A Taste of the Om Yoga Show
Manchester 2016 Event City |
| om yoga show |
This year the Om Yoga Show spreads its wings not only hosting shows in London and Manchester but Glasgow too, surely a sign of the increasing need for Yoga in our progressively demanding lives…
Like last year the show was
spread across 3 days providing a wealth of workshops and many free open classes
all nestled between a selection of exhibitors…
The Om Yoga show does a
wonderful job of adeptly reaching new audiences. Seeing this many people in one
place all drawn to Yoga I can’t help but sense that a beacon of hope is shining
across the world gracefully guiding us to get back to our roots through Yoga, leading
us to a more holistic lifestyle…
If you missed out on Glasgow
and Manchester you can still catch the London show this October, bear in mind
that its best to book workshops early through the website as they can sell out fast; www.omyogashow.com
Find Your Balance – Hatha Yoga with Sara Colombo
Hero Open Class
Tweets @THealthyF |
| Sara Colombo - Hero Open Class - Om Manchester |
This class was set to provide
a poised start to the day focusing on balancing postures bringing attendees
focus inwards as they were encouraged to ground themselves and reconnect with their
body after arriving at the show. Sara Colombo gently led the class through a
number of poses and each person left with a calmed composure.
CurveSomeYoga with Donna Noble
Hero Open Class
Getting to know your body a
little better with concise guidance from the engaging and attentive Donna Noble
is a rewarding experience. Donna helps you to learn simple and effective
techniques such as how to set up your alignment with informative practical tips.
Participants were encouraged to inhabit their own body without judgement and
encouraged to align correctly whilst being led through a carefully selected sequence
of postures.
Unity Partner Yoga
Tweets @BeingInUnity |
| Unity Partner Yoga - Workshop Room 1 - Om Manchester |
This playful workshop was
all about partner work to deepen connection and physical communication between
yourself and your yoga partner. The session opened with a beautiful Ahimsa
mantra;
Sanskrit: Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Translation: May all beings be happy and free, may the thoughts
words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to happiness and freedom
for all
Mantra Example:
… translation in
more detail:Mantra Example:
lokah: location, realm, all universes existing now
samastah: all beings sharing that same location
sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu - transforms this mantra into a pledge)
Working in pairs, participants were led through a series of postures working together listening closely, visually, audibly and kinaesthetically to learn what was right for their partner… There were many giggles and sometimes gasps as each pair worked through the poses guided by the calming voice of the instructor. The class was really enjoyed and you could sense the stronger connection that had been created between the couples in the room. During the workshop partners were encouraged to look each other in the eyes to see and accept that person with openness and clarity, there was complete silence briefly broken by the occasional giggle as people gazed into their partners eyes.
To close the partner work we
were instructed to choose who was partner A and who was partner B. We then took
it in turns to spend 2 minutes talking to the other partner whilst the other
sat and listened in silence, when their time to speak is up the listener then
comments back on what was said. This process is then repeated with role
reversal, it’s amazing how much people can really focus and listen to what the
other is saying in this deliberate measured situation.
As the workshop drew to a
close we were encouraged to focus on;
What our hearts felt… as it turns
out my heart feels blocked (I am recovering from serious traumatic injuries at
the moment so this makes sense)
What our heart wants to receive… my heart in a tender state, it wants to receive but it wants to do this gently and with complete honesty
What our heart wants to give… my heart wants to be able to trust fully and give openly again
These responses came through to me very clearly and
without hesitation, I was honestly a little stunned by the swiftness of the
visual, kinaesthetic and auditory clarity. I clearly still have some healing to
do and I know Yoga will support me along this path.
The session closed with all
attendees working together in one continuous circle of lotus poses, all linked
together by their hands chanting Om and wearing big calm smiles.
Yoga & Ayurveda
with Annie Jones and Nanna
Coppens of Dru Yoga
Workshop Room 2
Sanskrit: Ayur Translation: Life
Sanskrit: Veda Translation: Search for
Health
This workshop began as a
lecture style giving attendees an overview of Ayurveda and the three divisions
of it known as Dosha’s, before moving into some posture sequences designed to
benefit each Dosha, everyone has a mixture of all 3 Dosha types but will be
dominant in one or two of them.
Dosha: Vata
Element: Wind
Energy: Controls
bodily functions associated with motion; blood circulation, breathing, blinking
- If Vata is in balance = Creativity + vitality
- If Vata is out of balance
= Fear + anxiety
Dosha: Pitta
Element:
Fire
Energy: Controls
the body's metabolic systems; digestion, absorption, nutrition, and
temperature.
- If Pitta is in balance = Contentment + intelligence
- If Pitta is out of
balance = Ulcers + anger
Dosha: Kapha
Element: Water
Energy: Controls
growth in the body; supplies water to all body parts, moisturizes the skin, and
maintains the immune system.
- If Kapha is in balance = Love + forgiveness
- If Kapha is out of
balance = Insecurity + envy
Ayurveda is designed to strengthen our original connection with nature and the five elements to create optimum well-being. Our health is not just recognised by having bright eyes and a good appetite it is also about getting enough sleep, having regular elimination, a clear voice and being able to openly give and receive love.
Combining Ayurveda and Yoga
helps us evolve towards finding our true self, towards discovering
enlightenment by giving us a system to live by that optimises our true nature.
Ayurveda recognises the needs of Vata, Pitta and Kapha it knows each type has a
preferred time of day it knows their primary needs change with the seasons it identifies
dietary requirements and specific Yoga can be practiced for each type to maximise
individual well being. It recognises that Vata and Pitta bias like movement
whereas Kapha need encouragement to get going.
Attendees are guided through
a range of postures to suit each Dosha and encouraged to notice the different
effects on themselves to try and identify which Dosha they are. For instance
Vata people have high energy and can be fickle, they benefit from practicing
sun salutations at a calmer pace. Pitta people find twists invigorating,
benefit from abdominal work and should always keep their eyes steadily on the
horizon during practice. Kapha needs to be challenged they are very loyal and
earthy people that benefit from asymmetrical poses such as triangle as well as
balance postures. Ayurveda recognises the subtle differences within your Yoga
practice that can really benefit your Dosha type for example depending which
Dosha type you are dictates which nostril you should inhale through first when
practicing anuloma viloma (alternate nostril breath) and where your gaze should
be placed during practice or what pace you should move through poses at.
If you are interested in
finding out more about Ayurveda with Dru;
If you are interested in
discovering your dominant Dosha, try this test;
Yin Yoga: Ignite Your Chi with Andrea Kwiatowski
Workshop Room 2
Andrea Kwiatowski trained in
Yin Yoga under Sarah Powers and delivered a deep reaching workshop of Yin Yoga
with the most memorable pose being of course Square Pose the one where every
attendee gulped or gasped upon its very announcement. You see, Square pose like
many Yin poses is not easy, indeed I would say its right up there with one of
the hardest to attempt, it certainly ignites your Chi...
Attendees were guided
through a myriad of floor based poses to seek out their edge and sit with it,
encouraged to notice and accept rather then engage with whatever comes up, for
some it is physical sensation for others it is emotion for many it is both as
each pose is held for a set number of minutes. Andrea mentions how you often
think you have done well if you can hold a Yoga pose for 5 breaths, whereas in
Yin a pose is often held for 3-5 minutes, sometimes more!
There are many references given
during the workshop demonstrating how Yin is the opposite of modern paced life
and our universal need for balance is currently seeing Yin rise in popularity
across many UK cities. The opposite of Yin would be Yang Yoga this is denoted as
the initially popular heat producing muscle defining practices that have given
Yoga a place in modern western society, however Yin is now being recognised for
its success and its appeal is very much growing as greater numbers of us begin
to seek solace from our increasingly pressured lifestyles. If you are reaching
burnout you should reach for Yin it cleanses you from within and although it is
far from easy it is definitely a worthwhile practice that should be considered
as a necessary compliment to any other Yoga you are currently undertaking creating
harmony inwardly and outwardly through a balanced practice.
