It’s Here!
Put your feet up, or get on your mat and move to our December Playlist on Spotify.
Chosen by staff and teachers, especially for you 🥰
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"The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.” ― T.K.V. Desikachar
Many classes will be extra sparkly in December with special offerings to help you navigate the holidays. All of these events are included in your membership/credit package and do not cost any extra.
Our December special events:
📆 03/12/22: Saturday Special: Jivamukti Open and Satsang with Andrea K
Book here
📆 04/12/22: FREE ONLINE CLASS: Yoga Flow with Beth
Book here
📆 06/12/22: Gentle Jivamutki & Sound Experience with Bianca
Book here
📆 10/12/22: Saturday Special: Ashtanga led with Emma
Book here
📆 15/12/22: Jivamukti Restore & Renew and Sound Experience with Andrea K and Bianca
Book now
📆 17/12/22: Saturday Special: Body & Soul Detox Flow with Anita
Book here
📆 19/12/22: Festive Candlelit Yang & Yin with Janine
Book now
📆 20/12/22: Festive Candlelit Literary Vinyasa with Jessica
Book now
We look forward to welcoming you to the studio this month.
More events will be added throughout December
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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Flow Flow Flow!
Ashtanga is a set sequence of postures linked together and practiced in a vinyasa (Flow) movement which will build heat in the body - a beautiful moving meditation whereas you'll find that this set sequence will stretch and strengthen your body and allow the breath and energy to flow through it.
Our biggest excitement falls with offering now 2 in-studio classes!!! CAMYOGA & Emma Lindsay have also been delighted to see so many familiar faces returning to the Ashtanga-led classes.
What are the Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga?
Hands-on adjustments
Enables you to sweat it out
Increased strength
Quietening of the mind
A set sequence - know what's coming
Increased flexibility
Blood pressure lowered
Stress reduction
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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*Life-changing Yoga Benefits*
There are several benefits of practicing yoga that falls on the physical and mental side - and they will surely keep revealing themselves to you every time you step on the mat!
Although, there are so many other perks that we don't mention as much as they "just happen" and we don't always have the opportunity to catch them
Some examples:
The sense of purpose when you book a class
The joy when walking into the reception to sign in
The smiles shared with others when seated on the mat waiting for the class
Others’ grunts after a more physically challenging asana that reminds you (I'm not the only one struggling with this one!)
Listening to one-anothers breath
The list goes on... but one of CAMYOGA'S favourites is the Community aspect!
Here's a capture of one of those moments - just after Gez’ (the magician - as a student named him) class our the students have a very much-deserved cup of coffee (the class starts at 8 am!) and chat just before they go and face the day.
What benefits would like to share? Let us know :)
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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Make Time for YOU
Here's Anne, one of our lovely students just after doing our brand new Flow & Restore class with Rachael Moore on a Thursday morning.
She has been with CAMYOGA since February 2015 when she started with our "old" 10 class pass (aka 100 credits nowadays) and hasn't stopped since then.
Anne is currently a member using her unlimited membership to fully take advantage of the new and not-so-new classes in-studio and as she said:
"Fantastic to be back at Camyoga Central studios. The class today with the amazing Rachael Moore was wonderful. Rachael has unique sequencing. There are other great classes at Camyoga, all now in the studio or online. I love Ashtanga with Emma and Jivamukti with the great Camyoga teachers, Andrea, Vicky, and Hakan. Jasmine's class is fantastic too for her careful choreography and essential oils. thank you CAMYOGA. You kept me going with the virtual classes throughout the pandemic and now it’s wonderful to be back in the studio "
Do Make time for YOU and join our vibrant community!
Thank YOU, Anne!!!!
(We LOVE the jumper too)
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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WORK! WORK! WORK!
“Yoga is one of the oldest systems of personal development in the world. This system of balancing the body, mind and spirit was formulated by ancient yogis, who understood man’s essential nature and realised a way to utilise all of man’s inner resources to live in harmony with himself and the environment.
Pupils learn through a carefully graded and systematic programme of asana (posture). Teachers gradually introduce Pranayama (breath control) once students have a firm foundation of yoga practise. Yoga practice relaxes and energizes the body and mind and brings vitality, flexibility, strength, concentration, self-confidence and mental calm. Iyengar yoga is suitable for all types of people and all levels of fitness.
Practicing yoga can help you overcome and prevent many stresses, strains, aches and pains. It promotes a firm foundation for health and well-being." Exerpt from Iyengar Yoga UK
What are the Benefits of Iyengar Yoga?
Improves Flexibility
Builds strength in both body and mind
An extra layer of challenge by holding poses
Improves your posture
Focus on standing poses, forward bends, back bends and breath work/ restorative on a 4-week cycle
Improves the overall function of the body
Props!!! Props allow you to bring awareness to your body
Ok, so when can I practice?
🗓 Tuesdays 10am-11.15am
🗓 Wednesdays 6:30pm-7.45pm
🗓 Saturdays (Intermediate) 4:00pm-5.30pm
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
Latest blog posts
Featured
November special events:
📅 05/11/22: FREE Online Class: Yoga Flow with Beth
Book here
📅 05/11/22: Saturday Special: Ashtanga led with Emma Lindsay
Book here
📅 12/11/22: Art of Assists CPD Workshop with Andrea Kwiatkowski (Fully Booked)
📅 19/11/22: Saturday Special: Body & Soul Detox Flow with Anita Tambala
Book here
📅 25/11/22: 3 Day Yoga Nidra Facilitator CPD Course with Barefoot Body Training (2 spaces left)
More info | Apply here
We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful community space.
Have you attended CAMYOGA classes before and are thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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It’s Here!
Cozy up with our November Playlist on Spotify.
Chosen by staff and teachers especially for you 🥰
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🔥🔥🔥
We are so happy to be back at Central. It really feels like home.
We now have changing rooms with lockers and a lovely lounging area for enjoying a cuppa, reading a book, just chilling or having a good old chinwag with your fellow Camyogis.
However, this is one of our biggest excitements… The thrill of being able to offer Hot Yoga classes again.
Yes that’s right.
We’re back to 36/37°C!!!
Jozef and all the students’ smiles said it all - the hotter the better!
Thinking of trying Hot Yoga?
Here's a list of some of the benefits:
The heat promotes greater flexibility
Gives you the opportunity to “sweat it out”
Adds another layer of challenge
Improves circulation
A set sequence allows you to measure progression
Bigger burn of calories
Increased sweating which nourishes the skin from the inside out
and more…
(This is one of our most popular classes, so do book in advance to avoid disappointment)
Hot Yoga Schedule
(if it doesn’t load, please refresh your page)
Hot Yoga: Wednesdays 5:00pm-6.30pm, Fridays 6:00pm-7.30pm
Have you been with CAMYOGA before and thinking of rejoining?
Sign up for our Welcome Back New Client Offer: £45 for 30 days of unlimited yoga!
(if you have any issues with this purchase, drop us an email - info@camyoga.co.uk)
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Update 30/09/22
Due to the data migration from Mindbody to WellnessLiving there will be some disruption to booking & buying services for clients over the weekend (from Saturday 1st at around 3pm until Monday evening around 7pm).
Timeline:
Saturday around 3pm - Online bookings and online sales won’t be available.
Monday between 6pm & 7pm - Clients, teachers and staff will receive an email with their login details for the new booking software, from this point, online bookings and sales will restart.
Tuesday - From now on all bookings and sales will be through WellnessLiving (no longer using Mindbody)
If you need to book a class between Saturday 1st October (from around 3pm) and the time you receive your new log in details (Monday 3rd October between 6pm & 7pm), you will need to email us on info@camyoga.co.uk requesting us to book you in.
From Monday night / Tuesday morning, we will be working with the booking software.
We are expecting that there may be some teething problems as it’s brand new to us and brand new to you! Please do contact us via email info@camyoga.co.uk if you run into any issues
Changes from Tuesday 4th October that you should be aware of :
We will have a new app:
You’ll get download details for this in your welcome email which will be sent to you between 6pm and 7pm on Monday 3rd October.
For online classes:
When you book an online class you will be sent a confirmation email, do not delete this - it will contain the link to the class. You will also receive a reminder email 1hr before the class time with the link to the class again. If you notice you haven’t received the link let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to we can resolve the issue for you - don’t leave it until the last minute.
As well as an online link being sent to you, you will be able to watch the classes by logging in to your wellness living account:
On your browser: Click the login button at the top right of our webpage before the class starts and you’ll see a pop-up asking you to join the class, alternatively navigate to “My schedule” and you’ll be able to click the join now button
On the NEW CAMYOGA app: by clicking on the pop up on signing in, or the joining link on the schedule
For recordings of online classes
Everyone booked into the online class will be able to join the class live and also access the recording, once the recording is processed you’ll receive an email confirming it’s ready to watch.
There are a couple of ways to access the recording:
Click the link in the email sent to you confirming the recording is ready
On your browser: Click the login button at the top right of our website, log in and navigate to “Watch Video”, where you’ll be able to view the classes.
On the NEW CAMYOGA app: Click “Videos” and you’ll be able to view the videos here.
Recordings will be available for a NEW longer time of 7 days!
On Monday 3rd October we are moving over to a new booking system called WellnessLiving.
All data will be moved from the current system (Mindbody) over to WellnessLiving this coming weekend (1st & 2nd October). We are hoping for a smooth switch over but there may be some teething issues for us and possibly for you as it’s a new software for all of us.
Here are some key bits of information that you need to know prior to the switchover. More info will be sent out later this week.
GENERAL:
On Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October, online bookings will be disabled. If you need to book classes during this time, you'll need to email us to do so. If possible please try to book your classes for next week before Saturday 1st Oct. You will be able to book online again from Monday the 3rd.
If you’ve attended a class with us in the last 5 years, your details will be moved over to the new system, if not then you’ll need to create a new account if you’d like to join our classes.
On Monday the 3rd, you will get a welcome email which will have your new login and password - this is what you will use to log in to your account and book classes.
The only data which won’t be moved over is your card details. Please ensure you log in and update these after the switch over to ensure you are still able to book classes - this is especially important for those who have memberships.
After the switch you will still be able to book classes from the website in the same as you usually do, the interface may look a little different but it is very similar to the current system.
VIRTUAL CLASSES:
Staff members will no longer be sending out the link to virtual/online classes. You will receive a personalised email link when you book the class, and again in a reminder. You will also be able to log into your account, navigate to the class on the schedule and click “join class” to enter.
You will no longer have to request recordings. To view recordings of classes, you will be able to log in to your account, and click the “watch video” tab - all recordings of classes that you’ve booked will be there. We will allow videos to be stored here for 1 week, after which they will be deleted and you won’t be able to access them.
APP:
We will have a new app! We will be sending out the link to download this with your welcome email.
Thank you for reading! It's a bit of a daunting task to switch over to this new booking system, it's new for me, our staff team, teachers, and of course... YOU as a student. So please be patient with us while we navigate this change.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Warm wishes,
Hannah
Office Manager
Some exciting news to share with you...
All in-studio classes will be moving to our Central Cambridge Studio from October 17th* 2022!
We will be sad to say goodbye to our lovely Mitcham's space, but George IV Street (Central), our original studio has always been the beating heart of CAMYOGA and this is where we want to be.
Before we welcome everyone back full time, we will be giving the space a little refresh including bringing back our beautiful upstairs studio for classes. Excitingly, we will also be changing some of our online-only classes to hybrid (in-studio + online), so you can again practice alongside other like-minded people in real life.
*Date subject to change, but we hope to be in by then! We will of course keep you up to date with any changes.
You might be interested in…
Featured
Style of the Month
Our senior Hot Yoga teacher (Jozef) - answers your HOT YOGA questions here:
1. What is your definition of hot yoga?
Hot yoga as I teach it, is a style of yoga were students while being in an artificially controlled heated room, do yoga postures which are based on a set sequence with the flexibility to introduce and integrate postures from outside this sequence, the focus is on alignment, breath and postural awareness in order to maintain, regain or improve their physical, emotional and spiritual lives.
2. Why is hot yoga good for you?
Practising Yoga in a hot environment makes the body reach its optimal working temperature more quickly if you like and when doing the floor series you stay warm whilst the profuse sweating cleanses all the pores of the skin.
3. Is hot yoga for everyone? What is the biggest difference between this style and other types of yoga besides the heat?
Hot yoga is for everyone who enjoys the benefits of asana work in a heated studio. I have had students who loved it and changed to another style later in their lives and vice versa. Besides the heat, my ‘hot style’ is a sequential style similar to other sequential styles but with a greater emphasis on alignment and breath as the element of flow is not present so there is more time to focus on these points.
New Client Offer: 30 Days Unlimited Classes just £45, buy here
CAMYOGA offers a big and diverse schedule and most of our classes are live streamed - we then share the recorded session with you for 48h.
Many of us have learned to love the convenience of this offer for many reasons and in our schedule, some teachers and styles are only on offer, virtually.
Our teachers had to adapt to this new world and haved learned to enjoy it too. Like, Karen Stamper who teaches our Iyengar Open class on Wednesdays. In her words:
For my online yoga class, I use my partner Richard as my model. This means he gets a really good practice as he's determined to show his best poses online! But I also find it really helpful to have him there as a demonstrator, this means I can sit at the screen and help participants achieve the poses with the props that they have.
Students also tell me that it is really useful for them to look up and see Richard in the pose, he has also learnt to reverse the instructions I give so that he is performing them the same way as the student, which flips my brain when I turn to look at him!
You may sometimes hear Richard chipping in with comments because he thinks he knows best!"
This class is full of smiles, hard work and commitment! And we assure you that Virtual classes can be divine!
Book Karen’s class, and check out our other online classes here.
Who's Kate?
Now I have been asked, I’m not sure! I am…all sorts of things! So many labels, mother, partner, student, teacher…
But the things that make me tick are my family, friends, study, movement, sharing, being immersed in nature, the garden, preparing food, sewing. Life is complicated, I derive great joy from the simple things.
Why did you choose the Iyengar approach?
I did not begin my yoga journey in the Iyengar field at all, it was a strong Vinyasa class when I was 21 and I loved it! It was so energetic, fun and challenging. I felt the impact straight away and knew I wanted to go back. Wherever I was living and working I made sure to explore as much varied teaching as I could and practised diligently.
It was my Iyengar teacher though that supported me with her depth of knowledge in the practice during a period of extreme anxiety. Her practical supportive no-fuss approach was exactly what I needed and was the first time I had experienced yoga applied so deliberately without really using words. This type of practice reached so deep within the body and was so intriguing to me, the impact could be so clearly felt.
After I had my 3 children and met a new inspiring teacher I had the drive to explore deeper and perhaps become a teacher myself despite an internal voice saying “no way, you are just too shy!!!”. Inching myself in the right direction away from my comfort zone I committed to solely practise Iyengar yoga and see what happened. To my amazement, the subject of yoga became broader and more vast rather than narrow and restricted. It is complex and simple at the same time, so beautifully balanced. In the words of BKS himself “Words cannot express the value of yoga, it has to be experienced”.
Tell us the importance of Yoga in your life
My yoga practice and study is always a challenge to carve out time for and there have been moments I have felt it too hard within a busy young family to be asking for that time to practice and keep learning. But those are useful moments to evaluate and study in themselves, it’s a practice that keeps on revealing gems at every turn! It is honestly so interwoven into my existence that I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
Kate teaches our Iyengar Beginners Courses!
Check out the next dates here.
How Yoga and Movement improved my Mental Health
Hi! My name is Jenny and I work Front of House for CAMYOGA. I struggled with depression, anxiety and OCD since I was 13 years old, and for many years I thought there was no escape from it; I was miserable. I went through a couple of traumatic instances at the ages of 17, and 25 and considered ending my life several times. Movement was my escape, I was a dancer and went to Dance College at the age of 16. However, I found that I was only eased from the pain while I was dancing.
At the age of 23, I discovered yoga and nurtured a love for it. Yoga has been a journey for me, at first, it was purely a movement practice, that again helped to ease the pain. However, over time through my practice and teacher training, I began to build a practice that was not only physical but also spiritual, meditative and mindful. It also brought me into contact with beautiful like-minded souls. Through yoga I became open to counselling, to help me deal with the trauma I suffered and I learnt how to build on my practice of yoga mindfully, even when I wasn’t physically practising.
Today, I am much happier than I ever was, not to say yoga cured me, but it’s definitely helped me to deal with the tough times.
Has yoga helped you with your mental health, or improved your wellbeing? Let us know and you could be featured in the next blog post.
If you or someone that you know has been affected by mental illness or is struggling with their mental health, there are some great resources available:
By Geni Ebbetts
I met Brigitte about 15 years ago, not long after she had qualified as a yoga teacher, when I attended one of her classes in Milton Keynes. I’ve been practicing yoga since I was 13 (which is a lot longer than 15 years), yet Brigitte’s teaching just resonated with me like nothing had before and that one class, even though I didn’t realise at the time, began my journey towards qualifying as a teacher. Brigitte trained initially with Anusara Yoga, a style renowned for its focus on good alignment and spiritual expression and she was until 2012, an Anusara Inspired teacher. She has so much knowledge and has studied with the most amazing teachers like Tias Little and Rod Stryker and is qualified to teach therapeutic, somatic and yin yoga, most of all she teaches from her heart! I have been so honoured for her to be part of my journey, I have studied with her both before and after I qualified and we have been students together, including many mad road trips to workshops and trainings with other teachers.
When it came to adding more workshops for teachers to our offer at CAMYOGA it was a no brainer for me, Brigitte had to teach them. I have attended all of the workshops that she will be teaching for us (to which she’s added even more detail since I did them) and can guarantee that you will leave each workshop with so much knowledge and so many techniques to use in your classes, I can honestly say that I use something that I have learned with Brigitte in pretty much every class I teach and have shared just a tiny bit of what I have learnt with the students I have taught on our 200 hour teacher training. The great thing about all the workshops that Brigitte is delivering is that they are totally experiential so you get to feel and understand why the techniques you’ll develop will help your students get the best out of your classes and keep them coming back to you for more.
Here’s what you can expect from each workshop:
USING PROPS IS USING YOUR INTELLIGENCE
May 11 - 12, 2019
You’ll use every prop imageable and probably a few you’ve never considered. Working in a multitude of asana you’ll discover how to use props in every situation to enhance your students practice. You’ll get to experience what if feels like to use props in so many different ways so that you can get it right with your students. A whole lesson on my beginners course was based on what I learnt in this workshop! Genuinely what you learn will change the way you think about using props in your classes. Book now.
HANDS-ON ADJUSTMENTS AND TRANSLATING ENERGY THROUGH TOUCH
July 13 - 14, 2019
Whilst my 200 hr course included some hands on adjustment techniques this workshop changed how I thought about adjusting students, with their permission, in my classes. It helped me understand not only when students will benefit from adjustment, but also which type of assist will work best on any given occasion. Book now.
A PATENT TO CHOREOGRAPHING CLASSES AND SEQUENCING TOWARDS AN APEX POSE
September 14 - 15
I have used what I learnt in this workshop so much – this really is a common sense approach to building vinyasa classes to a peak/apex pose. You’ll concentrate on an anatomical and energetic approach to fitting postures seamlessly together and your students will love it! I use this approach in all my classes and it never ever fails! Book now.
All of Brigitte’s trainings that I have attended have been so rewarding, she has a wonderful way of making you work really hard without you realising it. You’ll learn and laugh I promise!
How Yoga Can Help You To Thrive Through University
by James Downs
Moving to a new town to start university can be both an exciting and daunting experience. Presented with new opportunities to learn, grow and meet people from a diverse range of backgrounds, expectations can be high that our university years will be the time of our lives. But navigating the opportunities and demands of university can be a tricky business.
Whilst many appear to be living their “best lives” here in Cambridge, it doesn’t take much digging to uncover that student life isn’t always that rosey. The stresses of deadlines and exams can take their toll. It can become all too easy to sacrifice sleep, self-care and even our mental and emotional wellbeing for the sake of good grades. Finding a sustainable balance between the work you need to do, and the rest, relaxation and enjoyment that your body and mind need in order to function well, is key.
This is where yoga comes in. In my experience, yoga can be a great teacher - and not just of postures with strange Sanskrit names. Coming to Cambridge to study psychology and education, I found it almost impossible to juggle all my coursework alongside the many university societies I had joined through a tendency to say “yes” to everything. In the end, this lead to a relapse in problems with eating that I had experienced since my teens. Without looking after my health, it didn’t matter how high my marks were - it wasn’t going to be sustainable.
I’d always wanted to try yoga, and had heard of CAMYOGA. I’d planned to give it a try, but that plan sat with me for around 6 months - there was always something more important to do than take time out for myself. But eventually, I made it to an open day. Setting foot through the door and stepping onto the mat marked the start of one of the most valuable learning processes I have ever undertaken. Whilst I was studying the mind and behaviour in the classroom, I was learning all kinds of new lessons about myself in the yoga studio. These have helped me to find balance, feel more comfortable in my own body and move with more ease in my day to day life - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
Here are some of the things that practicing yoga has taught me:
Letting go of an “all-or-nothing” mindset is key to finding balance.
The yoga sutras talk about a balance between “effort and ease” when practicing yoga postures. But this is an invaluable lesson for life too. Trying hard and doing your best can be hugely rewarding, but it is never an all-or-nothing game. If we don’t take rest, we can get exhausted and burn out. If we think that anything less than perfection is a failure, we can get paralysed, judge ourselves harshly when we don’t meet expectations, and even stop trying. Yoga teaches acceptance, and working with where you are without the need to be perfect. This can be a great antidote to a perfectionist culture where our performance matters. In yoga, there is no performance, nor any competition - even with yourself.
Self-care has to come first. Self-conduct has a prominent position in the philosophical roots of yoga. The founders of yoga saw our personal code of conduct as intimately related to how we treat others, with principles such as non-harming applying equally to ourselves and those we encounter. The physical practice of yoga is never about getting into a posture whatever the costs - risking injury and exhaustion just to get the perfect handstand or split. The same applies to university life - getting good grades should never come at the cost of your health. Carving out a space where you can step out of the demands of study won’t cost you marks - it will give the body and mind a chance to rest, improving your focus when you need it. Self-care isn’t just an act of generosity to yourself, either. Looking after yourself gives you more resources to contribute to your friendships and share in the enjoyable parts of being at university too.
Mindfulness matters. Being as attentive as possible to the present moment, without judgement or wishing things were different, is central to yoga. When on the mat, we try to notice when our minds rehash the day we had before coming to the studio - or when thoughts rush onto whatever we have to do after class finishes. When the mind is so active, sticking with our movement and breath can be so difficult. The same is true in other areas of life. For example, when working on an essay or project for university, it helps to be able to focus on the here and now, rather than mentally rushing ahead to all the other things we need to do. Letting go of the things you can’t control - whether that’s the way your hips are shaped or the grades you were unhappy with - helps. Many of us only go to uni for a limited amount of time. Learning to appreciate the present moment can help us to fully notice that experience whilst it is here.
Whether you are new to yoga, returning to practice, or an experienced yogi moving to Cambridge, coming to classes at Camyoga might just help you as much as it helped me. Finding balance might start with wobbling your way through tree pose. But over time, yoga can also help you find a way to balance university life - with all its challenges and rewards.
I graduated from CAMYOGA in April this year, 2018. It took me a long time to decide to take the plunge into doing the training, but it was the best decision for both personal and professional reasons.
I am a personal trainer, nutritional therapist and pilates instructor. I have worked in the fitness industry for 12 years and had always thought the training as a yoga teacher would enrich what I already did - so in January this year I decided to go for it.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE TIMING BEING ‘RIGHT’
My procrastination about doing the yoga teacher training had nothing to do with a professional choice, because in the way it made perfect sense. My choice was a personal conundrum about whether I wanted to give up something that was very personal to me in order to share it with everyone else… very un-yogi I know, but it was a big decision for me, and it was the BEST decision I have ever made.
IT WAS A LEAP OF FAITH
I started practicing yoga when I was about 17 and unusually for most it started with personal practice at home on my mat while I was at Uni. It was a moment of peace and reflection for me in a world that was getting increasingly unsteady (again for personal reasons) and yoga became my tool to help me press pause. I would lock my bedroom door, get on my mat and either follow a DVD or try to string together some asana sequence which may or may not result in some wacky contortion that was worlds away from any classical posture, but it worked for me. I was hooked.
Yoga became something which I never gave up. As other fads came and went, yoga was my constant. And then, as it started to grow in popularity I grappled with whether I was ready to make a profession out of something that was so personal to me.
This decision went back and forth, but in the end I concluded that my practice would always be my practice and we all know that the world, now more than ever, NEEDS MORE YOGA!! So that was it. I signed up and never looked back.
THE COURSE
The course was amazing. I was lucky enough to be with the most incredible, diverse and enthusiastic people, but I honestly believe that you could not walk into a room with a group of people who are all there for the common interest of studying and developing their understanding of something as wonderful as yoga and be disappointed with the eclectic mix you would be faced with.
The course did everything I wanted it to do. I gained so much knowledge and understanding of areas of yoga I was less familiar with. I was given wonderful insight into the rich history and philosophy of the practice. The teachers were all fantastic and I left feeling confident in teaching others and with friends for life.
SO WHAT NOW…
I am not one of those people who has dived head first into teaching my own classes. My life at the moment is rebuilding my own health and wellness business slowly as a personal trainer and nutritional therapist while being mummy to two small children, but doing the course and having our morning with Louise discussing ‘the business of yoga’ has helped me an enormous amount with planning the next steps of how to incorporate my business arms together and I am so excited for the future and the doors this course has opened up, both in my mind and for my career.
I hope to take some cover classes for CAMYOGA very soon and cannot wait to really get my teeth into launching my own classes next year when my girls are both at preschool.
If you are in any doubt as to whether to take this course or you feel less than qualified to do so trust me when I say if you want to do it then apply!!! In my group we were all there for different reasons and it really doesn’t matter what your motivation is. It is an experience for life and one that I am very grateful I was able to do.
By Rebecca Goode
Contact Becca at rrawcoaching@hotmail.com
Like many Yogis, my Yoga journey began as a physical practice. After watching a documentary called “Happy” I decided that I needed Yoga in my life and I took part in the ‘Bad Yogi 30 Day Yoga challenge’. From there I was hooked! I joined a local gym that offered Yoga classes and started doing some ‘Yoga Challenges’ on Instagram to learn new poses!
Fast forward a few years and I decided I really wanted to deepen my Yoga practice and use my teaching skills (I am a Secondary School Music teacher) to perhaps teach some Yoga classes!
I found out about CAMYOGA at the OM Yoga show in London - they seemed so relaxed and friendly and they offered a 2 week intensive course in August, which fit my school holidays perfectly! I spoke to some of my Yoga teachers at the gym and they all spoke so highly about CAMYOGA’s reputation and high standard of training, so I knew I’d picked the right course.
The 2 weeks intensive training honestly changed my life. My understanding and love of Yoga grew so much and my mind was opened up to the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Yoga that made me realise Yoga is so much more than what happens on the mat. It opened me up to a daily meditation practice that I honestly feel has had a huge impact on my day to day life. I loved exploring my own physical practice and realising that there was so much ego involved that I needed to remove to really deepen and develop. But most of all, I was grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful people I got to know during those 2 weeks - I loved eating breakfast with them in the sun, hearing all about their personal Yoga journeys and teaching and studying with them. They were a truly wonderful group of people and I have loved following their Yoga journey since we graduated in November. I must add that I absolutely loved the assessment days! I enjoyed getting to be apart of everyone's assessment lessons,having the opportunity to talk about how our 6 week courses had been and to share our lesson plans / course outlines etc. I actually posted a vlog about my teacher training journey, which can be found here.
Straight after graduating in November, I had the wonderful opportunity to cover a few classes for CamYoga at the their Buckden site (now closed). The support and encouragement from some of the wonderful Jivamukti teachers I met there (Hakan and Andy!) really helped me to kick start my own Yoga teaching business.
In January, I set up two local Yoga flow classes in my local area, using my 6 weeks beginners course I had planned as part of the YTT. After completing the course they wanted to continue their Yoga journey, so the classes have continued to grow ever since! I also took on a weekly ‘Sweat Yoga’ class at a local gym, and from there my name was passed around to most of the gyms in Northamptonshire area, which means I each week I cover a wide range of classes (including pilates inspired Yoga and Yoga with weights!) and to work with a wide variety of people with differing experiences and expectations of Yoga. In my school holidays (especially this summer) I have been covering 2-3 classes a day!
I have also started to bring Yoga into my full time teaching job, from holding Yoga sessions for staff and students who are preparing for their exams, to doing assemblies on mindfulness and meditation. Leading 600 Year 9 and 10 students through a short morning meditation was a wonderful experience!
My favourite thing so far has been holding Yoga Brunch events. Myself and 16 Yogis spend the morning together moving the body through a themed asana practice, meditating together and finally digging into a tasty Vegan brunch! I’ve been lucky enough to find a wonderful, local, vegan catering company, Bharita, who have provided the most delicious post-yoga dishes, from pancakes to tofu scrambled ‘eggs’. It is a truly moving experience to see people coming together and sharing their practice with each other - there are always so many smiles and giggles! I am hoping to hold these events every 2 months and am currently looking into organising a mini Yoga retreat with a local glamping company. I am also looking forward to working teaching with the new HotPodYoga franchise that is opening in Northampton in September!
From a personal perspective, Yoga teaching and developing my asana / meditation practice has really helped improve my mental wellbeing. My job as a secondary school teacher and Head of Year was becoming very overwhelming for me and I would often end up crying in the toilets as soon as I arrived to work in the morning. Nothing had changed at work - my job has always been demanding, but I was just not coping with the demands any more. I was working a full school day and then coming home and working until 11-12 pm every night. I just felt so physically and mentally exhausted. After my YTT, I developed a consistent morning Yoga and meditation practice that helped me start my day in a calm way. My readings of spiritual and philosophical texts helped me realise that there is nothing more important that the present moment and it helped me accept and surrender to the fact that I may never reach the bottom of my to-do list at work...and that is ok! Spending some of my evenings teaching Yoga made me realise there is so much more to life than my job. I am actually busier than I ever have been before, with teaching full time and teaching at least 4 Yoga classes a week on top of this, but I possibly the happiest I have ever been! People I work with often say “How do you stay so calm?”!
I am so grateful for having taken the plunge into YTT and for the positive impact it has had on my life as a whole. I have had so many wonderful experiences in the short time I have been teaching and I am so looking forward to seeing where this journey may take me in the future.
Why come to an open day?
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Enjoy free taster classes in a huge range of yoga styles, plus barre, at our Central Cambridge Open Day on Saturday 8th September and Mitcham’s Corner Open Day on Saturday 15th September.
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