Astanga Yoga - Building you up to Self Practice, Evolving you into a new life!


"Yoga is not about Tofu and brown rice at all!" *Where are you coming from with your spiritual values?* A quest for perfection and invulnerability. We maybe especially prone to the quest for perfection if we feel too imperfect, or have been badly hurt and don't want ever to have to feel that vulnerable again. A fear of individuation. We maybe anxious about stepping out into the world, assuming responsibility for ourselves and our life, shrinking back from competition, comparisons, or achievement. Avoidance of commitment and accountability. We may conveniently relabel this avoidance spiritual "detachment" or in new age terminology, "just going with the flow". A fear of intimacy and social involvement. Its striking how many of us drawn to spiritual life have a history of difficulties with intimacy and closeness in relationships, or disappointments in love, and how being in a spiritual community allows us to feel a sense of belonging without resolving underlying fears. An inability to grieve and mourn important losses. All spiritual teachings and practices about "letting go", "renunciation" or "detachment" can actually substitute for a genuine facing of personal grief and loss, and the painful feelings associated with it. An avoidance of feelings. So many drawn to a spiritual practice have difficulty with strong emotions like anger sadness and disappointment. Spiritual traditions label these as kleshas and as unwholesome, and so we might take it to mean we shouldn't feel them, and then we feel guilty or unspiritual if we do. Sometimes the experience of pleasure and sexuality seems to be even problematic for people drawn to spiritual practice. *Taken from "Yoga and the quest for the true self" by Stephen Cope* *___________________________________________* Join astangayogasurrey.com on facebook! *www.facebook.com/home.php* News and events! A new form of class has been started For those who are practicing at home, to have private classes once a month with James. Class wil cost £15. Students of James only and a minimum practice of 3 times a week at home.

"Yoga is not about Tofu and brown rice at all!"

Where are you coming from with your spiritual values?

A quest for perfection and invulnerability. We maybe especially prone to the quest for perfection if we feel too imperfect, or have been badly hurt and don't want ever to have to feel that vulnerable again.

A fear of individuation. We maybe anxious about stepping out into the world, assuming responsibility for ourselves and our life, shrinking back from competition, comparisons, or achievement.

Avoidance of commitment and accountability. We may conveniently relabel this avoidance spiritual "detachment" or in new age terminology, "just going with the flow".

A fear of intimacy and social involvement. Its striking how many of us drawn to spiritual life have a history of difficulties with intimacy and closeness in relationships, or disappointments in love, and how being in a spiritual community allows us to feel a sense of belonging without resolving underlying fears.

An inability to grieve and mourn important losses. All spiritual teachings and practices about "letting go", "renunciation" or "detachment" can actually substitute for a genuine facing of personal grief and loss, and the painful feelings associated with it.

An avoidance of feelings. So many drawn to a spiritual practice have difficulty with strong emotions like anger sadness and disappointment. Spiritual traditions label these as kleshas and as unwholesome, and so we might take it to mean we shouldn't feel them, and then we feel guilty or unspiritual if we do. Sometimes the experience of pleasure and sexuality seems to be even problematic for people drawn to spiritual practice.

Taken from "Yoga and the quest for the true self" by Stephen Cope

___________________________________________

Join astangayogasurrey.com on facebook!

www.facebook.com/home.php

News and events!

A new form of class has been started

For those who are practicing at home, to have private classes once a month with James. Class wil cost £15. Students of James only and a minimum practice of 3 times a week at home.


Yoga events yoga social- documentary night Friday 25th June, 6.30 onwards at a private residence in New Malden Watching the film The Cove which has recently won an Academy, Go to Youtube to see the preview. Join the event on Facebook or call James 07967971996 or email me through the website. Reiki attunement 1, Saturday july 24th in Epsom, learning to be able to conduit the reiki energy. £50 contact James 07967971996 Wall climbing social! Westway Sports Centre, 1 Crowthorne Road , W10 6RP For those who have never climbed before there is a 90 minute Climbing Taster Price £23.50 standard, £20.00 Concession Times Saturday 1.30pm - 3.30pm, 3.30pm - 5.00pm, Sunday 3.30pm - 5.00pm For those who have passed the beginning course and have climbed before it is £9 pay as you go. If you haven't climbed at Westway before they will make you do a quick test to show that you can tie in and climb safely. The nearest tube is Latimer Road (Hammersmith & City Line) Let me know if you're interested. Yoga Retreat- Glastonbury Septemeber 17-19th. Arrive at glastonbury Friday evening, walk the Tor before bed. Saturday 2 hours asana practice, 1 an a half hours pranayama, 1 hour and a half mantra. Being held at the Shekin ashram and raw/superfood ashram in Glastonbury more info soon book places with James 07967971996 there is only 7 places 3 have been taken already.... £270. We are car-pooling people together so if you're driving? you get it for £250 and get company!!!

Yoga events

yoga social- documentary night

Friday 25th June, 6.30 onwards at a private residence in New Malden

Watching the film The Cove which has recently won an Academy, Go to Youtube to see the preview.

Join the event on Facebook or call James 07967971996 or email me through the website.

Reiki attunement 1, Saturday july 24th in Epsom, learning to be able to conduit the reiki energy. £50

contact James 07967971996

Wall climbing social!

Westway Sports Centre, 1 Crowthorne Road , W10 6RP

For those who have never climbed before there is a 90 minute Climbing Taster
Price £23.50 standard, £20.00 Concession
Times Saturday 1.30pm - 3.30pm, 3.30pm - 5.00pm, Sunday 3.30pm - 5.00pm

For those who have passed the beginning course and have climbed before it is £9 pay as you go. If you haven't climbed at Westway before they will make you do a quick test to show that you can tie in and climb safely.

The nearest tube is Latimer Road (Hammersmith & City Line)

Let me know if you're interested.

Yoga Retreat- Glastonbury

Septemeber 17-19th.

Arrive at glastonbury Friday evening, walk the Tor before bed. Saturday 2 hours asana practice, 1 an a half hours pranayama, 1 hour and a half mantra. Being held at the Shekin ashram and raw/superfood ashram in Glastonbury more info soon book places with James 07967971996 there is only 7 places 3 have been taken already.... £270. We are car-pooling people together so if you're driving? you get it for £250 and get company!!!

Oli's sticky sweet balls!
This quantity makes a WHOLE lot of balls! 350g pitted dates 100-200g porridge oats 100g sultanas 100g flaked almonds 100g chopped walnuts 50g cocoa powder 1tsp ground cinnamon 1-2tbsp maple syrup or honey (to taste) apple juice (if needed to loosen mixture Blitz the nuts together then gradually and oats to the food mixer and blitz to form a flour. Remove the flour from the mixer and set aside in a large bowl. Blitz the dates and sultanas to a smooth paste. Add the cocoa and cinnamon to the flour and stir through. Add the fruit paste and maple syrup/honey to the flour and squeeze/knead the two together with your hands until you have a smooth, sticky lump. (If the mixture is too hard to squeeze easily add a splash of apple juice to loosen it, but only a small splash at a time.) Break a golf-ball sized piece off the lump and roll it into a ball using your palms and place on a plate or baking tray. Keep going until you have many many little brown balls all side by side (and ideally not touching) on the tray. Refrigerate for a few hours to aid setting, then stor in boxes in the fridge. Nutritionally these are similar to Nakd bars. To make something that's more like a Larabar, simply omit the oats and apple juice.

Oli's sticky sweet balls!

This quantity makes a WHOLE lot of balls!

350g pitted dates
100-200g porridge oats
100g sultanas
100g flaked almonds
100g chopped walnuts
50g cocoa powder
1tsp ground cinnamon
1-2tbsp maple syrup or honey (to taste)
apple juice (if needed to loosen mixture

Blitz the nuts together then gradually and oats to the food mixer and blitz to form a flour.
Remove the flour from the mixer and set aside in a large bowl.
Blitz the dates and sultanas to a smooth paste.
Add the cocoa and cinnamon to the flour and stir through.
Add the fruit paste and maple syrup/honey to the flour and squeeze/knead the two together with your hands until you have a smooth, sticky lump. (If the mixture is too hard to squeeze easily add a splash of apple juice to loosen it, but only a small splash at a time.)
Break a golf-ball sized piece off the lump and roll it into a ball using your palms and place on a plate or baking tray. Keep going until you have many many little brown balls all side by side (and ideally not touching) on the tray.
Refrigerate for a few hours to aid setting, then stor in boxes in the fridge.

Nutritionally these are similar to Nakd bars. To make something that's more like a Larabar, simply omit the oats and apple juice.

A new mat has arrived, is it any better?
Featured Product The AYP GECKO MAT We are excited to have introduced this mat to the yoga world just this past September! It is composed of the strongest most durable latex-free materials. It is an efficient tool for practice, weighing 30% less than comprable mats. The Gecko Mat provides incredible durability, support, and grip! This mat measures - 26" wide, 74" long, and a width of 5mm. and weighs only 5lb. We offer the mat in 3 great colors: Olive, Brick, and Ebony! "Around the world I've heard practitioners talking about their yoga mats. I hear the same story again and again. The really durable mats give great support but are too heavy to carry around. The lighter mats are easier to carry but they don't provide good support and they tend to fall apart. I thought there must be a way to have both durability and efficiency. After much research I came up with what I believe to be the perfect balance. The Gecko Mat! Why call it a Gecko Mat? In trying to think of a name that would convey the mat's qualities of grip and support the image of a Gecko Lizard popped into my mind. Geckos can climb on anything and be completely at ease and they are really cute! So was born The Gecko Mat." - David Swenson

A new mat has arrived, is it any better?

Featured Product

The AYP GECKO MAT

We are excited to have introduced this mat to the yoga world just this past September!

It is composed of the strongest most durable latex-free materials. It is an efficient tool for practice, weighing 30% less than comprable mats. The Gecko Mat provides incredible durability, support, and grip!

This mat measures - 26" wide, 74" long, and a width of 5mm. and weighs only 5lb. We offer the mat in 3 great colors: Olive, Brick, and Ebony!

"Around the world I've heard practitioners talking about their yoga mats. I hear the same story again and again. The really durable mats give great support but are too heavy to carry around. The lighter mats are easier to carry but they don't provide good support and they tend to fall apart. I thought there must be a way to have both durability and efficiency. After much research I came up with what I believe to be the perfect balance. The Gecko Mat! Why call it a Gecko Mat? In trying to think of a name that would convey the mat's qualities of grip and support the image of a Gecko Lizard popped into my mind. Geckos can climb on anything and be completely at ease and they are really cute! So was born The Gecko Mat." - David Swenson

A New book has arrived-and its not fluff!
Yoga is so prevalent in the modern world-practiced by pop stars, taught in schools, and offered in yoga centers, health clubs, and even shopping malls--that we take its presence, and its meaning, for granted. But how did the current yoga boom happen? And is it really rooted in ancient Indian practices, as many of its adherents claim? In this groundbreaking book, Mark Singleton calls into question many commonly held beliefs about the nature and origins of postural yoga (asana) and suggests a radically new way of understanding the meaning of yoga as it is practiced by millions of people across the world today. Singleton shows that, contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence in the Indian tradition for the kind of health and fitness-oriented asana practice that dominates the global yoga scene of the twenty-first century. Singleton's surprising-and surely controversial-thesis is that yoga as it is popularly practiced today owes a greater debt to modern Indian nationalism and, even more surprisingly, to the spiritual aspirations of European bodybuilding and early 20th-century women's gymnastic movements of Europe and America, than it does to any ancient Indian yoga tradition. This discovery enables Singleton to explain, as no one has done before, how the most prevalent forms of postural yoga, like Ashtanga, Bikram and "Hatha" yoga, came to be the hugely popular phenomena they are today. Drawing on a wealth of rare documents from archives in India, the UK and the USA, as well as interviews with the few remaining, now very elderly figures in the 1930s Mysore asana revival, Yoga Body turns the conventional wisdom about yoga on its head.

A New book has arrived-and its not fluff!

Yoga is so prevalent in the modern world-practiced by pop stars, taught in schools, and offered in yoga centers, health clubs, and even shopping malls--that we take its presence, and its meaning, for granted. But how did the current yoga boom happen? And is it really rooted in ancient Indian practices, as many of its adherents claim? In this groundbreaking book, Mark Singleton calls into question many commonly held beliefs about the nature and origins of postural yoga (asana) and suggests a radically new way of understanding the meaning of yoga as it is practiced by millions of people across the world today. Singleton shows that, contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence in the Indian tradition for the kind of health and fitness-oriented asana practice that dominates the global yoga scene of the twenty-first century. Singleton's surprising-and surely controversial-thesis is that yoga as it is popularly practiced today owes a greater debt to modern Indian nationalism and, even more surprisingly, to the spiritual aspirations of European bodybuilding and early 20th-century women's gymnastic movements of Europe and America, than it does to any ancient Indian yoga tradition. This discovery enables Singleton to explain, as no one has done before, how the most prevalent forms of postural yoga, like Ashtanga, Bikram and "Hatha" yoga, came to be the hugely popular phenomena they are today. Drawing on a wealth of rare documents from archives in India, the UK and the USA, as well as interviews with the few remaining, now very elderly figures in the 1930s Mysore asana revival, Yoga Body turns the conventional wisdom about yoga on its head.

About James
When it comes down to it, it's all about the practice, and I have been known to make less money because of the students self-reliance rather than commit someone to classes for life. Astanga yoga isn't about paying for 6 times a week self practice and adjustment, its about self practice, once up to speed going to a teacher 2 times a month for instruction. That's how it should be, it seems like yoga teachers are the next focus for the neurotic and needy, and if soo it looks like alot of teachers are cultivating that. I have been called a purist because I wouldn't water down Astanga yoga just because I was teaching in a gym, or make it more sell-able to the masses, in giving a proper abreiviation for a posture rather than another posture completely, or because I am happy countering other's misguided teaching. I teach the full primary and have 4 add ins, which reflects the fact I was taught by Gingi in 1998, who originally had a lot of Derek Ireland's additions-in what he taught so I keep in what I practice. I have completed Master Vishwanath Teacher Training in India as the whole Mysore deal and that whole mentality wasn't perfect for me (diplomatically put!). I did David Swenson's Teacher Training in 2003 Primary and Secondary in 2006, Brian Cooper's Teacher Training in 2006 and I have recommended for all my trainee teachers to also take his course, as he takes the crap out of yoga!!! (And there too much crap in it in the west!) I have also completed the teachers' intensive with Ana Forrest, (an amazing women!) I returned to India.... for the tsunami. I am also been asked by Brian Cooper to help out on the 200 and 500 hour Teacher Training for the Yoga Alliance UK. I come from more the experiential than the analysing or anal-lysing of yoga background. I proudly never to want to be accredited by the BWY!! I don't participate in the Yoga World, the incoming and outgoing famous/infamous teachers, the fashion accessories, the latest fad, mat or gucci bag, the laughable Yoga Show to Yoga Bugs, THIS isn't my thing. Yoga is. Astangayogasurrey is a mish mash of loads of information, articles, mat reviews, moo's brownie recipe and loads more, most of them written by students themselves. I would rather someone have access to information than not, and in this day of Misinformation (especially in the west) when it comes to yoga, people need it more so. I taught at Cannons, in Surbiton with the first 2 hour full primary series Astanga yoga in the area and had the first self practice class in a gym in the whole of the country! My ongoing teacher training made it so tough, especially as I didn't have the help of a teacher myself, I decided (as we all should do), to make it easier for others. I currently have helped up to 10 teachers in their training and beyond who now teach throughout the world, some are now teachers of teachers themselves not as a reflection of me but rather of the place they found within themselves. I have been teaching since 2001 after practicing since 1999, but only really fully since India studying with Mysore Vishwanath in Bangalore. After 3 months Pranayama, mantra, Ayurveda, and devotional singing I returned 1 stone lighter, and I consider that to be psychological weight that was lost! Go forth and practice (to PJ Harvey 'cause sometimes its the only thing that helps ha ha!) ________________________________

About James

When it comes down to it, it's all about the practice, and I have been known to make less money because of the students self-reliance rather than commit someone to classes for life. Astanga yoga isn't about paying for 6 times a week self practice and adjustment, its about self practice, once up to speed going to a teacher 2 times a month for instruction. That's how it should be, it seems like yoga teachers are the next focus for the neurotic and needy, and if soo it looks like alot of teachers are cultivating that.

I have been called a purist because I wouldn't water down Astanga yoga just because I was teaching in a gym, or make it more sell-able to the masses, in giving a proper abreiviation for a posture rather than another posture completely, or because I am happy countering other's misguided teaching. I teach the full primary and have 4 add ins, which reflects the fact I was taught by Gingi in 1998, who originally had a lot of Derek Ireland's additions-in what he taught so I keep in what I practice.

I have completed Master Vishwanath Teacher Training in India as the whole Mysore deal and that whole mentality wasn't perfect for me (diplomatically put!). I did David Swenson's Teacher Training in 2003 Primary and Secondary in 2006, Brian Cooper's Teacher Training in 2006 and I have recommended for all my trainee teachers to also take his course, as he takes the crap out of yoga!!! (And there too much crap in it in the west!) I have also completed the teachers' intensive with Ana Forrest, (an amazing women!) I returned to India.... for the tsunami. I am also been asked by Brian Cooper to help out on the 200 and 500 hour Teacher Training for the Yoga Alliance UK. I come from more the experiential than the analysing or anal-lysing of yoga background.

I proudly never to want to be accredited by the BWY!!

I don't participate in the Yoga World, the incoming and outgoing famous/infamous teachers, the fashion accessories, the latest fad, mat or gucci bag, the laughable Yoga Show to Yoga Bugs, THIS isn't my thing. Yoga is.

Astangayogasurrey is a mish mash of loads of information, articles, mat reviews, moo's brownie recipe and loads more, most of them written by students themselves. I would rather someone have access to information than not, and in this day of Misinformation (especially in the west) when it comes to yoga, people need it more so.

I taught at Cannons, in Surbiton with the first 2 hour full primary series Astanga yoga in the area and had the first self practice class in a gym in the whole of the country! My ongoing teacher training made it so tough, especially as I didn't have the help of a teacher myself, I decided (as we all should do), to make it easier for others. I currently have helped up to 10 teachers in their training and beyond who now teach throughout the world, some are now teachers of teachers themselves not as a reflection of me but rather of the place they found within themselves.

I have been teaching since 2001 after practicing since 1999, but only really fully since India studying with Mysore Vishwanath in Bangalore. After 3 months Pranayama, mantra, Ayurveda, and devotional singing I returned 1 stone lighter, and I consider that to be psychological weight that was lost!

Go forth and practice (to PJ Harvey 'cause sometimes its the only thing that helps ha ha!)

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