Southern Region of The British Wheel of Yoga | yoga classes, training and events in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire

close Journey into Back Bending
North Baddesley Village Hall, Botley Road, North Baddesley, SO52 9DT
Saturday 25th February 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Tutor: Zoe Knott
Event fee: members £30.00 | non-members 40.00

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Please bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided. Also bring blocks and a belt.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
Marie Fitzgerald, 15 Hertsfield, Titchfield Common, Fareham, Hants PO14 4SE
07905 233175  

A little about the day:

I love Backbends! They stretch and open the front of the body while strengthening the muscles of the back in a way that counters our general daily forward movements.

On an esoteric level I find backbends exhilarating and energizing, encouraging the mind to be awake, alert and clear. Some backbends may be challenging but then so is life at times. We would not know we were alive without challenges. So exhilaration and challenge live side by side in backbends.

Yet among our students, the market for "I love Backbends" t-shirts is limited. Why is that? As back bends should be just as much a cornerstone of our practice as forward bends.

During the Workshop we will look at three areas:

1. Why we work in these poses.

2. Stages to allow all abilities to progress safely.

3. How to move in and out of postures in the safest way.

We will prepare for asana with specific techniques to stretch or strengthen relevant muscles. The postures will be broken down and considered stage by stage. This will enable us to give each of our students a stage they can work with and a path on which they can progress forward on their Journey Into Back Bending.

Back bends are vital for those with back problems. Yet some commonly taught back bends can exacerbate back problems.
Many come to a yoga class saying they have back problems and would like to stretch out their back. They are surprised to find that they actually need to strengthen the back.

When we consider our habitual movements in daily life we realise how these involve rounding the spine, through sitting in chairs, looking at computer screens, child care, house work, shopping, gardening, sedentary life styles and forward movements in general. The muscles of the back become overstretched and weak whereas the muscles of the front of the body are tight and short.

Back problems as a general statement commonly refers to lower back pain which might be muscle strain, disc problems or joint pain. However, lower back problems are often caused by a rounded upper back which can simply be the result of a slumped posture, caused by an inactive lifestyle.

All of the natural curves of our back need to be maintained as we stand and as we sit: the natural forward curve in the neck and lower back, and the natural backward curve in the mid back. An exaggeration in any of these brings the physical body out of balance.

With back problems, doctors and therapists recommend abdominal strengthening which is helpful but needs to be balanced with back strengthening exercises, ie back bends.

However, there are many back bends and unless we think about these wisely the tendency will be to over-contract those areas that are easiest to contract. Unless the back is already totally in balance, this can be less than helpful.

The shape of the vertebrae allows more movement or less movement in different areas of the spine. The bones are held in place by an intricate set of ligaments and an intelligent system of various layers of muscles which allow the body to move. This is a feat of engineering of great magnitude!

In back bending the shape of the vertebrae allows maximum movement to occur in the lumbar spine. Therefore those whose back muscles are generally weak will exaggerate the bend in the lower back. As a result we find that the muscles of the lumbar over contract and the muscles of the abdomen over stretch (become weak). This means that back bends, such as Ustrasana, where gravity can move you more quickly into a pose, can be potentially harmful. This is why I believe that back bending for those with problematic backs is given a bad name.

Zoe Knott has practised yoga for 30 years with many different teachers from a variety of traditions. She uses a combination of these styles in her own teaching. However one of the key areas of her teaching comes from a point of safety and Zoe has developed a style of working with strength in asana to protect the body from stress. A Teacher Trainer (DCT) for the Wheel, Zoe has also taken the additional BWY modules in Pranayama and Pregnancy and provides In Service Training around Great Britain.

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close Oxfordshire Yoga Gather
Mortimer Hall, Oxford Road, Old Marston Village, Oxford, OX3 0PH
Saturday 3rd March 2012 | 10.30 am – 3.00 pm
Tutor: Local Instructors
Event fee: members £10.00 | non-members 20.00

Please bring your yoga mat, blanket or towel, and props if you use them. Some Vegetarian food to share, the hall kitchen is basic. Tea and coffees will be provided from 10am

There is some parking on site, shared with Marston Library, with additional parking on the street.
Local buses 13 and 14 run from Oxford train station to Marston and onto JR Hospital or 13X to park and ride.

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
Hazel Faithfull, 6A Brookfield Crescent, Headington, Oxon OX3 0AZ
07931 743785  

Do come and enjoy a day of yoga and the chance to meet and chat with other members of BWY Oxfordshire. This is our fourth event with local tutors each bringing their style of teaching to create a varied and meaningful day of yoga.

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close Who Am I ? A day to experience the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi
Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Churchdown, GL3 2JH
Saturday 10th March 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Tutor: Derek Thorne
Event fee: members £25 | non-members 28

For more information, visit BWY South-West region website

This is an opportunity to learn more about the teachings of the great sage Sri Ramana Marharshi within the tradition of Jnana Yoga - the Yoga of Self-Enquiry.
Friends of YogaLiving are welcome to attend this event.

An introduction to Atma Vichara - Self-Enquiry, which will be explained within the context and the philosophy of Jnana Yoga. Also there will be chanting of mantra, readings from The Upanishads and meditation. The afternoon is an opportunity for discussion, questions and answers and further practice of Atma Vichara.

Derek Thorne is the Spiritual Director of the YogaLiving Community and a highly regarded teacher of Yoga who has followed a deep spiritual path for more than 40 years. Inspired by the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, he now leads the YogaLiving Community supporting individuals to live the reality of Self Enquiry in everyday life. For more information, visit the YogaLiving website (opens new window).

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close Creative Teaching, working with Themes and Intentions
Connaught Leisure Centre, Tongham Road, Aldershot, GU12 4AS
Sunday 11th March 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Tutor: Paul Fox
Event fee: members £30.00 | non-members 40.00

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Please bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
June Milner, 26 orchard way, Aldershot, Hants GU12 4HR
01252 675672  

Are you in need of inspiration in your teaching? This day is designed to explore ways you can enrich your students’ experience of yoga by integrating themes and intentions seamlessly to your classes. It includes posture sequences working with themes and handouts will be provided. You’ll develop and share your ideas in small groups so you have more ides to take away.

Bring Yoga Sutras, HYP and Upanishads if posssible.

Paul Fox is a British Wheel of Yoga Diploma Course Tutor and teaches and practises Core Strength Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. He has studied the art of adjusting students with John & Lucy Scott. He now works with their principles of sensitive and intelligent physical adjustment of students (when appropriate). Paul has also studied Anatomy and Physiology with the American instructor, David Keil, and is continuing his study of A & P under the guidance of Ruth Gilmore.

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close Neuro Linguistic Programming for Yoga Teachers part 1
Holyport War Memorial Hall, Moneyrow Green, Holyport, SL6 2NA
Sunday 25th March 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Tutor: Antonia Boyle
Event fee: members £30.00 | non-members 40.00

Please bring equipment for practice along with your own lunch and utensils. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
Michaela Welz, 17 Priory Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, Berks RG42 2JU
01344 869024  

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is now recognized worldwide as the way forward for applied psychology. Its applications are manifold. You might have come across NLP in relation to therapy or coaching, however, NLP is equally at home in advanced communication skills used by exceptional teachers and trainers.

This day is very practical. There will be an introduction to the principles and historical background of NLP, incl. Q&A. There will be plenty of Asana work using NLP practically, i.e. doing and discussing so there is a clear understanding of what is actually happening; including a ‘standard’ model for helping students achieve more than they thought possible. You may be surprised!

Participants will be able to explore ‘pacing’ and ‘leading’, and Modalities, i.e. how the brain processes reality by either being more Visually, Auditory or Kinesthetically focused. There will be an introduction of the principles of associated states and dissociated states as a tool for ‘state control’.

There is an opportunity to experience the NLP relaxation model- theoretically and practically.

Practical ways of how to assist people with finding their most appropriate meditation method will be shown and participants will be able to look at a way to scripting effective relaxation sessions.

Even though this is ‘only’ part 1 of a 2 day course this course can stand on its own. You will find that it is a very practical course and you will be able to take the NLP tools and use them straight away.

Antonia Boyle has been a yoga tutor with the BWY since 1976 and has as a DCT trained many yoga tutors for the BWY over a period of 22 years. She is proud that several of the teachers who trained with her are now well respected and nationally known DCTs in their own right.
She qualified as a Master Practitioner Neuro Linguistic Programming in 1994, and she uses this technology in her own yoga teaching, developing courses such as a meditation course, CPD and INSET courses for Yoga tutors, coaching and therapy. She has worked as a coach on NLP professional courses with some of the foremost trainers in the world.

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close Appointed Person First Aid Certificate
Ropley Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Ropley, SO24 0DT
Sunday 22nd April 2012 | 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Tutor: Michael Bond
Event fee: members £50.00 | non-members 70.00

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Please bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
June Milner, 26 orchard way, Aldershot, Hants GU12 4HR
01252 675672  

The day looks at all aspects of First Aid in a Yoga class. Designed to update the attendee on all Health and Safety requirements for those teaching yoga.

The day will be experiential , effective and fun.

The cost includes First Aid Certificates and also updated First Aid book.

Michael regularly runs Appointed Persons First Aid training days throughout the country. He has been a First Aid trainer/assessor for the Royal Army Medical Corps and H.M. Prison Service.

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close Yoga and Music
Hordle WI Hall, Ashley Lane, New Milton, SO41 0GB
Sunday 20th May 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.30 pm
Tutor: Bruce Singleton
Event fee: members £30.00 | non-members 40.00

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Please bring yoga mat, blanket and clothing suited to dynamic yoga sequences. If knees are aggravated by kneeling in vajrasana, bring a draft excluder sausage, rolled towell, block or meditation stool to support the buttocks.

Please also bring food for a shared lunch.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
Philomena Hayward, 3 South Avenue, New Milton, Hants BH25 6EY
01425 612781  

In the morning, Vyasadev will demonstrate the full Vajra Mala sequence. Then each posture will be tried individually, slowly and carefully, with Vyasadev offering corrections where needed. Vyasadev will again demonstrate the full Vajra Mala sequence, this time being followed by the students. Vyasadev will stop demonstrating and he will offer corrections where needed. In the afternoon, Vyasadev will take a similar approach to teaching Trikon Mala.

In the afternoon, Vyasadev will offer students percussion instruments. Students are welcome bring their own tambourines, cymbals and drums. Vyasadev will distribute sheets of kirtan words. Vyasadev will lead (playing harmonium and singing) and students will follow each line in the kirtan, in the traditional kirtan way.

Bruce Singleton (Vyasadev)
Spent one year exploring yoga ashrams, temples and gurus in various parts of India.
Spent four years 4 years learning yoga, studying yoga, learning kirtan, playing harmonium, singing and teaching yoga under the guidance of. Paramahansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati at Bihar School of Yoga ashrams in Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, India.
Was initiated into the Saraswati Dasnami by Paramahansa Satyananda and given the name Swami Vyasadevananda Saraswati.
Achieved the British Wheel of Yoga Teachers Diploma under the guidance of the London Satyananda Yoga Centre, sponsored by Swami Pragyamurti and Peter Taylor-Wood.
Conducted kirtan and yoga seminars on yoga and music at Mandala Yoga Ashram (Wales) and Friends Meeting House (Berkshire), Indian villages and Bihar School of Yoga ashrams in Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, India.
Devised new dynamic yoga sequences and produced CD and DVD recordings of dynamic yoga sequences, accompanied by music.
Taught Satyananda yoga to hundreds of students in India, Africa and UK.

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close Moving into Space
North Baddesley Village Hall, Botley Road, North Baddesley, SO52 9DT
Sunday 3rd June 2012 | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Tutor: Bob Insley
Event fee: members £30.00 | non-members 40.00

Please remember to post-date your cheques to match the event date.

Please bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided.

Make your cheque payable to 'The British Wheel of Yoga Southern Region'
Send your booking form and cheque to
Marie Fitzgerald, 15 Hertsfield, Titchfield Common, Fareham, Hants PO14 4SE
07905 233175  

This event will:
1. Demonstrate how the body can be allowed to assume its natural, at ease position, in a variety of postures.
2. Show how feet alignment can create space.
3. Consider several postures, looking at them in detail and exploring the possibilities of relating aspects of them to 1 and 2 above.
4. Demonstrate how the body can be allowed to assume its natural, at ease position, in a variety of posture.

Please bring blocks, a belt and an open mind.

Bob Insley began yoga in the eighties with Astanga Vinyasa under the guidance of the late Derek Ireland and later studied the Iyengar system for 8 years. In the mid nineties he began working with different teachers and chose to take the BWY Diploma Course with Antonia Boyle. Bob has continued to study with many different tutors, developing those practices that have worked best for him. He calls his own approach to yoga asana ‘Moving into Space’; functioning to the maximum with the minimum.

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