If you can breathe, you can do yoga

– Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya

Bristol Yoga Centre believes classes should be accessible to everyone so we have decided to introduce donation based community classes. There are currently three weekly community yoga and meditation classes available:

Wednesday 10:00 -11:00am - Mindfulness Meditation with Naomi

Thursday 7:45 – 8:45pm – Hatha Yoga with Amber

Saturdays 11:30 - 12:45pm - Krama Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Vicky

Students can pay whatever they can afford and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Absolutely everyone’s welcome but we especially invite people on low or no-income, benefits, refugees and asylum seekers. The classes are suitable for all levels of students and taught by fully qualified and experienced yoga teachers, who are passionate about making classes accessible to everyone.

Tash Neeley, who teaches Yin & Yang Yoga class on Wednesday evening, told us why she wanted to be involved.

‘Even though yoga at its roots means to unite, many yoga classes can feel somewhat exclusive. I wanted to get involved in Bristol Yoga Centre's community classes to bring yoga to Bristol's wider community, with the freedom to pay what they felt they could afford. I believe the benefits of yoga and meditation should be available to all people, no matter their experience, background, or lifestyle.

What I love about the community classes is that they are in a well equipped yoga studio with friendly and experienced yoga teachers, creating a warm and nurturing atmosphere for all bodies and minds’.

One of the regular students from Naomi’s Mindfulness Meditation class said,

‘I find that meditation is really useful way to centre myself, which helps me maintain a more relaxed and positive outlook. I find this is very useful when dealing with emotionally challenging situations. The fact that these classes don’t have a pay barrier means that everyone gets the chance to benefit from this incredible practice’.

The profit from the 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.

Please feel free to share this post and let especially those that might really benefit know about the community yoga and meditation classes at the Bristol Yoga Centre. For more information about the classes, please contact the teachers directly.

This is the time of the year when people start thinking about making New Year resolutions, but I have always felt a little sceptical as they are often forgotten or ditched within a few weeks.

Sankalpa has been compared to a New Year’s resolution but it’s not about goal making or wishing for things to be different. Sankalpa is to do with exploring what’s behind the thoughts or feelings of our aims and trying to find deeper meaning in our lives. New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on the future and aiming to correct negative aspects of our selves and often only feed our desires and ego. Where as, Sankalpa is about being in the present moment and aligning with the deepest part of you. As Philip Moffitt, a yoga teacher and Buddhist said,

‘You set your intentions based on understanding what matters most to you and make a commitment to align your actions with your inner values. As you gain insight though meditation, wise reflection, and moral living, your ability to act from your intentions blossoms’.

Sankalpa comes from Sankskrit word ‘San’ which means altogether and ‘Kalpa’ from ‘Kalpana’ meaning idea or vow. This is often translated to will, purpose or determination. It also means connecting and committing to our highest truth. It is believed that the concept of Sankalpa stems from the Vedic times.

A Sankalpa practice starts from the radical notion that you are already who you need to be and you only need to look deep inside you to find your true purpose in life. Discovering your Sankalpa is about really listening to the deepest part of yourself. It’s completely opposite to believing that some how you are not good enough unless you achieve certain goals or get what you want. Sankalpa should provide you with true self-confidence and peace of mind and assist you to overcome challenges in life. Just knowing your Sankalpa then becomes a blessing and a guide, independent of whether you achieve certain goals or not.

Richard Miller, a psychologist and teacher in the Advaita Vedanta said that there are three stages of listening process:

Sravana: Willingness to listen through meditation
Manana: To be able to welcome and take in the message.
Nididhyasana: To respond and act your Sankalpa with commitment.

One of the most powerful practices for planting the seed of Sankalpa is Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep). Yoga Nidra systematically relaxes the body and mind and guides you into deep awareness. You are aware and awake but you experience a disidentification from the body and mind. As Anne Douglas, a yoga therapist explains, ‘In Yoga Nidra, we discover a profound level of openness. Our self-imposed limitations dissolve, and we are pure being’. Sankalpa are made and repeated three times at the beginning and at the end of Yoga Nidra. Your resolve should be in the form of a short positive statement set in the present tense and normally starts with ‘I am...”. For example, I am peaceful, I am compassionate or I am free. It should be repeated with feeling and commitment.

Naomi will be running ‘Yoga for the New Year’ workshop, which will takes a look at the concept of Sankalpa (positive intention) and apply this to a meditation practice.

For meditation practice, you can try going to our weekly class called ‘Meditate, relax and stretch’ with Kay on Wednesday morning or attend her workshop ‘The deep quiet within - Meditation & Practices’.

To experience Yoga Nidra, you can sign up to ‘iRest Yoga Nidra workshop’ with Sara-Jo in the New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!