Dru Yoga and Mindfulness Classes (Adults)

Dru Yoga and Mindfulness Classes at Coledale Surf Club, Fridays
Time: 9:30-11am Fridays
Location: Coledale Surf Club – Coledale Beach
Start Date: Friday 3rd August
8 week terms aligned within school terms

Can start at any time during the term.

Cost/attendance: $125/8 week term. $64/4 week pass. Casual $18/class. Concession pricing available on request.

Free trial first class available. Please contact me to enquire.

Bookings and enquiries: Erika Steller erika.steller@gmail.com and 0427 131 701

About the classes
Find balance and calm, vitality and inspiration in these Dru Yoga and Mindfulness classes. These are inclusive yoga classes and are suitable for those new to yoga, as well as to those who would like to deepen their yoga practice.

Learn gentle, flowing postures, and breathing practices to bring you into the present.

Stretch and strengthen your physical body, relieve tension, and boost your energy levels. Increase your positive outlook and sense of natural confidence. Improve your emotional well-being and relaxation skills.

Specific Mindfulness practices are incorporated into these classes – for learning tools that are easily applied in daily life, with a full guided relaxation at the end of each class.

Injuries and specific health issues are catered for specifically, with instruction and modification. These classes are also suitable for assisting with anxiety, depression and other areas of mental/emotional health.

Erika teaches with deep respect for the ancient yoga tradition, as well as a sense of fun and practicality and dedication to individual needs.

“Dru Yoga is a graceful and potent form of yoga, based on soft flowing movements, directed breathing and visualisation. With its foundations set firmly in the ancient yogic tradition, Dru works on body, mind and spirit – improving strength, flexibility and core stability; enhancing positivity; and deeply relaxing and rejuvenating the whole being. Dru Yoga is designed to be practiced by people of all abilities, fitness levels and age groups.”

Diploma of Dru Yoga Teacher Training completed with Dru Yoga Australia (2011).

Dru Professional Network (DPN) Member/Dru Registered Teacher

Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Classes

Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Classes-Wednesday’s after school 
Location: Austinmer – Moore St Yoga Room (Suite 103, 62 Moore Street, Austinmer)
Time: 4-5pm Wednesday afternoons
Start Date: Wednesday 1st August (second week of Term 3).
8 week terms

Cost/attendance: $100/child/8 weeks ($60 for siblings). 4 week pass $55 ($35 for siblings). Casual $15/child/class ($10 for siblings). Concession pricing available on request.

Casual attendance and trial first class may be available. Please contact me to enquire for further info on this.

Bookings and enquiries:
Erika Steller erika.steller@gmail.com and 0427 131 701

About the classes
Erika has been teaching this long running class in this location since 2012. The class was established 18 months before that by another children’s yoga teacher. This term I look forward to getting to know the continuing children even more who started last term after my wonderful maternity break, and I have a few places left that I would like to offer for some new children to start.

How are these classes run/what are they like?
We do yoga through play, calling on the group and individual creativity of students in the class. It’s fun! That’s why children enjoy and benefit from the classes. I create an atmosphere of togetherness, kindness, respect and inclusiveness, together with the students. I stay as open to their ideas as I can. The Mindfulness program and guided relaxation at the end of each class are the quiet and more serious components, and are often where we find the peaceful moments. At times these moments that the class share are deeply peaceful. These classes are inclusive of all children, and I teach to see the gold in all of them.

Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness for Children 
– Increasing strength, flexibility and body awareness.
– Exploring breathing & relaxation skills – for increasing calm and balancing the nervous system.
– Building self-esteem, self compassion and self love
– Increasing concentration and emotional regulation.

Mindfulness practices are helpful specifically for improving attention control (concentration skills) and self-regulation (impulse control and emotional regulation).

I teach a Children’s Mindfulness program created by Mindful Schools (training completed 2016).

Children’s Yoga Training completed with Rainbow Kids Yoga (2013) and Dru Kids and Teens (2014).

Diploma of Dru Yoga Teacher Training completed with Dru Yoga Australia (2011)

Mindfulness and the Brain – how does Mindfulness affect the brain?

Continuously in our day to day lives as humans, we experience sensory input, ie. a stimulus occurs, and then we react. We may consider our ‘reaction’ non-problematic, or potentially we may regret our particular reaction in any given moment.
We experience a STIMULUS-and then a-REACTION
When ‘Mindfulness’ is present, a stimulus occurs, then Mindfulness, and then a response.
STIMULUS-MINDFULNESS-RESPONSE
A response is ‘reflective’ rather than reactive, meaning that we have considered how we may respond.
Mindfulness gives us the ‘space’ between a stimulus and a response, so that we have the time to choose how we would like to respond (without the emotion in the ‘heat of the moment’).

Mindfulness and the Brain – how does Mindfulness affect the brain? – What is the role of the amygdala and hippocampus – our reactive, instinctual parts of the brain; compared to the pre-frontal cortex – the rational, ‘higher order thinking’ part of our brain? How does Mindfulness affect this process?

‘An impulsive reaction, triggered by emotions like fear or anger, rises up from the amygdala and hippocampus—the most ancient parts of our brain. These parts evolved to respond with defensive action to threatening situations.

If we can delay this reactivity, the newer pre-frontal cortex of the brain can respond from a place of reflection and thoughtfulness. The pre-frontal cortex is associated with maturity, including regulating emotions and behaviors and making wise decisions.

Mindfulness practice… diminishes the reactivity from the amygdala and strengthens the pre-frontal cortex.’ http://blissfulkids.com/mindfulness-and-the-brain-how-to-explain-it-to-children/

For further explanation click on the video link by Dan Siegel (approx 5 mins viewing).

Video by Dan Siegel explaining Mindfulness and how it affects the brain, using a brain hand model.

Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Classes

Light Being Yoga’s Yoga and Mindfulness Classes for Children aged 5-10 years incorporate yoga through play, breathing, relaxation and mindfulness practices. Children build strength, flexibility, body awareness, focus, emotional regulation and self-esteem whilst having lots of fun!

Classes are held on Wednesday’s from 4-5pm at the Moore Street Yoga Room, Austinmer.

Book your child’s half price trial class within this school term (Term 3 2016), and receive 30% off your subsequent pass or term payment.

Click on ‘Yoga and Mindfulness for Children’ tab or scroll post below for pricing details.

Please contact me for more information, or to book your child’s place. Erika Steller erika.steller@gmail.com or 0427 131 701.

These Yoga classes for children are long running and are well-loved by children as well as parents, who see the benefits in their children. I first began teaching these classes at the same time and location 4 years ago. A number of my students have stayed for 3 and 4 years.

I recently took a break and lived with my family for 8 months in Bali. I was lucky enough to spend 7 of those months teaching yoga and mindfulness voluntarily to over 90 students at the Green School, Bali. It was such an inspiration.

However, it is here in Austinmer, after school on Wednesdays that the seeds of my passion for teaching yoga to children were planted. I learned so much from the children I was teaching, and I still do, every class I teach. How to help children to utilise the wisdom of yoga in their lives was a challenge that became a deep interest and desire for me. How to get them to listen? How to get them to join in? How to get them to ‘want’ to learn yoga, breathing practices and relaxation? Whilst keeping it all fun? These are all things I have considered, experimented with, worked on and learned from. I have loved (and love) the process of finding ways that work, and seeing responses in learning and engagement from the children.

I am now super keen and excited and trained to teach a Children’s Mindfulness program within the yoga classes as well. It is especially designed for teaching children specifically to assist with attention and emotional regulation. It is another level of asking children to be still and quiet and to reflect, and to attend to the present moment. It is not easy! Not easy for us adults to do this (be in stillness and be ‘present’)!! But the response I have been having from children who have been attending classes since last term and learning the Mindfulness practices, has been so positive. It has shown me that the children feel and appreciate the benefits themselves. This is so motivating for me. I look forward to working with your children, and thank you to all the children I have had the privilege of teaching so far. I am truly grateful.

 

 

Yoga Classes – Winter

Dru Yoga & Mindfulness Classes (adults)– Coledale and Wollongong

Yoga & Mindfulness for Children Classes– Austinmer

 

Dru Yoga & Mindfulness Classes (adults) Uplift…..balance…..revitalise. Gentle and flowing yoga for your whole being. Mindfulness practices offering a practical and easily applied approach. 1) Tuesday mornings 10-11:30am Coledale Surf Club – 8 Week Terms, but you are welcome to start anytime during term. Contact me for term dates. – Pricing $125/8 week term, $62/4 week pass ($18/casual class provided there is space). – Enquire for concession price. Please contact me for any questions or enquiries or to book your place  – erika.steller@gmail.com 0427 131 701 2) Tuesday evenings 5:30-7pm WEA Wollongong – 8 Week Terms – Book (whole term only) through WEA 4226 1622 carolyn@weaillawarra.com.au Dru Yoga – a gentle yet potent  flowing style. Inclusive of all levels and abilities. Release tension, stress, anxiety. Increase peace of mind, positivity, core stability, strength & flexibility. Unique Energy Block Release Sequences, breathing, meditation and relaxation.

Yoga & Mindfulness for Children – ages 5-10 years Wednesdays 4-5pm, Moore Street Yoga Room, Austinmer. Yoga through play, creativity and togetherness. Mindfulness practices for increasing focus and emotional regulation. Classes are inclusive of all children to: – Find strength, flexibility and body awareness. – Explore breathing and increase concentration and relaxation skills. – Build self-esteem whilst having lots of fun! – Mindfulness practices included as a program specifically designed for children. Term dates for Term 3 – Wednesday 3rd August – 21st September. Children may start anytime throughout the term. $100/8 weeks (or $60 for siblings). 4 week pass $55/4 weeks. Casual classes $15/class. Please contact me for any questions or enquiries or to book your child’s place. Contact Erika Steller erika.steller@robter.com 0427 131 701

NEW Pre schooler’s Kids Yoga Class

NEW Pre schooler’s Kids Yoga class in Helensburgh starts this Friday the 13th Feb. I look forward to meeting and sharing lots of yoga fun with lil ones aged 2-5 and their grown ups, this Friday, 10:30-11:15am at Amber’s Yoga Studio. This will be the first class of an 8 week term, and is $10/class. My Yoga for Kids classes use story, song, props and colour for yoga play, togetherness, body awareness, breathing and relaxation, movement, and lots of fun! Grown ups please join in – the fun is for all of us 🙂 If you would like any more info on me and my teaching/yoga classes click on ‘About’ and ‘Kids Yoga’ above. Book your child’s place, or contact Amber for more info through her website http://www.yogawithamber.com.au/contact-us/ or leave a message on her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/yogawithamber Very best wishes, I look forward to meeting you! 🙂 Erika

Learn tools for ‘being in the moment’ with yoga

Continuing to explore ‘Mindfulness’. In the words of Eckhart Tolle, ‘On the surface it seems that the present moment is only one of many, many moments. Each day of your life appears to consist of thousands of moments where different things happen. Yet if you look more deeply, is there not only one moment, ever? Is life ever not “this moment”? This one moment – Now – is the only thing you can never escape from, the one constant factor in your life. No matter what happens, no matter how much your life changes, one thing is for certain: it’s always Now.’ Learn tools for ‘being in the moment’ with yoga. Om shanti (peace), Erika

Integrating ‘Mindfulness’, being ‘Present’

Has anyone heard/seen this word lately?…
‘Mindfulness’ – ‘being’ in the present moment, in the here and now – so we can enjoy each moment as we experience it.
We will be exploring this concept as our theme at my Dru Yoga open evening classes this term, focusing on a different aspect of ‘mindfulness’/being present each week, and learning simple and practical tools and yoga practices to help you to stay present in each moment.
Contact Erika for enquiries and bookings on 0427 131 701 or erika.steller@robter.com

Yoga Classes Term 1 2015!

Classes start this coming Wed 28th Jan Yoga for Kids, and Thurs 29th Jan Pre Natal, and Dru Yoga open evening classes.

Click on ‘Integrating ‘Mindfulness’, being ‘Present’, under Recent Posts, for info on the theme for Dru Yoga open evening class for Term 1.

Yoga at the Illawarra Folk Festival – join us for yoga for folk!

Dru Yoga – mornings Fri, Sat and Sun
Yoga for Kids – 12:45-1:15pm Fri
Yoga sessions are included in festival day/season passes and kids entry to the festival is free! http://illawarrafolkfestival.com.au/

Dru Yoga at Global Green Venue –
Friday 16th 9-10am
Saturday 17th 8:30-9:30am
Sunday 18th 8-9am
Calling early risers, and anyone who’d like to experience the
immense benefits of yoga!
Connect body, mind and spirit with morning yoga to start the
festival day at your best.
Dru Yoga is deeply relaxing and rejuvenating, and is for people of all
abilities fitness levels and ages. Come ye, come all!

Yoga for Kids at The Shed Venue –
Friday 16th 12:45-1:15pm
Yoga for Kids use story, creativity and fun. We use games, props, song, dance and lots more to make yoga fun and to create a colourful experience for kids. The session will be based on a theme/story and will include ages 3-10, and encourages adults to join in.
http://www.lightbeingyoga.wordpress.com