Yoga Classes
New Year: New You – start with daily simple stretches
New year is always a great opportunity to try something new and change our bad habits by taking up a healthier lifestyle. Why not make the resolution to do some exercise or stretch every day. Just a few stretches before you get in the shower or even when in the shower as the warm water will help soften tight muscles. These two are great to ease driving or desk bound shoulders! First interlink your fingers and straighten arms upwards over head, with palms up towards the ceiling. Then attempt to catch your hands behind your back, one elbow up and one arm down – hold a flannel if hands are too far apart, and day by day notice how it becomes less difficult.
Don’t be too ambitious just try to do something every morning, if you have only 5 minutes then just stretch. Please check first with your GP if you have any conditions that might affect you exercising, to make ensure a level suitable for you. If you have a little longer why not try the Animal sequence moving with your breath from Child into Cat, raise into Downward facing Dog and then sit back on your heels with hands on hips or behind on floor, and life heart in half camel, return to Child. Once moving easily then move onto the Sun Salutation sequence, which is harder but a great to warm up and chance to burn some calories. If you decide to do a pose a day, then make sure you have warmed up and take it easy, following a book or magazine with instructions. For bad backs strengthen your core (to support your lumbar spine, or lower back) with plank pose: Starting all fours, either on straight arms or harder on bent elbows, step your feet back with toes curled under so you are a straight line from shoulders to ankles.
Having got used to doing something every morning why not try doing nothing? Being able to sit for a few moments in stillness is a great energy charge. Don’t think of it as meditation just think of watching your breath while finding a comfortable sitting position, creating space and encouraging your breath to be smooth and full. Enjoy your ‘daily doing’ new year’s resolution.
This Bird of prey stayed in perfect stillness New year 2009 Photo copyright K Brown, Dahab, Eygpt
“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something Sometimes one creates as significant impression by remaining silent “
Quoted from Dalai Lama’s Book of Daily Meditations
I hope to see you in a class soon. You are welcome to drop in and try a class before committing to a term.
Classes 2010
All of my classes will begin week of Monday 4 January with half term week off from Monday 15 February 2010 except Monday 6.30pm and Tuesday 7.30pm which will both run as keen classes and there will space to drop in. I hope to see you in class soon.
New Class: Wednesday Evening in Cumnor
I shall be filling the vacant yoga spot in Cumnor Village Hall on Wednesday evenings. As next door village to my home I am very happy to offer a hour and a half class in my usual Hatha style. As a new class this would be suitable for beginners as you will be starting new with everyone else having myself as a new teacher. As always evening classes get very full so please let me know if you would like to join. The first class will be £7.50 to try out my teaching but if you can commit to the term I would appreciate it.
The New year Saturday workshops will begin with Balance and Alignment on Saturday 13 February 2010 and a new day has been added for April. Full details are now on the separate Yoga Workshops page and new page for weekends in Cotswolds and Yoga Holidays in France in Late Spring 2010 on Yoga Holidays page.
In all Hazel’s courses students will be working with asanas (postures), pranayama (breath) and meditation. Students work at their own pace and ability. The benefits of Yoga are increasing flexibility and strength; and becoming aware of posture. It can help reduce symptoms of asthma and a range of ailments from creaky joints, digestive issues and poor posture.
Please bring a cushion & blanket or throw (and if you have one, a yoga mat) Wear comfortable clothing that you can stretch & move in. All are welcome, new comers please let me know if you are a beginner or if you are working with any ailment. One student put Grumpy on the health form, which hopefully went into remission as Yoga helped loosen her tension and lower stress levels.
Are you a complete beginner daunted by group class, returning after an extended absence or needing to take it gently with an injury? A private one to one class is a great introduction to yoga and focus on your individual needs. A one to one can build your confidence and opportunity to learn adjustments or different poses before you join a group class. Also if you would like to refine your yoga practise at home a private class can fine tune your understanding of the complexity yoga can offer.
Ushtrasana: Camel and easier Half Camel version
Difficult poses like this strong back bend can be softened with a variation safer for stiff backs
CLASSES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
All are welcome. Classes are offered in blocks of usually 6 weeks to fit in around half term/vacation breaks.
Payments can be made by cash, cheque or by Secure PayPal will added shortly (page under construction thanks for your patience).
Day time classes Evening classes
Seven block is £49.00 Drop in for £9.50 Seven block is £52.50 Drop in £10.00
Experience yoga as the quality of attention,
rather that the quantity of minutes you have practiced,
and you might find that you have lost track of time altogether.
Quote by Julie Rappaport 2009
Monday Morning - Women’s Institute Hall, North Hinksey Lane, Botley
9.30 – 11.00am. This class will start again Monday 22 February 2010. This friendly mixed ability class is a great way to start your week, come along and try a class.
Parking is restricted as the marked bays are let to offices during the day and only 8 cars can park down side or front of building, we can block each other in to squeeze more. The WI hall is on North Hinksey Lane, OX2 0LT which is easy walking distance from bus stop (bus 4, 11 and 100 routes) just by Minns Business Park, or a bit further walk from Seacourt park and ride.
Monday Evening Class Appleton Village Hall
This friendly village class is very full so please email Hazel to join the waiting list if you would like to join. This class starts at 6.30pm until 8pm. No classes on Bank Holidays. We begin 15 February but as some people will move to Cumnor evening class there may well be spaces please email if you prefer this venue
The hall is on Oaksmere, OX13 5JS, on the corner opposite the war memorial with ample parking.
Tuesday morning Class Cumnor Village Hall
10.00am to 11.30am. The class will be a gentle yoga class with all levels, new and existing students welcome. This class is ideal for those working with injuries or beginners. I hope to continue the previous teacher, Bernard’s warm approach in Yoga asanas and his calm ability to make meditation easy for all. Begins again 23 February 2010 for six weeks.
NB New Venue after Easter. This class will be moving within Cumnor but to half an hour earlier at 9.30am at the Cumnor Old School, the High Street from 20 April 2010. The hall is in the middle of the village adjoined to the Postoffice and will much warmer and less disruption as the hall is available throughout the term. There is ample parking behind the hall shared with the church or parking on street.
Tuesday Evening Classes 6pm – 7.30pm and 7.35pm – 9.05pm
Old Headington Parish Hall.
7.30pm continues through on Tuesday 16 February 2010 with 7 week block. 6pm begins after halfterm on 23 February for six week block. There are spaces available in 6pm, although 7.30pm is very full. Please email or phone for details and availability.
The hall is on Dunstan Road, OX3 9BY, where the road changes name from St Andrew's Rd. It is across from Stoke Place. Parking is a challenge so please walk or cycle if you can. As always please take care of the Brownies, Guides and parents arriving for their scout hut behind the hall, traffic can be very confined.
Wednesday Evening Classes 6.15pm – 7.45pm Cumnor Village Hall.
6.15pm to 7.45pm. As a new class it is ideal for beginners or those returning after an absence from yoga. The hall is on Leys Road off the High Street almost leaving the village (towards the reservoir and direction of Farmoor). There is ample parking behind the hall you reach by driving past the entrance. Starts again 17 February 2010.
Thursday Morning Class, Eynsham Village Hall, Back Lane.
9.30 – 11am This popular class continues through halfterm. You are welcome to drop in at £9.50 but please check space is available.
The village hall is on Back lane, OX29 4QW. Parking is in the free council car-park, nearly opposite the hall. This is a popular class so please call to confirm availability
Friday Morning Class, North Oxford Association, NOA, Summertown, Oxford
The Friday morning class at 10am will move to the central Summertown location from 26 February 2010. It will be a five week term as we will finish the week before Good Friday. The NOA venue is inbetween two reasonably priced carparks (you need your numberplate when purchasing parking ticket) and easy access to all the Summertown shops, supermarkets (M&S, Co-op and Tesco) and coffee shops. The venue itself has a cafe and the airy wooden hall even has yogamats are available although your own is always nicer! North Oxford Association (NOA) centre is to be found off the Diamond Place car park, Summertown adjacent to (but not part of) the Ferry Sports Centre.
“It is the concrete, specific awareness of one’s own act of moving which is so satisfying.
Something more is needed than simple body mechanics, that the feelings hidden in the body, the source of all its movement, must be involved.”
Quote by Mary Starks Whitehouse, speaking of Authentic Movement though equally applies to yoga and mindfulness
Pear Trees or Vrkasana pose Marsh Baldon workshop 2004
OTHER CLASSES
Hazel also teaches at private gyms in Oxford Companies which require membership.
Private one-to-one, or small classes. Private Sessions to improve and deepen your yoga practice. This will be tailored to a student's needs, starting from scratch for beginners; rekindle home practice for those of you who have lapsed or Yogi/Yoginis wishing to develop your asanas or pranayama. 1 hour £45.00; 1½ hour £60.00.
Special Groups
I have been teaching a smashing group of 16 year olds at the Abingdon College and have a few slightly younger students attending my mixed ability classes. A big thank you to Oxford Council’s Adult and Continuing Education Team who gave the opportunity for valuable experience teaching varied groups, with very different requirements, a Medium Security Unit and a wonderful group at the Enablement Centre. Also a series of ‘taster events’, eg. refugees group and yoga for the whole family to join in, taken to disadvantaged areas in and around Oxford. If you work with a special group of people who could gain from yoga please get in touch to find out more. The last three summers I have also taught as part of English Language Summer Schools. I tried to learn ‘flexibility’ and ‘calm’ in 7 languages and the students seemed to enjoy a new lesson experience.