in love we trust
how did it happen?
I had my first yoga class here in Istanbul and I loved it. Yoga has transformed and nourished my life; it feeds me from inside out and from outside in. Now I can find balance and harmony on the mat and off the mat. At any time I can work with my body and breath to experience and relish the present moment - even in difficult situations I can appreciate the vitality of life itself flowing through me. I witness how my mind works, I observe its busy traffic and this awareness alone is enough to generate a more peaceful mind. Practicing yoga brings the pieces of the jigsaw together, mind, body and spirit. I’m stronger and fitter than I was 10 years ago; I’ve discovered many new tools to work with that I couldn’t have imagined when I first began. I’m constantly stimulated and enthused by what I am learning. It is as if the universe has opened up before me in a gentler, fresh light. Amidst the hectic demands of the city, my life is simpler and sweeter. I love to share this passion for yoga in each and every class and I’d like to welcome you to a path of alert, refreshed personal power.
Before I came to Turkey in 1998 to enjoy it’s splendid architecture and cultural heritage, I worked in various aspects of the arts, in museums, galleries, and as a trainer in dance-movement therapy. I also worked as a community artist for several years. I've lived in several different countries, and now I'm happy to call Turkey my home.
I have tremendous gratitude to all my teachers, beginning with Andrew Zionts and Zeynep Aksoy; many thanks for their inspiration and sustenance. They set me on a path that has brought me to classes and workshops with some of the finest and most experienced contemporary teachers, including Richard Freeman, Tias Little, and Shiva Rea. Thank you too Jashoda Edmunds and Brahmani Liebman for a memorable and intensive teacher training at Kripalu Yoga Centre, Massachusetts, USA
approach
My yoga classes have variety and often an element of fun and playfulness. Your personal experience of the postures together with your inquiry into your own body through stretching, surrender, and opening is the premise of each session in a safe, tailor-made format. Yoga class is an opportunity to tap into your own inner wisdom rather than being distracted by guidance from external influences.
Be in a warm and friendly atmosphere; enjoy a more spacious and sensuous involvement in the timeless inner experiences that come when you enter the body through yoga. A yoga practice allows you to slow down and enter the present moment, making space for all dimensions of the human experience to be welcomed.
Beth Wood lives in Cihangir and is able to travel to give yoga classes
contact: bwoodb@hotmail.co.uk
The Kripalu Yoga Institute in Lenox, Massachusetts, USA is the largest teaching institute for Yoga in the world. Kripalu Yoga acts as a conduit to connect us to our layers of experience; they may be physical, energetic, emotional, or spiritual. As a system, the primary focus is on sensation; it’s as simple as that. With continued practice, a vocabulary grows that gives a deeper understanding of who you really are. Kripalu Yoga is an individual realization that evolves at its own pace; we can only feel/know what we are ready to feel/know. This compassionate practice of inquiry is a way to work through our often-hidden obstructions, which leads us to more ease in our daily lives.
there are three stages to kripalu yoga in Istanbul
Stage 1 - Wilful practice
Exploring the postures through alignment, breath and awareness.
Stage 2 - Wilful surrender
A posture is held for a longer period, in a non-competitive manner. This deepens concentration and it brings into focus thoughts and feelings around the holding. It increases the free flow of life force, plus it can liberate chronic tension from the body and increase strength.
Stage 3 - Meditation in motion
Is a free posture flow, it’s a spontaneous, effortless release of energy generally after stage 2, tuning into the natural intelligence of the body as an expression of what feels good and right for the moment. It is guided from within rather than from the mind.
