A weekend retreat at Tilton House, East Sussex, Nov 27 -29th 2009

A weekend of Asana, Pranayama and Meditation.
There is a magic in the cocktail of those three practices.
In usual yoga classes, they can hardly be practiced altogether due to limited times or lack of atmosphere. When we are away on a retreat, we can experience them all.
If you have never retreated before, this will be a great taster.
The weekend will be a combination of dynamic and quiet practices.
Feel energised, refreshed and rested!


Dates: November 27th-29th
(Fri 5pm - Sun 5pm)

Venue: Tilton House, Firle, East Sussex BN8 6LL
It's a beautiful venue. Have a look at the website.
www.tiltonhouse.co.uk

Cost: £280 if booked before Sep 21st
£295 after Sep 22nd

The cost will include Yoga & Pranayama sessions (1 session on Fri eve / 3 sessions on Sat / 2 sessions on Sun), 3 meals a day and accommodation. 
You'll be either sharing with another or two others though the prices will be the same. (Triple room has en-suit)
If the number is low then there will be 2 single room options with the extra cost. Please enquire near the time.

Booking:
£100 deposit (non-refundable) will secure your place.
The remainder due by the 1st week of November. 

Cheque made payable to Aki Omori and send it to:
Aki Omori, Flat 10, 27 Bassett Road, London W10 6LB UK
Or be paid directly into Aki’s account. Please contact Aki for the account details.
Please notify me via email to let me know you have sent the money.

Email or call me for any enquiry.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Finding Your Centre - 2 workshops - 12th April, 12th July

Workshop "FINDING YOUR CENTRE"

Sun 12th April 2009, 5-7pm at Triyoga

Sun 12th July 2009, 9am-4pm(one day) in Brixton, South London for British Wheel of Yoga


Finding the centre's my on going theme and I will be sharing some of my exploration in this workshop. I feel it's going to be a good and fun workshop.
Please read the below description and join me on the day if you can.
For the booking for Triyoga workshop, please follow the link here.
http://www.triyoga.co.uk/story.php?titleid=1400
For the booking and details for the BWY Brixton workshop, please contact me or Rupert Linton (rupert@linton.myzen.co.uk)
I will put the info up here as soon as I have it.



"FINDING YOUR CENTRE" workshop with Aki Omori

What is your centre? Where is it? How does it feel? What is it for?

Martial Arts talk about the energy ball in the centre.
In Yoga we speak of the central axis in the body as something of fundamental importance, both physically and esoterically.

Here are some examples of not having your centre:

We all remember situations in life:
- when you are dealing with stressful situations or meeting someone who makes you feel nervous, suddenly you lose perspective of what you are doing and unable to be effective with your knowledge and skills.
- when practicing yoga, you're filled with tensions all over the body in your effort to achieve the pose.

It does not need to be that way.
By finding the centre and moving from and through it, you are able to free your movement, you are able to access more strength and flexibility without unnecessary tension both in the body and the mind.

As the body and mind are inseparable, re-aligning the body will naturally re-align the person. And remembering to stay in the centre mentally will help the body to come back to its centre too.
It is as simple as that.

Because your being will be more grounded and free, you will move with ease.
Your perspective on life will change.
How you relate to the world and how the world relates to you will change.

Finding your centre is the journey towards a powerful and exhilarating expression of your authenticity.

In this workshop, we will explore how we can find the centre in our body, using some movement exploration, vinyasa (sequenced yoga poses) and learn how to reflect it in our daily life.

Workshop - Opening The Senses July 19th 2009

Primrose Hill Workshops with Aki Omori

Opening The Senses


The True Meaning of Pratyahara - The Tool For Clear Seeing
We live in an environment in which we are bombarded with constant stimulation. In order to cope, we shut down our senses, whether we are aware of it or not. Our sense organs become both tense and numb, and clear perception is obscured.

Because we are numbed, almost paradoxically we tend to seek for more sensations. Unconscious Yoga practice isn’t an exception.

Pratyahara, the 5th of the 8 limbs of yoga from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, holds the key to restoring our senses and helps us shift from blindly seeking more sensations to opening the senses for clear perception. Pratyahara is generally translated as ’withdrawal of the senses’. Its true meaning is often misunderstood leaving its potential unfulfilled in our practice.

In this workshop, we will look into the true meaning of pratyahara and how it can both enrich our asana practices and enhance the quality of our lives.

Having studied many styles of yoga, Aki Omori utilises the differences that each style offers and appreciates where they meet. Her style of teaching encourages students’ active involvement into enquiries, instead of them being passively taught. She runs workshops on Restorative Yoga and is an experienced Pranayama practitioner. She is trained in Structural Yoga Therapy and studies Somatic Movement Therapy.

Dedicated to Advaita (non-dual) teaching as well as Buddhist philosophy, she enjoys sharing meditation practices and dharma teachings with her students. This to her is the most important aspect of the practice. Aki’s classes are fun and light, and yet profound.


Sun 19 Jul 2009
At 5.00 - 7.00pm
£20

For booking -

Yoga Retreat - Ibiza, Spain, May 21-28, 2009

Click individual photo to view


YOGA RETREAT IN IBIZA, SPAIN
MAY 21st - 28th 2009
WITH AKI OMORI

Come to a retreat with Aki and immerse yourself in daily practice at Villa Kumharas in Ibiza, Spain.
It is a totally natural, beautiful spot surrounded by sea views, pine forest, mountain paths in old rural Ibiza.
A perfect venue for a retreat.



DATE: May 21st - 28th 2009
VENUE: Villa Kumharas in Ibiza, Spain
COST: £610 for two people sharing.
(Possible option for £520 for 3 people sharing provided the room is filled with 3 people.)


Yoga Retreat
This is a yoga retreat and not just another holiday.
For those who wish to explore the practice to learn more about yourself through yoga.
It will allow you more time and space to go deeper and unlock some holdings you carry which are preventing you to be free - to be authentic.
Yoga practice ultimately comes down to knowing how to be kind to yourself and others by seeing the truth clearly through the authenticity of who you really are.
Each day, there will be practices of Asana, Meditation, Pranayama and some investigation into dharma & yogic teachings and how we can practice yoga both on and off the yoga mat. We’ll keep a part of each day in silence. You will enjoy this.
And yes, of course, we’ll have fun too!
As I always say, it will be light & open-hearted and fun but at the same time, very profound & brave...
I would like this week to be something like that and it usually is on my retreats.


Cost
* Twin Room with en-suite bathroom 610GBP
* Triple Room (Huge Master Bedroom with massive terrace) with shared bathroom 520GBP

Please note:
Triple room option is only available if the room is filled with 3 people willing to share with two other persons. Otherwise, everyone pays £610. If you wish to be one of the three, please state it as you book and we will let you know.

Included:
* All Yoga/Meditation Tuition for duration of retreat approx 5 hours per day
* Accommodation
* Vegetarian Brunch and Vegetarian Buffet Style Dinner all made with Fresh, healthy, local and where possible organic ingredients
* All day Tea/Coffee/Mineral Water

Not Included:
* Massage and Treatments
* Flights, transfers and Insurance


Booking and Payment
150 GBP per person secures reservation
All the bookings are taken by Gemma Mallol. Please see below for the details.
Please do make sure to email Aki to notify her of your booking.
Please state your name, address, contact number and email address as you book.

Payment by cheque to:
Gemma Mallol
17 The Meadows
Whitchurch
Bucks HP22 4TL
England

Or make bank transfer direct to:

Gemma Mallol
Nat West PLC
Sort Code: 52 10 03
Account No: 68665598
Swift Code BIC: NWBK GB 2L
IBAN: GB84 NWBK 5210 0368 6655 98

Please try to book early as the spaces are very limited (9 people) and also otherwise flights can become expensive.

Full payment of 610 GBP must then be received by 4 weeks before the start date.
Guests making international bank transfers must add 10 Euros to the cost of the retreat to cover international bank transfer charges.

The deposit is non-refundable and cancellation fees will be incurred as follows:
* Up to 4 weeks before start date - loss of deposit
* 4 to 2 weeks before start date - loss of 50% of total price
* 2 weeks or less - loss of 100% of price


About the venue
Set high in the hills of Ibiza with infinity Mediterranean sea views from the lawn, Villa Kumharas sleeps 10 people in 5 bedrooms. 3 of the bedrooms are en-suite, and there is an additional main bathroom. There is a sleek uber modern kitchen, large open plan dining area, huge indoor yoga shala of 80m2 with sea views (see photo with the red sofa), and many outdoor terraces and decks that can be used for yoga and meditation, al fresco dining or just purely hanging out. Villa Kumharas has a swimming pool, its own ample secluded grounds and is surrounded by rural paths where you can walk in all directions to typical quaint villages (a rare treat in Ibiza). The finca has been recently renovated using only the very highest quality materials and has a feel of elegant and homely simplicity, perfect for immersion in yoga. There are sabina wood beams throughout, both tiled and wooden floors, marble surfaces, balinese tiles and stonework, antique asian artifacts and decor, and stylish, comfortable furniture throughout. Villa Kumharas is centrally heated, and as such lovely in all seasons.
At the Ibiza Yoga Retreat we offer a diverse and delicious selection of vegetarian health food prepared and cooked by yoga people for our yoga guests. We use local fruit and vegetables and organic grains, pulses and rice. At Villa Kumharas we provide 2 meals per day. On a retreat there is a large brunch after yoga and a buffet style evening meal. Should guests require further snacks during the day there is an additional fresh juice and healthy snack menu. Guests are welcome to all day tea, coffee and mineral water. At the Ibiza Yoga Retreat we also provide a range of therapies, massages and extra-curricular activities for guests to choose from should they so wish.
The venue is normally rented out for much higher prices. This is their first year promotional price for their yoga retreats.


Contact
If you have any enquiry regarding booking, payment, traveling, anything else to do with the venue, please email or call Gemma Mallol.

Emails: gemma@ashtangaom.com / info@stillflowingyogateachertraining.com
Webpages: www.ashtangaom.com / www.stillflowingyogateachertraining.com
Spanish Mobile Number: 00 34 690681068

If you have any enquiry regarding the contents of the retreat, please speak or email
Aki directly.

mail@akiomori.com
+44-(0)7966-204-842


Getting there

NOTE: All enquiry regarding your traveling please contact Gemma Mallol at Villa Kumharas (see
below for contact info)
* Guests need to arrive on the Thursday and the first session is on Friday morning at a civilised
time so that you get adequate rest.
* A direct transfer is arranged by the venue from the airport to Villa Kumharas this will meet the Stanstead Ryan Air flight coming arriving in Ibiza on the Thursday evening. This will cost 7 Euros per person each way. Please let us know what time you are arriving as we need to know in advance to know how many cars to send.
* If you arrive on another flight you will need to get a taxi on your own to Villa Kumharas, nr. Cala Salada on the west side of the island.
We will email you a map. A taxi will cost you approx 25 Euros one way. If you get lost just stay at the entrance to Cala Salada beach and call or text and we will direct the cab driver to the house which is a few minutes drive away up the hill.
* It is perfectly acceptable to hire a car if you want to explore the island... again let us know if this is your idea and we will email you a map of how to get to Villa Kumharas.

Flights:
There are reasonable flights to Ibiza on many different airlines however Ryan Air from Stanstead is the best direct flight to Ibiza for May and coincides with the times of these retreats as it flies on the Thursday.... Teaching starts Friday morning...
* www.ryanair.com direct flights on Thursday – Stanstead - Ibiza
* www.easyjet.com for flights from Stanstead, Luton, Gatwick, Bristol and East Midlands and various other UK airports.
* www.skyscanner.net to check all flights


Yoga - when practiced daily, you will really feel the difference.

YOGA RETREAT in Morocco October 1st-8th, 2008

This is a yoga retreat and not just another holiday.
For those who wish to deepen the practice and learn more about yoga than you can get from just weekly classes... And we’ll have fun too!

Yoga - practiced daily, you will really feel the difference.






























Due to demand, I have decided to run a retreat this autumn.

Each day, there will be practices of Asana, Meditation, Pranayama and some investigation into dharma & yogic teachings and how we can practice yoga both on and off the yoga mat. We’ll keep a part of each day in silence. You will enjoy this.
We will spend the last day as a holiday to relax and enjoy other activities offered there before coming back to London.

It may be a nice idea to book a 2-week holiday to spend a few more days in Morocco afterwards, either at the venue or traveling around this amazing country. (If you would like to stay at the venue after the 8th, please contact the venue directly to book your room).

There are only 2 places left.


Details:
Date: October 1st – 8th 2008
Venue: Surfmaroc in Taghazout, Morocco
Cost: £690 p.p. (based on 2 people sharing) for 7 nights / 8 days.
It includes: accommodation, all the meals, transport from/to Agadir airport,
1 x meditation/pranayama session, 2 x yoga asana sessions/day.
Flights and travel insurance not included.
Single supplement available for £150

Booking:
Deposit: £250 deposit to secure your place.*
Cheque made payable to Aki Omori and send it to:
Aki Omori, Flat 10, 27 Bassett Road, London W10 6LB UK
(Please notify Aki prior to posting the cheque.)
*As the retreat date is approaching, the payment is now required in full.
It can be made either by cheque or be paid directly into Aki’s account.
Please contact Aki for the account details.

About the venue:
The venue, Surfmaroc is located in a small quiet fishing village of Taghazout, about an hour from Agadir in northern Morocco.
It offers beautiful Killer's Bay apartments and a lovely yoga space with the views of the ocean and mountains. For more pics of the accommodation.
They serve delicious, nutritious vegetarian meals.
There are many activities like surfing, walking, horse riding and other excursions for very Moroccan experiences offered at little extra cost. (i.e. £2 - £20)

About the flight:
Many companies fly directly from Gatwick to Agadir.
They are inexpensive this time of the year less than or around £200 for return.
Some of the cheap flights run on 7 or 14 nights basis and will be good if you are planning a 2 week holiday in Morocco.

For flight information and other FAQ

*About the deposit:
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable after June 30th.
Before June 30th, £150 will be refunded.
If you can find somebody else to take your space then all of the deposit will be refunded.

**About the retreat:
The week will be a precious time we take aside to retreat from our habitual ways of doing too much, being “on missions” or cluttering our minds with 'un-witnessed' thoughts. Instead, we'll make space within (and without) to be quiet, so we can meet who we really are when we allow ourselves to "be".
Daily practice of Yoga will help us through the process.
As I always say, it will be light & open-hearted and fun but at the same time, very profound & brave...
I would like this week to be something like that and it usually is on my retreats.
All that in the beautiful location of the Moroccan seaside.

Restorative Yoga workshops 2008 / 2009

I am running a series of workshops on Restorative Yoga in and out of London. Please see the details bellow.
Please contact the venue/organizer for booking and other enquiries.
If you have any question about the restorative yoga, you can contact me directly.

Special Yoga Centre: Thursday 27th March 2008
(Kensal Rise, London)
Booking & Enquiry: 020-8968-1900

Somerset: Friday 28th & Sat 29th March 2008
(Bruton, Somerset)
Booking & Enquiry: 07985-013085 (Uma)

Special Yoga Centre: Thursday 24th April 2008
(Kensal Rise, London)
Booking & Enquiry: 020-8968-1900

Special Yoga Centre: Thursday 15th May 2008
(Kensal Rise, London)
Booking & Enquiry: 020-8968-1900

Special Yoga Centre: Thursday 19th June 2008
(Kensal Rise, London)
Booking & Enquiry: 020-8968-1900

Triyoga: Friday 29th June 2008
(Primrose Hill, London)
Booking & Enquiry: 020-7483-3344

British Wheel of Yoga: Sat 28th February 2009
(Cambridge)
Details to be added when ready.


ABOUT RESTORATIVE YOGA:
Yoga is now very popular everywhere and people are benefiting greatly from this ancient art and wisdom in all aspects of their lives. However, the current trend of the practice sometimes can be just a continuation of our habitual way which is another “self-improvement project”, a kind of pressure we put ourselves under.
The life styles we lead are often so busy and tend to deplete us of our energy. In order to get healthy we add yoga classes to our already busy schedule.

Of course yoga is beneficial, but striving in yoga practice is not always helpful when what we really need is to rest, relax and recharge. A lot of us find it difficult to find the time for deep relaxation and rest or worse still; we find it hard to give ourselves permission to rest and do nothing! Because “we are not supposed to!!” This pattern creates a vicious circle and will contribute toward decline in health in the long run.
We keep running on empty until we can no longer continue, reaching the point of sickness, emotional or mental break down.

What we really need to learn is how to rest when we need to, so we can carry on and enjoy our lives with good health.

Restorative Yoga practice will allow you to continue with your yoga practice without further depletion of the energy - and restore the energy that was lost.
"Restorative postures are adaptations of classic yoga postures during the practice of which you are passively supported by props, such as chairs, blankets or bolsters. Because you are supported, you do not have to use energy to get energy. Because the passive action reaches deep into the nervous system, the practice of these postures can dismantle chronic tension patterns, improve immune function, and bring the body and mind back to their original state of equilibrium." (Donna Farhi)

It is a beautiful practice of stillness and insight, which brings rich landscape of experiencing our inner-self.


Workshop 1: Introduction to Restorative Yoga
These are 2 hour lead classes to experience the Restorative Yoga. (They are not paired so you only need to take one of them – unless of course you wish to repeat.)
They are open to all levels of experience in Yoga including the beginners and those suffering from some physical conditions that are not able to participate in ordinary Asana practice.
Especially recommended for people who suffer from stress or fatigue.
If the case is severe, please contact Aki prior to the booking.

Workshop 2: Restorative Yoga for Teachers (Somerset workshop only)
For teachers who wish to learn how to practice restorative yoga in order both to include in their existing practice and to teach their students.
Attending one of the introductory sessions prior to attending this workshop is strongly recommended, as it will help you understand the nature of the practice better.


About Aki Omori:
Aki is a dedicated teacher who has studied with some of the world's greatest teachers. She encourages her students to recognize the subtler elements of their yoga practice by cultivating inner awareness.
She studied Restorative Yoga mainly with Judith Lasater, the leading teacher in this practice, and Donna Farhi.
Having realized its benefits, she now teaches Restorative Yoga extensively and leads workshops and courses across England.

WORKSHOP - "Finding The Ground As A Constant Partner" Sun 6th May @ Triyoga Primrose Hill

FINDING THE GROUND AS A CONSTANT PARTNER
– FOUNDATION FOR VINYASA (SEQUENCED MOVEMENT) –

Date: Sun May 20th 2007
Time: 5 - 7 pm
Venue: Triyoga Primrose Hill
020-7483-3344
www.triyoga.co.uk

Begin to experience what it’s like to keep the breath free,
to find the ground as a constant partner when we move…

This is a unique workshop inspired by one of Aki's teachers from the US, Eric Stewart - it explores fun and incrediblly effective ways to learn how to be grounded and understand what it means to be grounded and then to experience how we can use this connection with the ground in movement through various excercises.


Contents description:
One of the most (if not the very most) fundamental elements when we practice yoga – either in stillness or in movement – is to be able to work with the ground.
Finding the ground as our constant partner while both in movement and in standing and seated poses means that there is a constant exchange of the forces between our body and the ground.

In order to find the ground, the breath must be free.
By protecting the lung space and finding just the right amount of tone (tension) in our body – the breath will be maintained as we move our body.

When joint spaces are closed and tight, the force (from gravity) and the fluid are blocked and prevent us from moving freely. When there’s space within the joints of the body, the force we receive from the ground will leap across the joints.
When you open up your door to let the force come back into your body from the ground, and at the same time able to give actively to the ground, it also allows the joint space to be open.

We can maintain continuous engagement from ground upward.

We will enjoy the continuous live connection to and from the ground through the structure of the body.

It's continuous and constant and that means as we move, or while we are even seemingly still, our relationship with the ground/gravity/force are constantly changing and while these constant changes occur (throughout our practice and our normal daily life) this connection continues and can be left alive.

An unbroken, continuous awareness while in movement = Constant changes = The most fundamental element in vynyasa flow.

We can be so sensitive to the subtlest movement in our body within the space / environment around us that it can give us a true sense of being alive in the present moment in our body. And this experience can help eliminate our false understanding that we are "a separate entity" in the universe. Because we are not!


In this workshop, we will explore this fundamental element through some playful exercises, and toward the end of the session, what we discovered will be applied in simple vinyasa and some standing poses to have a taste of staying alive & free during the vinyasa flow practice. The session will end with a restorative pose.

Suitable for people with little experience of yoga or experienced practitioners or even teachers.

Come and have fun and re-discover your constant partners – the breath and the ground.


Please contact Triyoga for booking information. Feel free to contact Aki for any enquiry for the contents.