Iyengar yoga photos from Christmas 2005

Report on course 27th December 2005 to 3rd January 2006.

I hope that you enjoy these photos from the Iyengar yoga course.

Could you please mail this page to a friend of yours who may like to get an idea of what Iyengar yoga is like, or may like to hear about Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre

Button send to a friend at end of screen.
- Dave

More photos More photos yoga postures

Wishing you all a great and happy New Year from the current group at Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre!

Kevin Gardiner is a very well known Iyengar teacher from New York and he is teaching 3 hour morning classes, and a 2 hour restorative class every second afternoon.

Mixed level Iyengar yoga group

And the group who are from Ireland, the UK, France, Belgium, The US, Finland are all having a ball.

Enjoying the outdoor activities, the delicious vegetarian food by Paddi our chef and nourishing themselves in the comfortable, warm and friendly Yoga Centre.

Iyengar yoga photos

The postures we practice in Ashtanga, Iyengar, other forms of Hatha yoga, and also in the hathe yoga limb of Sivinanda or Satyanada yoga are all the same yoga postures.

However, the method of how we practice the postures are extreemly different.

Where one school of yoga emphasises coming into the posture gently often with ones eyes closed and feeling whats happening within, another school may emphasise getting in touch with the energy levels in the chakra which this posture works on.

Iyengar yoga works with very precise alignments within each posture, usually with the eyes open, examining and working with clarity, focusing on the physical body, both external and internal and often use props of many kinds to help the body open up, and to help the practitioner move into a posture often before they would be able to do so unaided.

And in Iyengar yoga, the teacher uses belts and blocks and blankets, chairs and other props to help the student come into better alignment, or simply to help the student achieve another perspective of how the posture can feel.



And then Kevin explains how to use the belt, and what aspects of the posture to focus on.



Sometimes the wall is used to assist a posture. This can help take the weight off the legs and make it easier to hold the posture.

This gives the student a 'feel' of the finished posture, before they have developed their practice in order to maintain this posture without help.



All the classes in the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre have only 15 people, so one gets a lot of individual attention from the teacher.

Here Rachael who is well used to these postures receives some fine adjustment.



The class may be 3 hours long, but there is plenty of time to rest and asimilate the vast amount of information that Kevin packs inoit a class, and also the vast amount of bodily sensations that one is able to become aware of.



Linda from the US is an Iyengar yoga teacher and is right in her element ;-)

And Jenny (behind her) also works on the same posture.



Annika is from Finland and enjoying the large amount of information she is learning about anatomy as well as the yoga asanas.



Samantha above is from Ireland and this is her second course at Burren Yoga this year.

Jeff is from the UK, and has already decided to stay for the second week that Kevin is teaching Jan 3rd - 10th.



Janet is also from the UK, and Kevin gives her some individual guidance as she works with this posture.

Photos of Kevin's Iyengar yoga demonstrations

Here this group shot shows Erika from Hungary, Charlotte from the UK, Mick from Dublin, Janet from the UK and Niamh from Dublin.



Kevin's demonstrations are very clear and informative, as he points out the important aspects of the posture and also explains what is happening internally.



Ah ... another welcome chance to rest as Kevin demonstrates again.

Photos of vegetarian feast time on Iyengar yoga course

And what would Christmas and New Year be like without Paddi's cooking?

Iyenmgar yoga as all other forms of yoga, go very well with Paddi's amazing vegetarian cooking.



Are these smiles produced by the excellent Iyengar yoga classes or the fresh air climbing the Burren hills or the amazing food?

Or is it just the warmth and friendiness of the centre that allows one feel at home right away?



The atmosphere at Burren Yoga is contagious.

I can see the changes in the faces of people since they have arrived, and the group has been only here 2 days already - Dave

If you have never been here yet, try asking some of your yoga colleagues.... they may have been to Burren Yoga and felt this feeling themselves ....



Yum yum ...

The warm decor of this super insulated, under-floor heating, Yoga and Buddhist images bring a great sense of happiness and aliveness.

Photos of outdoors on the Iyengar yoga course

The outdoor trips in the Burren are like food to the soul.



And sometimes we stop into a local pub to sample their coffee or whatever....



Wednesday we climbed Black head which is just beyond Ballyvaughan village and looks out onto the Atlantic ocean and across the Aran Islands.



Afte climbing Black Head where we visited the ancient stone fort with walls over 8 foot thick, we went on a little further to Fanore beach.

Hey, my muscles feel great after the work this morning in the Iyengar yoga class!



The waves crashed in from the Atlantic as we went for an invigourating walk along the beach.

And a few days we forgot to bring cameras... so you will have to leave those expeditions to your imagination!

On Sunday 1st January 2006, we went to Mulloughmore mountain.

One half the group, stayed below, to walk alongside the hill and explore the standing stones, while 5 of us set off to climb to the top. The climb takes about 1 hour to get to the top.

This day the weather feels much milder and one can feel the warmth from the sun when it shines through.



Thats Mulloughmore mountain to the right.



Annika from Finland loves the scenery as much as she loves the quality of the Iyengar yoga teaching.



And we set off across the rock.



Just because we are climbing a hill, does not mean we can't stop to have some fun and do a little rock climbing on the way.



I wonder how many more people we could fit on top of this rock?



The scenery is breath-taking.... the fresh air and the ever changing light are exhilarating, and one feels like one has really come alive climbing these ancient hills.



The hills are pretty easy to climb, and we follow the usual route up the sides of the hill.



Some of the way, is quite narrow so we walk in single file.



And looking back down, already the views are opening out to show a rocky land, full of lakes, small clumps of trees and one never knows what will appear.



Difficult to catch by camera, but the light, the ancient landscape without houses or man's inventions have to be seen to be believed.



And although we follow a steady pace up the hill, we take plenty f rests to take in the scenery.



And then on up again, until its time for the next feast for the eyes.



Its difficult to describe experiences that by-pass our verbal thinking or analytical though, and register deep within us, evoking feelings of aliveness, joy, awe, peace and a smiling deep inside.



Mick places a rock on the cairn positioned right on the top of Mulloughmore.



The 360 degree views from the top are spellbinding.



We are in no rush down, as we take rest at the top.

The light continually changes, as clouds, followed by blue skies, followed by more wispy clouds continually move across the sky coming in from the Atlantic ocean.



This landscape is an artists delight.



I hope that you have been here already and you know the feeling one gets after climbing Mulloughmore.



And we take our time coming back down, again stopping to take in the views and marvel at this beautiful landscape.



When we reach the base of the mountain, the light is fading fast.



And we see the cars in the distance, ready to take us on to Kinvara village to sample a coffee (i'm sure that's all these yogis drink ;-) in one of the local pubs.



These trips give a great stretch to ones imagination, as well as the Iyengar yoga giving good stretch to our bodies.



And although often in life, things can appear to turn upside down, our daily practice helps us stay stable even when events around us become challenging and unexpected.



I'm sure the rest of the group have had a great time exploring the ancient standing stones.



Have you thought when you are coming back to the |Burren Yoga and Meditatation Centre next ? ;-)

Comments from some of the course participants

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year from everyone here at the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre!

We have all added our well wishes to you and short messages from the group below.

Dave, A peaceful centre, in a magical place – created by an inspirational man. Thank you,
Charlotte from UK

It’s amazing how much I’ve learned about the ‘basic’ asanas from Kevin. There’s so much more to it than I could ever have imagined! That conbined with walks in the Burren and the delicious food has made it a great holiday.
Annika from Finland.

Dave, thank you so much for this wonderful gift you give to people, what a fantastic place! Thanks to Kevin for his fantastic and insightful guidance through the asanas and to Paddi for the amazing food.
Niamh, Ireland

This week is an amazing week to kick start a healthy new year. The centre is a very warm and cosy, the food is yummy, and the yoga instruction is excellent. There was no problem coming alone… its such a warm and friendly place.
Sam Ireland

Thank you Dave for sharing your dream, Kevin’s commitment to excellence is both inspirational and insightful. His passion and love to Iyengar illuminate this practice and approach to yoga.
Jeff and Rachel from UK

The best recipe for a perfect holiday is a smooth blend of the mystical Clare countryside, the cosy yoga centre and Kevin’s inspiring and insightful teaching spiced up with new friends and Paddi’s extraordinary cooking. Thank U
Erika, Hungary

Dave, Thanks for a warm and comforting centre, dynamic and inspiring yoga teaching and the increasing feeling I’m walking on air. All best wishes for a wonderful light and laughter filled 2006. Namaste mate
Claire UK

Dave a wonderful week that way exceeded my expectations. I learned so much from Kevin – his teaching is informatrive and inspiring. Paddi’s food was excellent.
Mike from Ireland.

More photos of yoga postures

More photos yoga postures from this same course

Happy new year folks!!!!

Photos sent by Dale who was one on of the courses Summer 2005

Thanks Dale..... these photos look great!

If anyone else would like to send pointers to their photos, i will post them here. - Dave

Click here for photos