Aberdeen Yoga Festival

Ashtanga explore the traditional first series of ashtanga vinyasa yoga, also called “Yoga Chikitsa” or Yoga Therapy. Moving with our breath (via vinyasa), exploring the internal subtle body (bandhas), applying gazing points (drishti – for focus) and deepening our awareness with our breath (ujjayi pranayama), this class will be sure to awaken and refresh your meditative awareness (dhyana). All levels welcome though some yoga experience will be helpful.

Chakra Dance blends a unique musical vibration with each chakra starting with the base chakra and flowing effortlessly from one to the other up to the crown chakra. As the mind body and spirit aline the dancer focuses attention on a particular chakra and releases the blockage emotional spiritual and physical energies are released dancing the seven chakras is like dancing through the seven different worlds each with its own lessons and meaning and story. Chakra dance is a modern-day practice but its roots lie in the in ancient wisdom developed 4000 years ago through the chakra system at the very heart of most eastern philosophies lies the understanding of the mystical channels of the energy that flows through our bodies the word Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word which literally means ‘ wheel’.

Inner Morning Focus Practice This is a meditative Krischnamacharya or Viniyoga style of practice which will take you inside using your breath as a guide and driving force via gentle dynamic flowing posture work

Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama). The development of strength, mobility and stability is gained through the asanas.

Kids Yoga is fun and creative, using animated poses and basic stretching exercises to promote strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness. Its helps kids to improve concentration and focus, stimulate their imagination and help to release energy in a fun, safe environment.

Kirtan

Krishnamacharya Style Yoga focuses on awareness and works with the differing qualities of the in and out breaths, extending both into the different layers (pancas) of our beings.  The session will use posture work and breath and the Krischnamacharya format to move us into stillness.

Kundalini Yoga the Yoga of Awareness, consists of simple yogic techniques that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter his or her age or physical ability. It is a complete science that includes breath (pranayam), yoga postures (asanas), sound, chanting (mantra) and meditation. It is designed to provide you with the experience of your highest consciousness through the raising of your Kundalini.

The Breath and the Sun Salutations learn how to safely and fully breathe with awareness by exploring “ujjayi pranayama”. Then add complexity to the breath by adding movements to our breathing (vinyasa) as we explore the foundational movements of Surya Namaskar A and B: the Sun Salutations. Find out why these are the bread and butter of a safe and healthy ashtanga vinyasa yoga practice and learn the tools, alignment and key elements which will allow you to practice them with devotion and with ease. This class is for all levels: for beginning yoga students to the most seasoned practitioner.

Partner Yoga Fun this class is not just for romantic partners and you don’t need to sign-up with a buddy to enjoy the class. We’ll work with a partner to do various postures and feel the great benefits and releases that come when we have someone else to support us releasing into postures. We’ll also have the option of trying some fun acroyoga-type postures.

Pot luck dinner bring a dish to share and eat together with other yogis

Pranayama will involve various breathing exercises and techniques that strengthen and tone the whole respiratory system. The overall effect should be a refreshed energised calm & balanced feeling in body & mind.

Philosophical Flow explores the philosophy of yoga while you’re on your mat, taking the ideas of the yoga sutras into our practice. This will help give you an idea of why what you’re doing on your mat is more than just exercise and how the skills and learnings are transferable into the rest of your life.

Shakti Flow is a hybrid of styles (Vinyasa Krama, Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, etc.) combining Pranayama techniques & Bandhas to concentrate the Prana (energy) in the body. It isn’t as fast or strong as power but is more dynamic than Hatha or Yin yoga. We all hold tension and emotions in our bodies, which can transmute into illness; my aim is to release the things we hold onto and peel away our ‘layers’ to find a purer, happier version of ourselves. The class are esoteric and light-hearted.

What’s your dosha? Developed in ancient India thousands of years ago, Ayurveda is one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful mind-body healing systems, offering timeless wisdom and practical tools for creating optimal health. This class will scratch the surface giving you an insight into what your personal dosha is and what that means

Vinyasa Flow is a playful flowing class with emphasis on alignment, and challenging students with inversions and arm balances.

Yin Yoga is interested in the relationship between joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons. By staying longer in a posture we exert healthy stress on the tissues being stretched bringing more blood flow and flexibility to them, deeply opening them. This is very effective on the areas where we hold tension – especially the hips and shoulders. Yin yoga provides an essential balance to more physical Yang practices, and is calming and nurturing.

Yoga as a Prayer Karina will guide you through a lovely practice to help you get a sense of connecting with the divine. What you experience and feel and what comes up for you as you practice can all be seen as a call to God/the universe/your Higher self.

Yoga off the mat find out about how yoga is more than just a posture practice, learning how it translates into everyday life