Woodland Yoga - Saturday 13th August

The text is on the tongue ...

INTO the woods we go again - our 3rd year in this sublime venue!  

Join us to experience the heavenly setting and  share some yoga bliss .  In these 2 hour practices we explore the rich and vibrant expression & mythical poetic allegory of the Hindu Pantheon.  The timeless stories, perhaps even more relevant today, capture the illuminating wisdom teachings of yoga in a truly uplifting, unique and memorable way.   

This is the fourth of our 2022 woodland immersions and one where we'll unpack the grace of the Goddess Matangi - a tantric Saraswati and the 9th of the 10 great wisdom goddesses.  

The wisdom Goddess are,  according to ancient lore, the manifesting power of creation, preservation and dissolution.  In this full spectrum practice you can expect sacred mantra, breath awareness and pranayama along with uplifting creative asana sequences and simple kundalini kriya.  With insightful offerings of the qualities she conveys, you will gain a deeper sense of the invitation she offers to plug into these universal characterstics that exist within each of us.

Who is Matangi?

*She is the power of language to define and separate experience - have you noticed how a word for an object becomes inseparable from the object itself?

*Her light is non stealing - using language wisely but also understanding how it limits our life experience and paying attention to the language we use - towards ourselves and others.

*Her shadow is the assignment of objective truth that language produces

*Her powerful imagery depicts her with green skin from which she radiates heat. She is clad in a red silk sari the colour of creation and has a crescent moon embossed on her crown.  In her 4 hands she holds a scimitar, a veena (stringed instrument), a skull and most curiously - 2 parrots, who gaze at her and echo her speech.

*Each strum of her veena elicits an object of creation and the notes she plucks from the ether rise and dissolve into silence again and again- where do these notes go?

*Her power is to call awareness to the way language and over identification with our individuality creates separation and the process by which a thought becomes coloured as it moves towards expression in 4 distinct steps.

*Matangi is also associated with leftovers - the residue from which new creation arises...

By evoking the different Goddesses unique character, archetypal qualities and epithets we can begin to develop an understanding of their symbolism and start to make connections to our own lives - joining the dots.   In Tantra, Shakti and Shiva are two halves of the same coin.  The Goddess is Shakti; universal energy; the feminine principle.  When paired to Shiva, the masculine principle of conscious awareness, unity arises and wholeness and oneness envelope the aspirant .    

You will discover for yourself the benefits  as you are guided to extend, strengthen and integrate body, mind and spirit through the practice of yoga with the enhanced element of dharmic offerings conveyed via ancient  philosophy and inspirational mythology.  They dance together seamlessly entwining in a divinely sweet blend of illuminated knowledge and awareness.   

Our sadhana will close with a deeply relaxing guided meditation to bring us back to the heart centre with greater awareness & an enhanced perception of our own divine nature and connection to the Devi.

This event is suitable for all ages from 18+ and for all levels of yoga practitioner. Modifications and advancements in asana will be offered throughout. You will however need to be of reasonable fitness and 'sure footed' to access the venue - sensible footwear is required, no flipflops please. The woodland platform is a 10 minute walk from the farm (or a 15 minute amble if you want to pause and pretend to take in the views while you catch your breath.   Please allow yourself time to arrive and settle as the event will begin promptly at 2pm.  (I'm truly sorry but I cannot accomodate pregnant yogis at this event).

What you will need to bring with you

Each participant will need to bring a yoga mat to the venue, any props you like to use such as yoga blocks or a bolster, a warm layer or blanket for savasana, sunglasses and sun cream if weather conditions dictate this and a water bottle, camera or phones can be brought and you are welcome to take pictures - please have phones turned off during the class or set to silent/vibrate if you need to remain contactable for any reason.  You must be fit and healthy to attend this event and will be required to complete a brief health questionnaire and declaration prior to attendance, this document is entirely confidential.  

In the event of cancellation by the organiser due to poor weather or other curtailments you will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to change your booking to another date if there is availability.

Should you have any questions at all please contact me directly.