The summer holidays are over, the conkers are beginning to fall, and we’re beginning to think about putting the heating on – it’s time to embrace the beautiful season of Autumn!
Autumn is a transitional season, which takes us from the relaxing warmth of summer to the crisp cold of winter. Transitions can be a time to re-think our routines and take advantage of the seasonal change to make changes of our own.
Autumn is also a time of plenty when the fruits of the fields are harvested and we give thanks for the way the Earth provides for us. We can also give thanks for our own ‘harvest’. What fruits have we grown from our dedication and hard work? Instead of always looking to the next challenge, consider your achievements.
Autumn is also a journey into the dark days of winter. Our bodies have to work harder to fight off the seasonal coughs and colds, while the lower Vitamin D levels reduce our natural immunity. This is a time to prepare, strengthen and restore our bodies through an extra commitment to a calming and restorative yoga practice.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of seasonal yoga workshops to give you an extra boost for the coming season.
1. Thai Yoga Massage and Yin Yoga
Where: yogahaven Clapham, 63 Wingate square, SW4 0AF
When: Sunday 5th of October 2019, 3.00 – 5.00 pm
How Much: £25
Head to yogahaven with a friend or partner for what sounds like a heavenly afternoon of interactive massage, Yin yoga, and relaxation.
Thai yoga massage is performed on a yoga mat and works to stimulate the flow of energy through the body’s system. Like massage, Yin yoga assists in gaining a deeper sense of balance and calm. So, between the massage and the yin yoga, you’ll be sure to feel completely released of all stress.
2. Yoga Foundation Course
Where: Oval, 40 St. Agnes Place, London SE11 4BE
When: 12th & 13th October 2019, 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
How much: £225
As the seasons change, it can inspire us to make the changes in our own lives that we may have been putting off for a while. The Yoga Foundation Course offered by YogaLondon is a condensed exploration of the vast subject that is yoga.
Set over a weekend, you will cover a large range of topics including bandhas (body locks), kriyas (cleansing exercises) and how to do adjustments. You’ll also get to hang out with a group of like-minded yogis, who love yoga just as much as you do. Plus it’s a great taster for the 200-hour teacher training course.
3. Seasonal Movement Immersions for Creative Practitioners
Where: Indaba Yoga Studio, 18 Hayes Place, Marylebone, London NW1 6UA
When: Friday 1st November 2019, 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
How much: £35
Challenge yourself to expand your boundaries with exciting teacher David Kam. He will challenge the notion of alignment by testing your bodies against ‘the earthquake of change and (in)stability’. Influenced by Feldenkrais and Fighting Monkey methods, this experiential workshop is for anyone who is ready to explore movement as a creative practice beyond the rectangular confines of the mat.
Encouraging a deeper connection with the body, this workshop will weave together various movement disciplines and cultivate your own sense of curiosity and inquiry.
A workshop to expand your yoga horizons in line with the transitional season of Autumn.
4. Relax & Restore: Yoga and Gong Bath
Where: The YOGANEST, 27 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PJ
When: Saturday 30th of November 2019, 2.00 – 4.00 pm
How much: £35 (early bird price)
Set at St Margaret’s House in East London, this workshop uses the combined power of restorative yoga and healing gong sounds to re-harmonize your body and mind.
In this workshop, you will move through a series of Yin and Restorative inspired Yoga poses to gently settle and open the physical body, moving towards an extended Savasana (relaxation) in which you will be bathed in Gong sounds for the second half of the session.
Have an extra layer for the gong bath session, as your body can cool rapidly, and expect to leave with all your internal layers resonating.
