CYTA autumn mini festival 2021
A truly joyful day was had by the 20 people (plus committee members ) who attended the festival. The first face-to-face CYTA event for 18 months was successful and a lovely chance for us all to meet up once more and “to share a yoga experience once again.”
The day kicked off with a Qigong session, ably led by Cyta member Paul Houghton. It was good fun and most of us also learned something new.
“I especially enjoyed the Qigong. It’s always good to try something different.”
“The Qigong was uplifting and the room had sufficient space”
Some people stayed in the big hall for a short session of Hatha yoga with Paul focussing on warm-ups for yoga. (See details in separate report on the website.) Others attended a Yoga Nidra meditation with Diana Davidson and another group practised self-reflexology and learned foot care tips with Christine Royle.
Diana’s Yoga Nidra took the group through a thorough physical observation, then several stages of breathing focus, concentration on experiencing opposite sensations eg hot/cold and then onto focussing on fleeting images. The final stage was a visualisation of a beautiful garden on a warm day which left the group feeling calm and at peace. One participant felt like she had visited The Chelsea Flower Show! The room turned out to be a little cold for a long session lying down, though Diana did warn us all to wrap up well.
“Christine took the group through a very informative session on Reflexology starting with information on the origins of the therapy. We drew around one of our feet and then divided the drawing into the various zones and marked the related areas to the parts of the body – head and neck, chest, lungs and shoulders, waist, pelvic area and lumber lower back. Then, working on these areas with directed massage, paying attention to particular points shown on the Eunice Ingham chart, and noting how different one foot felt from the other when we had finished. It was surprisingly difficult to work on your own foot as thoroughly as you would wish. Some noted tender spots as they worked on areas and Christine encouraged us to continue in the future so as to lessen that feeling. A well rounded and enjoyable session.” (Thanks to Sue Hargreaves for this report.)
After lunch we split into two groups. One group attended a seated hand, shoulder, neck strengthening exercises and a self face massage.
“Judith Lynch led us through some gentle but effective shoulder and neck exercises. They were all very applicable to the rather sedentary lives that we are leading at the moment. All the movements were in a chair which meant they were suitable for all abilities either in class or at home. We had great fun doing the lion pose. An enjoyable and informative session. We finished with a quote from the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, ThichNhatHanh.
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment” (Thanks to Diana Davidson for this report)
“Enjoyed the reflexology and seated shoulder workshops”
“The other group practised Meditation with Christine Royle. Christine gave out a handout on ‘What is Yoga?’ to point out the Royal Path ( Raja Yoga) and it’s 8 limbs which include meditation ( Dhyana) . Another handout on ‘Meditation’ explained the active and passive meditation practices. She took us into passive meditation beginning with observing the breath. We then moved into a sound practice using the SA TA NA MA mantra, having drawn around one of our hands at the start of the session and marking the fingers from thumb to little finger – the Will/ Wisdom intuition higher mind / Mental / Emotional /Physical. Christine accompanied this with her own recording of the meditation. From there we moved to a sight practice using visualisation and finally to an observational practice of Yoga Nidra. A knowledgeable and instructive session that covered all bases and brought us to a pleasurable and relaxing point.” (Thanks to Sue Hargreaves for this report.)
“I loved Christine’s mediation session particularly.”
After a short break we all re-convened in the main hall for yoga asanas with Kathryn Smith. Kathryn nobly stepped in at short notice to run this session. Despite that it was a thorough and well-planned session which gave us quite a physical workout, with a focus on Iyengar -type principles. Good spinal alignment, correct use of hands and toes eg in downward dog, importance of placement of feet in standing postures and full flexing of feet were emphasised. A short rest and relaxation concluded the programme of varied asanas.
To conclude the day Sue Hargreaves led us through a lovely peaceful relaxation for body, mind and spirit. She finished by reading us a very moving poem which she entitled Gill’s Song. It is also one of my personal favourites. By TSongkhapa it begins:
“The human body, at peace with itself,
Is more precious than the rarest gem.”
I echo the comment below.
“I felt very relaxed and calm at the end of the day”
Overall feedback from participants about the day was very good and also helpful for future planning.
“I think the day was quite varied and there was lots of choice. Both actual yoga sessions were a little physical ….prefer something a bit less iyengar ish and more flowing but this is just personal preference.”
“I really enjoyed the mini festival”
“I enjoyed the variety of options and all the classes I attended”
“I thought it was very good value and would happily have paid a little more”
“It was good it was on a Sunday…difficult to attend on a Saturday as I teach.”
About the tutors
“I really enjoyed all the teachers’ contributions but especially Paul Houghton’s Qigong”
“The tutors made the day very enjoyable and interesting”
People liked the new venue, if a little chilly in some rooms for meditation practice.
“…..the venue was really good – very clean- a nice floor to lie on. It was very easy to find and just off the motorway.
“…it has a lot to recommend it, with the choice of rooms and good parking”
“Lots of individual space and well lit”
“The venue is excellent and a lovely big space in the main hall.”
On the organisation of the event
“Thanks to all for the planning and preparation”
“Thank you to everyone who put the work in behind the scenes”
Last, but by no means least, a big thank you to all those who attended and provided the feedback quoted in italics above.
The CYTA Committee looking forward to seeing many of you again at the next face-to-face events in October and November. Details and booking available online.
Judith Lynch (CYTA Teacher Representative)