Why practice yoga?
I’m aware that many counsellors and psychotherapists work at a desk, or sit in a chair for long periods throughout the day, and my objective is to help you to better manage these physical stresses and to help individuals to develop their own ‘tool bag’ of strategies to improve mental and physical health.
There is a lot of empirical research and evidence that yoga is beneficial to overall metal and physical health and wellbeing.
If you are completely new to yoga you might find the thought of group classes at a studio a little overwhelming, so this session will allow you to ease into yoga in a safer manner in the privacy of your own home.
More experienced?
This workshop will help you build upon your individual practice and give you space to focus on your alignment and experience some new and interesting sequences.
Moving with the breath, we start with a rejuvenating warm up to loosen muscles and joints and calm the mind. Then, we’ll flow into some poses to strengthen and stretch out the whole body. You’ll be guided through some balances to help you focus, and core strengthening poses will work to improve your posture. Every session finishes with a Savasana to ensure you fully relax and find some stillness of mind.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- Improved posture and flexibility: Spending long hours seated in chairs and at desks can lead to postural issues and muscle stiffness. Yoga helps to improve posture, strengthen core muscles, and increase flexibility, leading to better spinal alignment and enhanced overall well-being.
- Stress Reduction: Yoga and breathing techniques are powerful tools for stress management. By incorporating movement, deep breathing, and focused awareness, yoga promotes relaxation, calms the mind, and releases tension stored in the body.
- Mental clarity: Yoga includes breathing exercises that cultivate present-moment awareness and help participants develop a focused and clear mindset. Practicing mindful breathing can enhance concentration, decision-making abilities, and overall cognitive function.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- This is an open level yoga workshop – no experience is necessary, and it is suitable for every body, no matter your age, gender, shape or size.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- As counsellor and psychotherapists spend more time in sedentary positions, sitting in chairs with clients, working with screens, holding devices, and using desks, my aim is for you to address any postural imbalance and focus on your strength, flexibility, and energy. Yoga and breath work can help to promote positive health and wellbeing.
What will I need?
- Your yoga mat, and a blanket (for svasana).
- Wear comfortable clothing that allows you full motion in your arms and legs.
Course Content
Presenter
I understand, first hand, that stress is now one of the biggest wellbeing issues counsellors and psychotherapists need to face. While the therapists are taking care of their clients, who is taking care of therapists? In fact, it was my reflection on my 20 year career as a manager in further education that led me to train as a yoga teacher and sound therapist to enable me to focus both on my own health and well-being and, most importantly, to share all the benefits of my practice with those I now work with.
I have also been married to a Senior Accredited Counsellor for 30 years and have witnessed how the management of an ever demanding and changing client case load requires careful self-care. With this experience in mind, I understand the difficulties and demands that counsellors and psychotherapists are facing every day, and can, therefore, provide a wellbeing programme through sound therapy specifically tailored so participants can really benefit from what I can offer.
I am a trained musician and a qualified teacher (PGCE, 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and Foundation Certificate in Sound Healing); I have been teaching Music and Music Production to people of all ages for the past 20 years in the Further Education sector.
More recently, I have been exploring how I can use my passion for music, meditation, yoga and music production to connect with others and to enhance their wellbeing and health. I am now dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of others using yoga and therapeutic sound and music.
During my sound baths, I work with gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls, drum and therapeutic percussion as well as guided self-reflection and mindfulness. I am also able to provide workshops and treatments using vocal techniques to improve the health and wellbeing of others using the power of the voice, thereby combining therapeutic sound and voice-work with self-reflection, mindfulness and self-awareness.
