Yoga : Bodies, Minds and Balance introduced by Amelia Radford, Yoga Teacher
One source quoted by the United Nations News claims that 2 Billion people practice yoga around the world. Staggering as that may seem, it is certainly clear there has been a surge of popularity in the UK with yoga Centres, yoga clothing and other yoga products seeing huge increases in sales.
At its best yoga seeems to offer a way of bringing body and mind into balance, and perhaps offer a way into emotional and even spiritual stability. However, the way it is growing and marketed in the UK seems to pose a number of questions: is yoga really about what you wear and how popular you are in a class? Do you have to be a skinny, white woman to do yoga? Is yoga practiced half as much as it is boasted about? Is there actually a race to enlightenment, and if so who is winning?
Perhaps, most significantly from a psychological perspective, there is also the question of whether it is possible to get caught up in ‘spiritual bypassing’, using yoga’s spiritual techniques to avoid coping with things in real life.
These questions and others will be explored in this café and our conversation will be introduced by yoga teacher, Amelia Radford. We’ll be limbering up and getting into our psychological poses on Tuesday 30 April, 8.00 pm to 9.45 pm in Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. The Café costs £4 on the door. All are welcome – loose clothing not required.
Chat and think over a drink. Café Psychologique builds on the idea of the Café Scientifique movement and other Café such as Café Philosophique.
Hosted by Chris Powell.
www.spark.uk.net/cafe-psychologique
8.00 pm to 9.45 pm. £4 on the door.