top of page
ABOUT

About

 

A qualified Yoga Alliance RYT 200 and RYT 500 (advanced) teacher, Phil teaches classes for all ages and fitness levels, using thorough yet concise explanations of yoga poses and practices and their application in developing control and peacefulness both within and outside the yoga class.

 

Phil's inspiration has come from varied schools of yoga, and reflects his practice and learning with a wide range of highly respected teachers worldwide. Taking 'focus' as the theme of his teaching, Phil draws his inspiration from the following styles:

  From Iyengar yoga, focus through precision, stability and support.

  From Ashtanga yoga, focus through flow.

  From Hatha yoga, focus through the holistic application of yogic principles.

  From Yin yoga, focus through stillness, depth and mindfulness.

  From the classic yoga literature, focus through discipline, cleansing and equanimity.

Phil aims for softness in his approach. While respecting the discipline and intensity of the yoga styles he is inspired by (particularly Ashtanga and Iyengar), he emphasises meditative 'focus' in classes. Also, due to his extensive experience as a university teacher, Phil takes care to acknowledge differences in individual learning styles and body types and has deep respect for modern as well as ancient models of physical and mental well-being.

“In yoga poses, the concentration of the mind fixes your consciousness into a single stream of attention, and at the same time, the combination of muscular effort throughout the body fixes a physical focus. This practice of focus enables you to assert yourself over your body and mind, which is something that can prove to be useful in many ways in your day to day life”. (Adapted from BKS Iyengar)

CREDENTIALS

Qualifications:

 

2015: Thai government certificate in Thai massage (Nuad Bo Rarn)

I.T.M., Chiang Mai, Thailand: http://www.itmthaimassage.com/ 

 

2013: Yoga Alliance advanced yoga teacher certificate (RYT 500)

Yog Peeth Centre, Risikesh, India: www.rishikeshyogpeeth.com

 

2010: Yoga Alliance yoga teacher certificate (RYT 200)

Yoga Life Centre, Goa, India: www.yogalife.org

 

Teaching Experience:

 

From October 2008 to 2013, Phil taught in private yoga centres in Ningbo, Shanghai and Dali, China, as well as at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, and at Dali University. Subsequently, from 2013-2015 Phil taught regular yoga classes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since then, he has taught at various centres in the UK, including in Leicester with Yoga Sutra (www.yogasutra.org) and in Skipton at the Ebru Evrim centre (ebruevrim.com)

 

Training in India:

 

Phil gained both of his high-profile yoga teaching certificates in India (Yoga Alliance RYT 200 and RYT 500). These courses were rooted in the traditional Indian approach of Swami Satyananda and the Bihar school of yoga but also incorporated elements of Iyengar, Ashtanga and Yin yoga.

In addition, Phil has studied Iyengar yoga in depth. He completed a 6-week intensive training course in Gokarna, Karnataka India in 2012 and a 4-week intensive training course in Palolem, Goa in 2008. These courses entailed the Iyengar-inspired teachings of Uma and Mahesh (http://www.yoga-destination.com), two well-respected teachers who were long-term students at the famous Himalayan Iyengar institute in Dharamsala.

Phil has also travelled to India regularly since the age of 23, studying with some world-renowned teachers in locations such as Risikesh, Dharamsala and Goa. For example, in 2005 he deepened his practice of Iyengar yoga at Omkarananda Ashram in Risikesh with Usha Devi, who is one of India's most famous teachers, and who learnt directly from BKS Iyengar himself. Also, in 2005 Phil studied Iyengar Yoga in Risikesh with Pankaj Sharma (www.pankajyoga.de), who was a student of the famous Sivananda ashram. Developing on this experience, Phil then studied hatha yoga with Swami Yogananda in Patnem, Goa in 2007.

Other training:

Phil is a regular attendee of intensive vipassana meditation courses as taught by S.N. Goenka (10-day and 3-day).

In 2010 and 2011 Phil completed intensive yoga training courses in the Anusara style with Benjamin Finnerty in Ningbo, and with Franky Zhang in Nanjing.

Phil became interested in yoga at 18 years of age in his home town of Leicester, UK, where he studied with Anne- Marie Newland (www.sun-power-yoga.co.uk). During his time at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies he went on to study with Alex Thomas (Ashtanga) and Chris Swain (Iyengar) (www.yogahome.com).

CLASSES

Classes

Group Classes

Watch this space for upcoming classes in Birmingham and Lichfield in 2022.

Individual Sessions

One-to-one sessions can be arranged via email.

YOGA IS...

Yoga is...

All about breathing

 

Perhaps the most important part of traditional yoga practice is keeping a focus on the breath, which helps to achieve focus by providing a rhythm to which one can attach consciousness.  This then permits us to observe the pushes and pulls of everyday thoughts, and to take control over what we think about.  Focus ensues, and the brain is permitted to slow down, and eventually, to meditate. 

 

Not simply an exercise class

 

Yoga is a sophisticated and well-balanced system of physical exercise and bodily cleansing, which can keep the body very healthy.  Yoga practitioners who make Yoga part of their lives consider Asana (poses) as only one part of wider system of breathing exercises, bodily cleansing, careful control of diet, discipline in action and interaction, and meditation.

 

More of a 'work in' than a workout

 

In contrast to some forms of exercise, the approach to performing Yoga poses is non-vigorous and calm. We work towards cultivating control of the mind, as opposed to forcing the body to perform in an intense fashion. The development of effective breathing is key in facilitating this, and mental discipline is developed through dealing with physical challenges in a calm, conscious and controlled fashion.

Not simply about looking beautiful!

 

Alignment is important in yoga, and most teachers try hard to help you to achieve a certain body shape in each pose.  Traditional yoga values alignment, as this protects from injury, and enables us to really feel the deep physical and mental effects of the poses.  With guidance from a teacher regarding alignment, it becomes easy to focus inwardly and peacefully whilst challenging yourself physically.   By allowing your muscles to work against each other, the body is kept fit without the need for equipment or impact, which keeps your bones and joints healthy too!

Not a religious practice

Yoga focuses on experiences as opposed to beliefs, and there are no temples, religious books, membership, rituals, or priests. It should be acknowledged, however, that Yoga comes from a long tradition which has its roots in Hindu India. Phil's approach to yoga is one of respect for this great tradition, along with an overall aim of inspiring secular virtues such as compassion, gladness, goodwill, and equanimity.

© 2016. PhilFreeYoga .

MEDITATION IS...

Meditation is...

Meditation is an integral part of yoga, in modern yoga classes and in the ancient yogic tradition alike. The poses performed are aimed at preparing the body for deep relaxation.

 

Meditation is perhaps best considered not as the halting of all thought, but as the establishment of control over thought processes. Indeed, during meditation, the mind naturally sometimes begins to wander, moving through day to day thoughts, plans and perhaps problems. Avoiding agitation from the fact that one cannot achieve peacefulness immediately is an inevitable challenge, but accepting this fluctuation of the mind and moving calmly back to peacefulness is a crucial step in becoming calm and focused.

 

Given time and hard work, the moments of clarity and relaxation that are glimpsed through meditation become longer and longer. This process can take place in a sitting position, but also throughout your Yoga asana (pose) practice, which culminates in a period of relaxation at the end of a typical session.

 

“The style of right effort, as taught by the Buddha is serious but not too serious. It takes advantage of the natural flow of instinct to bring the wandering mind constantly back to the mindfulness of breathing...It is not a question of forcing the mind back to some particular object, but of bringing it back down from the dream world into reality.” (“The Heart of the Buddha”, Chogyam Trungpa: p38)

© 2016. PhilFreeYoga .

Contact

Vos informations ont bien été envoyées !

CONTACT

Phil Freestone

Yoga Teacher
bottom of page