Yoga by Nature

Wouldn't ya like to do this???

Ever wondered why weekend yoga retreats seem to cost the same as four months' travelling in India? So did I.
I have taken on a little project of late, which is to devise a way that mere mortals can go on retreat without the prerequisites of having children at private school and an account at Harvey Nicks. Well lo and behold we gone ahead and done it. So it's not the Ritz - I will admit that - but for the average hard-working nature-lubbing yogi this is a five star gig.

  We are going to be at Springhead Trust in Dorset which is a graceful and peaceful 16th century Grade II listed building in fabulous gardens, all wrapped in quintessentially gorgeous English countryside with little wild flower bows on top. There will be large dorm (10 peeps) and small dorm (6 peeps) accommodation plus a twin and single option (which has now sold out in the first week of booking!).
 It seems that with a bit of canny reckoning you can bring someone along, give them up to 5 yoga classes, feed them delicious, nutritious food, serenade them with a talented Colombian sound practitioner all to the tune of £150. I lie not. That's the early bird price though, 'na? (All sold out too :() but there are spots left for £200 and upwards :).
 So why does the average yoga retreat cost your entire month's salary? Well it's all in the profits. Once you make it not for profit and cut out the middle persons - well, we are going to pay ourselves a titchy bit of course - then you can cut it right down. Thank heavens!
 I'll introduce the team - we have Marinella Benelli who will do the Ayurvedic Treatments and Sarah Webb who will be cooking the food. Also myself  - Morven Hamilton, teaching Hatha Yoga.
  We are thinking of collaborating with charities in the future and giving a percentage of our takings to charity each time we run a retreat, and ideas in the pipeline about using profits from higher-end ventures to fund more charitable romps for the less economically-abled. I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with this already.
Watch this space! And this one: Yoga by Nature (and this one - you can book here!:  http://www.bristolcommunityyoga.co.uk/)

Yogathon for Penny Brohn Cancer Care

On the 3rd March, 6 yoga teachers gathered together and dedicated their yoga practice to thos ewith a cancer diagnosis and those who support them . We had a beautiful practice at Wilder Street Studios at Stokes Croft, Bristol - the sun was streaming through the windows and we were all guided into a deep experience of our practice by each others' presence and intention and by the beautiful space we were in.
For this event we raised over £100 for Penny Brohn, and helped to raise awareness of yogaThrive, which is a programme for those on the cancer journey that I teach at Penny Brohn.
 Down the road near Bath at Universal Yoga, Camerton they raised over £800 by gathering teachers and students together to do 108 Sun Salutations. Brilliant effort, guys and very inspiring  - I am thinking about what we can do next year to help in a similar way.
  As for the 108 - why 108? well I have heard that the numbers 1, 0 and 8 signify something, nothing and everything, respoectively. However I feel that is a bit of a ropey explanation for the 108. I'm more inclined to go with this explanation that I found on Wiki: The distance of Sun from Earth divided by diameter of Sun and distance of Moon from Earth divided by diameter of Moon is approximately equal to 108. It is claimed that the great sires of Vedanta knew this relationship and thus 108 is a very important number in Vedantic chantings.

 Anyway, I digress. Enjoy the photos which were kindly taken by Ade Taylor - check out more of his ace photos here: http://www.adetaylor.co.uk/photography-gallery/.
Find out more about me at www.bristolcommunityyoga.co.uk 

Yoga Nidra - Yoga Therapy

I have just published the fourth of Yoga Nidra podcasts that I have been recording over the past months. The latest one has a long visualisation rather than the rapid visualisation of other posts. Listen to the podcast here. Yoga Nidra leads us into deep relaxation and also into the realms of the subconscious where we can begin to clear out layers of built up "samskaras" or ingrained habits/ thought patterns which are believed to follow us from past lives.
Yoga Nidra is a form of yoga therapy and at its simplest level it can help us to relax and unwind, aiding regeneration of the body, optimum functioning of the organs and the nervous system and promoting healthy sleep. At its deeper levels it is believed to be a jumping off point to astral projection and is certainly a stepping stone into lucid dreaming.
I guide you through rotation of consciousness to various points in the body, then guide your breathing, then lead you into a visualisation.
I highly recommend regular practice of Yoga Nidra  - do yourself a big favour and do it! Visit me on Bristol Community Yoga  FB page or www.bristolcommunityyoga.co.uk. See you in your lucid dreams...