Attending weekly classes allows us to become students of yoga.  Being a student of yoga and a yoga practitioner, rather than just 'dropping into a class', is a commitment to sit with ourselves.  We take the time to come onto the mat, once, twice, three times a week, or even daily,  to observe our habits, to notice what's happening the body, breath and mind.  Alan Goode spoke about this in his weekend workshop two weeks ago.  Alan noted that a yoga practice becomes a study of consciousness, rather than just a physical activity.  A regular and consistent yoga practice gives us the opportunity to observe whats happening within ourselves without reacting.  To watch the rise and fall of emotions rather than becoming entangled within the drama of our circumstances.  

The first step on this path is to attend a class or classes.   Once you are familiar with the basic asanas, it's a great idea to join Led Practice on Saturdays 7.00am-8.30am.  Led Practice is not a class but provides the support of other students of yoga.  We come together to practice, working at our own individual capacity.  A student or teacher will lead a sequence and we all follow along.  A very simple concept.

It's also a fantastic way to start the weekend.  If you have 3 months experience of yoga, please feel free join the Led Practice group.  You can pay casually on the day, or pay on line as you enrol for your term class(es).  

One of our students gives her perspective on why we should attend Led Practice:

Why do Led practice?

Having taken some time to get my head around the idea of an early Saturday yoga practice I have become a convert. Now, like all good converts, I’m driven by a need to convince others.

But isn’t it early on a Saturday?

Yes, but you have to get up at some point and sleep is what Saturday afternoons are for. No-one ever felt worse after yoga.

I’m not good enough though…

Good enough for whom? Does it matter? Would letting going of the comparisons and competitiveness make a difference to your practice?

….and I don’t know all those hindi names!

Most of the poses you will have done before and it’s a great way to learn all the names.

If a yoga class is like going to training, then led practice is like playing the game. It’s fun, it focuses, it challenges, it reinforces, it extends, it’s non-judgemental and it gives you confidence to build on your yoga practice. 

Whilst classes offer instruction and guidance, Workshops and Intensives offer the opportunity to immerse ourselves more deeply, to observe more acutely and to access the intelligence of the body over a sustained period of time.  Workshops are important to build a knowledge base and have a deeper experience to take into our classes and our own practice.

The Yoga Room is offering the following workshops:

Women's Series Workshops:

Saturday 10 November

10am-1.00pm - Yoga to ease through menopause and beyond 

Learn the asanas that give energy when needed or calm the nervous system and adrenals to find balance during this transition.

1.15pm-1.45pm Talk by Dr Jo Braid on hormonal health (open to participants who attend either of these workshops)

2.00pm-5.00pm - Yoga for a Woman's Cycle.

Practising asanas that support a healthy cycle before, during and after menstruation can relieve common symptoms like cramps, lower back pain, dizziness and PMS.  This workshop provides essential knowledge for all female yoga practitioners to honour their cycle and prepare for a healthy transition to menopause.

Cost:  $40 each or $70 for both workshops.

January Intensive 23-26 January 2019

After the Christmas break an Intensive is the ideal way to prepare for the term and the year ahead.  The New Year affords us a clean slate to begin with a fresh outlook.  To allow ourselves the time to observe, be patient and truly learn from the intelligence of the body gives us the opportunity to look at our patterns and habits, and to make space for change and progress.  It is a gift to ourselves.

Wednesday 23, Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 27 January

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 6.30am-8.00am and 5.45pm-7.15pm

Saturday 8.30am-10.00am and 4.00pm-5.30pm

Morning Asana will have emphasis on active practice

 Evening Asana will have emphasis on restoratives and Pranayama.

Cost for 8 sessions:  $140.

Cost for 4 sessions:  $85.

Cost for 2 sessions:  $48.

FILM ON SATURDAY 2.00PM OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.