yogaxdee

I’ve often been asked why I chose the ashtanga method

Of many reasons, the number 1 has always been the difference of an Ashtanga teacher. Through all the wonderful teachers I’ve had the privilege to meet, this is how I’ve been so inspired, motivated and guided through the practice.

I’m grateful for all my teachers, in London, Berlin, India and now home in Ireland I feel so lucky and grateful that my teacher has chosen to make this her home and share her wisdom of the practice with us. In just over a year having her as my teacher I have learned and grown so much in my practice, learning challenging new poses like Karandavasana, deepening and refining many of my other postures and the pranayama practice, but most importantly deepening my spiritual connection to the practice through mantras, Bhakti and the power of community around the practice. I am ever grateful to have her as my teacher 💗

I’m delighted to share a wonderful chance for new students to meet Sarah and experience her teachings this weekend - there’s a few spaces left so come join us! The day is suitable for those with an existing practice and those newer to the practice wishing to explore it. If you are curious, this is the perfect time and I promise, there is no better teacher 🥰

Ashtanga day immersion
Saturday 11th, 9-5pm
Wunderbrook studios, Rathmines

Expect a focus on all the magic of the practice, starting with pranayama and a primary series practice, workshops and ending with a yin practice and chanting. Find full details in Sarah’s bio 💫

Ashtanga yoga retreat October 1-6 2023 💗

Thank you for the most wonderful week of Mysore practice, pranayama, chanting and such special workshops… and a wonderful time enjoying Italy and the Puglian sunshine with a wonderful group of yogis ✨

I’m so happy I found a way to make this retreat work… exactly what I needed as I transition into my new normal of full time work and study. To spend a week immersed in all the magic of ashtanga yoga.

Having 6 days of practice with and 6 days of practice with my teacher really helped unlock some new strength in my practice but the gem I left with was the magic of mantra chanting to find my inner strength and the connection to spirituality that’s been the real gift of the practice I’m so grateful for the wisdom of my teacher reminding me of that. 💗

Thank you Sarah for such a special week 💗🙏 and thank you to all my fellow yogis for your wonderful company for the week ✨🥰💗

Last nights almost full moon 🌕 , on retreat with my teacher

Looking forward to a reset after this full moon, enjoying 6 mornings of practice, workshops, chanting and good food, surroundings and company 🥰

Perfect way to reset and get ready for work, study and exams 🍂

Happy September yogis!!

I’m so excited to start this new class at the gorgeous new studio Yoga Yard in Ringsend

Warm Ashtanga
Wednesdays 7am

Expect to move dynamically and connect to the breath with an edited version of the Ashtanga primary series to fit in a 60 mins class - a perfect way to set you up for the day with mindful movement

Starting next weds 6th - I look forward to seeing you there! Xx

NE W C L A S S E S 🎉

New month, New classes 😎. We are excited to announce the addition of the following classes to our schedule starting this week.

▫️Non-heated Flow, (60 mins) at 18.00 with starting Tuesday 5th September.

▫️Warm Astanga (60 mins) at 07.00 with starting Wednesday 6th September

▫️Yin (60mins) at 19.00 with starting Friday 8th September

▫️Hot Hathta 26+2 (75mins) starting Saturday 9th September

Also Please NOTE the new times for our Non-heated Flow on Thursday evenings, now starting at the later time of 19.30
AND the earlier start time on Thursday evenings at 18.00 for our Hot Hatha 26+2 (60mins).

We can’t wait to see you all in class! ☺️🧡

This time last week I was celebrating the best day of my life 🥰💗

I still can’t believe how wonderful the day was in every way…

From a brief pause in a wet July giving us the outdoor wedding we’d dreamed of, being surrounded by so many people we love, our families, oldest & best friends from both school and college and newer friends including my wonderful yoga community 🥰💗🙏. Thank you everyone for being part of our special day

And to the staff for taking such care of us and our guests for the day, taking care of each detail to make it the perfect day for us 🙏

And of course to my new husband … still pinching myself for meeting a man beyond my dreams just 2 years ago. Although we grew up so close to each other and had so many occasions to cross paths in Dublin, London or Sydney, fate had it that we waited until now, each living through and learning from life to be ready to take this next step together. I’m so lucky to have found you 🥰💗

This time last week, this was my view, watching all our wonderful guests arrive and getting ready to become Mrs Conran 🥰, truly the most wonderful day of my life. And this week we’ve just landed for our honeymoon in the beautiful Puglia - adventure awaits 🥰🤩🇮🇹💗

⚡️New class alert - Ashtanga for All⚡️

Where - Sean O’Casey centre, East wall
When - Thursdays 6pm, from 3rd Aug
Cost - drop in €15, 4 class pass €50
(Online option may be available also)


✨What to expect?✨

Ashtanga has been my dedicated personal practice for over 7 years now. This practice has been transformative for me in so many ways and I am passionate about sharing the magic of this practice in a way that’s accessible to all levels; whether you are newer to yoga, have an existing yoga practice but not yet ashtanga or you have an existing primary series ashtanga practice. Everyone can benefit from the Ashtanga method and enjoy a moving meditation of synchronised breath to movement, whether just a few modified poses or dynamically moving through the primary series 🌟

Teaching will be individual with both verbal instruction and demos and some hands on assists. Everybody practices at their own pace and receives personalised teaching as needed. Modifications will be offered to students newer to the practice and teachings on alignment and technique offered to those wishing to progress an existing practice. 🌟

With this method, the practice is accessible to everyone. And the gift of an autonomous practice to continue from home in between these classes is passed on. 🌟

Message me for more details and to save your spot! 💫

Happy Sunday all 🥰 ☀️ hope you are enjoying a day of rest before the week ahead

I’ve a busy schedule teaching yoga next week covering a few extra classes for the lovely Amy Charlie, Aine and Jess

Come join me for practice 🧘‍♀️

Monday
10am yoga 1 - dundrum & online
1pm lunchtime yoga - Ranelagh & online

Wednesday
11.30am mum&baby yoga - ranelagh
1pm lunchtime express yoga - Ranelagh & online

Thursday
6pm - yoga 2
7pm - restorative yoga
Both Ranelagh & online

Friday
5pm - Ashtanga yoga

Looking forward to seeing you there 🧘‍♀️💫

🌼Spring of new beginnings🌼

📣Delighted to announce another new regular class starting 5th April Mandala Yoga] 📣

For the early birds 🐦
Wednesdays 7.30am (45mins)
Open level power flow
Mandala Yoga]
St Mary’s church, Haddington rd
&online

The brighter mornings make April a perfect time to get into an early morning practice, there is nothing more beautiful than saluting the sun 🌞 as it rises

Expect a rounded practice to get you started for the day. Starting slowly with breathwork and mindfulness practices then building some heat as we work through sun salutes and flow into standing poses, back bends and forward folds before allowing a few minutes of rest to reset the nervous system

Booking your spot through Mandala - looking forward to seeing you on the mat!

Ashtanga Fridays are my favourites!!

Although I love teaching all styles of yoga and adapting the practice to the yogis I am with, since Ashtanga has been my personal practice for over 6 years, teaching Ashtanga has a special place in my heart 💜

I love passing on the beauty and magic behind this series, that the set sequence allows you to connect more deeply to the breath and experience the moving meditation element of it and honour tradition with the sanksrit count and opening chant 💕

I teach Ashtanga twice on a Friday so hope to see you in class!

7am
Ashtanga led primary - tomorrow will be led to half primary series

5pm
Ashtanga level 1-2
This is a rounded 60 mins practice, honouring the key poses and structure of the primary series with options for all levels

Come practice with me!

Photo by .yoga.lens

“The only certainty in life is change”

This is something I often struggle with… as much as the Vata side of me strives for the new and exciting, I usually experience fear & anxiety with changes to my routine. This is part of why the Ashtanga practice has been so powerful for me personally, with the sequence always being the same even if my body reacts differently some days at least I know what poses to expect when I get on my mat. And establishing the routine of a 6 morning a week practice had become an anchor in my life; when chaos or overwhelm enters my life, knowing I can come to my mat each morning became a source of comfort. And each time I’d face my struggle poses during the practice, even if they brought up more fear than usual, I always walk off my mat feeling that bit stronger.

How does change manifest for you? Do these emotions resonate?

On this note, I have a change in my teaching schedule to announce.

Ashtanga 2 on Thursdays is unfortunately off schedule for now. I have loved teaching this class and been so grateful for the loyal students who have practiced with me- thank you for your support 🙏

Rather than lose our connection, I’d like to invite my Thursday Ashtangis to join me on Fridays. This was a level 1 class but becomes a level 1-2 from this Friday. The class will change a little to retain the integrity of the sequence in 60 mins, so the key standing poses, seated poses and traditional closing of band bends and inversions. There will be options to make this accessible to level 1 and to keep the class challenging for level 2.

And of course don’t forget you can still enjoy a 75 mins level 2-3 flow@class with me at 6pm on Mondays. This class leans on the ashtanga sequence and each month focuses on set of peak poses that we work toward intelligently, focusing on technique and building strength, flexibility and body awareness. This is a really great complement to the ashtanga practice so do come join me!

Mondays 6pm - Yoga flow 2-3 (75mins)
Fridays 5pm - Ashtanga 1-2

Thank you yogis for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you on the mat 💗🧘‍♀️🙏

I am so excited to share my first workshop this weekend a topic I am passionate about - Fertility ❣️

✨Yoga & Ayurveda for Fertility
✨Sunday 22nd January
✨1pm- 3pm
✨Yoga Dublin Ranelagh
✨Booking link in bio 👆🏻

There is so much wisdom from both Yoga & the ancient health system of Ayurveda that we can take to support ourselves on this journey

Although planning for conception is such a magical time, it can heighten stress & anxiety with the expectation we put on ourselves and our bodies, which is counter intuitive to what we need at this time since stress in itself is one of the leading causes impacting fertility

Come join me for a nourishing 2 hour workshop learning techniques to reduce stress and focus on the nourishment and self care we need to prepare to welcome our future child 👶🏼 into the world 🌎

Some benefits of this workshop

Benefits
- Yoga practice to build physical strength and flexibility in the hips and pelvic area
- Stimulate blood flow and renewal of the reproductive organs through restorative poses - this pose is one of my favourites!
- Learn breathwork techniques to calm and rebalance when anxieties arise
- Yoga nidra practice to relax the body and mind
- Learn east Ayurvedic self care techniques to incorporate into your routine
- Learn the principles to develop a balanced and nourishing diet suited to your individual constitution to support your body during this time
- Meet with women on the same journey as you, optional coffee circle after the workshop
- Option to book an Ayurvedic consult with Dee for an individual approach to your journey toward conception

****Announcement*****

Dear Yogis, I’m so delighted to announce an exciting new class starting this Thursday

Ashtanga level 2 - a 75 min class
Thursdays @ 5.45pm to 7pm

I’m so excited for this longer class! We’ll practice a traditional Sanskrit counted led class to half primary series and incorporate a bit of workshopping key transitions or subsequent poses before the traditional closing sequence of backbends and inversions

And the added treat? Stay after class for a nourishing Restorative class

Starting this Thursday- see you on the mat 🌟 🧘‍♀️ 💗

New Season, New Schedule 🍂

Delighted to announce some exciting changes and new additions to my schedule. All classes in the Ranelagh studio, and Thursdays can also be streamed from home 😊

Come practice with me 🥰🧘‍♀️🙏✨

This is me, surrendering to my post back bend forward folds in this mornings practice …

Let’s talk about surrender and emotions…✨

Have you ever experienced strong emotions during your yoga practice? Although the essence of the practice is to create space - physically and mentally- often the journey can bring up strong emotions. As we build strength, flexibility and stamina we may experience any range of emotions as the body builds that; frustration, envy through comparison, inertia, or sometimes fear. The fear of surrendering into a posture is real since our body does create signals through the nervous system to resist a stretch as a fight of flight reflex- but once you use the breath consciously and surrender the nervous system sends a second signal to the brain that this is ok… and the more you repeat this the more muscle memory is built to reduce this effect of “fear”

For me, this fear often still comes up in some of my second series postures - the deep back bends where you need to surrender to the unknown and fall back into space. I’ve been working on these postures for almost 2 years, so I know deep down I am physically capable, I still have days where I forget this and want to resist… today could have been one of those days as I did have little bubbles of fear about the rest of my day- tackling a solo drive on Dublins busy m50 motorway, but I dropped back without fear, since my body knows I can do it. Just like deep down I know I’ve been on the m50 before and I can do it….
Challenges in my yoga practice have so often mirrored challenges in my life off the mat, teaching me to access my inner strength and flexibility and to trust in myself. This is one of the most valuable gifts the practice has given me 🙏🥰

Oh and the m50 trip was to teach yoga to a lovely new group of yogis and it was so worth it 💗

Excited to announce a new schedule for July…

For the next 4 weeks I’m covering Yoga 2-3 mondays at 6.15pm in ranelagh - we’ll focus on a journey toward the splits over the next 4 weeks ☺️

Thursdays - I’m now taking on the following classes as the lovely Jess starts her maternity leave ☺️
Yoga 1-2 6pm ranelagh
Restorative yoga 7pm

Fridays
Beginners ashtanga 5pm Ranelagh

*********Freebie alert**********

Happy international Yoga Day Yogis! And what better day to celebrate than on summer solstice day … I’m on holiday this week so it was such a treat to have my morning practice with a beautiful view and celebrate with a post yoga dip in the sea 🌊 How about you?

To celebrate today, I’ve made my Ashtanga for Beginners video channel on my website free for 4 weeks… so any of my regulars at Yoga Dublin can keep up their practice and I hope I might entice some new practitioners to try online and come join us in person when you’re ready ☺️ 🧘‍♀️
Follow the link in my bio to access the channel

And more exciting news is that I’ll have more in person classes at Yoga Dublin to my schedule from July… these will be Vinyasa classes but ashtanga inspired as always ☺️

Happy international yoga day and look forward to seeing you on the mat 🧘‍♀️💗☀️🌊

Happy June Full moon 🌕 yogis… I enjoyed a lovely morning off from my daily Ashtanga practice with park strolls with Holly and attending a gorgeous yoga class with JESS OATWAY] in Yoga Dublin Ranelagh… it was such a treat 🥰💗

I’m off on holiday this Saturday for 2 weeks but have a few classes on this week and would love to see you there… practicing our upward facing Hollys 😂 🐶

Thursday I am covering for JESS OATWAY] -
Yoga 1-2 6pm - Ranelagh & online
Restorative 7pm - Ranelagh & online

Friday (this will be covered by Des Doris while I’m away)
Beginner ashtanga 6pm - Ranelagh

Saturday
Yoga in the park, 11am, Palmerston park

As always book your spot through Yoga dublin

See you on the mat 🧘‍♀️✨🌝🌞❣️

For me, the regularity and consistency of the Ashtanga practice was what enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of the capability and limits of my own body.

This pose is Prasarita Padottanasana C, the final expression is having your hands touch the ground; something that up until a year ago I didnt think would ever happen in my body and I now consistently do this 6 days a week. There was naturally an element of self belief but from a physical perspective it was about squeezing the shoulder blades together, lifting the arms up to the sky to create that space and allowing myself to surrender to gravity, all while maintaining a strong base in my legs; strongly grounding my feet into the ground, squeezing the fronts of the thighs to open the backs of the thighs, drawing my naval back to the spine to allow space across the lower back and drawing the shoulder blades together to open across the chest.

This is a great pose to counteract roundedness in the upper back…. Which is so prevalent today when we are often hunched over laptop screens or phones. But what I really love about this one is that it requires full body awareness and an awareness of the relationship between muscle groups in the body; eg to allow the hamstrings to stretch, the quads contract, for the lower back to lengthen, the lower abdominal muscles contract, for the chest to open, the shoulder blades squeeze together (counteracting upper back rounding). All while pushing strongly into the mat with the feet to create enough groundedness to allow the head and arms to surrender to gravity…. Sooo much going on here for 1 simple pose!!!

And for me the key was in repetition, repetition, repetition…. Allowing me to learn more about the poses through experiencing them daily, noticing the subtle changes in my body as it developed strength and flexibility over time allowing continual progression in the poses. And thereby developing the muscle memory so that my shoulders now always want to draw back and toward that neutral spine position as soon as I notice myself hunching over :)

Join me every Friday to explore your Ashtanga Journey with me

Ashtanga for Beginners, Fridays 5pm Ranelagh

Schedule update;
Tonight I am covering again for in Dundrum and Thursday covering again for -

I’d love to see you at any of these classes and of course my regular Beginners Ashtanga Fridays at 5pm in Ranelagh
And join me for Yoga in the Park, Saturday 11am, Palmerston Park

Hi yogis, looking forward to practicing with you again this week!
On top of my usual Friday pm Beginners Ashtanga, I will be teaching Yoga in the Park in Palmerston park Saturday at 11am, and covering Tuesday eve classes in Dundrum.
As always book through

See you on the mat ✨💗

Lots of chances to practice with me this week as i’m covering a few classes for the lovely & Tuesday - Thursday.
And as always I’m teaching beginners ashtanga on Fridays. This is a great class to join to refine the basics of the practice even if you are already practicing Ashtanga.

Book through 💗✨

And just like that… it’s the end of one chapter of a wonderful career in fashion buying & sourcing to open another door into Yoga & Ayurveda…

As excited as I am about finally being able to focus more on teaching yoga and healing through Ayurveda, this transition comes with all its own fears and anxieties and I’ve needed my own yoga practice more than ever. But that’s a sign of how powerful it is and how much it means to me to be able to share the magic with you.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for more classes… including yoga for runners in the park 🏃‍♀️ 🧘‍♀️

But for now, I’d love to see you at Beginners Ashtanga fridays at 5pm Ranelagh

🌿

And just like that… it’s the end of one chapter of a wonderful career in fashion buying & sourcing to open another door into Yoga & Ayurveda…

As excited as I am about finally being able to focus more on teaching yoga and healing through Ayurveda, this transition comes with all its own fears and anxieties and I’ve needed my own yoga practice more than ever. But that’s a sign of how powerful it is and how much it means to me to be able to share the magic with you.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for more classes… including yoga for runners in the park 🏃‍♀️ 🧘‍♀️

But for now, I’d love to see you at Beginners Ashtanga fridays at 5pm Ranelagh

Join me on the mat this week!

As always I’ll be teaching Ashtanga for Beginners this Friday, 5pm Ranelagh.
This is a great class if you are new or refinding your feet with yoga after all the lockdowns; expect some focus on alignment to help you find ease in the poses and build strength & flexibility and really tuning into the breath throughout the practice to harness a moving meditation

Sunday @ 11am I’ll be teaching Yoga in the park; this is in Dartmouth Square right beside the Ranelagh studio.
This class will be an Ashtanga inspired flow, accessible for all levels

Both classes can be booked through Yoga Dublin

See you on the mat!

Dee 🧘‍♀️✨

The difference of the Ashtanga practise to vinyasa flow styles of yoga is that the asana practice (the physical poses) are always the same and you progress through the series of postures in a steady linear way. You start slowly at the pace that's right for you (this might mean starting with only a few poses) letting your body build strength & flexibility to bring ease to the poses muscle memory built from repetition.

This repetition also commits the postures to your memory, so instead of concentrating on the teachers instructions to follow the class you can start to turn your attention inward - the true goal of yoga- using the connection between body & breath as a tool to bring focus, steadiness and ultimately stillness to the mind. The practice is a vehicle to create space in the body, clearing physical tensions and blockages and space in the mind, clearing the web of thoughts creating blockages in our minds

So what can you expect in my classes?
The physical practise starts with the Sun Salutations, variation A (5times) and B (3times), practised with a modification to the traditional jump back to chaturanga, allowing you to build upper body strength safely
We work through most of the key standing poses. These are grounding poses and build strength and stability in the legs & hips whilst continuing to open the upper body
We strengthen the back muscles with bridge pose (modification for Wheel) and counter pose this with a seated forward fold
We close with a seated focus on breathing before our final resting pose Savasana

Next Yoga in the Park dates -
Tues 10th 6pm
Sunday 22nd 11am
Dartmouth Square, D6,
Book through

I’ll be teaching an accessible Ashtanga style flow, suitable from beginner level. This is a great way to trial the Ashtanga practice with me if you are keen to join my regular classes ☺️🙏💗🧘‍♀️