Workshops 2024
Alternative Friday nights and weekends. Come and immerse yourself in Gong Baths, Retreat Days, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and more at the Centre.
All workshops take place at Notley Yoga Centre, Slamseys Barn, Blackley Lane, Great Notley, Essex
Tickets are nonrefundable (if the space can be filled then a voucher is offered). All workshops are booked through Notley Yoga on this page unless otherwise stated
to book Monthly Gong Baths see Book a Gong Bath page
Gong Meditation | Yoga Nidra | Conscious Relaxation
Thurs 10th October 7 ‐ 8.30pm
Sat 9th Nov 7 ‐ 8.30pm
Working seasonally to help balance the body, breath, and mind.
Blending Gentle Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and seasonal visulisations with the meditative sounds and vibrations of the Gongs (this is not a full on Gong Bath)
A deeply relaxing experience for the participants using the power of Nidra to guide us back to our true nature.
The Gongs will be deliberately slow and gentle as it lulls us into a deep meditative state.
Allowing ourselves to drop into gravity and into the slower brain waves. Encouraging us to delve deeper into ourselves and preparing us to go inwards
Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep as it is commonly known, is an immensely powerful meditation technique, and one of the easiest yoga practices to develop and maintain. While the practitioner rests comfortably in savasana (supine), this systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (five layers of self), leaving you with a sense of wholeness. A deeply relaxing experience as we navigate conscious relaxation.
A samskara (mental groove) is formed by a repetitive thought or habit that is deepened in the mind and body, creating a mental impression (groove) over time. These impressions can cause negative reactions and emotions which prevent a unification of the five layers (koshas) of one’s self. If these negative emotions continue to plague you, the mental/emotional layer of the self is unable to integrate with the other layers: physical, energetic, higher wisdom, and bliss body. This is where yoga nidra can be especially helpful.
A sankalpa (positive statement) can be used as an intention within the yoga nidra practice. You might come into the practice knowing what you would like to work on. The intention, often prompted by the teacher, is then set at the beginning of the practice. When a samskara arises during the practice, you may touch upon the feelings that arise, and then allow yourself to experience these feelings more and more.
By working with this method (and feeling secure throughout the journey), with each subsequent practice you move deeper into a samskara, are better able to understand your reaction, and then ultimately can allow the samskara to release into the ocean of consciousness. At that point, it is no longer a deep impression. You are liberated from the samskara!
Yoga Nidra can serve as a pathway to freedom without creating bodily stress that seated meditation sometimes can.
Suitable for all abilities and beginners welcome
Winter Solstice Full Moon Gong Bath
Sun 15th December
Soulful Singing & Mantra with Mahasukha
Sun March 17th 2024 10.30 - 4.30pm £65
Soulful Singing and Mantra Day with Mahasukha
"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ~ Rumi
African, sacred, uplifting and fun harmony singing and mantra with the unique and inspiring Mahasukha. Sing glorious 4 part-harmony songs from around the world with infectious djembe rhythms from Mahasukha. A joyful, meditative and devotional day guaranteed to put a smile on your face and uplift your heart and soul. Beautiful harmonies, beautifully simple, simply magic! As well as Soulful Singing, the day will include chanting a meditative and devotional mantra,creating a magical atmosphere.
I met Mahasukha at a festival in the summer sharing his Soulful Singing workshops. To say I was blown away was an understatement! The way he brought complete strangers together, creating beautiful harmonies was just mesmerising. I contacted him on my return and asked if he could come to the studio and offer a workshop. We are very lucky that he said YES! I cannot recommend this workshop enough.
Whether you sing in the shower for fun, never sang at all, whether you are confident with your voice or absolutley terrified you will get something out of this day. It could be freedom in your voice or just the total connection with other human beings (and hopefully both) I guarantee you will feel uplifted at the end of the day.
No singing experience necessary, just an openness to experience something amazing.
I promise this day will be one you remember!
Please book below
Seasonal Afternoon Retreat | Dropping into Autumn
Sun 27th October
Investment in yourself £60 (inc refreshments and cake)
The colder darker half of the year is a perfect time to reflect on the year gone by and let go of what isn’t serving us anymore. A time to go inwards allowing ourselves to Rest and Digest…
A beautiful day to nourish the Body, Breath, and Mind. A time for self inquiring and self-reflection.
Set in the tranquil Notley Yoga Centre, with underfloor heating to keep us cozy on chilly winter days, a perfect place to unwind and let go…
We have the WHOLE day dedicated to ourselves so there is time to delve deeper and inquire further. Using Yin, Yang, Nidra, Restorative postures, and the sounds of the Gong to help you feel refreshed and balanced.
Intention setting
Mantra
Asana (postures)
Pranayama (breath)
Yoga Nidra (conscious relaxtion)
Gongs, Bowls and other amazing instrument's
We have the afternoon dedicated to ourselves, time to delve deeper and inquire further.
We break for 45 mins for tea and cake!
Please book below
Yin Yoga & Gong Bath | The Art of Surrender
7 - 9.30pm
Press Buy now for dates
Working seasonally with the five element path. Yin Yoga postures are held for longer (up to 3 -5 mins) with emphasis on connective tissues rather than muscles. When holding the posture for longer we work on the deep tissues/fascia allowing energy to be freed up in the body. Mainly floor based postures are used in this style of Yoga. Yin Yoga is for you if you are tired, over-stimulated, when your energy is too erratic, your mind overactive, whether you are craving for energy or you feel you have too much of it. We tend to live in a busy world on computers/phones/laptops etc, The mind gets used to that amount of information and starts to crave stimuli if it gets quiet. So you end up browsing, looking for stuff, it doesn’t matter what as long as you fill the gaps. Gaps we really should allow to stay empty to find some sort of down time – for the mind to stop and for you to just be. So give yourself a couple of hours to just ‘be’ in the body…
The perfect to end our Yin Yoga is with a Gong Journey. As everything is vibrating so are we, sometimes we can become out of tune in either mind body or spirit and dis-ease can start to take hold. Through the healing frequencies of sound therapy our bodies can be brought back in tune and we can begin to feel healthy and balanced once more.
Restorative Yoga and Gong Bath
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Working seasonally with the body/mind using Restorative Yoga. We are naturally turning inwards as we enter into the month of October. We can bring Gratitude into this practice, looking at how far we have come these past 18 months and feeling grateful we made it! Gratitude for the abundance of the years harvest and our own personal growth.
Slows Down the Pace of Life
Restorative yoga is an excellent opportunity to disconnect from the frenetic activity of daily life and let your speedometer return to 0 mph. It offers a welcome respite among all the turbulence of life and helps to prepare the mind and body for the inward stroke of meditation and deepened awareness. Moving slowly through the poses allows you to explore your mind and body at a steady and natural tempo. Using props eg Bolsters, blocks, blankets, and sandbags we will marinade each posture for at least five minutes, allowing the body and mind to surrender.
Soothing to the Nervous System
The slower pace and deep breathing that you get in a restorative yoga class trigger the parasympathetic nervous system from the very first pose. This activation helps to mitigate the effects of the regular fight-or-flight stress response that can be damaging to your physiology and well-being. The overall calming effect on the nervous system sets a deeply relaxing tone for the class that comforts your whole being
Once the body is open and receptive after the Yoga practice we are ready to receive the sounds of the Gong and other musical instruments. Led by Leigh we will embark on a deep meditative journey. The Gong bathes the entire body in powerful sound vibrations or tones, which can affect you at an energetic and cellular level. When the gong is played with intention profound healing can occur. A gong bath is a very relaxing experience and can be very effective in dealing with stress, creating a sense of well-being and peace. Participants often receive clarity about issues they are experiencing and the new wave of energy a gong bath produces can create positive change on all levels
Blindfold Yoga | Pratyhara, Sense Withdrawal
Thurs 13th June 7.30 - 9pm
£18
Monthly Mindfulness & Meditation with Naseem
7 - 8.30pm £15
‘Meditation Relaxation’ ‘There is no end goal, only new beginnings.’ Meditation is an awareness of each present moment. Whether we are moving or in stillness. Following the natural, gentle rhythm of each breath, moment by moment, we are able to let go of trying, expectations, and goals, and just be.
As we journey with one breath, the next breath naturally flows, and we discover within us inner peace and calm. After taking a few moments to be still and connect with ourselves, we will move slowly and gently with the breath, to unravel, hidden stresses and tensions within the body, relaxing into restorative postures where we will pause for a few moments giving ourselves permission to let go and surrender.
Using blankets and pillows to support us we can enter a deeper relaxation which will prepare us for a guided meditation at the end. We will use different breath techniques to bring balance, clarity of mind, and calm the nervous system. These are techniques you can use in your daily life to help restore balance and feel peace and calm.
During the class, I will introduce you to a Buddhist Mantra. Mantra is another way of meditating. It is active, powerful, and uplifting and has a deep effect on shifting and transforming blocked energy. We always finish in Savasana with a guided meditation.
Join me for a journey of the heart 
Wall Yoga | A Supportive Practice
Fri 24th May 7 -9.30pm
From opening the body to stabilizing a pose, and finding strength and support at the wall. There are many ways the wall can assist you in your yoga practice. It can help you find stability in a balance and help you discover great alignment to get the most out of the pose. It can teach us how it should ‘feel’ and less about just trying to stay upright!
This workshop is going to take us a little deeper and being 2.5 hours we can take more time to explore each posture and its feelings and sensations. Plenty of time for discussing each pose and the effects it has on you physically and mentally.
The class limited to 12 people
Saturday Sangha | Seasonal Themes | With Sue
Sat 24th Feb, 25th May, 21st Sept, 26th Oct, 30th Nov, 2024
2 - 4pm
Book your space here, https://thehealingtreeinessex.co.uk/#prices scroll down to Saturday Sangha or contact here 07811 579209
Rest & Restore | With Naseem
An afternoon of restorative yoga to bring inner peace, rest and healing to the mind, body and heart.
Unravelling the body of hidden stress, tension and exhaustion through gentle movement and balanced Breath, and resting in restorative postures, we begin to surrender and let go. We complete with a guided relaxation meditation to leave you feeling both rested and restored.
We don't always know what we are holding onto, and that's okay. We can just be willing to be on the journey and experience whatever is presented to us. 'There is no end goal, only new beginnings.'
Notley Yoga Centre is a place of peace and calm, a safe space to just be. With underfloor heating and all equipment provided, just bring yourself.I teach in a very gentle, mindful way, embracing each person's uniqueness and ability. Do call me if you have any queries.
There will be time at the end for Chai, Chocolate, mince pies and Indian sweets
Booking and payment in advance please. Thank you, as there are limited spaces.
To Book: Please message or call Naseem on: 07906653666
Saturday Sanctuary | With Elaine
Being in harmony with the rhythms of nature
It’s November already, and as we embrace the darkness, perhaps you recognise that it’s time for you, like nature, to slow down.
Saturday Sanctuary.
Two hours of Yin and Restorative Yoga.
Of self love and connection, to leave you feeling deeply relaxed and nourished.
No yoga experience is needed to enjoy the benefits of this class.
Betwixt | Yoga & Gong
Sat 28th Dec 2024
9.30 - 11am & 7 - 8.30pm
Nam Myho Renge Kyo | A Journey to the Heart Mantra Workshop
Join us for an evening of uplifting, joyful Mantras. The chanting Nam~Myoho~Renge~Kyo and the philosophy behind it.
Anyone can Chant. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to chant. It’s universal and embraces all people and everything.
We will begin with some gentle breathwork and a little movement to help us unravel and relax.
I will then take you on a journey of how Nam Myoho Renge Kyo came to be.
- The meaning of each word
- The sound of each word (we will do this together)
- The philosophy behind the mantra and the profound, powerful, transformative effect it has on us, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and universally.
- How chanting raises our vibrational levels, our life force, and affects us, and those around us, in deeply positive ways.
- I am happy to share with you, a short experience of my journey of chanting and inner transformation.
- We will then go on a journey of chanting together, with the wonderful support of Leigh playing Shruti while we chant.
After, we will take a few moments to sit quietly, breathe, observe, and reflect.
There will be time to share your thoughts and feelings if you wish to.
I am so excited and grateful to go on this journey with you, Naseem
Djembe Drumming
Whilst the emphasis on all Jambeats drum circles is fun, there is also an element of straightforward learning and this is delivered by Pete from Jambeats, an accomplished musician and teacher. He holds circles together and offers to share his love of music and drums with us all. No experience is necessary and all Drums are supplied.
Drumming induces deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, produces feelings of well-being, releases emotional trauma, and reduces stress. Stress, according to current medical research, contributes to nearly all diseases and is a primary cause of such life-threatening illnesses as heart attacks, strokes, and immune system breakdowns. Chronic pain has a progressively draining effect on the quality of life.
Research suggests that drumming serves as a distraction from pain and grief. Specifically, drumming promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, the body's own morphine-like painkillers, and can thereby help to control pain.
Community effects of Drumming – Drum Circles also provide an opportunity for participants to feel connected with others and gain a sense of interpersonal support. A drum circle provides an opportunity to connect with your own spirit at a deeper level. Group drumming alleviates self-centeredness, isolation and alienation. There are great benefits to feeling connected to others, especially those in similar situations. Specific studies show: Creates a sense of connectedness with self and others. Helps us experience being in resonance with the natural rhythms of life and provides a medium for individual self-realization
I Personally find drumming exciting and uplifting, you don't have to have any experience to join this workshop. and no rhythm is necessary!
Please book below
Wild Drumming | Early Summer Celebration.
(weather permitting if it's raining then the workshop will be at the center)
The Drum has been part of everything since time began. Part of ancient celebrations & ceremonies weaving its magic into our DNA in all cultures. Humans have also long been drawn to fire, our ancient ancestors used it for warmth, protection, and cooking and the flickering flames draw us in and capture our attention. There is an instinctual desire to make rhythmic noise and there is no doubt it makes us feel good!
Drumming around the fire pit can be a deeply moving and uplifting experience, connecting to something deeper within us but also connecting as human beings together…its a tribal feeling that we have lost in the West.
We are very lucky to have an area for some Wild Drumming only 5 mins from Great Notley. A beautiful space under the trees and stars to get back to our Tribal Roots. Using Djembe and Frames drums we can sit around the campfire, be with nature, and Drum….a wonderful experience and not be missed.
As you can see below our wild drumming events have been amazing!!
Yoga in and around Great Notley, Essex
Locations around Great Notley include: Braintree, Black Notley, Cressing, Halstead, Great Dunmow, Great Leighs, White Notley, Stisted, Silver End
Contact Leigh
Call/text: 07723 321818
Email: leigh@notleyyoga.co.uk