Styles & Benefits
Forrest
Yoga
Forrest yoga has been
developed by Ana Forrest over 30 years to address the physical and emotional
stresses and challenges of today's people. Intense pose sequences and
conscious breathing will help to bring aliveness into your body.
As a beginner of
Forrest yoga you learn to breathe deeply and connect in feeling with your
body. As you progress, you get proficient at safely tailoring each pose to
work best for you; particularly with physical and emotional injuries.
Forrest yoga gets you
strong and centred by connecting you to your core. It uses heat, vigorous
workouts and deep breathing to sweat out toxins. The long holds in the pose
sequences help you flush, oxygenate, and rejuvenate every cell. Forrest yoga
does not require strength or flexibility; it only requires that you bring an
open mind.
Read more about Forrest yoga
on www.forrestyoga.com.

Jivamukti
Yoga
This
exciting form of yoga has been created by Sharon Gannon and David Life in
New York city. Since 1984 when Jivamukti was created it has caused a real
buzz in the yoga world. Jivamukti is a
physically challenging and intellectually stimulating yoga style. It
combines a vigorous asana (physical) practice with chanting, meditation,
yoga philosophy and deep relaxation. Jivamukti yoga brings together the
physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of yoga keeping the goal of
the practice always in mind - liberation. It is a creative approach to yoga
and to living and being. Uplifting and inspirational music plays an integral
part in every class.
Sandra is one of the few
certified Jivamukti teachers outside London teaching this unique and
exciting style of yoga.
Read more about Jivamukti on
www.jivamuktiyoga.com.
THE BUZZ ON JIVAMUKTI YOGA
"All the spirituality of traditional yoga, but with a modern twist"
--Red Magazine
" Gannon and Life work hard to show that yoga is not just about health and
fitness, and that spirituality can be congruent with the high-energy,
vibrant lifestyle..."
--Yoga Journal
"I always learn something at Jivamukti; they really educate the students."
-- Christy Turlington, Time Magazine
"Looking for a highly meditative but physically challenging form of yoga?
Try Jivamukti"
-- Yoga Journal
Ashtanga
Yoga
Ashtanga yoga is a
very dynamic, energetic and physically challenging form of Hatha yoga. Its
main focus is on deep breathing as you travel through a set sequence of
therapeutic yoga postures. Breath is synchronised with movement guiding you
through the practice.
On one level,
Ashtanga Yoga helps you to increase body-tone, flexibility, stamina and
concentration, while working deeply on your body. The practice creates heat
in the body whereby toxins are released which reside in the deep muscle
layers of the body helping you to alleviate fatigue, stress, depression and
illness.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga dates back to 15th
century India. It is what most people in the Western world associate with the
word "Yoga" and tends to be practiced for mental and physical well-being. Modern
day Yoga styles such as Iyengar, Viniyoga and Ashtanga, are derived and
developed from Hatha Yoga.
Hatha Yoga classes generally
include; a combination of breath and physical movement - the breath being the
indicator of so much about our physical, mental and emotional state, and the
movement being so important to both strengthen and loosen the body. To this a
little about the history of Yoga is added, as well as Yoga philosophy, and
traditional Yoga breathing methods - to finish each class there will be some
time for relaxation - a time to let the body be still. Over time the results are
a delightful mix of a physically supple and stronger body, with stillness in the
mind - a state of contentment. Over-riding all of this - in class you learn to
be curious, interested, keen, but not judge yourself harshly - to rejoice in
what you can do - to patiently develop what doesn't happen so easily - and to
have some fun along the way!
Pregnancy
Yoga
Pregnancy
yoga is suitable for women who are at least 12-14 weeks pregnant.
It is an excellent way to bond with the unborn
baby. It not only helps to deal with problems which might occur during
pregnancy, such as back and shoulder problems, but it also prepares the
expecting mother for labour and birth. Specific postures and breathing
techniques will help to develop and improve strength, stamina and peace of mind.
Kid's Yoga
An important step in growing
up for children is to learn how to become responsible adults. Through education,
love and understanding, children can learn how to become independent and
conscious of their decisions in life. Yoga is an excellent way of bringing this
awareness into a child's life, because it makes the children connect with their
inner being. Yoga also helps to develop focus and concentration, improve
flexibility, strength and balance. The Children Yoga Classes are a fun way to
get introduced to yoga. Classes are focused on learning the traditional
postures, and using breathing techniques. We explore yoga through yoga games,
activities and include music to make it more fun and a more open environment.
Pilates
Joseph Pilates "invented" his method of body conditioning during the First
World War and then took it to America where he worked with dancers. It is a
method of body conditioning which strengthens and tones muscles, and
improves posture, flexibility and balance. The exercises strengthen your
"core" muscles - those around your mid-section - predominantly your
Transversus Abdominus, deep muscles which form a girdle around your body -
hence Pilates being good for some back problems.
A class usually follows a pattern - finding correct posture, a few
mobilising moves, a whole host of Pilates exercises, followed by a general
stretch and a few minutes' relaxation. Sometimes people ache, sometimes
they don't - and just because you don't doesn't mean you're not doing the
exercises properly or are not working hard. You will work on the
deep muscles, possibly ones you didn't even realise you had!
You will work with your breathing whereby slow, controlled, flowing
movements are stressed.