Category: newsletter

October 2021 newsletter

Posted on by Edward Mitchell

Welcome to October 🙂

The Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre opened its doors in November 2015.

From  almost the beginning there has been a regular monthly meeting with yoga teacher Sarah Ryan looking at  the amazing Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This is probably the most important yoga book ever written. It is written in Sanskrit, and contains four logically written chapters, with 195 aphorisms, or concise statements known as sutras, describing the whole philosophical system of yoga.

We have slowly been working our way through the book and have reached Chapter 3 which talks about the last 3 of the eight ‘limbs’ or branches of yoga; the internal ‘limbs’ of concentration, meditation and complete absorption- samadhi.

Sutra 111.1 “desa-bandhah-cittasya dharana”

Concentration is fixing the mind in one direction. When the mind remains bound to the chosen object without failing, this is concentration, the preliminary condition for reaching the next stages of dhyana and samadhi (meditation and complete absorption).

I am struck by how Autumn seems to throw up an extraordinary amount of beautiful objects or scenes on which to practice one’s concentration. Many flowers in the garden are finding energy to make their last few blooms before the slow dying back of Autumn begins, the colours are changing, the spiders are spinning, the harvests are being brought in and perhaps the last few swims are being enjoyed before the weather changes. As one of my heroines said

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

~~ L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables ~~

Rose
Enjoy the wonderful weather and beautiful surroundings.  Slow down into Autumn, find time to practise concentration, and come and enjoy some of our workshops 🙂

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Some news

We welcome Tom Anderson to our team of therapists. Tom is a CBT therapist.

I am really pleased that the Reiki Share is back on our timetable, please see details below.

Our thanks go to Leanne Jones who has been teaching a Jivamukti class once a month on a Friday evening for many years now. She is off to open her own studio in Wimborne, we will miss her and we wish her well with her new venture (… although she’s only in Wimborne so do check out her new studio).

Here is our teacher Sam Stevens enjoying her class:

Sam_Stevens_photo

And lastly big congratulations to our fabulous yoga teacher Kim Mackie who got married last week to Fred; so lovely to see Kim in her beautiful dress as we normally only see each other in yoga leggings!

Kim_wedding

 

Classes, Courses and Workshops: October

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Shakti Dance with Magdalena Atkinson

Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Yoga For Runners with Kim Jones

Rajadhiraja Yoga with Jez Culley

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Yoga Sutras with Sarah Ryan

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Restorative Yoga for Deep Rest with Tracey Boast

Gong Bath with Arianna Puran Udini

Reiki Share with Karen Giles and Wrio Russell

Looking ahead to November

We have a new weekly Saturday morning Mixed Ability Yoga class starting with Katie Pitney 10.45-11.45am.

  • Please email Katie if you are interested in joining the class

 

 

September 2021 newsletter

Posted on by Edward Mitchell

Welcome to September. We hope you have found time to escape your normal routine, and have enjoyed some  Summer fun, either by relaxing, or being active, being social or finding a quiet space; whichever were your requirements.

My Summer read was “A Lonesome Dove” a Western novel by Larry McMurty, with wise words no matter what the season:

“It may be we’ll meet down the road” July said
“Perhaps… I see you are in a hurry to get someplace. It’s a great mistake to hurry” Mr Sedgewick said.
“Why?”
“Because the grave’s our destination, and those who hurry usually get to it quicker than those who take their time…”

man doing a handstand in a field

For many, September brings a settling back into routines after the excitement of Summer, although hopefully with many more beautiful days to swim in the sea, and enjoy nature in our gardens and beautiful surrounding countryside.

woman doing a yin yoga twist in studio

We welcome back some of our teachers who have had their summer breaks, and settle into our Autumn term. Marj Snape is back with Morning Meditation and a new 5 week course ‘Finding Stillness’. Nancy returns with her Gentle Yoga on Tuesday lunchtime, Sharon Morgan is offering a new class ‘Better Balance Pilates’ and a Tuesday and Wednesday morning Pilates class, and Chrissie Haskett is back with Monday and Wednesday morning Yin Yoga classes. We have a new Tai Chi class starting on Thursday evenings with Tim Button at 6:00 – 7:30pm  and of course all our regular classes and workshops.

We have a great mix of workshops to take us into the Autumn; a mixture of dynamic and slower classes depending on your preferences.

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Classes, Courses and Workshops: September

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

6 week IAIM BABY MASSAGE Course with Sharon Cox-Button

5 week course Exploring Stillness with Marj Snape

Jivamukti XL Yoga with Leanne Jones

Yoga Sutras of Patanjli with Sarah Ryan

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Restorative Yoga for Deep Rest with Tracey Boast

Iyengar Workshop with Cheree Low

Late Summer Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Mini First Aid with Sue Fisher

Looking ahead to October

Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Yoga for Runners with Kim Jones

 

 

July 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by admin

Welcome to our July newsletter.

The Fire element is associated with the season of Summer, and combined with coming out of lockdown… WOW!… all that energy!

woman doing a yoga backbendWomen doing a yoga inversion on a chair in yoga studio

There have been lots of energetic inversions and backbends in classes and lots of joy and laughter at being together again. So our workshops in July are a reminder that a balance is always required and perhaps after all our excitement we need to calm down again.

woman doing a relaxing yoga backbendsoundbath equipment in yoga studio

We have Soundbaths and Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga classes for you to find your balance (an Iyengar workshop with Cheree for those still enjoying their yang energy!).

We still have restricted numbers in our weekly classes, and although this means some of our classes are full, we have room in many other classes so please check the classes page to see what spaces are available.

I would like to welcome a new therapist to our therapy rooms, Roger Mortimer who is a hypnotherapist.
More about Roger, and Hypnotherapy, on the Therapies page

International Yoga Day 21st June – the longest day of the year, was celebrated around the world by many yogis. I celebrated with my own students in my Monday evening class. The lights were on, the blankets came out, and in spite of the vigorous backbends, the weather was cool and it felt like December 21st.

I am sure there will be plenty of sunshine to come over the next few months, so enjoy the outdoors.

Yogis believe that air is our most essential food, and one should look to find air that is more highly charged with prana or life-force and marked by negative ionization. This air is by the sea, in the mountains, by lakes and in large open spaces.  We are lucky in Dorset to have so many wonderful outdoor places in which to breathe deeply.

Our leaders and politicians seem to care little for the planet and the health of its nation, as we have had air pollution problems in Britain for many years. We must look after our own health and we must look after these beautiful spaces. Let’s try to reduce our use of cars, share our journeys, use public transport or even go electric! And we need to remind our politicians of the need for better public transport systems. Practicing your breathing, meditation and asana in these special places is a joy to be thankful for.

There will be no newsletter in August, but you will find all the information on the website for classes and workshops in August.  Thank you for supporting us through lockdown and now that our doors are open again we are so pleased to see so many of you back again with us.

I hope you enjoy your Summer.

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Classes, Courses and Workshops: July

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Emergency First Aid Day for Teachers

Mindfulness Drop-In with Jem Shackleford

RajaDhiraja Yoga with Jez Culley

Restorative Yoga for Deep Rest with Tracey Boast

Jivamukti XL with Leanne Jones

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Cheree Low

Gong Sound Bath with Arianna Puran Udini

Yin Fascial Yoga: Roll and Release with Dominique Preston

Mini First Aid with Sue Fisher

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

 

June 2021 newsletter

Posted on by admin

We are open!!! And it is wonderful!!

Throughout lockdown many of our therapists and counsellors have been continually working to offer their skills and support, and many of our yoga and pilates teachers have been working online.  We opened cautiously in April for a baby massage course and a Kinesiology Diploma course and now it feels fabulous to have the whole centre full again. We are back to a full timetable and the studios are vibrating with energy, laughter, focused work and positivity.

baby massage group in yoga studioZoom classes were great, and indeed we still have a zoom timetable for those who decided it suited them better or for those who aren’t quite ready to return to normal. But for me the smiles on students’ and teachers’ faces as we opened up on the 17th May said it all.

I, for one, am very grateful for some amazing training I was able to do with amazing tutors from around the world who I would not have normally been able to work with.

kinesiology course equipment in studioBut there is a shared energy; a coming together of like-minded people, whose belief in health and happiness with love and compassion for the world is wonderful to share.

Our classes are still restricted in number, and we are operating carefully so that everyone feels safe, but everyone seems to be delighted and relieved to be back! Doing what they know keeps them healthy and happy!

Thank you to all the regular teachers who have gone through the move (once again) from online classes of Zoom/facebook  and back again with enthusiasm!

We have our usual list of yoga, pilates, and tai chi classes. We welcome back Martial Arts’ teacher Pete who used our studio last year when many of his old venues were closed due to Covid.

We have spaces in many of our classes but please check the website and contact the class teacher to make sure there is room as we cannot accept drop-ins.

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

New classes with new teachers

We have three new teachers who have started teaching: Sharon Morgan, Helen Heger and Tim Button.

Pilates with Sharon Morgan

  • 9:15 – 10:15am and 5:00 – 6:00pm on Tuesdays
  • These are run as short courses as an introduction to how Sharon works.
  • More about Pilates

Gentle Yoga with Helen Heger

  • 9:30 – 11:00am on Tuesdays
  • This is a slow class suitable for older students who may have health issues or be recovering from operations /illnesses.
  • More about Gentle Yoga

Qi Gong with Tim Button

Mixed Ability Yoga with Katie Pitney

New classes with old teachers

Pregnancy Yoga with Kim Jones

Gentle Yoga with Kim Mackie

Chair Yoga with Kim Mackie

Children’s classes

We are pleased that Kim Jones is once again teaching her children’s class and Kim Mackie is teaching a Teenagers’ class. Contact them if your children would like to have a taster.

Yoga and Mindfulness for children with Kim Jones

Teen Yoga with Kim Mackie

Classes, Courses and Workshops: June

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Mini First Aid with Sue Fisher

6 week Baby Massage Course with Sharon Cox-Button

Rajadhiraja Yoga with Jez Culley

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Summer Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Jivamukti Yoga with Leanne Jones

Beyond Recuperation – Mindfully Creating a New Future with Jem Shackleford

Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

November 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

Welcome to our November newsletter 🙂

These babies have certainly enjoyed being back in the studio, these four have just completed my first baby massage course back in the centre, and are showing off babies natural ability for yoga with their beautiful upper backbends.

The next course starts on Thursday November 5th.

babies_at_dytc_2020

Is it me or does each Autumn seem to get better and better?

I used to dread the colder weather, as I have always been a sun worshipper, but since I have had a dog I have realised that as long as I am wearing the right clothes, it is wonderful to be outside whatever the weather, and I feel so much better for it.

Autumn trees and leaves and a lake

In Chinese medicine Autumn is associated with the lung, one of the best ways to strengthen the lungs is to breathe deeply.

It seems simple but most people don’t breathe deeply at all. When we breathe deeply and with intention it affects our memory, our energy levels and our immune system. We flood our brain and cells with much needed oxygen and the body takes energy (chi/qi) from that oxygen for vital processes within the body.

Autumn leaves in many colours

Taking a walk outside is one of the best ways to do that, and of course it is a vital part of our yoga practice. Our quote at the bottom of this page this month is Sutra 1.2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: Yogah Citta Vrtti Nirodhah.

Just start to deepen and slow your breathing and your mind will begin to calm and be less easily distracted.

We have a great mix of workshops this month from those wanting to slow down and restore to those who have still have some energy left over from the Summer months, we hope you find something to suit you…..

Enjoy the outside whatever the weather,

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Looking Ahead

We are very excited to have the first Kinesiology Diploma being taught in Dorset next year. Jane Collison has taught two Kinesiology foundations in the past couple of years and for all those budding Kinesiologists she will now be offering the Diploma.

Monthly Classes and Workshops: November

Mindfulness drop-in with Jem Shackleford

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Shakti Dance  with Magdalena Atkinson

Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Jivamukti XL with Leanne Jones

Autumn Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Lift Off- Arm Balancing Fundamentals with Victoria Boast

Courses: start dates:

6 Week Baby Massage Course

Kinesiology Diploma Course

October 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

It feels so good to be open and busy.

It seems that everyone has missed their yoga, pilates and tai chi, as our classes are very full. We hope you are well.
Yoga class doing forward bends
Welcome to Pilates teacher Michelle Skelland who started with us in September. She has been teaching on Wednesdays 10:15 – 11:15am. From October she will also be teaching on Fridays at 4:00 – 5:00pm. This means we now have a Pilates class Monday to Friday for all of you Pilates fans out there.

Welcome to Yoga teacher Nancy Chantrell who has been teaching yoga in Dorchester for as long as I have – about 20 years!!! Nancy is offering a gentle Yoga Class. She teaches classical Hatha Yoga in the tradition of Advaita Vedanta on Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:30pm from October.

Have you had any trouble accessing a class?

As our class numbers are limited, if you are having trouble accessing a class please let us know and then we can put on more classes for you.

Enjoy the gorgeous Autumnal weather; be outside as much as you can in the fresh air and soak up the Vitamin D. And come and enjoy many of our relaxing and nurturing workshops we have on offer in October – good for the nervous and immune systems and wonderful for the soul!

We are offering classes face to face in the centre and online

And, as ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Workshops: October

Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Returning To The Balance – Shakti Dance with Magdalena Atkinson

Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra

Mindfulness with Jem Shackleford

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Jivamukti Yoga with Leanne Jones

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Splits Workshop with Victoria Boast

Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

 

September 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

Hello and welcome to our September newsletter.

I am so pleased that there is a September newsletter and that we have opened our doors again to our students and clients. Many of our teachers and therapists have been busy behind the scenes teaching online and I am sure many of you have enjoyed that lifeline of yoga in your own homes, or someone to help on a screen or phone.

Continue reading “September 2020 newsletter” →

March 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

Welcome to our March newsletter,

Our fabulous Kim Mackie has just come back from the first fortnight of her Holistic Yoga Therapy Training with the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation. Here she is receiving her introduction pack, with her class group, and showing off her wonderful henna-ed hands. What a journey Kim, we wish you well.

 

All our March courses, workshops and regular monthly classes are below, we look forward to seeing you at them.

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Continue reading “March 2020 newsletter” →

February 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

Welcome to our February newsletter.

February can be a difficult month for many people, with cold dull days and nothing to look forward to, and a seemingly long wait to brighter days. But for me the longer days, and lighter evenings and the appearance of the first Spring flowers reminds me that we are at the beginning of a new cycle of growth. The first snowdrops are up in my garden; such strength beneath that delicate appearance;

“She too pursues her ends,
Brutal as the stars of this month,
Her pale head heavy as metal”
(Ted Hughes).

There are lots of wonderful events to choose from this month. Magdalena Atkinson is offering Imbolc – an ancient Celtic celebration which marks the beginning of early Spring and the anticipation of the coming warmer seasons. Her Shakti Dance workshop is an afternoon of Yoga & Intuitive Dance, music & chanting.

If it’s the ‘strength’ side of things you need to work on to hold up that heavy head, try a full day of yoga with BWY tutor Zoe Knot’s Strength in Asana, or a morning of Iyengar yoga with Cheree Low, or Rocket Yoga with Jess Obermeier.

For those of you still hibernating and feeling the need to nurture yourself, we have our usual abundance of Yin and  Restorative Yoga and plenty of Sound Baths. The month ends with the rare  opportunity to work with Dr Kausthub Desikachar in his Sound Silence and Meditation Seminar, exploring the ancient art of mantra. Mantra is one of the main tools of traditional yoga, particularly in the areas of healing and spirituality. Mantras are very powerful, influencing change from within, taking us to the silence of our deepest self.

I am sure you will find something to get you through February!

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

With best wishes from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Continue reading “February 2020 newsletter” →

January 2020 newsletter

Posted on by admin

Welcome to a New Year, a New Decade, a New Beginning!

January is a great time to make a Sankalpa.

Sankalpa is a Sanscrit word. One of its meanings is an intention formed by the heart and mind – a solemn vow, determination, or positive will. In practical terms a Sankalpa means a one-pointed resolve to focus both psychologically and philosophically on a specific goal. It is a tool meant to refine the will, and to focus and harmonise mind and body.

Cute baby doing yoga

We repeat a Sankalpa at the beginning and the end of yoga nidra practice, when the mind is quiet and in a perfect state to let the Sankalpa take root. Any time when the mind is in such a state can you repeat your Sankalpa, always using the same short precise sentence to make an impression on the mind for example when you are meditating, walking in nature, first thing in the morning, anytime when the mind is quiet and receptive.

The power of thought is amazing!

It  begins to activate new neural networks in your brain. These networks begin to fire, and re-wire and create new pictures. These pictures signal to the limbic brain to create neural peptides. These are chemical messengers that signal hormones, and with the hormones dock onto receptor sites of cell.

These cells get a new message, and signal new genes which makes new proteins. New proteins mean the expression of life, and the expression of life is a healthy body.

This all comes from just choosing a positive thought.

Whatever your age or ability, we have something for everyone, take a look at our new timetable.

As ever, the details are below and in the calendar – please check it!

Happy 2020 from Sharon and all the teachers and therapists at Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

Continue reading “January 2020 newsletter” →