A new year, a new start

Begin something today –

that carries with

great depth,

feelings of meaning 

and love

to echo throughout

your life –

until the end of time.

                     - Paul Thomas Berkley

Om Shanti dear one

I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I do enjoy taking the opportunity to take stock and reflect on what has gone and what is to come. Sometimes simply bringing attention to our current situation and considering our direction of travel is enough to create profound shifts in our lives. 

This year brought with it great change for me on many fronts. I let go of the physical Temple of Yoga home, I taught more privately and had the great joy of sharing more introspective practices with a focus on mantra, pranayama and meditation. I took on a new job, I completed year one of a masters degree in Psychology, I took a long road trip with Eddie and Coco, and I taught hundreds of wonderful yogis in group classes across Oxfordshire. Looking back, it was a busy year! 

But, many of these things were not planned at the start of 2022. I allowed myself (not always gracefully and sometimes kicking and screaming along the way) to be carried by my own practice, by the intuition that comes through turning inwards, and most importantly by joy and love. Of course we are never passive in the journey, it requires us to take decisions and to move forward. But, graceful journeys require us to sit back and down into the seat of the observer, rather than propelling ourselves forward through will or force. 

The poem above by Paul Berkley reminded me that small seeds grow into great trees. Every moment we plant new seeds with our thoughts, words and deeds. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of challenges we face in our own lives, and in the injustice we see in the world around us. The overwhelm often leaves us paralysed and unable to take a step forward. But everything starts with one step, one seed, and the right intention. If we can plant seeds of love and kindness in our lives now, and every day, what will the trees that grow from them look like in ten years time? 

Many of you have so kindly enquired about classes starting up again in Banbury and I'm delighted to say that I am planting seeds now for classes beginning again when I return to the UK from India in February. I am also delighted to be collaborating again with Sam Bowers for our unique offerings, Deep Release and Shakti Flow with Cacao.

In the first instance I will be offering:

- Weekly all levels Dharma Yoga practice in Banbury (Saturday or Sunday, if you have a preference please let me know)

- Monthly Dharma Yoga Maha Sadhana in Oxford (most likely Sunday afternoons)

- Quarterly Deep Release with Sound extended classes with Sam Bowers in Banbury (Sunday evening)

- Quarterly Shakti Flow and Cacao ceremony with Sam Bowers in Oxford (Friday evening)

I also hope to offer some additional seated classes focused on studying philosophy, mantra and meditation from home in my little yoga shala. These will be available in person and online and will take place on a weekday evening. If you are keen to join the circle in person please let me know as spaces will be limited.

Stay tuned for more news soon. Sending love and warm wishes from India

Ayesha x