Reconnect to Self

A Guide to Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is a form of Raj or Royal yoga that was brought to the West in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan. It is the yoga of awareness. A technology to support the creative potential of human beings and the awakening of self-healing. It works on many levels – alleviating low mood/anxiety, and working on your nervous system (great for all, but especially relevant for those who have experienced trauma). It increases your fitness, makes you more flexible, unblocks you, connects you back to your power, opens you up, makes you more radiant and more connected to your authentic self. The postures and meditations work on a cellular level - bringing up what needs to be healed, then releasing it. It is great therapy without the talking (and cheaper)!

Each class is different but they all have the same basic structure – tune in with mantra, usually a warm-up, perhaps some pranayama (breathwork), then a kriya for a particular purpose (e.g. for a healthy spine, to conquer sleep, for emotional balance, for digestion, to open the heart chakra…). Followed by relaxation, meditation, then close the space.

A kriya is a series of postures combined with specific breathing techniques which intensify the workout. Each posture/breath combination may be done rapidly and repetitively, more slowly and meditatively, or may involve holding certain postures while consciously breathing in a certain way. Some classes feel more physical, others more heart-centred – all work on many levels simultaneously. Kundalini Yoga is a spiritual and mental activity as much as a physical one. Even if you don’t identify as ‘spiritual’ you can just enjoy how the class makes you feel.

Kundalini yoga is suitable for all – from the inflexible, never-done-yoga-before-and-not-sure it’s-for-me folk, to those who do, or have done, other types of yoga but are intrigued by what Kundalini might offer.

Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm is a wonderful time to reset yourself on a weekly basis for the week ahead and The Yoga Room is a beautiful space to do that in. If you’re interested in a class please book a space by e-mailing navshivakaur@gmail.com, or for more information go to: seechangeholistic.com

Kundalini yoga classes are every Sunday at 4.30pm at The Yoga Room.

The Art Of Selfless Service

The start of a new year is traditionally the time for setting resolutions. As we set out to better ourselves, it’s the perfect time to talk about shifting the focus to how we can practice compassion and be of service to others.

Referred in to Sanskrit as Seva, the art of selfless service is about giving back, without any expectations. Seva is really at the heart of yoga: we practice so we can be centred, calmer, stronger, and more grounded. By practising yoga and being kind to ourselves, it’s easier for us to find it in ourselves to give something back.

There are hundreds of little ways you might already be of service to others. Being of service to your family, volunteering, grocery shopping for an elderly neighbour, or just calling up a friend in need to offer an ear. It’s so easy to get swept up in the daily grind and forget about those in greater need, but the act of giving is a gift to everyone involved. Seva helps to build our self-esteem, helping us to tackle our own insecurities and build confidence.

“I don’t know what I would do without my yoga.”

– Grassmarket Community Centre service user

Stacey Chavis, owner of the yoga room, has been volunteering at the Grassmarket Community Centre, teaching weekly classes to their service users. Founded in 2010, the charity now supports over 500 of the most vulnerable in our city. From Soup Kitchens, free haircuts and recreational activities, to practical skills training, counselling and employment, the project supports people to make the changes they seek in their lives. To many of their members, it is family.

With the support and selfless service of local instructors and therapists, the project strives to provide a safe and stimulating environment. Three years ago the centre added yoga into their varied activity programme, recognising the power of yoga to transform lives and save people from self-harming thoughts and actions.

“It’s the only time in the whole week where I feel at peace with myself, it’s a break from my emotional aches and pains.”

– Grassmarket Community Centre service user

Big goals are achieved by small steps, so every small step we can take to help someone counts. Why not start by reconnecting with the true yoga and ask yourself, what are you doing for someone else today?

More information on the Grassmarket Community Project, including ways in which you can get involved, can be found here.

Ashtanga Yoga

Accessible To All

Traditionally, Ashtanga yoga is a linear sequence, with students encouraged to master each asana or pose before they move on to the next. It’s very important that there are studios out there offering the traditional lineage of the method as it was taught by Pattabhi Jois. However, for many of us, it can prove beneficial to blend different styles of yoga to build a practice better suited to our own bodies.

Ashtanga at The Yoga Room

Borrowing from Iyengar yoga’s use of equipment and focus on alignment allows people of all levels to practise, keeping us safe until we might no longer need the blocks, straps or blankets.

That’s what makes The Yoga Room’s approach unique. You’ll find people practising in the traditional method alongside those who find the props help them to feel part of the class. You might see someone in a full wheel, while their neighbour on the next mat practises a restorative backbend. There are many parts to one asana and there’s always an element of a pose that’s accessible to everybody.

Sometimes, in led classes, we’ll play around with the rocket sequence too, depending on the mood of the class. We’ll tell you more about the dynamic, fast-paced flow of rocket yoga in another blog, so watch this space.

What is Mysore and why practise it?

The traditional self-led Mysore practice is a wonderful way to get to grips with the repetition of the Ashtanga sequence. Many of us also come to our mats with niggling injuries. By allowing the teacher to provide alternative poses adapted to you, self-practice can be the best way to support recovery from injury.

A regular self-guided practice also allows us to work on opening up tight areas, and progressing deeper into poses. And it’s the perfect opportunity to practice those headstands!

Why practice at The Yoga Room?

A beautiful boutique studio in the heart of Edinburgh, the Yoga Room is a welcoming, cosy space. With roots in the Ashtanga yoga movement, the studio now offers a variety of styles of yoga catering for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced. Class sizes are smaller, allowing for greater individual attention and bespoke adjustments from our experienced teachers.

Choosing a class

If you’re new to yoga, you might not know yet what path to take. Rest assured you’ll find something for you, whether it’s in the dynamic practice of Ashtanga, the slower pace of Yin yoga, or the energy of Kundalini. The Yoga Room is also known for pregnancy classes and mum and baby yoga. Read more about our classes here or feel free to ask. All our teachers will be happy to help guide you towards the style of yoga best for you.

What makes the yoga room unique?

Influences from these different styles of yoga come together in our classes, creating a dynamic and playful class practice that truly makes The Yoga Room unique. Our teachers draw on their personal practice and varied training to encourage your relationship to yoga to evolve, whether you are an experienced practitioner or new to yoga. By mixing things up a little, we challenge our bodies to move in new ways, build confidence and watch our practice grow.

Practising yoga is a great way to “unplug” from the pace and stress of modern life and to truly dedicate some time to you. So why not come and say hi – we’d love to welcome you!