WORKSHOPS

AN INTRODUCTION TO AERIAL YOGA

With Paddy Gallagher

Sunday 26th January | 12:45pm – 2:45pm

£30

FAMILY YOGA: CONNECT AND SUPPORT

With Kelly Ann 

Sunday 26th January | 3pm – 4pm

This Family Yoga session is a great way to spend some quality time together, reconnect with each other and have fun through Yoga.
We’ll go on a yoga journey together with music, yoga games, breathing exercises and a cosy relaxation.

During the session with Kelly you’ll experience plenty of laughter & joy, enjoy learning together & spending time in each other’s company, practice energetic and exciting yoga activities to challenge everyone, discover partner yoga to encourage bonding & being a team. This will help to build on strength, flexibility, enhancing focus & mindfulness, and finding inner calm & quietness.

Open to all ages of children and family members, we will go on a yoga journey together with some music, yoga games, support each other in partner poses, and practice some breathing exercises.

£10 adult and one child, £2 for additional children/ adults. Maximum 2 children per adult attending.

BATHING IN STILLNESS: YIN YOGA AND YOGA NIDRA

With Heather Gregg

Sunday 26th January | 5:45pm – 7:15pm

A special Sunday evening workshop to indulge in the quiet and gentle practice of Yin Yoga and soak up the transformative power of Yoga Nidra.
Yin Yoga is a healing practice of long-held poses where muscles completely relax & surrender to allow us to access the deeper layers of the body. It works on releasing constrictions in the connective tissue, ligaments, and tendons that support the hips, pelvis and lower spine. It also stimulates & opens the energy meridians of the subtle body, often described as a “needleless acupuncture session” for the body!
This nurturing workshop will take you through a specific series of seated & supine poses. Aimed at improving joint mobility, cultivating flexibility and help you heal yourself by releasing deep seated tension, breaking up blockages and thus encouraging easier flow of energy around the body, moving you out of negative emotions. You’ll discover balance and find a deep peace in your body & mind.
After the physical part of the practice you will release yourself totally with a Yoga Nidra Meditation. Yoga Nidra, or Yogic Sleep, takes you into a deep state of relaxation & ease which shifts the nervous system to a restorative and healing mode. It brings an incredible sense of calmness, quietness, and clarity.
Sooth, restore and relax deeply in this bliss bubbling Sunday yoga workshop.
Come and enjoy!

£15

YOGA UNPLUGGED: RESTORATIVE YOGA

With Jen Nevin

Friday 31st January | 7.45pm – 9.15pm

Relax, Rejuvenate & Rebalance

This candle lit restorative yoga class is a perfect way to unwind and close out your working week so you’re fully recharged & ready for the weekend ahead. In restorative yoga, otherwise known as the art of relaxation, the body is fully supported by props in passive yoga poses to gently stretch, relax and open the body, adjusting the nervous system and resting the adrenal glands to melt away physical and mental tensions and promoting deep release, rest & relaxation in the mind and body. They also assist the body’s processes of healing injuries and recovering from illness by releasing tension that would otherwise impede recovery. Taking place in a calming setting of candlelight and soothing music, this yoga class is the ideal opportunity to take your mind off your busy life & indulge yourself.
Open to all ages & abilities – No experience necessary.

£15

A FULL DAY OF WORKSHOPS WITH JAMES FRENCH

With James French

Saturday 1st February | 10.30am – 5.30pm

Yogi James is making a special visit to teach with us at Heather Yoga this February.

About James

James is a 500 hour International Yoga teacher, based in India specialising in Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and Chakra Yoga. James is well known for his creative sequences, awesome music, friendly attitude and terrible jokes. He has a particular interest in psycho-spiritual work, and the way that unexpressed emotions and traumas are stored in the body and how we can liberate ourselves by releasing them through our practice. He also incorporates the more subtle, pranic aspects of yoga as a route to healing, evolution and inner peace. James has taught all over the world, but loves to return to his hometown of London every summer where he teaches at some of his favourite studios.

Session One – Heart Openers and Backbends 10.30am-1.00pm

Session Two – Yoga and the Breath: Reducing Anxiety and Stress 2.30pm-5.30pm

Prices include- The Heart Openers and Backbending session is £30. Yoga and the Breath: Reducing Stress and Anxiety is £35. A full day of workshops is £55.

Our Early Bird offer includes a £5 discount from each individual session or from the full day of workshops if you book by 5th Jan 2020.

HEART OPENERS AND BACKBENDS

With James French

Saturday 1st February | 10.30am – 1pm

Yogi James is making a special visit to teach with us at Heather Yoga this February.

Heart-Opening poses can be transformative. They can energise, they can ground, they can shift stuck emotions and they can simply feel awesome! However, if we are not able to skilfully move in and out of the pose, they can also hurt or even lead to injury.

In this carefully crafted and fun Vinyasa sequence we will learn to prepare the different parts of the body that are required to work together to cultivate a safe and joyous backbend practice. In addition to increasing our flexibility, we will look at the value of also building strength. We will learn about the difference between Active ROM (Range of Motion) and Passive ROM. And we will explore a selection of heart-opening poses. James will always offer modifications and options so that all levels from beginners to Teachers can participate, learn and evolve their practice.

Suitable for all levels – everyone is welcome.

Prices include- The Heart Openers and Backbending session is £30. Yoga and the Breath: Reducing Stress and Anxiety is £35. A full day of workshops is £55.

Our Early Bird offer includes a £5 discount from each individual session or from the full day of workshops if you book by 5th Jan 2020.

YOGA AND THE BREATH: REDUCING ANXIETY AND STRESS

With James French

Saturday 1st February | 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Yogi James is making a special visit to teach with us at Heather Yoga this February

According to several Eastern traditions, unprocessed grief affects the lungs and manifests as tension or stagnation. This physical tension affects the way that breathe and can result in the symptom of anxiety. Through conscious breathing and movement, we can start to reverse this process. In this workshop, we will bring our lungs to life and experience the dispelling of anxiety. We will look at how stress affects different people and what we can do to reduce the amounts of stress in our lives. We will learn how the way that we breathe affects our daily lives, particularly in relation to anxiety levels. This work is strongly influenced by the teachings of Max Strom and of Sri Prem Baba, both of whom James has studied and trained with for several years.

The workshop will incorporate a lecture followed by a Hatha-Flow practice. We have plenty of comfy cushions and blankets, so you only need to bring a pen and paper, some loose clothing and an open heart.

Suitable for all levels – everyone is welcome.

James is here for a full day of workshops at Heather Yoga.

Prices include Yoga and the Breath: Reducing Stress and Anxiety is £35 and Heart Openers and Backbending is £30. A full day of workshops is £55.

Our Early Bird offer includes a £5 discount from each individual session or from the full day of workshops if you book by 5th Jan 2020.

WINTER YIN: THE SEASON OF STILLNESS

With Freya Thomas

Friday 7th February | 7.45pm-9.15pm

Join Freya for this seasonal Yin Yoga workshop as we find ourselves mid winter.

We will be looking into the world of Chinese medicine alongside our physical yin practice, exploring the meridian lines of the Kidneys and Bladder. Chinese medicine takes a holistic approach to one’s health and much like a yin yoga practice, it promotes balance throughout the whole body. We will be exploring aspects of Chinese medicine by visualising and locating meridian lines, finding organs and acupressure points, as well as working through some Qi enhancing practices to stimulate our Kidneys which house our ‘essence’.
Winter is linked to the element of Water and the organs of the kidneys and the bladder and is considered the ultimate Yin stage within a seasonal cycle. Our practice will follow the theory of Five elements to bring the body into ‘homeostatic balance’. Yin yoga places mild to moderate stresses on our joints and connective tissues (fascia) and can help to improve blood flow, hydration and overall mobility in the body.

This practice is suitable for all abilities and we will be using lots of props to help us along the way!

£15

LOVE YOUR CORE & PELVIC FLOOR

With Kelly Ann

Friday 14th February | 1pm – 2:30pm

This workshop at Heather Yoga will focus on practical experience lead practices and techniques to build strength and confidence in the core. We will learn to support from within and encourage muscles to come back online and perform their given function. You will learn exercises to help improve your posture, access deep core muscles and develop your awareness of your pelvic floor. Everyone is welcome to join this workshop. Feel free to bring your children with you so you can still attend this workshop for you!

£25

FAMILY YOGA: VALENTINE’S SPECIAL

With Debs Grossman

Sunday 16th February | 3pm – 4pm

Love means lots of things to different people – love for ourselves, our family, our friends, pets and hobbies.
Demonstrating love towards someone or something can also be presented in different ways.
However we see it or show it, “all we need is love”

Our yoga session will open our hearts, bring smiles to our faces and warm our spirit; stretching, moving, playing and relaxing together.

No yoga experience required. Just an open mind and willingness to have fun with your loved ones.

This Family Yoga workshop is a great way to spend some quality time together, reconnect with each other and have fun through Yoga.
You’ll experience plenty of laughter & joy, enjoy learning together & spending time in each other’s company, practice energetic and exciting partner yoga poses to support each other, and encourage bonding & being a team. This will help to build on strength, flexibility, enhancing focus & mindfulness, and finding inner calm & quietness.

Open to all ages of children and family members.

£10 adult and one child, £2 for additional children/ adults. Maximum 3 children per family.

SOUND TO SILENCE EVENINGS WITH NITYA MUKTA

With Julia Carr

Friday 21st February | 8pm – 9.30pm

These monthly Sound to Silence sessions are an opportunity to drop out of our busy minds into our hearts with the healing practice of Kirtan.

The practice of Kirtan is from the path of Bhakti Yoga and is essentially a meditation practice. This joyful practice can help us to connect with the very best of oneself, whilst giving strength and courage to face challenges in our life.

Everyone is welcome!

£10 when booked upfront. £12 on the day

BATHING IN STILLNESS:YIN YOGA AND GONG SOUND RELAXATION

With Freya Thomas

Sunday 23rd February | 5.45pm-7.15pm

This month’s Sunday Yin Yoga workshop we will indulge in the quiet and gentle practice of Yin Yoga and once again include a special addition of deep relaxation with Gong Sound bath!

Yin Yoga is a healing practice of long-held poses where muscles completely relax & surrender to allow us to access the deeper layers of the body. It works on releasing constrictions in the connective tissue, ligaments, and tendons that support the hips, pelvis and lower spine. It also stimulates & opens the energy meridians of the subtle body, often described as a “needleless acupuncture session” for the body!
This nurturing workshop will take you through a specific series of seated & supine poses. Aimed at improving joint mobility, cultivating flexibility and help you heal yourself by releasing deep seated tension, breaking up blockages and thus encouraging easier flow of energy around the body, moving you out of negative emotions. You’ll discover balance and find a deep peace in your body & mind.
After the physical part of the practice you will release yourself totally into a soothing sound bath of gong, bells and singing bowl from Sound Therapist Alison Butterworth. The sound balances out the right & left sides of the brain, which stimulates & shifts the nervous system to a restorative and healing mode, and takes you into a deep state of relaxation & ease. A sonic massage and charges the cells of the. body – you will feel an incredible sense of calmness, quietness, and clarity.
Sooth, restore and relax deeply in this bliss bubbling Sunday yoga workshop.
Come and enjoy!

£15

A DAY OF WORKSHOPS WITH ADAM HOCKE

With Adam Hocke

Saturday 29th February | 12 noon – 6pm

Popular London based yoga teacher Adam Hocke is going to be back in Yorkshire for his 3rd visit to us at Heather Yoga with a full exciting day of workshops.

Adam is a renowned international yoga teacher, writer, and mentor who empowers his students in self-care. His classes are a blend of vinyasa flow and restorative yoga that leave the body and mind awakened and refreshed. Adam Hocke teaches precise, strong, and practical yoga classes to his students, blending contemporary understandings of movement and mindfulness with the traditions of yoga.
Adam also writes an award-winning blog and podcast as – Yoga with Adam.

Session One: Compassionate Core – Saturday 29th February 12 noon-2.30pm

Session Two: Wrist and Shoulder Maintenance – Saturday 29th February 3.30pm-6pm

Individual sessions are £35 and a full day of workshops is £60. We are offering an early bird of £30 for individual sessions and £50 for the full day if booked before 16th February.

COMPASSIONATE CORE 

With Adam Hocke

Saturday 29th February | 12 noon- 2.30pm

Change your relationship to your core by working more efficiently and compassionately in your practice. Instead of endless crunches and planks, we will learn the magic access points to core integration and use them to uplift and improve your execution of sun salutations, illuminate the inner-life of standing postures, and supercharge your preparations for arm balances and inversions. Beyond the development of holistic strength, we will learn how to stretch, release, and provide compassionate care to a part of us we routinely beat up. 

All levels welcome.

Individual sessions are £35 and a full day of workshops is £60. We are offering an early bird of £30 for individual sessions and £50 for the full day if booked before 16th February.

WRIST AND SHOULDER MAINTENANCE 

With Adam Hocke

Saturday 29th February | 3.30pm – 6pm

Yoga puts huge demands on the wrists and shoulders through a variety of postures that require weight-bearing and extreme mobility – sometimes all at once. This means that we have to be skillful and patient as practitioners to ensure the sustainability of our practices. In this workshop, we will rethink one-size-fits-all alignment and look at a variety of approaches to working with postures that require the upper-body to bear weight. In addition we will look at propping and modifications that can provide symptom management in these vulnerable regions. We will learn techniques, preparations, and releases to improve stability and function, and learn how to practice a full flow class off of your hands, if necessary.

All levels welcome.

Individual sessions are £35 and a full day of workshops is £60. We are offering an early bird of £30 for individual sessions and £50 for the full day if booked before 16th February.

YOGA BIRTH PREPARATION WORKSHOP

With Kelly Ann

Sunday 15th March | 3pm – 5pm

Usually, we will talk about what is happening to your body and baby in 1st and 2nd stage labour, yoga postures and movements to help facilitate labour as well as practice techniques to help you relax, and manage discomfort. It is kind of like a “birth simulation” although no two births will ever be the same! You wouldn’t go to an important presentation, or game without “practicing” first, so that is the idea here.

We’ll go over ways that your birth partner can support you throughout the labour and we will also cover labour positions. We talk about a “tool box”. If you have any questions, no question is silly, please ask, or make any special requests you need.

There will tea and biscuits to keep us going;)

Recommendation from a birth partner-

‘When my wife said we were attending Kelly’s yoga birth preparation workshop I was extremely sceptical, and really didn’t know what to expect. One of the first things Kelly asked us to do was to write down the first three words that came to mind when we thought about labour. My words were: pain, blood and fainting. If we were asked to do that same at the end of the session, my three words would have been: excitement, meeting our child and new beginnings. The entire workshop was excellent, it made me aware that I had an important role to play throughout the entire birthing experience, and helped me to feel more confident leading up to and during the process. Kelly provided me with tools to use to support my wife, and this also helped me to remain calm.I recommend all soon-to-be fathers attend Kelly’s Yoga Birth Preparation Class.’

£25

GONG BATH & SOUND JOURNEY: DIVE INTO DEEP RELAXATION

With Craig Eddington

Sunday 15th March | 4pm – 5pm

Join Sound Therapist Craig Eddington at Heather Yoga for this fantastic restorative way to leave behind the stresses of modern life as you step into the power of Sound Healing and Sound Therapy. The Gong is played gently along with Himalayan & Crystal Singing Bowls with the captivating tones lulling you into a deep relaxation & restorative state.

There are a number of health benefits associated with achieving this state of deep relaxation: lower blood pressure, increased blood circulation, balancing of the nervous system, reduced mind chatter, better sleep patterns. Some people gain mental clarity or feel very energised by the sessions. The session may even enhance your creativity.

Some people also experience a reduced sense of pain, plus relief from symptoms of ongoing medical conditions and illnesses. The sound helps to induce our natural relaxation response, taking us out of ‘fight or flight’ mode and into our restorative, parasympathetic state. Those with autoimmune & nervous system conditions have benefited considerably from this work.

Attending the session can leave you with a feeling of inner peace and tranquillity and a reduced sense of stress, anxiety or worry.

A Gong Relaxation works on all levels of your being – mind, body, soul & spirit. The sound vibrations will provide a ‘sonic massage’ to your physical self and subtle energy fields, leaving you feeling relaxed, refreshed and restored.

Everyone is welcome, sessions are open, informal and light hearted. Wear warm comfortable clothing. No special skills required, just bring a smile and let the sound work its magic!

All yoga mats, blankets & bolsters are provided though you may like to bring your own yoga mat / blanket / pillow for your comfort.

Prompt start. Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes earlier.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the event, late arrivals are unable to join part-way through.

£12.50

ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY + BIOMECHANICS APPLIED TO YOGA:
A 2-DAY TRAINING/IMMERSION

With Dr Yogi

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th March 2020 | 10am – 6pm

“The most useful and informative two days that I have spend in years!” Jo W, Yoga Teacher

For yoga teachers, yoga teacher trainees or yoga practitioners with at least a one-year consistent practice

In this two-day immersion we will explore in detail the anatomy and physiology of our incredible human body applied to practising and teaching yoga. Each topic that we delve into will be related directly back to the asana practice. The sessions will be interactive and experiential and will vary between discussion, lecture, small group work, personal reflection and group asana practice. There will be a strong focus on using knowledge of anatomy to make asana practices as inclusive as possible. A detailed manual will be included.

The immersion is ideal for yoga practitioners with an established practice, who want to learn more about the human body, go deeper in their own yoga practice and develop a teaching style that is up to date, empowering and inclusive. We will explore anatomy to a depth that is appropriate for teaching yoga.

By the end of the weekend you will feel inspired and empowered to teach yoga to the best of your ability. You will have the confidence to breakdown any yoga asana with a clear understanding of the key actions and movements and know how to work with your own unique anatomy and that of your student.

An Introduction to Intelligent Movement Principals:
• An introduction to muscle looking at its structure and function and how we can apply the knowledge of stretch reflexes to deepen our practice
• The structure and function of bone and joints looking at both the importance and limitation of alignment and what limits our movement
• How a knowledge of fascia can impact our movement on and off the mat
• The Nocebo Effect and choosing empowering language
• What causes muscle tightness
• Flexibility vs mobility
• Anatomical language and how this can help us to remember the names of some of our muscles

A Detailed Exploration of the Lower Limbs:
• An exploration of our feet and ankles looking at their structure and function and how we can apply this knowledge on and off the mat
• Why our knee joints may be vulnerable to injury and how to support them
• A detailed look at the hip joints focusing on what makes each of us so unique
• Piriformis Syndrome

A Detailed Exploration of the Upper Limbs:
• The importance of shoulder joint and girdle mobility and stability in our yoga practice
• An evidence-based approach to Shoulder Impingement
• Hyperextension of the elbow joint
• Why wrist pain is so common in yoga

A Detailed Exploration of the Spine:
• An exploration of our pelvis and sacro-iliac joints and how to keep this area supported during our asana practice
• An evidence-based approach to back pain and prolapsed discs
• The anatomy of our core musculature
• Increasing thoracic spine mobility
• Supporting our cervical spine during inversions
• An evidence-based approach to releasing neck tension

The Science Behind Why Yoga Makes Us Feel So Good:
• How yoga impacts our nervous system and relieves stress
• Yoga as a breath-led practice and why breath is so important
• Yoga for cardiovascular and lymphatic health

This immersion counts towards CPD requirements for Yoga Alliance members (14 contact hours)

2 Day Immersion Price:
£180 Early Bird if booked before 19th January 2020.
£200 Full Price.

Booking is essential to guarantee your place as places are limited.

About Andrew McGonigle aka Doctor Yogi:
After originally training to become a doctor, Andrew moved away from western medicine to pursue a career as a yoga teacher, massage therapist and anatomy teacher. Andrew has been practising yoga and meditation for over 13 years and teaching strong, grounding and inclusive classes since 2009. Andrew combines all of his skills to teach anatomy and physiology workshops across the globe. For more information visit: www.dr-yogi.com