Category Archives: Community

International Day of Yoga June 21

Posted on June 19, 2015

June 21st is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In India, the first full moon after the Summer Solstice is known as Guru Purnima where the Guru or teacher is honored. According to yoga legend, the first transmission of yoga by Shiva (the first Guru) is said to have begun on this day.

The United Nations has declared June 21st as International Day of Yoga, following a proposal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and with nature.”

Yogawest is open as usual on Sunday (and as it’s also Fathers Day, we are expecting a bumper crowd of Dads coming to classes during the day!). Sam is teaching her 10am general class and her 11.45am intermediate class; Diana is teaching the Sunday evening general class at 6pm.

It’ll be worth making it to class on Sunday if you can: the knowledge that many thousands of yogis around the world will be practising at the same time will lend a special something to the energy of the classes.
If you can’t make it, then you may be interested to see the sequence that Geeta Iyengar has suggested… you could choose elements (or all!) of this and practice at home instead. Sunday coincides with the Iyengar convention in Exeter this weekend, and many of our teachers and students will be there following this sequence led by Birjoo Mehta from Mumbai.

Download poster from IYNAUS (US Iyengar Association) showing poses in silhouette: IYNAUS-Intl-Yoga-Day-2015

Download list of Geeta Iyengar’s suggested sequence

Posted in Advanced, Beginners, BKS Iyengar, Bristol, Classes, Community, General, Health, India, Intermediate, Teachers, Yoga

£320 Charity cheque to FORWARD

Posted on May 30, 2015

Following the marvellous workshop that Lizzie taught for International Women’s Day in March 2015, Lizzie delivered a cheque for £320 to FORWARD.

Thank you to all of that came to the workshop and the talk and tea & cakes event and donated so generously.

Lizzie hands over the money collected for FORWARD from the generous students at Yogawest

See photos from the event here

Posted in Charity, Classes, Community, General, studio, Teachers, Workshop, Yoga

Baby Massage Taster Session

Posted on April 24, 2015

Baby Massage taster session

Taster Session Thursday May 21, 12-15 to 1.15pm
£3 refunded if the course is booked.

Please call to reserve a place – bring a pillow for your baby on the day.

Find out more here

Posted in baby massage, Community, massage, pregnancy

Valentine Yoga Gift

Posted on January 22, 2015

February Love Yoga Offer

We all know how good yoga is for the heart, and to celebrate the month of love, we invite you to give a free yoga class to someone you love who hasn’t yet been to Yogawest: perhaps a family member, neighbour or friend. Your nominated friend can choose to come to a class (between Feb 14th and Mar 14th), or have a £15 discount off a 5-week foundation course (to be booked before Mar 31st and started before end April).

How to Get A Free Class Voucher

Email Yogawest and give us the name and email address of the person you’d like to give a Valentine Yoga Gift to. We will email them a voucher which can be redeemed at reception (no booking required for drop-in classes).

Or if you prefer the tangible, we can make you a gift voucher – ask us to leave one for you at reception to collect.

How to Redeem Your Voucher

The free class is valid between February 14th and March 14th and is for any beginner or general class on the timetable: email us to book your place (quote your voucher number LOVE+Vxx or LOVE+EVxx ), or just turn up 10 minutes early with your voucher to register. Please bring your voucher with you when you come.

Alternatively you can use your voucher as a £15 discount off any foundation course starting before end April 2015 (must be booked before March 31st).

Which Class is Good to Come To?

All our classes are listed here and you can drop in to most of them without booking (except foundation courses). We would recommend attending a beginner class for the first visit, (one of the quieter classes is on Wednesday at 9.15am). If you are quite fit you could also come to a general class (one of the quieter ones is Friday 12.30pm). Either way, do let the teacher know you are new. Find out more about Yogawest and read FAQs here.

Thank you to our teenager class for the wonderful heart images.

Posted in Beginners, Community, foundation, Gifts, Offers, timetable, Yoga

Children’s yoga panto Dec 2014

Posted on December 9, 2014

The children’s yoga group wrote and performed their very own yoga panto this year which was quite stupendous.

yogawest-childyogapanto2014-577

See some of the photos below (and if you have any more please send them to us!)

The children’s class at Yogawest is on Tuesday afternoons and runs as a course during termtime.

Posted in Bristol, Children, Christmas, Classes, Community, Yoga

Baby Development – short course

Posted on December 2, 2014

Monday 2.00 – 3.15pm

2 week baby development starter course with Jocasta Crofts Dates Dec 8, 15

In a session Jocasta teaches you about your baby’s development and offers practical ways to support it through play. She does this through body-based exploration, hands-on care and play-based activities, all within a safe setting. This 2 week course will provide a taster of the full course we are planning for the new year.

Places are available on this course to find out more go here

Posted in baby massage, Children, Classes, Community

Movember at Yogawest

Posted on September 29, 2014

Mike’s 2013 Movember moustache

We are challenging all Yogawest students (and teachers!) to support the Movember challenge by growing a moustache during the month of November in order to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as testicular and prostate cancer and mental health.

Not a man? No problem – we will have a variety of Kohl pencils at reception and you can ‘grow’ your moustache each week.

You can officially register to raise money for Movember here but whether or not you register, you can still take part at Yogawest. We will take a group photo of all the moustaches at the end of the month and prizes will be awarded!

Email us to register your hirsute pursuit.

Watch this space for updates and photos as they happen.

Posted in Beginners, Charity, Classes, Community, Competition, Health, Intermediate, Movember, Yoga

Bristol Yoga Trail 2014

Posted on August 4, 2014

Yogawest are once again a venue for the Bristol Yoga Trail on Saturday September 13th 2014.

There are free taster classes throughout the day, starting with the 11.30am general, and 30-min tasters in the afternoon including a children’s class and a gentle class, so do tell your friends. And there’ll be plenty of tea, cake and an opportunity to chat to the Yogawest teachers in the garden (we hope!).

Yogawest timetable on the day

9.45-11.15 Intermediate class as normal – usual fees apply
10-11.15 Beginner class as normal – usual fees apply
11.30-1 general class – free, all welcome
1.30-2 taster class, all welcome
2.30-3 children’s taster class, age 6+
3.30-4 taster class, all welcome
4.30-5 gentle class, all welcome, especially those who think yoga is not for them!

Download the flyer here and we look forward to seeing you and your friends then.

Posted in Beginners, Children, Classes, Community, Health, studio, Yoga

b&b for Yogawest workshops

Posted on July 21, 2014

Can you offer a bed to a visitor to Yogawest?

When we run workshops we provide a list of Yogawest students and friends who might be able to put up visitors travelling to us from far away. This is an informal b&b arrangement and we suggest a fee of £25-£30/night to cover costs.

Our list has diminished recently as circumstances have changed, and we’d like to populate it with some more suggestions of people who might be able to offer a bed.

If you live near Yogawest and can offer a bed, please let us know your contact details and we’ll add you to the list.

Many thanks!

Posted in accommodation, Community, Yoga

What do people think of Yogawest?

Posted on April 23, 2014

Read some of the comments we have received from regular students at Yogawest. We’d love to hear what you think: please email us your feedback.

Thank you to YogaWest for hosting the PD day. It feels a welcoming and inclusive yoga space.

Jane

Before the new year is any older I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Friday morning classes last term. I find Edgar’s teaching to be stimulating though deceptively gentle and full of insight, he also has a very nice sense of humour.
I’m looking forward to seeing you on the 10th and wish you a happy new year

Meg

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to Diana for a fantastic Yoga class this morning. It’s been a busy few months getting married and teaching throughout the Autumn term and so I haven’t been able to make a class in a while. This morning was just what I needed; calm and peaceful and just the right amount of challenge. We also did 3 of my favourite asanas which was the cherry on top! Thank you for being brilliant! 🙂

Charlie

Edgar is an inspiring teacher with a calming, yet at the same time, energising presence. He moved the class at a pace that enabled me to fully absorb his very detailed description and direction, and I felt I was able to focus and become more intune with myself and the yoga I was practicing. I was able to let go of my busy, stressful week and I left the class feeling warm and peaceful. Thank you Edgar!

Tori

Could you please pass on to Tamara that baby Ruairí arrived safe and sound. I had been attending her antenatal yoga classes for most of my pregnancy and found them really great – they were one place and time when I forgot I was pregnant (in a good way) and was able to create a feeling of space in my body for a few hours.
Please pass on my best to Tamara, and my gratitude for a great class. I only wish she did postnatal classes as well!

Ciara Molloy

Many, many thanks for inviting Bobby to teach us at Yogawest. She was BRILLIANT – I would say I am her biggest fan but I think that maybe you are!!
Please can we beg her to return for a full weekend on Menopause Yoga – I have women quite literally crying on me for more details.
Lots of love to you
and thanks for all your hard work
All the best

Hilly

I love Yogawest, it’s like a little sanctuary amongst the hustle and bustle of Bristol.

My favourite teachers are Diana and Andrea. Both are fantastic at creating a relaxed and positive atmosphere with just enough demonstration and talk to understand the poses. They are also both extremely patient and warm.

I love the peaceful and relaxed studio. The equipment is of high quality and in good condition to use.

My fiancee and I also enjoyed a lovely complimentary herbal tea on the patio outside on a rare sunny day; lovely hospitality!

My only wish is that there might be some general Yoga sessions on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. As I have a busy job with early mornings in the week, I enjoy a good lie-in at the weekend so sometimes have to choose between Yoga or a lie-in. I would love to be able to do both :).

Keep up the brilliant and wonderful work 🙂

Charlie

I LOVE it!!! You have transformed the place from a cold hall into a warm and inviting yoga hub!! When i walk up the path it feels like I’m returning to my spiritual home! (I know i can be dramatic but I’m not exaggerating, it really does feel like that!)

The colour and pictures on the walls and the smiley faces and the chit chat before classes have transformed the dynamic of the whole building, which in turn has changed how the students behave. Not being a shy person (!), I found it quite hard when i first came to Yogawest that no one really spoke to each other, apart from the odd whisper. Now there is the perfect balance of friendly chatter and peaceful calm.

If I lived closer I would come every day!!

I tell everyone how amazing it is too!

Although I am a realist, and there is always room for improvement …….. HOT-TUB! HOT-TUB! HOT-TUB!!

Naomi

Yogawest is a very special place and it has an infectiously friendly atmosphere. The teaching is second to none.

Laurence

I love Yogawest. It is my favourite place to be next to home. Thank you

Coo

A brilliant find! A real help in my daily life and has been a brilliant medicine to depression/anxiety in the aversia of taking prescriptions.

Amanda

If I had a zip wire from my home to Yogawest, the world would be a better place.

Fab teaching, great atmosphere and a wonderfully equipped yoga studio. All the best ingredients combined to produce an enriching experience.

Andrea

I would recommend the centre to anyone and everyone. Consistently very high standard of teaching. Friendly and warm environment. Couldn’t live without it! Thank you Diana & Mike.

Lucy

MY LITTLE OASIS. The place I can escape to and enjoy some “me time”. What a beautiful location and the best teachers. So lucky to have found it!

Emma

I have seen Yogawest transform into a place of beauty, excellence and warm hearted wholeness. The feeling of community spirit is here and after 18 years I am still as in love with it as I ever was

Jocasta

What keeps me coming is the freedom to fit class around my life, the mix of excellent teachers and variety of classes. I am always learning something new.

Deb

The stresses and strains of the week melt away within one class. Highly recommended!

Claire

Posted in Beginners, Classes, Community, Teachers, Yoga