Welcome to MAY.

“May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries,
May the breeze blow new strength into your being,
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”

– Apache Blessing

I took a holiday with my daughter to the South of France, and whilst wandering amongst a hilltop garden, we came across a few small gatherings of yoga students with their teachers. It reminded me of how yoga was traditionally taught in India, outside and sitting at the feet of the teacher.

There is a classical text of Indian spirituality: The Upanishads. A translation of the word Upanishad means “sitting down near” or “at the feet of a teacher.” The Upanishads are a collection of texts of ancient wisdom, flashes of insight which are revealed through a dialogue with a teacher; question and answer sessions to reveal spiritual teachings, an intimate session of spiritual instruction.

These ‘conversations’ are the results of an investigation into consciousness itself by ancient sages, and have thankfully been recorded so that we have these amazing understandings of consciousness today. Our present-day yoga practice, although seemingly very removed from these ancient practices, can lead us to the wonder and discovery of who we really are, what the universe is, and what is the significance of the brief drama of life and death. The wonder and enjoyment of why we feel so good at the end of our class or practice, or why it has left us emotional or even tearful, helps us to understand that yoga is more than just a physical exercise. As we bring ourselves out of relaxation or meditation there is a taste of ‘santi’ – peace, what the Taittiriya Upanishad calls the “body of joy” a freedom from all conditioning and limitations of time and space.

The Isha Upanishad is generally presented as the first Upanishad, and the invocation to it will be very familiar to some of you:

oṃ | pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate |
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ||

Om santi santi santi

A translation could be:

All this is full. All that is full.
From fullness, fullness comes.
When fullness is taken from fullness,
Fullness still remains

Om peace, peace, peace

Materialism reinforces the idea of scarcity, that there is not enough to go around, and so we are doomed to fight for ever diminishing resources. Spiritual economics are, in fact, the opposite and could simply be summarised by Gandhi as “there is enough in the world for everyone’s need; there is not enough for everyone’s greed.”

New Event with Melanie Philip

It is normal practice within African Tribes that when the Joy of the people becomes low, then it is time for a Grief Ritual to be held so that the vibration of the community can come back into balance. Find out more about this wonderful movement and dance workshop, to bring back the essential balance between joy & sadness.

May May be all that you wish for, and hopefully those wishes will include some of our events below, 

Sharon 

May Workshops & Events

Friday 2nd May 6.00-7.00pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra Sharon Cox-Button N.B change of time

Saturday 3rd May 10.30-11.45am
Yoga Sutras with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 3rd May 12.00-1.00pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

Wednesday 7th May 5.00-6.00pm
Conversations With Chris

Friday 9th May 7.00-8.30pm
Tuning Forks For Stress Relief with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 10th May 10-12.30pm
Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Saturday 10th May 2.00-4.30pm
Life Transitions – A Movement Medicine Event with Melanie Philip

Friday 16th May 6.30-8.00pm
Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls with Ellen

Saturday 17th May 10.30-12.30pm
Ashtanga Workshop – Counted Primary – Tristana in Focus with Ness Sherry

Sunday 18th 10.00-11.00am
Pilates Workshop with Sharon Morgan

Sunday 18th 1.00-3.00pm
Kundalini Activation with Rachel Tapping

Saturday 24th May 1.00-4.00pm
Iyengar Yoga with Cheree Low

Saturday 24th May 2.00-3.30pm
Reiki Share with Peter Griffiths

Friday 30th May 6.00-7.30pm
Yin Yoga with Toni Franklin

“We have never arrived. We are in a constant state of becoming.”

~ Bob Dylan ~

A new moon – a moment of renewal, reflection, and quiet beginnings. The sky, though dark, is brimming with unseen potential, just like our lives in this very moment. The new moon reminds us that every fresh start begins in stillness, in the space where we choose to release what no longer serves us.

April reminds us that growth often comes through moments of challenge and renewal. We have had a wonderful period of sunny weather so far, but for farmers, finding the right balance of rain and sunshine to kickstart the year’s crops is always a challenge. I am sure they would like some warm, damp weather and a little more rain to boost growth. 

As we step into this season of renewal, we can be reminded that our yoga practice isn’t an exercise regime but a philosophy to help us transform our lives. Use time in nature to feel and reflect as it teaches us how we need to be constantly flexible and open to change, and of course, we invite you to our many classes, workshops and events to help this constant journey of transformation and nurture new beginnings. 

Ongoing 3-year Yoga therapy diploma with Dr Kausthubha Desikachar

Kim Mackie, Fred Burnham, Arianna Franklin, Sarah Ryan, and myself are currently participating in the 5th module of our 3-year Yoga therapy diploma with Dr Kausthubha Desikachar.

It has been a transformational course, an experience that goes beyond surface-level learning and into the heart of Yoga Therapy, based on Patanjlis yoga sutras.

But every session goes beyond theory, we are engaged in deep self-inquiry and personal healing. The course is in the Viniyoga tradition, as Yoga was initially intended – as a personalised, adaptive practice that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. It’s a deep dive into the classical roots of Yoga, designed to empower the student with profound wisdom, authentic techniques, and a life-changing personal journey.

We hope the yoga centre is full of the energy of growth and renewal.

New Events

We would like to welcome Lucy Bowtell (some of you will know her as Lucy Coffin) to the yoga centre. She is offering a workshop called Nervous System & Heart Energy Workshop to Soothe, Realign and Shift on the 27th April. This workshop will be repeated on the 25th May.

Returning Workshops

Ness‘s ashtanga workshop this month is called Redefining Ashtanga – Ashtanga Energetics.

Ashtanga is often misunderstood. It’s not just a physically demanding sequence – it’s a moving meditation, a play of breath, bandha, and drishti. When we focus solely on the external postures, we lose touch with the deeper energetics that transform this practice into something truly integrated. You can find out more about Ness’s workshop here.

We welcome back Rachel Tapping with another Kundalini Activation workshop.
Nicki’s Tuning Fork workshop this month is a chakra tuning and rebalance. See all our regular workshops below.

Our new Reiki Therapist, Carol Thwaite, is doing an “Introductory offer for April – £30 for a 1hr session”, you can book with Carol here.

Enjoy Spring as it springs into life, get into nature as much as you can, get the life-giving sunlight onto your face and in all the cells of your body.

Best wishes from us all,
Sharon

April Courses & Workshops

Friday 4th April 6.30-7.30 pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Sunday 6th April 1.00-3.00 pm
Kundalini Activation with Rachel Tapping

Friday 11th April 10.00-11.30 am
Pregnancy Circle with Bec Oakaiah

Friday 11th April 7.00-8.30 pm
Chakra Clear Cleanse and Rebalance Tuning Fork Sound Bath with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 12th April 10.00-12.30 pm
Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Saturday 12th April 2.30-4.00 pm
Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Sunday 13th April 10-00-1.00 pm
Vedanta Group with Marj Snape

Friday 18th April 6.30-8.00 pm
Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Friday 25th April 10.00-11.30 am
Pregnancy Circle with Bec Oakaiah

Friday 25th April 6.00-7.30 pm
Yin Yoga Workshop with Toni Franklin

Saturday 26th April 1.00-4.00 pm
Iyengar Yoga with Cheree Low

Saturday 26th April 2.00-3.30 pm
Reiki Share with Peter Griffiths

Sunday 27th April 2.00-5.00 pm
Nervous System & Heart Energy Workshop to Soothe, Realign and Shift with Lucy Bowtell

Coming in May

Life Transitions: A movement medicine workshop with Melanie Philip

“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”

~ T.K.V. Desikachar ~

Welcome to March at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre.This month we reach the Spring Equinox when day and night are momentarily the same length. A brief moment of balance before the days become longer and the light encourages the energetic growth of Spring and the excitement of all that we have to look forward to. From our dreaming and planning in deep Winter, we can begin to act on the many seeds planted deep within the subconscious.

Just as there is brief balance at the equinoxes throughout the year the reality is that for most of us, although we search for and try to find balance in our lives, we know it is not really within our control. We are carried through life by patterns, thoughts, and memories and react to actions we have no control over. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are a philosophy that helps us cope with the ups and downs of life and the constant chatter of our minds. Chapter 2 is called Sadhana Pada, meaning practice. It was written for the majority of us who have a disturbed, distracted mind and for whom meditation is not easily accessible.

11.1 Tapas svadhyaya isvara pranidhana kriya yoga

Sutra 1 tells us that practice is called Kriya Yoga, the yoga of action consisting of tapas (self-discipline), svadhyaya (self-enquiry) and isvara pranidhana (surrender to a higher state).

These three aspects are the start of the yoga journey, the journey to discovering our inner selves, leading us to spiritual absorption or the state of Samadhi and beginning to weaken all causes of suffering.

11.2 Samadhi bhavana arthah klesha tanukarana arthah ca

The self-discipline, (tapas) of daily yoga practice, with self-enquiry, (svadhyaya) through reading ancient texts, self-help books or maybe seeing a therapist. The third part of Kriya Yoga is Ishvara Pranidhana. This is offering all actions to a higher force, and remaining humble to the realization that we are not in control of all that happens to us.

New Classes

We have two new classes starting this month with two familiar faces.

Healing and massage Therapist Melina James is offering a new breathwork class on Tuesdays 7.45-8.45pm. This is suitable for beginners, you can find more details here. Melina is also offering 10% off her treatments in the therapy room for any new clients.

We are delighted to have back Katie Pitney who taught a few years ago. She will be offering a Beginner’s Yoga class on Thursday evenings at 7.45-9pm. Katie has a lovely gentle teaching manner and I know many of you will be pleased that she is back again.

New therapist: Reiki 

Carol Thwaite, a familiar face at our Reiki Shares is joining the team and offering Reiki treatments in our therapy room, so a big welcome to Carol.

Susie the famous Dorchester cat has discovered the yoga centre as an evening hang out, although her favourite practice is definitely Savasana.

Enjoy the longer days and practice Kriya Yoga: self-discipline, self-study and surrender.

From Sharon and the team

Monthly Courses & Workshops

Wednesday 5th March 5.00-6.00pm
Conversations With Chris – Christopher Matthews

Friday 7th March 6.30-7.30pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Sunday 9th March 10.00-11.00am
Pilates Workshop – Strength Balance Restore with Sharon Morgan

Sunday 9th March 1.30-4.00pm
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Friday 14th March 10.00-11.30am
Pregnancy Circle with Bec Osadiah

Friday 14th March 7.00-8.30pm
Tuning Forks For Stress Relief with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 15th March 1.00-4.00pm
Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Cheree Low

Saturday 15th March 6.00-7.30pm
Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Sunday 16th March 10.00-12.30pm
Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Friday 21st March 6.30-8.00pm
Sound Healing With Crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Saturday 22nd March 10.30-12.30pm
Drishti – The Power of Intention with Ness Sherry

Saturday 22nd March 10.30-11.45am
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 22nd March 12.00-1.00pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

Friday 28th March 10.00-11.30am
Pregnancy Circle with Bec Osadiah

Friday 22nd March 6.00-7.30pm
Yin Yoga with Toni Franklin

Friday 28th March 6.30-8.30pm
Reiki Share with Saira Francis

“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied. ”

~ Aadil Palkhivala ~