This is a special Bank Holiday Monday class led by new teacher Annie Sherburne! For just £10 for a 75 minute class!

The path of yoga is a journey that reveals to ourselves the possibilities of movement with awareness. Focusing on hip openers and freedom in the pelvis, with adaptations for everyone, we will explore our own unique symmetries and asymmetries, and work with poses to release tension in the hips.

Deep inside, supporting everything we do, enabling us to walk, to hold our abdominal organs, and to meet and coordinate with the trapezius and our upper body, lie the psoas muscles. Because they are so deep we will begin to find a personal experience of them. They give us coherence and grace and hold us together to coordinate the complex and exquisite balances of the body in movement.

Annie Sherburne has just graduated from Yoga London in Ashtanga vinyasa flow. Annie has a particular love for yoga because it has enabled her to heal her own scoliosis and achieve a level of movement and joy in her body that she believed impossible 4 years ago. Annie also suffered a tragic bereavement and has a belief in the transformational power of yoga, both physically and emotionally and spiritually, believing that it can offer something uniquely personal to everyone. Annie has also been training at Kagyu Samye Dzong, the Buddhist monastery in Bermondsey, London, where she completed the advanced teacher training module on the body with yoga London in March. Now nearing the end of the philosophy module, she is taking the dharma module in November to complete 500 hour advanced teacher training. Annie is better known as a designer of jewellery and rugs and continues to make work for her shop at the Oxo tower. Her approach to yoga teaching is visual, descriptive and imaginative, believing that our bodies are tools of what we do and expressions of our desires and that to intrinsically understand how to enable ourselves to realign them, enables us to experience life more fully with each other and with joy

As Annie is a new to teaching, but one with great hands on experience and dedication we are offering this 75 minute class for just £10!…

This is an open talk/workshop on the Yoga Sutra by Patanjali, with a chat over tea & cake afterwards.

In the first part, I will be talking about the Yoga Sutra as a source and guidance for your yoga practice, just as introduced by Patanjali 4000 years ago. Along with spoken word, I will offer some meditative exercises, breath control and simple yoga postures, all suitable for beginners and those who have never done yoga before.

The workshop may also compliment experienced yoga practitioners who mainly focus on practicing asanas, as I will view yoga as a complete eightfold path of yama (ethical observances), nyimama (self-study), asana (physical posture), pranayama (control of breath), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (focus), dhyana (meditation), Samadhi (wisdom).

The tea & chat part is offered, because I think a sense of community is as important as the yoga practice itself. In Buddhism, it is called sangha. It’s a place to discuss, ask questions, exchange ideas, make friends or just hang around and soak in the good vibes. So I hope to see you soon at these regular gatherings!

About OLYA SAMADHIM who leads the OM EXPLAINED! workshops at Yoga Place.
“Since 2008, I’ve been studying meditation with the Kwan Um School of  Zen (in  Korean Zen Buddhism tradition) under the guidance of holders of genuine traditions of Zen meditation, including teachings of  Zen Masters Thich Nhat Hanh and Seung Sahn. Trained as a performance artist/director and a psychotherapist, I have been  holding creative leadership, team building and public appearance workshops in the past, along with my practice in arts. Since my establishment in meditation and later yoga, I have been developing ways to incorporate the teachings into my projects in arts, therapy, self-help, personal growth and education. In large, my actions are focused on bringing people together. I think it is crucially important to build alternative communities where people from different walks of life could express themselves as yoga and meditation practitioners, build fulfilling relationships, and have chance to create positive change to society.”

Tuesday & Thursday evenings 7.45pm to 9.30pm (Starts Tuesday 2nd April)

This class is taught in the Mysore style tradition where students practice individually and at their own pace.  The class is meant to be a stepping stone between the led evening Ashtanga and the early morning Mysore Self Practice classes.  It is ideal for those students whose other life commitments do not allow for them to attend the early morning Mysore sessions, or for those who wish to try this way of practicing before committing to the morning classes. All practitioners of the Primary Series are welcome, from beginners to those that have completed Primary Series or have completed the Beginners Ashtanga Course.

The starting time is between 7.45pm to 8pm and finishes when you wish within the given time, up to 9.30pm

This class can be used as part of the Discount Class Passes or paid drop in BUT IS NOT PART OF THE EARLY MORNING MYSORE PAYMENT.

Joanna who is the Yoga Place Holistic Therapist!

We are very happy to introduce Joanna Gierjatowicz, our new Yoga Place Therapist offering a wonderful selection of treatments! Please contact Joanna direct to make a booking.

Joanna has graduated from the University of West London with a BSc (Hons) in Complementary Therapies in Healthcare. She has been trained in: Holistic, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Hot Stones and Pregnancy Massage. Joanna is a warm, friendly and dedicated massage therapist with three years experience in massage in various environments. She is a registered member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

THE THERAPIES
Holistic Massage treats the body as a “whole”(a unity of mind, body & spirit), therefore the massage not only pampers your physical body but also calms down your mind and reduces emotional stress (30min/60min/90min).

Deep Tissue Massage is one of the most effective ways to treat pain and injury. It uses firm pressure designed to release tight layers of muscles and tissue, which usually develops from bad posture, injury, stress and overuse. Especially recommended in treating chronic problems such as stiff neck, shoulder tightness and lower back aches and pains (30min/60min/90min).

Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural essential oils extracted from various parts of the plants to enhance physical & psychological well-being. The inhaled aroma from these essential oils stimulates the brain function, and absorbed through the skin, they travel through the bloodstream to promote whole body healing and harmony (30min/60min/90min).

Reflexology is a therapy that involves application of pressure to the points of the feet (reflexes), corresponding with the organs and parts of the body, in order to bring the state of deep relaxation, stimulate the body’s own healing power and restore a sense of well-being. It can be used to treat specific conditions or as a way to maintain overall health (30min/60min).

Pregnancy Massage is a treatment that can benefit not only the mother but also the unborn baby. It supports a woman emotionally and physiologically during a time when her body is undergoing many changes and can help to prepare her body for birth. It can help to reduce stress levels due to it’s calming effect, as well as alleviate aches and pains and other common health problems associated with pregnancy (30min/60min/90min).

Hot Stones Massage is a treatment using smooth, basaltic (volcanic) rocks that have been heated in water to perform the body massage. The heat of the stones penetrates deep into the muscle tissue allowing the muscles to relax quicker than in a standard body massage, easing muscle tension and revitalizing the muscle tissue by increasing blood circulation. It also speeds up any healing processes and creates a state of deep mental relaxation (60min/90min).

Price List:
30 min £30
60 min £50
90 min £70

To make your booking please call Joanne on: 07859091417 or email jo@ifeelgoodmassage.co.uk

Dates:  Sundays 23 June 10.30am – 12.30pm, 21 July 10.30am – 12.30pm.

Costs: £20 / £15 concessions

“Mysore Style” is traditional Ashtanga Yoga, as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath, in India.  It’s a wonderful system of quiet self-practice where each person within the room works to exactly their own level.  The extended class time means you can arrive and leave when it suits you.  There are no limits with this method of teaching – beginners to very advanced, as well as those with injuries or other limitations, are easily accommodated.

Assisted by the teacher on an individual basis, students are taught postures within a manageable framework.  This makes it particularly suited to anyone who is committed, regardless of physical ability.

This workshop will introduce you to the background of Mysore Style, and help you memorize the first part of the practice so you’ll feel comfortable coming to the morning classes, or starting a solo practice at home.

Should you decide to sign up for classes, the workshop fee will be deducted from your first month’s payment.

Book Online

Hamstrings are a common source of frustration for many yoga practitioners. In this workshop the focus will be on why the hamstrings are so important to a fulfilling yoga practice and exploring tips and tricks  for healthy hamstring stretches.

The hamstrings are intimately connected to the health of the lower back and pelvis. Many back injuries and lower back pain issues are directly related to the hamstrings. Also, sometimes the way practioners stretch the hamstrings, particularly in forward folds causes injury to the connective tissue in the lower back.

We will explore in depth specific actions in yoga poses that will help make more progress in elongating and lengthening the hamstrings, leading to greater ease in forward folds and helping to ease back pain.

Tension in the lower body, particularly the soles of the feet, the calves and the hamstrings translates up the whole body. Tension in the hamstrings or lower legs tends to cause tension in the lower back and the neck and even tension around the head that is related to tension headaches.  So stretching the hamstrings is not just for the benefit of the legs, it’s really for the benefit of the whole body.

In this 3 hour workshop we will cover anatomy, alignment and explore a range of asanas designed to strengthen and lengthen the hamstrings. Open to all levels of practioners, this workshop will particularly benefit  those who feel tight hamstrings hamper their practice and  those who have hyper extension in the legs.

Book Online

Hypnobirthing is an antenatal childcare programme. It offers a simple methodology or even philosophy to empower women to have the positive birth experience they deserve; the father or partner to take the role of supporter and carer and the baby to be given the best possible start in life.

You will learn simple self-hypnosis* techniques to help to keep you calm and relaxed so the fear-tension-pain equation (CHILDBIRTH WITHOUT FEAR, Grantly Dick- Read) is less likely to occur and you can have a positive birth experience.

You will learn fear release techniques to overcome any negative feelings you may have about birth and help to come to terms with a previous traumatic birth.

You will be informed about your choices as a woman giving birth and feel empowered and in control of your body.

*with hypnosis you remain completely in control. It is simply a way to help to release unhelpful thoughts/behaviours.

EMILYS STORY: – I gave birth to a beautiful little girl on March 4th 2010 using Hypnobirthing (Mongon Method). I went into labour at around midnight and had my first surge in the bath. My instinct was to get onto on all fours and rock backwards and forwards as I’d done in my own pregnancy yoga classes (and taught other mothers to do). This was really reassuring, After watching episodes of SEX AND CITY and listening to my husband snoring, the surges became more regular and closer together so I knew it was time to venture to the birthing centre in East London. I got into the car at around 12pm and had 3 surges on all fours on the Bethnal Green Road was noisy and bright. Not the warm, darks safe space of my home but I didn’t feel we had the space to have a home birth.

The midwives at the Barkantine, were aware I was a Hypnobirthing mother. They had seen a few women at the centre using the techniques and were fascinated by their effectiveness. Apart from the occasional monitoring of the baby’s heartbeat, they pretty much left me and my husband Morgan to it. I spent about 5 hours in the pool, getting onto all fours and practicing my first stage labour breathing techniques whenever I had a surge. My yoga practice complemented the Hypnobirthing so well and I knew the yoga had helped to make my body strong to prepare for this day. We had the relaxation music and affirmations playing in the background and Morgan would read scripts to me at certain points. The room was calm and peaceful throughout. I was getting pretty exhausted by 6.30pm but could sense that I was almost fully dilated so Morgan called the midwives who took me out of the pool to prepare me for the final stages of labour. Focusing on my breathing techniques, having Morgan by my side and knowing that I was soon going to meet my baby made the second stage of labour go fairly quickly and I can honestly say I didn’t feel pain. There were undoubtedly strong sensations but they were totally manageable. The birth was pain relief and drug free. Ella Coco was born at 8.08pm weighing 7lbs and 15oz. We had an alert, healthy and very hungry little baby. It was a life changing experience in many senses and hugely moving. The experience wasn’t just emotional for us, the midwife who had been amazing throughout, was moved to tears.

Having had this calm and beautiful experience using Hypnobirthing and yoga, which was so far removed from the painful, medicalised image we know of birthing from the media, I wanted to share the possibilities with other couples which is why I became a Hypnobirthing teacher myself.

ABOUT EMILY: - Emily gave birth to her daughter using Hypnobirthing (the Mongon Method). Emily teaches Hypnobirthing to individual couples and groups. She has worked with experienced Hypnotherapists to deepen her knowledge and independent midwifes. She is a member of The Hypnobirthing Association and Association of Improvement to Maternity Services.

Emily has been teaching yoga for a number of years with a strong focus on breath work and relaxation. She teaches pregnancy yoga and birth preparation workshops at Yoga Place. She also teaches the highly successful Beginners and Level 2 Courses.

BENEFITS OF HYPNOBIRTHING

Shorter labour: Using the Hypnobirthing techniques can help to shorten the 1st stage of labour and help the mother to feel calmer and more relaxed for the 2nd stage of labour. Less pain: The techniques teach the mother to deeply relax which eliminates the Fear – Tension – Pain syndrome (Grantly Dick-Read) allowing them to remain calm, comfortable and in control. 40% of HypnoBirthing mothers birth with no pain relief required a further 37% rely on gas and air.

Less interventions: Hypnobirthing mothers are equipped with knowledge and techniques to help resist interventions unless they are really necessary. They feel in control of their bodies and reassured their bodies know what to do.

Best start for baby: Mothers feel much more in control during the pregnancy and the birth. This feeds into the parenting as the baby starts to grow too and they tend to bond well with their babies.

Quicker recovery: Generally post-partum recovery is much quicker for Hypnobirthing mothers. There are less cases of episiotomy in Hypnobirthing and research shows less cases of post-natal depression

Happier babies: Hypnobirthing babies are generally calmer, happier, feed well and sleep well. They’ve been brought into the world gently and they carry this experience with them.

Father’s/partner’s role: The father/partner is very important in Hypnobirthing. He provides a calm, safe space for the mother and baby. This creates a bond for him and the baby and makes him feel empowered at the birth.

Course outline: -

Session one

• Introductions
• Introduction to Hypnosis
• Introduction to Hypnobirthing
• Birth stories from Hypnobirthing families
• Fear –tension-pain – why labour can hurt and why it doesn’t need to.
• Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system  – how fear effects labour
• How mammals and other cultures birth
• Importance of father
• Unbendable arm technique to demonstrate how the body follows the mind
• Muscles of the uterus
• Relaxation breathing technique
• Up breathing technique
• Optimal birth position
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Relaxation scripts
• Hypnobirthing DVD

Session Two

• Nutrition
• Relaxation and recap up breathing
• Visualisations for birth
• Positions for birthing
• Avoiding episiotomy – perineal massage
• Down breathing technique – second stage of labour
• Positions for birthing
• Avoiding episiotomy – perineal massage
• Hypnobirthing DVD – BIRTH AS WE KNOW IT
• Colour and calmness relaxation

Session Three

• Looking at your estimated Due Date
• Preparing for home birth, birth centre or hospital
• Early signals of labour
• What are artificial forms of induction and how to avoid them?
• Natural, drug free ways of inducing labour
• Deepening techniques
• Light touch massage
• Fear release exercise for confidence and power

Session Four

• The first two stages of labour: what do in each stage
• Recap on down stage breathing
• How will I know? What do I need? Questions answered
• The importance of the birth partner
• Transfer to hospital or birth centre
• Third stage labour – delivery of the placenta
• Down stage breathing recap
• Meeting and bonding with your baby
• Deep relaxation practice
• Hypnobirthing DVD

Course may be subject to change.
You will be provided with a copy of Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongon, handouts and a CD which are included in the price.
Course can be started anytime after your 20 week scan.

Book Online

Course 1: Sat 9th & Sunday 10th and Sat 23rd & Sunday 24th March. FULLY BOOKED

Course 2: Sat 25th & Sunday 26th May and Sat 8th & Sunday 9th June.

Course 3: Sat 14th & Sunday 15th and Sat 28th & Sunday 29th September

Course 4: Sat 9th & Sunday 10th and Sat 23rd & Sunday 24th November

Times: Saturdays 2.30pm to 5.30pm and Sundays 11am to 2pm

What is Hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is an antenatal childcare programme. It offers a simple methodology or even philosophy to empower women to have the positive birth experience they deserve; the father or partner to take the role of supporter and carer and the baby to be given the best possible start in life.

You will learn simple self-hypnosis* techniques to help to keep you calm and relaxed so the fear-tension-pain equation (CHILDBIRTH WITHOUT FEAR, Grantly Dick- Read) is less likely to occur and you can have a positive birth experience.

You will learn fear release techniques to overcome any negative feelings you may have about birth and help to come to terms with a previous traumatic birth.

You will be informed about your choices as a woman giving birth and feel empowered and in control of your body.

*with hypnosis you remain completely in control. It is simply a way to help to release unhelpful thoughts/behaviours.

EMILYS STORY: – I gave birth to a beautiful little girl on March 4th 2010 using Hypnobirthing (Mongon Method). I went into labour at around midnight and had my first surge in the bath. My instinct was to get onto on all fours and rock backwards and forwards as I’d done in my own pregnancy yoga classes (and taught other mothers to do). This was really reassuring, After watching episodes of SEX AND CITY and listening to my husband snoring, the surges became more regular and closer together so I knew it was time to venture to the birthing centre in East London. I got into the car at around 12pm and had 3 surges on all fours on the Bethnal Green Road was noisy and bright. Not the warm, darks safe space of my home but I didn’t feel we had the space to have a home birth.

The midwives at the Barkantine, were aware I was a Hypnobirthing mother. They had seen a few women at the centre using the techniques and were fascinated by their effectiveness. Apart from the occasional monitoring of the baby’s heartbeat, they pretty much left me and my husband Morgan to it. I spent about 5 hours in the pool, getting onto all fours and practicing my first stage labour breathing techniques whenever I had a surge. My yoga practice complemented the Hypnobirthing so well and I knew the yoga had helped to make my body strong to prepare for this day. We had the relaxation music and affirmations playing in the background and Morgan would read scripts to me at certain points. The room was calm and peaceful throughout. I was getting pretty exhausted by 6.30pm but could sense that I was almost fully dilated so Morgan called the midwives who took me out of the pool to prepare me for the final stages of labour. Focusing on my breathing techniques, having Morgan by my side and knowing that I was soon going to meet my baby made the second stage of labour go fairly quickly and I can honestly say I didn’t feel pain. There were undoubtedly strong sensations but they were totally manageable. The birth was pain relief and drug free. Ella Coco was born at 8.08pm weighing 7lbs and 15oz. We had an alert, healthy and very hungry little baby. It was a life changing experience in many senses and hugely moving. The experience wasn’t just emotional for us, the midwife who had been amazing throughout, was moved to tears.

Having had this calm and beautiful experience using Hypnobirthing and yoga, which was so far removed from the painful, medicalised image we know of birthing from the media, I wanted to share the possibilities with other couples which is why I became a Hypnobirthing teacher myself.

ABOUT EMILY: - Emily gave birth to her daughter using Hypnobirthing (the Mongon Method). Emily teaches Hypnobirthing to individual couples and groups. She has worked with experienced Hypnotherapists to deepen her knowledge and independent midwifes. She is a member of The Hypnobirthing Association and Association of Improvement to Maternity Services.

Emily has been teaching yoga for a number of years with a strong focus on breath work and relaxation. She teaches pregnancy yoga and birth preparation workshops at Yoga Place. She also teaches the highly successful Beginners and Level 2 Courses.

BENEFITS OF HYPNOBIRTHING

Shorter labour: Using the Hypnobirthing techniques can help to shorten the 1st stage of labour and help the mother to feel calmer and more relaxed for the 2nd stage of labour. Less pain: The techniques teach the mother to deeply relax which eliminates the Fear – Tension – Pain syndrome (Grantly Dick-Read) allowing them to remain calm, comfortable and in control. 40% of HypnoBirthing mothers birth with no pain relief required a further 37% rely on gas and air.

Less interventions: Hypnobirthing mothers are equipped with knowledge and techniques to help resist interventions unless they are really necessary. They feel in control of their bodies and reassured their bodies know what to do.

Best start for baby: Mothers feel much more in control during the pregnancy and the birth. This feeds into the parenting as the baby starts to grow too and they tend to bond well with their babies.

Quicker recovery: Generally post-partum recovery is much quicker for Hypnobirthing mothers. There are less cases of episiotomy in Hypnobirthing and research shows less cases of post-natal depression

Happier babies: Hypnobirthing babies are generally calmer, happier, feed well and sleep well. They’ve been brought into the world gently and they carry this experience with them.

Father’s/partner’s role: The father/partner is very important in Hypnobirthing. He provides a calm, safe space for the mother and baby. This creates a bond for him and the baby and makes him feel empowered at the birth.

Course outline: -

Session one

• Introductions
• Introduction to Hypnosis
• Introduction to Hypnobirthing
• Birth stories from Hypnobirthing families
• Fear –tension-pain – why labour can hurt and why it doesn’t need to.
• Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system  – how fear effects labour
• How mammals and other cultures birth
• Importance of father
• Unbendable arm technique to demonstrate how the body follows the mind
• Muscles of the uterus
• Relaxation breathing technique
• Up breathing technique
• Optimal birth position
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Relaxation scripts
• Hypnobirthing DVD

Session Two

• Nutrition
• Relaxation and recap up breathing
• Visualisations for birth
• Positions for birthing
• Avoiding episiotomy – perineal massage
• Down breathing technique – second stage of labour
• Positions for birthing
• Avoiding episiotomy – perineal massage
• Hypnobirthing DVD – BIRTH AS WE KNOW IT
• Colour and calmness relaxation

Session Three

• Looking at your estimated Due Date
• Preparing for home birth, birth centre or hospital
• Early signals of labour
• What are artificial forms of induction and how to avoid them?
• Natural, drug free ways of inducing labour
• Deepening techniques
• Light touch massage
• Fear release exercise for confidence and power

Session Four

• The first two stages of labour: what do in each stage
• Recap on down stage breathing
• How will I know? What do I need? Questions answered
• The importance of the birth partner
• Transfer to hospital or birth centre
• Third stage labour – delivery of the placenta
• Down stage breathing recap
• Meeting and bonding with your baby
• Deep relaxation practice
• Hypnobirthing DVD

Course may be subject to change.
You will be provided with a copy of Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongon, handouts and a CD which are included in the price.
Course can be started anytime after your 20 week scan.

Book Online