AKASHA आकाश; 'Space'
"For me, yoga is about creating 'space'. space in the body, space in the mind and a beautiful space in which to practice".
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. Conventional medicine (of which I had worked in for 10 years) couldn’t help me. Because of this I started my quest in looking into alternative therapies ….. something very strange for one who had been working in primary care and hospitals for so long!
One day I noticed that my local gym was advertising yoga classes, so I thought I’d give it a go ….I remember thinking " Isn’t Yoga supposed to chill you out? Oooh, i’m not very flexible though!" (Sound familiar?!).
Despite my reservations I gave it a go. After my first class I was hooked. A shift had taken place..... I couldn’t quite figure out what……was it the stretching? Breathing? Relaxation?
I started attending many different styles of classes from Viniyoga, Hatha, Vinyassa Flow to hot Ashtanga.
My body and mind was becoming stronger and more flexible, steadier and focused. My attitude to myself changed. Mind, body, spirit in unison; I was healing.
I wanted to share the remarkable power of yoga with others so after practicing for 3 years I was able to begin my year long foundation course with The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY). From here I then completed a further 2 years study with the BWY to gain my certificate in teaching.
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I draw inspiration from many styles of yoga and movement therapy, from Hatha, Vinyassa, Yin, Qi Gong and Jivamukti.
My keen interest in physical anatomy and the energetic body (subtle anatomy) are aspects that are taught in class.
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I have been fortunate on my journey to have studied directly with Leslie Kaminoff, Michael Stone, Brett Moran, Beverly Nolan, Sarah Lo, Sarah Powers, Dr Yogi (Andrew McGonigle), Alexandria Crow, Norman Blair and Nikki Myers. I am truly grateful for the regular wisdom and guidance of my Mentor Andrea Kwiatkowski.
I hold a 400 hour BWY Yoga teaching certificate have gained qualifications in teaching Restorative Yoga, Advanced YinYoga, Mindfulness Meditation, Yoga Nidra and Yoga and Y12SR (Yoga 12 Step Recovery).
"I have learnt more in your classes over the last few months than I have combined in all the classes i've attended in the last few years", Carol H
Hatha
MY CLASSES
My Hatha classes are suitable for all levels, including beginners. Hatha 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 & Mindfulness
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Hatha 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
Restore and rewind 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'.
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.
At present I do not teach Yin as stand alone classes, instead the practice is incorporated into my other classes.
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.
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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.
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Yoga Nidra is weaved into the last class of the term, Restorative Workshops and can be booked privately.
"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
CLASS TIMETABLE
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Classes are paid in termly blocks to coincide with school the local school terms (usually 6-7 weeks) which works out as £7 per class. Classes can get busy so drop-ins (£10.00) are only available if I have space. Concessions available. ​​
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Mondays
Baythorne Hall, Baythorne End.
Booking advisable.
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6:10-7:25pm –Hatha- Strength and Ease
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7:35-8:50pm – Hatha into Slow Flow
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Tuesdays
The Yoga Room Ridgewell- Must be Pre-booked
9:15-10:30am– Hatha into Slow Flow
Wednesdays
Baythorne Hall.
6:00-7:15pm –Hatha Strength and Ease
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Thursdays
The Yoga Room Ridgewell- Must be Pre-booked
9:15-10:30am– Hatha
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11:15am-12:30pm- Gentle Hatha​​
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Workshops & Mini Retreats
Keep your eyes peeled for any upcoming events! Please contact me to be added to my mailing list.
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Private appointments
Private appointments are available for all levels of student from complete beginners to more advanced practitioners. Completely tailored to your specific needs, whether you need help with specific asana, need some inspiration to start a home practice, or need to loosen off some aches and pains, I can work out a safe and enjoyable practice specific to you! Please contact me for further details.
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"The breath is the central key that unlocks the body and opens the realms of the heart"
Anodea Judith
CONTACT ME
