
AGNI or SOMA?
AGNI & SOMA
Agni means ‘fire’ and Soma means ‘moonlight’ or ‘nectar’.
Sometimes we need a fiery practice to transform and burn away that which does not serve us.
Sometimes we need to melt into what is, and move slowly and gently.
Please note: the symbols of the fire or the moon beside each class are there to give you a sense of how physically demanding the class might be.
(Of course, the more you practice, the more you might notice how paradoxical yoga can be… so a demanding vinyasa flow class might feel sweeter than the burn of holding poses in a yin class. We love the Tantra of this! Also, we probably like doing the practice we don’t need so much of! It’s so funny. Please feel free to explore lots of different class types at Madara Yoga. We honour the whole of you.)
Class Level
We have split our classes into three levels: Entry Level; Mixed-Level; Intermediate-Challenging Level. Anyone can come to any class but the levels are there to guide you in your choice. (Sometimes as a beginner, you want to be challenged! Sometimes as a yogi who may have practiced over many lifetimes you want to remember your beginner’s mind.)
Whatever your experience or energy-level or confidence-level on a given day, you are welcome on the mat.

SOMA
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Yin teaches resilience through surrender. Come to your edge in a stretch and stay there, in stillness, for minutes. Yin lovingly intentionally stresses the body with held poses that stretch the muscles and also our connective tissue. Learn to let go. Let yourself surrender. Om.
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"Everything is better when you are rested." ~ Judith Lasater.
Yoga with props. Somatic wisdom. Slowing down. Poses are held for longer, stretches are passive but, and this is crucial, supported. Rest is the revolution. Restorative yoga is restorative. Restore yourself. Everything is better when you are rested. Om.
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All levels welcome. Move to feel good, move for mobility, move for the joy of being embodied, gently and with care. Suitable for beginners, suitable for those who need to treat their bodies tenderly, suitable for those who need to treat their hearts tenderly. Come and move gently.
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Witness consciousness. You are not your thoughts. Freedom.
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Yoga Nīdra is translated as Yogic Sleep. It is a state of being and a practice. It is the in-between place between sleep and rest where you are awake and asleep at once. The practice is an artful and reliably structured, layered, hypnotic body scan. Paradoxical, liminal, restful, yoga nīdra is calming and curative.
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Farmers used to leave a corner of their field wild so that there was some land ‘left to nature’ rather than being intensively farmed. In our timetable, The Hare’s Corner is an hour where members can come to Madara Yoga and be with their mat in whichever way they choose. You may feel the need to move, or meditate, or snooze, or journal. You may stay for the whole hour or pop in for five minutes. It depends what kind of hare you are that day. This is a pocket of time for you to visit the wild islands of yourself. Welcome.
STUDENTS ARE SAYING…
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“Superb teachers. Lovely studio”
~ R
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“the wonderful yoga and community spirit at Madara is certainly helping me on my journey!”
~ N
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“Just left my second yoga class at Madara Yoga and I could not recommend this place more. It is such a beautiful space and the teachers that I have met have been exceptionally welcoming, ensuring that I have been able to get the most out of my practice. So thrilled to have such a wonderful space so local.”
~ E

AGNI
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Welcome!
Our Yoga Foundation Classes are for you if you're...
New to Yoga!
Coming back to yoga after a break
You want to practise gently today
You want to refresh your foundations
The class fits your schedule
We strike the balance between repetition and variety so that you can build strength and familiarity yet also enjoy the richness of the practice.
Our tone is light-hearted, encouraging with deep notes of sincere experience and devotion. We can't wait to see you on the mat.
Warning: You may fall in love with yoga x
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This class is for people 65 and over who would like to reveal and retain their suppleness, strength, coordination and balance in a group of people their own age.
Moving feels good. Stretching releases tension and building strength gives confidence and stability.
There is an option to stay and chat with a herbal tea afterwards.
Please note this Yoga Studio is on the First Floor and there is no lift.
We have many props in the studio (mats, bolsters, blankets and blocks as well as two chairs).
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Our monthly community yoga class is a Vinyasa Flow or Hatha sequence suitable for beginners, all abilities welcome.
Our community classes are £5, however if this is still not accessible for you, please email us for a free of charge space (or whatever is within your means).
We are connected. Om.
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Vinyasa means, ‘to place in a special way”. In this class, poses are linked in creative flowing sequences allowing breath and body to move together. Hugely popular, it is easier than an Ashtanga or Rocket class but still challenging, giving you a well-rounded class honing flexibility, strength and balance. Flow through your practice, flow through life. Om.
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Ideal for beginners, those returning to yoga or those who just prefer a slightly steadier paced class.
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Some Like It Hot!
Hot Hatha Yoga is a strong and empowering, spiritually uplifting, intelligently sequenced, alignment-based method of Hatha yoga.
Poses are held in the heat from healing infra red rays.
Sweat out what you don't need. Stretch, strengthen, heal. Om. -
Rasa is a Sanskrit word that means “essence, juice, taste, nectar and fulfillment of the soul.”
Rasa Yoga is a soulful fusion of asana, mantra, mudra, myth, pranayama, meditation, functional anatomy, Tantric yoga philosophy, shadow work, sacred activism, and soul alchemy.
Come to this class to welcome yourself home.
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K. Pattabhi Jois's athletic style of yoga is the famous, precursor to modern vinyasa flow classes. In Ashtanga classes, students follow a set sequence of postures in each class, gradually progressing through this beloved, demanding and rewarding sequence. Om.
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A vigorously invigorating vinyasa flow. Deeply physical but also spiritual, these high energy classes will include music and hands-on adjustments. For those with a strong practice. The class is an open level.
As you sweat your way through fast paced vinyasa, you will challenge your stamina but leave feeling rejuvenated, energised and connected with your inner self. Co-ordinating movement with breath, these classes will stimulate your cardiovascular and respiratory systems as well as your sense of fun!
Warning: May produce elation!
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Athletic, challenging, strengthening, endurance-building, vigorous. This is the class for you when you want to move it all through and sweat it out.
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Self-practice in a group setting with one-to-one guidance.
Mysore is a traditional, self-paced approach to practicing Ashtanga Yoga.
Please note that this class is not led, the poses are not called out (you can go to our Tuesday 7am Ashtanga class for that) but help is on hand from the dedicated ashtanga teacher in the studio.
You practice the ashtanga sequence at your own pace, in your own rhythm, learning the sequence as you go. The teacher offers adjustments and guidance as you practice. It's like having a private yoga lesson in a group setting. It's a very special and beautiful way of practising.
The time slot is for two hours but you can arrive and depart at any time during the session: come at the time that suits you and your schedule to practice as much as you are able.
This is an excellent way to develop a self-practice.
If you are curious, you might like to learn Ashtanga in a led class setting first (please see our Tuesday 7am class).
SEE YOU ON THE MAT
We’d love to welcome you to the studio. If you’re new to Madara Yoga, don’t forget to check out our offers for new students here.