Yoga Synergy is an approach to yoga, developed in 1984 by experienced yoga practitioners and physiotherapists, Simon Borg Oliver and Bianca Machliss. This unique style is suitable for every body, using various techniques and methodologies drawn from Tai Chi, modern medical science and Hatha Yoga to help the “modern” day body access traditional yoga postures. The aim of Yoga Synergy is to teach the ancient art of yoga in a safe, active and intelligent manner rooted in a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology.
The method encourages the student to practice responsibly with a sense of awareness and compassion towards how you feel in the present moment. By honouring the boundaries and limitations of the body, Yoga Synergy teaches the students to respond to the body exactly as it is in the moment without attachments to the past or future outcomes.
The overall practice is designed to stimulate the body to move naturally with fluidity and ease whilst connecting to the natural, diaphragmatic rhythm of the breath which will in turn enhance life force, energy and vitality. We then learn to generate energy via our yoga practice by gently moving through a meditative flow over time developing strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Ultimately, we create a practice that is safe with long term benefits, equipping us with the tools and abilities to better cope with stress in our modern day lifestyles.
The Yoga Synergy approach can be applied to any form of yoga, helping the practitioner to discover harmony in the body, mind and spirit by practicing with softness and ease whilst maintaining a firm, steady and centred awareness (sthira sukham asanam). Through incorporating asanas, vinyasa, pranayama and meditation, the practice will energise the body by increasing the blood flow and establish calmness in the mind, continually focusing the attention to the breath in each present moment.
Modern pilates, rooted in classic pilates has evolved in response to musculoskeletal research, physical therapy and the creativity of the instructor.
These classes focus on precise movements that originate from the core of your body.
Working from the deepest layers of muscles, you will learn to stabilise and support your spine and pelvis, which are the foundation for achieving a strong flexible body & ideal postural alignment.
This enjoyable Pilates series will focus on finding length through your muscles and space in your joints combined with building strength and tone. Promoting bone health and an ease of movement in the body. Occasionally we will use soft balls and bands.
Yin yoga is a quiet contemplative practice.
Yin yoga works deeply into our body with passive, longer-held poses.
It targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, the deep fascia networks of the body and the meridians. This is contrast to a Yang yoga practice such as Vinyasa yoga which targets the muscles.
Energetically, Yin yoga improves the energy flow, enhancing the flow of chi in the organs. To be healthy, we need healthy organs as well as healthy muscles. Yin yoga also offers wonderful emotional and mental health benefits.
What to expect in a typical Yin yoga class
A Yin yoga class usually consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that mainly work the lower part of the body – the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine. These areas are especially rich in connective tissues. The poses are held for up to five minutes, sometimes longer. Yin is almost entirely passive, although some Yin asanas contain Yang elements. During the asanas, muscles are relaxed to avoid muscle spasm, which could result from engaging muscles for long periods.
Benefits of a regular practice
Increases circulation and improves flexibility
Calms and balances the mind and body
Reduces stress and anxiety
Releases fascia
Encourages deeper relaxation
Improves joint mobility
Brings balance to the organs through meridian stimulation
Vinyasa is an approach to yoga in which you move from one pose directly into the next. There’s a flow to a Vinyasa yoga session, though the specific poses and the pace of the flow vary from one instructor to the next. You may also hear the term Ashtanga yoga used interchangeably with Vinyasa.
Mindfulness means paying attention, with kindness and patience, to what is going on inside and outside of you right now
It is a secular meditative practice, which involves paying attention to what is happening as it happens, and doing so with an attitude of kindness, acceptance, and non-judgment.
Practising mindfulness results in greater self-awareness. It enables us to become more joyful, more empathic, and more resilient. We can learn to respond with greater wisdom and flexibility to all emotions and experiences, and learn to live with greater happiness and vitality.
In Hatha Flow we move the body with the breathe through simple sequences of postures, connecting to our innate natural rhythm. This calms and focuses the mind, while building strength and flexibility in the body.
Even in still postures we can find a subtle movement, a pulse with the breathe. Getting in touch with this pulsation in the body can begin by simply breathing up and down the spine in a seated position. Here we connect more consciously to the flow of Prana, our life-force. Keeping this connection, we move through the asanas in a flowing order which awakens our vitality whilst also restoring peace, releasing stress from both body and mind.
The practice of physical postures, or asanas, which drive physical energy through precise verbal instructions with attention to detail and alignment. The emphasis is on conscious movement to develop strength, balance and concentration.
Emotionally, this practice calms our nervous system and cleanses our minds of stress and tension leaving you with a feeling of wellbeing. Hatha can be translated in two ways. One as “willful” or “forceful,” the second as “sun” and “moon.” In these translations, we see the representation of the yoga of activity and the yoga of balance.
Ashtanga yoga is the oldest form of yoga known to human race. It is a basic foundation to all yoga styles. It takes its origin 2100 years ago when Patanjali systematized and classified ancient teachings of Shiva into Eight Fold path called Astaunga. Ashtanga means eight limbs or branches of yoga, of which asana or physical posture is merely one branch, breath or pranayama is another. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a modern day form of classical Indian yoga.
Vinyasa is the alignment of breaths with movements in asanas. When vinyasa is perfect, the mind is under control. For each movement, there is one breath. Asanas or yoga postures not only tone the muscles, increase flexibility and improve the posture through alignment, but they also have a profound impact on the endocrine glands, balancing the secretion of hormones and restoring psychic and emotional well-being, hence the emphasis is not on vigour of execution, but on correct positioning, deep breathing and quiet but persistent flow of movement. It will help you to develop strength and flexibility as well as achieve a general sense of well-being.
Classes are a moderate level with everybody welcome from the beginner to advance.
In a world where teenager’s are experiencing such high levels of academic and social pressures, whilst their bodies and brains are going through massive changes, it is so important to make sure they feel supported, healthy and confident.
These sessions include physical exercise to increase strength and flexibility. It’s always fun to spend a lessons building up to a new balancing pose or play around with partner yoga. Whilst incorporating mindful themes to reflect upon, each session will also introduce breathing exercises and gradually work towards focusing inwards in order to introduce the idea of meditation.
By sharing yoga and mindfulness with young people, we can offer them tools to reduce stress, build strength and flexibility, learn to love themselves and escape for a little while.
“Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly, from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like the rays of the sun.”
BKS Iyengar
Kundalini Yoga is an ancient, powerful and transformative form of yoga. “Kundalini” is our energy of potential and the techniques we use, developed over thousands of years, release blockages and open up our energy pathways enabling the right amount of Kundalini energy at the right frequency to flow smoothly through our system. With consistent practise, our mind becomes clearer, our body stronger and more flexible, our energy levels soar and we enable our authentic self to shine through. Profound transformations take place and we live a healthier, happier, more prosperous life.
Each class will be different as we will be focusing on a particular aspect of ourselves each week, however the structure of the class will remain the same and in every class, we work with the breath, yoga postures, mudras, body locks, meditation and mantras.… and all classes will work on strengthening our nervous system and balancing our glandular system, increasing our vitality, and reducing our levels of stress.
A typical class will include:
Tuning in chant
Warm up exercises which will prepare you for the yoga set (kriya) to follow
Kriya – a series of exercises designed to affect a particular aspect of yourself
Deep relaxation
Meditation
Tuning out chant
Kundalini Yoga is suitable for all levels and ages. Please notify the teacher if you are pregnant.
