Saturday 16th June 2012 10am to 12.30pm

A Saturday morning  practise dedicated to Yoga inversions, from Headstand to Shoulder Stand and fore arm balances including Scorpion. This Yoga Workshop will break down the alignment, strength & flexibility required for each pose. Working in pairs we focus on how to achieve a sense of balance and peace as we are upside down.The session will also look at alternative postures and what to do if we have an injury or are not yet ready to come up into the fuller versions.

We will explore what holds us back in inversions, our approach to Yoga, and how our mental attitudes impact our daily practise and intention on the mat. Addressing how fear and past experiences can sometimes stop us from moving forward. Letting  of judgements and competitiveness learn how to practice from a place of stillness with a sense of  ease and fun.

To book your space please email direct. Your booking is not confirmed until your payment has been received.  This workshop is lead by Jasmin. Early bird discount book by June 1st for £18 – thereafter the full booking fee of £20 applies. Namaste

There are four months until our next 200 hour Yoga Alliance Accredited Teacher Training Course begins in the heart of Nottingham. A unique Yoga Teacher Training programme, students attend for one weekend per month from September 2012 to July 2013 and the dates neatly fit around the academic year. This course is ideal for anyone looking to develop their skills, theory, training and practice and gain accreditation as a Yoga teacher.

At Bahia Yoga we offer certification with Yoga Alliance, an internationally recognised qualification which allows you to teach worldwide, including the UK and Europe. You will be qualified to teach in gyms, studios and leisure centres, lead private, group classes and Yoga retreats.

You will be well versed in the Yoga Sutras, learn the history of Yoga, understand the human and energy body, develop your own unique teaching style and find your voice as a teacher. Become an effective, intuitive yet safe teacher, with skills in meditation, pranayama (controlled breathing techniques), bandhas (Yogi Locks), and asanas (Yoga poses), Yogic philosophy and much more. Get in touch and find out more about this Yoga Teacher Training Course.
Reserve your space today. For more information or any questions please telephone 07788 720 927

Monday 14^th May 2012 at St Paul’s Cathedral the Dalai Lama was receiving The Templeton Prize. Fortunate to have obtained a ticket, it was as you can imagine a pretty special day.  Here are some images from the day please enjoy. Words are unable to describe the magic of the day and the truly wonderful atmosphere created with like-minded souls brought together for this very happy occasion.  Hopefully these photos give you some kind of idea how it went.

The message as always is clear and simple from His Holiness the  Dalai Lama, cultivate inner values, be honest and authentic, by cultivating inner happiness and peace this will take us much further than grasping onto external focus on money. By being honest, kind and compassionate we can live a much rewarding and richer life as everything will come to us in abundance. Namaste. You can click on each image to enlarge.

Morning, Rise and Shine Yoga - the perfect way to wake up to your day. Morning time is often the best time to practise Yoga, helping you to bring a sense of real calmness and openness  for the rest of the day. The sessions are aimed for all levels of Yoga students – we encourage you to practise at a pace that suits you. Yoga in the morning helps to set your intention and goals for the day with a clear head and soothed mind. Stretch out the body, shake off the dullness and start the day with a string in your step.  Expect to practise some standing and seated sequences, along with Pranayama, twists and partial inversions to get you going for the day. Start your day the Yoga way.. bring a little zest into your life. Namaste

Friday Morning Yoga sessions beginning Friday May 11th with Mark at the Yoga Studio, Nottingham Workshop, 247  Noel Street, Nottingham, NG7 6AR.  £24 for a 4 week course or £7.00 drop in. Booking is essential please complete this on-line registration  form and we will be in touch to confirm your place Namaste.

Isn’t it time you let your body really rest? Join in a Restorative Yoga session where you learn the ‘true art of letting go and relaxation’. Restorative Yoga is all about the healing and well-being for the mind and body. Experience Yoga in a different way, no pulling, stretching or tension is  involved.

Restorative Yoga is open to all levels for expectant mums, or post natal mums, for anyone experiencing back aches, depression, low mood or general tiredness.  Restorative Yoga involves up to 4 to 6 poses in a session. We work with Yoga props, such as Yoga bolsters, blankets, cushions, belts and eye bags.  No flexibility required. The poses learnt in Restorative Yoga allows us to rest with ease and comfort on a much deeper level than we usually do. When we really rest,  in a deep state of relaxation our organs are benefiting immediately, we receive an automatic boost to the boost immune system. Deep relaxation allows the blood pressure to reduce, helps to improve digestion, reduces muscle fatigue and tension, helps with insomnia, anxiety and stress.

The Restorative Yoga sessions will be lead by Jasmin Bahia. Jasmin has been teaching Yoga for over 10 years, she is  is a qualified Psychologist, Yoga Teacher Trainer and Trauma Therapist. She has completed specialist training in Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D. .

A new session begins this week Thursday 3rd May 2012 5.45pm to 7pm Restorative Yoga. This course will be held at the Nottingham Buddhist Centre, 9 St Mary’s Place, Nottingham, NG1 1PH.

Heather Kelly is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher who completed her Yoga Teacher Training in India. After a 3 month trip to India she is now back on UK soil to share her lovely teachings. The classes offer a general guide and introduction to Hatha Yoga. Focusing on Asanas (postures) which are both gentle and also strengthening, creating stamina and well being, she will teach Surya Namaskara (sun salutations) alongside standing, twists and seated poses. Heather’s lessons include Pranayama (simple techniques to control the breath) and chanting.

This new class begins Thursday 3rd May at the Nottingham Workshop, 247 Noel Street, Nottingham. The nearest Tram is Beaconsfield Street. Please fill out the registration form to book your place. There is currently an offer where you can buy 6 classes for the price of 5 (£30, usual price is £36). All classes are booked on a first come first basis. Namaste

Every Tuesday evening 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Studio (247 Noel Street, Nottingham, NG7) Mark will run weekly Yoga classes for all the teenage boys to Men out there. Open to all levels of age and ability, from teens to 60s this class is to help Yoga reach out to the brothers, Yoga is not just for women, its for everyone.

Often we hear that there is largely a female dominated presence in Yoga classes, to help address the balance we are running men only classes. Whilst there maybe a difference between men and women’s flexibility that is really no reason not to attend a Yoga session, and serves as a  reminder to us all that Yoga is non-competitive. Yoga is not about who is more bendy, stretchy or toned. Take out judgements and preconceptions of Yoga, focus on calmness, awareness building strength, stamina and suppleness with like minded people.

Mark Ball has been practising Yoga for over 10 years, he began teaching Yoga in Japan in 2007. He comes from a martial arts background and has experience of Ashtanga and Hatha styles of Yoga. To book your space please fill in our registration form.

Here are some other articles you may find useful to read about Men and Yoga http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2585

Satsang is a chance to discuss and learn about different meditation techniques, practice Kirtan and talk about the philosophical side of Yoga which can help better understand the peacefulness we feel after practising.  It will also give you a chance to ask all the questions you wanted to know about Yoga instead of having to read about them by yourself at home.

Traditionally Satsang (which means sat=true, sanga=community) comes from Indian philosophy. Part of Satsang involves Kirtan, a call and response chanting – rather like how children learn nursery rhymes at school. The idea is to feel uplifted, have some fun and share this experience with like minded people.

Kirtan involves chants, or mantras, and often the use of  instruments such as drums, or tabla, or the harmonium and other Indian instruments.

You could think of Kirtan and Satsang a little bit like a Yoga jammin session, where we all come together and (from a gentle stillness) create simple sound and rhythm.

Come and join us the third Friday of every month from 7.30pm to 8.45pm.  

Bring your questions, your curiousity and more importantly a sense of fun with you. All welcome. Our next Satsang takes place Friday 18th  May 2012.

A typical session includes some chanting, meditation, kirtan – time for Q&A, chai & chat.

Please inform us in advance via email  to confirm if you are attending. Once registered, we will contact you to acknowledge your email. Gentle note in terms of planning you are requested not to turn up without prior registration – thank you.

Namaste really look forward to seeing you there, can’t wait Heather, Jasmin & Mark.

This event marks the launch of a new Yoga School that has arrived in Nottingham 

A Sunny Monday afternoon, getting ready for one of our mini-launch Yoga events – kicks off  this eve at the Sweaty Betty Boutique in Nottingham.

So what do we have in store in this evening? Firstly some time to browse around and time to meet the 3 Yoga instructors Jasmin, Mark & Heather.  Intriguingly Chocolate Meditation.. something that we have not just created to lure all the chocolate lovers in. Learn a technique, reflect on how we approach, interact and digest what is coming in to our hands and mouths.  Warning this part of the event may involve sampling Chocolate. Here is a what we have in store for you:

• Chocolate Meditation ( Yes there is such a thing…) with Jasmin
• Yoga Questions & Answers all you need to know about Yoga with Jasmin, Heather & Mark
• Yoga at Work - simple Yoga routines to practice at home or at work with Mark
• Yoga Props - how to use belts & blocks ..with Heather

We look forward to seeing you there. Namaste

Saturday May 12th 2012 10.30am to 3.30pm 

Lighten the load as we ease into flowing forward folds, healing back bends and nurturing heart openers.

The morning begins with simple pointers for a healthy and strong back. Exploring how Yoga helps to heal the back by releasing physical knots and emotional tensions our body holds. We build up to a steady strong soothing vinyasa flow sequence. Dropping in some creative partner work and understand how being supported allows us to let go further in a pose. With mantras and chants to help us into the stronger heated poses, we subtly transition to cooling poses and complete the morning practice to quietness with (optional) inversions, pranayama and meditation.

The afternoon consists of deeply nourishing Restorative Yoga – don’t forget to bring your eye masks and learn how to fully relax and let go. The restorative poses open the body with props and support allowing complete healing and restoration of the mind and body. We conclude with a Yoga Nidra and look at how to focus on a steady intention and resolution in our lives.

Light refreshments and printed homework sheets and tasks for home study to help with home practice will be provided.

Suitable for all levels this workshop is lead by Jasmin and will be held at the Nottingham Workshop Studio.

Fee £30 for the full day. Please email Bahia Yoga direct to book your place. All bookings are taken on a first come first basis. Namaste.