Description

We are delighted to welcome Audrey Blow delivering her brand new CPD day in her home region.  This event will be delivered simultaneously online if you would prefer to join on Zoom.  Here is what you can look forward to:

There are many sides to healthy aging. Some we are not able to control, such as our genetics. Others are within our influence, like appropriate exercise, a healthy gut, visiting the doctor regularly, and taking care of our mental health. Research has identified that practicing yoga can help us to manage our health, live as independently as possible, and maintain our quality of life well into our dotage. This day workshop for yoga teachers is an exploration of how asana, pranayama, bandha, relaxation and dharana practices can be adapted to safely build and support resilience in our older years.

“I’ve been teaching yoga to people of all ages and abilities for around twenty years now. In this workshop I’ll be drawing from my studies and experience of teaching the BWYQ L4 Gentle Years Yoga classes and certificate, alongside my studies at the Mandala Ashram, including Kriya Yoga and Embracing Death, Celebrating Life residential courses. During the workshop, I’ll encourage you to focus on how we can support ourselves and our students to maintain our bounce, resilience and vitality for longer. Looking forward to sharing Yoga with you.” Audrey Blow

 

Aimed at yoga teachers, throughout this day, we are looking at:

• Adapting asanas that build and maintain postural stability, balance and good range of movement to support independent living well into our older years.
• Exploring breathing techniques that deepen the breath and promote vitality; relaxation techniques that invoke emotional resilience and a sense of wellbeing.
• Inspiring the use of yoga philosophy in lesson planning to celebrate life and embrace our fallibilities.

 

Approximate timetable:

10:00 Introduction

10:20 The role of asana in postural stability, balance and nimbleness

12:45 The role of pranayama in stimulating vitality and releasing anxiety

13:30 Break

14:00 Relaxation and meditation

14:45 Groupwork focusing on a peak asana, breathing technique, relaxation and meditation to build a lesson plan.

16:00 Finish

About the tutor:

Audrey is a British Wheel of Yoga Teacher, Diploma Course Tutor and Gentle Years Yoga Tutor.

Audrey’s approach to teaching is described as creative with attention to detail. She endeavours to make each yoga practice an experience and an opportunity to bring about a deep understanding of what it is to be human physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. She is open to exploring all yoga traditions, including the traditional and those that have been more recently forged.

Audrey began her yoga journey as a teenager in the Iyengar tradition in Cape Town. This inspired a love for the practice, and the lessons learned on the mat slowly crept into her daily life.  In the United Kingdom, Audrey qualified as a BWY teacher in 2005 and has continued deepening her practice with many wonderful BWY teachers and attending courses at the Mandala Yoga Ashram in Wales founded by Swami Nishchalananda. 

Additional Information

Aims:

To hone the skill of yoga teachers in their ability to adapt asanas that build and maintain postural stability, balance and good range of movement to support independent living well into our older years. 

To offer an exploration of breathing techniques that deepen the breath and promote vitality; relaxation techniques that invoke emotional resilience and a sense of wellbeing.

To inspire the use of yoga philosophy in lesson planning to celebrate life and embrace our fallibilities.

Learning Outcomes:

Recognise the multifaceted skills that need to be maintained for healthy aging.

Teach safe asana modifications that build postural stability and balance to prevent falls.

Devise transitions in asana from standing to sitting to floor and vice versa, to maintain a good range of movement in older adults.

Devise asana adaptations that increase load bearing and promote a healthy skeleton.

Teach breathing techniques that promote a good lung capacity and stimulate vitality.

Teach relaxation, meditative practices and philosophy which invoke vairagya/ letting go of the small stuff and a celebration of a life well lived.

Tickets for this event are priced at £45 for BWY Members (early bird until 15th August 2025 £55 thereafter) and £65 for non members/full price.  Did you know that annual membership is just £42, why not join us and take advantage of discounts on lots of great events taking place?

Parking and public transport:

Being a beautiful, rural venue, Rudry Parish Hall is most easily accessed by car, located approximately 13 minutes from Junction 30 of the M4, with free parking.  Lifts can be arranged from Caerphilly Train Station which is about a ten minute drive away https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/caerphilly/

If coming by car, address is:  Rudry Parish Hall, Rudry, Caerphilly, CF83 3DF 'What3Words' =  ///newly.charmingly.wizard

Please bring a packed lunch as the location is semi rural  

Accessibility: Wheelchair access

The BWY Refund and Cancellation policy is listed on the BWY website: https://www.bwy.org.uk/about-bwy/key-policies/refund-and-cancellation-policy/

 

 

What to Bring

Your usual yoga kit and any props you are able to.