The following Yin sequence has been designed by Andrea Kwiatkowski. It is only suitable for those with Yin experience and should not be done by anyone with medical conditions which affect their practice. Please consult Andrea after class for further guidance. Click here to find out more about Yin and Meditation, as part of our Focus: On series.

Please keep an eye on the blog over the coming weeks as we will be posting further exclusive Yin sequences designed by Andrea, who has been so generous in sharing these powerful practices with us.

SEQUENCE FOR YIN /YANG 45 MINS RECLINED BUTTERFLY 5 MINS SQUAT 3 MINS BUTTERFLY 5 MINS SHOELACE 5 MINS EACH SIDE TRIPOD X3 EACH SIDE SPHINX 2 MINS OPTION SEAL EXTEND ARMS 3 MINS INFANT POSE 1 MIN SWAN 5 MINS EACH SIDE SAVASANA

The latest addition to Camyoga's schedule, Yin and Meditation offers a fully rounded practice with a mindful approach. Yin yoga is a slow paced, floor- based practice which focuses on releasing the pelvis, lower spine and hips, freeing up the flow of energy ('qi') in the body. It was first taught in the 1970s by Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zinke and has since been developed by prominent teachers Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. Unlike Zinke, who posited the practice as a complete method in itself, both Grilley and Powers emphasise passive Yin as a complement to other, more active forms of movement and exercise.

Yin poses are typically held for several minutes, allowing the practitioner to cultivate a deep sense of inner silence. As such, it is a practice which works very well in conjunction with, or as a precursor to, meditation. Whilst the poses are being held, the teacher typically engages in what is known as a "dharma" tallk, comprising philosophical teachings, thoughts and sometimes poems. Although many Yin poses will be recognisable to practitioners of other styles of yoga, in Yin they are given different names, to emphasise the fact that they should be performed in a different (passive) manner. Camyoga's Yin and Meditation class is suitable for all students with an existing flow-based practice.

Click here to view our Yin + Meditation classes

GREAT FOR: flexibility, relaxation, sports people.

Jivamukti is a truly integrated practice. It combines strong, flowing sequences of postures with breathwork, meditation, chanting and philosophical teachings too. Jivamukti classes always feature powerful, enlivening soundtracks and teachers typically perform hands-on adjustments to help you to improve your alignment by felt experience.

The New York-based founders of Jivamukti are Sharon Gannon and David Life, who created the method in 1984 after making many transformative trips to India to study yoga and meditation. Sharon and David's background in New York's alternative arts scene has made Jivamukti particularly appealing to many dancers, artists and musicians, including many celebrities in the public eye.

All Jivamukti teachers' training is overseen personally by Sharon and David, and the five tenets of the method are present in every class. These tenets include non-violence (ahimsa), devotion (bhakti), meditation (dhyana), sound (nada) and the study of ancient texts (shastra). Asana sequences are ever-changing, to ensure that Jivamukti classes remain fresh and creative. There is also a strong focus on animal rights; most Jivamukti teachers are vegan and promote this harm-free way of eating and living in their classes, which contain a strong ethical element.

Click here to view our class schedule

GREAT FOR: strength, fitness, weight loss, flexibility, energising, philosophy

1) How long have you been vegan and what inspired the change?

LEANNE: Just over a year and a half. I did a 21 day vegan detox designed by Sharon Gannon, just before I did the Jivamukti Teacher training and I felt amazing after (it was pretty challenging over the 21 days though). During the Jivamukti Teacher training you eat strict vegan diet and I decided to carry on from there. Ethically and morally, it didn't make sense to go back. As Jivamukti students and teachers we are very pro animal rights, and speaking up for the voiceless animals we will often talk about vegan diet in class.

2) As a yoga teacher you probably have a high energy lifestyle, do you find that your veganism supports that?

LEANNE: Yes, totally, I have more energy now than I used to when I ate meat and even dairy, to an extent (I've been veggie since 2011) and my digestion works properly now, plus I get a well balanced diet.

3) Do you ever crave meat or dairy products?

LEANNE : No I don't crave meat or dairy but I do miss Cheese, I use to eat ALOT, probably too much, cheese, whenever you go out to eat the veggie option is usually covered with cheese which is not ideal. However, I couldn't go back to eating meat or dairy and I don't feel the need too. There are really good alternatives on the market, if you look for them. I know some people say "why would you eat something that looks like meat but isn't meat" and I think if it supports you in your way of life then why not? I often have Linda McCartney vegan sausages with mash and veg, when I feel the need for something hearty.

4) How do your friends and family react to your veganism?

LEANNE: Hmmm tricky one..!! I think people struggle with change sometimes, to start with it was quite tough..but 2 Christmas's on as a vegan my friends and family are beginning to understand it a bit more. I think the not understanding is more of a challenge than anything, veganism isn't widely promoted therefore people don't really know what it is. I'm often asked what I can/cant eat as  vegan..my standard response is Vegan's eat vegetables! I think it has been harder for them to adjust than me but that's because they dont have the same yogic belief system as me (not that you have to be yogi to be vegan) but now they know what I can/cant eat and how to modify dinner for me they are cool, if all else fails I provide my own vegan goods when I visit. On the other hand, some of my friends like to see it as a challenge and enjoy cooking a vegan meal.

5) What is your favourite vegan treat?

LEANNE - I have two - dark chocolate, ive always got a bar in the fridge and Swedish Glace Ice cream, its soooo good you cant tell its soya and you can get it in most supermarkets now.

Leanne Jones teaches Jivamukti at Camyoga. Click here to view her classes.

Hermione Fairbairn: On Balance

Finding balance is central to Yoga in the same way it is central to fulfilled and happy lifestyle. 'Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony' (Thomas Merton).'

However, in the same way that finding balance in life is not a static achievement, in yoga you are also continually working at balancing not on the one-off achievement of being balanced. This is constant process of regulating, reconfiguring and adapting. Working with this ongoing and constantly changing process (not against it) is essential to any success. Let each pose be a balance of effort and engagement, and softness and grace (Sthira Sukham Asanam). Find focus, relax into it then equally importantly, embrace falling and get back up...this works for life too!

Just observe how wobbling strikes the ego and draws you instantly away from your inward focus altering your mode of mind towards criticism and comparison. It feels very public, and we are quick to direct judgement. 'Why can't I do it like I did it last week?', 'What's wrong with me today?'. The point however is...'Simply to be with yourself, however you are in that moment. To smile, breathe and go slowly' (Thich Nhat Hanh).

In life, we need to mindfully and graciously accept that things change, we have a part to play in how things unfold but not control. Finding ts state of balance at any one time is not a 'forever' state. We need to let go and accept that things can't always be the way you want them to be. In more practical terms, perhaps the aim of arriving somewhere obtainable, livable and lasting is more likely to be a workable balance.

A further challenge is to balance the doing with the being. Without this, life easily gets unsteady. Taking time to be attentive, sense and really feel, has been shown to really help balance our mental state.

In our own Yoga practice, balancing on the mat helps us deal with challenges and setbacks off the mat, to bounce (or to balance!) back. This is where the real yoga begins. Hermione Fairbairn

Hermione Fairbairn teaches Yoga Flow at Camyoga. Her classes incorporate a Jivamukti flavour, elements of mindfulness practice and an eclectic soundtrack. Hermione is currently on maternity leave, but to discover Yoga Flow at Camyoga, click here to view our full schedule.

Andrea Kwiatkowski on Jivamukti Yoga

Q1: Are all Jivamuktis vegan?

ANDREA: Yogic practices teach us that we are all interconnected to each other and the source. I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years, long before I was doing yoga and what I now realise is, how we eat and what we eat is a practice as well. I have been vegan on and off in my life especially in my early teenage years when I was quite passionate about my views, then after the Jivamukti teacher training at Omega in upstate New York I began to see how I could be more eloquent about this subject. Our teachers encourage us to think about how our actions contribute to the suffering in the world and whilst I cannot say every Jivamukti teacher is vegan, we shouldn’t judge anyone who isn’t, I know a lot of teachers and students who find our method difficult to understand as we talk about actions and veganism in the classes, but the skill is to teach with compassion. So I don’t judge a student who walks into my Jivamukti class and is a meat eater I just know that they may walk out thinking about how they live and what they do in the world and how it all matters.

Q2: What drew you to Jivamukti practice?

ANDREA: A friend of mine bought me the Jivamukti book after reading an article on Sharon and David. As they were both artists and performers, Sharon was a dancer , he thought I would interested in the style, I read the book and researched where I could do a class. The nearest was NY city so I hopped on a plane and spent some time there! When I walked out of my first class I knew this was the method of yoga I would like to teach, it felt like home -music, flowing asana, meditation and philosophy that was interwoven into everything – this was the method that I had been searching for… and it still is nearly 9 years later.

Q3: If you could give just one piece of advice what would it be?

ANDREA: It’s called a practice because that is what it is, not yoga perfection. Don’t expect too much too soon, think about what you bring to the mat, your attitude, your state of mind, your respect for the teacher, anyone can do wonderful asana but that doesn’t make you a yogi ! I quote Sri K. Pattabhi jois “Practice, Practice and all is coming”. You have to be prepared to spend a long time with no expection and more often than not we aren’t very good at that.

Q4: Please describe your personal practice.

ANDREA: I find it interesting that I am asked this so much, my practice is varied depending on my day with regard to asana I have a selection of asana that keeps my body open and relaxed with kriyas as well, I always do a long inversion usually headstand and forearm balance , I might do some yin poses and pranayama. If I have a workshop I will practice my sequence for the class over a period of time so I am familiar with it and can feel how it fits into my body. My practice can be anything from 15 /20mins restorative to 2 hours vinyasa finishing with pranayama and meditation or chanting. I love sanskrit so I have regular lessons on Vedic chanting. At the moment I am in the middle of a 108 day practice dedicated to someone special in my life. I have been known to stretch my hamstrings in the supermarket! You would be surprised how much you can fit into your daily life if you only take a few minutes.

Q5: What is your favourite yoga book ?

ANDREA: This is difficult – if only one then of course my obvious choice is Jivamukti: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul, but I love Master Patanajli’s Yoga Sutra too. Of course with this text as with all yoga books you need a teacher to describe the teachings to you, they come in many forms these teachers - oh , I can recommend a few at this yoga studio known as Camyoga...

Andrea Kwiatkowski is a former dancer and Advanced Certified Jivamukti instructor. She regularly runs Jivamukti masterclasses at Camyoga. Join her for Yin & Yang Yoga Day on 2nd Feb 2014. Book here

Our regular Jivamukti class in Shelford is going to be taught by amazing Andrea Kwiatkowski this week - Friday 6.30-8pm. This class is free of charge for anyone who wants to attend so feel free to tell your friends about it. We don't recommend the class to complete beginners, but anyone who has at least 6 month experience is welcome to join.

Also, for those who haven't heard yet, Andrea is going to teach Jivamukti New Year Special workshop on 1st January 2013, 2-4.30pm in Shelford. This class costs only £5 if you are our Gold or Silver member. If you are not, the price is £18/£16 concs. There are still few spaces left so don't hesitate to book now.

As part of vegan month, we are organising a vegan celebration on the 1st December, hosted by Mark Stevens our Jivamukti teacher. As part of the evening, Mark will present a film followed by discussion on modern-day veganism. The gourmet vegan feast will be cooked by Cambridge's leading vegan chef, Sam Dyer. Since the date is approaching quickly, we encourage you to secure your place.  You can book on our website under special events.

Continuing with our discussion about the benefits of veganism let us explore the topic from a different angle.

One of the most clear and perhaps utopian arguments for going vegan is the so-called 'goodness argument'. The central question of this argument is : What are the consequences of eating animals?

If we were to act so as to increase the amount of goodness in the world, we must consider that raising and killing animals for food is cruel and so reduces the total amount of goodness. In an utopian way, this argument proposes that if everyone was a vegetarian, there would be no demand for meat, and therefore the no one would raise and kill animals for food. Consequently, if everyone was a vegetarian, the total amount of goodness in the world would be higher.

French toast with bananas! Last week, in Jozef's Saturday yin class, we stretched out and bended into a 'banana' pose. As I was  "just letting my random thoughts pass", I had a (passing) discovery: I was craving a bananas, cinnamon and gooey bread. So I invented the perfect vegan banana french toast !

You need:

• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 3/4 cup soy milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (+ nutmeg/ allspice if you like)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• bread
• margarine

Preparation:

Blend bananas, soy milk, cinnamon (+spices), and vanilla. Dip bread slices into the mix, coating both sides.Do not soak the bread so it drowns!!! Fry in margarine in medium-hot skillet until golden. Serve with maple syrup (or more bananas) if desired, and enjoy your lovely breakfast!

While this recipe will not feature on our menu on the vegan dinner with Mark Stevens (Sat 1st Dec 2012), it is a fantastic way to start the day !

Hi everyone!

Not only is November the month of Movember movement but it is also the World Vegan Month! We decided to focus on the later and do our own challenge for the month - how many of us can go vegan for a week?

In next few weeks we will be posting Mark Stevens’ suggested support material such as books to read, youtube clips to see and recipes to try which will help you to prepare for our challenge starting on 25th of November, so watch this space :)!

Once the challenge is over we will treat ourselves to Vegan Gourmet Evening, Saturday 1st December, in which Mark will host a vegan meal with a talk and info on vegan cuisine, accompanied with a short film. The event will be held at our new beautiful specious cafe in Shelford.

To see more informations or to book our Vegan Gourmet Evening click here, Date: 1st December, 7-9.30pm, £25

See you soon,

The Camyoga team x

Join Andrea this Saturday, August 27th,  for her next Jivamukti masterclass.  This 2 hour class from 10:00 - 12:00 will be inspired by the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.  This Yogic text covers topics such as asanas, pranayama, chakras, bandhas, kriyas, nadhis, and mudras.

Don't worry if you don't fancy yourself a yogic scholar.  Andrea's well rounded classes are dynamic, physical, inspired, and thoughtful.

Camyoga hosts Andrea once a month for a series of masterclasses and this one is sure to be a sellout.  She has an advanced certification in Jivamukti as well as certification in yin and restorative yoga.

Don't miss this one!  Sign up here