YOGA QUALIFICATIONS. SIVANANDA, ASHRAM, QUEBEC, CANADA. 1997 Teaching Diplomas T.T.C. and A.T.T.C. ALBION YOGA MOVEMENT, CHELSEA, COLLEGE, LONDON. 1987-1989 Teaching Diploma. BRITISH WHEEL OF YOGA BRIDGEND 1980 1981 BRITISH WHEEL OF YOGA, CARDIFF. 1982-1984 Record of attendance and Teachers Assessments with Jean Oddy and Philip Jones. (written work not completed owing to nursing father with Cancer at the end of the course.) WELSH SCHOOL OF YOGA, Y FFORDD, YMLAEN, 1974-1976 Teaching Disabilities with Philip Jones. OTHER RELEVANT QUALIFICATION Cranial Sacral Therapy, KARUNA INSTITUTE DORSET 1996 Counselling Certificate GWENT UNIVERSITY 1993-1995 Core Process Psychotherapy, Foundation KARUNA INSITITUTE DORSET 1994-1995 International Diploma in CAER, CENTRE FOR Group Work Training, EDUCATION AND Humanistic Psychology. RESEARCH, CORNWALL. 1992-1995 Swami Gitananda Massage With Philip Jones WELSH SCHOOL OF YOGA 1978-1979 Swami Gitanandas Reflexology With Philip Jones WELSH SCHOOL OF YOGA 1977-1988 Death Dying and Transition with Elisabeth Kubler Ross. LONDON CHELSEA 1972 Disability Training, Physio Dept ROOKWOOD HOSPITAL, CARDIFF. 1981 Cancer Care Training Program. CARDIFF 1981-1991 Caring for People with Cancer. BRISTOL 1991 1992 The Tibetan Way of Dying. MANJUSHRI INSTITUE 1992-1993 On Going In Service Training with Learning disabilities CARDIFF CITY COUNCIL 1977 to date. e.g. Equality Training, Disability Awareness, Health and Safety at work, Working with blindness, Working with deafness, Understanding Disease. On going Teacher Training, SWAMI GITANANANDA Correspondence Course. ANANDA ASHRAM, INDIA. 1999 to date
WORKING WITH DISABILITIES I started teaching Yoga with disabilities in 1975 at Rookwood Hospital, where 27 people with multiple sclerosis attended. The Local Authority as an Adult Education class funded these groups, and I was given a paid helper. We asked the hospital for a room, and our small group of helpers bought and made special mats, back rests, lumber pillows and we were given blankets. This was the beginning. I had to train myself, as there were no books on the subject. I spent years reading, studying and going to talks about all sorts of illnesses and disabilities. Class members gave permission for me to talk in detail with their doctors for my own learning regarding their illnesses. This was a wonderful help at that time. Over the past 25 years these groups have grown. Now I run six classes every week, three that run for 52 weeks of the year the rest for 30 weeks. The Local Authority funds them all and gives transport for those with specific problems. CURRENT WEEKLY GROUPS MONDAY 2 Hour Group. We work with a range of people, a dynamic group with able bodied, ambulant people with, M.S., elderly people. 18 members two teachers and helpers. TUESDAY 1.5 Hour Group. This class works with profoundly disabled people and those with learning disabilities. We have a 2-1 ratio. That is one teacher to two students. We work with passive movement to install confidence and mobility. We use chanting and meditation. 4 members at a time. WEDNESDAY 1.5 Hour Group Here we have a more ambulant group with learning disabilities. Working with mostly postures in a workshop style. 10 members their careers and two teachers. THURSDAY 2 Hour Group People with a vast range of disabilities and able bodied. This group demonstrates how the power of Yoga can teach people of all types to respect and work together regardless of age, creed or problems. 24 members two teachers and helpers. THURSDAY 2 Hour Group A strong class with able bodied, people with psychological problems and learning disabilities. This group has run consistently for the whole period and the atmosphere shows this.18 members two teachers and helpers. FRIDAY 1.5 Hour Group This group is aimed at those with a learning disability. Most members are ambulant and able. We encourage students to teach us and share favorite postures and favorite chants. This is a wonderful group. 15 members two teachers and helpers. In all these groups, I aim for students to practice all Yoga Postures to their best ability. To experience the depth and width of Yoga practice including Chanting, breathing, philosophy and to gain in understanding of the meaning of life.
CANCER HELP GROUP From 1981 to 1992 Philip Jones and I- ran a Cancer Help Group using Yoga as its basis of practice. We worked with attitudes, diet, meditation, Pranayama, relaxation techniques, physical workouts, looking at death and dying. Ways to live happily with death, ways to die consciously. This lasted for ten years, 52 weeks of the year. We regularly ran weekend retreats for those who wished to come, offered home visits for those who were terminally ill. This was a vastly important and learning experience for all concerned. We stopped the group when I nurse my own Mother with Cancer and a few months later my father in-law. It was time to rest. Group members joined other groups and I have always kept a close connection with those who survived. YOGA WEEKENDS AND WEEKS WITH DISABILITIES I have arranged during these years to take students on retreats and weekend workshops. Once we arranged to go to Tunisia for a week, however the Kuwait war brought this to a standstill. Not wanting to let the groups lose their retreat I persuaded the Marriotte Hotel and International Hotel to given us two weekends instead. These weekends were wonderful with 25 students and their husbands and carers. This encouraged the setting up of another week abroad and we took 12 families to Tunisia for a week. However this came to an end as the logistics were too difficult with the airlines. DISABLED WEEKENDS CURRENT I run regular weekends in which my more mobile students participate, however, Buckland Hall is the only venue I have at the moment where it is possible to take those with a severe disability as it has a special bathroom etc. Last year we ran a week and two weekends that were very successful and this year my first weekend went really well. I am looking forward to the summer week. SUMMARY A Yoga class for disabled people and for all human beings needs to emphasis classical Yoga practice as the gift of life. We do not need a watered down, Yoga is the way of the compassionate spiritual warrior and that is the basis of all that I share with everyone. Students have powerfully demonstrated during these years a greater sense of selfawareness, confidence, spirituality and personal development. The beauty of Yoga practice in self-surrender and as Skill in Action becoming the shining centre of life. The outcome of all this work is to show everyone that Yoga as a way of life and as the focus for living can turn life around. We show that there is meaning and purpose to all that happens to us. We are encouraged to take responsibility for ourselves, to look deeply at our lives and take steps to evolve. Conscious evolution. To see loss as a way of gaining in wisdom, to know that there is a True Self beyond all our suffering and that compassion and Ahimsa need to guide our every thought and action.
ABLE BODIED CLASS LIST MONDAY 2 Hour Class. Adult Education Yoga class for all with 15 members. 1.5 Hour Class. Rubicon Dance Centre a drop in class for all 25 members. TUESDAY 1.5 Hour Class Class Rubicon Dance students 15 members. 2*1.5 Hour Class University of Glamrogan, young people 20 members. 1.5 Hour Class Leisure Centre Class, drop in 50 members. WEDNESDAY 2 Hour Class Private intermediate /advanced Philips class 30 members. THURSDAY 2 Hour Class Private intermediate /advanced Philips class 30 members FRIDAY 1.5 Hour Class Leisure Centre Class, beginners/intermediate 20 members. PHILIPS CLASSES Since Philips death I have taken over his classes in the Cardiff area. These groups have been together for 30 years and it has been a privilege and delight. The classes are strong and healthy and very dynamic. They show how the practice of Yoga can develop love and compassion. The groundwork of Yoga ethics as a way of life is a joy to work with. We practice Yoga together. ORGANISATIONS British Wheel of Yoga Member. Sivananda Yoga Member. Albion Yoga Member. Patangali Yoga Centre, Surrey. With Sri Indar Nath, Member. Member of Cancer Care. Multiple Sclerosis Society. Patanjali Yoga Centre
CURRENT PROGRAMMES Buckland Hall. Weekends and weeks of Yoga alone, also with Sri Indar Nath. Weeks and weekends of Yoga and the Bhagavad Gita with Akandadidas. Lam Rim Buddhist Center. Yoga weekends and Retreats every year. St. Nons, St Davids. Yoga weekends and retreats. For the Irish Yoga Federation, Belfast. Yoga weekends and retreats. For the Scottish Yoga Federation, Lendrick Lodge. Yoga Weekends. Centre for Alternative Education and Research, CEAR. Running yearly Yoga weekends and a one-week retreat. Glamorgan Summer School. Group leader of five teachers running a two week residential course of Yoga aimed at those with learning disabilities along side a two week course with able bodied. The two groups run along side each other and come together to do things to help understanding and build happiness. Monthly care assistant training and teacher development for those working with disabilities in Cardiff. Weekly study group running for student dance teachers Meeting monthly with Teachers working through Swami Gitanandas Correspondence Course. Seminars in Cardiff three times a year on the development of Yoga Practice including Pranayama, meditation and chanting and classical Asanas. Applications of Yoga in the New Millennium 8 11 June 2000 Buckland Hall. Contributed a Lecture entitled Disability, Yoga and Life and a Workshop Disabilities and the power of classical Yoga Practice. PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES INVOLVED IN. One year course of Yoga and Meditation with David Fontanna and Philip Jones Pranayama Intensives, run alongside Philip Jones. Three weekends yearly, when he was alive. Helping run Sadhana Intensives. Two year group 12 people, meeting monthly, attending retreats and weekends together. with Philip and myself. I have not as yet, undertaken this specific course since Philip died. The Hill Residential College, Abergavenny. Yoga weekends and retreats with Philip Jones.
TALKS AND WORKSHOPS During the last 25 years it has been my privilege to run numerous groups and weekends. I have consistently run groups ranging from four to fifty people. I would love to run a two-hour practical workshop for twenty to fifty people, this I believe is the most effective way of sharing the work I undertake. DISABILITIES AND THE POWER OF CLASSICAL YOGA PRACTICE. A practical session showing ways to encourage personal practice for those with disabilities, including Passive movement into classical Asanas, breathing moving into Pranayama, and relaxation moving into meditation and Chanting. INTRODUCTION:- A brief history of how I became involved in my work. 1) Teachers consideration. How working in a dynamic way with classical postures is the best help for most people. WORKSHOP 1) PASSIVE MOVEMENT. Working in pairs through a passive movement session to experience the benefits of this approach, helping to personally understand the pitfalls that can be involved. 2) YOGA POSTURES WITH HELP. Using equipment where necessary to encourage a person to undertake postures. Looking at the many ways that we can modify Asanas to an individuals needs for maximum benefit. 3) RELAXATION, PRANAYAMA MEDITATION AND CHANTING. DISABILITY YOGA AND LIFE 40mins talks. I am also happy to give a talk to as many people as you wish on any of the topics listed below. INTRODUCTION:- A brief history of how I became involved in this work. TOPICS:- 1) Perception of disability. Looking at the personal patterns and perception of the Teacher or Carer. 2) Looking at the clients perception of disability 3) Dealing with loss and death. Is the loss of an arm like death? 4) How working in a dynamic way with classical postures is the best help for most people. 5) How chanting helps everyone raise consciousness and energy. 6) Looking at laughter as a way to help people face problems. 7) Pranayama. How breathing encourages participation. 8) The importance of client confidentiality and the different criteria for those with learning disabilities. 9) How I have run the classes and ways to help teachers begin this work themselves. 10) Dealing with the clients care assistant. The importance of their participation. 11) Counter indications for people with learning disabilities and psychiatric problems. 12) How to approach working with Schizophrenia and personal breakdown. 13) Relaxation and the do s and don t with disabilities. 14) Question and answers.