Charity Open Days and Taster Sessions at BYC

To raise money for local charities, Bristol Yoga Centre have organised taster sessions on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th June. There will be 12 varied Yoga and Pilates classes which people can attend online or in-person. All proceeds will go to Bristol Mind and Refugee Women of Bristol.  

There are 6 teachers involved and the class styles vary from Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow to Women’s Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation. Women’s yoga is suitable for prenatal and postnatal women. Some of the classes are more dynamic and challenging than others but they are all suitable for beginners as well as more experienced students. If you’re not sure which class to choose, please don’t hesitate to contact us or you can check our class guide. You can also let the teachers know prior to the class if you have any medical or physical issues, so that they can offer you modification or an alternative way of practicing.  

Many of our teachers have additional full-time work and we are so grateful they offered their time for free, so that we can run these affordable taster classes and donate the funds to local charities.  

Bristol Yoga Centre is an independent local business, run by Naomi Hayama. Naomi has been teaching yoga in Bristol since 2004. She established the centre to create an inclusive and supportive community for both teachers and students. We aim to bring the mental and health benefits of Yoga and Pilates to the widest range of people.  

This ethos has led to our long-term support for the charity, Bristol Mind who offer mental health resources for people in Bristol and surrounding areas. They offer a helpline, counselling and support, including assistance with hate crimes. They also have an initiative called ‘Mind Without Borders’ which provides mental health and well-being services to refugees.  

June is the World Refugee Awareness Month which acknowledges the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees who live around the globe.  

We are proud to be supporting Refugee Women of Bristol which is the only multi-ethnic, multi-faith organisation that support refugee women in Bristol. They are directly governed by women of the refugee and asylum seeking community. Their diversity and inclusivity of the organisation really appealed to our principles. 

We’ve now set up a Just Giving page for Bristol Mind and you can directly donate to Refugee Women of Bristol. We also have a donation box in the studio.  

International Yoga Day is also in June and we thought it would be lovely to showcase our excellent classes. Yoga is really about unity and connection, and we want to use this event to celebrate that. Please come along and join us.  

We look forward to welcoming you in our studio.  

Mindfulness Meditation Class

‘Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we simply stay lost in the wanderings of our minds’

- Joseph Goldstein

We have started a new donation based Mindfulness Meditation class at Bristol Yoga Centre. This is part of a new programme of community classes that we introduced recently so that more people can come to our classes. It’s our strong belief that classes should be accessible to everyone. There are currently three community classes available and people can pay whatever they can afford.  See here for more information.

The profit from my Mindfulness Meditation class goes to Bristol Mind, a mental health charity based in Bristol.  Bristol Mind was originally founded in 1965 and aims to promote a positive view of mental health and encourage emotional wellbeing.  It was important for me to have a sense of give and take for the community class so that we are not just doing our practice for ourselves but also for others. People will be benefiting from the practice and their money will be going to a really good cause.

The idea developed after I completed a foundation in teaching Mindfulness Meditation earlier this year. I’ve been interested in meditation for some time and studied BWY Meditation module several years ago as well as attending regular weekly classes. I’ve gained so much benefit and wanted to share the practice with others.

When I regularly meditate, I feel connected and relaxed not just during and after the class but also in everyday life. It was quite different experience from my asana (posture) practice. It’s much more refined and subtle but powerful and profound.  My mind is clearer and settled yet focused and steady. I am much more aware of my actions and able to be in the present moment.  As an Indian Philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti said ‘to understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet and still’.

I have been teaching the Mindfulness Meditation class for almost a month and there are now students regularly coming. The atmosphere is really friendly and relaxed, and we have different people coming from yoga teachers to complete beginners. A yoga teacher that’s been coming from the beginning said,

"Naomi's mindfulness meditation classes have given me a new depth which I had not known, or given time to explore, and which I've found extremely beneficial to my every day life. The way she incorporates breathing exercises, sound, sensation and body movement gives my practice an added immersive dimension so I'm excited to come and learn something new each week. Naomi is a profoundly knowledgeable teacher but she keeps the sessions accessible, creative and playful.  The classes have given me a sense of spaciousness and sensitivity to my responses to daily life and I have felt able to be more peaceful, focused and in tune with myself and others."  

Similarly, another regular student said,

“Naomi creates a calm and welcoming environment where it becomes much easier to switch off from the hectic goings-on of the outside world and really connect with your own inner sensations. She uses a great variety techniques including sound meditation and using energetic movement before settling to find interesting ways of accessing a meditative state.  I leave the classes feeling relaxed and centred.”

It’s really fantastic that we are all able to practice together and I’m really happy about how it’s going. Usually we do two short sitting practices, gentle stretches and asanas, pranayama and relaxation techniques. I try and use yoga techniques to settle the mind and body in preparation for mediation. So far, we have been working on different themes every week, from importance of breath to learning how to relax. We also set aside a bit of time to discuss how it’s going so that people can learn and share from each other. I believe that students really benefit from sharing experiences and it helps to create a wonderful communal feel.

If you’re interested in the class, come and join us. My meditation class is on every Wednesday from 10-11am. Absolutely everyone’s welcome.

Beginners Guide to Bristol Yoga Centre

This is a guide for brand new students who are interested in coming along to Bristol Yoga Centre. If you’ve never attended a yoga or Pilates class before… don’t worry, everyone was once a beginner and there are always new pupils joining. All our teachers are friendly, experienced and really helpful so you’re in safe hands!

So, how do I get started?

1. Find a class

Our class guide is great for helping you to choose which class to attend by finding something perfectly suited to your needs. If your still not sure you can always contact us for advice on which class would suit you best. You can then check our timetable to see our current available classes.

2. Get in touch with the teacher

Once you have selected the class you want to go to, it’s helpful to contact the teacher and let them know that you will be coming. You can also ask any questions about the class and find out more information too.

This is a good time to let them know you're a beginner. It’s also really useful to tell them about any medical or health issues you may have.

3. Payment

 At Bristol Yoga Centre, we have a range of payment options. The cheapest way to attend is to pay for multiple classes in advance, by signing up for a term or buying a 5-class card. You don’t need to wait until the new term starts, you can join any time and pay pro-rata.

I’m afraid we don’t accept cards, so payment will need to be arranged in advance by bank transfer or you can use cheque or cash. Please pay the teacher directly at the studio or in advance.

See here for more details on our prices. 

4. Avoid eating a large meal

As you will be doing exercises, please avoid eating just before the class. If you’re really hungry, eating banana or energy bar would be the best option.

We have a small kitchen where you can fill up your water bottle.

5. Wear comfortable clothes

You don’t need a specialist outfit to do yoga or Pilates but it is best to wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely such as a T shirt and leggings or tracksuit bottoms.

Yoga is normally practiced bare-foot but if you like to wear socks it’s best to get some that are non-slip.

We have yoga mats and other equipment available in the studio but feel free to bring your own matt if you like. 

6. Arrive 5 – 10 minutes before the class starts

On your first day, it’s a good idea to try and arrive at least 5 to 10 minutes before the class. This way you can take your time and relax before the class starts. It will give you enough time to speak to the teacher and get to know the other students too.

There is quite a difference between some of the Pilates and yoga classes we offer in terms of physical intensity and styles of movement, so it’s really worth exploring which class works best for you. They can take a little time to settle in to so it’s best to do at least couple of classes before deciding whether it’s a good choice.

If you’re not comfortable to begin in a group class or have personal requirements, you may like to consider having private lessons. Private lessons are great for getting tailored classes to suit your needs and schedule. 

I hope you find a class that will bring you great personal benefit and enjoyment!

Five good reasons to do Ashtanga Yoga regularly!

Astanga yoga is one of the most popular styles of yoga currently practised. It was developed by Pattabhi Jois during the 20th Century. It’s a vigorous and intense form of yoga, and many of the flowing styles of yoga including Vinyasa Flow and Power Yoga have been derived from Ashtanga Yoga.

Here are 5 great reasons to practice ashtanga:

1.    Increase strength and stamina

Practicing Ashtanga yoga will quickly increase strength and stamina as the sequences are powerful and challenging. It’s a great way to improve fitness level and you will quickly notice your development.

2.    Breath Awareness

Ashtanga yoga uses Ujjayi pranayama (ocean breathing) throughout the practice and it’s a great way to keep the mind connected to the breath and increase lung capacity.

It will also teach you to breathe deeply and smoothly in other aerobic exercise, which in turn will help your performance.

3.    Wakes you up in the morning

Yoga is traditionally practiced in the morning and it’s a great way to start the day. As Ashtanga is physically intense and relatively fast in pace, it will help to shake off any sleepiness and energise you for the day a head :)

4.    Develop focus

Ashtanga yoga uses Drishti for developing concentration. Drishti means internal gaze and it’s a great technique to improve balance and keep the mind focused.

In a group class, it’s easy to be distracted by other people, using Drishti helps to keep the mind on your practice.

5.    It’s easier to develop your home practice

 Ashtanga yoga follows the same sequence each time so it’s easier to memorise the practice and start doing it at home. The more regularly you practice, quicker you will see the improvements.  

We have Thursday morning Ashtanga led class at Bristol Yoga Centre restarting from September and it’s perfect for beginners and improvers!