Yoga has been around for thousands of years. In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defined Yoga as "the stilling of the restless fluctuations of the mind" (Yoga Sutras book 1, verse 2). In the second chapter, he outlined eight steps of Yoga, which complement each other and together guide the devotee towards this stilling of the mind.

These were:

YAMA - moral restraints (non-violence, truth, non-stealing, continence and non-coveting)

NIYAMA - personal discipline

ASANA - the practice of body exercises to keep the body healthy, supple and strong

PRANAYAMA - the practice of breathing exercises

PRATYAHARA - control of the senses

DHARANA - concentration or complete attention

DHYANA - meditation

SAMADHI - complete integration leading to a state of tranquillity attained through the stilling of the mind.

What is generally taught in the West is Hatha Yoga (physical exercises) and Raja Yoga (meditation). Strictly speaking they cannot be separated as Hatha Yoga is all inclusive.


An outline of a yoga class at the Pilates & Yoga Movement

A class consists of exercising every part of the body, stimulating the respiratory and circulatory systems. The asanas (poses) are taught in a balanced sequence which involves standing, sitting, lying, inversion, forward and back bending and twisting. Poses are adapted to suit the needs of each student. It is non-competitive and suitable for people of all ages.

Properly executed, these asanas can improve muscular strength and tone, improve flexibility and remove impurities by circulating the energy-flow throughout the body. Emphasis is placed on grounding and lengthening the spine. Grounding ensures that the feet are well-placed and firmly planted on the floor. This provides a solid support for the rest of the body, and correct knee and hip alignment. Gently lengthening the spine and doing each asana with emphasis on the breath facilitates proper breathing and prevents injury which could be caused by forcing oneself into the pose.

Breathing in each asana enables the student not only to concentrate better, but also progresses naturally into sitting pranayama and meditation.


General

Tuesday 9.30 - 11.15am
Tuesday 7 - 8.45 pm

Both Tuesday classes take a maximum of 12 students.

Friday 9 - 10.30am (Advanced. Maximum 5 students)

Cost:	£12 per class payable in advance in blocks of seven.
	£13 per single class
	£8.00 concessionary rate

These classes are not drop-in classes. Classes are tailored to suit the needs of each student and personal attention and progress is monitored on an ongoing basis.


Private Tuition & Workshops

Anne-Marie is available to teach workshops and master classes both here and Malaysia/Singapore.

Details of private classes and workshops are available upon request.

Cost:

£55 for 1 hour and 15 mins

Children

Details available upon request