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.

Gorey Yoga Studio Still Standing

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

Workshop with Manju Jois

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.

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.

Holistic Therapies at the Gorey Yoga Studio

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

FREE ACUPUNCTURE!?

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.

Morning Yoga

The early morning was traditionally the time for Yogis to practice their asanas, before the heat of the Indian sun became too intense. Here in Ireland there isn’t much danger of sun stroke as you go through your daily practice, however, with the advent of magical, modern technology including central and ‘electric’ heating, we too can enjoy the benefits of a good yoga routine when it is likely to do the most good - first thing in the morning before going out to meet the world.

At the Gorey Yoga Studio in lovely County Wexford we offer several mid-morning classes and are thinking of adding another on Friday, and early morning yoga for those who have the gumption to make it to the Studio before heading off to the office, building site, clinic or wherever it is that you earn your daily crust. Yoga improves flexibility, reduces stress and anxiety and will make you feel balanced, content and happy throughout the day!

If any are interested, just send us a quick email to info@yogagorey.com.

Namaste,

Liam.