At White Lotus we offer several workshops at various times throughout the year. Below is a brief description of each workshop currently available. If you would like to know more details about specific times, costs, venues, etc, please write to contact@whitelotusyoga.co.uk or call 077634 07631 with your particular enquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible. All dates and venues for the autumn workshops are currently under review and will be available soon.

Sat and Sun the 4th and 5th Oct 08- Weekend Workshop Understand Your Mind using Yoga and NLP.

Sat and Sun the 15th and 16th Nov 08- Weekend Workshop Helping you, Help Yourself using Yoga and NLP.

4 hours: £25 (£15 concession)

This workshop offers an introduction to the basics of Hatha Yoga, you will learn techniques which you will be able to take away and practice yourself to start reducng your stress, having more energy, sleeping better, etc. You will learn how to breath using the whole of your lungs, in a very efficient way, which has many benefits from increased oxygen in the body to a more calm, focused mind. You will also be given a complete practice session that we will go through in detail so you are confidennt following it on your own. The course comes with full notes on the content.

This workshop is suitable for those who would like to:

• Sample Yoga before committing to a block of classes,
• Build up confidence before group classes,
• Join a group class which has already been running for a few blocks,
• Refresh after a prolonged period away from Yoga,
• Etc.

We will start with a brief general introduction that will include a look at the background to the Yoga system and a brief overview of Hatha Yoga. Nnext we will go through the full yoga breath. We will then do a class together, starting from the absolute basics, and making you familiar with the different aspects of a Yoga class, including warm ups, asanas (postures) and relaxation. After a discussion on the practice we will look at some of the other fundamental aspects of practice, including the use of the breath, props, meditation and sun salutations.

This is a gentle and fun introduction to Yoga and suitable for everyone.

4 hours: £25 (£15 concession)

This workshop offers a basic introduction to Esoteric Traditional Tantra Yoga, suitable for those who would like to:

• Sample Tantra Yoga before committing to the block of Tantra classes with White Lotus Yoga,
• Join the group Tantra class which has already been running for a few blocks,
• Increase their knowledge of Yoga beyond the physical aspects,
• Understand how their knowledge of the cakras etc fit into the Yoga system,
• Etc.

Esoteric Tradition Tantra Yoga goes beyond the physical aspects of the poses and looks towards the energetic and spiritual implications of learning Yoga. The workshop begins with a discussion of the Tantra Yoga system and the fundamental principles that underlie it. In addition, we will consider the energy of the body, including the main nadis (energy lines) and cakras (energetic centers) of the body and how we work with them in Yoga. We shall perform a class together putting into practice the aspects discussed in the morning. This class is suitable for all levels of students.

This workshop is as informative for complete beginners as it is for those who have been practicing Yoga for years as it brings traditional teachings into a modern setting for those who wish to take their practice to a more esoteric level. There is no prerequisite for this workshop, but a working knowledge of Yoga or energy may enhance your experience.

£40 (£20 concession or repeat)

This is a specialised workshop looking into the subject of prana/energy, where I have specialised training and experience. We consider the fundamental principles of prana and the way we can work with it during our Yoga practice, and our daily lives. Understanding our own bodies energy, from your dominant cakras, to any blocks, to your vitality, negative emotions, etc, can be incredibly beneficial in our understanding of ourselves.

This workshop can be helpful to anyone with an interest in energy, not necessarily just Yoga practitioners. There are no prerequisites to join the day.

3 hours

The physical body is going to be our companion for the whole of our lives, and how we treat it can influence whether it is friend or foe. This workshop aims to help those who do not have a basic working knowledge of what is going on under their skin. This knowledge can assist greatly in connecting you to your body and understanding how to improve its daily running. Basic Anatomy and Physiology: We will review the body, most specifically the organs of the body, and their functions. Yoga Kriyas: the Yogis have an entire system related to the purification, cleansing, of the body - Kriya Yoga. We shall consider the importance of purity from the yogic perspective and discuss the practical aspects of several of these kriya practices. By the end of the workshop you will know a set of basic and highly effective cleansing practices which you can use daily. There is no prerequisite for this workshop, except an open mind!

6 hours: 9-12, 1-4pm

This workshop has many facets that compliment those who already have some experience of Yoga and want to understand a little more deeply their practice. Here we cover several of the important principles of any Hatha Yoga practice, the breath, the spine and energy in the body.

The day includes:

Morning

• The breath: we look at the anatomy of the breath, specifically the lungs and the nose, and break down the full Yogic breath into detail. This then continues onto a look at the science of pranayama and the use of the breath in asana (posture) work.
• The spine: the second part of the morning we shall look at the spine. Specifically, the physiology of backward and forward bending, and the management of back pain. We will perform a light Yoga session with emphasis on the spine, to complete this review.

• The 5 bodies of man: the afternoon begins with a discussion of Prana (energy) and why it is so integral to the practice of Yoga. This leads to a review of the 5 bodies of man, with a description of each from the physical body to the causal body.
• The cakra System: the second part of the afternoon will discuss the purpose of the cakra system in Yoga. We will also perform a practical Yoga session that will work on each cakra in turn to allow a kinaesthetic understanding of the information taught.

6 hours

This workshop builds upon 'the breath, the spine and the energy of the body' workshop, going into the principles that can deepen your practice even further.

Polarity of the energy is depicted in the name Hatha (Ha - Sun, tha - Moon) and in the famous symbols Shiva (masculine) and Shakti (feminine) of Tantra Yoga. We will explore this absolutely fundamental aspect of Yoga, which can be used as a tool for your daily life, far beyond the physical postures of Yoga. Alongside this there shall be an introduction into meditation. Meditation is a very practical tool available to everyone for their evolution, this is a gentle initiation into the basics for those wishing to understand this aspect of practice better, or begin a regular practice of their own.

The morning shall begin with a discussion of the nature of polarity in general, and with reference to the cakra system and the postures of Hatha Yoga. We shall then perform a practical Yoga session together using the principles learned to reinforce the theory.

The afternoon session will describe the benefits of meditation and outline a few methods in which you are able to begin practice. This will be followed by some practical tips, and then we shall perform some meditation together to end the workshop. Attendance on 'The Breath, the Spine and the Energy of the Body (level 1)' or at least 6 months regular attendance to White Lotus Yoga classes is a prerequisite for this workshop.

7.5 hours: 10 - 6.30pm (with lunch break)next workshop - November 15th and 16th

We all know that what Yoga teaches us is good for us, but sometimes we find the 'yogic lifestyle' of good diet, regular practice and calm a little out of reach. This is an exciting workshop as it brings together, the 'why it is good' of Yoga and the 'how to' of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help you move towards a more holistic You.

We will introduce these two highly effective personal development systems in tandem showing how they can work together to help you with your day to day living.

The workshop will begin with a light physical Yoga practice, suitable for all and voluntary. This will be followed by an introduction to the NLP and Yoga systems. We will then explore how some of the famous Niyamas - Self Disciplines - of the Patanjali Sutra's Ashtanga system, can be approached using various NLP techniques. For example, Yoga advocates purity of the body, while NLP helps you to give up any addictions that may hinder your progress. Throughout the day we shall be mixing theory with practice, so you shall be trying on everything you are taught as we go. (Please note that this is not a physcial Yoga workshop, the morning sessions are the only time asanas will be performed.)

Yoga is not only a practice to benefit the physical body, the Yoga system can enter every facet of our lives, helping to enrich them and giving us the tools to live in a more harmonious way. The NLP tools taught on this course offer a very useful insight into how we can powerfully integrate these teachings into our lives with greater ease.

This is a very interesting workshop for those new to Yoga, and experienced Yogis alike as it offers a modern angle to ancient teachings. There are no prerequisites for this workshop.

7.5 hours: 10 - 6.30pm (with lunch break)next workshop- October 4th and 5th 08

This is the second part of the 'NLP and Yoga' series. One of the greatest benefits of the Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) system is the understanding you can achieve about the nature of the mind. This understanding is a very powerful first step to the training of the mind - as the increase in awareness, is in itself, progression towards our goal.

The day begins with a light Yoga practice, suitable for all. This will be followed by a look at the nature of the mind from an NLP standpoint. We will discuss the NLP techniques around the Yamas of Patanjalis Sutras, for example looking at contentment and how to create harmonious relationships in your life. The afternoon will be more practical with the introduction of some NLP interventions can be used to help with the mind on a daily basis. For example, 'reframing' can help dissolve a negative emotional pattern of, say, anger, that has occupied a lot of mental and emotional energy in the past. We will complete the day with a review of meditation, the benefits and suggested techniques for beginning a regular practice.

This workshop can offer insight to those who already study the workings of the mind from a spiritual or intellectual perspective. It is suitable for those with no Yoga practice, and experienced Yogis alike. Part 1 of the 'NLP and Yoga' weekend, or a basic working knowledge of NLP is considered helpful for the participation in this workshop, but not a requirement.