"Awake my dear, be kind to your sleeping heart, take it out into the vast fields of light and let it breathe"
hafez
James Cassidy
My Passion
Yoga found me about 15 years ago. It started as a purely physical practice then slowly, slowly, bit by bit the more subtle aspects of yoga revealed themselves to me. My body became stronger, my breath deeper, my mind stiller and my attitude, or spirit, more positive. My once a week practice turned into twice a week, three times a week...every day. You get the picture!
I don't just mean standing like a tree or balancing on my head either. You can 'do' yoga walking down the street, interacting with others, doing your job or hobby, watching a sunset and yes, balancing on your head!
After yoga became integral to my being I journeyed to India to study for my 200hr Yoga Alliance Teaching Certification with Tribe Yoga, where ancient teachings were married with modern anatomical focus.
Since then I have completed my 500hr+ Yoga Alliance certification during further studies in India and in the UK, studying with some of the worlds leading teachers including Richard Freeman, Shiva Rea, David Swenson, Jason Crandell, Max Strom, Rod Stryker, Anodea Judith, Manju Jois and Mimi Kuo Deemer amongst others. I have also completed my advanced Yin Yoga teacher training with the wonderful Norman Blair, have studied Buddhist meditation at Tushita in Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama and most recently spent a month at Kopan Monastery in Nepal in Buddhist study and meditation.
As well as teaching studio classes, I offer private tuition, corporate classes and am an associate teacher on the Centric School of Yoga 200hr TTC.
I continue to be a diligent student of yoga and feel blessed to share my knowledge with others. Namaste to you all.
"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."
Lao Tzu
News, Workshops, Retreats
A popular New Year's Resolution is often to start a yoga self-practice but it can also be a little daunting knowing where to start. I'll guide you through this workshop exploring different options for a self practice, including asana, meditation, breathwork and chanting, to give you greater confidence to build a practice for yourself, whether you have 5 minutes or an hour or more. We will discuss and discover different areas of the body physically and energetically, learning to work with the rhythms of your lifestyle to help you maintain a sustainable and beneficial home practice. Bring a notepad and any questions!
Places are limited so book here
I'm so excited to be heading back to France and this time, we are heading south to luxurious La Deveze, a private sanctuary about 30 miles from Nimes. La Deveze is set within 97 acres of beautiful meadow and woodland above the market town of Quissac in the Occitanie region.
With luxury accommodation, a heated swimming pool and beautiful French countryside to explore on foot, bike or by car, this promises to be the perfect way to relax and escape hectic London life. There is a gorgeous indoor shala with heated floor, an outdoor yoga deck and numerous woodland clearings with stunning views for outdoor classes and meditations.
Each day I will guide you through a full morning sadhana, including dynamic hatha yoga, pranayama and meditation as well as an evening yin practice, to sooth and restore.
Food is such an important part of a retreat, and I'm really happy with what is on offer at La Deveze. Many of the ingredients used in their cooking are from their own vegetable and herb gardens and in 2020 they will also be producing their own olive oil and wine.
•Breakfast will consist of fruit, breads, yogurt, homemade preserves,(honey from their own hives!), tea, coffee, juice and some mornings fresh eggs from their hens.
•Lunch will be two courses.
•Dinner will be three courses, all vegetarian.
•Fruit, tea, coffee and mineral water are available throughout the day.
Spaces are limited to 15 on this retreat, so please do act fast to secure your booking.
To book, email info@resetretreats.co.uk quoting SEPT 2020 RETREAT in the subject line.
Softer, Better, Slower, LongerAs autumn draws on apace and winter waits in the wings, the darkest and shortest days of the year are soon upon us.
Just as nature listens to this message; trees shed their leaves and rest, animals stock up with food in preparation for hibernation, we too can take the chance to slow down, move inwards, listen in and rest deeply.
I'd love to see you at my beautiful local studio, East of Eden, for 2 hrs of deep inner work, journeying through the lower body meridians, stimulating the flow of chi to nourish our vital organs, slowing down, experiencing the bliss and sometimes challenge of holding longer into asanas, listening, experiencing, processing. The practice will conclude with Yoga Nidra (a guided supine meditation, stimulating a semi hypnotic, deep theta state) before a deep savasana.
This will be my last workshop this year.
Reserve your place by booking HEREYOGA UNDER THE MOON AT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
June 24th Sold out
September 30th 8.30-10pm
Flow & Restore
Join me in a lunar hatha flow under Luke Jerram's incredible installation, Museum of the moon.
We will honour the power of the moon and the lunar flow within us with chandra namaskar (salutations to the moon), a fluid, hip opening lunar flow with options for everyone and a restorative conclusion. We will also practice chandra bhedana pranayama to stimulate our feminine, lunar channel, as well as nadi shodana to bring us back to balance.
“There is a great difference between just practicing and sadhana. Sadhana is the way of accomplishing
something. The end of yoga sadhana is wisdom”
BKS IYENGAR
Join me for the chance to settle after the high summer madness and embrace the grounding
and surrender of Autumn. Sadhana simply means ‘to practice with complete and dedicated attention’.
It's a great chance to balance yoga asana (physical postures) with the more philsophical and
subtle aspects of hatha yoga. Mostly in the western world when we ‘do’ a yoga class it is more often
than not an asana (yoga posture) class and not representative of a complete yoga sadhana.
During our 2 hours together I will share with you a grounding and restorative hatha yoga sadhana,
influenced by my extended studies in India and Nepal.
We will incorporate kriya (cleansing techniques), pranayama (extension of the breath), led chanting
and meditation, hatha yoga asana with awareness of the subtle (energetic) body and conclude with
a long, blissful savasana.
The practice is open to everyone although some experience of yoga will be useful.
“Long, uninterrupted, alert practice is the firm foundation for restraining the fluctuations of
the mind.”
PATANJALI YOGA SHASTRA 1.14
Join me for a walking meditation in the natural surroundings of Walthamstow Wetlands.
Whether you have an established seated meditation practice or not, this walking meditation will bring you home to your connection with nature and your own inner equilibrium.
we will walk mindfully, as i guide you, sometimes in silence and sometimes with suggestion, surrounded by the elements that compose the energetic body; the support of the earth, the water that gives life to all, the warming fire of the sun, the air and oxygen from the trees and plants and the space of the ether above us. We will consciously connect with and embrace nature, discovering that each step is indeed a journey home to the self.
If you haven’t tried walking meditation, this is a wonderful opportunity. it’s truly amazing, especially if you find seated meditation difficult, to be able to connect with nature and find a moment of mindfulness.
I look forward to being your guide.
Namaste,
James
EAST OF EDEN PRESENTS YOGA WITH LIVE MUSIC: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CHAKRAS, EXPLORING OUR ENERGETIC BODY THROUGH MOVEMENT, BREATH AND A LIVE, INTEGRATED SOUNDSCAPE
Join James and come together as a local and universal community, celebrating not just the physical body but the energetic bodymind. James will guide you through a hatha tantric flow, establishing foundation in the breath, body and mind, before exploring the energetic centres, known as chakras, or wheels of energy, that are governed by the 5 elements. We will move from the Earth element, through Water, Fire, Air, Ether and Light, discovering our true, transcendent quality. We will be accompanied on our journey by Layil on viol and Manudo playing bansuri (indian flute), creating a live music soundscape, complementing and stimulating the vibrational qualities of the chakras. This will be a stimulating and ultimately balancing practice, bringing equilibrium and harmony to the bodymind complex.
This workshop is open to all except complete beginners. 10 – 11.30am, £15.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN YOGA MAT
Gallery
Photos & videos from my journey.
