Yoga
My mission as a yoga instructor is to give people the tools they need to keep themselves healthy in body, mind and spirit. I strive to challenge my students physically, but always within the limits of their bodies; and to help them experience the stillness within yoga asanas, that they can begin to bring into their daily lives. Yoga means union, and it truly means the union of body, mind and spirit during our practice.
As much as possible, I allow individual attention during classes, helping with good posture and alignment and bringing student's awareness to the subtleties of their bodies.
I bring focus to pranayama, the subtle practice of breath control, throughout. Yoga Nidra, or meditation is of the utmost importance within my classes. The practice of Yoga has been developed to prepare the body perfectly for meditation, leaving it in a state of complete relaxation, and allowing the perfect flow of energy or prana through the body. In the state of meditation, our immune systems perform at the peak of their function, so in every way we are benefitting physically.
I encourage students to bring their practice home with them, to their own private space, allowing them to experience acceptance and stillness of emotions on their own, which brings empowerment beyond compare and, of course, all the health benefits which accompany it.
Yoga is the perfect complement to the therapies which I practice, allowing people to control and balance their own energies daily, and in so doing, bringing health and balance to body, mind and spirit and allowing that balance to naturally and beautifully spill over into their daily lives.
Cottage Community Centre, Lusk
Thursdays:
10-11AM. 8 Class Term €65
7.30-9PM. 8 Class Term €80
Contact me to book your place. Details below.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The journey of yoga is from the outside to the inside; an inner awareness of the unity of the body, the mind and the spirit.
A system created by the ancient yoga sage Patanjali is known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga. These are broken down as:
1. Yamas
Non - violence to oneself and others
Truthfulness
Non-Stealing (this refers to a metaphorical stealing from oneself or others in health or in energy)
Non-Overindulgence
Non-covetousness
2. Niyamas
Cleanliness or purity
Contentment
Self discipline
Self Study
Surrender to God ( It is important to mention here that it is not necessary to belong to any faith or believe in God, however yoga does bring awareness of a connection to something beyond ourselves. Traditionally, yoga would be part of a spiritual practice.)
3.Asanas
Asanas are the physical postures which are practiced during yoga. The body is designed to move, free from physical restrictions. This must be practiced in a comfortable manner, allowing as much adjustment and support as necessary.
4.Pranayama
Pranayama is the control of our breath using breathing exercises throughout our practice and bringing it in after our asanas. Prana refers to energy, and this energy is beautifully harnessed during our practice with the use of pranayama. It is an essential part of yoga practice.
5.Pratyahara
Withdrawal of the senses. Not being distracted by any of the five senses during practice. This is achieved during yoga Nidra (meditation)
6.Dharana
Concentration. Throughout practice, we are constantly being given things to let our focus settle upon, be it the body's position, our breath or a drishti or point of focus.
7.Dhyana
Meditation. The reason we apply all the other "limbs" is to bring us to this point of sense withdrawal.
8.Samadhi
Union with the Divine (again, not necessarily in a religious sense, but can be experienced as an energetic connection with all that is)