A delight to return to the halls as the Covid Road Map continues to ease we can hopefully offer drop in for occasional classes from 21 June onwards. For now please book the current block of classes.

We of course continue to be careful and all the halls are working hard to keep clean and safe for you. Bring your anti-viral gel, socks to walk into hall and masks on until class begins or moving around please. As we all have our own mats that reduces threat of contamination and strict protocols for sharing the space together with lots of ventilation.

Ready to Join a friendly local class with like minded folk? Want to find a counterbalance for your other sports; Need to fit in with busy schedules or travelling? Yoga can really help us gain balance and strength with flexibility, start now with two feet on your mat (or borrow a mat) and see how like it!

Always welcome to try and see how class is suitable and give Hazel a call or email for full details. Details on each venue page:

  • Cumnor - just past Botley outside the ring road
  • Botley - Deancourt community centre
  • Headington - new North Way community centre
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Our theme Giraffe Free and limbered Necks – we share 7 vertebrae with our long necked friends Giraffe!

Do text or email to let me know you are joining the yoga classes. Hire a mat @ £2 for charity if you don't have your own but bring your towel/blanket for padding in poses and warm in relaxation. Do come early to talk though any tips to ease back into yoga &/or especially as a beginner?

Cover teachers

Occasionally through teaching or training commitments (& rarely for illness) I need to ask teachers to cover the yoga classes. These teachers are all BWY  or YA qualified and usually teach a similar Hatha Yoga with flowing sequences. I enjoy their teaching so hopefully you will too, sometimes a different voice or explanation can radically help us improve!

Set your intention

 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

What to expect

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.

What to bring with you
Please bring a cushion & blanket or throw (and if you have one, a yoga mat) Wear comfortable clothing that you can stretch & move in but not too loose falls over as you bend down. 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.

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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. You might find the BWY explanation useful before your first class: What happens in yoga classes.

Ushtrasana: Camel and easier Half Camel version

Difficult poses like this strong back bend can be softened with a variation safer for stiff backs as above.

It is possible to join classes throughout the term. Let me know if you have any conditions that need a bit of care or modifications, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, back ache and many more. In most cases we can adapt postures to suit, rarely need to sit out certain things and usually find techniques that can ease or help maintain your lifestyle to be as healthy as possible.

If you would like to know more about any of the weekly classes please contact me if you are interested on 07931 743 785.

“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.”
by Mary Starks Whitehouse, Authentic Movement.

Photo right is our group Relaxation and Meditation on zoom for Marie Curie Nurses, April 2021

Pear Trees or Vrkasana pose Marsh Baldon workshop 2004
Pear Trees or Vrkasana pose Marsh Baldon workshop 2004
Relaxation and Meditation for Marie Curie Charity 2021
Relaxation and Meditation for Marie Curie Charity 2021

Tradition of Charity and Yoga

In 2020 & 21 with Covid it was a pleasure to offer Relaxation and Meditation sessions and our donations total £300.00 to Marie Curie Nurses, supporting patients as always even in a pandemic. It was so special to share meditation where-ever we were at home, over zoom, giving ourselves care while we sent Love and Kindness out to everyone.

When I am away or training through the year there are opportunities for BWY student teachers to teach a class and each class has generously donated to a chosen charity. Thank you to everyone’s support. Its great for them to have feedback so please do forward any comments to help them grow & teach. Claire taught for Cancer Research in February 2020 and its great when the student becomes a wonderful local teacher such as Harriet seen here in tree pose! We look forward to the next batch of student teachers joining us again soon.

Our Student teachers with each class, chose a great local charities:
Children Rehabilitation service; MIND and the Air Ambulance. With lovely groups in seated practise, or Satsang I have support of many hands baking cakes and helping run the coffee mornings. These have raised money for Maggie’s Centre and local hospice Sobell house here in Oxford.

Harriet-student-teacher
210417 marie curie certificate

Positive words and affirmations can improve our mindset and mood

So many folk have found this calming and have benefited in times of stress or difficulties. Read this mantra or affirmation on the breath from Thich Nhat Hanh:

” Breathing in ~ I calm my body,
Breathing out ~ I smile.
Breating in ~ I dwell in the present moment,
Breathing out ~ I know it is a wonderful moment.”
Book: Joy of Meditation as Nourishment

Quietly chant or silently say the words as you slow your breath. Invite self reflection and contemplate on Harmony equality and well being for all. This Buddhist Monk asks us all to be mindful, open our hearts and help create peace for all.

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’.

bird

One to One Session

Need to boost your confidence and have a clue where to begin? Between Lockdowns students wanting to start yoga but not happy to remotely join zoom, I've used my garden for safe outside yoga. Plus I hand draw a sheet of suggested poses to strengthen and learn basics, so comfortable to join when in person classes restarted!

Private one-to-one, or small yoga classes. Tailored to your 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 £70.00; 1½ hour £85.00.