1-2-1 and small group classes (by appointment) 

please contact us to book

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**We are closing our doors for a while from February 2023**

We have been reflecting a lot over the last few months, on what our future looks like – how we can continue to sustainably support our yoga community against the backdrop of rising costs for us all. It has always been important to us to hold practice spaces that are accessible to anyone who wants to join. The reality is that holding affordable small group classes in our little Space in the current climate is no longer viable for us.

What has become so apparent is that this community is so much more than just the physical space.

We are exploring ways in which we can continue to hold spaces for practice and inquiry as we move forwards, both virtually and in person.  In order to do that, we are going to pause for a little while, to resource ourselves and focus on how our physical Space can evolve and continue as a place for community, creativity and practice. We will continue to connect through our Virtual Spaces and will have some exciting news to share soon on that.

We would like to say a huge thank you to you all.
Our hearts are full with gratitude for how much you have all supported us since we opened our little practice space in 2014, and especially over the last 2 years.
We will stay connected.

Sending much love to you all

Helen and the team at the Space

❤️

PRIVATE  1-2-1 CLASSES AND SMALL GROUP SESSIONS (In-Person or Via ZOOM®)

can be booked, by appointment, each week.

We can also arrange private group workshops or retreats.

Please contact us by email for more information or to arrange a 1 to 1 session or bespoke yoga event.

*Class Pricing* 

Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to support our little yoga space and community over the last few months.  Yoga, breath and movement practices are wonderful tools for supporting our health and wellbeing. 

We are aware of how devastating financially these last two years been for many people and are committed to making our classes and events as accessible as possible to anyone who would like to join them.  We have a number of reduced price and free passes each month for live streamed classes, for anyone who would like to come along but is experiencing financial difficulties at this time.  Please get in touch and we will send you details.

Ashtanga guided self practice 

We believe in sharing these practices in a way that has student empowerment at its heart. This traditional way of practicing and teaching the Ashtanga yoga methodology, in which each person explores their individual practice at their own pace, is a beautiful way to so that.  Whilst honouring the traditions of the practice and the clarity of having a familiar system to explore, the guided self practice classes allow space and time for practitioners to learn and embody each of the asanas and work with variations that are the most supportive for them. Cultivating your own self practice in this way gives you the tools to be able to develop a deeper connection to yourself, through awareness of your body and breath.  It is this connection to the self that is at the heart of the practice of Yoga.

These classes are sometimes called ‘Mysore Style’, in reference to the southern Indian city of Mysore, from which this method originated, through Krishnamacharya and his student, Pattabhi Jois. During the session, the teacher will work with each practitioner individually within the group environment and you can practice for as short or long a time as wish. We will guide you, sharing techniques and variations as appropriate for you, using the traditional sequence of asanas (postures) as the framework for practice.

Our teachers are here to hold the space for you so that you can explore and enjoy this meditative practice at your own pace, creating an environment which is calm and supportive and allows space for practitioners to focus on their own breath and movement. We are here to support your practice and always work with respect for each individual. This traditional way of teaching / learning is a two way process, at the heart of which is the relationship and trust between teacher and student. We encourage you to develop awareness of how your body feels as you practice the postures and to communicate with us about anything that you would like support with. Practice should never be about pushing your body. A regular embodied practice will help to cultivate steadiness in your body and mind. On a physiological level, these practices can be a powerful support for our nervous system, which is the foundation of our health and wellness.

We teach by using a combination of verbal instruction and demonstration. We may also offer the option of hands-on assists, where appropriate, as these can be very helpful in providing additional support, for example, in helping someone to find more foundation. Informed consent is an important element of student centred teaching and we will never use any hands-on assists without consent.  As well as explaining how we are supporting you, we use ‘consent cards’ in the self practice classes, as an additional tool for communication. By teaching in this traditional way each student is practising at the right level for them not a ‘generalised’ class level, so it is like having one to one tuition within a class environment. This style is all about developing a personal yoga practice that works for you – which you continue with at home. Because of the way they are structured these classes are suitable for all levels of practitioner and also a great way for beginners to learn this method.

If you are a complete beginners, we have created an in-depth Online Beginners’ Course, which you can explore at your own pace. It covers, in detail, all of the foundational elements of the practice and then guides you through developing your own self practice over the 6 modules. We also run regular in-person Beginners’ courses in small groups here throughout the year and can arrange 1-2-1 sessions too. Please get in touch if you would like more information.

We look forward to sharing these practices with you.

Ashtanga Counted Primary class

*Note: These classes are not suitable for Beginners*

In these classes practitioners are counted (together) through the vinyasas into and out of each of the postures (asanas) of the Primary Series. Focus is on the breath and energy flow of the practice, rather than focussing on technique, although we always explore variations and options to support the group. It is an intermediate level class and so not suitable for complete beginners. Ideally practitioners should be familiar with at least the sun salutations and standing sequence, and have begun to explore some of the Primary series. You only have to practice as far as you are familiar and comfortable with and can stop at any point that you want.

Hatha Yoga

Haṭha yoga encompasses the physical practices of yoga, including Asanas (postures), Mudras and Pranayama (breath control).
The Sanskrit word ‘Hatha’ is made up of ‘Ha’ (sun) and ‘Tha’ (moon). Through these practices, we are working to bring a state of balance to our body, mind and nervous system.

These classes will explore a mixture of standing, seated and lying postures, focussing on different elements of the practice each week. The emphasis during the practice is to support everyone to develop their awareness of their own breath and body, as a tool for ultimately cultivating a deeper connection to ourselves. In each class, we will share simple tools to help build a steady foundation, strength, stability and mobility.

Classes will typically start with a short guided breath awareness practice and somatic movement awareness.

You will then be guided through a series of movements and asanas (postures), exploring variations to support everyone to find a way to move that feels comfortable in their own bodies. The end of each class will include a short, guided relaxation (Have a warm blanket and layers close by and any cushions or props that you would like to use).

Teaching will consist of a mixture of verbal instruction / guidance and some demonstration where applicable, so we can observe and work with everyone as individually as possible.  We encourage practitioners to develop awareness of how your body feels in each of the postures and never to push into feelings of discomfort or pain.  With regular practice, yoga can help us to cultivate steadiness in our body, breath and mind. 

These classes are open to all levels of experience and are also a good follow-on technique class if you have already completed a Beginners’ course. We are here to support you and share appropriate variations for each person so that you can practice that feels appropriate for you.  These classes are also designed to work well in conjunction with our guided self practice classes, which are a great way to develop your own self practice.

Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy Yoga is a wonderfully nurturing, safe and gentle practice that helps connect the mind, body and spirit and most importantly connects a woman with her baby, helping to prepare her physically and mentally for her journey through pregnancy and the birth of her baby.

The classes provide a warm and supportive environment for pregnant women to guide them safely through every stage of pregnancy and as they prepare for labour and birth so that they can draw upon their own inherent strength and softness and ability to nurture both themselves and their baby during this time and beyond into motherhood.

Specific postures help to strengthen and tone the body in a safe and non-impacting manner to help with the changes that the progression of pregnancy brings. In particular, strengthening the legs in preparation for labour and promoting overall stability. It brings an awareness of the body and posture to help avoid tension and strain.

Pregnancy yoga is adapted to the various stages of pregnancy and the exercises can be really effective in alleviating a multitude of pregnancy ailments such as heartburn, tiredness and backache. It improves flexibility (although care must be taken with this because of the additional Relaxin in the body) and promotes good circulation throughout the body. The breathing and relaxation elements to Pregnancy Yoga also encourage breath and body awareness in a woman which help to prepare for the birth, reducing anxiety and stress and teaching her to adapt to new situations. In preparation for the birth, pregnancy yoga also explores some of the different positions for labour and ways of moving (such as moving the hips etc), along with the breathing techniques so that a woman feels resourced as she journeys through her labour.

Somatic Movement

Somatic movement works by educating the practitioner to understand the brain to body’s reaction to stress and injury. It enables us to assess how our body is currently moving and which movements we can and cannot do. Through learning specific, slow and gentle movements, the brain can re-learn how to gain voluntary control of these movements.
A Brief History of Somatic movement education
The discipline of Clinical Somatic Education (also known as Hanna Somatic Education) was developed by the philosopher Thomas Hanna (1928 – 1990). He devoted years of research to exploring the links between physical and psychological well-being to the capacity that we all have to alter both behavioural and bodily health through awareness and control of the way in which our bodies move. He founded the Novato Institute of Somatic Research in 1975, specifically to study the impacts of “movement awareness”. He drew together the teachings of the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais, and in so doing identified the phenomenon of “sensory motor amnesia”. Once identified, he developed the method of somatic education, which enables an individual to replace sensory motor amnesia with sensory motor awareness. It is that awareness that lies at the heart of somatics, and which offers the potential of a permanent solution to pain removal.

Restorative Yoga

At a time when more and more people are feeling the effects of stress, these relaxation and restorative practices are a wonderful and incredibly effective resource to support our health and wellbeing. Restorative yoga can be a wonderfully healing practice for the body and mind. By using props such as bolsters, blocks and cushions (or whatever you have at home) to support and hold the body, the practice activates the para-sympathetic response to help balance the nervous system, setting up the whole body for deep relaxation.

A restorative sequence usually involves only four or five postures, which are ‘held’ for a few minutes each (typically 7-10 minutes depending on what is appropriate for each person).  The body is completely supported with props, creating an an environment in which the body is able to release into the feeling of support and potentially let go of any ‘held’ tension or stress.

Please always practice just as much or as little as feels comfortable and appropriate for you. There are always different options for each of the postures that the teacher can share with you to support your practice. We encourage you to develop awareness of how your body feels in each of the postures and never to push into feelings of discomfort or pain.

Teaching will consist of a mixture of verbal instruction / guidance and some demonstration where applicable, so we can observe and work with everyone as individually as possible.  

Meditation & Mindfulness

When we learn how to get out of our own way – to allow an insight into our own true nature – we understand that happiness is not something to be found outside of ourselves. True happiness – contentment, is not a fleeting emotion dependent on other or object.  It is in fact our default setting; this along with the feeling of peace, compassion and an unshakable strength. We just can’t always see it. As humans we are all afflicted with powerful emotions such as desire, anger, jealousy and aversion. These emotions and the thoughts that accompany them, act as a veil that obscures our view into our very essence. Once we learn the methods to see past these emotions – we have access to the experience of our true selves – Mindfulness and Meditation techniques guide us gently through our journey into our selves. Mindfulness, although it has it’s roots in Buddhism has become a very secular practise. Backed up empirically by neuroscience, mindfulness has the power to change the habits of a lifetime – to re-programme a seemingly solid mind. Neuronal Plasticity is the brain’s ability to ‘re wire’. The brain is in fact malleable . Over time, with the discipline of both mindfulness and meditation, we can mitigate the effects of the emotions that have the power ‘to take us over’, and both cultivate and experience the emotions that bring us a greater sense of well being.