Workshops
Architecture of the Body
A Yoga Workshop Series by Rosemary Booker
This series of yoga workshops is a dive into your physical body, where you will discover new movement patterns, get clear on what we are doing in the key foundational poses, what should be activated, and a greater understanding of effort and ease (sthira & sukha) in your yoga practice. This series will seriously enhance how you practice yoga!
Together we will explore a deeper connection with the physical body through enquiry, practice and discussion. Each session will sequentially build the body temple.
Essential Booking Info:
- Spaces limited to 15 students to allow for personal attention & guidance.
- 5 workshops, led by senior teacher Rosemary Booker
- All on Saturdays, 1-3pm @ Optimum You Studio
- Purchase as an entire course/ single bookings not available
- Book ASAP to enjoy our special discounted rate of £160. Course normally costs £200, so you can enjoy 5 workshops for the price of 4 and not worry about missing one of the dates!
You will learn:
How to activate and embody new movement patterns.
How to adjust the distribution of weight and move the forces efficiently through your body.
Key foundational yoga poses, what their key functions are and how to perform them optimally.
Essential anatomical landing points, so that you can better understand teaching cues and alignment principles.
Which variations of these poses are best suited to your body.
Who is this for:
Loving your yoga but want to gain a better understanding on how to perform the posture more comfortably?
Some poses are a challenge on you physically and want to know which variations you should take?
Not quite getting some poses, not sure what you are suppose to be doing?
Maybe you’re newish to yoga and want to know more?
Within each of these sessions, we will explore key anatomy anchor points and the yogic wisdom behind why these points are relevant within your yoga practice. This is done through the process of enquiry, demonstration, and touch, building on alignment principles to enhance your yoga practice and elevate it to the next level.
Architecture of the Body will increase your confidence of the basic asanas, as well as give you great insight into how to evolve your yoga practice. This is your opportunity to be at one with your body, to be present, aware and accepting of how your body moves and grooves; getting the most out of your yoga classes and keeping your body mobile, so that you can live your life with greater ease.
‘Feet the Foundation’ Saturday 14th September 1pm till 3pm
It’s the feet that move us forward in life, and as we journey to know the physical body through bone, tissue, and cells, it all begins here. Our general stability and support are found in the bones and connective tissue of the feet, they help regulate our nervous system, increase circulation and improve respiration.
The feet are our foundation and they provide structural organisation for the entire body, if there is one session you need to attend, it’s FEET!
‘Pivotal Pelvis’ Saturday 28th September 1pm till 3pm
The pelvis is the main point in the body that provides balance and support for the trunk, its mis-alignment in yoga is the main culprit for leaving class with an achy lower back. The bowl of the pelvis is a complex structure, that takes time to master but being aware of its capabilities and exploring its movement in key asanas, will give you a greater understanding of how to stand tall, balance and reduce the effort that your body needs to remain stable.
The pelvis is the key structure for balancing forces through the whole architecture of the body.
‘Core Connection’ Saturday 12th October 1pm till 3pm
We lose awareness of our bellies and when that happens we lose connection with the vital core. It’s from this very centre of our beings that we initiate movement and that is why it is so prized in both yoga and Ayurveda, it even has its own practices, Uddiyana Bandha and Agni Sara. This is your power centre, which for most of us, we simply give away, harnessing the power of your core through navel radiation will be a revelation to your practice! Please know that this is not a traditional ‘core class’ with loads of sit ups, this is an opportunity to harness your power and to direct it through your body, breath and out into your life.
Your navel centre is your power house, learn how to keep it well stocked and full of life force.
‘Heart & Soul’ Saturday 26th October 1pm till 3pm
The heart and lungs, life giving forces, are housed in their safe home within the rib basket, their interconnection with the upper thoracic spine and shoulder girdle make for a magnificent home for the seat of the soul. It is our emotional centre, our beat and pulse of life, this session we will explore the breath and ways to keep this space open to receive.
Our heart is the seat of the soul, keeping it open through life our deepest challenge, it’s the seat of LOVE.
‘Heady Heights’ Saturday 16th November 1pm till 3pm
The practice of yoga is one of ascension, drawing energy up through the spine to the crown of the head, Sahasrāra chakra, said to be the seat of consciousness. The support of the head is through the shoulder girdle and the spine, when we misplace the alignment of the head, which is the heaviest part of our body, we put undue stress on our upper thoracic spine and our shoulders.
During this session we will explore shoulder, neck and head alignment in key asanas along with how to weight bear through our arms for poses such as plank, down dog and handstand. Calming our head and relaxing our shoulders, moves us from fight or flight and drops us into the parasympathetic nervous system, leaving us calm, relaxed and effortless.
