The official magazine of the British Wheel of

£2.95 FREE TO MEMBERS SUMMER 2018

INSIDE BWY'S ANNUAL CELEBRATION Well Being Yoga Fest 2018

DHARMA an interview with David Sye

CALM THE NOISE Mr & Mrs Brilliant on living in harmony YOGA SOLDIERS David Browning's keepers of inner peace

Accessible Tutorials, discounts, Ashtanga retreats, news Emma Conally-Barklem on diverse, inclusive yoga and reviews The spectrumbwy.org.uk magazine 1 YM-0518-Mats-2.pdf 1 22/05/2018 12:28:24

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mats props books chairs clothing wholesale CHAIR'S LETTER

“We will now move forward with a new spirit of co-operation and kindness, stronger in the knowledge if we are true to ourselves and to our yoga principles we can create an organisation attractive and relevant to all who enjoy and practise yoga.”

Dear Members,

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to all of you who I'm sure John will have more to say on this when he gets voted for me! The time has now come to put the election a chance, but we looked in detail at our financial situation. behind us and move forwards to work together for the At the moment there are potential liabilities surrounding benefits of our membership and the wider BWY. VAT payments and other contingencies that we should have resolved in the next 6 months and will give us a much As it has only been a fortnight since I and the new NEC clearer picture of where we stand. We don't have to panic, members have been in post, we are busy getting to grips but neither do we have lots of surplus funds that we can with assessing our situation, meeting the staff and getting splash around! together to work as an NEC. Our priorities are to put improvements into our office and website, so that we can Not only do we have our own situation to study, but we also get both to function more effectively. need to get up to speed with any changes that happen in our subsidiary awarding body BWYQ, which is another layer We have a working website, though maybe not working of complexity. as smoothly as it could be. It is very early days, but we have already put in place a system by which we will be We are a members' organisation and, as I made clear at able to co-ordinate improvements and gradually refine the EGM, we run for our benefit and for the practice and its operation. interests of Yoga. In the same way as the system of the practice of Yoga is founded on principles, we should try to John and I have been to the office and met some of remember the ideals of kindness and mutual respect when the staff, who have generally impressed us with their we deal with each other as members, the staff who work for commitment to the organisation. Sadly, some of our staff us and those in the wider yoga community. are leaving us in the near future, but we are advertising for new recruits and intend to have the office fully staffed as It has always been the strength of the BWY to embrace soon as possible. many different approaches to yoga and hopefully we can continue to do this, while keeping true to our core ideals, Our first NEC meeting was after the EGM and it was both as an organisation and as individuals. conducted in a harmonious atmosphere. When I looked round the committee I was impressed with the talent and I look forward to working with you as members and with the depth of experience that we had in the room and feel that new and existing directors on the NEC to make this a reality. this is a great team to lead us into the future. Yours,

Richard

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 3 CONTENTS 40 Early Days Pam Smith remembers Wilfred Clark 6 News in brief 42 Teaching yoga for people living with cancer FEATURES by Caroline Baya and Denise Steward 10 Well Being Yoga Fest 44 Do all roads lead to Rome? inside BWY's annual celebration Brother Bob's words of wisdom 15 Yoga Soldiers 45 David Browning's yoga by Wendy Teasdill 19 A&P: Plank Pose 46 A fragrant mind by Karen Kirkness Sinead Duffy on essential oils and the senses 20 Summer yoga retreats 48 Ahimsa and the Latvian Dainas with Georgia Keal by Velta Snikere Wilson 23 Dharma 49 Yoga retreat opportunity Miranda Taylor interviews David Sye by Dagmar Bere 25 Summer festival diary 53 Make your own eyepillow with Georgia Keal with Claire Plastow 30 Accessible Ashtanga with Emma Conally-Barklem PRACTICE 34 Calm the noise 18 Yoga Soldiers tutorial Hear Mr & Mrs Brilliant's story with David Browning 36 Good vibrations 17 Posture Profile: Plank Pose James Boag on Sanskrit 37 My yoga journey COMPETITION by Angela Stevens 26 Yoga Places 38 A journey back to good health by Anthea Sweet

CENTRAL OFFICE ENQUIRIES: If you have a question about your membership, bwy.org.uk we are here to help: facebook.com/bwyspectrum Telephone: 01529 306851 twitter.com/Brit_Wheel_Yoga Email: [email protected] Visit: www.bwy.org.uk @britishwheelofyoga SAFEGUARDING AND DIVERSITY MANAGER youtube.com/user/britishwheelofyoga Rebecca Morris [email protected] [email protected] Deadline and publication dates 07738 946320 Edition Publication Deadline ADVERTISING IN SPECTRUM Autumn 2018 Early September 10 July SPECTRUM EDITOR Winter 2018 Early December 10 October Tori Williams Spring 2019 Early March 10 January [email protected] Summer 2019 Early June 10 April 07966 465919

4 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine REVIEWS 28 Yoga Essentials The best yoga books and products

AROUND THE REGIONS 50 What's happening in Wales, London, Scotland, Southwest and Southeast 15 TRAINING 54 Training with BWY and its Accredited Groups Foundation 1 & 2, Certificate, Diploma, Modules and Distance Learning 10

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The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) is the largest yoga All material included in Spectrum may be reproduced with membership organisation in the country and the Sport or without permission, provided acknowledgement is made England recognised national governing body for yoga. of the author. At our core remains our guiding philosophy to promote a The Editor and NEC reserve the right to select or reject greater understanding of yoga and its safe practice through letters for publication and to edit for grammar, length and experience, education, discussion, study and training. style. We will only publish items appropriate for a magazine Advertisers: adverts for publication in Spectrum are that promotes the principles of yoga and harmony. accepted at the discretion of the Editor. The BWY is not The full list of BWY Specialist Advisers, along with liable for loss or damage due to error, late publication or advertising rates and specifications are now online at: failure of an advert to appear. The Editor reserves the right www.bwy.org.uk to alter, amend or edit advertisements as appropriate. Advertisements do not represent an endorsement of a Tori Williams, Editor and Designer product, company or person(s) by the BWY. Email [email protected] or call 07966 465919 While care is taken to check the authenticity of yoga Advertising practitioners, the Editor and Management cannot accept any responsibility regarding specific practitioner, product, Email [email protected] or call 01529 306851 healing modality or other matters, and readers should British Wheel of Yoga Central Office properly investigate any service or product offered in 25 Jermyn Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7RU claims made before making any decision. Email: [email protected] Submissions: the views expressed in Spectrum are not Phone: 01529 306851 necessarily those of the Editor or the Wheel’s committee. Wherever possible we acknowledge all sources of material Fax: 01529 303233 used. In case of inadvertent error or omission, the Editor Cover image will make the necessary correction in a future issue. The Emma Conally-Barklem by Tori Williams in Saltburn-on-Sea Editor reserves the right to edit any article as necessary.

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 5 Well Being Yoga Fest 2018

The event formerly known as Congress was a magical affirmation of yoga’s power to transform, heal and promote joyful living.

Over 300 delegates (a sell out by the second week in January) were treated to an incredibly inspiring and diverse programme at Warwick University campus in March. Our star guest was Dr Timothy McCall, author of Yoga As Medicine (among several books) and regarded as one of the world’s leading yoga therapists. During his plenary address and compelling 1-1 session with a student with health issues, Timothy showed the power of yoga therapy. He used sound principles of western medicine, combined with the holistic assessment tool of Ayurveda to create a simple programme for wellness, while tackling complex health needs. Visit www.drmccall.com The day before Yoga Fest, Timothy had been a main speaker at the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Yoga in Society (APPG) – see page 7 – one of the most important developments in yoga in the UK for many years. Heather Mason – founder of The Minded Institute (a BWY Recognised Centre) – and principle driving force behind the APPG told delegates about its current and future work in the areas of health, education, prisons, public policy and the private sector. Visit themindedinstitute.com Heather also spoke about the other organisation she has established (and which BWY is a founding member), The Yoga In Healthcare Alliance. The ten week yoga programme being taught to patients in West London is intended to be rolled out nationally, with BWY teachers having the opportunity in the next 12 months to train to deliver yoga classes that are paid for by the NHS, with GPs referring patients into the programme. Visit yogainhealthcarealliance.com Another fascinating talk and series of workshops was given by Elliott Goldberg, author of The Path of (excerpts printed in Spectrum). He talked about the difficulties of historians, like him, untangling the motivations of key people who had shaped the modern yoga tradition. Elliott shared several fascinating stories about people like (who created the modern profession of the yoga teacher) and (who sought to link the efficacy of yoga to emerging medical knowledge).

10 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine Saturday evening proved to be a deeply moving experience, when Emily Brett – BWY teacher and founder of OurMala – described her work in establishing a social enterprise to provide free yoga classes to refugee communities. The testimonies of personal transformation from refugees who had suffered incredible trauma – and often also abuse and trafficking – was inspiring. It truly was yoga as healing and well-being in action. Visit www.ourmala.com and watch Ourmala’s video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCPAS7Y6uo On Sunday, Amarjeet Bharma, from the APPG on Traditional Indian Sciences, and Minister (Coordination), Mr A S Rajan, from the Indian High Commission in London addressed delegates on the importance of yoga in society, the legacy of yoga from India, yoga in healthcare and the need for minimum standards. Outside of the plenary sessions, delegates learned how the body works through bodypainting muscles and bones onto each other under the expert guidance of inspiring anatomy and physiology teacher, Karen Kirkness (visit www.karenkirkness.com). Buddhist nun Emma Slade founded the charity Opening Your Heart to Bhutan in 2015. Emma gave fascinating talks on her incredible journey from banker to buddhism, the principles of Buddhism and taught meditation practices. Emma donates all proceeds from the book Set Free to her charity – every copy helps to change lives (visit www.emmaslade.com).

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 11 Leading teachers, Scott Johnson and Andy Gill led self-practice sessions of . Andreas Loh from Berlin treated delegates to his Tala Yoga music, playing the piano live to both posture work and relaxation sessions. Dr Stacie CC Graham discussed the sensitive and important issue of language and inclusion in the yoga class. On Saturday evening, the late session in the Butterworth Hall marketplace saw yoga teacher and Argentine Tango dancer, Bethshona Kenny, deliver a workshop with her dance partner. BWY members paired-up to learn the surprisingly simple steps, before Beth and her partner showed how it should be done with a stunning tango dance performance. Other teachers played a big role in making Well Being Yoga Fest a success. Thanks to AcroYoga teachers Shena and Neilon, Lisa Hemmings, Jo Creaser, Rosie Wright, Judy Sampath from Yoga United, Racheal Moore, Dianne Kenny and Jaz Mullings-Lambert, From among the BWY Accredited Groups we had great teaching from Yogicharya Jnandev of Yoga Satsanga Ashram in Wales, Elena Voyce from Teach Yoga, Sarah Linsey and Bridget Thornborrow from the London Group, and Andy Curtis-Payne from The Society of Yoga Practitioners. Apologies if anyone has been missed out! We would like to say a huge thank you to all tutors who delivered sessions – it would not have been possible without you. The Annual General Meeting passed off smoothly, with a video report from the Chair and Vice Chair (available on YouTube via the BWY website) and questions from members about how to prevent so much negative coverage of BWY on social media. Anthony Grover delivered his last financial report before stepping down as BWY Treasurer after six years. Thank you Anthony. Among the highlights of his report were another healthy financial surplus for BWY, reserves of over one million pounds, and news that BWY’s Ofqual-regulated Awarding Organisation, BWYQ, has turned its steadily diminishing losses over the past few years into its first operating profit of £16,000. Others stepping down at this time are BWYT Vice Chair Audrey Blow and National In Service Training Officer Rosie Wright. We thank them for their contribution in volunteering for BWY.

See you next year at BWY Freedom Fest 2019, Warwick University, Coventry WellYoga Fest Being 2018

The Sunday morning session entitled “transformation – learning from the life you have” was powerful. Following According to Emma our yoga practice enables us to transform difficulty. Buddhist practices encourage transformation by developing karma yoga through goodness, selfless By PRIYA KARIA activities and compassion. The “my Nun” session ended with the chanting of the most revered mantra for compassion: Om mane peme hung hri – to connect The sky was grey, the sunshine that Saturday morning began with the intrinsic nature of your clear many will remember from last year’s with a deeply restoring practice and compassionate mind. congress was definitely absent as of connecting with our breath In the weeks returning from Yoga Yoga Fest opened with headliner through the body and mind using Fest, I’ve found myself navigating Emma Slade. compassion meditation practice through a particularly difficult time Having read Emma's book Set connecting all of Earth’s creatures. in my life. Recalling Ani Pema Deki’s Free – a story of her personal Reflecting the central place that response to “it’s difficult!”, “So what transformation from Banker to developing compassion has within choice is there? Suffer or begin with Buddhist Nun – the sunrayesqueness is a deeply rooted Buddhist practice. compassion to change yourself”. of her warm smile and bright yellow The afternoon session was A truly inspiring weekend! shirt peeking through her dark red energetic, fun and packed to the brim. Purchase Set Free by visiting robes that drew me to attend her Emma somehow managed to inject www.emmaslade.com/set-free classes at Warwick University. nuggets of wisdom amongst hilarity All profits from the sale of this and despite her robes threw herself book are donated to Opening easily into tittibhasana. Your Heart to Bhutan www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 13 PLANKPOSEPROFILE Keepers of inner peace

The Sanskrit name sometimes deployed here is Kumbhakasana. We know the word Kumbhaka from , meaning holding the breath. Don’t do that here, you’ll become a casualty! Instead, the stillness you need is in the body. Be like a plank of wood: strong and stable. Like wood our hard-working muscles have grain, fibre and moisture.

AT EASE! ADAPT AND OVERCOME Do Plank Pose from Tadasana (as Come into the pose, but do it first with described in Karen Kirkness' A&P the knees down. Take the opportunity to Plank Pose article on page 19). Hold find that shoulder position in a modified the arms out with palms forwards. version of plank. This is a good option for Everyone can do this. There’s no soldiers with wrist or shoulder problems weight through the arms, but can you and provides mild weight-bearing for those keep your shoulders “at ease” soldier? with non-severe osteoporosis. The shoulders need to be back and down, or technically speaking retracted and depressed. Engage the rhomboids, trapezius and rotator REMAIN STEADY cuff to stabilise the shoulders. If you From knees down, straighten one leg and come into Plank with the shoulders then the other to come into the full pose. hunched up, the muscles will tighten Don’t let your hips lift – this isn’t down to take the weight of the body – in the dog! Don’t let your hips sag – a bendy, hunched position. Bad habit soldier! warped plank is no good for anyone! If either of these two faults occur it usually indicates a weak core. Go back to knees down, if necessary. Abdominal muscles need to work hard to hold your plank steady. Eventually, your plank will become so strong that another passing soldier can use you for some R&R! Counterpose in Child's Pose.

TEAMWORK Have some fun! Stack-a-plank. But be careful. We don’t want any wounded soldiers! ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Plank Pose by Karen Kirkness

Plank is an important biomechanical moment in yoga because it defines the place of “controlled instability” that gives rise to arm balances of all kinds. To feel confident in any arm balance, it is important to feel the shape of Adishesha, the snake figure that generates Patanjali. This “hooded” figure takes shape in our bodies when we have adequate protraction of the scapulae.

PLANK IN TADASANA Try standing before a wall and bringing your hands onto the wall as if you are doing plank. This gives you a chance to embed the neuromuscular pattern into your body without having to fight against gravity. Now, with your arms fully extended, maintain the high plank at the wall without bending your elbows. This sounds very easy! But keeping your elbows fully extended, without bending them, becomes quite tricky when you start the next instruction. Now move your thoracic region towards the wall. As you do this, retract your entire shoulder girdle so you can feel your shoulder blades “drawing toward the spine.” Then, protract your shoulder blades and feel them wrapping forward around your ribcage as you draw your entire thoracic region away from the wall. Repeat these two opposing actions 10 times without bending your elbows. This practice will give you a spectrum of movement that brings the high plank into proper biomechanical context.

NEUTRAL SPINE Once you have felt the full experience of scapular protraction, it is possible to work on maintaining a neutral spine while protracting the scapulae. Having the dexterity to keep your spine neutral (as in, not flexing the thoracic and cervical vertebrae) while protracting the scapulae FIND BALANCE will bring you into the powerful place of controlled instability, like the moment in which you shift Side plank. On an inhale, gears while driving a car. can you move from plank to side plank? Then exhale CLOSED KINEMATIC CHAINS back to plank and do the Due to the inherent spiral action of closed kinematic chains (CKCs), the humeral head is always other side. Tip: it’s a lot externally rotating when the shoulder flexes. This is therefore the case when you’re maintaining easier to do this with the controlled instability of high plank. So the humeral head is slightly externally rotated, the the feet hip width apart. scapulae are protracted, the spine is neutral, and the shoulder girdle draws down the body to Keeping the feet together give space around the root of the neck. I like the instruction of “smiling the collarbones” to give and rolling onto the outside some personality to these clinical terms. of alternate feet is a tricky The head position is an indicator of scapulothoracic integration; in other words, imagine there balance, and only for is a spike coming up at your face from the ground and draw your head back to avoid getting highly-trained soldiers. poked in the eye. Once your head is aligned with the spine, you’ll have achieved Samasthitih in parallel with the earth. This completes the setting of the Adishesha shape. Taking the spotlight inferiorly, we find ourselves now in the lower body. Drawing your pubic bone toward the sternum will result in the feeling of space in the lumbar spine as the spinous processes move incrementally further apart. Drawing the membranous areas of the pelvic floor and lower abdomen inward and upward (bandha) will create a girdle of support for the lumbosacral region.

TRIANGULAR TRANSFERRANCE In Plank Pose, whether your legs are spaced apart or with the feet together, squeeze the myofascial cylinders of the legs inwards towards the bones and together. Bringing the legs into energetic togetherness creates a powerful conduit for ground reaction forces that feeds into the triangulation of the body position. Think of the pose as a triangle, where your arms form one line, the length of the body another, and the ground becomes the third line of this stabilised shape. Finally, don’t forget the hands and feet! Abducting the fingers will tap you into hasta bandha, We salute your efforts! the powerful net for transferring energy back into the body. Use your feet the same way, with Private Paul Fox and an enthusiasm in the toes that draws energy inwards rather than letting it leak out of your body Commander Dave Browning system. Feel this powerful pose geometrically as a triangle and energetically as a crouched animal ready to pounce! The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 19 YOGA PLACES Clare McGill's Warrior 2 in Which of these yogi posers Barcelona's Parc De la Ciutadella should win the Yoga United kit bag on Dipti Bhatt's sunset Warrior 2 in beautiful Sri Lanka page 26, which has been Bethan Ecclestone's Vrksasana in Cirque provided courtesy of du Fer a Cheval National Park, France yogaunited.com?

Don't forget to send your pics and enter autumn's competition to [email protected]

Angela Hesketh's Tadasana at the memorial of the victims of Communism, Prague Reaching dizzy heights! Cristal Liddle's Natarajasana on Mount Kilimanjaro

Michaela Leng's Vrksasana at Wat Pho temple in Bangkok

Kate Haynes in Trikonasana at Gibraltar Point Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire Joyce Rhodes connecting on the top of the Mountain, Obergurgl, Austria

Lucy Croucher doing Malasana in a beach hut on Ambergris Caye, Belize Lorna Chapman's impressive SUP balance

in Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

Janice Hellens' Bridge Pose on a bridge in Marlborough Sounds - New Zealand Vivienne Scupham's Vrksasana at sunset Shena Grigor (JesseSaunders.net as base) on board 'Jubilant' on the River Orwell Dipti Bhatt's sunset Warrior 2 – when you can’t find a yoga mat! in beautiful Sri Lanka Sue Hodgkins beginning Surya Namaskar on Glastonbury Tor

WIN A Enter our RETREAT worth more Moinhos Velhos than £1000! competition Moinhos Velhos is an authentic detox juice fasting retreat in South West Portugal. The retreat is set in beautiful gardens in a valley just outside the small town of Lagos. Accepting only twelve people at a time, the retreat has a personal, almost family, atmosphere. They grow organic fruit and vegetables in their orchards and garden, which are served up three times a day in amazingly tasty juices (think red pepper and tomato, cucumber and mint, pear and cinnamon with a garlic shot!). A gentle bell wakes you at seven in the morning and yoga follows a cleansing lemon or ginger tea. Apart from joining the group for juices, the day is yours to have alternative therapies, enjoy the saltwater pool, sauna and hot tub or just unwind and relax. Meditation ends the day beautifully before sinking into a deep sleep. Further information and bookings at www.moinhos-velhos.com How to enter: The Yoga Places competition is also pinned to the top of the Spectrum Facebook page www.facebook.com/bwyspectrum. Vote by 'Liking' or 'Sharing' the post and comment under the image you like most. Or send your vote with your contact details to the Central Office address on page 5. A winner will be chosen at random from all the posing and voting entrants. The winning poser will also receive a Restorative Yoga Kit courtesy of www.yogaunited.com The prize: A seven-day detox juice fast at Moinhos Velhos in Portugal for their finely tuned programme helping you to achieve complete cleansing and detoxification on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The prize is for one person and includes seven nights accommodation, all juices and supplements included on the programme, daily yoga and meditation, use of all the facilities and an introductory Physiospect session. Terms and conditions The prize is for one person in a single room, is subject to availability and must be taken by the end of 2019. Travel is not included. Other treatments must be paid for locally. Qualifying Facebook voters must post a comment under the image of their choice and 'Like' or 'Share' the post or image. Postal voters must include their name and contact details. Entry deadline: Thursday 26th July 2018. Winner will be announced: Friday 27th July 2018. TEACHER PROFILE

I love working in a rural community.

I love to know everybody who comes to “my classes, how their journey is going and how their family is. I see some of my students four or five times a week. ” Photography by Tori Williams on location in Saltburn-on-Sea Accessible

by KELLY PIPES Ashtangawww.kellypipes.com The BWY Northern Festival returns in July and where better to experience the teachings of Yorkshire’s modified-ashtanga ambassador, Emma Conally-Barklem?

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 31 Yoga in the Meadow Join Emma for outdoor yoga on 8th September, in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Support. Held in the private grounds of one of her students, this workshop includes four classes and a light, healthy breakfast. Visit www.emmaliveyoga.com

Like a lioness, Emma is fiercely protective and committed The pupil of Pattabhi Jois, David Swenson, taught Emma to her students’ yoga experience and progression. Whether to use ashtanga as a healing therapy. And so she shares focused on her empowering ashtanga classes, peppered the practice, not only with students in their twenties or with modifications and invitations to step back from from a dance or gymnastics background, but within a rural inaccessible , or drawing yoga nidra students in community class with a much higher average age. towards their heart spaces, her fire burns brightly. “Had I walked into a strict, rigid and regimented First ignited at class in a disused Rochdale mill, her yoga ashtanga class, I just wouldn't have been able to do it. I fire is fuelled by an ongoing dedication to deepening her was very overweight, with my knee issue, my back issue studies and to significant personal transformation. Once ... it would have been a physical impossibility for me. So I a lecturer in English, struggling and unhealthy, Emma basically teach it the way I was taught, with modifications now bursts with prana and purpose as a British Wheel of (a combination of David Swenson’s and my own), and also Yoga Teacher. From an overweight size 18, who suffered with the view that you bend the practice to the body of the with back and knee troubles, she now fills her local and person, not the other way around. international yoga retreats, and has a huge following of “In my main class, my beginners’ class, the average age loyal students in the North York Moors as Emma Live Yoga of my students is 60 and they absolutely love it. They know (emmaliveyoga.com). they don’t need to try to do everything. The practice is for “I’ve come a long way from where I was and my issues. everybody, that’s the whole message. Yoga has addressed, without exception, every issue in my “It was such a healing practice in my life. It changed life. The real pillar of strength that I have from the practice everything for me, so I’m really passionate about passing is something which I am now able to fall back on today.” that on and empowering people to practise, as opposed to Joking about her first yoga class, which she entered intimidating anyone or saying ashtanga is not for you.” unprepared and weighed down by a fish and chips supper, Why does Emma think her students love the classes so Emma shares her story. It starts with the first, brilliantly much? Because even with age and physical restrictions accepting and encouraging teacher (Gaye Hilton), who they can still practise the theory, the breathing and the helped kickstart Emma’s life-change via the breathing, bandha, she says. bandha and asana practices of Ashtanga Yoga. “I also think it’s the feeling. That feeling that you can’t put “I smelt like a chip shop throughout the first class! Here into words when you finish a yoga class and you feel at one were all these floaty, bendy people ... ethereal beings with everything around you, and you have that pleasing wandering around, so smiley and happy. And, I thought: ‘I blank, for once, in your mind. You’re not thinking about want a piece of this.’ The teacher was ‘well, you’ve had your what you’re having for tea or which bill you are paying next fish and chips, let’s get on with it’. I felt so amazing after that ... you’re just happy and chilled. class. At last! Here is something that has addressed the part “I think they practise it for that – and also they feel of me that nothing else has. empowered by the practice. I teach a lot of the same “I don’t think I ate fish and chips after that. That’s the women different styles of yoga. What they say about other thing yoga sorted out. Yoga completely addressed the ashtanga is that they feel empowered mentally and my nutrition. I had tried every diet but I never addressed emotionally stronger, which is the real value of it for me as the questions: why am I eating too much? Why is it that I’m well. And obviously it does have its physical benefits. They eating the wrong things? As always it was things to do with see this as something that has blown away the concept that the self, with emotional reasons, things I hadn’t let go of – age is a barrier to your practice.” and hangups – and yoga deals with all those samskaras, Teachers including David Swenson, David Williams, those blockages, over time. I studied nutrition and started Dr Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and Liz Lark have taught Emma, a to love and respect myself, and my body, and wanted to self-proclaimed Type A personality who invests constantly look after it rather than use it as a dustbin.” in ongoing training to improve her service. Committed You can experience Emma’s energy first-hand on 7th July to offering accessible yoga, she shares free tutorials on at the upcoming BWY Northern Festival, at her ‘Ashtanga YouTube and is committed to offering retreats, at home and Yoga for Everyone’ session. It’s an accessible introduction abroad, that try to be as affordable as they are inclusive. to ashtanga basics: the breathing, the bandha and a She tells her students – many of whom are trainee teachers modified standing sequence. Can’t make it? Tune in to her – to retreat for the benefit of “feeling the rush of what you yoga videos, which are watched worldwide on her YouTube need to do at this moment of time”. channel. “My creative impulse to become a yoga teacher came “It’s mind-blowing to think that someone is looking at out of my first ever retreat. I was getting so trapped in my your little YouTube class in northern England from, I don’t lecturing job, but on retreat, I just felt that I’d come home to know, California … but it’s part of my service, my seva to the myself. There are no jobs to do, no chores, you are out of yoga community. And, it’s liberating to do a class in your your habitual space. You have time to reflect on where you pyjamas without people watching you. You are practising, are going, what you want and don’t want. just without the formality of a class.” “Retreats are really powerful things. Some people don’t

32 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine know how to retreat, so I say that I used to just take my yoga teaching in the Sanskrit language. sutras, my books and my mat. You meet like-minded people “Some people have their one school, but I feel so complex and interact with the community. Save up, do it. Anybody can and changeable that all types of yoga are my school. Some retreat – I’ve taught amputees, people with back issues, blind days you might feel lethargic, some days energetic, some days people – however people arrive, they can do the yoga. No you are confident, some days you need waking up. I love the question. Whatever style it is they can do it. They modify. whole spectrum of yoga we can practise. I’m a yoga evangelist “On retreat I usually have beginners, intermediates and the in general. However you do it, it’s going to be good!” ‘walking wounded’, as I call them. I teach four or five different Emma’s closing advice for students and teachers is to stay options per move, so people can take responsibility for the open-minded and to do your Simhasana (Lion Pose) with practice and choose what’s best for them. The pressure’s off, abandon, leaving self-consciousness at the class door. so they do what they want to do.” “Whatever preconceived ideas you might have about yoga Rather than subscribing to one school of yoga, Emma says and your abilities, let go of that. Just find the right teacher and she embraces a range of yoga practices, is interested in go for it. And enjoy it. Stay flexible, breathe and be happy. exploring the martial arts and is dedicated to studying and Life’s short, so enjoy it.” MIND BODY SPIRIT

Teaching yoga for people living with cancer

Brought together by a shared passion for yoga, Caroline Baya and Denise Steward, both health professionals and BWY teachers, describe their experiences of teaching yoga to people living with cancer.

Caroline has practised yoga for 28 years and qualified as or having relapsed and receiving palliative care. A cancer a yoga teacher six years ago. Caroline works as a breast diagnosis can completely change people’s lives and future cancer specialist nurse for the NHS and underwent the outlook, as well as decimate people’s sense of wellbeing. BWY module: Yoga for people living with Cancer with Julie Long-term effects of cancer and its treatments can radically Friedeberger in 2013. Apart from teaching a general yoga change the different layers of the human being: the physical class and offering one-to-one sessions, Caroline has set – mental – emotional and spiritual aspects of being and up a yoga class for people living with cancer within a local living. Cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy and cancer charity. Working with people affected by cancer drug therapies, can cause symptoms of fatigue, limitation makes her keenly aware of how yoga can positively support of range of movements, stiffness and achiness of muscles the healing processes. and joints, breathlessness, lymphoedema (swelling due Denise works as an Occupational Therapist within palliative to impairment of the lymphatic system), neuropathic pain care at St Helena, which provides day therapy and hospice (sensory changes), altered body image and a multitude services for people living with life limiting conditions. Prior of other symptoms. People can feel “frozen” and dis- to working at St Helena, Denise became interested in what connected with their body as a result of the traumatising yoga could offer to palliative patients to support them at such experience of the type of cancer that has taken a hold of difficult times in their lives. With this in mind, and as a BWY the physical body. The sense of loss of control and trust teacher, she felt compelled to undertake Julia Friedeberger’s in the function of the body can manifest itself in different IST day and then signed up to complete her module. Denise ways. People with cancer may find that they tend to hold joined St Helena at a time when groups were expanding and their breath in fear of letting go, as holding it together is a the opportunity to introduce yoga became a reality. way of coping. Un-awareness of how tension can increase symptoms of discomfort, unease and restlessness may Living with cancer reduce the healing process of body and mind. The overall With the growing number of people living with cancer it change of how we perceive ourselves and our identity would be unlikely if there were no people living with cancer, as a human being can be challenged by the cancer and in a yoga class that you teach. People are often successfully everything else that relates to treating it. treated or in remission, undergoing continuing treatment

42 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine Yoga in action Responses from participants include: Caroline says that teaching Yoga for People Living with Cancer • A sense of achievement, when they didn't think it possible has demonstrated the benefits that yoga offers to students. • Improved joint mobility Students will express hope that yoga will help reduce • Using breathing and relaxation techniques outside of discomfort, stiffness and tightness in their body, lessen the sessions to cope with stress fatigue, improve quality of sleep, reduce the anxious thoughts • Improved concentration and worried feelings. • An informal shared experience Setting up a yoga class exclusively for people living with cancer has highlighted the need for yoga that focuses on • Moments of tranquillity and peace the healing qualities and a gentle approach for restoring and improving wellbeing. Practice commonalities for both settings Working closely with a local cancer charity is a great support • Gentle stretching to ease out tension and stiffness when setting up a new class – they help to advertise and • Slow rotational movements of neck/shoulders/hips promote the yoga programme to people who are undergoing or • Pawanmuktasana practice have completed treatment. • Breath and body sequences and gentle asanas Nearly three years ago, Denise set up and ran the Gentle • Breath awareness practices: e.g. cleansing breath (hiss, Yoga Group, aimed at those living in the community. It offers sigh, blow), diaphragmatic breath, ocean breath eight participants six sessions of weekly yoga, for six weeks; • Meditation practices (focus on breath, object or mantra) now led by a volunteer Yoga Teacher and supported by a Rehabilitation Assistant. • Guided visualisations and relaxation Denise said: “It is important that the environment provides a comfortable and calm space. We use the lounge in the old part Recommendations for teachers of the Hospice, which is a grade II listed building, with ancient • Gain basic knowledge on cancer, effects and treatments wooden beams overhead and windows looking out onto the • Complete specific training (e.g. BWY Module: Teaching beautiful gardens and lake. Complemented by birdsong, the Yoga for People Living with Cancer) abundance of nature is drawn into the session, often with a visit • Network to share wisdom, support and to be inspired from the Hospice cat, Paddy!” • Keep class sizes small (max eight students) As the majority of participants are often unable to get on • Adapt and modify your teaching to the needs of students and off the floor and can experience fatigue, the class is • Create a pleasant environment (comfy, clean, light and warm) predominately seated with occasional standing postures and gentle movement and breath sequences. For group members to • Stimulate the senses with music, fragrance (pure oils), feel comfortable throughout the session, the room has a mixture views from the window (if possible), soft mats and blankets of soft comfortable chairs, reclining arm chairs and upright • Have fun and lead with kindness and patience chairs for specific practices, such as Pawanmuktasana. • Look after yourself – it's not easy to witness others suffering There are no energetic postures, complex poses or breath holding techniques, as these could cause physical A practice to ease tension in the spine and ribcage distress. Participants wear relaxed clothing and there is an Lie on your mat in semi-supine with knees bent – hip-distance emphasis on self-monitoring, amid a relaxed environment. apart – and feet parallel flat on the floor. Arms rest on the Denise said: “We encourage participants to listen to their floor, slightly away from the body, palms facing down. Head bodies, rest when they need to and take care to avoid any centred and chin tucked slightly in. Close your eyes if that specific areas of concern. Within the session there are moments feels comfortable and, with a slow expansive in-breath, raise of silence, chat and laughter, creating an informal atmosphere.” the arms up towards the ceiling and lower them down behind Prior to a participant attending the group, a short interview your head (or as high as feels restful). Feel the lift in the front tool is used to discuss any considerations relating to the of the body and the length in your spine. Slowly lower the person’s conditions, difficulties and concerns. Denise explained: arms back by your side, as you breathe out steadily. Repeat “It is useful to know relevant details of medical history, such as five times, which helps to slow down the breath and centre the any bone metastases (where the cancer has spread), palliative awareness of being fully supported on the floor. treatments, pre-existing conditions and, importantly, reasons for attending the group. This allows people to know what to expect References: before they attend the session – hopefully, reassured that no Julie Friedeberger (2011) The Healing Power of Yoga. New Delphi: Lycra is required!” Books A short evaluation tool is used for participants to rate their Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Lorenzo Cohen. Timothy McCall, Shirley Telles tension before and after the group and how they are feeling (2016) The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care. Edinburgh: emotionally. Although subjective, scores tend to fall towards the Handspring Publishing. lower end of tension by the end of the session.

Caroline Baya Denise Steward [email protected] [email protected]

The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 43 I have been reflecting on the paths of yoga that we may This is what the internet allows, so you must use it travel. Note the MAY travel, not must travel. with as much thought as writing a letter, buying a stamp, Is one path better than the other or just a different path addressing it to the recipient and walking to the post box for a different individual? To a great extent this is complex, (in the pouring rain). Here is an interesting point: say the though simple. All that’s needed is some guidance and recipient just bins it. All your work has amounted to nothing personal reflection to find the path that suits us as an – unlike the internet where we have an audience. individual. Remembering that on the journey it may be right The individual – that’s the easy one. What about the path to get off the chosen path and travel another one for a of an organisation? Does it have a fixed Rome? Probably while. It’s a bit like any journey we take – we can plan the not. The only certainty in life is change – and although the route well but find that unexpected roadworks or problems driver may have an initial plan, what does the driver do make getting off the road the sensible thing to do. when all the passengers have differing views? All valid. If you are in a car, traffic jams are a real pest; however, if Remember my previous bus article with driver, conductor you are on a motorbike it’s not quite the same challenge. and passengers? A situation that is challenging but So no journey is ever exactly the same for every individual. achievable. All the passengers know where the bus is It’s reasonably challenging applying this to the many going; it’s a fixed route and they can get off and on when modes of transport that exist, always complicating it by they like. For the bus has one fixed Rome. rationalising where our personal Rome is. It would also However, an organisation’s journey to Rome cannot be be easy to listen to the passengers conflicting views and set in concrete, it must be like a blancmange – wobbly become confused. Imagine you were driving a bus full of and adjustable. There is real sense in the old saying: “You passengers and they all had the ability to speak to you cannot please all of the people all of the time, but you can instantly, whenever they wanted. Waaaahhhh! please some of the people some of the time”.

A tree in a high wind bends and flexes to the will of the wind; the stiff tree is blown over.

The I Ching (the book of changes) states that: as a boat at sea we can always go forward, but often the pace of change will be governed by circumstance. In a head wind the skipper tacks across the wind, making progress slowly but steadily. In a following gale-force wind, something called a sheet anchor is thrown over the stern to slow and steady the boat. The boat still makes progress but with the passengers at ease. I close with two quotes from Lao-tzu (Tao te Ching): “It is not wise to rush about.” “Restraint begins by giving up one's own ideas.” Do all

paths lead BROTHER BOB to Rome?

References: Chapter 5. Lao Tsu (1988) Tao Te Ching. Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. Aldershot: Wildwood House. Chapter 59. Lao Tsu (1988) Tao Te Ching. Translated by Gia-Fu Feng 44 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine and Jane English. Aldershot: Wildwood House. Hot Yoga by WENDY TEASDILL

We know: yoga is hot at the moment. And Hot Yoga Pam Peake, a Fellow of the American College of Sports is on fire. It was (now somewhat Medicine and its national spokesperson, says: "Detox is disgraced) who initiated the introduction of heat into a hot issue … it needs to be corrected in a serious sort of the yoga studio. His reasoning was that by reproducing way." the heat of his native Calcutta, his students’ flexibility It is probable that the popularity of Hot Yoga is due to and endurance would be increased. It is said to detox the stressful circumstances of modern living. Hot Pod the body and many people (myself included) feel Yoga classes are springing up like mushrooms: just one transformed after a session of Bikram. hour of Hot Yoga Flow flicks the switch from victim to Hot Yoga is everywhere – whether re-branded as victor. Practice acclimatises us. If the first session leaves Fierce Grace or done in a Hot Pod – and people are us feeling half-dead, the chances are that the after-high often drawn to it on account of the challenge, rather than will send us back again and again. Or not. the search for spiritual evolution. But does it justify its Maybe Hot Yoga is more of an evolution than a fad. popularity or is it just a fad? Sweating has long been associated with ritual. From the Generally speaking, heat accelerates transformation. Scythians of Central Asia in the fifth century BC to the When we cook food we speed up certain reactions to Mesoamerican Aztecs and Olmecs. Sweat-lodges have a create an alchemical transformation. Eggs, flour, sugar place in the global inheritance for cleansing, healing and and baking powder magically become cake. Bikram the raising of consciousness. Secular sweating has also Yoga is done in a room heated up to 42 degrees and always been popular – the Celts constructed vapour- Hot Yoga Flow is generally slightly cooler – a mere 37 baths for the treatment of rheumatism and the Finnish degrees. When we perform strenuous yoga postures at sauna blends both social and sacred elements. And heat a high temperature the body is more pliable. There is has always been part of yoga. A literal interpretation of vasodilation of the capillaries to augment blood supply `Tapas’ – the third of the Niyamas – is `burning heat’, to the muscles and skin, and the body responds by implying the fire of discipline. Ashtanga Yoga uses Mula sweating – a response designed to cool the body in a Bandha, Ujjayi and repetition to stoke up the inner fire. desperate reach for homeostasis. But there is no cooling. Bhastrika fuels the heat whereby to awaken Kundalini – In any kind of hot yoga situation, the sweat pours freely the goal of yoga. onto the yoga towel and it is necessary to hydrate well In his book Pranayama, Andre Van Lysebeth talks before, during and after the practice. The sweat flushes about the sauna effect in relation to Prana and negative out salt, potassium, ammonia and urea, and it’s important ions. He entertains the idea of Prana in the form of to re-load the body with electrolytes. Sebum – the body’s electrified energy, and posits the theory that the reason natural oil – is secreted to the surface, bestowing a we feel so refreshed after sweating at a high temperature vibrant glow. It sounds and feels good. is by the discharge of the positive ions (the bad guys) Not all people are enamoured of Hot Yoga. What might and influx of negative ions (the good guys). And so – be impossible in a cold room becomes achievable in a maybe it’s just up to each of us to decide for ourselves. hot room. The heat not only eases out the muscles but Moderation is another underpinning principle of yoga and can also tease out ligaments, making the body liable a good teacher will avert over-stretching and pre-empt to over-stretching and injury. One can easily become dizziness. Why burn out when we can glow? dizzy and disorientated in the heat. Detoxing claims are References said to have no scientific basis. It’s the job of the liver 1 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-check-yoga-does-not- and the kidneys to detox and, though some toxins will release-toxins-from-the-body/(11.4.’18) be eliminated by sweating, the benefit is limited. Dr 2 Lysebeth, Andre van, Pranayama (1979) Unwin Paperbacks

45 www.bwy.org.uk/national/regional-website REGIONS

Wales All Wales gathering with Monica Voss HALLIWELL CENTRE, CARMARTHEN: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2018 London

This year, the All Wales Gathering is pleased to be hosting Spoilt for choice this Monica Voss, as she tours the UK for the 29th year. Monica was originally trained by Esther Myers and in Toronto and has been teaching for 35 years. She now runs summer in London one of the most well-established teacher-training programs in Canada. The London region has an exciting few months ahead, Monica’s approach to yoga is deeply reflective, subtle and starting on Saturday 24th June with an afternoon of free student-centred. She describes her practice as Thinking yoga to celebrate International Day of Yoga. If it’s anything Body Yoga: yoga that is practised slowly, intelligently and like last year, it’ll be fully booked and terrific fun, although safely; the result being an openness and receptivity on the hopefully not 36 degrees! part of the student. The regional and festival committees have been working hard to create a range of events to suit all interests and foster a sense of community and support for teachers and non-teaching members in the London region. Your attendance and feedback are vital to make this work. Please contact your county rep with any issues or suggestions you have. Here’s what's coming up in the next few months:

• Teachers’ Forum with Lexie Williamson on The Science of Stretching – 30th June ‘As you explore, you will experience • Masterclass in Afrikan & Kemetic Yoga with Imani greater independence, pleasure and ease Francis-Pennant – 14th July • First Aid in South London – 22nd July in the body, and the joy of discovering how • Outdoor Shared Yoga & Picnic in Battersea Park you can move toward a healthy, relaxed and – 29th July energetic state of body and mind by yourself, • First Aid in North London – 2nd September • IST Day on Pair Work with Rosie Wright – 29th anytime, anywhere.’ September • IST Day on Twisting with Zoe Knott – 30th September The All Wales Gathering is a free event for all BWY members • IST Day on Chanting with Gill Lloyd – 27th October living in Wales. We will have our Annual General Meeting • The London Festival is going to be the highlight of before celebrating a day of yoga with Monica. It is a great the year, 13–14 October. See advert on page 9 for the chance to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. Please do book early onto the All Wales Gathering as spaces fantastic list of tutors and web address where you can are limited. To book, visit www.bwy.org.uk. book your place now. Don’t delay this is sure to be a sellout! Namaste Diana O’Reilly, Mid and West Wales County Rep Looking forward to joining you in practice soon. The London Committee Team Alex, Alex, Anna, Emily, Jacqueline, Jaz, Jean, Katja, Laura, Michele, Tushar

To book and for further information visit: www.bwy.org.uk/london/events/

50 The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine Scotland Southwest Grab some training Get some CPD with your on a road trip North! sunshine this year!

Scotland members are in for a real treat this year with SUMMER 2018 IN AVON, CORNWALL, DEVON, DORSET, training days held all over Scotland, including the world renowned Findhorn Foundation a pioneering eco-village GLOUCESTERSHIRE, SOMERSET, AND WILTSHIRE on the beautiful Moray Coast, near Inverness. With such interesting locations and excellent tutors, including Rajesh All over the world, including the UK, there will be BWY David and Zoe Knott, why not combine some CPD with a members planning their summer holidays and many of visit to Scotland. Glasgow and Edinburgh are roughly four them will be coming to the south-west of England with its hours by rail from Manchester and London, with rail links to stunning coastline, beautiful countryside, and a chance to Aberdeen and Inverness. get some CPD in the sun! On 1st and 2nd September 2018, the cultural city of Glasgow welcomes Rajesh David to explore Nada You can leave the family on the beach whilst you ... Yoga, simplistically described as the Yoga of Sound and beautifully experienced. Rajesh, featured in Spectrum ✓ Get your First Aid at Work Certificate spring 2018, intriguingly describes the body as having ✓ Learn how to use an Automated External Defibrillator resonating chambers which will be explored with sound ✓ Refresh yourself on how the feet affect posture, through asana, breath, movement, mantra and meditation. balance and mobility, how to restore flexible This weekend will include BWY Scotland Regional AGM articulation to the knees, and expand freedom of from 13:30–14:00 on 1st September. movement and flexibility in the hip joint On 10th November 2018, Aberdeen – the granite city ✓ Open and sensitise your Heart using simple on Scotland’s NE Coast – hosts Zoe Knott for Strength in Bhakti Yoga techniques to transform your stress, Asana. Zoe then takes a short trip further North on 11th boost your resilience, empower higher performance November 2018 to Findhorn on the beautiful Moray Coast and improve health and well-being for a day of Journeying into Backbends. Zoe’s teaching ✓ Attend a regional Festival of Yoga, where you will explores both the physical and the esoteric in building experience Somatic Healing and chill out with a strength and in a staged, safe approach to backbends. This guided relaxation training day offers a unique opportunity to visit the world ✓ Know how to Bring Patanjali to the Mat famous self-sustaining Findhorn Foundation Community, with inner listening at the heart of their everyday living. Or just take a yoga class with a local teacher to re-charge The Findhorn Foundation Eco-Village and Community those batteries and get a fresh perspective! was established 50 years ago by Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy MacLean, who lived sustainably and spiritually For more details and booking information, visit www.bwy. with meditation and nature as their guidance. org.uk/southwest/events

2018 so far ... Thanks to Anna Semlyen who visited Edinburgh last month for an informative overview of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.30 and the theme improving energy and concentration. You left us feeling inspired and, for the teachers amongst us, ready to pass this reflective wisdom on to our own students. Anna wins the Scottish prize for the most generous handouts – thank you!

To book and for further information, visit www.bwy.org.uk/ scotland/event

For more information on the Findhorn Foundation Eco- Community, visit www.findhorn.org The British Wheel of Yoga spectrum magazine 51 Wholesale prices for BWY Teachers | 10% off for BWY MeMBers range of pvc free MaTs free UK Mainland deliverY* WWW.BWY-shop.co.UK

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