Happy Spring everyone,
I am currently taking a little break in the sun and enjoying being in the midst of Holy Week in the south of Spain.
From Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday it has been the tradition here for hundreds of years for religious brotherhoods to organise parade floats to make the final days of Jesus Christ. Each brotherhood dons a different coloured garb, they wear heavy weights on the their shoulders and cover their heads and bodies. In the middle of the day in the sun here the temperature can be up to 30 degrees, I expect much hotter in their outfits!
Ritual is something that fascinates me. Growing up in a mixed-background household we were exposed to many traditions but we did not participate in any regular daily rituals together. Regular early morning asana practice was my first experience of daily ritual. I would drag myself out of bed at the same time every morning, cycle through empty south London streets and climb the stairs of the yoga shala. Opening the door and walking into that space was like walking into another universe. There was a peaceful concentration that filled the room, as well as the sticky heat rising from the effort of physical practice. There was something comforting in knowing that we had a shared purpose for being there. Even if at the time I didn’t really understand what kept bringing me back, I knew that I felt connected into something bigger that myself when I was there, and that this was something I had been looking for.
One of the reasons I like to teach blocks of classes is that it encourages us to develop a regular practice that becomes a personal ritual. Making the commitment to step on our mat just once a week can transform the ways we show up for ourselves and others in the rest of our lives. Ritual can give life meaning, can help us feel a sense of connection and can enable us to think and feel beyond ourselves, and our own benefit.
I will be exploring these ideas, and introducing you to some simple yogic rituals over the coming six-week block of Dharma Yoga classes which start on Saturday 15 April. I have opened bookings for both block bookings and drop-in classes this time around. If you can, booking a block helps me to plan and if you miss one class of the six, a block is still cheaper than five drop in passes! The classes will continue at our old space off Parson’s Street in the centre of Banbury and you can book your spot here.
If you can’t make it to these classes, I have a number of other opportunities to practice together coming up including monthly Dharma Yoga masterclasses on Sunday mornings (30 April and 20 May) and some collaborations with my soul sister Sam Bowers who always brings the magic with her beautiful sound healing and medicine songs! More information on these below.
Sending lots of love and Om. I hope to see you soon.
Warm wishes
Ayesha
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