Yoga with John in Brecon

Event Description:

‘First, learn to achieve the silence of the body. Then control the subtle movements of the breath. Next learn about the silence of the mind and the emotions and then of the intellect.‘  BKS Iyengar, Light on Pranayama.

This year’s Brecon weekend will have as its theme  ‘Asana, pranayama and being in the present moment’.

The dates will be Friday 26th (late afternoon) to Monday 29th June (morning).  We will be at Henderson Hall (https://www.henderson-hall.com/), a light, spatious and airy venue in the quiet village of Talybont-on-Usk, about 5 miles from Brecon in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

All the teaching will be done by John — I am a former student of Jeanne Maslen at Manchester and District Iyengar Yoga,  qualified to level 3 with lots of experience of both regular and remedial teaching.  As well as yoga, my background is in biomedical science and women’s health.

We will start with a class on the Friday late afternoon and then classes will follow on Saturday morning, Sunday morning and Sunday late afternoon (quieter practice). Monday morning we’ll have a final class and then there will be time for those not staying longer in the area to get home.

After the morning class on the Saturday there’ll be free time until the late afternoon/evening when we’ll provide dinner at our house.  We will hope for fine weather as the garden has spectacular views south to the mountains and north to Radnorshire.

The cost this year will be £120 to include all the yoga teaching, tea and coffee, juice, fruit and biscuits at the hall, and the Saturday evening event.  You would bring equipment (mat, 4 pads, 2 bricks, blanket, belt) and organise your own accommodation.  Brecon has lots both in the town and in the rural surrounds, and I am happy to provide advice.  It’s not a bad idea to book B&B early as summer weekend events can fill the town up.  There are campsites in spectacular settings close by including a really good and inexpensive one just near where we live at Cefn Cantref (http://www.campingbrecon.wales/).  If you are not driving, it is probably best to get accommodation in Brecon itself and we can arrange lifts to the yoga venue.  If you bring or hire a bike you can cycle along the canal from Brecon to Talybont in about 35 minutes.

I can also offer help and advice about the area, which is fabulous for walking, cycling, wild swimming, sketching, the canal, historical sites, gardens, cathedral, museums and the mediaeval Tree of Jesse carving in Abergavenny, a notable market and food town. Crickhowell is noted for its shops, pubs and cafes. The area is great for bird spotting too.  Ospreys raised a family last year in Talybont (easy walking distance from the venue to the viewing site — bring binoculars), the first time in this area for 2 centuries.  Pen y Fan, at 886m the highest point in the UK south of Snowdonia, is very close to the village.  Near the venue there’s a café that provides hearty breakfasts and lunches. The hall has free car parking and chargers for electric cars, a kitchen, toilets and changing areas, a large field and even a facility to hose down your bicycle!

If you’d like to bring family or friends not doing yoga they’ll be welcome to join us for the social event.

Please let me know if you are interested.  You’ll be with a friendly group of about 20.  It’s helpful if you have previous experience of Iyengar yoga but do contact me to discuss if in doubt.  Places are limited and it will be first come first served.