<Worshop reviews>

Date	Workshop	Teacher	Comments

14/11/09	Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga	Michael Gannon
18/10/09	A Day of Yogaflow and Fun	Nell Lindsell
17/10/09	Sanscrit for Beginners	Hilary Macrae
9/10/09	Masterclass on the Chakras	Swami Vedantananda Saraswati	A wonderful evening of Yoga for £10 – that’s certainly worth chanting about! Our evening started with some Kirtan Inspired Song & Chanting by Krishnadhyanam. Krishnadhyanam showed us a very informative slideshow on the work of the Nirvanavan Foundation. We also had a chance to do some shopping to buy goods to help the work of the Foundation. Kriya ended this part of the evening by handing over just over £600 that had been raised by sponsored Sun Salutes earlier in the year. It was lovely to have been given some information about the good cause the sponsorship was going to. We then moved on to what was quite rightly called ‘A Master Class on The Chakras’ with Swami Vedantananda Saraswati. We were encouraged to focus on the Chakras by using sound, visualisation, breathing and asanas. Vedantananda truly took us on a Master Class journey to each chakra and I’m sure everyone felt the benefit of such concentrated practice. What a breath of fresh air this was. - Jan Paul
10/10/09	Developing Personal Practice of Chakra Work	Swami Vedantananda Saraswati	I have been to countless training days over the last twenty years or so, some have left me tired, some confused and some making me wonder if I am actually cut out to teach yoga at all. Others, of course, are real gems, refreshing, encouraging and inspiring. Swami Vedantananda Saraswati’s Chakra day on 10 October (and that is Chakra as in choice, not Chakra as in shoe) was just one of these. We began with a simple asana practice (although Swami Vedantananda’s ‘simple’ practices have a habit of being surprisingly challenging), followed by an amazing opportunity to practise seed mantras and mudras to deepen our personal experience. Heady stuff - and the energy in the group was particularly strong – but we were firmly reminded to keep our feet on the ground and practice something unfamiliar for at least six weeks before sharing it with students if appropriate. Finally, time for questions, and discussion about introducing chakras to a class. Thank you, Yoga Akasha, for organising such a good day. - Liz Peck
13/9/09	Yogaflows	Mohini Chatlani
28/29.30.8.09	Shamanish, total freedon and Ashtanga Yoga	Danny Paradise	“The Danny Paradise workshop gave three days of very strong practice, the whole based on the principles of ashtanga yoga but with much variation added in - of particular interest references to Mayan and shamanic cultures and actual incorporation of Egyptian yogic postures (which were so subtly different in their effect on the body). Danny is a gentle humorous guide enabling three enchanting sessions, encouraging and helping all at their appropriate level. The ashtanga flow and breathe took everyone through the standing sequence on Friday added the primary sitting postures on Saturday and flowed into the secondary series and some third series on Sunday. Those who had attended all three seemed to agree that on Sunday morning they felt very tired and yet, through the afternoon energy returned in abundance and all were revelling in the joyous flow of physical effort and mental control. Indeed Danny kept wondering whether the session should begin to close down for relaxation but the response seemed always to request more - including a few from the third series. A wonderful three days clearing the mind and relaxing the body (despite much stiffness) as if it had been a three day retreat” - Stuart
26/27.6.09	Bandha, Breath & Bones	David Keil
5.4.09	Ashtanga Yoga Demystified	Anthony 'Prem' Carlisi and Heather Duples
22.3.09	Appointed Persons First Aid Training	Mike Bond	“Entertaining, well dressed, thorough, knowledgeable.” “Very good and thorough, personally engaging.” “Very interactive course – this is the best first aid course I have ever done!” “Very god – lots of practical experience and demonstrations of the conditions.” “Covered so many areas that were new to me and I learned so much that is relevant to my yoga classes as well as scenarios outside of yoga.” “Informative, energetic, friendly, funny and encouraging.” “Very informative, tutor very impressive – great at keeping me engaged.” “Found the day really interesting, very informative.” “Fantastic, funny and very informative”. “Very dynamically taught, I thoroughly enjoyed it.” “Learned a lot and feel more confident if the need arose to use what I have been taught. The best first aid day I have done – usually very boring, but this was fun!” “Updated knowledge of first aid and tutor was very knowledgeable.”
7.8//3/09	Ashtanga - How Adjustments Work	Gingi Lee
1.3.09	Introduction to Ayurveda	Hilary Macrae	"During this workshop Hilary explained the functions and qualitles of the three doshas vata, pitta and kapha and how they work together to make up our physical and emotional characteristics. Imbalances and disturbances in the doshas show themselves physically or emotionally, for example rough or dry skin usually shows a vata disturbance while acne is often a manifestation of a pitta imbalance. Our lifestyle, the food we eat, the way we handle our emotions and yoga practice can cause imbalance. therefore choosing a yoga practice that suits your dosha type or which helps to bring about balance when your energies are disturbed is part of practicing skillfully" - Yvonne
8.2.09	Vitalise to Revise	Kriya and Jane Morris-Brown	"For me it was a day of finding balance witihin myself - not only in exams but generally in life" - Maddie ..............."It reinforced what I knew and what works for me, it highlighted that we needed to look after ourselves and that we can change the way we feel about ourselve"s - Cem..........." It wasnt about telling you what you should do rather finding out about what suits you" - Jasmine....... " It was interessting finding out that I am not the only one feeeling stressed and hearing about how others feel" - Nikita" I have learned that every one is different and you can celebrate what people are not so good at as well as the things they are." " It made comments and instructions from school and teachers a lot clearer."
1.2.09	Cfreative Ashtanga Yoga	Liz L\ark
25.1.09	The Joy of Mantra	Hilary Macrae	"Chanting for the first time can be a daunting prospect as everyone worries about not being able to pronounce the Sanskrit words and most of all about not being able to sing. Hilary introduced us to a few simple basics and we found it easy to apply these pronunciation rules to each chant. Luckily for those who do not sing we only needed three notes, which even the least musical of us, could manage.Starting with the 6 bija mantras (seed sounds - hram. hrim, hrum, hraim, hraum, hraha) Hilary led us on a step by step journey on using chanting in our yoga practice, deepening our experience of the power of sound. A few goes at the bija mantras gave us the confidence to tackle more complex mantras including two mantras that can be used whilst practicing sun salutations.We soon found that during chanting as everyone's breathing becomes synchronous, a feeling of unity and timelessness arises and the end of the workshop came all too soon." Yvonne
26.10.08	Creatuve Ashtanga Yoga	Gingi Lee
10.10.08	Use of Swara and Tattwa in Teaching	Swami Vedantananda Saraswati	“Wonderfully inspiring day! True yoga – and a wonderful teacher presentation”…“Very good and clear teaching of how to use in teaching”…“An excellent day”…“A new and different area – very interesting”…“Good to do something different”…”Thank you – an inspiration – beautifully presented by a yoga master”…..“It was very interesting, loved the teacher and the place.”
	Bagavad Gita	Hilary Macrae
13.09.08	Deeper into Yoga with Meditation	Annabelle Tame	"What a treat! This experiential morning was punctuated by discussion and reflection. We explred two very different meditation techniques from opposite ends of the spectre. Annabelle's wealth of experience supported sound guidance which helped demystify this simple and effective tool for life. The group was keen to meet again so a regular practise time is being considered. I left the workshop content, energised and inspired to vary and deepen my practise." - Kriya
7.09.08	Creative Ashtanga Yoga	Liz Lark	What an exciting workshop! Liz Larks’ creative ashtanga workshop was so full of bodies that numerous sun salutations left the windows of the studio running with condensation. Liz broke down the primary series beautifully, allowing each of us to work at our own pace. In fact the 4 hours flew by so quickly that no one noticed we had not stopped for tea. Before we knew it Liz's voice held us gently in a 61 point yoga relaxation - a lovely way to end the day which left us feeling exhilarated but relaxed. - Jade
4-9.8.08	Yoga in Aegina Greece	Jody Lawrance
30.08.09	Iyengar workshop on neck & shoulders	Elsabeth Wengersky	"Using the Iyengar method during the workshop has shown me how to work deeper in familiar postures and practising warrior I and II has become a whole new experience for me" - Yvonne
17.08.08	Opening the Heart	Jody Lawrance	"The workshop was a pleasure, time flew by so quickly as we went through the morning session exploring and deepening postures and breathing techniques. After warming the body and mind, the afternoon was devoted to partner work, allowing us to take ourselves further and to relax into the postures, while coordinating the breathing with our partner, creating a positive harmony." - Pascale
27.07.08	Creating your own unique practise	Mark Freeth	“Having just run my first workshop at YOGA AKASHA, I have to say it’s one of the most gorgeous spaces I’ve ever taught in. My students and I worked hard and had great fun and I am already looking forward to my next visit” - Mark Freeth