Throughout our classes we explore various yoga postures, breathing practises, meditations, yoga philosophy, mantra, poetry and sometimes yoga nidra. Usually there is no music in our classes but every now and then we may introduce recorded music in the relaxation, and once a month we bring a sound healer in to take us on a beautiful 45 minute sound bath journey.
Our classes typically contain the following
In the section below we describe the typical contents of our 90-minute classes. For a full description of the yoga styles we share scroll below this section.
Settling – this is a short 5-10 minute seated practise at the start to help us to “arrive” into our practise.
Preparation – we do a variety of preparatory yoga-based exercises to help us limber up the body, mind & energy complex in preparation for the variety of yoga practises that follow.
Asana practises – we explore the asanas (postures) individually and we can hold them for between 2 to 5 minutes.
Dynamic Dru or Hatha Flow sequences – once we get to know them, we link the postures into a variety of sequences and create “yoga flows”.
Mudra – these can be body gestures, hand gestures or internal gestures of the mind.
Mantra – the repetition of sacred sound, usually at the beginning and end of the class but can also sometimes be used in postures and sequences.
Pranayama – an exploration of a great variety of breathing exercise. These are usually explored throughout the session.
Dharana and Dhyana – concentration and meditation practises. Explored throughout the classes and can be expressed through postural work, sequence work, breathing work or at the end of the class where we usually sit for 5 to 15 minutes in meditation or mindfulness practises. These more focused meditation practises can include: Ajapa Japa (meditation upon breath with mantra); Antar Mouna (inner silence meditation); Chakra Shuddhi (chakra purification); Tratak (gazing meditation at a candle flame, flower or other object) or Nada Yoga (yoga of sound, including singing, chanting, OM chanting).
Deep, restorative relaxation or Yoga Nidra – please note that Relaxation and Yoga Nidra are two completely different sciences, both of them however are explored lying down. Deep, restorative relaxation involves a body scan, visualisation and/or listening to gentle inspiring words, music or poetry. Yoga Nidra (psychic or yogic sleep) on the other hand has several components to it (some of which are the ones described in the relaxation) and is done in a very specific way. It’s rare that we have time for a full Yoga Nidra in classes but sometimes we get a chance to explore it.
Druvananda Yoga – ‘The Joy of Inner Stillness'
Developed by Jo and Ben, this is our signature class. Combining all of our favourite styles of yoga described below but with an added twist. We LOVE the NATURAL world and we know YOU DO TOO so not only are our classes designed to reflect the seasons but we make a deep and sustainable connection to our great mother GAIA.
Here is a sped-up example of what Druvananda looks like in action…
Dru Yoga – ‘The Still Point'
Dru comes from the Sanskrit word dhruva, which refers to the stillness that can be experienced in Dru Yoga and Dru Meditation. In this stillness we are able to sit back from anything that may be happening around us, and see and act from a point of clarity and inner calm.
Dru Yoga has its roots in Hatha yoga and includes classical asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (breath work), mudras (gestures), positive affirmations, empowering visualisations and powerful, flowing, dynamic sequences.
A lot of people liken Dru Yoga to Tai Chi or Qi Gong mainly because of its unique sequences known as Energy Block Releases and unusual “yoga flows” such as the Earth & Water Sequences and more. There are also more dynamic sequences such as Sun & Moon Salutations and Dru Yoga Dance.
Here is a (slightly speeded up) example of a Dru Yoga sequence, namely Salutations to the Five Directions…
Satyananda and/or Mandala Yoga
These are forms of yoga and meditation incorporating ancient and traditional practices as well as information gleaned from modern medical-physiotherapy. Satyananda and Mandala Yoga use practises in a traditional way, asanas (postures) to balance the body and mind through the physical body, pranayama (breathing practices), mudras (gestures) and bandhas (seals) to work on the energy body, and Yoga Nidra (psychic or yogic sleep) and meditation to calm and focus the mind.
Hatha Yoga
The word Hatha literally means “force” but a more esoteric meaning is “sun and moon”. This is the original postural yoga, and all other posture based yogas stem from it. Typically, this style is slow moving and meditative with not much sequence work. You will hold the postures for long periods of time, breathing into them and observing, with non-judgement, the workings of your mind.
Tantric Yoga
Before Hatha, came the various schools of classical Tantric yoga. Contrary to popular misconceptions, classical Tantra has very little to do with sex! Rather, it is in Tantra where energy body work really came to the fore. Concepts such as kundalini and chakras arose within the context of Tantric yoga and mantras were a very important part of the tradition. Both Satyananda and Dru yoga are highly influenced by Tantra and we explore many practises and concepts in classes that are Tantric in origin.
Yin Yoga
On occasion we introduce and explore some aspects of Yin Yoga. The practice of yin yoga is based on ancient Chinese philosophies and Taoist principles which believe there are pathways of Qi (energy) that run through our bodies. By stretching and deepening into poses, we’re opening up any blockages and releasing that energy to flow freely. Yin Yoga targets the connective tissue of the body such as the bones, ligaments and joints. In Yin Yoga we tend to hold a posture from 1 or 2 minutes up to 5 minutes. We allow time, the weight of the body, gravity and the breath to open up the deep connective tissue.
Yin yoga is slower and more meditative, giving us space to turn inward and tune into both our mind and the physical sensations of our body. Because we’re holding poses for a longer period of time than we would in other traditional types of yoga, yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues while also teaching you how to breathe through discomfort and sit with your thoughts.