Our Mysore program director Emma Isokivi is about to go on mat leave, so writing some exciting updates and plans for what the next few months will look like for our Mysore program at Meadowlark. You can stay very up-to-date with information via our Mysore monthly newsletter sign up here and Facebook private group. 

Hi folks! 

2022 has been a wonderful so far and not boring specifically for me and my family and now imminently expecting baby no.2. 

Our Mysore community goes from strength to strength and it's been a joy to grow the program again post-pandemic into a full and fruitful community again with the support of our Mysore teachers/assistants.

As expected lots of you have been asking, who's teaching when I'm away. Good question!  Here are the plans below...

• My plan is to return in February 2023 and also be at the shala for Friday pranayama/chanting and monthly community conference before then.  During the next few months, we...

We have been overwhelmed by your messages of support over the last few months.  Some of you have been asking how you can best support us as we navigate the uncertain territory ahead:

1. Keep joining us in class! Online and in-studio, however you can, as often as you can.  
2. Pay-it-Forward - anonymously support a member of your community by paying for them to attend class:
   • Pay for 30 days of online yoga - £50
   • Pay for 10 online yoga classes - £70
   • Pay for 5 online yoga classes - £40
   • Pay for 1 online yoga class - £9
3. Pay more for your pass - If you're on our monthly auto-renew and you're able to pay more than the £40 livestream rate, please contact reception to let us know.

For more information and to apply for sponsorship, please visit our Pay-it-Forward page.

Let's... pause.

You've listened to us talk about Remski's book, Practice and All is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics and Healing in Yoga and Beyond, in Amy's two-part podcast. Those of you in the Mysore community at MLY perhaps engaged with Emma's purposeful conference after the podcast blog was released. Many of you went out and got the book and are now more engaged than ever in the dialogue.

So what now?

Our world is beset with suffering and crises at every level. In the face of constant overwhelm, many of us turn inward and look to our communities for support. Social, academic, religious, and physically-focused communities gather around every imaginable kind of cultural currency. Yoga practice is unique in that it forms a rich overlap of circles and for many of us it also offers welcome spiritual nourishment.

How can we ensure the continued survival of our safe spaces? Moreover, how can we be sure that safe spaces like our practice community at Meadowlark are rigorously self-regulating to maintain healthy dynamics?

This topic goes beyond pandemic issues to encompass the critical discourse around high-demand groups, the explicit scope of practice, informed consent, pedagogy, and healthy working relationships that define safe and mutually enriching experiences in any method-based approach to skills practice.

Cutting through the jargon, we are talking about how we manage power....

Our community is pulling together around the continuing updates from the UK Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the containment of COVID-19. As teachers and students of yoga, we are all wondering what is best practice for staying the course and staying safe?

Obviously, first principles start by following the advice provided by the GOV.uk website here, and the World Health Organisation as found here. We encourage everyone in our community to consult these resources regularly in order to make informed decisions.

In the interest of yoga practitioners and teachers continuing to practice during the containment of this virus, we have compiled a set of guidance notes for our teachers:

• Use hand gel and offer it to students - make it an opening gesture.
• Use verbal adjustments instead of getting hands-on - this is an opportunity to refine your teaching skills and protect personal space.
• Maintain distance - sorry, no hugs!
• Do not use studio...

Our number one priority as we follow COVID-19 developments is to keep our staff, teachers, and students healthy and we know how important yoga is in that equation!

Here are our recommendations and actions to keep our community studio within government guidelines without foregoing our time on the mat:

• Please refer regularly to this blog platform where we will be posting updates on our policies
• Engage in live updates on social media - Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
• At time of writing (12th March), all classes, courses & workshops continue to run as normal.  Please join us!
• Please DO NOT attend classes in the studio if you are feeling unwell, displaying any cold or flu symptoms.  Late cancellation has been relaxed so do cancel out at any time if you are not well
• If you attend a class in the studio please wash hands very thoroughly before and after class.  Please use hand sanitizers provided as you move through the studio
• Please spray clean your mat after...