About Yoga
The literal meaning of the word "Yoga" is "union". It is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj," meaning " to yolk'. Body and mind, spirit and matter, heaven and earth.
Ultimately though the practice is about learning to become more present. As we gradually begin to focus the mind, open the body, and breathe into it, we also get the opportunity to practice compassion, patience and acceptance - skills which carry us through to better lives off the mat.
Yoga with Mary fuses heart wisdom with practical intelligence in ways that keep opening doors for her students. Empowered by 16 years of her own yoga practice, 5 years of practicing therapeutic work in the body, and a lifelong spirit of adventure, Mary has developed a straight-forward and energising teaching style that supports people in moving into the greatest versions of themselves, both on and off the mat.
Why do Yoga?
Whether looking to relieve stress, calm a busy mind, or promote a deeper sense of wellbeing, yoga has a myriad of health benefits, which include:
Increasing muscle tone and strength
Improving joint-mobility
Increasing spine strength and flexibility
Boosting circulation / lowering blood pressure
Improving concentration and alertness
Improving awareness and balance between body and mind
Connecting to a deeper sense of self
Learning to breathe deeply and correctly
Private Tuition
Mary offers private sessions for students who are looking for more personal or specific guidance in their practices. Private sessions are ideal for the following:
To gain introductory or advanced knowledge of breath-work and the poses
To address how to deal with and heal from an injury
To work through physical and emotional blocks you may be experiencing on your path
Help you build a home yoga or meditation practice
Allow you to enjoy regular session in the comfort of your home, if you don't have time to make it to the studio.
GROUP CLASSES
YANG TO YIN YOGA - Wednesdays 9am - 10:30am
Start the day in Balance + Harmony.
We flow through some sun salutations and standing movements to generate Yang heat in the body to awaken it for the day. Then we wind class down with some Yin grounding floor based poses to re-familiarise ourselves with what it means to go slooow.
Class is designed to regulate your nervous system in these anxious times to soothe and heal your mind and body through movement and guidance that provides calm and clarity.
YIN AND YOGA NIDRA-
Fridays 4pm to 5:30pm
Yin yoga is a dynamic yet super slow class, where the poses are held between 3 and 5 minutes with the aim of a passive stretch right down into the fascia and connective tissue. Learning to start at your comfortable edge and navigate the discomfort with your breath and awareness.
Then we take it into Nidra - a guided visualisation journey around the body to return awareness to each part. Helps you access Theta brainwaves, where all the memories, imagery live. Deeply restorative and healing class.
BREATHWORK + YOGA -
Sundays 10am - 11:30am @ Tota, El Fanar Dahab
Sessions begin with 20 minutes of Pranayama and breathing techniques designed to calm the mind and your nervous system. The aim is to regulate your nervous system in these anxious times and to soothe and heal your mind and body through breathwork and movement that provide balance and harmony.
Workshops
Journey Through Your Chakras; Seven Weekly Workshops
Get to know yourself on a deeper energetic level, through the exploration of the seven major Chakras (energy wheels or vortices) within your body.
Starting from the root chakra up through to the crown chakra we will be exploring these fascinating energy centres so that you can come to know yourself and your 'programs' a lot better. Having specific chakras either excessive or deficient limits energy flow and conscious functioning in these areas, leading to continuation of undesired repetitive behaviours that may be keeping you from progressing to your greatest self.
Exploring these chakras in detail week by week through learning Kriyas; physical poses and breathwork . Understanding colours, mantras, oils and crystals to use that will help you stimulate and open these areas.
First session will be held on Friday the 9th of March 7pm at Studio One Pilates and Movement, SE23 1AT.
Testimonials
“Mary has an amazing knack to help you clear out the chatter in your head whilst making your body work hard, making her class a super positive experience physically and mentally. Not only that but she’s great fun and never over serious!
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“Mary’s Sunday morning class at the Tennis Club is a well spent 90 minutes completely detaching from life’s stresses & strains & a great way to fill up my head with fresh oxygen. I always feel like I’ve stretched out, especially my spine which gets neglected generally. I leave feeling fresher, lighter & a bit taller! Thanks for the fantastic yoga!”
“My daughter recommended Mary’s yoga class to me. I hadn’t been to a class for many years preferring to practise at home. Yoga has always been important to me. I have found Mary’s teaching to be really useful and informative as well as fun! She allows you to develop my skills and increase my understanding of yoga at my own pace and in a way which suits me (and my body). I waited a while to find the right teacher but feel that I have now!”
“Mary’s classes are amazing. It is so important to find the right teacher and Mary ticks all the boxes for me. Her classes always give me energy which is needed even more now I’ve had my second baby. Mary is down to earth, kind and inclusive. I would thoroughly recommend her classes.”
“I would highly recommend Mary’s Yoga classes . The benefits of her classes are physical but mental and spiritual as well; makes me feel wonderful every class!”
“Feeling wonderfully peaceful and full of happiness after Mary’s Sunday morning yoga session. Gentle yet strengthening and including breath work, building a connection between our bodies and spiritual selves, I love her style of teaching.”
“I first started working with Mary in 2015. I was struggling to recover from knee surgery and my physio recommended yoga as part of my treatment. Mary has always been sensitive to my injury and adjusted her teaching when I can’t hold a certain position. I really enjoy her classes as they are always challenging, but always fun too. Some yoga teachers can be a bit po-faced, but Mary makes the classes fun and always seems to know when to be serious and when to lift the mood. The classes have helped get me back on my bike and culminated in me riding the London Surrey 100 in 2016. This seemed an impossible goal when we first started working together, but her help, advice and support were invaluable. I have kept the classes going and always feel about 2 feet taller when I leave. If I miss a couple of weeks I really notice it physically.
One of the most impressive aspects of Mary’s classes is that we never do the same routine twice. Each week is different, so it never gets boring.
My wife and I also use Mary for massage and my daughter has occasionally joined me in yoga classes. She has become a great friend of all the family.”