YOGA WITH ESTHER

Welcome to my Yoga Radiance page and congratulations for being part of this dynamic wave of humankind, which is searching for ways to create the energy, heart and vision to live, restore and contribute to this extraordinary life and planet.

As a yoga practitioner for over 35 years and teacher for 25, I am powerfully committed to people from all walks of life gently and consistently exploring and shaping their lives with yoga. I am passionate about teaching just how relevant and reviving the roots of this ancient eastern system of yoga is for everyone, especially women.

CLASSES: Taught in Blocks of Five, Limited to 5 people per class

TIME: WED 6 - 7.15PM or 7.30 - 8.45PM

WHERE: Flat 6, Towerleaze, Knoll Hill, Bs9 1ru

COST: £65 payable by paypal in Advance

START: 1st Block WED 24TH SEPTEMBER (END: 22ND OCT)

              2nd Block WED 5TH OCTOBER (END: 3RD OCT)

Life changing for some, a lifestyle for others, this remarkable field of personal endeavour that has exploded into consciousness in recent years, is now populated with many different yoga paths and approaches. From Hatha yoga to Vinyassa Flow, Yin to Bikram, Ashtanga to Iyengar, Kundalini to Restorative, yoga has stormed the world and its gyms with over 40 million practitioners in the US alone, most of them women and an estimated 300 million worldwide. What a beautiful VISION….so many people are discovering the sheer joy and aliveness of consciously breathing, affirming, stretching and connecting with their bodies - this sacred vehicle of life. Creating space in their lives to experience the spacious potential of each moment.

Yoga has a long and rich history and with this huge growth in interest, it has been a question of how to adapt and modernise these ancient teachings so that they are radically relevant to the pace and challenges of modern lifestyles, without distorting or diluting their essence. The field of yoga continues to innovate and evolve to keep pace with current times including the provision of online yoga courses. Unlike other fitness trends, I feel it is here to stay and would suggest that now, more than ever, we need to develop a toolkit of daily and weekly practices to get us out of the overwhelm of our hectic heads and into the wisdom sanctuaries of our bodies.

Yoga, which in Sanskrit means Union, then is the alchemical process of combining movement, stillness, breath, awareness and guided imagery, in order to unite ourselves with the universal principles of life, and in that sense ‘come home’. As the great mythologist Joseph Campbell suggests, “the goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the Universe, to match your nature with Nature.” When we do so, like the clear, fresh waters of a moving river we transform mental blocks and physical resistance into ever greater states of flow; of allowing and acceptance. Focusing on breath, the aliveness within your body, I will be nurturing your sensitivity and helping you to refine your awareness as you explore the many benefits of moving, stretching, holding and releasing in Chakra yoga, the system I teach. 

As a hugely creative and spiritual being I have studied many ancient disciplines and practices for the past 35 years and still wholeheartedly resonate with the power of colour in the rainbow bridge that expresses the seven primal energy centres of the body, the Chakras and their alignment along the spine. Each centre relates to an element; earth, water, fire, air, sound, light and ether and governs a particular sphere of experience and they have inspired and shaped my teaching practice over the past twenty-five years and continue to nourish and inform my daily existence as I now turn 62. Having personally trained in Hatha (Sivananda)and Kriya Yoga with Nasser Rezayi-Rad, my teacher of many years, in London and then refined my knowledge of the Chakras with Tantra Yoga in Rishikesh, India in 1999, I have had the privilege and blessing to teach private classes to adults of all ages and abilities, including beginners. Teaching from my yoga studios in London and Bali and on retreat in Spain and Italy I have also run yoga clubs and classes within primary and secondary schools here in the UK. 

YOGA CLASSES

I teach Yoga in blocks of 5 weekly evening classes on a Tuesday night. Each class is 75 mins long and begins with a lovely warm up sequence including breathwork such as conscious breath in Hatha yoga and possibly some Kriya breath control. Invited to set an intention for your practises we then begin a sequence of asanas to activate, connect and balance the chakras. The chakras or energy centres of the body are located at the nerve ganglia or plexus along the spine; the power column that literally holds all aspects of our being and consciousness together and conducts the life force that we are bathed in all around us. Like a conductor our bodies draw in energy from the Earth beneath our feet (telluric energy) and from above (universal and solar energy) and it is this magnificent flow of energy that animates our lives. Life is abundant with challenges and they never stop. The secret is to literally 'charge our bodies' and not let our body of energy become depleted or exhausted. We then have the energy to learn to bend with challenges, to be flexible with them, so that we can alchemically transform the apparent burdens and tests of life into gifts that serve all of life, including our own. 

When we activate and balance the chakras, those energy nodes and portals within the body, the organs and limbs are revitalised and the body mind system becomes strong so that we can naturally give and receive joyfully. We begin with the root chakra at the base of the spine which literally grounds us and connects us with our survival and embodiment in physical form and travel upwards through the sacral, power and heart chakras, the latter which is the bridge or yoke between head and the body. Moving forwards we then activate the throat chakra of creativity and self expression, then the third eye, the realm of thought, intuition and mission, finishing ultimately with the crown chakra, our connection with Divine Source, at the top of the head. Essentially we are moving and expanding the muscles of our bodies, minds and spirit, to bring awareness, balance and fullness. The session is completed with deep relaxation, lying down in savasana, and receiving a guided conscious relaxation process or live healing sounds providing the space for powerful integration on all levels.

PRIVATE SESSIONS

I offer a unique one to one session series which can be tailored beautifully to meet your individual needs. I also work with couples with mixed abilities to develop and share their skills, knowledge and experience within a private yoga setting free from judgement. In addition I can host small private groups of up to five people here in knoll hill for longer or shorter classes. For an additional fee I am happy to work with you in an appropriate space within your home or place of your own choosing, if you live in Sneyd Park, Clifton or the Redland area. 

The focus of my work with you is to help you affirm the miracle that is your body, mind and spirit and bring more energy, aliveness and radiance into your daily life. I will assist you in establishing a regular yoga practise that feels like a gift rather than another obligation on a 'to do ' list. As a 'self-care' activity nothing quite matches yoga for its ability to restore and renew wellbeing. Put simply I hope it will nourish you and therefore those around you, for years to come. With over 35 years of experience within the personal development arena and having trained with remarkable teachers in a variety of healing modalities and disciplines, I also have a wealth of wisdom which it is my pleasure to share with you when relevant. 

A series of one to one lessons may also be particularly helpful if you have specific health concerns which you wish to address this year. Having my undivided attention and experience and a unique space in which to unravel your concerns physically and mentally can significantly enhance the quality of your life and wellbeing, including:

• Improving dietary and sleep routines
• Catalysing recovery from illness
• Working with stiffness and limited flexibility
• Reducing and relieving anxiety and stress
• Boosting fitness levels
• Alleviating back pain and improving core strength
• Supporting pregnancy 
• Enhancing post partum physicality
• Deepening personal growth
• Developing meditation practise

INVESTMENT:

Private One to One Session for 1 hour £55, a block of 4 one hour sessions costs £195

Private Session per Couple for 1 hour £65, a block of 4 one hour sessions costs £235

Private Session for up to 5 people for 1 hour £75, for 90 mins £100

Please contact me to book a session and discuss your requirements.