AMANDA ANDERSON-JONES
Welcome
"For me, yoga is about creating'space'.
Space in the body, space in the mind and a beautiful space in which to practise".
Amanda Anderson-Jones
About Me
Hello, my name is Amanda, thank you for visiting Akasha Yoga.
Let me tell you about my yoga journey. After the birth of my daughter I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease.
I started Reiki ,Yoga and sound healing to help alleviate symptoms. The effects on my body, mind and spirit were profound and I eventually began to study so I could share these modalities that changed my life.
I’ve now been teaching yoga and meditation for 7 years and facilitating gong baths for 3. I like to teach yoga with the Earths seasonal cycles to help reconnect us to nature and our own, internal cycles, rhythms and seasons. I also offer workshops to celebrate the Celtic festivals.
I teach at the beautifully renovated Ridgewell Village Hall and offer private Mini Retreats, Relaxation evenings and Reiki from my studio.
I accommodate all needs from Strengthening slow-flow yoga to gentle yoga for those with chronic health conditions.
Qualifications
After many years as a student, I began teacher training and now hold a 400-hour, British Wheel of Yoga teaching certificate.
I have also gained qualifications in the following:
Restorative Yoga (Beverley Nolan & Tiffany Thorne)
Yoga Therapy for Cancer (BWY Module)
Level 1 & 2 Yin Yoga (Sarah Lo)
Yin Yoga & Meridian Course (24 hrs) (Norman Blair & Kate Henley)
Qigong for Yoga Teachers (Mimi Kuo Deemer)
Mindfulness Meditation Facilitation (Michael Stone)
Yoga Nidra (trauma informed) (Barefoot Body)
Anatomy Trains Structure and Function (Fiona Palmer, Tom Myers)
Y12SR (Yoga 12 Step Recovery) (Nikki Myers)
"I have learnt more in Amanda's classes over the last few months than I have combined in all the classes i've attended in the last few years!
Carol H
"After trying out various yoga classes over the last few years I am so happy to have found Amanda's.
She is a knowledgeable and thoughtful teacher who's dynamic classes offer the perfect mix of challenges balanced with calm.
Amanda is a superb teacher.
Highly recommended."
Gemma M
Gentle Yoga
My Gentle Hatha classes are suitable for all levels, including those who are recovering from injury.
I fuse together traditional yoga poses and movements inspired from Qi-Gong. This style of Yoga aims to balance the mind and body with the practice of physical postures (asanas) to increase your bodies strength and flexibility, breathing techniques (pranayama) and the calming of the mind through mindfulness, relaxation and meditation.
Hatha into Slow Flow
My Hatha Slow Flow classes are a sumptuous blend of physical exercises (asana), breath control (pranayama), mindfulness and/or mediation. Our bodies are gently warmed up the body before working into slow flow, linking movement with the breath to create grace and ease within the mind and body. Class is finished with a gentle cool down and blissful Savasana.
Slow flow is slower than vinyasa flow and can be extremely rewarding, since it allows you to be more aware of your body as you take your time with transitions and you hold poses for longer periods of time.
During class we delve into the philosophy of yoga, physical and energetic
anatomy and the fundamentals of mindfulness which then gives
tools and techniques to take yoga off your mat and into everyday life.
Open to beginners.
Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga classes consist of gentle postures held with the support of bolsters, blankets, cushions and blocks to allow the muscles to soften and let go and the nervous system to come back into balance.
A truly relaxing experience for mind, body and spirit.
During class we approach the fundamentals of mindfulness and relaxation which gives you insights to take off your mat and into everyday life.
Suitable for all levels, including beginners and those with injuries.
Yin
Yin postures are held for a longer period of time; generally anywhere
from 1 to 5 minutes. Unlike restorative, gentle sensation
(stretch or pressure) is usually present. The aim of Yin is to stretch,
pressurise and release the deeper layers of connective tissues of the
body (tendons, ligaments and fascia). The poses work as a type of
Acupressure as the meridians (energy lines) are stimulated so Chi (energy) can flow freely.
As poses are held for long periods, students are invited to focus on the breath, relax as they experience patient, quiet and mindful enquiry. We go from a state of 'doing' to a state of 'Just being'.
The long pauses gives us time to focus on the breath and develop a meditative state mind
Gong Baths
A gong bath is a type of sound therapy that's been practiced for thousands of years.
The term 'bath' refers to being bathed in sound waves – there's no water or soap in sight!
Gong baths are a total mind and body experience. Sound doesn’t just enter through your ears – the vibrations go through your whole body whether your ears are consciously listening to it or not. Gongs are the ultimate sound healing tool as they produce the broadest range of tones compared to any other instrument.
The vibrations from the gongs literally massage you inside and out.
I offer Gong baths alongside my Restorative yoga classes and in workshops.
Some documented benefits of Gong Baths
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Reduces stress and anxiety
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Soothes nervous system and decrease blood pressure
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Helps you feel relaxed, balanced, and focused
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May help develop intuition and creativity.
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Gongs facilitate a fast track to the Theta state brain waves (Theta brainwaves occur most often in sleep but are also dominant in deep meditation)- 20 minutes of Theta relaxation is the equivalent to four hours of sleep!
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promotes emotional wellbeing
I offer Gong Baths as part of my Restore and Rewind classes
and seasonal workshops.
Amanda’s restorative yoga and gong session was amazing. I highly recommend to anyone who needs to stop and unwind, I definitely feel restored. Her peaceful manner and calming studio really grounded me and the sound of the gong is out of this world! Thank you so much! X
Jess W
The Akasha Studio
Yoga Nidra
Absolutely anyone can practise Yoga Nidra, but it has immense appeal for those who struggle to let go. It also has immense value for those suffering from sleep deprivation, trauma, anxiety or depression (to any degree).Yoga nidra is often referred to as "yogic sleep," a paradoxical state of being between sleep and consciousness that's conducive to deep emotional and physical healing, rewiring your brain, and self-exploration.
Nidra is a powerful meditation technique that draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep, where our body finds its natural state of equilibrium, the breath balances and becomes quiet, unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves, and we fall into an innate state of deep, blissful awareness.and one of the easiest yoga practices to develop and maintain.
While the practitioner rests comfortably, this systematic, guided meditation takes deeply into your subconscious, leaving you with a sense of wholeness.
As you can imagine, feeling well rested is life changing, but yoga nidra also improves your overall health. A 2013 study showed that practicing yoga Nidra improved anxiety, depression, and overall well-being. Nidra helps activate the relaxation response and improve the functioning of your nervous system and endocrine system, which affects your hormones, helps cells regenerate and repair, and helps decrease anxiety and improve your mood.
Class Timetable
Mondays 6:30-7:45pm Hatha into Slow Flow -All Levels- Toppesfield Village Hal
Tuesdays 9:15-10:30am Hatha into Slow Flow- All Levels - Ridgewell Village Hall
Thursdays 5:45-7:00pm Hatha into Slow Flow- All Levels- Ridgewell Village Hall
Ridgewell Village Hall
Private Studio
The Akasha Studio is a brand new, purpose built, fully equipped space where I hold small, bespoke Yoga classes, Gong baths, Reiki Healing, Medicine Drum Healing, Women's Circles, One to Ones and Mini Retreats.
What to expect:
Beautiful, Private Studio surrounded by gardens and Countryside
All equipment provided
Small classes- Just 6 students
Underfloor Heating
Healing Environment
Off road, private parking .
Why not book the space to celebrate
a special occasion with friends?
What's available:
Private Gong Baths
Private Cacao Ceremonies
Women's Day Retreats
Couples Retreats
Restorative Yoga Sessions
Reiki Healing
Medicine Drumming
Drum Journeys
Please Contact me to book
Workshops, Events &
Seasonal Celebrations
I Facilitate workshops and seasonal gatherings throughout the year. Events are listed on my Facebook page and invitations are sent via email.
To go on my mailing list please
Reiki Healing
The word ‘Reiki’ means universal energy, life force, chi or prana.
During a Reiki treatment you are fully clothed on a warm, comfortable
treatment couch.
I place my hands lightly on or near the body to allow you to receive the
energy. I then guide the flow of healthy energy through the body
promoting healing and the sense of wellbeing.
- Reiki works on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
- You may experience the energy in the form of sensations like heat, tingling or pulsing. Sometimes, people feel sensations moving
throughout the body, or you may feel nothing at all.
Most people feel very relaxed and peaceful during reiki treatment and some people feel so relaxed they fall asleep.
- MEDICINE DRUMMING
Reiki and Drumming creates the Reiki Drum method. This technique incorporates sound waves and rhythm to help a introduce Reiki energy into a person’s energy field.
Reiki Drumming has all the benefits of a traditional Reiki, except the sound waves from the drum introduce Reiki energy more deeply into a client’s energy field and the drumbeat can help clients enter a deep meditative state/state of relaxation which further facilitates deep relaxation and stress relief.
- Research has indicated that even drumming, even for a short period of time can induce alpha state brainwaves associated with wellbeing and euphoria.
- The drumming is followed by normal hands-on Reiki.
- Reiki can be used for such a wide variety of different ailments, it is
now practised in hospices, hospitals, GP surgeries, palliative care,
animal rescue centres and more.
Studies have linked drumming with positive effects on Alzheimer’s
and Dementia patients, illness, recovery addicts and emotional
trauma patients.
*Reiki treatment should not be used as a
substitute for the consultation of a physician or a psychotherapist.
Contact Me
If you have any questions or would like to book a class, workshop or Reiki, please contact me:
Email: akashayogaessex@outlook.com
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