Celebrate the Spring Equinox and help your body shake off the sluggish damp of winter through powerful rituals of heat. Jo Jackson of Mellow Belly Yoga and Kate Pickering of Bees Sauna will guide you through an experience that blends local wisdom with that of the "sister sciences" of Yoga and Ayurveda.
“Ayurveda aims to understand our place in the universe in the most harmonious and peaceful way possible through the observation of ourselves and nature.” - Archcena Nagalingam
Seen through an Ayurvedic lens, the doshas are the managers of the five elements in all living organisms. Kapha is the dosha responsible for earth and water - bringing lubrication to our joints, strength to our muscles and mucus to the soft tissues of our bodies. Spring is Kapha season. When it’s in balance, we feel strong, composed and stable, but when out of balance, we may feel lethargic, low and congested.
To restore any balance to Kapha that the cold, damp winter may have thrown off, we’ve designed this morning to stoke your internal fire, from invigorating breathwork and asana to deep relaxation in the sauna’s heat, plus some drinks and snacks inspired by soul-warming ingredients.
The Experience Includes:
Opening Circle To start, we’ll gather in a circle where we’ll each be invited to bring a little offering for the spring altar that we’ll create at our centre. Jo will lead us through a short orienting exercise to defuse any sense of anticipation and allow our nervous systems to settle into the experience. She’ll then offer up a quote to set our intention and frame the day. We’ll then split into two groups of 10.
45 minutes of Wood-Fired Heat and Optional Sea Dips: One group will begin in the sauna. This time is for you to let the warmth relax your body and mind as you "melt" away the cold damp of winter, and anything holding you back from stepping, with energy, into the true start of the new year.
45-minute Yoga Practice: The other group will begin with a yoga practice overlooking the Tay Estuary. Through flowing movement and breath, we will stir up anything that has become stagnant and burn off any excess cold keeping us down.
The Swap: Each group will then swap activities.
Tea & A Chittery Bite: We’ll close the session by coming back together to share some homemade treats. We’ll have hot tea from Broughty Blends and homemade focaccia from Fat Tony.
About your yoga teacher:
Jo's practice is sustained by the belief that yoga can help us come home to ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human world. It all starts with bringing awareness to the body, heart and mind. Her classes draw from the full breadth of the yogic discipline, including philosophy, breathwork, meditation and postural practice. As a student first and a teacher next, Jo is always learning and adapting. She strives to make her classes accessible to different bodies and ages. She loves to remind her students that, "It's not about how it looks. It's about how it feels."
Why practice with Jo:
Jo got her RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Training at The Shala Yoga School in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, she's pursued continued education opportunities such as:
Yoga Origins: Roots of the Practice, a course with Firdose Moonda
Race & Equity in Yoga: Disruption As a Practice, a course with Accessible Yoga School
How to Be Creative in Your Yoga Sequencing, a course with Jenni Rawlings
Curcuma Club, a Yoga and Ayurveda learning and practice group
Webinars and talks with practitioners and thinkers such as Robin Wall Kimmerer, Philip Carr-Gomm, Jessica Hundley and Dr Rosalind Watts
Come as you are. Whether you come with friends or on your own, you’ll find a warm welcome and a supportive circle waiting for you. Whether you are coming to celebrate, to recharge, or simply to find some quiet headspace, we meet you exactly where you are. No previous yoga experience needed, just a willingness to be present.
What to bring:
We live in Scotland, and although Dundee is the sunniest city, please come prepared for any eventuality. Your yoga session will be outside, in nature, so plan accordingly.
Essential -
Yoga mat
An offering for the spring altar (e.g., flowers, pebble, meaningful ornament, you get to take home whatever you bring)
Warm clothes
Bottle of water (there will be a hydration station to refill)
2 towels for the sauna
Flip flops/sliders
Swimwear
Optional -
Celebrate the Spring Equinox and help your body shake off the sluggish damp of winter through powerful rituals of heat. Jo Jackson of Mellow Belly Yoga and Kate Pickering of Bees Sauna will guide you through an experience that blends local wisdom with that of the "sister sciences" of Yoga and Ayurveda.
“Ayurveda aims to understand our place in the universe in the most harmonious and peaceful way possible through the observation of ourselves and nature.” - Archcena Nagalingam
Seen through an Ayurvedic lens, the doshas are the managers of the five elements in all living organisms. Kapha is the dosha responsible for earth and water - bringing lubrication to our joints, strength to our muscles and mucus to the soft tissues of our bodies. Spring is Kapha season. When it’s in balance, we feel strong, composed and stable, but when out of balance, we may feel lethargic, low and congested.
To restore any balance to Kapha that the cold, damp winter may have thrown off, we’ve designed this morning to stoke your internal fire, from invigorating breathwork and asana to deep relaxation in the sauna’s heat, plus some drinks and snacks inspired by soul-warming ingredients.
The Experience Includes:
Opening Circle To start, we’ll gather in a circle where we’ll each be invited to bring a little offering for the spring altar that we’ll create at our centre. Jo will lead us through a short orienting exercise to defuse any sense of anticipation and allow our nervous systems to settle into the experience. She’ll then offer up a quote to set our intention and frame the day. We’ll then split into two groups of 10.
45 minutes of Wood-Fired Heat and Optional Sea Dips: One group will begin in the sauna. This time is for you to let the warmth relax your body and mind as you "melt" away the cold damp of winter, and anything holding you back from stepping, with energy, into the true start of the new year.
45-minute Yoga Practice: The other group will begin with a yoga practice overlooking the Tay Estuary. Through flowing movement and breath, we will stir up anything that has become stagnant and burn off any excess cold keeping us down.
The Swap: Each group will then swap activities.
Tea & A Chittery Bite: We’ll close the session by coming back together to share some homemade treats. We’ll have hot tea from Broughty Blends and homemade focaccia from Fat Tony.
About your yoga teacher:
Jo's practice is sustained by the belief that yoga can help us come home to ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human world. It all starts with bringing awareness to the body, heart and mind. Her classes draw from the full breadth of the yogic discipline, including philosophy, breathwork, meditation and postural practice. As a student first and a teacher next, Jo is always learning and adapting. She strives to make her classes accessible to different bodies and ages. She loves to remind her students that, "It's not about how it looks. It's about how it feels."
Why practice with Jo:
Jo got her RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Training at The Shala Yoga School in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, she's pursued continued education opportunities such as:
Yoga Origins: Roots of the Practice, a course with Firdose Moonda
Race & Equity in Yoga: Disruption As a Practice, a course with Accessible Yoga School
How to Be Creative in Your Yoga Sequencing, a course with Jenni Rawlings
Curcuma Club, a Yoga and Ayurveda learning and practice group
Webinars and talks with practitioners and thinkers such as Robin Wall Kimmerer, Philip Carr-Gomm, Jessica Hundley and Dr Rosalind Watts
Come as you are. Whether you come with friends or on your own, you’ll find a warm welcome and a supportive circle waiting for you. Whether you are coming to celebrate, to recharge, or simply to find some quiet headspace, we meet you exactly where you are. No previous yoga experience needed, just a willingness to be present.
What to bring:
We live in Scotland, and although Dundee is the sunniest city, please come prepared for any eventuality. Your yoga session will be outside, in nature, so plan accordingly.
Essential -
Yoga mat
An offering for the spring altar (e.g., flowers, pebble, meaningful ornament, you get to take home whatever you bring)
Warm clothes
Bottle of water (there will be a hydration station to refill)
2 towels for the sauna
Flip flops/sliders
Swimwear
Optional -
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