Yoga for Strength & Vitality

Discover the profound journey of Sun Salutation in the nurturing embrace of Hatha (Sun and Moon) Yoga.

Our classes are a gentle yet transformative experience, ideal for everyone, from absolute beginners to those seeking to deepen their understanding of each step in the sequence of postures that weave the magic of Sun Salutations.

We go beyond the physical practice, incorporating meditation and breath work, introducing you to the rejuvenating art of Qi Gong, an energy cultivation practice. This beautifully complements the transformative power of Sun Salutations, infusing your journey with a revitalizing touch.

Through consistent practice, you'll rediscover the essence of life itself as your mind, breath, body, and life force (Qi) harmoniously align, awakening a sense of renewal and vitality that is truly profound. Join us on this empowering path to a radiant body, mind, and soul.

Day: Saturdays (ongoing) 11.30am–1:00pm.

Day: Fridays (ongoing) 10:00-11:30am

NB. Please check Bookwhen for dates as there may be some weeks when the course isn’t running.

Book a 6 week course or drop-in session. If a course is full, a waiting list will automatically become available via Bookwhen.

Book your Saturday place and Friday place here.

Or book directly using our widget below — look for May- June -July | Yoga for Strength & Vitality

Week 1

Establishing Foundations

The first class focuses on establishing the foundation of the practice in the relationship between the body and the earth, and the body and the breath. Working playfully with the force of gravity, students will begin to learn about the correct alignment between muscles and bones in the legs that leads to strength, stability and ease in the body.

Week 2

Triceps

The second class focuses on the importance of strength in the triceps muscles as a fundamental aspect of a safe sun salutation sequence. The ability to isolate and strengthen the triceps muscles is understood as essential to the stability required to move the weight of the upper body with ease.

Week 3

Shoulders

The third class focuses on the importance of stability in the complex structure of the shoulder joints as a fundamental aspect of a safe sun salutation sequence. The ability to isolate and stabilize the shoulder joints is understood as essential to the cultivation of the strength required to move the weight of the body with ease.

Week 4

Downward Facing Dog

The fourth class thoroughly explores the careful preparation for and full expression of the downward-facing dog pose. This strong pose liberates the back of the entire body, elongates the spine, and creates freedom and power in the breath.

Week 5

Balance & Alignment

The fifth class focuses on using the composure in the mind generated by the sun salutation sequence to practice standing balances. The relationship between successful balancing and the correct alignment of muscles and joints in the lower body is explored.

Week 6

Joyful Salutations

The final class in the series explores the enjoyment of flowing more fluidly through the whole sequence of the sun salutation sequence. The opportunity is explored to incorporate the first and second of the warrior poses (Virabhadrasana I & II)

Gillian has been practising yoga for over thirty years. She is passionate about the transformational potential of yoga and leads yoga classes and workshops in London and Manchester.
Inspired and trained at Triyoga by Anna Ashby and Joey Miles in the alignment-based method of hatha yoga, Gillian guides students through 90-minute classes that conquer fatigue, cultivate strength, vitality, and good posture, improve mood and increase body and mind awareness.
Gillian is also an Urban Anthropologist. She lectures in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester, and is preoccupied, like all anthropologists, with the question of what it means to be human. Gillian lends this question to her enquiry into the yoga tradition, and brings a unique anthropological perspective to her teaching practice, summer and winter yoga retreats and to workshops for fellow yoga teachers. She is a member of the teaching faculty of the Advanced Teacher Training programme led by Anna Ashby at Triyoga.
Gillian would love to show you how yoga can transform your life.

Pricing

These sessions are each 90mins in length and the course is priced at £108 for 6 weeks, or £20 drop-in.

Please bring your mat if you have one

We have a strict latecomers policy. Latecomers will not be admitted any later than 5 minutes after the commencement of the session. Past this point, it will be disruptive for you to enter the room, and since you will not have warmed up properly, heading into class this late may also be damaging for your body. We recommend you arrive 5-10 minutes early so the class and your day can run on time.
Cancellations within 72 hours of the course starting will not be refunded.
Cancellations outside of 72 hours of the course start will be refunded upon request, otherwise, the passes can be transferred to another course (or a later cohort of the cancelled course).
There is no refund offered for missed sessions within the course.
If we are required to cancel a class due to teacher illness, we will offer a make-up session the week following the last session of the course.
The teacher may choose to cancel a course if a low number of people sign up. Please book in as early as you can to stop this from happening! Your pass will automatically be returned to your Mindbody account in this incidence. You can request a refund if you want one, otherwise, the passes can be transferred to another course (or a later cohort of the cancelled course).

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