I have taught regular Yoga classes for over 10 years now. I have practice Yoga, on and off, since I was 16 and have been a dedicated, daily practitioner for over 8 years. The one thing I know for sure, from experience, is that Yoga works it’s magic when you are committed.

Attending one class a week, here and there, will make you feel great. It will keep your body limber and your muscles strong, however you will never really progress. In fairness some people can step onto the Yoga mat and their bodies were made for the practice, these lucky few have the ability to step in and out of Yoga, being able to master some challenging poses, without too much commitment. However they will never truly grasp the concepts behind the practice, and are the very, very few amongst us. To gain any ground with Yoga you need to be doing it regularly, at least twice a week. To have the ability to embody the teachings, to live the life of balance, and to be able to receive the true benefits of this life altering art form you need to be willing to give some time, and to really do the work.
Here are a few ways Yoga has changed me, continues to shape me, and has given me a life that I am so grateful to be living…

• It gives me a daily check in. Wherever I am, I am able to come right into my body and listen to the signals it is sending me. Have I been eating well? Am I overdoing it? Am I processing emotions as they come up? Over years of practice I have developed the ability to know my body intrinsically and it speaks to me so clearly now.
• I have a daily ritual which grounds me in the present moment. We are ritualistic beings. All religion uses ritual as a means to calm and centre. Ritual gives you a reason to get up, a means of connecting within yourself, and also with the Universal energy of which surrounds us. We begin to understand we are not in control of everything, and comfortably hand the control over.
• Yoga has taught me that everything is impermanent. This can bring some heartache, as we begin to understand that even our relationships will change and our loved ones will not always be here with us, but it also helps me to embrace every moment I have with my daughter and husband. The knowledge that everything passes makes the bad times not so bad, and the good times even better.

So where was I heading with all of this before I got swept up in my passionate love affair with Yoga?! That’s right…I am changing the way I run things at HappyFit. From now on there will be a strong emphasis on participating in an ‘intensive’ program of Yoga classes which will be run in 4-8 week blocks. This will give those of you who are ready, the opportunity to immerse yourselves in this practice and see if it is right for you. The classes will be, as always, limited in numbers so I can have the ability to work one on one with each of you, to get to know your bodies, and help structure the asana (poses) for you. I will meet you wherever you are at, now. The intensives will look something like this —-

 

’Committed Yogis’ – Path to Empowerment

 

 

4 weeks of 4 mornings week – Tues ~ Wed ~ Thurs ~ Fri 5:45am; 15min meditation + 1hr practice

We will meet in the studio, in silence, and go straight into meditation. Each day will have a different focus, from backbends to inversions to Vinyasa/flow.

 

 

 

‘New Yogi’s’ – Beginning on the path

4 weeks of 1 class weekly – Friday 9:30-10:45am

This course will give those of you who are new to this way of moving a chance to learn slowly, deliberately and in a way that will peak your interest without overwhelming you.

 

 

 

‘ Mindful Mama’s’ – Path to Empowerment

4 & 5 week blocks of 2 classes week – Tues 9:30-11am & Thurs 9:30-10:30am
We will meet for 90min on a Tuesday to delve more into a Meditationand Pranayama (breathing) practice. Bring your little ones to play alongside as you explore time to yourself.

 

 

 

 

‘Yang-Yin ’- 8 fold path of Ashtanga Yoga

8 weeks of 1 class weekly – Thursday 6:30-8pm

This course will include some chanting and philosophy on the 8 fold path of Yoga. The asana (poses) practice will be a balance between strength and long held stretches.

 

I will always offer those of you who cannot commit to such a regular practice the chance to come along on a more casual basis, however the price of 10 class passes will be going to $150, and will have a 6 month used by date on them.

They say change is as good as a holiday, I am most definitely ready for some shifts in the way I live my life, and hope you are ready to come along for the ride! I am working towards (with MUCH help!) giving my students the ability to sign on for these packages, classes and make payments through my website, watch this space!

Alicia xxx