Om Yoga Show Manchester 2015 | Overview

OM YOGA SHOW MANCHESTER 2015 Overview

 

So this year brought the promise of a bigger and better show with a new venue and a whole extra day full of things to explore, did it disappoint? Absolutely not…

The calmness greets you as you enter the venue along with a sense of inquisitive energy. Yoga newcomers, intermediates and advanced are all here nestled under one roof with one common interest, the beauty of the union that is yoga.

The really great thing about the Om Yoga Show is the diversity it has to offer; from scheduled workshops with a small fee to free open plan sessions where you can choose to take part or leisurely take it all in from the side lines.

Sadly we couldn’t attend all 3 days however the links below are offered as a flavour of the diversity on offer, so click away and enjoy.

SATURDAY 16.05.15

Open Session          
Sun Power Yoga with Anne-Marie Newland

Open Session          
Cam Yoga presents Yin Yoga with Rosalind Southward 

Demonstration        
Acro Yoga with Eugene Butcher & Pip Elysium

Open Session          
KYTA Kundalini Yoga to Open Your Heart 

Workshop                 
Uplift the Body & Prana with Yogi Ashokonanda

Open Session          
Chau Gong Meditation with Annette Ainsworth

Open Session
Santosha Studio presents Release Your Feet & Free Your Lower Back with Claire Murphy 

SUNDAY 17.05.15

Workshop               
Shamanic Yoga with Leah Bracknell

Open Session         
Thai Yoga Massage with Katrin Heuser

Open Session         
Forrest Yoga with Rosalind Southward

Open Session
Hanna Somatics with David Fleming & Amanda Franklin

We hope these posts give you a taste of the show & we really do recommend you go!

If you would like to experience the Om Yoga Show first hand you will have to wait until next year for Manchester (2016) or get yourself to London this October (2015) further details here; www.omyogashow.com/london

Om Namaste

Peace Yoga | Wellness within

Om Yoga Show Manchester 2015 | KYAT Kundalini Yoga

KYAT Kundalini Yoga to Open Your Heart

Kundalini Yogi welcoming participants to the heart opening session @ Om Yoga Show Manchester 2015

Kundalini is all about energy flow; this session focuses on the energy of the heart chakra, (Anahata) which can be known as the pivot between the 3 lower and 3 higher chakras. The heart chakra is represented by a green 12 petal lotus with the balance of male and female energy at its centre; Shiva the male and Shakti the female.

Beginning with the mantra “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” said 3 times in succession, (this mantra translates to mean “I bow to the subtle divine wisdom, I bow to the divine teacher within”), followed by a range of seated and standing Kriyas specifically for opening the heart. “Sat Nam” is another mantra used in this session it translates to “truth is my name”. Sat Nam is said to recognise yourself as truthful to see your connection to the divine, to see truth in your heart and to be truthful to it, to listen to it. This uplifting session closes with meditation accompanied by the subtle sounds of a Harmonian (an instrument similar to an accordion).

Further information on Kundalini Yoga can be found via this website…

www.kundaliniyoga.org.uk

Om Yoga Show | Sahaja Yoga Trial Session

Thoughtless Awareness...

www.sahajayoga.org.uk 

Sahaja Yoga is a registered UK charity offering free meditation and stress management across the UK. The meditation technique used was developed by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi the founder of Sahaja Yoga.

We were looking at information about Sahaja Yoga when someone gently approached us to explain that Sahaja Yoga was a meditation practice focusing on the subtle body to awaken the Kundalini energy held within us.  

Practicing this meditation awakens the sacred spiritual Kundalini energy lying dormant in the sacrum of us all. The very word 'Sacrum' comes from the word 'Sacred' which would suggest there is ancient knowledge of this energies existence.  

Sahaja Yoga translates to mean 'born with you' or 'spontaneous' and Yoga means 'union with the divine'. These elements brought together encourage a journey of inner connection guiding you to self realisation. 

When Kundalini energy is awakened it travels from the base of the spine upwards along the subtle body channel known as 'Sushumna'. It flows and removes blockages ultimately reaching outwards through the top of the head. It is possible to feel the flow of Kundalini energy in your hands during Sahaja Yoga practice. This experience can be scientifically proven as it is actually experienced in the central nervous system.

We were invited to have a trial I agreed admittedly with a little hesitation and my husband decided not to take part at this point. I was not told what to expect which was beneficial as I had no expectations. I was invited to relax sitting on a chair with an upright spine and my eyes closed. I was then worked on by an an experienced Sahaja Yoga practitioner of some 26yrs who worked on my chakras without physical contact whilst standing behind me. 

I genuinely experienced different sensations in my body throughout the session some of which continued afterwards. As I opened my eyes my husband was also having a trial and I know he is glad he did so. I have chosen not to go into further detail as I feel everyone's experience should be theirs alone but I can honestly say having trialled this that everyone should try it. There are sessions held weekly across the UK and you can find out where your nearest one is on the website link found below.

Sahaja Yoga meditation teaches us; 

"Truth is what it is, you can not change it, 

you can not ignore it, you have to remain open minded 

and in conscious awareness."

Sahaja Yoga is practiced to help you become present, to connect to your truth, to awaken connection to our inner energy. 

Further information;
www.sahajayoga.org.uk
http://www.sahajayoga.org

https://twitter.com/sahajayoga

'The Eight Limbs of Yoga' #4 of series YAMAS Brahmacharya

The Eight Limbs of Yoga' post #4

YAMAS - BRAHMACHARYA

"Devoted to living a balanced and moderate life, 

the scope of ones life force becomes boundless"

Nischala Joy Devi

The act of conserving vital energy. Being consciously mindful of your senses to live with balance and moderation in your daily life. Brahma translates to meaning 'infinity' and Charya translates to meaning 'moving in infinity'.

In ancient wisdom Bramacharya was the practice of celibacy as it was believed that this conservation of vital energy was thought to assist greatly in reaching enlightenment, however it was discovered that many who practiced celibacy did not attain enlightenment. Bramacharya gained a new definition as the conservation of the five senses. Yoga was seen to identify the five senses as the layers surrounding the journey to self realisation over 3000 years ago, they were called the five Koshas. These five Koshas can be recognised more familiarly today.

5 Koshas

• Body
• Emotion 
• Thought 
• Spirit 
• Breath

Think about how you can cultivate Brahmacharya in your life with focus on the five Koshas and the balancing of our 2 energies. Our 2 prime energies are the divine and the human ie the spiritual self and the physical self.

We live in an age of instance where technology has made some incredible advances to which there are many benefits and we certainly know how to live life to excess, however the downside is do any of us know how to live more calmly, to access down time, to re-balance and achieve an equilibrium? Modern life is moving so fast that we have been swept along in the current and we need to remember to press pause, we need to re-learn the art of moderation to practice Brahmacharya.

We all have male and female energy within us and in our life. The right side of the body is considered to be the male force whilst the left is considered to be the female force. The right is represented by the sun and by action/doing whereas the left is represented by the moon and receiving/nourishing.

To bring Brahmacharya into your life it helps to set an intention at the beginning of each day that promotes balanced living through the conservation of vital energy. For example you could set the intention of kindness, being gentle with yourself and all else. In relation to Yoga you could practice an energetic series of sun salutations representing the male energy and follow this with a calming Viparita Karani (legs up the wall) to focus on the female energy. Viparita Karani is an excellent morning asana to help revive you if you have experienced a difficult nights sleep, bringing balance and equally ideal for the end of the day especially if you have been standing up for most of it.

Kundalini Yoga is a great example of practicing Brahmacharya as it creates powerful energy from subtle movement, Kundalini instructors such as Maya Fiennes are definitely worth checking out if you would like to try some Kundalini Yoga.

Om Namaste

Further info;

http://www.mayaspace.com/ 

http://www.abundantwellbeing.com/

http://www.kundaliniyoga.org.uk/