Discovering the Essence of Yoga

with Carrie Tuke, a yoga practitioner and teacher from London, England.

 I have been a student of yoga for over 20 years, having begun with Iyengar and Ashtanga in New York; my yoga over the last 13 years has been inspired by my main teachers John Stirk and Sandra Sabatini. Sandra and John were both students of Vanda Scaravelli. I have an integrated approach to healing the body through Yoga, combining my Yoga study with my experience as a Structural Integration and Hakomi Practitioner.

My approach to teaching emphasizes supporting each person at their growing edge, allowing their potential to unfold. I teach Yoga classes for beginners, experienced students and teachers. I live and work in London and run workshops and retreats in Europe. I also work with the Helen Bamber Foundation as a somatic therapist using my integrated approach to support survivors of gross human cruelty. As Vanda Scaravelli said, â??If you are kind to the body, it will respond in an incredible wayâ??. This is a truth I experience again and again.

Here are some words I have used in the past to describe my approach, I hope they give you an idea of where I am coming from:

 Working with the fundamental elements, that are the heart of the Yoga: gravity, breathing and movement, allows us to cultivate our ability to work from a deeper place within ourselves, while staying connected to the world around us. Freedom is found in the body when a spacious spine is able to relate to ground and the sky through the arms and the legs.

Direct movement, through softer joints, reduces unnecessary muscular tension, increasing fluidity and ease of movement. Learning to bring attention to breathing, postural and attitudinal habits gives time to listen, recognize and invite new possibilities into how we organize ourselves within Yoga postures. This way, opportunities are created to find ways through limitations and inspire us towards our potential and vitality.

 Allowing ourselves to listen and be truly touched by the ground and our breathing has the potential to settle us within our own body rhythms. By receiving, releasing and engaging rather than pushing, pulling and stretching, we become aware of the calm, spacious, resonation that is the aliveness within. This awareness and attention to creative explorations becomes a resource in everyday living.

 This is key for me; it has enhanced my capacity for the awareness of subtle movements that are the foundation for the integrity in Yoga.

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IÂ love to share my experience and understanding of yoga with others. If you are interested, you can email me carrietuke@myyoga.co.uk.

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The Essence of Yoga
Practicing Embodiment

Transform your yoga from the aliveness within

with Carrie Tuke (UK) and Sol Petersen (NZ)

at Mana Retreat Centre, Coromandel

Come for the weekend Friday 1st (6pm) to Sunday 3rd February or

stay for 4 days Friday 1st (6pm) to Tuesday 5th February, 2008

This retreat will be of immense value for both the experienced and beginner alike. Take this unique opportunity to deepen your practice of living yoga in the beautiful setting of Mana. Carrie and Sol are international teachers with over 20 years of experience and have been leading Yoga and Tai Ji retreats throughout Europe. They combine a meditative and individual approach to yoga practice with an insightful functional and structural awareness.

Participants will explore body reading and the use of touch to unwind and release individual challenges to develop your most fluid practice. This sensitivity will support and nourish you not only in the postures but in your daily life. It will encourage and inspire you to work at the growing edge as you discover the heart of your personal path of yoga.

Carrie Tuke has 20 years experience in her integrated approach to healing the body through Yoga. She has studied Yoga for many years with Yoga teacher and Osteopath John Stirk from UK and Sandra Sabatini from Italy, author of Breath â?? the Essence of Yoga. Carrie is based in London where she practices Structural Integration, Hakomi and teaches Yoga.

Sol Petersen has been teaching Tai Ji â?? a moving yoga for over 30 years. Sol is co-founder of Mana Retreat, a Structural Integration trainer, Aston Movement Coach and an eternal student of the dynamic body. Over the last 35 years Sol has developed his unique perspectives and approach to stretching, posture, core conditioning and dynamic movement.

Cost: day rate for the yoga tuition only- $100 ( meals are extra)

Weekend Course all inclusive $380 or the 5-Day Retreat $695Â

 To book a place contact: Mana Retreat on 07 8668972 or email: be@manaretreat.com

For more information contact: Sol on 021 893 055 or email: sol@theradiantbody.com