Embodied Yoga
@ Heart Centre, Headingley

Community oriented Embodied Hatha Yoga and Yoga Nidra sessions. (Almost) every Friday, 18:30-19:30.

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AbouT

Yoga for the People

Embodied Hatha Yoga that meets you where you’re at. Yoga that doesn’t care what you look like or what shapes you can get into. Yoga for real bodies. Yoga for real life. Real Yoga.

This is yoga for the whole of you. Inspired by the raw, messy fullness of being a human living on this earth. Humans who need to move, need to connect, need to belong.

This class is for you to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and find space amongst a busy mind.
A place for curious exploration, where frazzled bodies and nervous system come to be nourished.
Somewhere you can just be, exactly as you are. Where you can slip underneath the noise of modern life to find softness and ease.

We work with the natural rhythms, of ourselves and the earth. Running through these classes is the thread of connection to our inner and outer worlds. Of finding a sense of home within the body, cultivating a sense of presence and belonging. So that you can step into your sovereignty, deepen into your relationships and experience more of life.

I offer a method of embodied yoga that supports the whole of you; heart and soul as well as body and mind. Expect a slow, fluid class which blends traditional Hatha Yoga, somatic movement, pranayama (breath practices), meditation, and deep rest.

Classes are suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced yogis. This practice is incredibly adaptable with lots of options and space for your own movement. Pre & postnatal and non-bendy bods welcome.

These are trauma informed sessions. There are plenty of options and everything is optional here. You are encouraged to take what you need and leave the rest behind. If you want to join purely for the physical practice and benefits, you are most welcome. Similarly, if you want to come and just lie down on the mat and join in for the practices that are more mind based, that is welcome too.

There’s no right or wrong. You get to choose the practice you need. When I say you are welcome as you are, I truly mean it.
And if you want guidance, I will gently guide you the whole way through. This is a place for you to move, breathe and rest. Space for you to just be you.

All my community offerings have scaled pricing so you can pay at a level that best suits your income and resources. Please act with integrity by paying the highest level you can to keep this system sustainable. This system was developed as a form of economic justice by Alexis J. Cunningfolk, you can find further information and guidance around where to place yourself on the scale here.

I also offer Pay as You Can afford spaces to anyone who needs one due to financial hardship – no-one turned away due to lack of funds. Please contact me to book one of these spots.

This class is heavily inspired by the practices of Embodied Flow and Body Mind Centering. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my many teachers.

Slow Flow

Traditional yoga asana, somatic movement and functional mobility blended together so you can build strength and flexibility in a way that suits you. You have time to feel your way into and find your version of each shape. There’s space for intuitive movement so you can find your flow. Everything is always optional.

Breath

Breath, meditation and visualisation are woven throughout our sessions. We also practice traditional Pranayama (breathwork). These practices help you to (re)connect with your body-mind and explore your internal worlds. They give busy minds something to keep them occupied. You can engage with these elements as much or as little as you like.

Rest

You are welcome to rest whenever you like within my sessions. There are frequent invitations to pause so you can take things at your own pace. We always end with a decent dose of rest. On the session closest to the New Moon, we have our dedicated Yoga Nidra practice with slower movement and more rest. This rest is essential for our whole systems. It has huge benefits for our brains, bodies and nervous systems. We all need more of it.

During sessions, I feel I can find a stillness that I find difficult to achieve anywhere else. I find I’m able to connect with existing in my body and cut out the background noise of my mind to just focus on movement and sensations, which is incredibly calming.
Anonymous Participant
Sophie is a great teacher. Thought provoking themes abound. The sequences are an invitation not an instruction and she gives alternatives in her sequences, she is very responsive to the individuals in her classes. The feeling of being rested and relaxed afterwards is just wonderful!
Anonymous Participant
Really trauma informed and helping with my neurodiversity. I enjoy the information and the themes talked through and not too strenuous flow. After the sessions I feel peaceful and happy, calmer and less hyperactive.
Vixen Fox

Accessibility

These classes are designed to be as inclusive as possible. They are in a community oriented space that is open and welcoming. We are a small, diverse and friendly group. Please contact me to discuss any accessibility needs. You are welcome to bring any of your items including props, comfort or fidget items with you. I do use scents (pure essential oils in a diffuser) in the space, please mention when booking if this is an issue for you.

Unfortunately, the nature of these classes and the space means these classes are not accessible to all. We are on the second floor up two flights upstairs. There is lift access for those who need it. The lift is key operated so you need to ask at reception so a member of staff can operate the lift for you. You are welcome to practice with the support of a chair. Please note these are not dedicated chair yoga sessions and as such, are not designed for a purely seated practice so if you need or prefer to remain seated throughout this will need some adaptation and you may find a different class suits your needs better, you are welcome to discuss this with me so we can explore if they might work for you.

We can adapt for many injuries and conditions, but group yoga sessions are not suitable for all bodies or all conditions – sometimes private sessions are more appropriate. This might be short term so you can find adaptations that suit your individual needs, or longer term if you need ongoing individual attention. If you have an injury or serious physical or mental health condition you think may impact your participation, please get in touch and we can explore what would suit you. Also, just to note, whilst these yoga sessions are trauma informed and can have therapeutic benefits, this is not Yoga Therapy or a replacement for any other types of therapy. I endeavour to facilitate a space where you are free to explore body and breath and these types of practices don’t necessarily feel good – or safe – for all people at all times. You are in charge of your bodymind, and I can’t know your internal experience. You will be encouraged to find and honour your own limits and boundaries here. Please get in touch if you want to know more about what is involved and check this is the right space for you.

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