Yoga Styles at Alchemy

Ashtanga Led

Luiz will lead the students through the correct flow of the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice with emphasis on Tristhana: the three places of attention or action: asana, Ujay breath and Dristhi. These three places are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.  This class will help students to learn the series of asanas, simultaneously developing attention to pace, breathing, and the finer details of the practice.
This half primary series led class starts at 7am and will finish between 8am and 9am, depending on how far Luiz allow the student to continue into the series.

Dharma Mittra

A challenging vinyasa series created by New York’s Sri Dharma Mittra. It reintegrates the flow of prana through the spinal column and emanates deep into all areas of the physical, metabolic, intuitive, and bliss bodies, promoting harmony within all these layers so a concentrated state of radiant health is achieved. Shiva Namaskara Vinyasa have been embraced by Yogis from all styles, for the unique integration of the classical spirit of true Yoga in a completely thorough mobilisation of the corporeal body. It will bring contentment, merging complete identity with the true self, the goal of Yoga. The class begins with the vinyasa – a flowing sequence of balancing, stretching, back bending, twisting and inverted postures, followed by a specific series of static, meditative poses and concluding with a deep relaxation, pranayama and a short meditation practice.

Dynamic

Dynamic vinyasa involves the student linking  body movement with breath.  One will learn specific sequences of breath-synchronized movements used to transition between sustained postures, archetypal and iconographic hatha yoga asanas which not only cleanse, heal and strengthen the physical body but also raise the conciousness of the practitioner toward enlightenment. The practice also involves setting an intention for one’s personal yoga practice and taking the necessary steps towards reaching that goal.  Classes include Sanskrit chanting, awareness of  yogic scriptures and philosophy, meditation, music and inner and outer listening. This class is fast flowing and may not be suitable for complete beginners.

Flow

These classes are suitable for all levels of experience, even complete beginners. Students are encouraged to listen to their own mind/body dialogue, and are taught to synchronise the breath with movements while flowing dynamically yet graciously throughout a series of poses. All poses come from the practice of Hatha Yoga, and help to develop strength, flexibility, balance, precision, stamina, coordination, and grace. Each class is carefully structured to give a well balanced workout for the muscles, joints, organs, glands and nervous system. Learn to connect heart and mind through powerful Alchemy Flow and breathing techniques. Whatever your life experience, Yoga is for everyone. Learn to connect with a new inner strength, while simultaneously developing a long, strong and lean body.

Gong Meditation

The Universe is powered by sound. The gong is the basic creative sound. Out of the gong comes all music, all sounds, and all words. The sound of the gong is the nucleus of the World. It allows moving beyond the boundaries of the mind and connects us to the Source creating a sense of oneness The sound from the Gong creates deep relaxation, releasing us from our thoughts. The sound vibrates the energy meridians in the body and brings them into balance, reducing tension and releasing blocks. Kundalini energy, which begins at the base of the spine, is released, travelling up the spine through the body to align the Chakras, clean the Aura and release the subconscious mind.

Hatha

This class is a practice of asanas and pranayama to release tension and open up the body for an increased energy flow, thus promoting healing and vitality and bringing stillness and peace into the being. The class will be open to all, giving variations for students wanting more challenge.

Jivamukti

Jivamukti Yoga offers vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating yoga classes. To keep the practice inspiring, asana sequences are ever-changing, with music playing an integral role in the class. Not suitable for complete beginners.

Kundalini – An Exploration

What is the Kundalini Energy? What does it feel like? How can we expand it, work with it and manifest it within our daily lives? Jai Kartar will explore the experience of Kundalini Yoga each week in this 90 minute class using posture, pranayama, mantra, live music and meditation. Various topics, experiences and possibilities will be opened, explored and felt.

Kundalini and Gong

This class incorporates Pranayama, Kundalini Kriyas and is followed by an extended Gong Meditaion at the end.

Kundalini Meditation

A Kundalini Yoga meditation class which will include a light warm up Kriya to prepare us for a variety of deep Kundalini meditations as given by Yogi Bhajan. The class gives us the opportunity to practise longer meditations than normally taught in a regular Kundalini yoga class and aims to improve mental concentration, sharpen our awareness, helps us break through negative patterns of behaviour and give us a direct experience of consciousness.

Kundalini Shakti

Kundalini energy or Shakti, is the primal (and female) creative force within us and when experienced can open us to a deeper connection with our highest self. Jai Kartar’s style is intentionally working with this energy, Shakti – she teaches in a spontaneous way, from as much authenticity as she can bring as a woman offering these teachings and each class will bring you closer to your own authenticity and highest self. Using yoga, pranayama, meditation, live music, a little discussion and a lot of fun, the Kundalini Shakti class is open to all that come to connect.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga was brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan in 1969 and is a safe, comprehensive technology that can be practiced by everyone. It is an ancient art and science dealing with the alteration and expansion of consciousness, the awakening and raising of Kundalini Energy up the spine through energy centres called Chakras, activating them. This is accomplished by the mixing and uniting of Prana (cosmic energy) with Apana (eliminating energy) which generates pressure to force Kundalini to rise, by means of Pranayama (breathing exercises), Bhandas (body locks), in Kriyas (exercise sets), using Asanas (postures), Mudras (gestures), and Mantras (chanted words). Kundalini Yoga sets and Meditations also use Visualization, Projection, Focus and Attention to attain specific effects. Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga, an individual can unite his consciousness with Cosmic Consciousness on a regular basis by carefully performing the exercises and meditations in specific sequence and combination. A student soon becomes adept at perceiving the movement of energy within and outside of his/her body, and consciously begins to direct its flow to stimulate and awaken the chakras, for healing him/herself and others. It is the Yoga of Awareness.

Morning Sadhana

Morning Sadhana starts every Saturday Morning from 5.00am – 7.30am with the Sacred Prayer of Guru Nanak, Japji Sahib read in Gurmukhi. Then we practice an appropriate Kundalini Yoga kriya as taught by Yogi Bhajan followed by the Morning Call meditation. We finish with chanting of mantras for the Aquarian Age accompanied by live music.

Sadhana means a daily spiritual practice. Early morning Sadhana is the kindest way to clear the mind and connect with ones soul. It has rejuvenating, clarifying and nurturing effect. Regular Sadhana practice fine tunes timing, telepathy, precognition, harmonises interactions between the inner and outer worlds, produces a positive attitude, a happy disposition and success! You will become a source for good on the Earth. For more details contact Siri Sadhana on: sirisadhana@hotmail.com

Mysore class

The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga yoga tradition as taught by Sri K.Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore There are some differences in this method from the usual modern way in which yoga is taught:

-  all instruction is one-on-one within the group class setting
-  students practice their own portion of the Ashtanga sequence of asanas at their own pace
-  Luiz will assist each student individually by giving physical adjustments and verbal instructions whilst guiding them through the series of asanas.

Each student is given their yoga routine according to their ability with emphasis always on the Tristhana: three places of attention or action: asana, Ujay breath and Dristhi (focus point)

One advantage of the “Mysore” method is that, because it teaches yoga according to one’s individual capacity, it accommodates everyone of all levels even those without any prior yoga experience; and hence the class is neither too difficult nor not advanced enough for anyone.

Students can arrive at any time after 7am, and practice should last from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the individual’s ability and stamina.

Power Hour

Any minute you can spare for your practice is a minute well spent but we understand a busy schedule may not allow for this. The Alchemy Power Hour is the perfect way to squeeze your practice into your schedule. Come for an hour before work or on your lunch break and leave feeling nourished, relaxed and focused for the rest of your day. The style of practice varies on the teacher, but an intense workout of the mind body and spirit is guaranteed!

Restorative and Meditation

In this class we will practise gentle yoga postures and meditation. Holding a posture to push the limits of our mind and experiencing its resistance through chatty behaviour or judgemental nature. Allowing to accept the posture through breathing and focusing that leads to restored body and relax mind ready for meditation. Come and experience a yogic way to rejuvenate and relax. This is an open class. All levels welcome.

Yin

Physically, Yin Yoga restores and maintains the natural mobility of the joints, primarily between the navel and the knees. Energetically, Yin Yoga opens the body’s meridian system, which enhances the body’s energetic flow and supports emotional equilibrium. As the practice emphasises stillness and silence, Yin Yoga prepares both the body and the mind for deeper experiences in meditation. In this class we will aim to create a safe and supportive environment in which to explore the immense benefits of yin yoga. Through a combination of yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and restorative properties of mindfulness, with therapeutic holding and candle meditation in conjunction with a very specific style of music, we bring awareness with softness. The yoga sequences used in the class are designed to bring balance back to the nervous system through working with the connective tissue in the spine and hips, which are often the seat of a lot of emotional and physical holding. Students will learn to release tension without getting caught in the same mental loops, how to stay with uncomfortable sensations in a safe setting, while also learning how to create joy, release and contentment.

Yogasana

Yogasana is for the entire human being… It addresses the body, mind, senses, intelligence, emotions, psyche,conciousness and the conscience.”(Prashant Iyengar). These classes incorporate Vinyasa krama, linking breath to asanas, creating a dynamic practice which includes, pranayama, music and yoga philosophy.

Yoga Basics

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

This class aims to help introduce and practise the fundamental yoga poses that appear in all styles of yoga, whilst concentrating on healthy alignment, establishing a deeper connection with your body, and mindful awareness of  your breathing. You will  be offered tools to help you practise ways of understanding and calming your thoughts so you can enter a space where you can learn to relax, find peace and begin to explore your full potential. The focus is on  healing the body, rather than hurting the body, taught with safety, compassion and lightness – supported by an anatomical understanding of the body, so as to provide a safe platform from which to practise.

Here is a schedule of what our six-week course entails:

Week 1: The first class on the course will introduce key aspects of the practice: Yogic Breathing, Sun Salutations, Meditation and deep relaxation.
All further classes will build on this foundation.
Week 2: Connecting the with Earth: Standing postures and grounding postures.
Week 3: The Body as Energy: The Chakras (energy centres of the body) We will be practicing back bending and side stretches.
Week 4: The Body as a Perfect Instrument: Working with Sound and Breath through postures as well as a focus on inversions.
Week 5: Yogic Philosophy and Balancing postures.
Week 6: Combining all elements that we have learnt over the weeks students will start to develop an over all picture of Yoga and its practices.

Yoga Open

Yoga Open classes are our general yoga classes. For those who wish to simply explore the practice of yoga without necessarily adhering to any particular style, yoga open classes will vary according to the instruction of the particular teacher. Whether you are a complete beginner or well established in your practice, all are welcome here!