The flow of Vinyasa

When: 17 Mar 14, h 19.30
Where: Vinyasa Yoga Level 2-3,The Life Centre, SW1
How much: Drop in 16 GBP

It is not uncommon to hear in class that vinyasa is moving meditation. It is something more, I think. It is the exact synchronisation of breath and movement in full awareness. If an uninterrupted flow of breath, awareness, and concentration is what you are after, practice with Amanda Denton.
Her way of weaving together the sequences is unique without indulging too much into those fashionable dance-y variation which have little to do with the vinyasa karma tradition: postures follows seamlessly to each other bringing the mind is a state of yoga - providing you keep up…Not for beginners, the pace is soft but steady - and it can be seriously challenging to withstand for an entire 90m class.
She is a strong presence in the class and, thanks to her vast experience, she manages to strike an unusual - but very much sought after - balance between softness and authority, strength and modesty. 

Space and Flow

Where: The Life Centre
When: Wednesday pm

I have to admit that I went to this class purely because of the positive spin on the name and my expectations were not particularly high. I thought that the class was going to be exactly the same as a vinyasa class and that the centre had resorted to branding their classes for extra cash. I was sorely mistaken because this class was nothing like anything I have done before. The emphasis is on creating space in the body and on flowing through very carefully selected kramas and ones which I have never done, at least not in that order. If, like me, you thought the name of the class, reflected a gentle softening of the practice, then think again. This class is as challenging as they come, with some around me launching themselves into frequent handstands as well as other nameless inversions.
It was good for me, though and made me question the stagnation of my practice and the routine or habit that this creates. I am a taurean and these bulls don't like change so when I am caught off guard like that, it is both frustrating and animating. I felt more alive than usual and maybe that had something to do with the novelty of the practice ( the teacher even used asanas that had no name, presumably ones he had invented!) and I think that the boldness and courage of this teacher is something to be welcomed and admired.

Tuesday yoga

Where: The Life Centre
When:  Tuesday evenings

As a regular urban yogini, sometimes it is really hard to find your yogi fix and you end up wandering the streets of this town looking for inspiration and a moment in savasana. More recently, I went back to my roots and a teacher I have known for some time at The Life Centre in Notting Hill. For one reason or another, getting to her class has been a feat near to impossible of late but with the new year firming my resolve, I went back.
And there are no regrets... sometimes with all this chasing our own coccyx, we don't realise what is under our noses the whole time. I went to class one version of a fried Isabell and came out a slightly different version of a much less fried Isabell and what happened in between was a mixture of softness, encouragement, life and creative movement that lifted my being.
It occurred to me during class that there are not many teachers able to define yoga by not uttering a word about it, by not preaching to the clearly converted, by just being present. There are not many who, with the grace of their own bodies and the stillness of their mind, can incite the same in a whole group of others and there are not many, who can leave me at some great distance from the cynicism that I so often feel in these situations. Her voice, her insights and her practice leaves me almost shouting Namaste from the rooftops (except that I can't even get to one in the pricey Notting Hill area) and my faith in London yoga is restored. For now...

Urbananda

Urbananda Yoga is a community project launched in January 2013 as a no-profit studio which utilises vacant spaces in London, bringing them to life with yoga.

They are currently located in Kensal Rise (NW10) and the centre is donation based only. At the beginning of class, as you sign you in, you can give any donation you wish to make. The funds raised support the provision of yoga therapy for adults and children with special needs (Special Yoga).

All yoga teachers are volunteers and passionately teach with the objective to make yoga more accessible in the community, as well as support the selected charities and causes. They schedule include quite a comprehensive offering in terms of styles and levels and they seem to be in expansion.

There is such a good vibe in this place. It is very spacious and well organised. As I check in for my first time, a lovely girl at the reception welcomes me and guides me through the basics. My class today is held in the main of three studios, a wonderful room with wooden floors and high ceilings and plenty of mats and props.

As I make my way in, James Giuseppe, the teacher, smiles and introduces himself. After a few years living abroad, he recently came back to the UK and got involved with this project. I ask him about his background: Iyengar, Sivananda, Vinyasa, Astanga. 'But you should know what I think about the physical practice', he says. 'This is only a mean to aptly prepare for meditation'. I am so pleased to hear it that I cannot resist but comment 'Well, guess we come from the same school'. 

The class is 1h 45m long and is a solid, well rounded and heartfelt practice which encompasses meditation, asana and relaxation. He is a very experienced teacher, and this becomes evident from the very beginning of the class. His sequence is well designed and balanced, his instructions are very precise, his cues extremely accurate, his philosophy and anatomy references clear and accessible. There is only 7 of us, a mix of regulars and newcomers, and James treat all of us equally, proposing variations and providing adjustments to all - and yes, he remembers all of our names!

This is not fast food yoga, this is not a fashionably labelled session: this is just a great yoga class for everyone.

I am glad I have found Urbanananda: unpretentious, genuine, authentic: this is a great home to practice yoga and the kind of place I would love to go back to. I only wonder whether there are more places like  Urbananda and why it took me so long to get there. 

Hotpod

Where: Pop up Hotpod Yoga in W9

When: h 14 - 15, 14 Dec 13

How: Booked on line, have received, receipt, relevant instructions (towel, water, recommended to get onsite 15m before), and friendly reminder the day before

Having practised hot yoga before I was not at all worried by the prospect of yoga at 37 degrees.

I took me a while to find the place, though. I was looking for a studio, instead a few lads from a nearby pub told me that the class was probably at the Paddington Arts Centre, a pretty decadent building, no info of any sorts, none at the reception.

As I go up the stairs, I meet Nick Higgins, one of the two founders of hot pod yoga. He is very friendly and welcomes me with smiley eyes to this inflatable pop up hot yoga pod, asking if I am familiar with yoga at all. He seems so young - def in his 20ies.  I have practiced some - I say. You will be fine, he mentions, my classes are flow  - just slow down if the heat bugs you.

I enter a parquet floored room where there this this massive inflatable tent (so it seems). Nick tells me it takes him 10 minutes to get it set up and roughly the same to get the pod to 37 degrees.

I chat in the kind of changing room with two girls, Americans, telling me that the class I am going to have is going to be awesome, so much fun. Ok then, I am ready.

There are 18 mats laid in this dark violet pod, no props, lights are down, nice and cosy atmosphere - if only I did not have the fan heater next to my mat.

The class comprises 50m of flow and 10 min of savasana. The sequence being quite balanced in fact, open level with good variety and a few challenges. My class mates are all girls expect a guy, the majority in their twenties. Americans and French dominate. How do I know? Well, it seems they had to talk during the entire class...not cool. Nick managed the class well, but it felt a little shallow to me. No philosophy, little more than a hot aerobics class I am afraid. But my class mates seemed to have loved it. I asked a few after call if this is what they expect from yoga. I got a unison yes - they like it hot, and they prefer this to Bikram as more personal. Indeed, Nick provided individual attention, he told me he changes his sequences - and he genuinely seemed a nice guy, happy to be there and teach.

He trained at Yoga Haven and set up this company with a friend of his, newer to yoga. They started this pop up last Jan, but they are getting a 'permanent' hot pod place in Portobello and another one in Hackney from Jan 14. Maybe more. They also have a number of corporate and school clients - where they hold classes regularly, every time bringing all the equipment, pod, mats, heating system, music etc. Nick and Max (Henderson, his business partner) are serious about hot yoga. They have created the designs of various pods – in essence pop-up, heated studios - and they have even got a patent pending on the concept.

Prices vary from 10 pounds (the 1h class I attended) to 35 per class (their boutique classes), and there are of course various carnet on offer.

They managed to transform a good idea into a promising business which is taking off: pop up and not, corporate clients. franchising: hats off.  
Having sad that, I wished the class was a little deeper.

From their website (www.hotpodyoga.com):

'We make hot yoga accessible – that’s the real raison d’etre of the business. Accessible to all types and accessible at any location. We passionately believe in the good that hot yoga can do, and want to get as many people involved as we can. We want to get it into offices, into halls, into gyms and into schools. Everywhere! We also want to give the entrepreneurial yogis amongst us the chance to have their own hot yoga business in a really accessible way – through our franchising operation'. 

Jivamukti

Where: Jivamukti Yoga London in W10

When: h 9 - 10.30, 19 Jan 14




How: Registered as new student 10m before class (1 page questionnaire), GBP 16 for 90m class but they also have carnet available.




I have been practising with Jivamukti certified teachers for some time know, but I admit this was my first ‘official’ Jivamukti class. Fighting the temptation to stay on bed on a rainy Sunday morning, I let Otto (my vespone) lead me to Jivamukti Yoga London in W10. The studio is in a modern block, on the first floor, within a typical corporate / office space setting. However, as you step in, you find yourself in a welcoming and friendly environment: spacious but not huge, well designed but not over the top. As soon as I declared my status of a newcomer, the receptionist quickly handed me over a questionnaire asking just to put name and contact number - I would complete the form after class. They offer open level classes (90m), spiritual warrior classes (60m, ‘condensed’ sessions for busy people) and basic classes for beginners, as well as periodic seminars from resident teachers or guest teachers within the Jivamukti lineage.

The Sunday morning the 90m open level class is held by Adrian Squirrel in the main studio. The class was full, about 25 people, but I easily accommodated some place to lay my mat. All the students were awaiting into some form of savasana, enjoying the ambient music playing in the background.

From the beginning, starting in Balasana, the class flew at a steady pace: the sequence was well thought, accessible to all - still challenging. After class, I have asked the teacher if there is a recommended sequence and whether he follows some kind of a script. ‘I like to change it every time’, Adrian says. While today the class did not cover much in terms of philosophy, it was indeed very well constructed: from warm up to a strong vinyasa section, to then slowing down and emphasis on grounding. I would have loved even a few minutes in pure stillness though. However, during the week, Adrian offers 15m meditation classes after a 60m asana session.

Overall it was a solid, well run class. There was also a good level of individual attention, especially given this was a busy class: and I loved yogi perks such as china gel on lower back and shoulders at the start of the class, a couple of hands on adjustments and a great massage in savasana. I infer Adrian must have remarkable taste in music, based on the selection he played - although in my practice I would tend to opt for predominantly instrumental music. I am notoriously a music geek and I found myself focussing on the lyrics rather than on my breath at least a couple of times. Still, is that really more vritti (bad, bad…) or does that lead you into some form of absorption into a point, anyway?

At the end of the class, I tried to introduce myself to Adrian and have a quick chat - as I actually had a question on a specific pose. He was friendly but given the queue of students willing to talk to him we had to quickly wrap up. Besides, I noticed many students were chatting to each other, leading me to think that this is more than an established studio - it is a small yoga community.

This is good news: while a big brand and a successful commercial operation, Jivamukti Yoga London to date seems to maintain its authenticity and its strong connection to the yoga tradition, filtered through the lenses of Sharon Gannon and David Life. I will go back to check out whether my first impression is right and hope not to be disappointed.

http://www.jivamuktiyogalondon.co.uk

SATYA

When: Every week!

Where: Satyagraha / Vinyasa (Experienced) @ Indaba, NW1, the Light Centre, SW1 or Triyoga Chelsea, SW10

How much: Drop in 16 GBP

Satya is the Sanskrit word for “truth”; agraha means "great enthusiasm and interest”, the two words combined may be rendered as "the firmness of truth” or "the force of truth.”

I practice with Stewart Gilchrist every week, I always try to squeeze in at least one class with him. I have not been practising with Stew for long, a bit more than 2 years maybe. I remember distinctively when I accidentally landed in one of his classes. It was about 4 years ago, I was still in my orthodox Astanga primary series days, and his class was quite a shock: high octane, hot, fast paced…and what on earth was his saying? Was it sanskrit? Or maybe Scottish? Whatever that was, I was not ready for that.

But some sort of seed was planted, and I got back after a while - not sure exactly why - as I started my ISHTA 200h TT.

Yes, the practice is intense, very - almost saturated. At times I wished it was slower. But I always leave with a big smile on my face. Endorphines apart, Stewart always injects a unique combination of philosophy and secular yoga principles, humour, everyday life issues, modern society in a very strong vinyasa sequence. And he is so experienced I have no fear when I practice with him: not sure how he does it, but he infuses that confidence that I always need on & outside the mat. No kidding, he actually managed to bring me into postures I thought I would have never been able to (e.g.: Niralamba Sirsasana, oh my). "If you decide you can't do something, then sure enough you'll find you can't," Stewart often tells us. “Practice. You’ll get there."

Ask Stewart what style of yoga he practices. ‘I practice yoga’, he will tell you. He is a firm believer of the simplicity of yoga, the simplicity of breath and movement, the simplicity of sound and the simplicity of life. It is only us who make things difficult and complex - I start to believe it.

Stewart is no guru, I would not like him so much otherwise. There is such a lovely community spirit in the class, a peaceful and kind hearted tribe - with the occasional overachievers, but this is London after all. And, every week, I feel part of the tribe: even though I hardly know who these people are, they do not even know my name, every week it is comforting to come together for our bhakti practice.

Mat space oddity: Feldenkrais

When: 21 Mar 14, h 12.45- 14

Where: Feldenkrais for Yoga, The Life Centre, W8

How much: Drop in 16 GBP (free class due to sponsor day across London studios)

I am getting more and more intrigued by anatomy and movement, so I was pretty curious to find out more about Feldenkrais. Considered by some a form of physiotherapy, Feldenkrais is an experiential method focusing on learning and movement, which can bring about improved movement and enhanced functioning. It is named after its originator, Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), an engineer and physicist as well as a Judo teacher.

Daniel Gelblum, a yoga teacher and Feldenkrais expert in London, has designed a series of classes where he uses Feldenkrais techniques to help yogis move with ease into challenging yoga postures, discovering often hidden flexibility and strength.

The class I attended started in a supine position. Well, the entire class was held in a supine position.

The focus of the day was mobility in the spine, so we spent 75m preparing the body, warming up the spine and twisting. ‘Let me show today how to twist like you never twisted before’, Daniel stated. And it was kind of true…the class slowly built up, from simple, controlled movements to much more subtle ones, to complete free style twist - very contemporary dance-y (made me think of Pina Bausch at some point!). ‘Yoga is very linear, Feldenkrais helps you breaking this linearity and improving the quality of your movement’. I see the point, especially in the context of Vinyasa, where transitions are so important.

I found the class a bit unusual, which I assume was exactly the point…I can see how this practice can be complementary to asana practice.

High class...

Practice or not practice: the substitute teacher dilemma

When: 29 Apr 14, h 10.30 - 12.00

Where: Yogasana (Experienced), Indaba, NW1

How much: Drop in 16 GBP

It does not happen that often to be able to practice with one of my favourite teachers in the morning mid-week. Nirvana scenario: spacious room, energetic morning practice, few yogis = a lot of hands on adjustments from the teacher.

Traffic was maniac, parking my vespone has never been more difficult. Tube strike side effects.

As I sign in for my class, the friendly receptionist: 'Hi Anna, Stew won’t make in time today - we are finding a substitute'. 

A smile on my face tried to conceal my disappointment: no Stewart this morning? I came on purpose, I organised the entire weekly routine so that I could make this morning class and now this?! I do not even know who will guide us in the practice….?! I was not proud of my reaction, but at least I was keeping all this to myself. Of the 5 students after me, 2 left, 2 signed in rolling eyes up, 1 stood in stand-by waiting to hear who the teacher would be.

Stewart’s classes are usually full of Pitta and Vata dominant characters, you can try to get the picture...

Anyway, the class starts on time, Hortense leading. 

Oh, not bad at all - I say to myself - I heard pretty good things about her. I read somewhere she has trained with Dharma Mittra, amongst other teachers, and that she has a strong practice. Still, if stepping in another teacher’s (imaginary) shoes is never easy, covering for Stewart with no notice at all must be so intimidating. one could sense it in her voice. Impressive how this affected the energy of the class and the doshas, too.

 Still, it was a solid, honest and fun class. Well rounded, creative, challenging - and very, very different from what we all expected.

High Five & respect to Hortense.

—

A Sleepy class

Where: Life Centre
When: wednesdays 8:15 pm


This class was a recent find and I thought I would share it. Tired from a long  day at work, I decided to leave later than usual from work as this particular teacher I had bookmarked for a long time. Her name is Lucy and upon lying down in a rather busy studio, I immediately felt her grounded, warm approach and knew I had come to the right spot.  I don't quite know how she did it but she found enough minutes prior to class starting to go around and ask everyone about their injuries and for the first time in my life, I told her that yes, I do have an injury but it is not as physical as other ailments. Mine is insomnia and i have relentlessly suffered for many weeks now, trying all sorts of old wives' solutions to stave off sleeplessness but to no avail. So, when I rather reluctantly told Lucy about this, her response was of genuine concern and one which I had not been expecting. To my surprise, she had actually been planning a class to teach postures for sleep and throughout class made several educated references to asana and sleep, including a mention of the doshas and how to ground before bed. This all made perfect sense and I was relieved to be taken under her wing and annoyed that I had not come sooner.
There are certain teachers who don't profess guru status and yet still hold their own in a class, inspiring confidence and a down to earth approach which is actually so needed in such an unlevelling city,. Her soft but earthy voice stilled my mind and the well-selected postures felt good in my weary body, deprived of so many weeks of sleep.
I went to bed happy that night and hopeful that there are some old wives' tales that may actually contain some all important truth.

Sunday morning wake-up

where: evolve

When: Sunday morning

There are classes you simply stumble upon because it's cold outside and because you are a bit lost of a morning so you turn up amongst the regulars and you know that in attending a full-on vinyasa flow class, you are going to have to fake it to make it. Not my usual setting but I thought a Sunday morning and all the rest and sleep from the weekend would allow a few extra chaturangas in my body and incite my tejas. 

With as much speed as the class itself, I realised that this was not the case, that I would much rather be in stillness away from jumping jacks and sweat. 

So, I resorted to a lot of child's pose and as the teacher urged everyone through her hectic flow, I noticed my resistance, my intolerance and my irritation. I felt controlled so I stepped back from it and  went inside. This was far better and I realised that my ability to take from the external what I need is an important coping mechanism. Not being a yes girl is ok too

Having said that, I loved parts of the class and especially her outfit: pink leggings with a matching bandana. Making my way to sweaty Betty as I write :)

a little bit of heaven in the west

Where: The Life Centre
When: every damn Saturday!
Time: 5-6:30

I have started to look at the class I regularly drop into on a Saturday as a little bit of medicine, not least because it ends unlike most classes with a simple observation meditation, which never fails to take me to a peaceful stupor, one I have been in need of for quite some time.
The class starts with somewhat more of a bang, focusing on a semi-dynamic practice which suits the vata type, as it slows down the breath and the asana simultaneously and all postures are driven by a need to ground in the present moment. The teacher sets the tone with an angelic tone of voice and a soft and rhythmic pace, allowing to find space on the mat and allowing for breath to smoothen and mind to still. It seems like all the postures lead to one thing here: stillness. Ironically, I don't feel this about most classes but maybe this is down to the psychological factor and the knowledge that there is a big, vacuous, stretch of time at the end where I can just be.  And I need to be here, now because the outside Saturday mayhem of Notting Hill needs a rest and I hope to infuse shoppers and urbanites all around me as soon as I leave!

I wholeheartedly recommend this for stress management and this class is really the hidden key to dampening anxiety, ridding the body and mind of phobias and gaining much-needed balance.

A class like no other

Where: The Life Centre
When:  Tuesday evenings

As a regular urban yogini, sometimes it is really hard to find your yogi fix and you end up wandering the streets of this town looking for inspiration and a moment in savasana. More recently, I went back to my roots and a teacher I have known for some time at The Life Centre in Notting Hill. For one reason or another, getting to her class has been a feat near to impossible of late but with the new year firming my resolve, I went back.
And there are no regrets... sometimes with all this chasing our own coccyx, we don't realise what is under our noses the whole time. I went to class one version of a fried Isabell and came out a slightly different version of a much less fried Isabell and what happened in between was a mixture of softness, encouragement, life and creative movement that lifted my being.
It occurred to me during class that there are not many teachers able to define yoga by not uttering a word about it, by not preaching to the clearly converted, by just being present. There are not many who, with the grace of their own bodies and the stillness of their mind, can incite the same in a whole group of others and there are not many, who can leave me at some great distance from the cynicism that I so often feel in these situations. Her voice, her insights and her practice leaves me almost shouting Namaste from the rooftops (except that I can't even get to one in the pricey Notting Hill area) and my faith in London yoga is restored. For now...