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NEILON PITAMBERAND SHENA GRIGORYoga entered Shena’s life 33 years ago when her dadbrought home a very fuzzy VHS tape of an Indian bloketeaching a short sequence. The tape was to help cleara niggly chest infection – and it worked! Shena hasbeen an avid explorer of yoga ever since, trying manydifferent styles and exploring the principles of yogapractice and how it applies to life at large.11Neilon is a Level 2 Certified AcroYoga instructor andthe first teacher working in Brighton. As well as runningregular open level and intermediate classes in Brightonhe regularly teaches workshops, retreats, holidays andCPD units all over the UK and Europe. Neilon has beenpracticing yoga for over 30 years and is a PersonalTrainer, Thai Yoga Massage therapist and martialarts instructor. These overlapping skills give Neilon aunique insight into human bodies and a passion forunderstanding what makes things work.FUNdamentals of AcroYogaAcroYoga InversionsSESSION A 3Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION E 37Saturday, 16.30 – 18.00SESSION D 24Saturday, 09.15 – 10.45SESSION H 57Sunday, 09.15 – 10.45You will learn the roles of spotter, flyer andbase. Everyone will have a chance to playall roles. AcroYoga is a beautiful practicethat combines the dynamic wisdom ofacrobatics, the awareness, breath andbalance of yoga and the healing, lovingnature of Thai massage. The base isessentially the one on the bottom, thespotter’s primary role is to ensure safetyand the flyer is the trusting one on top.AcroYoga is a beautiful practice thatcombines the dynamic wisdom ofacrobatics, the awareness, breath andbalance of yoga and the healing, lovingnature of Thai massage. Turn your worldupside down with this beginner-friendlyworkshop.Not suitable for people with seriousphysical conditions, including those withmissing knee cartilage and serious lowerback issues.CONGRESS2017

DAWN WESSELBYDawn strongly believes the true power of yoga is notin performing asana but in being present in the body,observing fluctuations of the mind and how yogaaffects your mental state and energy levels.She was first introduced to yoga as a child with hermother – to practise with the aid of Richard Hittleman’sbook (Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan). She returned to yogaat 23, after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis – acondition her mother had also suffered. Dawn’s motherhad successfully used her yoga practice to managethe pain and discomfort, and Dawn has also found itbeneficial.2017Hatha Yoga: Pancha VayusKundalini YogaKundalini MeditationSESSION A 4Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION C 17Saturday, 07.00 – 08.30SESSION E 3916.30 – 18.00SESSION F 4820.00 – 21.00This powerful Kundalini yoga kriya (action)works strongly on a physical level to shiftenergy blocks to open awareness to subtleenergies and bring the body, mind andspirit into harmony.A selection of meditations and mantra fromthe Kundalini yoga tradition to open andexpand the heart energy and release thatwhich no longer serves. Please note: youwill be sitting for long periods of time sobring along your blocks and cushions to becomfortable or ask for a chair.Examining the Pancha Vayus (five winds)we will be looking at the downward forceof apana, the energy of releasing andletting go, cleansing and freeing. Observingour connection to the earth and how itsupports us. We will also explore how tocontain apana with mulabandha froma gross to a subtle level, and ways wecan sustain mulabandha in pranayamapractice.12CONGRESS

JANE FARRIMONDJane began her yoga journey in 1992 and is qualifiedwith both the BWY and the Bihar School of Yoga. Shehas 15 years of full-time teaching and experience ofrunning both Foundation and Teaching Training Coursesin London, Spain and India.Jane is a holistic, practical teacher with a relaxedapproach, combing the alignment and precision ofyoga with the softness and fluidity of Tai Chi.In 1998, Jane began studying meditation with a 34thgeneration Shaolin Monk, who introduced her to theinternal arts of Qi Gong (energy work) and Tai Chi(supreme ultimate), which she continues to studyalongside yoga today.Be Here, Be now: Rejuvenatethe Body, Retune the Breathand Calm the Mind.SESSION A 5Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION E 40Saturday, 16.30 – 18.00A session of centring practices focusing onpranayama and the four components ofbreath, mudra, bandha and yoga nidra.13Support the Flow, MyofascialAwareness in Asana.SESSION F 49Saturday, 20.00 – 21.00SESSION I 66Sunday, 11.30 – 12.45This session will explore the body asa tensegrity and the elastic body inmotion. Considering the role myofascialmeridian lines can play in deepening ourasana practice.CONGRESS2017

JULIA DAVISJulia Davis qualified as a BWY teacher in 2004.She then qualified as a Pregnancy Yoga teacherand trained in Postnatal Yoga. She enjoys yoga in theScaravelli tradition and particularly enjoyed learningwith John Stirk (his wife Lolly taught her in her YogaBirthtraining). Having read Yoni Shakti by Uma DinsmoreTuli, she became a qualified Womb Yoga teacher. Shecurrently teaches hatha yoga, prenatal yoga, postnatalyoga with babies, over 60s yoga, and has worked withprivate clients in fertility yoga, prenatal yoga, postnatalyoga and hatha yoga. She also enjoys teaching yoganidra and meditation and pranayama practices.Postnatal Yoga and Beyond:Becoming a Powerful Yogini.SESSION A 6Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION E 41Saturday, 16.30 – 18.00SESSION I 67Sunday, 11.45 – 12.45This session will give you asana practicesthat will strengthen your core, open upyour shoulders and re-invigorate yourbody. The practices in this session providea firm foundation for perimenopause andmenopause. Practices in this session comefrom Womb Yoga and are also influencedby the work of John Stirk.14Gentle Chanting andPranayama Practice followedby Nurturing Yoga Nidra forWellbeingSESSION B 12Friday, 20.00 – 21.30The session will begin with a guidedmeditation practice focusing on healing inthe womb or womb space (womb spacehealing for those who have experiencedtrauma). This will be followed by chantingand a yoga nidra practice connecting withyoni mudra – it is a lovely practice thatcan help you gain a sense of peace andwellbeing.CONGRESS2017Yoga for a Healthy Cycle:Menarche, Fertility and more SESSION D 27Saturday, 09.15 – 10.45SESSION H 59Sunday, 09.15 – 10.45You will have the opportunity to practiceasana, pranayama and meditationtechniques that help support a healthymenstrual cycle. Yoga practices that canhelp prevent and alleviate period pains,promote a healthy attitude to menarcheand continued cyclical health. Great forteenage girls, stressed out women whowant to increase their chances of fertilityand to help you celebrate the inherentfemale essence of yoga.

ROSEMARY BENNETTRosemary has been practicing yoga for 38 years,teaching since 1985 and training teachers for the BWYfor 25 years. She has studied with a wide range ofteachers and styles of yoga; has also been stronglyinfluenced by her own teacher Satchidananda Ma whomixes Integral Yoga with the Alexander Technique; PhilJones a pranayama and breathwork expert; and MegTrainor an Authentic Movement facilitator. Rosemaryleads with a disciplined yet flowing style, which blendsprecision in alignment with her love of movement. Theessence of her teaching can be encapsulated in thefollowing words, “The nature of the spirit in you is light.It is the nature of your being, your existence. It is life. It islove. It is beauty. It is wisdom.”The Transformative Powerof PresenceSESSION A 7Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION D 30Saturday, 09.15 – 10. 45SESSION H 60Sunday, 09.15 – 10.45True power comes out of presence, beingpresent. Whatever you do, whatever youryoga practice, a sense of presence can beexperienced at any moment. It is when werest in presence transformation happens.15CONGRESS2017

ANDREW WRENNHaving a background based in biology, a passionfor Mother Nature and the outdoors, and a lifelonginterest in different philosophical systems, Andrew foundyoga addressed many of these personal enquiries.He discovered the benefits of yogic practice in hismid-20’s. As a life-long asthmatic he turned to theyogic breathing techniques when his doctor prescribedstronger medication for the condition. Instead ofincreasing the medication he is now free fromsymptoms and medications.Andrew runs a yoga studio with his wife, shares yogaonline with an established European yoga companyCONGRESS201716and also runs retreats and workshops, whilst maintaininga personal daily practice. After many years of personalpractice and attending regular yoga classes, Andrewjoined the Foundation course and then Diploma coursewith BWY with DCT Jenny Boam, and completed inFebruary 2005.Andrew continues to develop his practice andunderstanding of the principles and philosophy of yogaby exploring different approaches such as studyingKalari Piat (a yoga-based martial art) and annuallyattending a 3-week retreat in the jungles of India, led byinternational teacher Clive Sheridan.Heart Space Awakeningthrough Back BendsWholesome Hips andEmotional HarmonyOpening to the Experienceof Simply BeingSESSION A 8Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION E 44Saturday, 16.30 – 18.00SESSION I 73Sunday, 11.30 – 12.45Explore the psycho-physical connectionbetween chest openers/backbends andemotional enquiry. Using the tools of asanaand pranayama to release tension andcreate opening within our heart centre.Physically, the approach will be of chestand shoulders opening, backbends, andthe possibility of inversions.Embracing the physical presence of ourown bodies with mindful movementsto promote openness in the hips andpelvic and lower back wellbeing. Whilststaying open to the mental and emotionalfluctuations which may arise from thepractice. Physically, the practice will centeraround hips, pelvis and lower back. Theinvitation is open to explore where you areat with your practice and whether youwant to delve deeper or not.Bring your awareness to the physicalpresence of your own body, to the ebband flow of your breath, to the randomnessof your thoughts, to the experience ofyour multi-layered emotions and maybe beyond, opening to the experience ofsimply being. Using gentle movements,pranayama, meditation and followedby a deep relaxation, experience theconnection between mind, body andbreath with maybe a glimpse of whatalways lies beyond.

MICHAEL CHISSICKFor nearly two decades, Michaelhas taught yoga in primary andspecial needs schools. He is indemand and busy every week,teaching in a regular hub of schoolsspanning Essex, Hertfordshire andEast London. He feels privileged tohave been teaching at one schoolfor nearly eighteen years.Michael will be signinghis new book ‘Sittingon a Chicken’ in theMarket Placeon Saturday.17Michael has developed hisexpertise in many special needsareas, including teaching yoga tochildren with Autism, Asperger’s andSensory Processing disorders, aswell as children with severe and mildlearning disabilities. SEN teachersand support staff can benefit fromhis in-school training courses, whenteaching and training are geared tothe specific needs of their pupils.He is a BWY Diploma Holder, aqualified Primary School Teacherand the author of the onlyaccredited teacher trainingcourse for children’s yoga in the UK:The BTEC Advanced Diploma forTeaching Yoga to Children.How to Use Yoga toTransform Children’s SocialSkills and Self-EsteemHow Teaching Children withAutism can Transform HowYou Teach YogaSESSION A 9Friday, 14.30 – 16.00SESSION H 65Sunday, 09.15 – 10.45This workshop will be packed with funfilled games and nuggets of teachingwisdom. You will learn how to structurelessons creatively, develop classroommanagement skills, encourage childrento develop skills in self-control, relaxation,problem solving and more – all whilehaving great fun. Michael’s simple yethighly-professional approach will openthe door to children’s yoga in schools andyoga communities.Michael can walk into any AutismSpectrum Disorders class anywhere toteach yoga knowing that he will engage93% of the pupils. It is not confidence orhigh self-esteem; it’s is a system that works93% of the time. The system that hasdeveloped over many years, is not onlyhugely effective with children on the autismspectrum but also with children who havea wide range of related needs, includingADHD, sensory disorders and behaviouralproblems. This workshop is about Michael’ssystem and the structures that make itwork successfully.CONGRESS2017

ANGELA ASHWINAngela Ashwin is a yoga teacher and British Wheelof Yoga Diploma Course Tutor with over twenty-fiveyears of Yoga experience. She has taught yoga forover fifteen years and during this time gained a BWYDiploma. She qualified as a BWY Diploma Course Tutorin 2003. She sees yoga and meditation as a holisticapproach to body, mind and spirit that unifies yogaphilosophy into physical movement and breathing.Patanjali’s ParinamasSESSION B 11Friday, 20.00 – 21.30SESSION D 26Saturday, 09.15 – 10.45Patanjali speaks in chapter 3 ofdifferent stages of transformation(parinama). Yoga can help toprogress through these stages.This is not to be understoodintellectually, but done bypracticing on the mat – applyingasanas, pranayama, mudras,bandhas and mind control.18CONGRESS2017

WENDY TEASDILLWendy Teasdill has been practicing yoga since thelate ‘70s, when she took an overland trip to India andpicked up hepatitis. She healed herself with pranayama,resulting in a life-long fascination with yoga and itsevery aspect. She subsequently lived in Asia (Tibet,China, Japan, Hong Kong, India and Nepal) for manyyears, developing a strong background in Iyengar Yoga.With marriage and babies, she developed a morespiral approach, and Wendy’s yoga now synthesizesher many influences. In her world-view, Yoga is the lifeline which holds us as we walk the razor’s edge: alwaysseriously fun.Samatva: BalanceSESSION B 13Friday, 20.00 – 21.30Working with asana, pranayama,philosophy (The Bhagavad Gita) and sound(singing bowl) in the eternal search forstates of unaltered consciousnessAsana as Preparationfor Pranayama, Mudraand BandhaSESSION D 29Saturday, 09.15 – 10.45Asana practice focusing on thepranamayakosha; practices from the HathaYoga Pradipika, including Uddiyana Bandha,Jalandhara Bandha, Maha Bandha. Somechanting is involved.Mountain PathsSESSION I 69Sunday, 11.30 – 12.45Soteriology – discussing the differentpaths to liberation; quiet asana, chanting,philosophy and relaxation.CONGRESS201719

DAVID TIERNEYDavid Tierney taught Iyengar Yoga for 25 years,practices as a sports therapist and is a member of theSociety of Sports Therapists. He has participated in the‘Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs’ course and did researchat London Metropolitan University on the effects ofyoga postures on the low back. He has promotedyoga in the gay community, having taught classesspecifically for gay men for 21 years.Core Stability andits Role in YogaSESSION B 14Friday, 20.00 – 21.30What exactly is core stability and what hasit to do with yoga? Studies on the effectsof weightlessness on astronauts returningto earth with backache have cast a newlight on yoga. Weightlessness causes lossof strength in weight bearing muscles – themuscles that enable you to stand upright.This includes small, deep ‘core’ muscles thatprovide precision in the control of workingjoints. Loss of precision results in bump andgrind in the working of the joint that upsetsnerves, causing pain. Research indicatesprecise targeting and strengthening ofspecific ‘core’ muscles alleviate back pain.Can these techniques have a similar effecton other joints, such as shoulders, hips andknees – and can we access these ‘cores’with asana practice?20The Balance of Strength andFlexibility and How to Carefor Your JointsSESSION E 42Saturday, 16.30 – 18.00SESSION H 63Sunday, 9.15 – 10.45What to stretch, how much and why.What happens when we stretch? Doyoga postures develop muscular-skeletalstrength? Is there a balance or a tradeoff between strength and flexibility? Thissession looks at the need to develop abalance of muscular-skeletal strengthflexibility to develop and maintain optimumefficiency of our joints.This followed campaigning in the trade’s unionmovement to promote employment practices thatcombat homophobia and discrimination at work.He trained government staff working on computerterminals to adopt postures that reduce risk ofmuscular-skeletal injuries. He also worked as a sportstherapist with a first division football team.LGBT, Diversity and Inclusionin the Yoga CommunitySESSION F 45Saturday, 20.00 – 21.00A short presentation followed by an opendiscussion giving an opportunity to exploregay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender(LGBT) issues in the yoga community. Whatdoes BWY and similar institutions needto do to comply with equality and antidiscrimination legislation? What can yogainstitutions do to promote LGBT inclusioninto an ethical, fair and caring community?David Tierney, gay rights campaigner andyoga teacher, will chair the discussion.Good Posture Through YogaSESSION I 71Sunday, 11.30 – 12.45Taking qualities of good posture into asana.Appreciating the design of the skeletonand its role in posture and movement.Working with the natural engineering of thespine. Keeping joints healthy. The structurallimitations of asana.Please note sessions 1, 2 and 3 have alinked narrative but can be taken asindependent sessions. All three sessions willinclude elements of lecture, demonstration,discussion and asana practice.CONGRESS2017

KAREN JONESKaren qualified as a yoga teacher with the BWY inManchester in 2007 with Jenny Boam (Ruiz). Karen hasbeen County Rep for North East Wales for the lastnine years. Her yoga journey began as a small childattending Philip Jones’ classes in South Wales withher mother, this sparked a passion for yoga and afascination with eastern culture and philosophy, whichhas remained with her throughout her life.Yoga transforms lives like nothing else – from this strongfoundation of faith Karen offers these insights. She hasYin YogaSESSION C 18Saturday, 07.00 – 08.30SESSION G 51Sunday,

Scott has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga since 2003 and co-founded Stillpoint Yoga London in 2009 with the late Ozge Karabiyik. Scott has undergone extensive training with John Scott and Lucy Crawford over the past 12 years and in 2014 became one of the first practitioners to attain the 500-