Hi yogis,

Ready for some yoga?
Our shiny new 2025 yoga term begins this week.

And this Imbolc weekend, join a day retreat to celebrate Brigid and the uplifting light of Spring, nature and our own creativity.

Check it out:

Classes

TUESDAY: Teach Bhride, Tullow, at 7pm – all levels
THURSDAY: Askea Parish Centre, Carlow, at 7pm – beginners

Imbolc Yoga & Nature Day RetreatImbolc Spring Awakening

Enjoy a great programme in the luxurious setting of Lisnavagh. Yoga, journalling, a walk in nature, awesome fresh home-cooked lunch, and great company will re-set you for the coming season.

Saturday, 1 February, 10am – 5pm
More information and booking through Lisnavagh.com

Shadow Hatha Yoga Course

Shadow Hatha Yoga with Pam ButlerRefresh and progress your Shadow hatha yoga practice with this series of yoga workshops, supported with optional Zoom classes.

Venue: Ananta Yoga & Ayurveda, Wicklow
Dates: 8 Feb, 8 March, 12 April
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am

Cost per workshop: €45
Cost for all three workshops: €115
Cost for full course (3 workshops & 8 Zoom classes) €185

Details and booking here.

Get in touch with any questions!
See you on the mat.
Namaste,
Pam

It’s been a magical summer, filled to the brim with family and friends and a garden wedding here at home,  What a day it was!

SistersWe were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny, warm day. The bride and groom chose to have the wedding on the solstice, June 20th. The fact that it happened also to be a full moon was delightful and raised the energy of the whole day – and night! At four o’clock in the morning, with the dance floor still going, the sky kept an all-night glow. The large bonfire – a lot of garden tidying went into it! – had by then become hot embers and a slightly wild place to retreat for some DMCs (deep & meaningful conversations :)).

The party seemed to roll on for weeks, with family from abroad staying on, aunts and uncles visiting a little later, and various other social gatherings that filled summer to the brim.

Part of the magic was being in the thick of receiving help from our friends, for gorgeous atmosphere-setting yarn bombing, giant paper flowers, the dirty digging of flower beds, the loan of  tables and chairs, glasses and flatware, a hand-painted topper for the wedding cake (so sweet!). Keeping the lawns mown between rainy days seemed like a minor miracle.

The vegetable garden took a back seat relative to other summers, Yet we’ve just had some carrot-top pesto from our first carrot harvest! Thanks to many diligent hands, the freezer is filled with broad beans; the tomatoes are coming on strong now; and peaches have stopped dropping to the ground just as apples are ripening up.

 

All this magic and blossoming left little time for my own yoga practice. Intending to give myself a break for a few days post-wedding, the leisurely coffee-breakfast-chat routine wended its way well into August. It’s good new for my students: I will now be very empathetic to the feeling of getting back onto the mat!

Classes will start towards the end of September as I’ll be away for a short while, but you can book your class here.

I’m keen to share Shadow style hatha yoga more widely in the community so will have a workshop in October. And the marvellous  Ananta Yoga & Ayurveda studio in Wicklow will be the space for a workshop this autumn too. All this lays the groundwork for Karen Watson, my Shadow yoga teacher, who will be over from London for a one-day workshop in Dublin in January.

The Yoga & Sleep retreat in early November is nearly full so please book now if you’d like to relax and unwind with me there.

Details will be forthcoming over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, keep enjoying the long evenings and fresh air. See you soon!

Namaste.

Magic in the garden

Sign up for autumn yoga classes here!

 

 

Delightful news! Karen Watson is coming over from London for a one-day Shadow Yoga workshop.

Karen has been teaching Shadow yoga for about 30 years, having fist trained in Iyengar yoga before completing an extensive apprenticeship with Shandor Remete. She will be holding a workshop on Sunday, May 12th in Wicklow. This is a superb chance for everyone interested in yoga to experience the Shadow yoga practice under exceptionally capable guidance.

Sunday 12th May

9 – 11 am and 3 – 5 pm

Ananta Yoga & Ayurveda Studio, Wicklow A67 YR60

Early bird discount to 12 April – don’t miss that! BOOK HERE!.

See more about Karen’s teaching here.

It was great to see such enthusiasm back on the mat last week. If you missed the start of term, don’t worry. you can still book!

Tullow all levels

Carlow beginners

February is just around the corner…

Check out the Shadow Hatha Yoga Workshop 10 Feb

Join me in Wicklow

to practice the 2nd Prelude Form,

Chaya Yoddha Sancalanam

Saturday 10th February, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

I’m offering an early bird discount for anyone booking the Zoom + Workshop

Click here to see more

Zoom Room

opens Wed 14 February

for a 6 week block.

You can book just the Zoom if you’re familiar with the 2nd Prelude.

Namaste,

Pam

Shadow hatha yoga with PamShadow Hatha Yoga Zoom classes are now Wednesday morning, as of 18 October.

Get in touch if you’d like to join, or book a class here.

Wednesdays to 6 December

7:30 – 8:30 am

Drop in €15

Six classes €66

Bonus: Recording available for a week.

 

SAVE THE DATESBalakrama Sharva

Two workshops coming up in Wicklow

Balakrama basics

Saturday November 25

9 – 11:30 am

60

Suitable for beginners to Shadow yoga, those seeking a refresher

Join weekly Zoom classes to support your practice every Wednesday 7:30 – 8:30am. Drop in €15.

Benefits of the Balakrama

  • You’ll feel stronger! The Warrior and Archer poses stoke the fire of agni, your digestive fire. This refers to physical and mental digestion – food, and processing events and happenings in your life.
  • Your mental focus will be enhanced through the structure and rhythm of the practice.
  • Joint mobility improves. The joint warm up is a gentle hint to the body that we use at every practice, and the toes, ankles, knees and hips gain power and space through the Balakrama activity.
  • It’s good for your bones. Static standing poses help to maintain strong leg bones which support bone density
  • Your breathing becomes deeper more rhythmic. As we apply “good stress” to the body and practice maintaining a smooth inhalation and exhalation, the lungs grow more capable of this deeper breathing.
  • Coordination improves through the “prana mudra” elements. “Prana” is the life energy that circulates, and “mudra” is a position. We move the arms in an expressive way, moving our energy as well.
  • The sum of this work cultivates a foundation for seated asana.

Balakrama full practice

Saturday January 27

9 – 11:30 am

60

Suitable for those with some yoga experience

Join weekly Zoom classes to support your practice every Wednesday 7:30 – 8:30am. Drop in €15, 8 weeks €88.

Benefits of the Balakrama full practice

Breathing will deepen and become more rhythmic

Stamina improves

Coordination is refined

Joint mobility improves

A strong foundation is established for seated work, and for further Prelude work

 

Welcome to yoga, and congratulations for giving it a try.

What should you expect from a beginner’s yoga class?

There are so many styles of yoga or personal teacher’s interpretations that it can be overwhelming. As a rule of thumb, if you are truly a beginner it is beneficial to start with a beginner level class.

What I can offer is that

  • You will be welcomed as you are.
  • The yoga will set you up with a good foundation, with a gradual progression.
  • Many pieces of the practice are simple, but precise, so that you can “get” them yet they will offer a challenge to perfect.
  • The basics are repeated weekly so that you can become familiar, and even begin to try a little at home.

Key themes for beginners

Standing poses are important. Getting sensitivity into your feet affects your whole posture. Standing poses help develop strength, which is more important than flexibility in the beginning. Seated poses already assume joint mobility in the hips, knees and ankles, so it’s good to work with standing poses to improve joint mobility.

The mind will be busy. As you get more familiar, you might become bored. This is not because of the yoga, but the mindset – we’re overstimulated so it’s hard to stay focused on simple things. This will improve with practice.

The breath is the last thing to coordinate. Yoga focuses on breath because it bridges the physical body and the mind. But until you’re familiar with the physical movements, the breathing can become confusing. Don’t worry. Breathe normally until your mind is ready to absorb what’s going on with the breath as well.

Relaxation is wonderful! But it’s also a “pose”. Don’t be surprised if you fall asleep during relaxation – sometimes that’s exactly what we need and our body knows it. It’s a good sign that you are at ease. Just know that the idea is to stay focused – or “mindful” – of your body and breath. Everything improves with practice!

How to get the most out of your classes

Arrive a few minutes early. You’ll be settled in and ready to go on time, so your focus will be fully on the practice.

Allow at least an hour between eating and the class. Digestion is work for the body, so the less you eat the more settled you will be for practice.

Remove your shoes at the door. Yoga is usually practiced in bare feet. In Ireland sometimes socks provide warmth, although bare feet give you more sensitivity and more grip.

When you arrive, prepare mentally by simply sitting quietly or lying down. It’s a good way to let the day go and give yourself a bit of head-space.

What to bring

Have a mat and perhaps a blanket for the relaxation at the end. We lose heat quickly after a session and it’s important to be comfortable and warm to really benefit from the relaxation.

You won’t need water during class, it’s physically challenging but not sweaty yoga. If you hydrate well during the day, there is no need to drink during class.

Drop in or term fee?

While drop-in fees offer flexibility, you’ll get more value for money in the term fee.

Also, if you have decided to try yoga, you should know that the first couple of classes will be a steep learning curve. It’s not of much benefit to attend one or two classes. You’ll start to get some familiarity by the 3rd or 4th class, and only then does your mind begin to take in more details. And yoga is a practice for any stage of life, so there is a gradual progression and refinement that can provide benefits at any age, once you have a regular practice.

If you have any questions, please get in touch. Thursday evening classes in Carlow are aimed at beginners. Classes on Tuesdays in Tullow accept beginners but are aimed at those with some experience.

Namaste.

3 tips to help you get the greatest benefit from your yoga class

1. What to eat before yoga class

Yoga is traditionally done early in the morning, so that the stomach is empty and the mind is quiet. An empty stomach is helpful when you’re trying to bend forward, or twist!

And energy is not diverted to digesting food.

But evening classes make an empty stomach tricky. Most importantly, eat what YOU can digest easily. Be aware that a light meal takes about 2 hours to digest and do what you can to accommodate yourself in this regard. Something warm like soup, broth or a plant-based stew would be ideal. As with yoga itself, observation of the effects of your food choices will inform you for the next time.

A bowl of soup

Water intake during class is not a yogic practice. This developed because some “power” or “hot” yoga classes, designed to make you sweat profusely, required water intake. This is not in line with traditional yogic practice so use common sense based on what style of class you’re in. Try to hydrate well up to half an hour before class. You should also attend to personal needs – thirsty types, medication and certain conditions may require additional hydration. Generally, my classes do not promote a need for water.

2. What to wear and bring to yoga

If you’re comfortable, you’re on to something. Anything that does not restrict your movement around the hips and shoulders is perfect. Leggings and a sports top or t-shirt are popular.

LAYERS are important because you’ll warm up during class, but when we lie down for even 5 minutes the body cools down quickly. You are welcome to bring a blanket to stay cosy. Some people simply use their outdoor jacket as an extra cover if they want extra warmth.

what to wear for yoga

what to wear and bring for yoga class

We practice in bare feet. Socks are fine if you’re cold. Shoes are left at the door.

Bring a mat. Yoga mats provide a non-slip surface for the practice. The Shadow yoga school teaches without the use of mats, which has advantages, but on a carpet or a colder floor, a mat is very helpful.

3. Arriving to your yoga class

Being early allows you time to settle in, and avoids disrupting others. However, if you ARE running late, I welcome you, please come anyhow – sometimes life gets in the way of our schedule!

If you’re chronically late, give yourself the space, and permission, for those extra few minutes. That 5 minute cushion is not wasted time, it’s an acknowledgement that you are truly giving yourself time to fully absorb the benefits of your yoga practice. Chronic, avoidable tardiness probably points to some other issue; compassionate inquiry may help to shed light on what’s really going on.

If you’d like to book a class, there’s plenty of choice, from drop in to 4, 8 or 12 weeks, and Zoom. Check out pambutleryoga.com.

Namaste.