Category: newsletter

A Happy New Year to you all

We have had some beautiful weather this Xmas period, hopefully it has enabled you to have more time outdoors, to admire the beautiful skies at sunrise and sunset, time to observe the tiny signs of growth and activity, snowdrop shoots, hazel catkins peeping between tangled growth, early broad beans, the odd bumblebee… but mostly there is just peace and quiet!! Plants and animals are tucked away resting, roots firmly down, laying firm foundations for the new year ahead. For us too, it is a time for calmness and reflection. Close your eyes, breathe. Even just 5 minutes is so beneficial.

This is a time for reflection on the past year, to let go of anything that hasn’t served you, and then plant the thoughts, the seeds for the year ahead, to make your new sankalpa, for all that you wish for. To grow the future you desire. For life doesn’t just happen to us; we create the world we want. It’s that simple. You either take what has been before and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to trip you up constantly.

The choice does not belong to fate; it belongs to you. 

In our newsletters last year, we started looking at “8 uncomfortable truths” we need to accept, by Kausthubha Desikachar. We have reached number 6:

6. Happiness is not a destination!

Happiness is a state of mind. You won’t find it waiting for you somewhere down the road, someday in the future. It is not something you will magically find when you finally get married or land your dream job because happiness is a journey, not a destination. If you can’t find happiness where you are now, you won’t find it anywhere else. Not until you give up the idea that happiness is anywhere but here and start being more grateful for what you have and where you are right now.

Start each day with gratitude for all that you have.

If you find it difficult to stick to a daily yoga practice, of either asana, or breath, mantra or prayer, maybe take a one to one with one of our teachers to help you make a suitable practice, or come to a class or workshop to kickstart you back into your own practice.

This month, as well as our usual monthly workshops, we have an afternoon Mid-Winter Soul Soother with Lucy Bowtell and Rachel Tapping.

And a longer day of Yoga, Zen and Hara – The Vital Centre with Maxine Craig.  

Looking ahead to February

Kim Burnham and I have another Open Day for our teacher training Course that starts in April.

Arianna Puran Udini has an Imbolg and Full Moon Singing Bowls Sound Bath, and later in the month, there is a 2-day retreat – Root To Rise with Nicola Moss and Dominique Preston (21st & 22nd February 2026).

We wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you back on your mats!

Namaste
Sharon

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January Workshops & Events

Friday 2nd, 6.30-7.30pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Saturday 3rd, 10.00-12.30pm
Yin Yoga Workshop with Chrissie Haskett

Saturday 3rd, 10.30-11.45am
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

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

Friday 9th, 7.00-8.30pm
Tuning Forks for Angelic Healing with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 10th, 1.00-4.00pm
Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Cheree Low

Sunday 11th, 1.00-4.00pm
Mid-Winter Soul Soother with Lucy Bowtell and Rachel Tapping

Sunday 11th, 1.30-4.00pm
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

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

Sunday 18th, 1.30-4.30pm
Pushing Hands with Duncan Price

Sunday 25th, 10.00-1.00pm
Vedanta Course with Marj Snape

Sunday 25th, 10.00-3.00pm
Yoga, Zen and Hara – The Vital Centre with Maxine Craig

Sunday 25th, 2.00-4.00pm
Restorative Yoga for Deep Rest with Tracey Boast

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

Friday 30th, 7.00-9.00pm
Kundalini Activation with Rachel Tapping

Saturday 31st, 10.30-11.45am
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 31st, 12.00-1.00pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

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“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Stillness cloaks the land as we enter December; earth energy is under our feet. This time of stillness, this time of darkness, is a time to do nothing much!!! The earth energy draws down the life force of trees and plants, nourishing their roots and supporting them in a well-earned rest. The long hours of darkness encourage us to do the same.

A time to focus on the internal limbs of yoga, the last 3 of the 8 limbs of Patanjali’s yoga.

Pratyhara – sense withdrawal, being disconnected from the usual external objects, following the inward movement of the mind.
Dharana – concentration – one chosen place of focus. This may be tangible, eg a candle or firelight, or conceptual, eg peace. What is important is that it is an appropriate focus that supports us.
Dhyanam – meditation, this is when dharana is sustained on the same focus so that a more intimate connection develops between the meditator and the object.

Winter is our natural rest and restore. The need to rest so that we can rise again, the cycle of life. As the outer world surrenders its light, the inner world can sparkle and shine, and make space for healing inside.

These dark days of the year have been celebrated with many festivals and temples since ancient times. All looking towards and celebrating the return of the light. We have two events to celebrate the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year:

Saturday 20th 10.00-1.00pm – Winter Solstice with Sian Alcock
Saturday 20th 7.00-9.00pm – Candlelight Yoga With Kim Jones and Owen Lister

Many of our teachers and therapists will take time off this month for a well-earned rest, but we still have lots available to help you wind down, so check the events below.

Have a peaceful, joyful and restful time, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.

Sharon and all

Looking forward to the New Year

We hope to celebrate the 10 years that Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre has been open, so watch this space for events.

April 3rd is the start date of the 3 year Viniyoga Teacher Training Course with Kim Burnham and myself. We have another Open Day on February 7th 2026, if you would like to find out more.

New Wednesday evening class starting January 7th with Katie Grace: 
Yoga, Meditation & Sound 

December Workshops & Events

Friday 5th 6.30-7.30pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Sunday 7th 1.00-4.00pm
The Wintering with Lucy Bowtell and Rachel Tapping

Friday 12 th 7.00-8.30pm
Tuning Forks with Angelic Healing with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 13th 1.00-4.00pm
Iyengar Yoga with Cheree Low

Sunday 14th 10.00-12.30pm
Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Sunday 14th 1.30-4.00pm
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Friday 19th 6.30-8.00pm
Sound healing with crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Saturday 20th 10.00-1.00pm
Winter Solstice with Sian Alcock

Saturday 20th 7.00-9.00pm
Candlelight Yoga With Kim Jones and Owen Lister

Sunday 21st 9.30-11.00am
Pushing Hands with Tim Button

“Winter is the slow-down. Winter is the search for self. Winter gives the silence you need to listen. Winter goes gray so you can see your own colors.”

~ Terri Guillemets ~

We are now in the dark part of the Wheel of the Year. Samhain has been celebrated, a truly old festival where the worlds of the living and the dead were deemed closest, a festival of how we view death and how we honour our ancestors. In the UK, our clocks have been put back an hour, the nights are drawing in, and the dawn comes a little later each day. Nature is turning inwards – the world around us has turned into beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, reds, and browns, and the first storms of winter are with us. In the hedgerows, there are sloes, rowan and hawthorn berries, rosehips, and small animals rustle in the leaf litter. The trees are shedding their leaves and turning their energy inwards to survive the harshness of winter. They do so knowing that the wheel will keep turning and Spring will return. If you look carefully, on many trees you will see the buds tight, waiting for Spring to come.

There is a stillness in nature, an internal focus that is taking root to take us through the winter. We need to do the same, rather than feel the frustration of the bad weather and the short days. Enjoy the stillness and the tranquility that it brings, the insights from reflection that bring understanding and wisdom, and a renewed sense of purpose. Follow a natural path, live a more watchful existence, slow down, breathe, open your eyes, and look with wonder at the beauty of Autumn and prepare for Winter.

The third chapter of Patanjali’s yoga sutras starts with the internal limbs of yoga, the last of the 8 limbs: dharana, dhyanam, and samadhi (concentration, meditation, and complete absorption). The meditative process of these practices can be used over time with different objects of focus. It is a deep, profound enquiry to gain mastery over and deepen the connection to an object.

Sutra 111.5 Tad jayãt prajňā āloka
From its mastery, dawns the light of supreme knowledge.

Uncomfortable truths

In previous newsletters, we started looking at eight of the most uncomfortable but essential truths we all need to accept in life, written by Dr Kausthubha Desikachar.

1. The only one who can change you is You!
2. Only you can give yourself closure!
3. A no-risk policy is the biggest risk of all!
4. Quitting is for winners……sometimes!

This month is number 5.

5. Success requires making difficult choices!


You only have a finite amount of time in a day, and anything you do is a choice about how to spend it. Will you catch up on emails or meet your friends for dinner? Will you spend an extra hour at the office, or will you go to watch a movie? Do you have times when you switch off the phone and the emails? You also have to be a person outside of work.

Navigating that balance requires an endless series of decisions. And without making such difficult decisions, you can be assured that success won’t come easily, both in work and in play. There is almost no situation in life where success will come to you easily. You won’t see the hard work successful people put into their lives. Life is a lot of hard work, but also, more importantly, difficult choices as well.

New workshops this month

We have all our usual workshops and a few new ones. We welcome back Magdalena Atkinson with a Kirtan on Friday, 7th November, and Dominique Preston with a Restorative Myofascial Release on Sunday, 23rd. A Conscious Relaxation workshop with new teacher Vicky Burke, and finally a Gong and Yoga Workshop – Chiron the Wounded Healer with Katie Pitney.

Biannual teacher’s meeting

We had our biannual teacher’s meeting last week. It’s always difficult to get everyone together, as there are 22 regular teachers and those who bring the occasional workshop. And that doesn’t include the wonderful folk who offer treatments in the therapy room. I like to think our teachers’ meetings are a little bit different than the usual; this year we had a sauna, a shared curry, and a fabulous pistachio and strawberry cake made by Toni Franklin. A time to thank all our wonderful teachers for their commitment, professionalism, and dedication to their students and the yoga centre.

Enjoy the beauty of this month, and take some quiet time for yourself.

Namaste

Sharon

November Workshops & Events

Sunday 2nd 1.30-4.00pm
The Deep Reset with Lucy Bowtell and Rachel Tapping

Wednesday 5th 4.00-5.00pm
Conversation With Chris, with Christopher Matthews

Friday 7th 6.30-8.00pm
Kirtan – Chanting with Sound Meditation, with Magdalena Atkinson

Friday 14th 7.00-8.30pm
Tuning Fork Sound Bath, with Angelic Healing with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 15th 10.00-12.30pm
Yin Yoga Workshop, with Chrissie Haskett

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

Sunday 16th 10.00-11.15am
Pilates Workshop – It’s a right balls up!, with Sharon Morgan

Sunday 16th 1.30-4.00pm
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra, with Sharon Cox-Button

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

Saturday 22nd 2.00-3.30pm
Reiki Share, with Peter Griffiths

Saturday 22nd 3.00-5.00pm
Conscious Relaxation Workshop, with Vicky Burke

Sunday 23rd 2.00-5.00pm
Restorative Myofascial Release and Yoga Nidra, with Dominique Preston

Friday 28th 6.00-7.30pm
Yin Yoga Workshop, with Toni Franklin

Saturday 29th 5.00-7.00pm
Gong and Yoga Workshop Katie Pitney

Looking ahead to December

Sunday 20th December 10-1pm
Honouring The Winter Solstice, with Sian Lalita Alcock

“How sad would be November if we had no knowledge of the spring.”

~ Edwin Way Teale ~

Fall, Leaves, Fall

Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay

Ushers in a drearier day.

Ten students completed their 500-hour Viniyoga Therapy UK training in September under the guidance of trainer Dr. Kausthubha Desikachar. Four of them are teachers at the Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre. It was an honour to have Sir come to Dorchester as he travels around the world teaching yoga in the tradition of his father, T.K.V. Desikachar, and grandfather, T. Krishnamacharya, and so it felt very special for him to visit our town.

A rigorous, transformational 3-year course, the ending corresponding with a new moon solar eclipse and the Autumn eclipse. The energies of balance, shadow, and renewal converging all together. A reset point for us all. The eclipse asks us to release old stories and patterns of behaviour, the equinox restores harmony and balance, and the new moon plants the seed of what comes next. The Therapy course has been a reset point for all of us training; this cosmic event can be a reset point for us all.

In previous newsletters, we started looking at eight of the most uncomfortable but essential truths we all need to accept in life, written by Dr Kausthubha Desikachar.

1. The only one who can change you is You!
2. Only you can give yourself closure!
3. A no-risk policy is the biggest risk of all!

This month, we look at number 4

4. Quitting is for winners… sometimes! 


Life is a game of finding the perfect balance between putting yourself out there and knowing how and when to quit while still ahead. Because, despite what you have been told all your life, quitting can be a good thing too. Knowing when to stop, changing direction, and leaving behind a negative situation will save you a lot of heartache as you grow in your path. So think long and hard about which battles are worth fighting and give up anything else that no longer serves you. Don’t quit because it is hard. Quit because it makes you unhappy, because it is no longer working, and because you deserve better.

New Class – Rocket Yoga

We’re excited to welcome Helen Hayek back to Dorchester Yoga Centre this Autumn. Some of you will remember Helen as she taught a Men’s Yoga class a couple of years ago. Helen is a Yoga Teacher, artist, and pottery teacher who brings her creativity and love of movement into every session.

Helen will be teaching Rocket Yoga on Mondays at 5 pm (45 minutes). Rocket is a fun and fast-paced style of yoga set to pop music, making it light-hearted, energising, and easy to follow. It’s a brilliant way to start your week — and yes, it’s beginner-friendly!  You can find out more here.

Pushing Hands Workshop

Pushing with the Principles of Classical Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.

This is a great opportunity for those with some previous knowledge of pushing hands to look at the principles behind pushing hands rather than focusing on the techniques. Although understanding techniques is important, few students develop a clear understanding of how to use the principles of the Yang family system to develop internal power (Peng Jing). With this, you can neutralise techniques with minimal effort and reach a state where any movement with intention is an effective counter. You can find out more here.

Finally, a reminder that my Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra workshops start back this month. Pilates workshops start back, and Arianna is back with her Gong and singing bowls.

Enjoy the colours of Autumn, get cozy, and enjoy all we have to offer.

Sharon

October Workshops & Events

Friday 3^rd 6.30-7.30 pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Friday 10^th 7.00-8.30 pm
Tuning Fork Sound Bath with Angelic Healing with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 11^th 10-11.15 am
Pilates Workshop – Upper Body Focus with Sharon Morgan

Sunday 12^th 10.00-1.00 pm
Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Cheree Low

Friday 17^th 6.30-8.00 pm
Sound healing with Crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Saturday 18^th 10.00-12.30 pm
Yin Yoga Workshop with Chrissie Haskett

Saturday 18^th 10.30-11.45 am
Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 18^th 12,00-1.00 pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 18^th 2.00-3.30 pm
Venus Gong Sound Bath With Arianna Puran Udini

Sunday 19^th 10.00-1.00 pm
Vedanta Group with Marj Snape

Sunday 19^th 1.30-3.30 pm
Pushing Hands Workshop with Duncan Price

Saturday 25^th 10.30-12.30 pm
Ashtanga Workshop – an Easy Approach with Ness Sherry

Saturday 25^th 10.30-1.00 pm
Introduction To Viniyoga Teacher Training Course

Saturday 25^th 2.00-3.30 pm
Singing Bowls Soundbath with Arianna Puran Udini

Saturday 25^th 2.00-3.30 pm
Reiki Share with Peter Griffiths

Sunday 26^th 1.30-4.00 pm
Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Friday 31^st  6.00-7.30 pm
Yin Yoga with Toni Franklin

“Letting go takes a lot of courage sometimes. But once you let go, happiness comes very quickly.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

This has been a Summer to be truly immersed in nature, with so much wonderful weather. I hope you have been able to enjoy the outside. I have enjoyed sitting in my garden and in Borough Gardens, swimming in the sea, camping, walking, and gardening; hopefully, it has been nourishing for you.

The energy of Summer is high, and there may be a relief for some that the days are becoming shorter, that the rain has finally come, we can begin to slow down, and maybe start tackling a few indoor chores!

We often think earth and nature is outside us, yet earth is as much within us as it is outside. Our yoga practice helps us access the earth within us whenever we choose, through sound and meditation. So if you haven’t been able to get out much, or when the winter months come, we can still access the earth. Through slow stretching and forward bending, and relaxation. Our planet Earth has a frequency, a series of octaves that has been measured by modern science as ranging between 7.83Hz and up to 150Hz when earth is particularly active. We can tap into that frequency through sound and meditation, through being present in our bodies, through chanting or listening to certain music. This grounds us, calms, stabilizes, and soothes us.

“This is not our home, this hectic hurry of life,
This fast-lane pace, switching, speeding, spinning.

We were made to dwell in the slow unfurling of a rose,
Or at a point where the seed breaks open
To send forth the first wakening root tip.
We are breath and the slow tide of earth’s
Reaching for the bright moon”

Catherine Pawson

 

500 hour Viniyoga Teacher Training Course 2026-2028

Kim Burnham and I are offering a free Open Day, to come and find out more about our 500 hour Viniyoga Teacher Training Course, which we are starting in April 2026. The training will take place over 3 Years, a complete and authentic Viniyoga® training, which originated from the teachings of Professor T Krishnamacharya and ‘Sir’ TKV Desikachar, and further developed by Dr. Kaustubha Desikachar, who is the son of ‘Sir’ Desikachar.

Join a deeply immersive and transformative journey into the heart of classical yoga.

• Connect with the deep roots of yoga philosophy and practice
• Gain skills to teach 1:1 and group classes
• Experience a personal journey of self-awareness, empowerment & healing
• Learn how yoga supports physical, mental, and spiritual transformation

Want to know more? Book a space to come and meet us at our open day, Saturday, October 25th, 10.30-1.00 pm.

New Classes

We have lots of exciting new classes starting this September, as we settle back into our routines. If you are already established in a class, please recommend them to friends, family members or your clients if you think they would be suitable.

We are glad to have back a Sunday evening class at 5.00-6.00 pm called Body Flex and Flow with Maxine Craig, “A special fusion of Yoga, Tai-Chi inspired movement, & Pilates set to uplifting & motivating music”.

Our chair classes are very popular, for those who have difficulty or prefer not to work floor-based, and so we are pleased to offer another chair class. Chair Pilates with yoga and pilates teacher Kim Jones, Mondays at 9.30 am.
More about our pilates classes

Fred Burnham is starting a class called Natural Tuesdays. Fred is inviting you to embrace the transition into a new season with a series of 9 progressive sessions designed to help you wind down from the busy summer months.  Tuesday evening at 7.45-8-45pm
More about Natural Tuesdays

Ness Sherry is taking over my 12.30pm Friday Mixed Ability class. It will still be a class suitable for beginners and those with some experience, renamed Yoga Energetics. A spacious, considered practice designed to help you release tension, reconnect with your body, and calm the nervous system.
More about Yoga Energetics

Ness is also offering an Ashtanga Immersion Weekend on the 13th and 14th of September.
Find out more here

And finally, a new early morning Pilates class with Sharon Morgan: Wake Up Wednesday 8-9 am.
View Sharon’s timetable

New Therapist

A big welcome to massage therapist Jon Crossley, who is joining our therapy team. Jon caught my eye as he trained at the same excellent school as I (BCMB) when I was a massage therapist.
Find out more about Jon and what he will be offering

A no-risk policy is the biggest risk of all

In previous newsletters, we started looking at eight of the most uncomfortable but essential truths we all need to accept in life, written by Dr Kausthubha Desikachar.

1. The only one who can change you is You!
2. Only you can give yourself closure!

This month we look at number 3

3. A no-risk policy is the biggest risk of all!

Are you convinced that playing it safe and staying in your comfort zone is the smartest thing to do? The truth is, it is not because living in constant fear of failure, hurt, and disappointment also means missing out on some of the best and most beautiful things life has to offer. As the saying goes, you have to risk failure to succeed and risk heartbreak to find love. Taking risks is essential if you ever want to experience worthwhile things like love, friendship, passion, and adventure. These things all come at a cost, but the price is considered much better paid than living a life full of regrets.

“We remember how to break open to beauty,
To stand weeping in our own magnificence
Even through the grief of it all,
To breathe and to cry and to split
our whole being in one smile”
Catherine Pawson

From Thursday 18th to Sunday 28th September, we have the final 10 days of The 3 Year Viniyoga Therapy Training, with Dr Kausthuubha Desikachar, which some of our teachers are doing. There will be some disruptions to the weekly timetable, but as always, the centre will be full of the energy of Vedic chanting and yoga philosophy. We look forward to welcoming you to the Autumn term

From Sharon and all

September Events

Friday 5th 6.30-7.30 pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Sunday 7th 2.00-4.00 pm
Meditation and Energy Workshop – Illumination With Lucy Bowtell

Friday 12th 7.00-8.30 pm
Tuning Forks For Stress Relief with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 13th 10.00-11.15 am
Slipslidin’ Away Pilates Workshop with Sharon Morgan

Saturday 13th 10.30-3.30 pm
Ashtanga Immersion Weekend with Ness Sherry

Saturday 13th 10.30-11.45 am
Yoga Sutras with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 13th 12.00-1.00 pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 13th 1.00-4.00 pm
Iyengar Yoga with Cheree Low

Sunday 14th 10.00-12.00 pm
Ashtanga Immersion Weekend with Ness Sherry

Friday 19th 6.30-8.00 pm
Sound Healing With Crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Saturday 20th 2.30-5.00 pm
Yin Yoga Workshop with Chrissie Haskett

Sunday 21st 10.00-4.00 pm
Sacred Heart Meditation and Energy Retreat with Rachel Tapping and Lucy Bowtell

Friday 26th 6.00-7.30 pm
Yin Yoga With Toni Franklin

Saturday 27th 2.00-3.30 pm
Reiki Share with Peter Griffiths

Looking ahead to October

Arianna Franklin is back with two Sound baths, one with her Venus gong, which has just been restored to its final glory, and one with her Crystal Bowls. We are glad to have her back.

As we head into the darker half of the year, my Sunday Restorative and Yoga Nidra workshops start back at the end of October. Sharon Morgan’s monthly Short Pilates workshops also resume.

“Somehow, in the process of trying to deny that things are always changing, we lose our sense of the sacredness of life. We tend to forget that we are part of the natural scheme of things.”

~ Pema Chodron ~

Viniyoga Teacher Trainer Graduation

Kim Mackie and I have arrived back from Chiang Mai in Thailand, proudly bearing our teacher trainer certificates in Viniyoga. Over the last two years, Kim and I have been part of a group of 16 experienced Viniyoga Teachers and Viniyoga Therapists, undergoing intensive hybrid training (both online and offline modules), and have just graduated as Viniyoga Teacher Trainers. With this certification, we are now authorised to conduct official Viniyoga Teacher Training programs in our respective countries, following the high standards of the tradition.

It was an honour to train with teachers from Japan, Korea, China, New Zealand, India, Italy, Belgium and Spain. We all graduated on the auspicious day of June 21st, International Yoga Day and the birthday of Sri TKV Desikachar, who, as the son of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, “The Father of modern yoga”, brought Viniyoga to the West.

“Viniyoga is the appropriate adaptation of Yoga’s holistic tools such as Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, chanting, Mantra, and meditation to meet the needs of the individuals respecting differences in age, culture, religion, philosophy, occupation, physical, emotional and other health parameters that define each practitioner.”

– ‘Sir’ TKV Desikachar

Viniyoga International Conference

We were in Thailand for 2 weeks, the first week finishing our teacher trainer course, and the second week we were joined by Fred Burnham, Sarah Ryan and Arianna Puran Udini for a Viniyoga International Conference.

With around 100 participants from across the world, we shared in a week of learning, connecting and celebrating Viniyoga. We were deeply honoured by the presence of Madam Menaka Desikachar, TKV Desikachar’s wife who led us each day with Vedic Chanting.

Teacher Training Course 2026

Kim and I will start a teacher training course next year for anyone interested in becoming a yoga teacher in this tradition. We will hold an introductory day in the Autumn with more information for those who might be interested. Contact Kim or me if you would like to register your interest or find out more.

Kim Mackie

Kim Mackie has changed the focus of her classes, and from July, she is offering: Mondays – Yoga To Reduce Stress and Anxiety; and Saturdays – Yoga To Improve Energy and Circulation. You can find more about these classes here.

She is also offering 3 workshops throughout the next few months, along with her husband Fred. The first one is this month, Saturday 20th July, 2.00-3.30 pm – Yoga For Spine Health

Maxine Craig

Maxine Craig is offering a workshop in July called ‘Yoga Zen and Hara – The Vital Centre‘. She is often asked, “What is Zen Yoga?“. She says, “I could summarise and say that it is physical movement for mobility and strength, and mindfulness for calming and steadying a busy mind, but it is so much more… and yet fundamentally simple.”

And what exactly is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the secret to bringing all our experiences to life, without which we find ourselves either rushing towards or away from things, or drifting without direction or sense of participation. When your mind stays in one place, it is like beginning an adventure, and right there unravels the adventure of you. This one place is the present ‘now’ moment. By learning to follow your own map, your body, you awaken the mind, which by design reciprocates in guiding you, in telling you just what your body, your whole being, needs for wellness.

With an emphasis on physical alignment, mindful breath and movement, Zen Yoga supports core stability, joint health, and builds overall strength, balance and mobility. Qi gong and meditation elements help practitioners connect with the body, experience mental clarity, bring emotional resilience, and feel a reduction in stress.

As well as Maxine’s Monday morning class, she is starting a Sunday evening class in September from 5.00-6.00 pm called Body Flex & Flow. A special fusion of yoga, Tai-Chi inspired movement, and Pilates set to uplifting and motivating music.

Following a gentle Tai-Chi inspired warm-up, we’ll flow together through a selection of standing and sitting yoga sequences, Pilates-based core work, and finish with a restful guided relaxation. With a variety of music as the backdrop, this class will round off your weekend & set you up for the week ahead. Beginner or not, this class has something for everyone and is suitable for all.

You can contact Maxine on zenwaichi@outlook.com for more information on any of the above.

Only you can give yourself closure!

Last month, we looked at: The only one who can change you is YOU! The first of 8 uncomfortable truths based on the yoga philosophy of Patanjali. This month, we discuss the second uncomfortable truth: Only you can give yourself closure!

Maybe you were in an unhealthy relationship with someone, or you went through a traumatising experience. It could also be that you are still trying to move on from someone who abandoned you. Whatever it may have been, you must understand that while your trauma is not your fault, your healing is your responsibility. Closure is not something you get from someone else. It is something only you can give yourself, as it is a choice you make to move forward. Keep going, and do not let your pain define you anymore. Closure is the peace of mind that only you can give yourself.

There will be no newsletter in August, so July and August’s events are both listed below. Enjoy the rest of the Summer and the beauty of nature all around us.

Namaste,
Sharon

July Workshops & Events

Wednesday 2nd 5.00-6.00pm
Conversation With Chris – Christopher Matthews

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

Saturday 5th 10.30-11.45am
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – Sarah Ryan

Saturday 5th 12.00-1.00pm
Vedic Chanting – Sarah Ryan

Friday 11th 7.00-8.30pm
Angelic Cakra Rebalance – Tuning Fork Workshop Nicki Greenham

Saturday 12th 11.00-3.00pm
Iyengar Yoga Workshop – Rachel Lovegrove

Sunday 13th July 2.00-4.00pm
Nervous System Meditation Session – Lucy Bowtell

Wednesday 16th 8.00-9.00am
Pilates Taster – Sharon Morgan

Friday 18th 6.30-8.00pm
Sound Healing With Crystal Bowls – Ellen Wells

Saturday 19th 10.00-1.00pm
Satsang – The Wonder of Consciousness – Derek Thorne

Sunday 20th 10.00-12.30pm
Yin Yoga Workshop – Chrissie Haskett

Saturday 20th 2.00-3.30pm
Yoga For Spine Health – Kim Burnham and Fred Burnham

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

Friday 25th 6.30-8.30pm
Reiki Share – Saira Francis

Sunday 27th 10.00-3.00pm
Yoga Zen and Hara – The Vital Centre – Maxine Craig

August Events

Sunday 24^th 10.00-12.30pm 
Yin Yoga Workshop  – Chrissie Haskett

Sunday 24^th 12.00-1.30pm
Yoga To Improve Energy and Circulation – Kim Burnham and Fred Burnham

Friday 29th 6.00-7.30pm
Yin Yoga with Toni Franklin

“The ultimate goal of yoga is to always observe things accurately and therefore never act in a way that will make us regret our actions later.”

~ T.K.V. Desikachar ~

The gardens are blooming, and the meadows are peaking; they are as colourful and teeming with life as they are going to be!

The summer solstice on the 21st marks the height of the sun’s radiance in the northern hemisphere. The days are long, the nights short, and life is for living to the full. Now is the time to embrace dreams that were seeded in Winter.

Midsummer can sometimes feel overwhelming, as there is so much to enjoy. Of course, we can’t capture midsummer just as we can’t hold winter back – it is as fleeting as all the other moments of the year, but we can make sure we soak it in. Sit in it, savour it, don’t rush around trying to do too many things, hold the feelings within you and enjoy them.

The Dance of the Sun and the Moon

The sun and the moon will enjoy a beautiful dance this month, something that happens every 18.6 years. Just as the sun reaches its highest point, the full moon will be at its lowest, looking extremely large, as it does when it is close to the horizon. When the sun is so high dusk stretches deep into the evening, and it is worth staying up with the moths and the bats, and as the sun finally sets, look to the opposite part of the sky to catch the beautiful low moon, a phenomenon that will have been enjoyed by many for thousands of years as they have gathered at stone circles.

Viniyoga Travels

Quite a few of our teachers will be training in Thailand in June, so the timetable will be slightly reduced. Kim Burnham and I are doing an advanced teacher trainer course with Dr Kausthubha Desikachar in the Viniyoga tradition, and then Fred Burnham, Sarah Ryan, Arianna Puran Udini and I will take part in a worldwide celebration of Viniyoga. We hope to come back and share it all with you!

Dr Kausthubha’s teachings are deeply rooted in the philosophy of the Yoga Sutras, to reduce human suffering and to help us become the best of ourselves. He talks about 8 uncomfortable truths that we need to accept about ourselves, the first one being:

The only one who can change you is YOU!


Just as you are responsible for your happiness, you too are responsible for your own personal growth and development. The moment you stop living in denial and open your eyes to your flaws and toxic traits, the sooner you stop making the same mistakes over and over again. Everyone in your life may be aware of it already, but until you call yourself out, it will not make much of a difference because the only person who can make any real, lasting change in your life is you.

Self-growth, Healing and Activation

Two of our newer workshop leaders, Rachel Tapping and Lucy Bowtell, have joined together to bring a workshop called ‘Self-growth, Healing and Activation’, the first one being at the end of the month – find out more here.

We have many of our usual workshops, although as we head to Summer, some will take a break until the Autumn.

Looking ahead to July

Sharon Morgan is running a taster session for an early morning pilates class 8-9 am on Wednesday 16th July, please contact Sharon (sharon@westdorsetpilates.com) if you are interested.

Cheree Low’s Iyengar workshops are finished now until September, but we welcome Rachel Lovegrove again, who is offering an Iyengar workshop on the 12th July.

We are delighted that leading Advaita teacher, Derek Thorne, is visiting the Yoga Centre again on the 19th July. Derek leads the Vedantarama Community (vedantarama.com) and has over 30 years of experience guiding and directing people in living and applying the profound teachings of Vedanta and navigating the human experience.

Deeply established in the teachings of Advaita Vedanta (the oneness at the heart of all things), Derek is able to bring clear, insightful and inspiring vision to these timeless teachings and to articulate them with clarity and flair. This public session is open to all genuine seekers curious about their true identity and the reality of this experience. Derek will be talking about the “Wonder of Consciousness: Knowing Your True Self” – Dorchester Satsang – Vedantarama. Suitable for all levels of experience. For more information and to book, please contact Marj – marjsnape@gmail.com, mobile 07747429559, or Nancy Chantrell – nancychantrell@outlook.com, phone 01305 750174.  

And finally, on the 20th July, Kim and Fred Burnham are doing a workshop “Yoga for Spine Health”.

All the above details are on the website.

Enjoy the fruits of your winter dreaming and spend as much time as you can outside in nature, soaking up the sunlight.

Namaste
Sharon

June Workshops & Events

Wednesday 5th June, 5.00-6.00 pm
Conversation with Chris

Friday 6th June, 6.30 – 7.30 pm
Breathing and Yoga Nidra with Sharon Cox-Button

Saturday 7th June, 10.30 – 11.45 am
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Sarah Ryan

Saturday 7th June, 12.00 – 1.00 pm
Vedic Chanting with Sarah Ryan

Friday 13th June
Tuning Forks For Stress Relief with Nicki Greenham

Saturday 14th June, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Back to the Heart: Counted Practice – Half Primary, Half Second with Ness Sherry

Friday 20th June, 6.30 – 8.00 pm
Crystal Bowls with Ellen Wells

Saturday 21st June, 10.00 am -12.30 pm
Yin Yoga with Chrissie Haskett

Friday 27th June, 6.00 – 7.30 pm
Yin Yoga Workshop with Toni Franklin

Saturday 28th June, 7.00 – 8.30 pm
Saturday Soundbath with Bex Leonard

Sunday 29th June, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Vedanta Group with Marj Snape

Sunday 29th June, 1.00 – 4.00 pm
Self-growth, Healing and Activation with Lucy Bowtell and Rachel Tapping

“Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”

~ B.K.S. Iyengar ~

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 ~