ZEN YOGA IN CAMBERWELL

This is a guest editorial piece from my friends at Zen Yoga telling you a little bit about what they do.

What does the word “yoga” mean to you? Flexibility? Relaxation? What about “meditation” or “zen”? “Zen” originally comes from a Sanskrit word “dhyana” meaning concentration or meditation, and meditation is one of the central practices in yoga – along with the physical postures (“asanas”), and breathing/energy work (“pranayama”). Yoga (related to the English word “yoke”) means bringing together body and mind, the individual and the whole.

So the well-known yoga postures like downward dog or triangle pose are actually only one part of yoga practice. They bring the body into focus so that we can notice any tightnesses or restrictions. Our awareness is like the sunlight that can begin melting and relaxing these frozen places. And, says Zen master and experienced yoga teacher Daizan Skinner, when we’re relaxed we can slip more easily into that wonderful flow of life. Once we really get the movement, breath, and meditation working in harmony we can expect not just better physical health, but better sleep, more resilience to stress, more self-understanding, more happiness, compassion, and better relationships.

Daizan Skinner is the founder of the beautiful ZenYoga studio in Camberwell, where we offer a variety of yoga classes throughout the week, from slow to fast paced, and from morning awakening to evening relaxing. Why not take advantage of our offer for all new students: £20, unlimited yoga classes over 2 weeks.

We also run regular courses in meditation and mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of fully experiencing and living in the present moment, without getting caught up in memories, fantasies, plans, and random trains of thought. Some people would classify it as a life skill as important as reading and writing!

ZenYoga is also the home of a thriving Zen group, meeting twice a week to practice meditation, learn and socialise. Our teacher Daizan was the the first Englishman to go to Japan and become a Master in the rigorous Rinzai tradition of Zen.

Find out more about ZenYoga here: www.zenyoga.org.uk