Yoga and Mindfulness in the Workplace

Yoga offers a wide range of benefits for both employees and the employers that organize yoga sessions in the workplace. Although the term yoga often conjures up images of very bendy people, it also includes mindfulness meditation and breathwork which contribute to health and wellbeing.

Here are some of the advantages of implementing yoga programmes in the workplace:

  1. Improved Employee Well-being: Yoga promotes physical and mental well-being. It helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to happier and more content employees.
  2. Enhanced Focus and Productivity: Regular yoga practice can increase concentration and productivity. Employees who practice yoga often report better problem-solving abilities and creativity.
  3. Reduced Absenteeism: Yoga can reduce the likelihood of employees taking sick days due to stress-related conditions and physical issues like back pain. Healthier employees are less likely to call in sick.
  4. Increased Strength and Flexibility: Yoga is low-impact and helps improve strength and flexibility. This can lead to a reduction in workplace injuries and discomfort.
  5. Enhanced Morale and Team Building: Participating in yoga classes can create a sense of community and camaraderie among employees. It can also improve the overall work atmosphere, making it more enjoyable.
  6. Stress Management: Yoga is an effective stress management tool. It equips employees with techniques to handle stress, which can be particularly useful in high-pressure work environments.
  7. Improved Health: Yoga can contribute to overall better health, which in turn lowers healthcare costs for employers. Healthier employees are less likely to require medical care.
  8. Customized Wellbeing: An experienced and qualified yoga teacher can offer a variety of yoga classes tailored to employee needs, such as stress reduction, motivation, or injury recovery, ensuring that employees receive the specific support they require.
  9. Retention and Recruitment: Providing wellness programs like yoga can make your company more attractive to potential employees. It can also help retain current talent by showing that you care about their well-being.
  10. Legal and Ethical Benefits: Promoting employee well-being can have legal and ethical advantages, as it demonstrates that the company values its workforce.

Introducing yoga and mindfulness into the workplace

It’s important to note that having an experienced and qualified yoga teacher is crucial to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of yoga programs in the workplace. Overall, integrating yoga into the work environment can be a win-win situation for both employees and employers.

Bendyoga offers yoga classes and wellness programs covering a wide range of options to cater to the diverse needs of both employees and employers. Here’s a summary of what we can offer:

  1. Regular Yoga Sessions: Sessions include physical postures, breathing awareness, and mindfulness practices, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
  2. Flexible Class Length and Frequency: Classes can be tailored to your company’s preferences, with durations of 30, 45, or 60 minutes and the option to meet several times a week.
  3. Pricing: Prices start at £65 per session, with the flexibility to accommodate various budgets. Travel costs may apply for locations outside the Stockport area.
  4. Convenient Timing: Sessions can be scheduled during lunchtime or after work, making it accessible to employees during their breaks.
  5. One-off Well-being Sessions: Offering a single session can be a great way to introduce employees to the benefits of yoga and mindfulness.
  6. Discount Scheme: Providing a discount for employees who attend regular classes can incentivize participation and create a consistent wellness routine.
  7. Team Building Sessions: Yoga can be incorporated into team building activities, fostering better communication and collaboration among team members.
  8. Introduction to Mindfulness: Teaching mindfulness practices can help employees manage stress and improve their overall mental well-being.
  9. Stress Awareness Course: This course can provide employees with tools and strategies to recognize and cope with stress effectively.
  10. Retreats, Well-being Weekends, and Away Days: Offering longer wellness experiences outside the workplace can be a great way for employees to immerse themselves in relaxation and self-care.
  11. Inclusivity: Classes are suitable for all fitness levels and body types, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their physical condition, can participate.
  12. Work-Injury Prevention Exercises: These exercises can help relieve and prevent common work-related ailments, including neck, head, and back aches, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome.
  13. Desk and Chair Exercises: Providing exercises that employees can perform at their desks during the workday can help counteract the negative effects of sedentary office jobs.
  14. Simple Physical Stretching and Breathing Practices: Easy-to-follow practices that can be incorporated into the daily routine to reduce physical tension and stress.
  15. Focus and Concentration Techniques: Techniques to enhance focus and concentration, which can boost productivity.

Our comprehensive offerings can effectively address various workplace wellness needs, from physical health to stress management and team building, making it a valuable resource for both employees and employers.

Interested in starting a corporate wellness programme? Get in touch to find out more.

What I’ve been pondering this week..

I can’t help but ponder, and this is where you’ll find my thoughts. Each week you’ll find my latest insights added to the top.

What is yoga? Well I dunno, don’t ask me. It’s all a bit of a mystery. Most definitions start to talk about union. But union with what? The Divine, the task in hand right now? Maybe they are one and the same? But what is the Divine? How do you define the Divine?

All the great spiritual teachers and texts can only point towards this. It is beyond concept, intellect and certainly beyond words. But we continue to try and figure it out (and fight wars over it). But ultimately if it’s beyond what we can grasp with our intellect and ego, surely it’s better to acknowledge the great mystery?

So for me, that’s what yoga is…it’s about getting beyond the mind into a state of acceptance of the great mystery of life. It’s a state of ‘Let’s see’…whatever happens in life, whether good or bad, let’s see. Easier said than done.

In last Friday’s class we practiced a Tantric meditation called Tattwa Shuddhi. The meditation goes back 1000’s of years where the material Tattwa’s (Tattwa translates as suchness) are visualised in symbol form and certain Bija, or seed, mantra’s are chanted.

Very interesting that a couple of people have told me that it led to a slight out of body experience. I’m all for transcending the body, and the mind, but at the end of the day it’s important to come back down to Earth because this is where the real work is done.

Brian Clough summed it up for football when he said “If God had wanted us to play football in the sky, He’d have put grass up there”.

The same principle holds for yoga, at least the type of yoga I practice.

Another thing, the ego loves these experiences and will want more. The trouble is that they only occur when the ego disappears. So the trick is to have no expectations next time you practice. Easier said than done, but it will give you an insight into the subtlety of the ego.

Thanks to all of those who fed back on why they come to yoga classes.  For a lot of people it is about improving flexibility, strength, mobility as well as calming to mind. We all need a bit of that, me thinks.  For those who mentioned spirituality, this YouTube video by Rupert Spira may be of interest. For me, he explains complicated stuff in a simple, practical way.  A couple of phrases which stick out for me:

  • Silence is the highest form of prayer
  • A realisation of the Divine by a monk: Thou art the love with which I love thee

 Worth a ponder, at the very least….

Rcently, I went on a retreat to learn a Kriya Yoga technique which combines breathwork (pranayama) with chakra purification.  It has quite a subtle yet profound effect…is that an oxymoron?  It is considered a fast-track to self-realisation (if that’s your thing) and literally enables connection with the inner light, sounds and vibrations that are present in all.  Wow, is all I can say. 

For ‘quality control’ purposes I cannot share the full sequence but I’m happy to speak to anyone interested in learning the technique directly from a Kriya Yogacharya. Click here for a link to their website if you are interested to find out more.

I have been reading some works by Paramahansa Yogananda over the last few weeks.  He wrote ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, amongst many other books and brought Kriya Yoga over to the west in the 1900’s.  He talked about ‘maya’ or illusion in one article I read. Yoga and Buddhism say that the life we live is an illusion.  But what does that mean, really?  It feels quite real to me, especially when I stub my toe…  

Paramahansa Yogananda put it simply: the illusion is that we are separate [from each other and the divine].  And it got me thinking that as consciousness shifts, the interconnectedness of all things is becoming more and more apparent; how we think, act and behave has a massive impact on those around us and the rest of the planet. So next time you see a stranger give them a little smile, and it could well change their day for the better. And smiling at others will make your day better too 🙂 

Well, I’ve had some very deep ponderances this week but to be honest I can’t remember any of them.  I’m sure they will resurface at some point, so for now I’ll keep quiet.  But on that point, is it possible to be truly quiet? 

Maybe the answer is to meditate on ‘Be still and know that I am God’

This last few weeks I have been chanting the Gayatri mantra most mornings. Apart from Om, it is the most famous mantra used in Yoga.

It is a mantra to awaken awareness, leading to insight. During the repetition of this mantra ( I repeat it 27 times), the awareness is towards the third eye found at the eyebrow centre. At first, imagine or visualise a radiant source of light and let the mind merge with it. It is a powerful mantra which can be used as preparation for meditation. We’ll be chanting the mantra on Fridays before the 6pm class and your welcome to join me from 5:15pm.

Om Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhi Mahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat

Satchidananda.  Or if you like Sat – Chit – Ananda.  Translated as Existence or Being – Consciousness or Knowledge – Bliss or Joy. It could also be translated as ‘Wake Up! – Be Present! – Find That Inner Smile!’ 
This week we will meditate on Satchitananda and see what it brings. Prepare for liberation….

The practice of surrender known as Ishvara Pranidhana.  It translates as surrendering all of our actions to a higher source.  To me it’s about doing what I can to the best that I can and then letting go of it.  The analogy is that we plant a seed in some soil, water it, place it in the sun, and eventually that seed will germinate.  We have done our part, and the rest we have to leave.  We wouldn’t go back each day and pull the seed out of the soil to check whether or not roots have developed, we trust in the process. 

It is like this in yoga practice: we come to the mat or the meditation cushion when we can and practice without expectation, and over time there is a subtle change.  When there is no expectation, the magic happens. My motto is ‘always unexpect the expected‘.

I’ve been continuing my exploration of breathwork (the new and trendy name for pranayama).  With a beginners mind, I have revisited the yogic breath, alternate nostril breathing for balance as well as the box breath.  It’s always good to revisit old friends and see them with a fresh pair of eyes.  We’ll be looking at these in class this week to help calm the mind and become grounded.

Those who came to the sessions last week will have experienced the power of the breathwork practices that I have been doing recently.  As I am sat here, upright on a chair with both feet connecting with the ground, I am aware of my breath.  As I breathe in, I feel the belly expand as the breath is directed beyond the navel.  Join me.  The breath fills the abdomen, then the lower rib cage, then the upper chest all the way into the relaxed shoulders and neck.  And then I breath out.  Releasing any and all physical and mental tension. For a few breaths, my eyes are closed as I revel in the present moment.  There is nothing to think about other than being aware of the present moment.  And then, after this short blissful experience, I come back, refreshed.  

The breath connects the body and the mind.  But we are conditioned not to breathe naturally.  It’s common to breathe into the upper part of the chest as opposed to the belly.  By simply watching the breath, it helps to relax the body and the mind and release trapped energy and emotion. There are so many physical, mental and emotional benefits from something that is literally at the end of your nose.  Over the next few sessions I’ll be spending some time exploring the breath and hope that you can experience the benefits first hand.

It’s a hectic old life and one which seems designed to keep us increasingly in our heads, nice and stressed.  So many distractions, things to do, to keep us entertained and prevent us from coming back to our selves.  The anti-dote to this, I find is a really grounding yoga practice and meditation.  As I am writing this, both of my feet are firmly planted on the ground and I am feeling the connection with the earth.  Join me if you like.  Feel into the legs, the buttocks, the lower back and upper back.  Relax the shoulders.  And the arms. Feeling into the hands.  Then soften the forehead, the face, the chest and the belly. And breathe in and out. The whole of the body is breathing in and breathing out.

Welcome to the present moment, my friends.

I’ve been talking to people about yoga and how it’s more than the physical postures that we associate with it.  Whilst the postures, or asana, are a good entry point to yoga, for a lot of people they are put off because they think you need to be super-flexible in the first place.  Others get so into the postures that they get stuck there…metaphorically, not physically.  I should state however that I did get stuck in a posture once, and had to be helped out, but that’s another story.

Anyhow, for those who come a little earlier on a Friday know, I am a big fan of mantra.  It makes my heart sing.  And if you’ve never tried it, give it a go.  It’s time well spent.

If you aren’t into that, maybe you could explore Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga or Raja yoga.  If you don’t know what they are, worth having a Google…

I’ve been dipping into ‘The Wisdom of Balsekar’ on the essence of enlightenment through the teachings of Advaita.  This says that all is one, the illusion is separation and it is the mind which creates this apparent separation.  We musn’t forget, however, that the mind is very helpful, but can be too helpful most of the time.  For example, reminding us of all the stresses and dangers that may surround us, even if they don’t.  

It is the mind which desires our liberation and takes us onto the path of liberation, but it must then get out of the way.  But it wants to be there to enjoy the feeling of liberation, when in fact that can only be achieved when the mind disappears.  Anyhow, no matter how important, there is no rush on the journey to awakening, because this desire to awaken itself becomes an obstacle.  What a complicated thing the mind is, always in need of something and in such a hurry, but why be in such a rush when the head is already in the tiger’s mouth?

Most people associate yoga with very flexible people getting into contortions and tying themselves in knots.  And for a lot of people, the physical practice or ‘asana’ is the entry point and is often enough.  But the act of ‘yoga’ is much more than this. Through meditation and other practices, it becomes an act of union by recognising that which is divine within us that is separated from the Divine (with a Big D).  This apparent separation is due to the incessant chatter of the mind, both conscious and subconscious.  Over time the space between the chatter gets bigger and bigger and we get a glimpse of peace. But it requires consistent practice which is carried out simply for the joy of the practice and with no expectations.

My conclusion is to maintain a beginners mind and always unexpect the expected to see the real joy in life.

Silence…..bliss..

Going on a retreat is an opportunity to be quiet away from all of the normal distractions of life. At first it can be quite tricky to just ‘be’.  No mobile, no book, no trying to do anything, not even trying to meditate.  Just sitting, being open and aware of whatever comes.  Worth giving it a go and seeing what happens.

I’ve been contemplating spiritual practice following some advice from a new friend, Kirtan Pete. The suggestion being to incorporate the following into a practice:

  • A necessary in-depth analysis of the conditioning of ones own mind
  • Practices for the ‘purification’ and ultimate ‘escape’ from the downward pull of this conditioned mind
  • The means to experience the highest state of awareness, the remembering of your true Self.

For me this comes through the practice of sitting quietly, being with the mind and cultivating awareness of the downward pull. 

How about you? What is your downward pull?

I’ve been practicing a meditation on the chidakasha which I will be sharing this week.   Chidakasha is a Sanskrit term that means “space of consciousness” or “inner space.” Having found this space, repeating the mantra ‘Om dum durgayei namaha’ helps to clear obstacles in the mind.

nowt much….

The sacred mantra OM.  We’ll be chanting this on Thursday and Friday and meditating on the vibration. 

How on earth I managed to not get hit by an acorn when all around me they were falling from the giant oak I was walking under.  A cosmic joke, me thinks.

And finally, here is a bit of wisdom from Rumi from the 13th century and considered as one of the greatest poets known to history:

“Here is a relationship booster that is guaranteed to work: Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid make your eyes light up as if you just heard something brilliant.”

What is Shamanism?

Shamanism is a direct connection with the spirit and is used for healing.  There is evidence of shamanic practices in cultures throughout the world.  In some cultures, plant medicines such as ayahuasca are used to move between the various lower, middle and upper world realms.  In other cultures, and in my practice, repetitive drumming is used to arrive at an altered state of consciousness.

In this altered state of consciousness, the shaman, or shamanic practitioner goes on a shamanic journey for the purpose of healing. The journey can be interpreted in two ways; it can be seen as a journey into the deep subconscious of the client or it can be viewed as travelling through various otherworldly realms of non-ordinary reality.  Either way, the purpose of the journey is one of healing to help the client move towards wholeness.

Setting intentions is key

An important part of the journey begins before it even starts.  This is setting an intention which is agreed between the shamanic practitioner and client.  Setting intentions is important both for the ordinary reality we live in and non-ordinary reality, otherwise we just drift along.  And whilst it’s good to drift at times, go with the flow, it’s always good to do this mindfully.

The shamanic practitioner journeys on behalf of the client and is assisted by Power Animals and Spirit Guides.  These help the shaman in the journey towards healing.  The journey could be related to Power Loss or Soul Loss.

What is power loss?

Power loss can manifest as the inner critic which continually bombards us with our inadequacies.  It can also manifest as being the victim, seeking a rescuer to save it.  We can lose power through trauma at the hands of another, being affected by the behaviour of another or by a loved one leaving our lives, for example. 

What is soul loss?

Soul loss can be attributed to a wide range of circumstances including abuse, trauma and shock, rear, loss and grief, shame and guilt, bullying and domination by others. The soul part affected breaks off and essentially hides away out of danger.  Symptoms of soul loss can include depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lack of confidence and self-doubt, phobias and anxieties, being dominated by others and poor immunity.

Whilst power retrieval and soul retrieval is assisted by the shamanic practitioner, it is the responsibility of the client to create the conditions in their life so that the lost power or lost soul part can feel safe to return and reintegrate.

Note that the whole shamanic process is one of empowerment for the client. The triad of disempowerment is the victim, the perpetrator and the rescuer.  The shaman is there to help and not to rescue

How does the process work?

Shamanic healing would normally take place over three sessions, each session being no more than two weeks apart.

Each session involves an initial discussion to identify the area of the clients life which needs attention followed by a Shamanic journey for the purpose of healing.  After the journey we discuss any aspect of the journey which resonates and set some actions.

A confidential questionnaire is completed and returned prior to the first session to help the client consider which area or areas of their life are in need of attention. The client is also provided with a progress report to record their thoughts, feelings and actions following the journey.  

The sessions can be in person or by Zoom and it is recommended to do three sessions within 6 – 8 weeks.  The first session lasts for 2 hours and subsequent sessions last for 90 minutes. 

I charge £45 per hour, however, if you genuinely can’t afford it, there is no set charge – donations are at your discretion.

Contact me to start your journey back to wholeness.

Testimonials

‘I feel that I am fully ready and prepared to face a new future’

When I started my sessions with Dave, I really did not know what to expect. An open mind was essential but I wasn’t prepared for how mind-blowingly amazing the whole experience was. 

Through some very deep and emotional lower realm journeys, seeking the directions from spirit guides and animals, we journeyed into worlds that brought peace, clarity and healing.  I really feel that the experiences we went through were uniquely personal and exactly what I needed to acknowledge, progress and ultimately heal. My journey was centred around how I felt about myself, the choices I have made, the consequences of those decisions and how I have treated & viewed myself in the past 20 years. 

I know now that I can accept what has happened and how I can use the Shamanic meditations to see life in a new and positive light.  I feel that I am fully ready and prepared to face a new future with a now complete soul and an excitement about my future.

Thank you a millions times over, Dave.  Your professionalism and commitment to helping me through my journey has been truly inspiring. It really has meant everything to me. J

LT – February 2022

‘I gradually gained clarity on the decisions I needed to make’

I had a series of shamanic healing sessions with Dave in order to get some clarity on what to do in relation to some decisions I was facing. I also wanted to make sense of something that was happening that seemed a bit strange.

Dave was very approachable and put me at my ease, explaining how shamanic work might be able to help and what would be involved. We did three sessions that lasted around two hours each, with a couple of weeks in between each one.

I was fully awake during the sessions themselves and, having placed myself in Dave’s hands, found the process quite intriguing. Dave suggested I did certain things in between the sessions to continue the process, which I did. I gradually gained clarity on the decisions I needed to make and applied myself in line with those.

The result of those decisions wasn’t quite what I was anticipating but I felt reassured that I had done the right thing in taking them. Actually, I felt relieved at the outcome which might in fact open up other avenues for me.

I found working with Dave gave me a greater sense of what might be at play and the confidence to trust what might emerge.

If you are grappling with matters that don’t quite make sense, a series of sessions with Dave may put you in touch with other perspectives and leave you with a greater degree of cohesion where you will feel a little more at peace with things, whatever the outcome.

EA – March 2022

Get Rid Of Back Pain

Around 80% of people suffer from lower back pain.  If you are one of these people you’ll know it is both painful and debilitating, stopping you leading a normal life at both work and play.  It is also the cause of depression and anxiety, creating a downward spiral.

The good news is that you are not stuck with it. Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs (YHLB) is a clinically proven method designed to teach people simple yoga and relaxation techniques to help them manage and cope with their low back pain.The programme has been extensively studied by the University of York in a trial funded by Arthritis Research UK (now Versus Arthritis) and the results have been widely published. Get in touch to find out more.

“It’s been life-changing.  There’s nothing I want to do now that I can’t!”

“I had thought my life would never be the same again after my back condition was diagnosed, but I cannot say how much this has helped.  I have a new lease of life and have no back pain now.”

The YHLB programme is recognised by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), Public Health England and the NHS. That’s why health professionals such as GPs, physiotherapists and osteopaths and are now signposting to this specific evidence-based YHLB Yoga course.

Research has also shown that it reduces absenteeism due to bad backs by 70% which makes it the ideal choice for employers and HR professionals wishing to support workplace health and wellbeing.

Get in touch if you would like to learn more about this programme and receive a free guide.

Become one of the 1000’s of people who have benefitted from this empowering programme and take back control of your life.

“At last I feel able to return to work, as I do not feel dragged down by my back pain.”

“I would never have believed the difference the yoga has made.”

“This is such a revelation.  Why isn’t everyone doing it?”

What is yoga about, really?

Most people think of yoga in terms of the physical practice – very flexible people getting into weird positions – but yoga is really about…mind control.  It’s important to state that this is about controlling your own mind and not other peoples.  If you want to control other peoples, become a dictator. 

If you can control the incessant thoughts, you start to get some peace and feel relaxed. And what better way to live! And yoga practice is a way to achieve this through a combination of physical practices known as ‘asana’, breathing practices known as ‘pranayama’ and meditation.

When people first try meditation they notice how busy their mind is.  Constantly thinking. Trying to solve problems and work stuff out.  So people stop and say they can’t meditate because their mind is too busy.  And they go back to activities which distract them – watching TV, drinking, eating, computer games, social media…the list goes on. 

But in the background, the constant thinking goes on; thinking about the past and worrying about the future causes depression, stress and anxiety. You can run from your thoughts, but you can’t hide!

To meditate is difficult at first and is often dismissed, but a much more accessible entry point to yoga is through yoga postures and breathing exercises.  This helps to stretch and strengthen the body and calm the mind. Click here for a 20 minute yoga practice which can be done any time of day.

And before you ask “do I need to be flexible to do yoga?” the answer is no, not at all.  You may be the least flexible person right now but over time your body will open up – guaranteed.

Our lifestyles are very busy, it’s non-stop with always something to do.  If you don’t fancy a physical practice right now, click here for a 10 minute relaxation.

There are many benefits from practicing yoga. Here are just a few:

Yoga is good for back pain too.  Around 80% of people suffer from lower back pain.  If you are one of these people you’ll know it is both painful and debilitating, stopping you leading a normal life at both work and play.  It is also the cause of depression and anxiety, creating a downward spiral.

The good news is that yoga can help. Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs (YHLB) is a clinically proven method designed to teach people simple yoga and relaxation techniques to help them manage and cope with their low back pain.

Get in touch to find out more about how yoga and meditation can help if you have lower back pain, if you want to improve your flexibility or suffer from stress and want to learn how to relax.

Feeling dull, over active or just right?

I have recently been contemplating the forces described in Sankhya philosophy as the Guna’s.  The three Guna’s are tamas, rajas and sattva.  Quite simply, anything which is dull or lethargic is tamasic, that which is over active is rajasic and anything which is in harmony or equilibrium is sattvic.  These distinctions help me to observe the three states which occur on any number of levels – the inner and outer condition of the body, mind and spirit to society and the whole of the planet. 

Simply being able to define and observe these states has helped me to understand myself and the planet a little more; the ‘996’ culture where employees are encourages to work from 9am – 9pm 6 days per week is surely rajasic?

What’s more is that the three states are fluid, and knowing this can be greatly empowering.   For a lot of people the mind is overactive, or rajasic.  This in turn makes the body twitchy and unable to sit still.  This can lead to an inability to focus and concentrate and in the end there is exhaustion.  On the other hand, those who are tamasic seem frozen, bound in lethargy and unable to move forwards.  Very occasionally there are those in a sattvic state; there is an equilibrium – they don’t eat, sleep, think, work or play too little or too much.  They are the annoying ones who seem to breeze through life.  And the worse thing is that they are not even annoying…how do they do that?

The Guna’s are featured heavily in the Bhagavad Gita which is described as ‘India’s most important gift to the world’ which ‘distils the loftiest truths of India’s ancient wisdom’ and therefore well worth a read. I have owned the translation by Eknath Easwaran for around a decade and keep coming back to it.  It’s funny how these wisdom writings just keep giving, a testament to their spiritual depth.  If you have tried re-reading an old newspaper, you’ll get the point…

More recently I have been reading and re-reading chapter 18 of the Gita where it describes in a very practical way the three Guna’s. There are plenty more examples, but here’s one:

‘That which seems like poison at first, but tastes like nectar in the end – this is the joy of sattva, born of a mind at peace with itself.

Pleasure from the senses seems like nectar at first, but it is bitter poison in the end.  This is the kind of happiness which comes from the rajasic.

Those who are tamasic draw their pleasures from sleep, indolence and intoxication.  Both in the beginning and in the end, this happiness is a delusion.’

Being able to observe where we are helps us to make choices.  If I am feeling dull then going out for a walk in the fresh air helps to bring me more into a sattvic state.  If I am feeling a bit manic, I practice some gentle yoga postures and meditate a little. 

But I am no saint and sometimes a glass of wine to perk me up really does the trick.  For me: everything in moderation.

Why not find a quiet moment, take a breath and have a look inside and out to see which of the three Guna’s is dominating your reality right now. You never know, it may just open up a new world of possibilities.

Coronavirus and COVID-19

Due to the 2019-2020 outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19, we are taking extra precautions with the intake of each student, health history review, as well as social distancing, sanitation and disinfecting practices. Please review the following to ensure that everyone stays fit and well.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• High temperature / Fever

• Fatigue

• Dry cough

• Difficulty breathing

• Loss of taste / smell

If you are symptomatic, or living at home with someone with a COVID-19 infection, or if you are classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds you should remain at home.

Your temperature will be taken on entry and in the unfortunate event that it is high you will be asked to leave.

Social distancing measures are in place, please maintain a distance of 2m and follow any signage and instructions whilst at the facility.

Protective gloves and face masks will not be mandatory, but you will be welcome to wear them.

Sanitising stations will be available and you are welcome to bring your own hand sanitiser.

Toilets and changing facilities are available and to ensure social distancing only one person at a time is to use the facilities.

It is advised to bring your own equipment (mat, belt, blocks, blanket etc). Some equipment is available to borrow and you will be expected to clean down this equipment after the session.

Classes are bookable in advance either online, by email or text.

Booking

Online: https://bendyoga.simplybook.me/v2/

Email: david@bendyoga.co.uk

Text: 07522 794 951

Further information on coronavirus can be found on the following websites:

British Wheel of Yoga: www.bwy.org.uk/covid-19/

NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Public Health England: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

Sport England: https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus

Online Classes

I will be hosting online yoga and meditation sessions during the lock down period. If you would like to join in, please download the Zoom.us  App and click on the invitations below. You can try out a full Restorative yoga class here.

I will be running the following sessions every week – click on the links in the bold text below for the relevant invitation:

For those who can afford it, there will be a charge of £5 per session (£4 concessions) or £30 per month for unlimited sessions.  For those who can’t afford it, the sessions will be free. An alternative payment means will be to carry out an act of kindness. 10% of proceeds will go to Re:Dish charity.

Please get in touch for payment details.

I really hope that you can join me in this yoga journey and look forward to seeing you online very soon!

Best wishes,

David

Facing your inner demons – listening to the teachers from inner space

It occurred to me this morning, as I was running through the woods by the river, that it’s impossible to run away from the stuff that’s going on inside your own head.

It might be possible to forget it for a while or put it inside a box. And then place that box inside another one, and so on. But eventually they will reappear, those incessant thoughts. Loud, bullying, painful even.

Instead, it’s best to face them head on. Not in a confrontational way but with gentle awareness. Sitting with those demons. Learning from them.

After all, once you get to know them, they aren’t demons after all, but teachers from inner space. Ignore them at your peril. They are the teacher and you are the pupil, and together you form the learning.

Sit quietly and repeat three times:

May I be

Gentle, kind and compassionate

To myself

And to all other sentient beings

It’s not going to be easy, but like most worthwhile things, it’ll be worth it in the end.

What style of yoga do you teach?

I often get asked ‘What style of yoga do you teach?’, and my stock response is ‘Hatha yoga’. I have found this to be a satisfactory answer because people then say ‘ok thanks’, and that is the end of that – they either turn up to a class or they don’t. 

No one has ever responded with ‘What is Hatha yoga?’ maybe because it is a commonly used term.  But when people think about yoga, they are most likely thinking about the physical postures known as Asana (pronounced Arsana…yeah I know..). 

Different styles of Asana practice include Iyengar yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Viniyoga and Bikram yoga.  There are many, many more – it’s a bit like Ben & Jerry’s with a different flavour being launched every other week.  All essentially use similar postures but some styles flow more than others, some are more precise in the posture alignment and some are done in very hot rooms making the participant very sweaty. Each to his, her or their own…

Asana is just one aspect of yoga, often the entry point to one of the many paths of Yoga which is a system of philosophy and practice designed to re-connect with the source of our being.  If that sounds too heavy, let’s just say it helps us to find space and to relax; what better way to live out your life?

But of the twelve paths of Yoga mentioned in Swami Nischalananda Saraswati’s book ‘Insight into Reality’, only four of the paths specifically mention Asana, and of those four paths, Asana is just one of a number of practices which are performed.

Hatha yoga is known as the yoga of balance, harmonising the body and energies so that we can open up to a meditative state.  Whereas Raja yoga, as outlined in the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’, utilises a range of eight practices from social and personal conduct, through Asana and Pranayama and meditation to arrive at a place of Samadhi, or mystical absorption.

This is only a taster and I could go on until you glaze over.  Those interested in further details can refer to Insight into Reality, mentioned above, or other yoga texts of which there are many.  Drop me a line for some recommendations.

So what style of yoga do I practice?  Well since you ask, my own personal practice involves Asana and meditation as a basis, which from time to time is combined with pranayama (breathing), shatkarma (cleansing), mudra (symbolic gestures), bandha (psycho-physiological locks), correct diet, bhakti, karma, mantra…the list goes on. 

But more than anything it is Gyana yoga, the yoga of enquiry.  And my conclusions so far – stop thinking and doing, and start being. Oh, and one other thing – stop trying to seek perfection, leave that to someone (or somefink) else. Simple really, isn’t it?