CPD Workshop - From Form to Freedom

Is your yoga mat a correction centre or a playground?

Resources for yoga teachers, therapists & circle facilitators

With Judy Hirsh Sampath

Judy says ‘Yoga can often be intimidating – if our students leave the yoga mat feeling not good enough, flexible enough, strong enough, or perfect enough, where is the spirit of yoga, and how are we doing as teachers and therapists?’

After all, we know our bodies better than anyone – let’s learn to celebrate our individual body’s uniqueness and aliveness to find greater acceptance, freedom and fun on the mat. The intention of this CPD day is to support teachers and students to leave feeling a little softer around the edges, with a spring in your step and confidence to share your gifts.

This CPD workshop is for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and circle facilitators who wish to freshen up, lighten up and light up their students in the understanding that they are already perfect, already whole and they belong here in your class and in their bodies. Let’s try not to fix and correct their bodies, they are the expert in themselves. Learn how to hold space for expression of an imprisoned and conditioned spirit, to break free, bloom and fly.  Guide towards recovery and reconnection. Join yoga therapist and trainer, Judy Hirsh Sampath in a day of enquiry.

Moving from what needs fixing to what can be celebrated can be a game changer on and off the mat. Learn ways to shift from what’s wrong with us, what needs fixing and correcting - to giving ourselves permission to use the yoga mat as somewhere we can play, be free and creative, a playground instead of a correction centre.

Includes discussion on trauma informed language for teachers, sequences to use in class, creating your own sequences and food for thought.

Aims of the Day

Resources for yoga teachers, therapists & circle facilitators

Explore the teacher’s voice - direction, invitation, instruction, guidance

Trauma sensitivity and language

Explore intention for asana, what is correct and how do we know

Refine language to empower students towards self-expression, creativity & empowerment

To direct students from contraction/tension to expansion/spaciousness

Move from critical thinking of “can’t” to celebratory connection of “can”

Teach sequences to celebrate the miracle of the body

Learn ways to shift from what’s wrong to all that is miraculous about moving your body

Shift perspective from not good enough, flexible enough, strong enough, perfect enough, to the spirit of yoga - enough, whole, connected and joyful

Learning Outcomes

Receive resources for future lesson/course planning

Take away deeper awareness of the power of language

Learn skilful trauma-informed language, how to speak to individuals in a group class setting

Plan intentional use of practices and choices that support liberation

Opportunity to share personal experiences for group learning

Receive learning through direct experience and embodied mindfulness

Access the inner teacher voice as a guide for lesson planning

Outline plan for the day

10am introduction and definitions

10.15-11.30 Discussion on intentional lesson planning

Warm ups, movement practice & pranayama

Teach sequence to demonstrate the power of language

11.30-1pm Sharing and discussion – from fixing/correction to celebration/self-expression, guided embodied sequence

1pm lunch

2-2.45pm Deconstruction of sequences & philosophy, Inner child and the playground

2.45-3.15pm Visualisation, sound & sensation for self-expression (drawing & writing)

3.15-3.40pm Breathwork & relaxation

3.40-4pm Integration & close

About the Tutor

Judy’s profound realisation that lead to writing this workshop was a moment that shifted the way she related to yoga practice and life. What would happen if I focussed on all that is right with me, be in awe of the miracle of the body as opposed to getting on my mat to fix and correct what is wrong or asymmetrical or unbalanced in me. Founder of Yoga Headspace, and co-founder of Yoga United and Yoga United Education, Judy has written a 550hr Yoga Therapy Diploma training which is based on many years of experience and learning. As a yoga therapist, she offers an intuitive and sensitive approach to healing to empower those through their own healing journey.

As well as psycho-educational tools, she engages the physical body as an entry point to a deeper understanding of Self, truth and trust. Unlocking the bodies’ natural intelligence opens up a deeply compassionate healing space and a treasure chest of gems with which to meet stress, grief, emotional & mental turmoil - as well as tapping into creativity, clarity, inner child, playfulness and wisdom. She brings a creative mix of yoga philosophy and psychology to educate people of all ages, sizes and abilities to tune into their own capacity for self-healing, self-care and communal care.

She takes yoga, meditation, embodied mindfulness, restorative yoga, yoga nidra and yoga therapy into health spas, offices, schools, mental health & fertility settings. She runs courses and retreats in UK and India.

Pre-work for the day

You may wish to prepare through self-reflection and meditation on what your intention is for joining this day. Notice the truth that comes through holding space for yourself... Observe yourself in practice - as you do your own practice or attend class as a participant, notice the teachers voice and hesitancy around instruction, any language that enhances your experience of yoga practice. Write some notes on how do you feel as you leave your mat and go out into life.