Description

BWY Midlands Sangha gathering to celebrate our community and all things yoga!

We'll have 7 teachers from our region offering a variety of styles and practices throughout the day, with registration from 9.30am. We'll also be offering a vegetarian / vegan lunch - please don't forget to let us know at the time of booking (email midlands.ro@bwyregions.org.uk) if you have any specific additional dietry requirements we'll need to make our caterers aware of.

This whole event will be suitable for anyone with an interest in yoga from new to experienced practitioners, and we want to welcome old friends and new to our community, so please consider bringing along your family, friends, students and anyone else who wants to join us. We have a town centre location for this event in a lovely pedestrianised area, with opportunities to walk or sit in nature close by for break times.

There'll be nourishing sound immersion toward the end of our gathering, and refreshments available at the community cafe on site throughout the day too.

Example plan for the day: (please note this is subject to change)

9.30-10am Arrival 

10-11am Workshop 1: Tony Wilmott | Workshop 2: Siobhan Daniels 

11-11.15am Break 

11.15am-12.15pm Workshop 3: Muriel Dickens | Workshop 4: Arabella Love 
 
12.15-1.15pm Lunch

1.15-2.15pm Workshop 5: Marylin Buckham | Workshop 6: Derek Osborn 
 
2.15-2.45pm Break

2.45-3.45pm Thomas Stacey - Sound Immersion 

3.45-4pm Close

Additional Information

Tony Wilmot - Surya Namaskar as a Sadhana

Tony is BWY Midlands Area Rep for Birmingham and Black Country and will be bringing this physical session to life for us, exploring how it can be viewed and used as a spiritual practice

Siobhan Daniels - Strength in Asana

Siobhan is BWY Midlands Training Officer and will be exploring the strengthening aspects of favorite yoga postures

Muriel Dickens - Age Is No Barrier

Muriel says "I have been teaching approximately 54 years, and it has been the best thing I have ever done. The energy and enthusiasm for life are all attributable to having Yoga in my life!!"

This session will include a seated pranayama practice, variations on Cat asana, balancing poses, wide leg postures and back bending, and a relaxation practice to close.

Arabella Love - Slow Vinyasa Flow (For All Bodies)

A steady, accessible practice focusing on moving with the breath and feeling grounded in the body - begining with a simple brethng exercise, followed by a gentle warm-up before moving into a mix of seated, standing and reclined postures and finishing with a guided relaxation.

Derek Osborn - meditation / satsang

Following his self practice of yoga for over 70 years and teaching regular classes and workshops over much of England and Wales for over 50 years Derek closed his last regular class in 2023 to focus on other pursuits including writing his book and trail running. 

 Title. . . . .And From There . . . 

To begin: A short few minutes of calm silent relaxation/preparation
   a) Focus on the physical body and how it responds to conscious and habitual instructions ( and preparation for sitting in sukha (comfort).
   b) Satsang - group discussion  considering how our journey in yoga started, where it is now and where/how we might see or want it to continue.
   c) Guided meditation continuing the theme of self reflection.

Marilyn Buckham - Yogas citta Vritti Nirodhah "The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga." Patanjali I:II

An experiential meditation session developing presence.  We will use the body and breath to explore short periods of silence, mindful movement and reflection. 

Marilyn qualified as a yoga teacher with the BWY in 2001. Since then she has undertaken prolonged study and practice of pranayama, yoga nidra and Tibetan Buddhism. In 2015 she obtained an MSc in Mindfulness from the University of Aberdeen. Marilyn has taught weekly classes, day seminars and weekend retreats across Staffordshire and the West Midlands and feels profoundly grateful for discovering yoga.

Tom Shanti - Sound Immersion

The Gong Meditation also known as a Gong bath is a form of Sound Healing. At its heart is the sound and vibration of the gong, which works as a tool to balance the physical body, mind, emotions, energetic body, and spirit. Known as the sound of total resonance, the sound of the gong gives the body a sonic massage helping to: stimulate circulation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system; slow down brainwaves and connect with meditative states and insights; let go of emotional ‘burdens’; clear energetic debris; and expand awareness. 

Tom Shanti is a qualified instructor of Yoga Tai chi, Qigong. He is also a Gong Practitioner, musician and experienced Kirtan Leader sharing the liberating  power of sound. The intention of his practice is to create a sacred space to experience ones own true nature of peace and bliss. Facilitate insight and clear subconscious obstacles and self limiting belief patterns. You can find out more about Tom and his events at Facebook pages: Tom Shanti, Sacred Sound Guru, Shropshire Yoga and his website: www.tomshanti.com

What to Bring

Please bring along your usual yoga kit, including mat, bolsters, blocks, blankets etc.