Hatha Yoga
Awakening the spine through yoga for health, vitality and longevity
Yoga centres its awareness around life's central axis, the spine. Life's central axis because the spine encases our most vital organ of function, the brain, which through the continued free flow of impulses within the spinal cord keeps all muscular, organic, and energetic systems of the body functioning optimally. Through practice we generate heat, through heat we generate flow and through flow we generate energy. Yoga develops awareness layer by layer from the gross matter of the body to the subtle movement of energy and consciousness. The layers of body, mind, breath, energy, and spirit are gradually unified during movement and stillness which brings balance within the body and peace of mind.
Components of the class include:
Classical and non-classical Asana (postures).
Exploring the bridge between body and mind through the breath.
Cultivating the skill of relaxation and the development of concentration and meditation.
Daoist Yoga/Tai-Chi
Grounded in the feet, rooted in the legs, directed by the waist, mobilised by the spine and expressed through the fingers, moving smoothly in circles and spirals as one integrated whole where body, mind, breath and energy are unified with a spirit full of vitality. This is Daoist Yoga in action expressed through the Tai-Chi form.
Components of the class include:
The Patting System of Self Massage,Silk Reeling Exercises (joint circles and spirals). Dao-Yin and Qigong (leading and guiding energy along specific pathways).Tai-Chi Ball and Ruler exercises. Bagua(circle walking). The Yang Cheng Fu and Yang Lu Chan Tai-Chi Forms. Push Hands and Daoist Meditation
Meditation
The practice of seated meditation chips away at all the machinations of the mind and leads to vitality and purity of action.
One in All and All in One
We can act in one unified whole in everything that we do
Then we can just sit when we sit,walk when we walk,and eat when we eat.
"In the words of Dogen Zenji (1200 – 1253) ~
'Enlightenment is Practice, Practice is Enlightenment"
There are many methods of meditation and it is up to each individual to find a path which suits but many of the practical preparations for
meditation relating to the body posture, breathing, energy flow and mind are universal such that we can explore these areas as part of our movement modalities.
