Hi !
Welcome to the May newsletter. We hope you're enjoying the Brighton Festival and are managing to find time out from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a peaceful, grounded practice.
We only have one workshop review this month. Do let us know if you have any reviews, stories or experiences you'd like to share with us - we'd love to hear from you.
Email us at news@ashtangabrighton.com
Don't forget, the BNHC will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st May.
Namaste!
-
In This Issue:
News In Brief- Forthcoming Workshops
- Workshop Reviews
- Jargon Corner - Om
- Off The Mat
- Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
News In Brief
As you may know, we recently started a Sunday self-practice group in Brighton. It's been very successful so far, with 11 people signed up, and there's a lovely, peaceful energy in the room. The coffee afterwards always goes down a treat too!
Yoga Matters have a special offer on Derek Ireland's "Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: The Primary Series" double audio CD. You can buy a copy here for just £10.00.
Kino MacGregor, the youngest woman certified to teach Ashtanga Yoga by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has contributed to the 'mindful life' blog, Elephant Journal. In her article, she shares her learnings from Guruji and explains the importance of working through physical and emotional discomfort in the practice. Read "Ashtanga: The Yoga of Purification" here.
Forthcoming Workshops
Ashtanga Clinic with Sarah Miles, BNHC, Brighton, last Sun of every month (May 23rd, June 27th). Click here for more info.- Creative Vinyasa: Weaving the Eight Limbs with Liz Lark, Yoga Akasha, East Grinstead (May 30th). Click here for more info.
- Vinyasa Yoga Weekend Workshop with Matthew Sweeney, Triyoga, London (Jun 11th-13th). Click here for more info.
- Ashtanga Yoga for the Rest of Your Life with David Williams, Triyoga, London (Jul 15th-18th). Click here for more info.
- Ashtanga Yoga from the Inside Out with Kino MacGregor, Triyoga, London (Sep 3rd-5th). Click here for more info.
- Manju Jois Masterclasses, including self-practice, led classes, pranayama, chanting & philosophy, BNHC, Brighton (Sep 24th-26th). Click here for more info.
- Union Yoga Teacher Training with Brian Cooper, BNHC, Brighton (Sep 2010-Sep 2011). Click here for more info.
Workshop Reviews
3 Weeks in Bali with Anthony 'Prem' Carlisi and Heather Duplex
April 2010
In April I spent 3 weeks in Ubud, Bali at Prem Carlisi and Heather Duplex’s Retreat. I had met them in Brighton after they took over the self practice at the BNHC for a week and I was struck by their experienced, as well as technically proficient, approach.
On the first day of the Brighton workshop Prem and Heather asked people if they minded them giving feedback on their practices. They then proceeded to change everybody’s Surya Namaskara A and B in minute detail. They encouraged people to do more of these opening asanas and they also encouraged people to slow down, if necessary to take more than 5 breaths in each standing posture. After that week I felt energised, more centred and less anxious and I decided that when I could I would go and practice with them in Bali.
The Bali workshop was very busy with up to 25 people practicing at the same time. It was only self practice, with no led class, and there were question and answer sessions at regular intervals. Prem and Heather continued to really push the basics of the practice - synchronisation of breath, movement and Bandhas - while continuing to make adjustments on every single posture until they were happy with the route that each student was taking and going at a pace which was right for them.
One of the most remarkable things was the number of beginners passing through the workshop; I counted over 20 beginners in 3 weeks. For me there is always an element of trying to get through my practice, which distracts me from the moment, and the approach that I was encouraged to take and which I am really trying to hold onto in my practice in Brighton (which is much more of a challenge!) will hopefully enable me to stay more stable and focused while I am going about the trials of day to day life.
- Simon Griggs (Ayurvedic Yoga Massage)
Jargon Corner
This month's jargon is:
Om
Origin: Devanagari
Pronounced: "om" or "ohm" or "aum"
Om is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Indian religions and, in Sanskrit, means literally "to sound out loudly".
Om is not a word but rather an intonation which, like music, transcends the barriers of age, race, culture and even species. It is made up of three sounds, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the three stages in life - birth, life and death.
Om is thought to be the original sound from which the entire manifest universe began. It is believed to contain all other sounds and therefore all forms of energy. It is very common to begin and end a chant with Om, indeed it is a mantra in itself. If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to the centre of one's being.
When we chant Om we create a cosmic vibration that attunes us with the Universe.
This newsletter is lovingly prepared by Ashtangis for Ashtangis. But we need your help! If you have any information about forthcoming workshops, a review or article you have written or anything you would like to see in the next issue, please