Yoga and Meditation

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.

Meditation

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.