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Mindful Movement Centre - Yoga

Yoga promotes training in mindfulness, body-breath awareness and spiritual empowerment. At Mindful Movement Centre we offer several different types of yoga.

At Mindful Movement Centre we offer several different types of yoga. Please read the information below to choose a style that suits your needs. • • • • • • • • • • • Vinyasa This class incorporates an evolving series of flowing asanas (postures) that synchronise the breath with the movement. This dynamic form of hatha yoga focuses on balancing strength and flexibility, body alignment and awareness, and creatively sequencing the movements to fit the students needs. This class will provide you with a workout that not only works your body, but your mind and spirit as well. Astanga This class is based on a system developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. It is a physically challenging form of Vinyasa Yoga, that combines breathe work with a progressive series of asanas. (postures) Yoga and Pilates Fusion This class is a perfect fusion of east meets west, combining elements of yoga with the core strengthening focus of Pilates. It can be quite physically challenging, but is also very effective for injury rehabilitation. Restorative Yoga A gentle practice using props suitable for all levels. Learning to connect the breath bringing awareness to the body while in supported yoga postures. This will help to relieve tension and stress. This class is very good for students recovering from ailments and illness but also a great way to balance your regular practice restoring the mind, body and senses. Budokon The physical practice of Budokon draws upon ancient and modern yogic martial arts styles to dance between agility, power, focus and flow in both the body and mind. Heavily influenced by lyengar and Ashtanga Yoga as well as Okinawan Karate-Do, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, and Olympic style Tae Kwon Do, the foundation of Budokon physical practice is precision, alignment and Zen mind. Iyengar Yoga A form of Hatha Yoga, it focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas. Through the practice of a system of asanas, it aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. This discipline is considered a powerful tool to relieve the stresses of modern-day life which in turn can help promote total physical and spiritual well-being.
		I take pleasure in recommending Leslie Parker's experienced approach to teaching Pilates and Yoga. She has a gift for elucidating the how and why of the exercises and an impeccable understanding of anatomy. Her gentle and imaginative manner in getting me to exceed what I think are my limitations has led me to surprise myself numerous times. I'm thrilled by the benefits I've derived from Leslie's training. And her sense of humour makes her a joy to work with.Lawrence Bennett

a short history of yoga

There have been many different interpretations of the word yoga passed down over the centuries. One of these comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to yoke or bind, and is often interpreted as "to unite" or "to come together". This describes the integration of the body and the mind to create a greater connection with one's own pure essential nature.

Nearly 2,000 years ago the Indian sage Patanjali compiled the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra. The Yoga Sutra is a collection of 196 observations of the nature of consciousness and liberation, and is the philosophical basis for most of the Yoga that is practiced today.

The Sutra outlines the eight limbs of yoga, Yamas (restraint), Niyamas (observance), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyani (meditation) and Samadhi (entasy or bring into harmony).

Mindful Movement Centre - A Short History of Yoga At Mindful Movement Centre, although incorporating other limbs into the classes, we will primarily focus on the third limb, Asana - the physical aspect of yoga practice.