Yoga Classes and Workshops

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Yoga in East Oxford Tuesday and Thursday evenings

Tuesday Evening Mixed Ability Class. 6-7.30p.m.

Venue: Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1GH
All Welcome, including Beginners.

Places are limited and pre-booking is essential.

I am currently taking bookings for Tuesdays 14th May and 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th June.

Cost: Sliding scale, £17 – £12 per class, according to income. It is fine to pay less if you would otherwise not be able to attend.

This is a friendly class for all abilities. Clear instructions are given for those who are new to yoga, and I also include some challenging (and fun!) postures for people who are more experienced and/or physically fit.

Includes postures to stretch and strengthen your body, breathwork and relaxation.

Wear loose or stretchy clothing, try and bring a mat, blanket or thick towel, and don’t eat for at least a couple of hours beforehand.

Thursday Evening Mixed Ability Class. 5.45-7:15p.m.

I am currently taking bookings for Thursdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th June.

Details as above for Tuesdays.

Outdoor Yoga

There will be more outdoor classes from spring 2024 as soon as it’s warm enough and the ground has dried out. Days and times will vary according to the weather and my schedule. I will send regular emails to notify those on my mailing list when classes are taking place.

Yoga Workshops will recommence in the Spring after I complete a stint as a weekend clinical supervisor for an acupuncture school. Here are some examples of past workshops:

‘Opening and Strengthening the Heart Area’ Workshop

Sunday 16th April 10.30am – 1.30pm.

Venue: Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1GH

We will focus on asana, pranayama and visualisation to open up and strengthen the front of the body. When we develop good posture and breathing habits, and the front and back of the body are in balance, we feel more energised and courageous.

Places are limited and pre-booking is essential. Cost: Sliding scale £40/£35/£30/£25. (If anyone wishes to attend but can’t afford it, please contact me to discuss a further reduction.)

Feedback

Thank you for a brilliant session. I really enjoyed it and it did me an enormous amount of good. When we started I found it quite hard to concentrate because my hip joint was painful, then suddenly it was fine. I think you might be able to add it to your long list of miracle works. It was lovely to share the morning with a lovely bunch of folks.

Wes

“Lower Back” Workshop Sunday 26th February 10.30am – 1.30pm.

Venue: Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1GH

Places are limited and pre-booking is essential. Cost: Sliding scale £40/£35/£30/£25. (If anyone wishes to attend but can’t afford it, please contact me to discuss a further reduction.)

Looking after your Lower Back and remedying any issues is partly about correct posture and exercising wisely, and partly about how you take care of that area energetically. In this workshop I will share some ideas and practices centred on strengthening and improving the flexibility and alignment of your lower back, as well as preventing or reducing lower back pain.

I’m an acupuncturist as well as a yoga teacher and will weave some ancient Chinese wisdom into the workshop and encourage you to enhance your energy, listen to your body, and maintain a good balance between exercise and rest, with the aim of supporting your lower back health.

The workshop will consist of a mix of asanas including: exercises to develop core-strength, backbends, twists, forward bends and relaxation.

You will be encouraged to find your own level.

Feedback from ‘Lower Back’ workshop:

“I was really struck at how the three hours flew by in the most gentle of ways, and how the space, coupled with your skilful putting together of poses (I know that you must have put a lot of thought into this) allowed me to build up step by step through the workshop rather than just try to ‘do’ a pose. I so often do this pressured kind of activity, which then results in a feeling of failure. This will sustain and inspire me for some time to come.”

” The soreness in my upper back has eased today thanks to the workshop!”

Victoria L Ralph

“The benefits of the class have been distinctly felt by me subsequently. My lower back now feels reanimated.”

John Hounam

I encourage you to practise at home. I think it is really worth making the effort to have some kind of yoga and/or meditation routine. Just make sure your target is realistic, and not over-ambitious. It’s very easy to set ourselves up for failure, instead of success. If you can spare e.g. five minutes a day, five days a week and you stick with it, not only will you benefit from the practice itself but also from the satisfaction of achieving your aim. It’s very self-defeating to set the bar too high and end up giving yourself a hard time for not reaching your goal. And if you manage to do more than you set out to do, congratulations!

Sometimes less is more.

It’s all about fitting the practice into your life as it is right now. If, for example, you struggle to get out of bed in the mornings and then are busy from the moment you get up till the moment you fall back into bed in the evening, consider doing your yoga in bed before you get up. Five minutes of supine pranayama and/or asanas could make all the difference to your day! Or, if you have difficulty sleeping, a few minutes of yoga/meditation in the evening could help you settle.

Do get in touch if you would like some yoga-related advice. I am working on ways to support people in their self-practice.

I am available for in-person one to one tuition, indoors or outdoors or by phone, if you would like some support in establishing your own regular practice that is right for you.

I have 6 Yoga Videos on Youtube. They present varying levels of challenge, from short and basic to longer and more physically demanding, as well as a ‘restorative yoga’ video.

Examples of past workshops, which I hope to run again in the not-too-distant future.

“Restorative Yoga” workshop Sunday 8th January 10.30am – 1.30pm. Places are limited and pre-booking is essential. Cost: Sliding scale £40/£35/£30/£25. (If anyone wishes to attend but can’t afford it, please contact me to discuss a further reduction.)

The restorative yoga workshop will focus on yoga postures suitable for when you are: tired/stiff/injured/practicing before bedtime/wanting a relaxing session/looking for a balance between yin and yang styles.

Or you can just practice them because they make you feel good!

Much of the work is passive, supported by the floor, wall, or other props. These poses can be held for longer than usual to allow your body’s own weight + gravity to bring about a deeper release in the muscles and joints. This also helps develop greater awareness within your body and mind, and can be a voyage of self-discovery.

There’ll be a mix of asanas; including backbends, forward bends and twists, and plenty of emphasis on hip-opening, as well as pranayama and yoga nidra.

Testimonials from previous Restorative Yoga Workshops:

“What a wonderful workshop. Particularly appreciated your calming voice and presence. Great way to spend a Saturday morning. Can not believe how quickly 3 hours went by! Would have probably carried on for another 3 hours not realising how time flies. Feeling very happy and relaxed.” Jo

“I was lucky enough to gain a place, and participate in Sue’s Restorative Yoga Workshop . The morning consisted of a practical exploration of gentle and re-balancing asanas. Sue led us gently through the poses and, with her thoughtful approach, offered alternatives, props and modifications so that we all could benefit. We also took time to fully relax; practice a lovely mindfulness exercise; and do simple pranayama. I never fail to be amazed by the benefits that such yoga can bring. With Sue’s considerate teaching, by the end of the morning, I felt fully restored, lighter of mind and relaxed in body. I even went home compelled to be creative in writing and drawing, following on from the experiences and feelings left over from the class. Sue created a warm and relaxed atmosphere. We felt really comfortable as a group to share our ideas and practice yoga together. Sue is an inspirational yoga teacher and I believe her workshops offer something for everybody. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of Sue’s workshops for anyone interested in furthering their yoga and development of themselves.” Debbie Turner

“Introduction to the Chakras” mini-workshop Sunday 27th November 2022 11am – 1pm.

The session will include: some basic theory about the chakras, asana, meditation, relaxation.

Testimonials

This was a gentle but informative introduction to the basics of the chakras with a simple meditation and Sue’s usual wonderful yoga (but with the additional chakra consideration.) A lovely morning and highly recommended.

Debbie Haynes

Thank you so much for yesterday’s workshop. I’ve been wanting to learn about the chakras for a long time but for some reason I’ve struggled to learn about them from books. So beginning to learn about the chakras in a workshop from you Sue is brilliant. I felt safe and relaxed and the group atmosphere was really gentle and also fun. I always feel so honoured to be part of a group where people can talk openly about their thoughts if they wish to and was touched to be part of the group yesterday. I really hope that you do another workshop to continue on from the introduction.

It gives me real comfort to think that we have these energies within us and that we can work on them to help us feel better so that we can become our true and complete selves. I want to get to know them more!

Thank you so much Sue for your teachings.

J Ledger

Private Tuition also Available – One to One or Small Groups

CDs

Relaxation and Visualisation £6
Astanga £9

For yogic inspiration I recommend this link to a video clip about an amazing 92 year old yoga teacher with the twinkliest eyes http://youtu.be/gip5sjGy8pM

or Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur’s Inspirational Transformation!

and for yoga humour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-8IPDR4Khc

(thanks to laura, michi and alex for sharing those with me)