September 2024 Newsletter – Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre

hope everyone has had fun, relaxed, enjoyed the outdoors, the abundance of nature and the long hours of daylight. Tim and I have been in the countryside of Mid and Southern France, practising our yoga and tai chi respectively, swimming in rivers and lakes, reading and eating delicious food. Perfect restoration, recharging our batteries and giving us space and time to appreciate all that we have.

One of the books I took with me was the Bhagavad Gita, The Song of the Lord. It is a classic yoga book and probably the best-known of all Indian scriptures. The backdrop is a battlefield, which seemly is about a war but it is really about the battle within us, the exploration of consciousness, the struggle for self-mastery, to live a life that is meaningful, fulfilling and worthwhile. An early and universal message written down to inform us that there is more to life than the everyday experience of our senses, it asks and answers questions about how to live effectively in a world of challenge and change, and so despite being written maybe 1000 years BC it is universally relevant to us all.

In the dialogue between Arjuna the warrior and Krishna an incarnation of God, Krishna says

“On this path (of yoga) effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear” 2:39.

New Classes & Courses

As the evenings draw gently in and we settle back into our daily rhythms of work and school, the teachers and therapists at the Dorchester Yoga and Therapy Centre resume their weekly and monthly offerings, and the timetable is full once again. As always there are changes and classes that come and go and we are pleased to offer a new beginners class on Monday evenings with Claire Jones, and welcome a new teacher Maxine Craig teaching Zen Yoga on Monday mornings.

We are very excited to have Dr Kausthubha Desikachar with us again in September to teach the 3-year Viniyoga Yoga Therapy Course.

We have 5 teachers involved in this Advanced Level traditional training, Kim Mackie, Fred Burnham, Arianna Moretti, Sarah Ryan and myself. This will bring some disruptions to the timetable whilst it runs from the 5th to the 15th of September. But as with the last year and a half, the centre will be filled with Vedic chanting and a marvellous energy, the teachers will deepen their knowledge, and everyone will be the better for it! If anyone would like to have a private session with Kausthubha please contact Sarah Ryan at saryan6630@googlemail.com

We are also very happy to welcome back Derek Thorne. Deeply established in the teachings of Advaita Vedanta (the oneness at the heart of all things) Derek is able to bring clear, insightful and inspiring vision to these timeless teachings and to articulate them with clarity and flair. Derek leads the Vedantarama Community (vedantarama.com) and has over 30 years experience guiding and directing people in living and applying the profound teachings of Vedanta and navigating this human experience.

Marj Snape writes: “Derek has been my teacher for 25 years. This influence and the application of the Vedanta teachings have brought great spiritual stability and security into my busy, engaged life. If you are at all curious about spirituality, meditation and the deep underlying philosophy of Yoga join us for this morning of dynamic and exciting teaching.”

The session will include discourse, simple guided meditation and the opportunity for Q & A. Suitable for all levels of experience. Derek will be teaching the ” The Mystery of Perception: What am I and what is all this?”. For more information and to book: https://www.dorchesteryoga.co.uk/courses-workshops/#the-mystery-perception

Kundalini teacher Arianna Puran Udini is bringing a change to her monthly Gong baths, as she is excited to share her new Crystal Singing Bowls with you in September’s and October’s Sound Bath, making a change to the Venus Gong. The bowls are all tuned to the frequency of 432Hz so they resonate together. This frequency can help to reduce stress and anxiety, enhance mental clarity, promote healing and pain relief amongst others, and is the perfect antidote to overthinking, overwhelm, and emotional turbulence. The Venus Gong is back in November!!! For more information: https://www.dorchesteryoga.co.uk/courses-workshops/#healing-sound-bath

Looking Ahead to October

My Restorative and Yoga Nidra workshops start back in October to take us through the Dark half of the year, if you want to be on the email list for information about these workshops please let me know.

Tim Button is starting a monthly Pushing Hands Workshop on Saturdays from 9.30 to 11.00 am. This will be ‘invitation only’ depending on experience, if you are interested and have experience please contact Tim: at 1timbutton@gmail.com.

Marj Snape is starting an Advaita Vedanta Yoga Philosophy Group in October. She is holding a preliminary/introductory meeting in September for those wishing to know more, and find out what it involves. Contact her if you are interested or curious at marjsnape@gmail.com.

All our usual lovely monthly classes resume, you can find all the details below, we can’t wait to have you all back again.

Warm wishes,

Sharon