by Polly Woodward I was in my mid twenties when I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was devastated, as I’d always wanted children and this felt like a very big obstacle. I went through a chemical menopause to try and reset my system, and a year or so later when my gynaecologist said ‘it’s now […]
Growing up in today’s world is hard. So much comparison, so much pressure. There has never been a more vital time to have an anchor, a framework of principals to find peace and stay true to yourself. Yoga teaches us this, how much do you wish you learnt yoga as a kid? We offer teen yoga workshops to offer teens a safe space to switch off and come back to themselves. One to one sessions or workshops available. Email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information.
Introduce the tools of yoga early so kids can learn how to stay happy and well from a young age. As well as having lots of fun and play, kids yoga teaches kids how to control their breath, their mood and their thoughts so that they can learn how to master their mind early, setting them up for happiness and health long term. Workshops available. Email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information.
Once you’ve had baby, it’s important to stay happy and healthy, and even better to be able to do that with baby! Mum and baby classes are a great way to meet other mums and socialise your babies whilst looking after your body and mind. Please email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information – we do not always have classes on the schedule but we can refer you to some of our trusted pregnancy yoga teachers.
It’s so important for those who are pregnant to be in a pregnancy yoga class. There are many poses in yoga which are not suitable when you are pregnant so it’s not safe to be in an all levels class. You should not be practicing yoga in your first trimester at all, and after that pregnancy yoga classes only, to keep you and baby safe and to connect with other new mums! Please email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information – we do not always have classes on the schedule but we can refer you to some of our trusted pregnancy yoga teachers.
Human cells vibrate at a certain frequency, and we synchronise with the frequency around us. If our frequency is out of balance, or in dis-ease, our body will communicate that to us through disease. Yoga is designed to balance our frequency, but so are sound baths! So you can just lay down, and listen to the beautiful sounds of gongs and bowls, and let your body come back into healing frequency. Not only is it so good for our bodies, it’s a beautiful, super relaxing way to spend an evening on your own, or with a loved one. Workshops on the last Sunday of every month. See workshops to book in.
So much of our lives we are ‘having to do’ something, work, family, etc. If you’re feeling burnt out, need a break, some freedom and clarity, yoga therapy classes are designed to recharge your body and clear your mind. Yoga therapy uses the Yogic framework of health and psychology to help you understand what you really need. One to one sessions or workshops available. Email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information.
Nidra means ‘sleep’, sounds good right? Yes you can come to these classes and just sleep, if that’s what you need! But, eventually once you have re-paid your sleep debt, you may be able to remain awake during this classes and follow the guided meditation designed to help us figure out what we really need, both in terms of personal direction and health. Come in comfy clothes, and you will just lay on your mat, no yoga poses, just lots of blankets and cushions, all provided, and settle in for a relaxing, and restorative session. One to one sessions or workshops available. Email info@soulsanctuarystudios.com for more information.
Ashtanga means ‘eight limbs’, the most traditional style of yoga which follows ‘the 8-limbed path to enlightenment’, basically it’s a set sequence of poses, starting with standing poses followed by seated poses. The teacher will count the breath and introduce some sanskrit language. It’s a beautiful practice, don’t be put of by the language, everyone is welcome including absolute beginners!
Hatha means ‘Sun-moon’, you can expect a balanced sequence, this is not a flowing class. You have time in each pose to find what feels good in your body and let the teacher help you. A great class for those who are newer to the practice or want time to work on their alignment.
Yang means high energy, and Yin means low energy, so this class starts with a flowing sequence to get you warm, and then the second half finishes with Yin poses, which you hold for 3-5 minutes each, with some guided meditation. This offers the best of both, strength and relaxation. Beginners welcome!
Yin is the opposite of Yang. Yang is high energy, so in Yin is slow, restorative and relaxing. Yin classes are designed to help you relax, unwind and offer deep, long lasting stretch. In an hour classes you may only do 6-8 poses and all laying down, nothing standing up. You hold each pose for at least 5 minutes, with guided meditation. It’s absolute bliss – enjoy! Great for those who want to relax, de-stress, unwind and re-align.
So many of our injuries are not caused by impact but by our bodies being out of line. We know that desk work, driving, certain sports, affect our posture and when the body starts to twist, our joints no longer stack so some muscles have to work really hard just to hold us in place. This is when muscles just tight and sore and eventually can get inflamed and cause pain.
All our yoga classes will bring you back into alignment, but depending on your injury, you may want to start slow. Yin yoga is the perfect place to start, you lay on your back for the whole class, and work into deep stretches holding each pose for several minutes. If you want something a bit faster than that you can Yang to Yin, which spends the first half of the class with a flowing sequence and the second half in deep stretch. Slow Vinyasa would also be brilliant, which is a slow flowing sequence designed to stretch and unwind. Best way is to try them all and see what suits you!
Any questions just get in touch info@soulsanctuarystudios.com
Yes yoga can get you fit, super fit, and unlike many other forms of exercise it will also bring you into alignment which means it will prevent injury, rather than cause it.
If you are already fit, but want to get fitter, then try Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga.
If you aren’t fit yet, but will be 😀 then you can learn the basics in Yoga Basics, or try Slow Vinyasa, and then work your way up to All levels Vinyasa, then Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga.
Any questions just get in touch info@soulsanctuarystudios.com
The day to day routine of life, deskwork, driving, maybe other sports or activities can mean we lose our flexibility and eventually that can affect our posture and lead to injury. If you’re feeling tight and need to stretch off, the below classes could work for you…
Yin – For deep, long lasting stretch Yin is perfect. You might only do 6-10 poses in a hour, its super slow and restorative with no standing postures, you will be laying down guided through deep stretches and meditation.
If you want a bit more movement that that try…
Yang to Yin – Starts with a flowing sequence in the first half, followed by deep stretching in the second half. The Yin tissues are the deeper tissues – ligaments, joints, deep fascial networks and even your bones. By holding postures for longer you work into these tissues to encourage health and longevity.
Or if you want more movement than that then try Vinyasa or Ashtanga…
Vinyasa means flow, so you can expect a slow, flowing yoga sequence which starts with warming sun salutations, followed by some holding poses.
Ashtanga is the most traditional style of yoga, starting with a standing sequence followed by a seated sequence, designed to get you strong and flexible.
Any questions just get in touch info@soulsanctuarystudios.com
We understand that life can be hectic, and sometimes you just need to relax, recharge and unwind. If that’s what you need, focus on the below classes.
Yin – you might only do 6-10 poses in a hour, its super slow and restorative with no standing postures, you will be laying down guided through deep stretches and meditation.
Yang to Yin – is a combination of a 40 minute creative vinyasa to get energy flowing, get messy, work on strength and yang tissue flexibility, followed by a series of deeper Yin postures to work into the more subtle Yin tissues of the body. The Yin tissues are the deeper tissues – ligaments, joints, deep fascial networks and even your bones. By holding postures for longer you work into these tissues to encourage health and longevity. The perfect combination to get Yin/Yang balance in your life and a great way to introduce some Yin into your practice if you are new to it!
Slow Vinyasa – is a slow flowing sequence with more poses and movement than yin, but still lovely and restorative.
Nidra Workshops – Nidra means sleep in Sanskrit… So there are zero yoga poses, you simply lay down and are guided through meditation to help you with self enquiry. Some people just fall asleep and that’s fine! Nidra is a paradox as although you may fall asleep, often through the style of meditation you will experience an awakening, a deep realisation about what you need and your purpose!
Yoga Therapy – We also offer 1-1 Yoga Therapy sessions which use the yogic framework of psychology and health to help you feel happier and healthier and to get to the root of cycles of burn-out, fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Any questions just get in touch info@soulsanctuarystudios.com
Absolute beginners are welcome in every class! It’s really just your personal preference how you like to learn, you can start with the basics, or just throw yourself in, whatever you prefer! We have Yoga Basics which will teach you the basics of yoga poses, and you can go to that as many times as you like until you feel more confident. Yin classes are also great for beginners are they are super slow and relaxing. Slow Vinyasa is also great as it’s a slow flowing class. And then there is all levels vinyasa which is a slightly faster flowing sequence. After that you can try Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga which are a bit more challenging, but beginners are still welcome in those classes too! Have a read of class styles and see what suits you. A typical beginners journey could be…
Yoga Basics x 3 classes
Slow Vinyasa x 3 classes
All levels vinyasa x 3 classes
Power Vinyasa x 3 classes
Ashtanga x 3 classes
+ Yin all the time 😀
Any questions just get in touch info@soulsanctuarystudios.com
Vinyasa-Rocket Fusion is a combination of Vinyasa (flowing yoga) with Rocket Yoga (which is all about taking flight!). You can expect a flowing sequence with lots of fun arm balances and inversions thrown in, you don’t have to be able to do anything, just have fun trying, it’s the only way to learn! An energetic & accessible practice for you no matter what your experience!
Vinyasa means flow, so you can expect a flowing yoga sequence which starts with warming sun salutations, followed by holding poses. ‘Power’ infers there will be some more challenging poses, but you aren’t expected to be able to have mastered any poses, power is really about empowerment, to try something new and realise you were more capable than you may have thought! If you like a challenge then this is for you, beginners are still welcome, prepare to get messy, get stronger and have fun!
Vinyasa means flow, so you can expect a flowing yoga sequence which starts with warming sun salutations, followed by some holding poses. Available before work, during lunch and after work for either 45, 60 or 90 minutes. If you want to try a slower flowing class try Slow Vinyasa, or if you want to speed up and add some more challenging poses try Power Vinyasa.
Vinyasa means flow, so you can expect a slow, flowing yoga sequence which starts with warming sun salutations, followed by some holding poses. Available before work, during lunch and after work for either 45, 60 or 90 minutes. All levels vinyasa is slightly faster, and Power Vinyasa adds a few more challenging poses.
If you’re new to yoga or just want to brush up on the basics, this class is a great introduction to yoga. You will be taught the alignment of the most common yoga poses so that you feel familiar with the pose names for other classes, and how to modify them for your body. Come to basics as many times as you want to before trying other classes.
We can’t wait to welcome you all back into the studio!
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