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  • What level of class should I attend?
    General will be a mixed group - beginners are welcome as well as those with some experience and the teacher may introduce some trickier postures, giving alternatives where necessary. Intermediate classes are for people with a year's experience of Iyengar Yoga. You do not need to be a master yogi to attend these classes, but you should be familiar with the basics of Iyengar Yoga and ready to explore some intermediate poses. If you have never done Iyengar yoga before, please start with some General level classes. Having an injury or health condition is not a barrier to attending Intermediate classes and your teacher will work with you to help you gain an understanding of the proper way to work sensibly with your challenges. You should be be able to hold a steady sarvangasana shoulder stand for 5 minutes 2 Hour Intermediate classes are for those with an established practice of Iyengar Yoga. You should be competent at practicing shoulderstand and ready to learn headstand (or your alternatives where not suitable) with a good understanding of the Iyengar method.
  • How do I book / pay for classes?
    Please use our online booking system. Once you have booked you will receive a Zoom code via email - click on the link and follow the instructions - say 'yes' to launching zoom and 'yes' to joining with audio/video.
  • What equipment do I need?
    For General classes you will need a sticky mat as a minimum. For intermediate classes, you'll need a basic Iyengar Yoga kit: sticky mat, 5 foam blocks, 2 bricks, blanket, belt and bolster. Bear in mind that if you don't have specialist yoga props - you can substitute folded blankets for towels, dvd box sets for bricks, a dressing gown belt instead of a yoga belt and you can make a bolster shape using folded blankets or 4 foam blocks. A metal folding yoga chair is useful and again inexpensive substitutes can be found on the high street, such as this one from Argos.
  • Why Iyengar Yoga?
    For Beginners ​ Iyengar Yoga is ideal if you are approaching yoga as a beginner. You'll find the classes very clearly explained and accessible whatever your current state of fitness and flexibility. Too often yoga classes are led by someone who is naturally very adept at yoga but who has little empathy with 'normal bodies'. Iyengar Yoga teachers are put through notoriously rigorous and exacting training and are expected to have reached a certain level of yoga maturity before their two years of training can even begin. An equally rigorous assessment follows and many do not get through - you can certainly be safe in the knowledge that your teacher is committed and experienced - this is not someone who got a certificate on a whim! ​ Many other schools of yoga focus almost exclusively on sun salutations (a series of postures that you jump between) these repetitions require a certain level of flexibility and bodily intelligence that a new beginner may need a chance to build up. This can result in frustration and an achey back - not exactly why people seek out the practice of yoga! Classes build up sequentially, gradually adding more postures as the students become ready. The sequences vary from week to week to build an all round bodily intelligence, from the outside to the inner and from the inner to the outer. As strength builds up the poses can be held for longer allowing deeper penetration and profound benefits to be experienced. At the studio you'll find a range of props which the teacher will explain how to use - these allow stiffer students to experience the benefits of the posture without strain or moving beyond where the body is currently capable of going. ​ Many people come to Iyengar Yoga to improve the health of their back so please let your teacher know if this applies to you so that we can give you the support you need to build up your strength safely and effectively. Iyengar Yoga is much acclaimed for it's understanding and accuracy and it is the type of yoga that professional sports clubs - Man United (Ryan Giggs!), Bath Rugby, Birmingham City FC etc utilise for their teams, to help avert avoidable injury and recover more rapidly from existing problems. ​ Classes will be a mixture of standing, seated and supine postures with inversions and backbends introduced as the class becomes ready. At times the class will be strenuous and at other times blissfully relaxing and it is our aim to give you a well balanced session which leaves you feeling challenged but deeply well at the end. For those of you who are brand new, it can be a good idea to start with a foundation course which will walk you through the basics, though of course you're welcome in any beginners or general level class too. ​ ​ For Intermediate Students ​ Once you are ready we can introduce more advanced postures in a safe and understandable way. The beauty of the practice of yoga is that there is always more to learn, more depth to dive into and more challenges to overcome. It'll take us all many lifetimes to master this subject of yoga and all of our teachers consider themselves to be students still too - we all attend classes with senior teachers here in the UK and at the home of Iyengar Yoga, in Pune India. If you're not sure whether you're ready for intermediate classes get in touch and we'll work it out, but generally you need to have done a year of Iyengar Yoga and be comfortable in sarvangasana (shoulderstand) for 5 minutes in preparation for learning the other inversions (you do NOT need to be able to do headstand to join an intermediate class). ​ ​ ​
  • What are the different types of classes?
    General will be a mixed group - beginners are welcome as well as those with some experience and the teacher may introduce some trickier postures, giving alternatives where necessary. Intermediate classes are for people with a year's experience of Iyengar Yoga. You do not need to be a master yogi to attend these classes, but you should be familiar with the basics of Iyengar Yoga and ready to explore some intermediate poses. Having an injury or health condition is not a barrier to attending Intermediate classes and your teacher will work with you to help you gain an understanding of the proper way to work sensibly with your challenges. You should be be able to hold a steady sarvangasana shoulder stand for 5 minutes. 2 Hour Intermediate level classes are for those with an established practice of Iyengar Yoga. You should be ready to learn headstand (or your alternatives where not suitable) with a good understanding of the Iyengar method. .
  • What should I wear?
    Comfortable clothes that you can move in easily, though avoid anything overly long or baggy. Leggings or shorts and a t shirt are ideal.
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