I have now been to a number of Gary’s yoga and meditation workshops and would thoroughly recommend them to anyone in need of a bit of stress relief or just a few hours of ‘me time’. I admit to initially feeling daunted by the length of the session but I needn’t have worried – Gary breaks the session down into small manageable chunks, so that the time flies by. The Complete Practice workshop is split into two sections: the first part focuses on a variety of yoga postures whilst the last part involves practicing a series breathing exercises, both of which Gary guides you through, step-by-step. I left the session feeling much lighter, both in body and mind! – Lucy Cowles-Brooks, Sep 2014
“Having taken a 10 year break from yoga, I was a bit apprehensive about getting back into it. However, I really enjoyed my first session at one of Gary’s evening classes and even though I found it challenging I got quickly back into it with some helpful instruction from Gary. The evening classes are a perfect mix of yoga and breathing exercises and have become one of the highlights of my week. Gary is the best yoga teacher I’ve had and I really like the format of his classes plus his useful teachings and insights on both yoga and meditation practice. The weekly classes and workshops, which help to deepen both of these practices, have helped me manage back pain and stress much more effectively.” – Mel Randhawa, April 2014
“Today’s Breathing and Stress Reduction workshop was excellent. Wish I could bottle this and send it to my patients. Would make my life a lot easier.” – Dr Lynn Thompson (GP), March 2014
“I have attended a few of Gary’s saturday extended morning workshops and have found them to be a really positive experience – being able to more fully engage and immerse oneself into the practice. Gary communicates really well on the subject and this is clearly from a deep interest as well as many years of experience practicing and teaching. I can definitely say that my own yoga practice has improved as a result of attendance.” – Myles Furr March 2014
“I have been coming to Gary’s yoga classes for a while now, I suffer with frequent migraines and advanced arthritis in my hip due to congenital hip dysplasia. The result of these ailments is that I have taken over 2,500 strong painkillers in the last 5 years (possibly more). I’m 36 now and know that this is not a sustainable way to live. I was starting to get even worse headaches from taking the painkillers amongst other side effects!
“I recently attended one of Gary’s workshops which is a longer session of 3 hrs, so there is time to really focus on the breath and meditation practice. I can be a fidgety anxious person at times. A few days after attending the workshop I got my usual monthly migraine in the evening, I unconsciously reached for the painkillers and for the first time I stopped and decided not to. I lay down and concentrated on my breath, (something that was fresh in my mind from the yoga classes), I was able to observe my usual racing thoughts that come at a time like this. I watched myself stressing about the migraine. Was I going to feel sick? Was it going to be a really bad one with a thumping headache? Was one side of face going to feel numb? Will I feel like death tomorrow? Oh no I have so much to do tomorrow….. and so it goes on. I realised that none of this was going to help me and what will be will be. As I concentrated on my breath my anxiety came down and down until I had feeling of calm, this was physically tangible, not just psychological. All I knew after that was that the sun was coming up and the birds were singing and I had no headache, just a really good night’s sleep.” – Nicola H, Feb 2014
“I started attending yoga classes over 2 years ago. I have been practising yoga (on and off) for 15 years; I crawled into his first class recovering from broken ribs. I was unaware that the impact from my rib had misaligned the hip and I was astonished to find that I couldn’t sit cross legged without pain; something I have been doing easily all my life. Within a few weeks under Gary’s instruction I was soon sitting comfortably cross legged once more, the yoga postures quickly helped my body to realign.
“I attend Gary’s classes at work, my job is busy and stressful, I often arrive with my head full of thoughts and in a stressed state, within minutes my mind clears and I think only of the postures and breathing or simply nothing.
“Gary has a very authoritative way; I am very impressed with the way he commands a large mixed class (25-40 men and women), they listen and do exactly as he says, very impressive. I see some men come to his class for the first time, unable to move their muscled bodies into the basic positions, within weeks under Gary’s guidance they get there. Most keep coming back and I have seen his classes continually increase in size as word gets around; a testament to Gary’s ability as a first rate instructor.
“Gary runs longer workshops on Saturday mornings, these are a great way to start the weekend and to master the postures and breathing techniques.
“In our busy lives, we often say we don’t have the time to do these things; Gary’s classes give time and space back to ‘me’; essential in our hectic lives. My mind and body feel nourished.” – Beverley W, Feb 2014
“I had regularly gone to Gary’s workshops in previous years, but for about a year I stopped going. At some point I realised that something was missing in my life and I decided to renew my practice and came to this summer’s workshop. I cannot remember when I felt so good! After the workshop, I felt that I could do tons of work without being tired and exhausting my mental energy, I felt like wanting to do things, even mundane, even my admin, which I usually find tedious (does not everyone?). In short, I found that vital energy and love to life again. We all need from time to time to see a new perspective in life and Gary’s workshops help me to see my life at a different angle. All we do is yoga and pranayama, but this practice, actually, in combination with Gary’s inspirational teaching, help you to get rid of repetitive thoughts and old ideas, which seem to dominate your mind at times, such ideas become so unimportant and distant and your mind starts ticking in the more productive and positive direction.” – Maria G, June 2013
“I’ve never experienced anything quite like Gary’s yoga and meditation workshops. It is for me a very rare opportunity to spend three hours completely switched off from the world. It’s difficult to describe the sense of total and absolute relaxation that I always reach by the end of the sessions. Any worries I may have about work, family or finances all seem to fade away. I can’t recommend the workshops enough.” – Lee D, November 2012
“I was initially rather daunted by a full 3 hour’s workshop as I have only been practicing yoga for around six months (and only 1 hour a week) but I wanted to take things a little further. I need not have worried – Gary made the time fly by very quickly and successfully managed to cater for the varying abilities of the people attending. I also enjoyed the meditation session far more than I was expecting as Gary broke this down into bite sized, manageable sections of ten minutes or so. I will certainly attend another of these workshops” — Tracy C, May 2012
After a yoga workshop: “I cannot stop myself from expressing the joy I felt after today’s workshop. I wanted to come to the session and I feel so good after it. It feels like that I only truly live on the day when I go to these workshops.”
— Maria G Oct 2010
“I would like you to know that I felt the classes did me good, increased my strength and flexibility and awareness. I also enjoyed the workshop we came to – a good balance of the various elements of yoga – physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Thank you!”
— Lynda N Dec 2010
