YIN Y0GA

Yin is all about rest. It’s intention is to give you time and space to connect back into your body, mind and spirit. It is a much needed practice in this fast paced world of feeling overwhelmed, anxious and overworked.

There are no quick movements and we sit in the poses for typically 2-5 minutes. This leaves your body feeling open and deeply stretched and you tend to leave the class feeling elated and peaceful and release tension in the fascia.  passive and receptive way. Most postures are also done on the floor. This can help to target specific tissues, increase circulation, and encourage more mobility. The gentle approach encourages internal awareness practices like meditation, contemplation, or pranayama or breath practices

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF YIN YOGA?

Yin yoga offers a number of the same general benefits as other styles of yoga—but it’s particularly ideal for releasing stress  in the body’s connective tissues and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

The gentle traction and compression held over a long period of time helps to flush out toxins and lubricate the joints while releasing tension in the ligaments, fascia and tendons

It’s also particularly great for tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system  (think: “rest and digest” vs. “fight or flight”), which acts like a “brake” when it comes to stress, and enabling a balanced energy throughout the body.

Yin Yoga
– Stimulates the meridians (energy channels) bringing balance to the organs in the body
– Improves flexibility and joint mobility
– Calms and balances the mind and body
– Reduces stress and anxiety
– Works deeply on the connective tissues (fascia, tendons and ligaments)
– Can prepare the practitioner for meditation practice

Foundations of Yin Yoga

During yin yoga postures are done by entering into a pose and coming to a place that is sometimes called the “edge”. In this context, “the edge” is a place where there is a manageable amount of sensation. This edge is not a place of pain or a place that feels too intense. Instead, it’s a place where you feel some pressure. This sensation indicates there is adequate or appropriate stress on the tissues. This can lead to greater circulation in the tissues and joint sites.

Feeling (sometimes strong) sensation in the pose is one of the ways yin yoga is different than restorative yoga.

Once the edge is found, the practitioner mostly relaxes the musculature. Yin Yoga postures are also held in relative stillness for a longer period of time. Depending on which pose is being done, there may be some muscular engagement, but for the most part, during yin yoga, you can soften.

When first beginning a yin yoga practice it can seem like the practice is too slow and passive, but just because it is quiet and simple does not make it easy! Holding the posture for longer amounts of time allows the opportunity to explore sensation and the nature of the mind. In this way, you can develop greater states of presence while at the same time opening the physical body.

While you practice each of the postures, remember that you can focus on your breath to calm and focus the mind. When it’s time to move out of the pose take your time, and engage your muscles as you move. The tissue that is targeted in a yin style practice can be more sensitive. As you release the pose give the body some time to adjust and notice the sensation of blood, fluid, and Qi rushing to the area you were targeting.

YIN YANG Y0GA

Yin Yang Yoga blends two styles of yoga into one practice – bringing together the benefits of passively holding yoga poses with more dynamic sequences and standing postures.

You may know the terms yin and yang are borrowed from Taoism and Tradition Chinese Medicine. The word yang refers to relative masculine qualities in comparison to something that would be more yin and feminine. Yang is faster, stronger, more external and dynamic. Yin is softer, more passive, internal and gentle.  Yin and Yang describe the two relative qualities present in everything. Yin is more internal, passive, cooling and downward. While Yang is more external, dynamic, warming and upward.

When these terms are applied to yoga, Yin Yoga is a slower practice where poses are passively held for longer, working on the deep, dense (Yin) connective tissues and joints in the body. Yang Yoga, in contrast, refers to a more active practice working on the (Yang) muscles and blood flow, building strength, stamina and flexibility. Yang styles of yoga are those with rhythm and repetition like Vinyasa Flow.

A Yin Yang yoga class may start with Yin yoga to calm the mind and to work on the joints before the muscles are warm.

Alternatively, the class may start dynamically (Yang) and end with longer held poses to relax and calm the nervous system.

The sequencing of the class can have a powerful effect on your energy levels and how you feel after class.

BENEFITS of a YIN and YANG Yoga

Yin Yoga
– Stimulates the meridians (energy channels) bringing balance to the organs in the body
– Improves flexibility and joint mobility
– Calms and balances the mind and body
– Reduces stress and anxiety
– Works deeply on the connective tissues (fascia, tendons and ligaments)
– Can prepare the practitioner for meditation practice

Yang Yoga
– Strengthens and tones the body
– Improves flexibility and circulation
– Increases stamina
– Calms the mind down by inviting us to synchronise movement with breath
– Removes tension and obstacles in the body to allow breath and prana to flow

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AGAMA TANTRA Y0GA

Agama Tantra Yoga is one of the few remaining authentic systems of spiritual growth, offering ancient teachings in a modern format.  The curriculum covers everything from the Basics of Yoga (which are heavily misunderstood, in modern times), to the most advanced spiritual initiations known of on the planet.  Complex Yogic Techniques, more than 1000 years old, are explained eloquently, clearly, and understandably.

Esoteric explanations, and modern scientific research are blended – to provide a comprehensive overview.  Expositions of the occult effects of each of them, extending far beyond the physical benefits. Demonstration of how a practitioner can attain these results, through the use of the mind, whilst performing each posture. Clear, precise, and elaborate details of the effects of each asana on the Physical, Etheric, Emotional, Mental, & Causal Bodies.

Stephanie trained with Agama Yoga in Thailand, Mexico and India.  She is a direct teacher of this ancient wisdom especially for 1 on 1 students.

In a group teaching setting, she offers the Level 1 style of Agama classes which include:

1. Agama Tantric Warm-ups (: 5 techniques to open energetical wheels, chakras, to prepare for the asanas.  It is a way to intensely experience a chakra and bring deep awareness to its movement and change in the bodies).

2. Sun salutations, and Asanas (Postures): The postures are modified to suit individual ability.  Asanas are held for 1-3 minutes to go deeper into individual awareness.

3. Teachings of the chakras and how to use them, as well as yamas and niyamas are also weaved into these classes.

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CHAKRA Y0GA

  Journey through the chakras, our psychic centres in the fusion of, Yin, Agama and Hatha class. A deeply nurturing class to help bring balance to the entire body right down on a cellar level. Helping you feel restored and revitalised, grounded so you can start your day, your week with your cup full and live to your fullest potential. Soulistic Yoga is a holistic approach to the ancient body, mind and spirit using Yoga as a powerful way to become centred and grounded. Allowing you energy and your mind to be clear and expansive.

This kind of yoga appeals to those who are up for both energetical and physical challenges. It is a holistic approach to the yoga journey, concerned with the flow of energy both within the body and the chakra system, expanding our sensory perception to include subtler aspects of our being, practicing from a deeper part of the self and opening to greater awareness with the innate wisdom of the body that comes to life through consciousness and focus, intuition and surrender, as it overflows from your practice into your daily life.

A 60 minute class will include pranayamas (breath exercises), warming up, sun salutations, asanas dedicated to each chakra, which we hold for 1-3 minutes to deepen the effects, and final relaxation.
It is a 7 week series, each session dedicated to a different chakra.

Week 1 – Base – Mooladhara – LA – uh (cup) Red – Adrenals – Earth – Smell (nose) – Survival, grounding, physical body, safety, abundance

We will focus on the root chakra – grounding to our internal support system, safety and feeling of stabikity and home no matter what life throws us — self preservation….join us for a deeply nurturing class to help bring balance to the entire body right down on a cellar level. Helping you feel restored and revitalised, grounded so you can start your day, your week with your cup full and live to your fullest —potential.

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” – B.K.S Iyengar

Week 2 – Sacral – Svadhistana – VAM – oo (you) – Orange – Ovaries/Testes – Water – Taste (tongue) – wishes, pleasure, sexuality, passion, surrender, reativity, fantasy

We focus on the balancing of the Sacral chakra.  Clearing this chakra brings feeling to flow more freely and passion and intimacy come more naturally.  It is all about letting go and surrendering.  Go with the flow and be more adaptive and receptive.  Here we are able to bring our baser instincts under control, transforming the lower emotions with wisdom and guidance to overcome the difficulties of this chakra.

Week 3 – Solar Plexus – Manipura – RAM – oh (go) – Yellow – Liver/Spleen/Pancras – Fire – Sight (eyes) – Personal power, mastery over the wish body, refinement of ego, willpower

We rise to the Core.  It is all about the death of the ego, and learning to be effective co creaters with the universal spirit.  Come open the Solar Plexus in asanas that activate your will and courage and warrior powers for your highest good and the highest Good of All.

Week 4 – Heart- Anahatha – YAM – ah (saw) – Light emerald Green/pink – Heart/Thymus – Air – sense of touch (skin) – Life force, divine love of higher self, uncondtional love

We rise to the Heart Chakra.  The focus is on union and the bridge between the physical self and the spiritual self (The lower 3 chakras with the upper 3 chakras).  Feel the asanas activating Anahatha, noting your Spiritual Growth in Compassion and Unconditional love through Forgiveness Understanding and Gratitude.

Week 5 – Throat – Visshudha – HAM – eye (my) – Blue – Thyroid – Ether – Hearing (ears) – Communication, spiritual discrimination, appreciation for aesthetics, timelessness, uniting past present and future

We open the Throat Chakra, Visshudha.  The focus is on purification and authenticity.  This is the gateway to consciousness, the balance of listening and speaking and the uniting of past present and future.  Connect to your inner voice and dynamic creativity.

Week 6 – Third Eye – Ajna – OM – aa (say) – violet – Pituitary – Seeing iwhtout seeing, intuition, insight, overview through duality, mental control center, clairvoyance

We focus on the Third Eye Chakra, Ajna.  This is the seat of Intuition and psychic abilities, mental control and imagination.  Join us to activate Ajna, your “Real Eyes” to Realize in spiritual insight and visionary access.

Week 7 – Crown – Sahasrara – RI – ee (me) – White – Pineal – Spiritual will, unity with eternity, divine wisdom, higher self

This is the final week of the series, focusing on the Crown chakra.  Sahasrara is the divine wisdom and connection to source.  It is presence in the infinite NOW moment of time and the surrender to Oneness.  Feel the asanas activating your Crown, pure energy and Selflessness/Self-knowledge.

All levels are welcome.
Classes are small and intimate so that everyone can receive the attention they need.  Private classes available. Please arrive Promptly, (Good to arrive 5 min early to secure your place).

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CARDIY0GA

Discover your most powerful self when Cardio and Yoga meet. Boost your metabolism and heart rate as you move to upbeat tracks. A true blend of balance, strength and flexibility. It combines the meditative detoxifying qualities of yoga with the intensity of cardio to deepen your practice.

What to expect?
Move through a Vinyasa flow class and connected breath combined with sequencing and strength training moves like squats, lunges, jumping jacks and bicep curls. Yin and yang, you will hold certain poses a little longer to strengthen and lengthen the muscles in preperation for more challenging poses in yoga, while the cross training aspect of the class creates endurance and movement to stimulate energy in the body, increasing the metabolism, blood circulation and heart rate.

There are so many different types of yoga and fitness trends. Back to basics is to come back to cardio, and here is why I have incorporated cardio into the flowing yoga routine-

What are the benefits?
– The important thing is to keep your body moving, allowing yourself to get beyond the peak and build your endurance.
– Along with boosting your heart rate, cardio increases the rate of various processes in your body, known as the metabolism.
– Excellent way to get your heart pumping faster to keep it in optimal health, and lower your cholesterol
– You will gain strength and flexibility while burning fat and calories.
– Cardio releases hormones that help relieve symptoms of fatigue and depression. As an added benefit, hormones that decrease appetite are also released.
-Increase your muscles ability to utilize glucose, keeping your blood sugar levels under control, particularly beneficial for diabetics to regulate their blood sugar levels
– Your physical and mental health will be improved with this regular exercise along with your sleep patterns and productivity

This invigorating class energizes you to push past your physical boundaries with an open mind and a beating heart, turning doubt into security, strangers into friends and stress into sweat.

The very heart of yoga practice is ‘abyhasa’ – steady effort in the direction you want to go.

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W0MENS NUDE Y0GA

Here is a place where women come together to dive deep into our vulnerability and courageously practice self love in a private dimly lit room surrounded by our sisters.

Let go your inhibitions, fears, ego – and your clothes in a safe non judgemental Body-Positive mindset space with other women.

Exercise and stretch with an element of fun liberation and adventure. Nudity is natural, not only about ‘sexy’ poses but being in peace with yourself means accepting your body. Also being naked removes many social and economic barriers, and brings you to facing any vulnerabilities about self image. A new way to accept love and celebrate your body! Your boobs wont get in the way!

Classes are candlelit and start with pranayama and close eyed meditation, followed by a ritual of de-robing and releasing as we move into appropriate asanas in the format of a circle with lots of soft yin yoga – and end with a luscious shavasana.

Bring your own mat and towel. (Clothing-optional)

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Newspaper Article in the Northern Star, Feb 7 2019

Y0GA NIDRA

Yoga Nidra literally means yogic sleep. It is an ancient technique where the practitioner enters the deep states of conscious relaxation. It is a systematic practice of moving awareness from our external world to the inner world. It brings us to a state of deep sleep where our senses, intellect, and mind relax.  While you rest in shavasana, this systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (the five layers of self)  Yoga nidra is a practice that everyone from children to seniors, can easily do.  It offers a space to explore what you need in the moment, as well as an opportunity to release long held emotions.

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Kids Y0ga

 Kids yoga classes for the little yogis include a fun combination of physical poses with activities to build self awareness and confidence.  Fun yoga classes for kids help build strength, creativitiy, emotional balance and self confidence helping to create happy, balanced respectful little humans.

Stephanie Ajna has trained with the internationally accredited Rainbow Kids Yoga Center to offer these classes for kids age 3 – 13.   Classes are taught in a fun and nurturing environment encouraging children to feel secure in who they are and aware of the important role they play within the world!

Stephanie is a mother and also does Yoga games with her daughter weekly, who has implemented these postures into her daily life when she wants to feel more courage in Warrior Pose or go within into childs pose.

Ajna Temple Kids Yoga Classes are short and powerful and can easily fit into a Child’s Birthday Party, a Kids Gym class, a Daycare or School Extracurricular activity, or a private class.

Yoga helps to balance your child’s mental, physical and emotional needs, fostering a growth mindset and positive reinforcement.

The classes are from 20-45 minutes and explore :

• Mindfulness activities
• Physical yoga poses
• Breathing exercises
• Guided relaxation

Why should kids do yoga?
Practicing yoga is not just great physical exercise for your child, it also helps children manage their emotions and reduces stress and anxiety. Yoga also stimulates kids creativity and helps them to build confidence through positive reinforcement and fostering a growth mindset and connection. Yoga helps to balance your child’s mental, physical and emotional needs.

More than ever, the world is, and children in particular, in strife with physical mental and social issues and yoga can help – You can help!  Yoga is a fantastic tool to teach children about the world, nature, animals, themselves their mind, their emotions, their bodies and many life lessons such as kindness, friendship, reslilience, confidence, equality, self expression and many more – as Education is the key to social evolution and positive changes in the world!

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Laughter Y0ga

Laughter Yoga workshops are an enjoyable and dynamic team-building activity for the workplace.

Laughter workshops can be delivered in-person at your location, or virtually via video webinar to anywhere in the world.

Bliss,  or ananda in Hindi, is a unifying experience and creates positive changes in the way people feel about each other. In a time of rapid change and high workplace stress, humour is an effective tool to develop staff resilience and maintain a positive outlook. It increases engagement levels and creates a healthy working environment, helping teams to communicate and work better together, and solving problems faster.

The laughter activities subtly help us to explore how we view the world and ourselves. They gently challenge us to let go of ego and judgements and connect us with others. It’s a liberating experience that loosens us up and allows barriers to come down, providing us with a safe space to feel a heartfelt connection with our colleagues and team – the group that laughs together stays together!

A Laughter Yoga Workshop is typically one hour to fit into a lunch and learn session, but can be tailored to your time frame. The session can also be facilitated as a half day workshop containing informational components on communication and FUN.

There will be many techniques taught to relieve stress and much more…

Participants don’t need any special clothing as the workshop won’t include any physical yoga exercises.

It makes you happy and therefore healthy! Woo-Hoo! Endorphins!

Health Benefits of Laughter Yoga

• Reduces stress
• Eases muscle tension
• Deepens breathing
• Improves circulation
• Releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving opiates
• Raises immunoglobulin-A, improving your immune system
• Helps release hormonal substances called cytokines that promote the activity of “natural killer” white blood cells, which specialise in fighting off invading bacteria and viruses, and in destroying potential tumour cells.

Psychological Benefits of Laughter Yoga

• Reduces stress and depression
• Improves self-confidence
• Lowers defensive barriers
• Increases connection with others
• Improves morale, trust and teamwork
• Improves ability to cope with challenges
• Renews a sense of meaning at work
•  It creates space to explore and release unprocessed emotions.
• It creates an atmosphere where we can freely interact and communicate.
• Because fun always involves interaction with other people, we learn to play and live under certain rules of mutual respect, which is the only way to keep the fun going!

Considering the medical evidence supporting the incredible stress-reducing benefits of laughter of our health, imagine how this simple act can change our lives by supporting our emotional and physical wellbeing. When we have fun, we step away from our worries and our entrenched thought patterns. So having fun can be a kind of meditation and a medication!

Having fun is an indispensable element of true social cohesion. Western societies increasingly put a higher value on work and productivity and entirely neglect the importance of fun and happiness. Because fun and happiness create avenues of social engagement, when we have good healthy fun we inevitably make other people happy too. A greater focus on fun and happiness promotes global health and well-being.

Happiness is an attitude too. And like yoga, it is something that needs to be practiced, especially if we have cultivated the opposite habit throughout our life.

We can cry our eyes out or we can laugh it off, the choice is ours.

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