2010: June 5th - 12th 

Flowing Hatha Yoga

Michelle Cross

Michelle has over 19 years experience in the health, wellness and fitness industries, originally as a fitness/ exercise instructor and Holistic Massage Therapist in London . Over the years she has trained in various therapies and having found Yoga 10 years ago, re-trained as a Yoga teacher with the International Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Centre and is certified by the Yoga Alliance.

Michelle teaches Flowing Hatha Yoga, drawing from different styles of yoga including Sivananda, Vinyasa for flowing sequences and Yin for meditative practice, balancing the dynamic power and flow, with the softness and stillness of yoga.. She encourages each person to connect with his or her own body and mind with a strong focus on the breath, emphasising precise alignment and fluid movement and encouraging deep relaxation within.

Suitable for all levels and backgrounds. Each person receives individual attention, adjustments and encouragement to go beyond any self-imposed limitations. Michelles teaching is motivational, intuitive, encouraging and inspiring, using a down-to-earth approach, drawing from her extensive experience working with the body and energy.

Each class incorporates Pranayama (breathing exercises), Sun Salutations with flowing variations, Asanas and guided relaxation. The morning classes are more dynamic and uplifting and the evening classes more restorative, however will be guided by the groups needs.

"It is a pleasure to share a practice that has the potential to change your life, as it has mine - I am inspired by those I teach and I hope to inspire you to find your Yoga. "

www.yogarelax.co.uk

2010: June 12th - 19th

Kikuhchi Yoga (Anusara-Inspired)

Susan Desmarais

Anusara Inspired Yoga with Susan Desmarais

Susan began practising yoga at age 18. She began her journey in Canada with Kripalu teacher Helen Goldstein, and with Glenn Mifsud at Stillpoint Retreat Centre.

Susan's background in Japanese culture and in Buddhism brings a unique perspective to her teachings in yoga. She has had many years of training and experience in classic Hatha yoga, Sivananda, Kripalu, Scaravelli, Astanga and Anusara. She is an Anusara-Inspired teacher, specialising in therapeutics.

Years of various personal injuries and pain have inspired Susan to share yoga in a way that is uplifting, energizing, healing, and therapeutic at the same time.

Your Yoga Week  - suitable for all Levels.

Delve deeply into body/mind/breath alignment, creating balanced energy. Susan teaches an uplifting practise, with empowering alignment.

Morning practise welcomes the heat of the day, with Pranayama, Surya Namaskar and a Vinyasa flow. Asana focus is on back-bending, arm and leg balancing, standing asanas, inversions and various partner work.

Evening practise includes meditation, twists, forward bends and hip-opening.

This retreat is suitable for everybody including those who experience chronic pain and limitation of movement when practising yoga.

Susan is a unique blend of Eastern and Western culture and she blends them both with panache, style and grace. She is a very radiant, very "rooted" Lotus.-The Group

For more information on Susan visit her website at www.kikuchiyoga.com

2010: June 26th - July 3rd

Sivananda Yoga

Diana Shipp

Diana Shipp, has over eleven years experience and specialises in the Sivananda style of yoga.

She is the owner of the extremely popular Kailasam Yoga Retreat in Kerala (pictures below), where she teaches the yoga classes from November through to March each year.

Diana teaches integrated breath and posture work, with spiritual awareness, based on classical Sivananda yoga and other traditions. She holds teaching diplomas from the British Wheel of Yoga and the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram in India.

Diana is an experienced teacher who has been teaching for the past 15 years. She has taught in the UK, Turkey, Bali, Crete, Spain and India.

On this holiday you will experience asana, pranayama, meditation, visualisation and relaxation in two classes daily. The yoga will improve your strength and flexibility and guide you to the calm centre of Being within.

This yoga will be suitable for beginners as well as more experienced students. Diana's approach is both joyful and imaginative, with emphasis on raising of consciousness through breath and body awareness, to bring you a feeling of well-being.

This holiday is suitable for all standards of yoga practitioner
 

2010 July 10th - 17th

Astanga Yoga

Ginny Haswell

Ginny Haswell

Ginny started practicing yoga nine years ago, initially with a viniyoga teacher. After moving to Brighton a few years later she discovered Astanga Vinyasa yoga which she has continued to practice since.

In 2003 Ginny completed the British Wheel of Yoga foundation course and three years later she travelled to India to attend the teacher training programme at Brahmani Yoga in Goa, certified by the Yoga Alliance.

Continuing to be inspired by senior teachers with whom she continues her studies at regular workshops and intensives, Ginny demonstrates a fresh and enthusiastic approach with her students, offering an open and friendly environment under which their practice can be explored with clear guidance.

On this holiday, we will begin our day with an energising Astanga Vinyasa practice, with modifications to suit all levels of practitioner.

The evening classes will be based around a relaxing, gentle asana practice with pranayama and meditation included.

2010 July 31st - August 7th

Hatha Yoga

Pam Anand

My name is Paramjit Anand, most people know me as Pam. I currently live in London and also spend several months of the year in Goa India, teaching Yoga and Well-being.

As a teenager I was always interested in the health and fitness industry. I also enjoyed travelling and became a flight attendant discovering different cultures and countries around the world. Through this experience I was introduced to the ancient practices of yoga and this is how my journey began.
In 1998 I encountered the true experience of Yoga at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala. Here I practised the 5 main principles of yoga and have continued my practice ever since.

In the Millennium I left the airline industry to work in Corporate Sales, the fast pace and corporate life style soon lost its appeal and I longed for a more fulfilling life. I came across the Sivananda teacher training course in 2003 that I completed. I then began teaching immediately on a part time basis. I finally left the corporate environment in 2006 to teach yoga and fitness full time and I have never been happier.

I am a passionate, enthusiastic and focused person delivering my teaching abilities to individuals of all levels of fitness, improving strength, flexibility and mental attitude.

My mission is to guide and support each individual on their journey of self discovery and a healthier life through regular practice of Asanas (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Relaxation, Meditation and General Wellbeing. Allow the light, the star that is within all of us to shine more brightly.

Update on profile: Pam has recently experienced some amazing teachings from a realised Guruji at an ashram in Manglore.  She would like to share her teachings of BeejaMantra's which ignite the Kundalini energy dormant in the mooladhara chakra. Physic healing meditation to release past karma and  deep meditation. 

An experienced Yoga and Pilates Teacher she is now incorporating her teaching style with “Soul healing”, an amazing breakthrough healing system created by ‘Master Zhi Gang Sha’, a Chinese healing Master for more than 40 years, designed to help us heal our selves of Stress, Cancer, Common illnesses, Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Obesity, Anger, Greed, Spiritual, Mental & Emotional Blockages and much more

“Heal and transform the soul first: Then healing and transformation of every aspect of life will follow.”

Come and join Pam for an amazing spiritual experience and learn more about the Science of Yoga

www.u-yoga.co.uk

2010: August 7th - 14th

Strong Hatha Yoga

Ginny Dean

Strong Hatha Yoga with Ginny Dean

Ginny has experience in many of the forms of yoga which have developed from the students of T. Krishnamacharya, the teacher of B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois and T.K.V. Desikachar.

She has been actively involved with fitness training and bodywork for many years, originally learning with Derek Ireland and returning to yoga in 1992 She has studied at the Astanga Research Institute in Mysore and at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai, India.

Our week will consist of Hatha Yoga classes structured to the needs of the group, thus ensuring all students will gain from the sessions irrespective of their experience. The style taught will be that which Ginny is developing from her own practice which has been much influenced by the work of the late Vanda Scaravelli.

In this yoga we work in a relaxing and energising way to enable the body to function naturally and happily using gravity and grounding, the breath and the subtle movement of the wave of the spine.

Classes will be suitable for all levels of yoga practitioners including beginners.

*** Jilly in the Free Spirit office attends Ginny's weekly classes in Brighton so if you have questions do chat with her ***

2010: August 14th - 21st

Dynamic Hatha Flow Yoga

Tara Johnson

Tara has been teaching and practising yoga for over 12 years.

She trained with Louisa Sear and Lance Schuler in Bali and Australia and has had the privilege to work with great international teachers including Sri k Pattabhi Jois V. Sheshadri, Gabriella Pascolli, Lance Schuler, Louisa Sear, Dena Kingsberg and Shiva Rea.

On this holiday she will be teaching Dynamic Vinyasa Flow. Combining the alignment of Iyengar yoga with the flow of Astanga Vinyasa, emphasizing the union of breathe and movement, incorporating meditation, pranayama and inspirational music to go deeper into flowing, strengthening and detoxifying the body and mind, creating a sense of stillness, peace and freedom within. Encouraging the individual to work to ones own “edge”, moving beyond limitations of body and mind.

Tara is a warm, open minded and compassionate teacher who teaches from the heart and believes yoga to be a constant discipline for healing, growth and transformation which continues to evolve throughout our lives. She comes from a musical background and sometimes use inspirational music to create atmosphere in Vinyasa flow classes and incorporates pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation .

 Quotes “ A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” – Lao-Tzu

2010: August 28th - September 4th

Hatha Yoga

Leah Barnett

Leah has been studying yoga for over 15 years and teaching for the last 5. She trained as a yoga teacher with Jenny Beeken of the Inner Yoga Trust, qualifying in 2003. After qualifying she assisted teaching on a year long foundation course held by the Inner Yoga Trust.

She has furthered her study of yoga in the UK and India working with various teachers including Monica Voss and John Stirk as well as deepening her own study and practice of meditation spending a week on retreat at a Tibetan Buddhist centre in India in 2004 and completing a Vipassana course in Switzerland in 2006.

Leah decided to make teaching yoga to children with special needs her main focus and completed the ‘Yoga for the Special Child’TM in February 2007. Since then she has been working with children with special needs at the Special Yoga Centre and in various special schools in London. She has also completed a ‘Yoga for People with ME’ teacher training workshop with Fiona Agombar in June 2008 and will be assisting teaching on retreat for people with ME in Turkey in October 2008.

The week will include
Pranayama (breathing exercises)
Modifications so everyone can benefit from the practise
Morning sessions (more dynamic – solar Vinyasa flow yoga)
Evening sessions (meditative – lunar yoga practise)
 

2010: September 4th - 11th

Sivananda Based Yoga

Louise Cashin

Louise, who has practiced yoga for most of her life and taught fulltime since 2002, believes yoga isn’t just something you do on your mat with a teacher but a lifestyle, a whole way of living and thinking. “I encourage my students to do a little bit of yoga everyday! Whether that is 15 minutes of asana practice or yoga breathing in bed before sleep; mindfulness practices around emotional wellbeing during a busy day or my yoga- at- your- desk- programme."

Her classes are Sivananda biased as she believes this method provides a complete approach to yoga; however she does integrate techniques and styles from other traditions to provide for the specific needs of an individual or group and is very keen on correct alignment in postures and fluid movement synchronised with the breath. She also teaches yoga for therapeutic purposes and is convinced of its nurturing and healing powers.

Trained to teach both yoga and meditation (500 hours Yoga Alliance) Her major influencers are senior Iyengar teachers Judith Hanson Lasater with whom she trained in Restorative Yoga and Donna Farhi who she completed an advanced yoga studies teaching course with and continues to attend regular intensives with. She is currently in about to complete of her Yoga Therapy Diploma.  
 

"I have been practising various styles of yoga now for over 8 years and truly believe that coming to Louise's classes has been a real find! Louise seems to effortlessly create a safe haven within each class and brings just the right balance of breathing, posture work and relaxation.  You feel as though you have experienced a full work out, mind, body and soul. 

Louise includes challenging postures to each session whilst always explaining and demonstrating them fully, her in-depth insight into the benefits of each pose is great!  No matter how hectic a day I have had...I always leave Louise's class feeling energised, revived and most of all positive!  Thank you Louise." Jane

2010: September 11th - 18th

Gentle Hatha Yoga

Rosie Waters

Gentle Yoga with Rosie Waters

Rosie has been practising yoga since 1999 and has trained in Vajrasati, Iyengar and Hatha yoga. She is highly qualified and holds teaching certificates in 'Vajrasati Yoga', 'Yoga for ME & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' and is Yoga Alliance 500 hour accredited.

She has been teaching since early 2008, and currently runs 2 drop-in classes in Sussex and also teaches small private groups and individual students.

Rosie’s teaching focuses on using the breath to deepen and extend the body, mind and spirit. She encourages students to work meditatively, listening closely to their own bodies and breath, and using their inner resources to develop postures only as the body allows, and without grasping.

The morning sessions will be more invigorating, fully benefitting from the pure mountain air, awakening the senses with the scents of mountain herbs and preparing us for the day ahead.

The evening sessions will be gentler, more meditative and will include Pranayama (work with the breath) and Mantra.

These classes are suitable for men and women of all ages and levels of experience, including beginners.
 

September  18th - 25th

Freestyle Yoga

Mitch

Mitch is an exciting and inspirational international Yoga Alliance teacher, who has been practising yoga for many years and has studied many styles of yoga.  He teaches classes in Winchester and annually holds yoga holidays to Egypt, Spain, Turkey.

His classes are designed for all levels from those new to yoga to the experienced and are based on classical Hatha incorporating a fusion of other yoga styles to suit everyone.

There is particular emphasise on warming up and stretching techniques to ensure no injuries occur and optimum strength and flexibility can be achieved. Mitch uses his intuitive sense of his own body, and those of his students in the class to dictate the pace, postures and type of practise used within any one class.

Mitch has a particular interest in encouraging men to try yoga and as a 6'6" ex rugby player himself can amply demonstrate what yoga has to offer them.   

Over the week he will offer a morning two hour invigorating class and a shorter relaxing and rejuvenating evening class incorporating breathing techniques, meditation and work on opening up the chakras.  

A sense of fun combined with a thoughtful practise will ensure that everyone feels at ease and have a great time.  

September  25th - October 2nd

Hatha  Yoga

Margaret Ramsey

Margaret has been teaching Yoga since 2003, attending a Foundation Course in 2001 then undertaking her 3 year teacher training with the British Wheel Of Yoga. She has also completed a Pranayama course.

"Yoga is such a vast subject that the learning process never ends, I find it really interesting to work with a variety of teachers and to take on board any new ideas or aspects that appeal to me. I have been influenced by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli. It never ceases to amaze me how knowledgeable and self aware the ancient yogis were.

I have a deep faith that Yoga can be beneficial to everyone and during my classes I try to encourage students to take Yoga into their everyday lives rather than thinking of it simply as a stand alone class each week.

During the week in Spain I will focus on a programme to enhance well-being using the energy of our main Chakras to redress imbalances. I will offer Asana, Pranayama, Mantra, Visualisation and Relaxation.

Participants can happily work to their own level with no pressure to attempt anything that they are uncomfortable with, after all this is a holiday!"

Flowing Dynamic Yoga

Joyce McMiken

Joyce McMiken, is a qualified BWY teacher, has been practicing yoga for the last 10 years and teaching since 2006.

Joyce has been fortunate enough to work with some great teachers in London and has taken numerous workshops with well-known international teachers.

She has just returned from three months in India where she was practicing with Sharath, grandson of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, in Mysore and Rolf Naujokat in Goa. She was also lucky enough to be able to work with Emil Wendel on pranayama. Now fully charged she is keen to share her love of yoga and belief that with a regular practice you can transform your life.

What you can expect

The retreat is open to all levels. Over the course of the week we will delve into our asana practice, become familiar with some pranayama techniques, learn to sit quietly and meditate, and relax deeply with Yoga Nidra - guided relaxation practices. By the end of the retreat everyone will have worked hard, relaxed deeply, feel confident enough to develop their own self-practice and above all shared a laugh or two!

Joyce is also a qualified therapist and will offer massage and reflexology during the retreat.

For further information please visit her website: www.findthebalance.co.uk

Hatha Yoga & Sun Salutations

Belinda Leith

Belinda Leith an experienced British wheel of yoga tutor and author of understanding yoga, Belinda Leith learnt yoga from an early age at Ashrams in India.

Belinda is familiar with a variety of different yoga styles and is focusing on classical Hatha yoga postures for this course with some sun salutations.

Emphasis will be on postural correction and alignment, breathing techniques and relaxation.

Students are gently encouraged to totally release physical and mental tensions, the course aims at toning, strengthening and increasing range of movement with realization of the individuals mind, body, breath relationship and self imposed limitations.

Emphasis will be on gentle yoga with correct alignment, breathing techniques and bringing oneself together.