Category: Events

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We are BWY Foundation Course 1 Tutors! 2020 Course Details….

Our certificates have come through from the British Wheel of Yoga, we are now officially BWY Foundation Course 1 tutors.

Paul and Steve with the BWY Foundation Course 1 Tutor Training certificates


This is the next stage for us in our journey as BWY teachers. We attended a fantastic 4 day tutor training course in Grantham with Belinda Emberson. As a result of which we have been approved as BWY Foundation Course 1 tutors. Here is a blog about the Foundation Course 1 training here: https://yogasmiths.org/2019/11/09/bwy-foundation-course-1-tutor-training-in-grantham/

Course starting April 2020

We have submitted and had approved our 60 hour course plan. Hence, we are now advertising and accepting applications for our first ever BWYT Foundation Course 1 which will start in April 2020. Places are strictly limited to 18.

The Foundation Course 1 is a wonderful personal development course where we go deeper into the rich tradition of yoga. It is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and to discuss the ancient yogic texts. The syllabus covers topics such as preparation for practice, asana, mudra, basic breathing, kriya, pranayama, concentration techniques, relaxation techniques, mantra, talks and discussions on the context and meaning of Yoga.  

The BWYT Foundation Course 1 runs one Sunday a month for 10 months in beautiful Hoylake on the Wirral. The venue for the course is Hoylake Parade Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake. It is a lovely community centre that used to be an old school, in fact, Paul’s mum, Mavis attended at when it was a school.

The course is taught by both of us, Paul & Stephen Smith, directors of Yogasmiths Limited. This will ensure that you get different perspectives and allow for attentive teaching of asana.

Find out all the details about the course including the application form at: BWYT Foundation Course 1

Our course is also listed on the British Wheel of Yoga Website at; https://www.bwy.org.uk/national/event/1347/

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Photographs from Museum of the Moon Event at Birkenhead Town Hall on 13th November 2019

Hi Everyone, we have received some wonderful photographs taken by the official photographer at the Museum of the Moon event where we taught a yoga session under the moon in Birkenhead Town Hall. The session took place on Wednesday 13th November 2019 and was hosted by Wirral Borough Council.

Mark McNulty Photographer

My old friend Mark McNulty was wonderful photographer. I DJed with Mark for many years over in Liverpool at Liquidation / Uptight in Le Bateau. It was a nice surprise to run into him. You can check out his website and social media channels at;
http://www.markmcnulty.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/markmcnulty/
https://twitter.com/markmcnulty

Thank you for coming to the Museum of the Moon event!

Thank you to everyone who came to the event, it was such a great experience to teach under the Museum of the Moon and a real once in a lifetime opportunity. Also a big thank you to the Culture Team at Wirral Council and Imagine Wirral.

Check out the picture below and let us know what you think!

Our Wirral Yoga Classes

If you enjoyed the session and would like to join one of our classes, check out the detail of where we teach and when here: https://pauls93.sg-host.com/classes/

Thanks Paul & Steve x

  • Museum of the Moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Low lunge pose / crescent moon pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga YogasmithsMuseum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Low lunge pose / crescent moon pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Another Low lunge pose / crescent moon pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Low lunge pose / crescent moon pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Dragon flying low Yin Yoga pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Ardha Chandrasana / Half Moon pose under the moon
  • pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Ardha Chandrasana / Half Moon pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Low lunge pose under the moon
  • pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Paul & Steve Yogasmiths introducing the theme for the session
  • pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Chandra bhedana / Moon piercing breath under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Chandra bhedana / Moon piercing breath under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Thoracic opening and mobilisation under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Vrksasana / Tree pose under the moon
  • Museum of the moon pop-up Wirral Yoga Yogasmiths
    Vrksasana / Tree pose under the moon
Pictures from the Museum of the Moon pop-up yoga session

 

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Cinema, Memory and Wellbeing Festival Thursday 17th October 2019

One of our lovely class members is Professor Lisa Shaw of the University of Liverpool. She is involved in putting on the Cinema, Memory and Wellbeing Festival 2019 at The Plaza Cinema in Liverpool on Thursday 17th October from 1pm – 4:30pm.

The festival is a culmination of 5 years of research led by Professor Lisa Shaw in tandem with Professor Julia Hallam, into the power of film to trigger memories and assist in enhancing emotional wellbeing through shared experiences and group reminiscence.

The festival will be an afternoon of celebrations centred on the Brazilian film star Carmen Miranda. The event is aimed at older people, especially those living with a dementia diagnosis, and those involved in their care. Participants will be invited to view the art work produced in the two creative workshops and to have their photographs taken with ‘aunt sallies’ of Carmen Miranda or Charlie Chaplin, to the sound of the music from the 1940’s and 50’s, including Latin American rhythms. This will be followed by a screening of the Hollywood musical That Night in Rio (1941) which starred Carmen Miranda in her first English-speaking part.

Tickets for this event are available from the Plaza Cinema priced at £4 each and free for carers.

The Plaza Community Cinema is at 13 Crosby Road North, Liverpool, L22 0LD and can be contacted on 0151 474 4076.

Please see the some further details on their website at ; https://plazacinema.org.uk/blog/16210/cinema-memory-wellbeing-festival-2019

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Our top 5 tips for balance

Following on the heels of our Mini Balance workshop at the Om Yoga Show Manchester, here are our Top 5 Tips for balance!

Balance is not just a physical element to a pose. Balance in the mind and the breath is equally as important. 

Our Top 5 Tips for balance in practice!

When the mind becomes agitated, so too does the body.

Breath practice (pranayama), breath-led movement in asanas, and guided relaxation can be utilised to find this balance in the mind, the body and in life

In order to find balance in your balancing asanas these five top tips are essential:

Our Top 5 Tips for Balance

1. Strong foundation and sthira (steadiness)

A strong, steady base in those parts of the body that make up the foundations of the pose, drawing energy up through the body from our stable foundation.  e.g. in standing balances lifting and spreading the toes, gripping the mat with the toes, weight in the heel and side of the foot, a natural arch to the foot. Active muscles in leg, micro-bend to the knees, engaging pelvic floor and core.

2. Sukha (ease)

Finding ease and lightness in the posture. The pose isn’t stiff and adjust it whenever required. Softness in the pose and fluidity in mindful movement both in and out of the pose. Using the breath to cultivate a sense of sukha. 

3. Drishti (focus)

Very important – focus with a soft gaze on a particular point e.g. The hands in Low Lunge pose (anjaneyasana). The drishti aids concentration, focus and mindfulness. Still mind = still body

4. Satya (truthfulness) 

Practise with truth, listen to your body. Use a staged approach into each posture. Use modifications and props when needed (props are for all!). Props allow us to explore what our own body’s ability is in each posture whilst aiding correct alignment. Same benefits are achieved with props e.g. using the wall to aid balance in tree pose we still gain leg strength, balance, focus and hip opening. Remember to rest when needed and ease back or release if uncomfortable. Listen to the body and make any micro-adjustments throughout.

5. Have a try!

Don’t worry about being wobbly or losing your balance. Try to let go of attachment to the ego – self judgement/frustration. If wobbly, ease back or perhaps try previous step on staged approach e.g. Keeping toes on floor in Crow Pose (Bakasana). Can always gently release and rest when required and perhaps try again. Remember to make use of props and modifications to posture. Approach wobbliness/losing balance with a gentle smile on our faces – find lightheartedness in practising poses and in losing balance/wobbliness and trying again. Can we approach life in this way?

 

If you enjoyed our Top 5 Tips for Balance, check out our other blogs: Blog

For details about the Om Yoga Show click here: https://www.omyogashow.com/

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Happy 1 Year Anniversary of our public classes!

First and foremost thank you to everyone that has supported us over the last year since we moved from teaching one to ones to group classes!

This includes all those that have come to our public yoga classes, our one to one clients and our corporate clients!

Thursday 19th April 2018 marked the one year anniversary. A one year anniversary is traditionally known as the paper anniversary, so what better way to mark this than by giving away some of our gift vouchers!

We decided to add up who had attended the most classes and give something back to our biggest supporters.

Our leader board was as follows;

1st place – a gift voucher for a block of 6 classes – Jane Walsh

2nd place – a voucher for 3 classes – Janet Deighton

3rd place – a voucher for 3 classes – Julie Forshaw

4th place – a box of fancy chocolates – Graham Cowell

There were also Co-op vegan doughnuts for everyone after class, a fine selection of both custard and jam. One of our class members, Margaret can be seen feeding us doughnuts in the picture below whilst demonstrating our peak poses of Cobra and Upwards facing dog.

Thank you again for all your support

Namaste

Paul & Steve xx

 

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