Anthony will be holding another of his popular Ashtanga intensives at the Yoga Sacred Space in Wicklow Town on Saturday November 29th, 2008. These workshops are an opportunity to take your practice to another level, experimenting with more advanced poses and going more deeply into the postures you are already familiar with.

This may be your last chance before the Christmas blowout to prepare your body for all the fun and games during the traditionally hearty Irish yuletide festivities. Arrive at your first Christmas party lean, toned and purified with Ashtanga yoga and then have at the banquet table for a couple of weeks without a guilty conscience!

Anthony meanwhile, will be fresh back from further workshops in Berlin at the Asthanga Studio Berlin with brand new continental tips and tricks to enhance and improve your yoga practice.

The duration of the workshop will be three hours with a cost of Eur 40.

To register your interest contact us at info@yogagorey.com or call Anto on 087 907 7505.

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Two intensive days of Ashtanga Yoga Practice with two senior teachers in this vibrant European capital city!

Saturday December 6th, 10am to 12pm: Mysore Style
Saturday December 6th, 2pm to 4pm: we will focus on breathing techniques and Bandha work. Followed by an intensive excursion in the use of weight and gravity for an easy way in upside down positions like headstand and handstand as well as a preparation to “jump through”. Sunday December 7th, 10am to 1pm: introduction to meditation and a led class where both, Andrea and Anthony will adjust and give helpful instructions in each posture of the Primary Series. Followed by a long and deep relaxation (Yoga Nidra) to integrate the intensive practice in body and mind.

Advanced Teachers

Andrea and Anthony are both dedicated to the practice and teaching of traditional Ashtanga Yoga. Both currently working with Manju Jois and Nancy Gilgoff as their main teachers in Ashtanga Yoga. They are enthusiastic to share their experience with their students, encouraging them to practice with patience and discipline, to be individual and non competitive, to practice in a joyful way.

Anthony

Anthony started his practice in 1991. He initially studied Iyengar yoga and is a certified Iyengar teacher. He taught in this tradition until he was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga, as from the very beginning he fell in love with, captured by the fl owing techniques, challenging asanas, the breathing and the bandhas. He completed the teachers training with senior teachers Graeme and Leonie Northfield in Australia and he has a strong background in meditation techniques. He is currently living and teaching in Dublin and Wexford in Ireland. more infos: www.yogagorey.com

Andrea

Andrea has been actively practicing different traditions of yoga since 1986. She has a backround in physiotherapy and has a degree as a healing practioner. She successfully completed different teacher trainings worldwide and have been teaching continuously since 1995. In the last ten years her focus in practice and teaching shifted entirely to traditional Ashtanga Yoga. She is the founder and director of the AshtangaStudio Berlin where she teaches Ashtanga Yoga on a daily basis. infos: www.ashtangastudio.de

The workshop is open for all levels of students. Experience in Ashtanga Yoga is required.

cost: 90 EUR
AshtangaStudio Berlin, Jablonskistr. 24, 10405 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg to register: info@ashtangastudio.de or call Anthony: 087 907 7505

Prenzlauer Berg is a lovely area in Berlin and we can help to find an affordable accomodation for the weekend. For cheap flights from Dublin: ryanair.com or airlingus.com

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Every stage in life brings with it changes both physical and psychological that we need to learn from and adapt to. Retirement is no different and just like the transition from home life to school life or from school life to work life, should be exhilarating, challenging and a fresh opportunity to live and experience life in a new way.

The Stages of Life

Just as each new stage in life brings with it new activities and leaves old ones behind, so does retirement. At 65 or 70 or 80 plus years it may no longer be quite as feasible or desirable to continue with activities that you enjoyed in your youth, whether it be football, rugby, hurling, hockey or whatever else. Yoga, however, unlike most sports, is a timeless activity that can be enjoyed by all.

Physical Changes

Some of the physical changes we experience with age are a gradual loss of muscle tone, decreasing flexibility, mental acuity, changes in blood pressure and weakening bones to name just a few. Desire and motivation to keep active and fit may also become a problem.

Yoga can be done very actively and dynamically or very gently and slowly, depending upon the needs of the practitioner. There is no competition, no level to attain, no better or worse practitioner, only people enjoying the practice and benefits of an enriching activity.

Energizing Yoga

Unlike many other physical activities, yoga does not exhaust the practitioner but rather energizes, leaving you feeling stronger, happier and more relaxed after a class. In addition to graduated strengthening exercises, yoga includes balancing, stretching and relaxation exercises combined in logical sequences which directly benefit us as we age.

Yoga for Octogenarians

Many renowned yogis have continued to practice physical yoga exercises into their nineties and beyond. There is no age limit to the practice of yoga and no age, however advanced that cannot benefit from a gentle, focussed, energizing yoga practice.

Vanda Scaravelli is an excellent example of the age transcending power of yoga. Coming later in life to yoga, Vanda was already in her 40s before she was introduced to asana practice by BKS Iyengar and continued an inspiring practice until her death at the age of 91. Vanda’s flexibility at this advanced age is legendary in yoga circles and serves as an inspiration to us all as we mature in life and in our practice of yoga.

The Gorey Yoga Studio

The Gorey Yoga Studio is committed to providing quality yoga classes to the senior community. If you know of an individual, group or organization of seniors that would be interested in exploring this life-enhancing and age friendly activity, please do not hesitate to contact us on 086 408 2428 or email us at info@yogagorey.com

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Sunday November 9th, 2008.

It is no secret that for many, Yoga is as much a way to manage and deal with the stress of everyday life as it is to gain flexibility, strength and the other physical benefits of asana practice. The origins of Yoga as practiced in India are inextricably linked with the practice of meditation which has been shown to be a highly effective tool in reducing stress and beating the symptoms of stress at their point of origin, deep within ourselves.

The Goal of Yoga

Today, the link between yoga and meditation is often lost sight of in the enthusiasm students and many teachers have for the, very satisfying and rewarding, practice of physical yoga. The goal of yoga was originally to quiet the body and still the mind in preparation for the practice of meditation - the ultimate inner journey which leads ultimately to a more fulfilling life and engagement with the outside and every day world.

Mindfulness

This workshop in November will allow you to experience the effects of a full Hatha Yoga session upon a guided meditation practice. Following a Hatha Yoga class of 90 minutes, with myself (Liam Byrne) you will led by mindfulness trainer, Fidelma Farley, into two basic meditation practices that will enhance physical and mental stillness, and enable you to live more fully in the present.

Regular Breaks

This promises to be a very interesting workshop and I, for one, am looking forward very much to the extended mindfulness meditation after the yoga session. No need to worry about tortured legs either, this is a workshop (not a sweatshop!) and there will be no prizes awarded to those who can sit cross-legged the longest. There will be regular breaks to stretch the legs and opportunities to ask questions and discuss. Personally I can’t think of any better way (well, not many anyway) of spending a Sunday afternoon.

Cost and Duration

The duration of this workshop will be three hours with a cost of Eur 40.

To register your interest contact us at events@yogagorey.com or give me (Liam) a call on 086 408 2428. You can reserve a place on the workshop by sending a Eur 20 deposit to myself - just ask for details when you contact me.

PS Best to reserve early as places are limited to maximum 12 people.

It is with a mixture of sadness and pride that we report the closure of the only other Yoga school in Gorey during the summer of 2008. The school on Main St. offered a mixture of yoga, pilates and holistic therapy and we wish the owners and staff all the very best wherever the future will take them.

Despite this small setback for the yoga community as a whole in Gorey, we are immensely happy to be able to continue to offer high quality yoga instruction and holistic therapy under one roof at the Gorey Yoga Studio. Simply put, if you are looking for a good yoga class in the South East, whether in Arklow, Gorey, Enniscorthy, Avoca, Courtown or any of the surrounding towns, then the Gorey Yoga Studio is quite simply the only place to go. No other venue from Wicklow Town to Wexford has an exclusively dedicated Yoga space like the Gorey Yoga Studio!

Tel: 086 408 2428 or 087 907 7505.

Email: info@yogagorey.com

The Gorey Yoga Studio Team

We are very lucky to have the mixture of teachers and therapists that we do at the Studio. Anthony is a senior teacher with immense experience and truly dedicated to the highly popular Ashtanga style of yoga. Three of us offer Hatha Yoga style classes, including myself (Liam), teaching Sampoorna style from the school of Yogi Hari, Barbara Rocks, a very senior teacher and bodywork therapist with tremendous experience (we are very privileged to have Barbara with us!) and Siobhan Rice, YTI certified teacher with specialized experience of pregnancy yoga.

Tel: 086 408 2428 or 087 907 7505.

Email: info@yogagorey.com

Therapists

In addition to our yoga teaching ‘faculty’ we now also have Akane, Man Lai and of course myself, offering a variety of massage therapies at the Studio. Akane practices healing holistic massage and aromatherapy, Man Lai (a Chinese native) practices Chinese Deep Tissue Massage (aka Tuina) as do I myself. Again last, but not least, we are now very pleased to offer Reiki energy healing therapy at the Studio.

Tel: 086 408 2428 or 087 907 7505.

Email: info@yogagorey.com

Exercise the Power of Now!

If you are sitting at home now wondering if this is the time to book that yoga class you have been thinking about for the last six months, well the answer is yes. Don’t put it off one more day, call us now on 086 408 2428 or 087 907 7505, email us at info@yogagorey.com. Have a nagging pain you’ve always thought might benefit from a good massage, deep tissue, aromatherapy or otherwise? Give us a call now and experience the healing touch of our therapists. Always wondered what that Reiki thing was? Had a feeling that it might be what you need to help get you back on your path to healing and well-being? Now is the time to put your doubt aside and make that call.

Tel: 086 408 2428 or 087 907 7505.

Email: info@yogagorey.com

Just a quick note here to let everyone know that Anto has returned from his trip to Germany this week. As you know, Anthony always likes to improve both his Yoga and his teaching skills and It has been an intensive summer for him including workshops with Manju Jois, renowned yoga teacher and son of Pattabhi Jois, the father and founder of the modern Ashtanga school of Yoga. It was a true privilege for Anto to work with this senior teacher and of course, the benefits will be felt not only by Anto himself, but also by the students in his classes.

Yoga in Berlin

Following training with Manju, Anthony was invited to teach a workshop in a Berlin based Ashtanga Yoga Studio and had the opportunity to experience the world of Yoga, Berlin-style. According to his reports, Yoga studios are like “coffee shops” in Berlin - on every street and full of students. Although perhaps a better analogy for Ireland would be that Yoga studios in Berlin are like pubs in Ireland - everywhere and always passing a brisk trade! Can Gorey lead Ireland in this kind of forward thinking way? We certainly like to think so.

Yoga Salon in Gorey, Wexford

Filled with renewed enthusiasm by his experience, Anthony has been overhead saying he would like to bring a more Central European flavor to the Yoga Studio. Perhaps this mean we will now expand to have tables and chairs outside to enjoy the Gorey ‘al fresco’ experience? Who knows, only time will tell. Watch this space and happy handstands!

Liam,

Namaste.

Some of us sit cross legged in the Lotus position to meditate. Others relax in a chair with a cup of tea.

Here at the Studio, we would like to encourage you to do both. While the original goal of Yoga was to achieve stillness of body with a view to cultivating stillness of the mind, this goal is often lost sight of during the daily or weekly practice of yoga which then becomes a mere stretching exercise. Not that stretching is bad, but to an extent it is selling yoga short not to enjoy the real fruit of ones efforts with asana (yoga postures) practice. This is a bit like having an aeroplane at home and then using it only to nip down to the local shop for a pound of butter now and again.

The Ideal Yogi - Asana vs. Meditation

Ideally, a yogi should be spending at least as much time in meditation as they are in asana (yoga postures) practice. If the balance tips the other way, as it does for the vast majority of us, then something is amiss. To help redress this balance we now offer a donation based class which will consist of one half hour of yoga followed by two 15 minute meditation sessions with a small break to stretch the legs in between. Afterwards, all are welcome to join us in a cup of tea, either at the Studio or around the corner in one of Gorey’s many boutique cafes.

Yoga Community

These combination classes (Yoga and a Cuppa) will be scheduled for weekends, one per month and are a priceless opportunity for people to come together in a true community of yoga, going beyond the atmosphere of the routine yoga class.

Please register your interest by phone or email. Liam can be reached at 086 408 2428 or emailed at info@yogagorey.com

See you all soon,

Liam and Anthony.

For those of you suffering from stress, back ache, aching muscles, anxiety or any of the other common afflictions of today’s busy lifestyle, the Gorey Yoga Studio and Therapy Centre now offers a range of therapies to help you de-compress, regain your true health and get the most out of life.

Chinese Deep Tissue Massage

Therapist: Liam 086 408 2428 €50 1hr info@yogagorey.com or liam@therapyandyoga.com

Therapist: Man Lai 086 408 2428 €50 1hr info@yogagorey.com or manlai@therapyandyoga.com

Holistic Massage

Therapist: Akane 086 408 2428 €50 1hr info@yogagorey.com or akane@therpyandyoga.com

Aromatherapy

Therapist: Akane 086 408 2428 €50 1hr info@yogagorey.com or akane@therpyandyoga.com

Reiki Energy Healing

Therapist: Liam 086 408 2428 €50 1hr info@yogagorey.com or liam@therapyandyoga.com

All of these therapies are now available by appointment in the serene and calming environment of the Yoga Studio on John St. in Gorey or by arrangement at other locations.

To arrange for an appointment or to learn more call Liam on 086 408 2428 or email: info@yogagorey.com

www.yogagorey.com www.therapyandyoga.com

Senior Teacher Anthony Kearney will be leading a Yoga Teacher Training course for aspiring Yoga Teachers beginning this January 2009 and lasting approximately 9 months. The training takes place at the Yoga Sacred Place yoga school in Wicklow Town. Applications are still being taken, so if you want to guarantee your place on the course call Teresa on 087 987 8424 or go visit www.yogasacredspace.com for more details. This is a great opportunity to take your yoga practice to the next level with an advanced yoga teacher!

Namaste,

Liam.

We have a couple of budding acupuncturists at the Gorey Yoga Studio looking for volunteers to undergo a FREE course of five acupuncture treatments under professional supervision. This would consist of an initial consultation without needling treatment, followed by one trip to Clonskeagh in Dublin to be presented to the class and faculty. Here a diagnosis will be made and a prescription given followed by the first treatment.

From here there will be a course of four follow up treatments locally (i.e. either here at the Gorey Yoga Studio or at your own home) to be monitored by the staff of the Acupuncture Foundation.

We are looking for approximately 12 volunteers, so if you are interested just send an email to either liam@therapyandyoga.com, manlai@therapyandyoga.com or here to info@yogagorey.com

You can also visit www.therapyandyoga.com to learn more about Liam (me) and Man Lai.

Namaste,

Liam.