel rejuvenated, calm and self-aware.
Meditation
Meditation is a very loose term for using techniques to focus on the present moment and entering into a conscious state. By focusing on the breath (Pranayama), using visualisation, and listening to sounds and movements we help to decrease the chatter in the mind and increase our awareness of the present. Meditation is traditionally done seated and is used as a time to reflect inwards. When you meditate you are fully awake and alert but the mind is not focused on what is going on in the external world. A lot easier said than done, meditation practice can vary completely day-to-day, but the benefits are always huge. It helps to reduce stress, control anxiety, enhances self-awareness, lengthens the attention span and many more things… try it for yourself to reap the full rewards.
Pranayama
Pranayama is also known as breath work, it is the conscious awareness of the breath. Pranayama is the foundation of your yoga practice, as the controlled breath connection helps when performing yoga postures, while relaxing the mind. There are many different types of breathing techniques to be explored such as Alternative Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana), Breath of Fire (Kapalabhati) and Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari). The benefits are amazing; it cleanses the body, purifies the blood and respiratory system, this deeper breathing enriches the blood with oxygen, and it is also a wonderfully meditative practice.
Yoga Nidra
Book a Class
I teach a variety of different group and private classes per week online and in person.
Check out my schedule to book in.