Yoga with Owen

* MORNING UPDATE*

Good morning everyone!

Unfortunately, the weather does not appear to be on our side this morning again for this mornings first planned Saturday Morning class. This is a real shame but I don't see this getting to a dry enough level to offer a safe practice this morning (or as enjoyable one).

The list of potential dates can be found on my website here: https://www.yogawithowen.co.uk/summer

Hopefully I'll see some of you on a dry Monday evening this week!

All the best

Tomorrow morning will be the first of many early Saturday Morning classes in Dorchesters Borough Gardens, which are a new addition this will alongside my existing Monday evening classes.

The Monday evening classes haver been great to hold in Borough Gardens so far this summer and a real treat for me to teach in such a beautiful space. After feedback. it seems that an early morning Saturday class is what is wanted so I have added this to my weekly class schedule.

These are Beginner Friendly Gentle Yoga classes which you don't even need a mat for. The grass can be enough if you don't have a mat! You also don't need to book anything for these classes and can just turn up!

These are also "Donation Style" / "Pay as you wish" style classes which mean you can give what you wish to on the day without pressure to pay at all if you'd rather not. I can accept both card or cash for which ever you would prefer on the day.

You can find a list of these summer class on my website here as I do have a short break myself at the end of July/beginning of August to be aware of:
https://www.yogawithowen.co.uk/summer

These are subject to the weather and I highly recommend you follow me on social media to keep up to date with weather changes and if that results in class cancellations. The bandstand does allow for some cover in light rain but I always walk through the park before the class to update via social media to give people a few hours notice so make sure to follow to updates.

The Borough Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset Dorchester, Thomas Hardy Country

Yesterday's online class was something a bit different in it being a short video about how we can apply "Tapas" to our practice and lives off the mat.

"Tapas" is often translated into English as "Dedication" and "Self-Discipline which I think in western culture we mostly think of as pushing ourselves and thinking of the physical practice like a workout. This self-discipline though can also, and should also, be applied to being able to make sure we rest when needed, we look for signs we need to hold back to reduce risk of injury, and we have that discipline to not just push through pain.

It's a bit of a strange concept to western culture to not always be pushing and forcing for more when sometimes you could argue our dedication there to force is too much.

It would be great to hear what you think of a slightly different style of video to the normal online weekly classes so any feedback would be great!

Those that prefer the Asana physical practice will have more to come in the next few days so don't worry there haha.

All the best

I'm very happy to announce that, as of this weekend, I will be adding Saturday Morning Yoga to the Summer Classes held at Borough Gardens in Dorchester!

The Monday evening classes haver been great to hold in Borough Gardens so far this summer and a real treat for me to teach in such a beautiful space. After feedback. it seems that an early morning Saturday class is what is wanted so I have added this to my weekly class schedule.

These are Beginner Friendly Gentle Yoga classes which you don't even need a mat for. The grass can be enough if you don't have a mat! You also don't need to book anything for these classes and can just turn up!

These are also "Donation Style" / "Pay as you wish" style classes which mean you can give what you wish to on the day without pressure to pay at all if you'd rather not. I can accept both card or cash for which ever you would prefer on the day.

You can find a list of these summer class on my website here as I do have a short break myself at the end of July/beginning of August to be aware of: https://www.yogawithowen.co.uk/summer

These are subject to the weather and I highly recommend you follow me on social media to keep up to date with weather changes and if that results in class cancellations. The bandstand does allow for some cover in light rain but I always walk through the park before the class to update via social media to give people a few hours notice so make sure to follow to updates.

dorset Dorchester, Thomas Hardy Country The Borough Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset Dorset Echo

As I've been in Germany this weekend, you can still practice with me but it can be in the comfort of your own home!

This and many more classes are available on my YouTube channel and more class change announcements coming this week to be excited for in person.

Hope you've had a great weekend and I'll hopefully see you soon either in person or online soon!

All the best

A new Gentle Yoga Hip Opening class went online this week! Hopefully it gives you a nice offering over the weekend to enjoy!

This is one of tens of free YouTube classes I offer alongside my in person teaching and it's a real privilege to be able to share two a week with everyone.

Enjoy!

After the success of my Beginner Friendly Monday 17:30 - 18:30 Evening Classes in Dorchester's beautiful Borough Gardens, I want to add an extra class here to my weekly schedule.

Before I commit to a weekly date, I want to check what do you want from the Yoga Classes in the park here as a community?

Please comment on this post, or message me directly, with preferred days/times of either the suggested schedule OR if there is another time/date you would prefer I can try and see if that can fit into both my week and the gardens.

I've been loving the Monday evening sessions and can't wait to be able to schedule this into the weekly classes now too!

All the best

Owen

A technique I have taught a bit more recently is this quick and easy way to open through the nasal passage. This technique works as a bit of a "body hack" through stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide in the nose which is a vasodilator. As a result it helps open through the nose, lungs, blood vessels and more.

If you suffer from hay fever, colds, or even want an extra boost for athletic performance, then this can help open up the breath capacity and nasal capacity.

Try it out and let me know how it feels and what sensations occur in the nasal cavity after doing 2-3 rounds of 10-15 nods.

Enjoy!

Ever wanted to try Yoga as a Man and felt you might be out of place? As a Male Yoga Teacher, I've had a lot of Men message me over the years and ask if I held "Men's Only Classes" as they would feel more comfortable trying it in a group of Men instead of a mixed group. I want to use monthly workshops over the summer to introduce more Men to Yoga and hopefully help build confidence in what to expect to then feel comfortable going to mixed classes in future.

What We Will Explore:
In these sessions, we'll look at different styles of yoga each month.
In this first workshop, we will:
• Build a Foundation: Run through some common Yoga Poses as a group.
• Practice a Flow: Put the poses together into a slow flowing sequence.
• Learn Breathwork (Pranayama): Explain basic techniques that can be used in the practice or as a standalone part of your day-to-day life.

Do you need to be experienced in Yoga?
THESE ARE MEANT FOR ALL ABILITIES.
• No previous experience needed for beginners.
• Experienced practitioners can gain a community aspect and break down pose techniques.

What to Bring & Wear
• Equipment: I will be providing mats and props for everyone. They will be set up and ready for you once you've booked your space.
• Clothing: You don't need anything beyond comfortable clothing you can move in (think typical sports clothing you might wear to the gym or a run).
• An open mind: Appreciate the chance to try something new and enjoy pushing ourselves.

Why Join this Community?
You can try Yoga for the first time amongst other men who may be in the same boat as you. When I started doing Yoga it was for the flexibility and strength for Sport, but it quickly helped me with my Mental Health too. I hope to share this and, as a result, build a community where we can get together regularly to work on our practice.

Post-Class Social:
At the end of the session, once I've packed away the equipment, I am open to spending some time socialising either a the hall or at another location tbc.

Book Here:
https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/7338/events

Let me know if you have any questions and queries, and I will respond as soon as possible for you.

All the best,

Owen

I still have some spaces for my Yin Yoga "Upper Body" focused workshop which includes an hour Sound Bath at the end. I really enjoy hosting these events to provide a place for people to let go from the stresses of everyday and just be present.

This workshop specifically I'm focusing on the Upper Body as a lot of Yin Yoga tends to focus on the Lower Body with Legs and Hips as primary muscle groups. As a result, we'll be looking at Neck, Shoulder, Arm, and Back-sentric poses using props which are provided for you as part of the booking.

Before the Sound Bath begins, we'll allow a bit of time to do some Breathwork and then move into an hour long Sound Bath using Crystal Singing Bowls which are very soothing as they produce slow swells of harmonies with plenty of deep low notes. This often brings people to the edge of sleeping in a deeper state of rest and, again, allows you to be present and relaxed.

If you wish to book onto this workshop, you can do so by following the link below or via my links in my profile to take you to my booking page.

https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/7338/events/9295446

If you have any questions then let me know and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Hopefully I'll see some of you there!

All the best

Owen