Beginner's Info:

It is recommended to wear light, comfortable clothing that allows easy movement, e.g. shorts, leggings, a t-shirt or a short sleeved top. Bring a warm top for relaxation at the end of the class.

Yoga is practised in bare feet.

It is not advisable to eat at least 2-3 hours before class (4 hours after a heavy meal.)

It is also recommended to attend all of the classes on the Beginners course.

Please inform me of any physical injuries prior to class or before booking a course.

If you have a medical condition it is recommended to consult your doctor before beginning to practice Yoga.

Please also note these are general classes and are not suitable for anyone who is pregnant or with any of the following conditions:

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Conditions associated with Heart Disease
Cancer or benign tumours
Epilepsy including Petit Mal
Diabetes
Meniere's Disease
Detached Retina
AIDS
MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
Recent post-operative conditions

Equipment:

Yoga equipment is used to help enable the body to experience the Yoga posture (asana).

The following equipment is normally used when practicing Iyengar yoga:

1 Yoga Mat,
4 or 5 Foam blocks,
2 Yoga Bricks,
1 or 2 Yoga Belts
1 Cotton Blanket

All the yoga equipment you will need will be supplied at Yogasarvasya Studio.

Booking:

To book Bonar's yoga courses please e-mail Mak at yogasarvasya@yahoo.co.uk stating which course you are interested in attending. (For all other teachers courses at the studio please contact them direct).

All block bookings operate on a 'first come - first served' basis so to avoid dissapointment it is advisable to book early.
Please also note your place cannot be confirmed until I have received your payment and that there are no refunds for classes missed in block bookings.

Beginner's Yoga:

As a beginner it is helpful to understand the basic meaning of Yoga, as this will give you some grounding for what to expect from your classes and practice. Yoga is an ancient science and an art that is designed to strengthen and heal the body by the practice of various postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) as well as encouraging the development of awareness through self-discipline. Yoga is much more than a series of physical postures designed to help you 'de-stress'. The physical, mental & spiritual benefits of Yoga are achieved through your own observations, experiences and personal endeavour. With continued practice Yoga will come to inspire you in your daily life.

In the beginner’s class emphasis will be on the teaching of key asanas, focusing on extension and the alignment of the body. There will also be an introduction to pranayama and relaxation techniques.

Iyenger Yoga is a systematic and complete learning process and therefore it is recommended that beginners attend the full eight-week course.

Starting Your Practice:

The benefits of yoga will be greatly enhanced by regular practice.

To start your practice at home it is a good idea to set a specific time of day that suits your lifestyle in a place where you can avoid any interruptions for the time needed.

It is advisable not to practice after eating
so in general allow 4 to 5 hours after a heavy meal, 2 to 3 hours after a light snack.
Evening time before a main meal will suit most beginners, eventually changing your time to the morning when you become more flexible.

It is usual to start your practice with the basic standing postures and finish with relaxing stretches and restorative inversions.

Do not practise inversions during menstruation, choose an appropriate alternative posture, or sequence of postures.

Make sure you’re breathing normally through the nose when practising the postures and keep the eyes open, unless otherwise instructed.

Always end your practice with Savasana (the Corpse Pose) for at least five minuets.

Concentrate and bring your awareness into the body when practising.

Build your practice over time letting it evolve slowly.

It is better to practice frequently for a smaller length of time than it is to spend a longer time practising infrequently.

A good Iyengar yoga book will give lists of practice sequences including details of asana techniques.

Consult your teacher for guidance if you are at all unsure.

And most importantly, enjoy your practice!