Modes of Perception: The flow of creation explained in a framework called The Five Acts, and how we can either be in a mode of perception where we are noticing life happening, or not.
Why we don’t feel connected: A perspective from the non dual tantric thought linages about why we don’t feel the beautiful oneness we like to talk about.
Jai Ma Durga: This chant is to the goddess in all of her forms, taken from a text called the Devi Mahatmya which describes the goddess as the supreme power and creator of all.
Om mani padme hum: This beautiful buddhist chant is said to cultivate compassion. It references the jewel (mani) that sits in the lotus (padme) which some say is referring to the soul sitting in the body. The lotus famously grows through mud before it can flower, and so this idea that as we grow through there mud may we slowly recognise the spark of divinity that we hold within our body - and in recognising that in ourselves, we are much more able to recognise it within each other, at which point compassion naturally arises.
Gentle Balancing Flow: A practice that builds gently from the ground into contra lateral integration through the front and back body, with a focus on slow transitions and gentle articulation of strength.
Om mani padme hum: This beautiful buddhist chant is said to cultivate compassion. It references the jewel (mani) that sits in the lotus (padme) which some say is referring to the soul sitting in the body. The lotus famously grows through mud before it can flower, and so this idea that as we grow through there mud may we slowly recognise the spark of divinity that we hold within our body - and in recognising that in ourselves, we are much more able to recognise it within each other, at which point compassion naturally arises.
Hare Om Namah Shivaya: This beautiful chant is for Shiva, amongst other things calling to shiva we call to the aspect of ourselves that knows how to remove our own ignorance (the misunderstanding that we are somehow separate from the whole of existence itself). Melody: I learned it from Lina & Joaquim here in Portugal but not sure on authorship.
Cultivate Compassion: A practice focusing on finding diagonals and fine tuning our contralateral movement, in order to support a return to a sense of centre. We start slowly finding diagonals in a variety of movement contexts and then move towards backbends across diagonals, with balancing postures and side body openers to find a sense space and length dotted throughout. We close with a mantra for compassion.
Wholeness comes from wholeness: A quiet and simple practice for your to attune and receive. Starts slowly with spiral movements on the ground and opens into a gentle flow exploring a sense of fullness in movement, and contemplating an ancient poem that is said to hold the power of allll of the teachings within it.
Clear away the dust: In this practice we explore movement through the side seam of our body, as well as spirals - from micro to macro structures. We start on the ground and unfold slowly into a varied flow that moves around the mat and cultivates space and strength. Through breath, movement and a shift in awareness we play with clearing away the dust to attune our perception and receive presence. Please begin this class lying down in a comfortable way.
Grounded & Strong: This practice is slow, grounding, strong and quiet. With minimal instruction, we move through a balanced sequence with slightly longer holds to cultivate steadiness, slow down, find our strength and gather ourselves energetically. There are options to take inversions throughout which you can modify as you please, and key philosophical concepts are explored in a felt-sense way. You might want two blocks to hand.
Soothe your Nerves: In this practice we tend to our nervous system by working directly with he nerves, using a range of different pathways of release and containment. We begin with a basic orientation and grounding, and chant to call in the Goddess as our capacity to navigate challenge and move through density towards spaciousness and wisdom. We then open into some somatic floor work gently open into a nerve flossing sequence before finding rest. The chant at the end of this class class was cut off due to some tech issues, so I have added the Goddess chant for Durga in the recommended videos below for you to close your practice if you wish.
The domes of our architecture: This practice explores the integration of our limbs through our centre as we move with fluidity and strength. We explore the dome like shapes that repeat within our architecture and attune to what it means to align these domes to find a sense of centre, and of anchored spaciousness. We start softly and sneak into a strong practice with opportunities to balance, backbend and handstand along the way.
Namah Shivaya: This beautiful chant is for Shiva, amongst other things calling to shiva we call to the aspect of ourselves that knows how to remove our own ignorance (the misunderstanding that we are somehow separate from the whole of existence itself). Melody: I learned it from Lina & Joaquim here in Portugal but not sure on authorship.
Human Sponge: This practice explores the fluid, internal movement patterns that precede movement of our body through space. We focus on the pattern of sponging; the movement of fluid through cell membranes. We begin slowly with floor work and movement gradually emerges into a dynamic sequence weaving in twists, leg work, hops and opportunities for handstands to get our circulation moving.
Body of Water: A slow exploration of the fluid body and the internal patterns of motion that precede our movement through space; cellular breathing, sponging and pulsation. Explore how attuning to this micro flow of motion beneath the surface initiates fluid, strong and soft movement of our whole body. We work with a focus on side seams, outer legs, spirality and figures of eight and close with a lovely rest.
Follow your Gut - Backbend Flow: A practice attuning to our gut intelligence and bringing awareness to the soft support along the front of the spine. We move from the ground into a strong flow working with backbends in a variety of contexts, whilst finding a sweet sense of support, containment and freedom. A good one when you could do with a reminder to follow your gut and trust your instinct.
Modes of Perception: This practice plays with a few different techniques to enliven awareness of what is always already there anyway. We play with sound, breath, and awareness, imposing patterns (practices/techniques) to see what might be revealed when we create contexts that welcome a naturally arising, body wide presence. This practice offers a few different ways in, and each practice can also be used on its own as a micro practice when you have less time.
Mini fascia flow: A 30 minute flow with a focus on finding novel pathways for forces to move through our bodies to keep our fascial matrix intrigued and responsive as we move! Explores circular patters, weight shift, balance and options for handstand practice towards the end.
Heart Attunement: A practice supporting attuning and connecting to the rhythms of presence through embodiment of the lungs and heart. Starts with a supine backbend over blocks which slowly mobilises and frees up space in the arms and upper back before unfolding into a strong practice playing with balance and arm- over -head backbends. Closes with a long rest and one of my favourite poems. This class closes while you are in savasana so you can stay as long as you like. Props: Two Blocks