Posts tagged workshops
The Sacred Temple: Uniting Body and Soul through Yoga and Odissi Dance
 

One of my first Odissi teachers told me, "Your body is a temple, and every movement is a prayer." And when I asked him how to approach a particularly challenging pose, he replied: "Close your eyes for a moment, find your centre, breathe, then go for it"

Does this sound familiar to you as a yoga practitioner? The union of body and soul, of breath and movement.

There is a profound connection between asana practice and Odissi dance. Yoga forms the solid foundation upon which I build my dance skills, while Odissi enhances my progress in the path of yoga.

Through both disciplines, I have come to appreciate the significance of mindful movement, core focus, proper alignment, the use of drishti (gaze), and the power of mudras (hand gestures). These key concepts serve as bridges between the two practices, deepening my understanding and connection to each.

Yoga and Odissi are not merely physical activities but gateways to spiritual elevation. They both act as stepping stones toward an elevated state of consciousness, which is the ultimate goal. They both guide us to go beyond the limitations of the body and connect with something greater, something divine.

So what should you expect in the Odissi workshop?

Now, let's delve into what you can expect in an Odissi workshop. The workshop is an open-level introductory workshop, so wholly suited to those new to yoga, and seasoned practitioners seeking new avenues of exploration.

In the workshop, we will embark on a journey exploring the fundamentals of the Odissi dance form. We will dive into the most common foot positions, delve into the movements of the head and eyes, and embrace the invigorating experience of basic footwork (think lots of stomping!).

But Odissi is not solely about footwork and technicality; it encompasses a rich storytelling vocabulary. We will learn about hand gestures known as mudras and their profound ability to convey a range of emotions and narratives.

Rhythm is an integral part of classical dance, and Odissi is no exception. Throughout the workshop, we will unravel the intricacies of rhythm in Odissi, clapping along to learn playful and challenging tongue-twisting rhythmic syllables. This immersive experience will awaken your senses and expand your understanding of the profound connection between movement, rhythm, and expression.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of the Odissi dance form and explore the richness of Indian culture from which it originates. This cultural context will deepen your appreciation for the artistry and heritage surrounding Odissi, adding layers of meaning to your dance practice.

To culminate our journey together, we will weave all the elements we have learned into a short composition. This composition will be a piece of art you can take home, practice, and share with your loved ones, enabling you to preserve the beauty and essence of Odissi beyond the workshop.

~ Tamara Tirjak


The parallels between yoga and Odissi dance are undeniable. Both practices guide us towards spiritual transcendence through the medium of physical movement.

Whether you are a yogi or a dancer, seeking a deeper connection with movement and spirituality this workshop will be an insightful introduction to this traditional and unique dance form.


Odissi Dance Workshop

with Tamara Tirjak

Sunday 28th May

11:30-14:00

£40 / £35 (concs)

 
 
 

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This post was originally featured on the Barefoot Body Training blog and written by Beverley Nolan, view it here.

Coming up! Workshops with Senior Yoga Teacher Brigitte Riley
 
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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.

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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!

 
5 minutes with Pete Blackaby

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This November, we welcome Pete Blackaby, author of Intelligent Yoga, back to Camyoga for Taking Yoga into the 21st Century - two days of practical workshops. To give you some background on Pete's extensive body of work, here's a potted history of his life in yoga:

"I started practicing yoga seriously in 1978 as a student of the Iyengar system of yoga, after six years I took their two year teacher training programme and qualified in 1986. I continued in this system for a further four years.

From 1987 -1993 I studied Osteopathy at the college of osteopaths at Regents college London, qualifying in 1994. In 1995 I co-ran a two year teacher training course with John Stirk and Sophy Hoare, and ran a second one in 1997. I also taught anatomy and physiology at the Chiron Centre for Body centred psychotherapy in Ealing between 1995 and 1997.

In 2002 I became involved in the British Wheel of Yoga, (the governing  body in England) and ran a two year teacher training programme for them. I no longer train teachers, but have been running courses for teachers since then. My interest in the last 15yrs has been to put some scientific underpinning to the practice of yoga both in the bio-mechanical sense and in the mind /body relationship.

Currently I teach functional anatomy on the London yoga teacher training course and have input in two other local courses. I also teach the anatomy module at the Esther Myers yoga studio in Toronto. I am regularly invited to teach throughout England Wales and Scotland. The current project I am involved in is a two year course for teachers called 'Grounded Yoga'. There are five faculty, myself teaching bio mechanics, Professor Peter Connolly teaching philosophy, Dr Christine McHugh teaching homeostatic regulation through yoga, Diane Farrell teaching the psychology of the body, and Taravajra, teaching mindfulness. Our aim is to help students understand how yoga can bring productive change to the body, the mind, and the breath and improve our sense of relationship to the environment in which we find ourselves.

What I hope students will gain is a clear and reasonable synthesis of the salient points of yoga practice. What is important to consider in practice and what is less so. These understandings will be based on recent research findings. Whilst recognising that there is no such thing as certainty when dealing with human beings it is useful to know the main perspectives that are out there when dealing with bio-mechanics and the body/mind relationship. At the very least I hope to clarify what the debates are, and more particularly help students navigate some of the ideas with confidence."

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Join Pete Blackaby for Taking Yoga Into the 21st Century at Camyoga Shelford, 13-14 November, 10.00-17.00. Camyoga graduates receive 10% off when booking the weekend. Click here for full details or to book online.