Exploring the Benefits: Iyengar Yoga Workshops

Uncertain about committing to more than a short class? …. Here’s how a workshop could be beneficial for your practice...

• More Depth:

More time gives an opportunity to experience yoga poses in a bit more depth. Sometimes that means more detail, or even taking more time to understand and prepare the body to achieve a more difficult pose.

If we take a pose like Padmasana as an example, which involves leg folding - in a short class situation, it may not be possible to achieve the pose. However, in a workshop where we have longer to work on bringing movement to the hips, the pose may become more achievable.

• Different Teaching Styles:

We all have our teachers we love and the ones we resonate with. However, different teachers can offer us fresh perspectives and insights that may have been hidden before. Varied approaches can bring new understanding, complementing, and expanding on classes with our regular teachers.

 Although Iyengar yoga teachers begin with a similar standard of teaching, you will find our styles of teaching still vary! Each teacher will bring their own unique personality and experience into their classes and workshops. Also with the various paths in yoga - each teacher will express their knowledge based on their own individual interests and focus.

• They’re Fun!

Yes, a workshop can be fun! Often new ways of approaching poses are introduced, and you may find you achieve a pose you couldn’t have imagined doing before. Yes, they can sometimes be more physically demanding than a class, but workshops are always paced accordingly. And, although we may sometimes work more intensely, there is often much more time for discussion and also relaxation as well.

• Community

Meeting like-minded people and spending a morning or day together with people who all have a shared interest in Iyengar yoga. Friendships are made, props, laughs, and smiles are shared.

• Mind/Body - Connection

With a longer time to explore yoga poses and the breath, there is more opportunity to feel a connection between the body and the mind. Workshops can also leave us with renewed motivation and inspiration in our yoga practice.

• Exploring Different Themes

Even when a workshop doesn’t have a titled theme, the teacher will generally approach the workshop with a theme in mind. It may be the focus is backbends, or for the health of the spine, or even how to integrate yoga philosophy into our practice. A workshop can be an opportunity to focus on a particular part of our yoga practice.

• Philosophy and Other Aspects of Yoga

Yoga isn’t just a physical exercise. In a workshop, we have more time to bring philosophy into the practice and look at different aspects of yoga in a bit more detail.

There are lots more reasons! We would love to hear your experiences..…

You can check out our current Yoga Metta workshops here