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Yoga Pose

Weekly Ayurvedic yoga groups and 1:1 classes in Batcombe Somerset

Joanna teaches Sivananda inspired hatha yoga in her Batcombe studio,  according to Ayurvedic principals. Sivananda yoga has a complete approach with pranayama, sun salutes, inversions, forward bends and backbends, twisting, balancing and standing poses, chanting, and full final relaxation (which is when the Ayurvedic doshas are balanced by your practice).  She has also trained with many inspirational teachers including:

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  • Yoga therapy for lower back pain, Dr Robin Monro, Yoga Biomedical Trust

  • Pregnancy Yoga, Uma Dinsmore Tuley

  • Ayurvedic Yoga, Mukunda Stiles

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​​It’s important to remember yoga is not just theory, nor physical postures to practice on your mat, but is a practical way of life to help you find inner peace.  Yoga is also about a life of compassionate self-discipline, both on and off your yoga mat, with the aim of ‘simple living and high thinking.’ This real goal of Yoga is to understand that true happiness comes from within, when the mind is free from endless thoughts. As such, Yoga is universal in nature, and is for everybody  regardless of age, gender, physical ability, or religion. Yoga is not a religion, but is a framework for spiritual growth and the integration of body, mind and spirit. All classes are tailored to needs.​

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Benefits of yoga

  • Enhanced intellect, increased efficiency and reduced stress levels

  • Greater contentment, concentration and mental steadiness

  • Enhanced feelings of well-being and general vitality

  • Improved circulation and hence detoxification

  • A greater connection with the body’s and mind’s genuine needs

  • Living a life with a deeper consciousness, integrity and joy

  • Help with chronic illness eg: asthma, diabetes, arthritis (through tailored Yoga Therapy)

Yoga Class

What is Ayurvedic Yoga for 1:1 classes?

A well rounded Yoga practice should be tridoshic by nature (balancing for all Ayurvedic types) and can accommodate any constitution or imbalance. For example:

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  1. Vata types (or those with a vata imbalance) should focus on slow Sun Salutes; leg lifting; Camel; Cobra; and Cat. Alternate nostril breathing can help balance Vata. Beyond Yoga, slow, gentle exercise such as Tai Qi, QiGong, swimming, and walking are recommended rather than active sports such as jogging.

  2. Pitta types benefit from cooling  Moon Salutes; Fish; Boat; and Bow. Cooling shitali breaths can help with heat, irritation, inflammation and anger. Calming exercise, Tai Qi, Aikido, hiking or swimming are all recommended, avoiding intense competitive sports and hot mid-day exercise.

  3. Kapha types need fast Sun Salutes and postures such as Bridge; Peacock; Tree; and Lion. Bhastrika pranayama and Kappalabhati are good. Any vigorous hot exercise, especially early morning is excellent.

 

Click here for an excellent introduction to combining Ayurveda and Yoga from Dr David Frawley and Banyan Botanicals.

History of yoga

 

‘“An ounce of practice is worth a tonne of theory.” (Swami Sivananda)

 

Yoga’ is derived through the Sanskrit word for ‘union’ and represents the union of the individual soul with the universal soul, and of the body with the mind. The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. His Yoga Sutras serve as a guide for yoga that is practiced today, outlining the eight limbs of yoga: yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), & samadhi (liberation).

 

Today most people practicing yoga are engaged in the third limb, asana, physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation. The fourth limb, pranayama (breath control) is also practiced in the West.  'Hatha’ yoga is used to describe these practices, and is translated as ha ( “sun”) and tha (“moon”).  This refers to the balance of masculine aspects (active, hot, sun) and feminine aspects (receptive, cool, moon) within. Yoga is a powerful tool for personal development, creating balance, strength and flexibility of body and mind. It also teaches us how to balance effort with knowing when to accept and surrender to current circumstances.

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“Yoga is the calming of the thoughts. It is the cessation of the fluctuations of consciousness.” (Yoga sutras of Patanjali, Chapter One, Verse One)

Wild Flowers

“I strongly believe the yoga helped release tension around my neck, and help with my headaches. The breathing exercises also helped release toxins out from my body as well as change my brain chemicals! The supper after was excellent. Today, you showed us your favorites super foods and let us sample them which was great. Thank you very much again for the class tonight!”

Katie M after Yoga Supper Club

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