We are very lucky to have Shaili Shafai and Karen Stamper teach Iyengar Yoga for us, here at CAMYOGA offering 3 classes per week!

As there has been an influx of new Yogis to the studio over the last few months, Shaili has kindly put together a guide for those unsure if they are ready for the Saturday Intermediate Class.

What to expect in an Iyengar class

• Taught in 4-week blocks. Expect a different focus each week while working with the same theme. Week 1= Standing Poses, Week 2= Forward Bending, Week 3= Backward Bending, Week 4= Restorative/Pranayama.

• You will be focusing your attention on the details in the posture as guided by your teacher. Postures will be held for a time for you to feel the sensations.

• In the Iyengar style, the teacher will demonstrate postures, and then you’ll be asked to repeat them - the teacher will not be practicing the whole class with you.

• You will be corrected/assisted in your postures, verbally and/or hands-on (the teacher will ask if you’re happy to be assisted physically)

• If you have health issues or are menstruating you will be given an alternative posture.

• You will use props in the class. We have plenty of props for you to use at the studio. If you’re practicing at home we’d recommend purchasing your own props.

• If you’re new to the style (or teacher), the teacher will take the time to give adequate attention to getting to know you and your body.

• The names of poses will be in Sanskrit alongside the demonstration (in the intermediate class, you will be expected to know what the poses are without demonstration).

• Inversions: Sirsasana (headstand) and/or Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) will be practiced every session. In an open class, you don’t need to be able to do the “full” pose but will be expected to work towards it while being guided by your teacher.

If you’re not an experienced Iyengar practitioner, and want to try the style our recommendations are:

• Join our Tuesday (10am), or Wednesday (18:30) Iyengar open classes. You can join either in-studio (preferred for new practitioners) or online (live or recording).

• Start from the first week of the block where we work on standing poses (drop us an email to find out which week we’re on).

• Only, move to the Saturday class, once you’ve had significant experience specifically with IYENGAR yoga and/or at your teacher's recommendation.

• This is so that more experienced students are able to work to their level, and less experienced students will not be overwhelmed.

We hope to see you in class very soon!

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“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

Book here

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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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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.

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Kate teaches our Iyengar Beginners Courses!

Check out the next dates here.

Yoga teaches us to calm the mind, and draw our attention inwards. In return, we get paid through the amazing feelings of energy, gratitude, self-love, peace and other pretty great thoughts and feelings (uhh, not to mention strong lean yoga machine bodies). But it takes hard work, dedication and devotion to your practice and I have decided: I’m Esh, sixteen years old and so ready to surrender to the gorgeous practice of Yoga. So here's my journey to becoming a yogi. Wearily, I stepped into the studio ready for my first Iyengar Yoga class. At Camyoga, there is a massive variety of classes to suit everyone, and the best thing is to try a little bit of everything and stick with the ones that move and groove how you like. Coming from a self-confessed Vinyasa-flow-freak, Iyengar Yoga was pretty different, but wonderful.

At the beginning, you take your props (e.g. blocks, pillow and chair) and take a relaxation however you like (for example, laying in reclined Baddha Konasana). This instantly helps you to rid of your inhibitions, and open up to the practice. The props help to deepen and further the practice, and as I walked out I could feel my tailbone tucking down, sternum lifting up – it’s a feeling of openness, not just in your body but also in your mind as you feel more free. Even drinking my mango smoothie afterwards felt different!

Iyengar yoga not only can ease your daily life (for example, if you fancy doing a yogi squat in the middle of Parker’s Piece, you may find yourself sinking into it happily) but also your own yoga practice (in a fast paced yoga flow class, injuries will be prevented because you now know the best alignment). It can be suited to everyone and help improve whatever you do for a living or how you go about your day.

So whether you’re a Jivamukti junkie or an Ashtanga addict, I can safely say give Iyengar a try to further your knowledge and precision of alignment.