10 years ago, Garth McLean visited iYoga Utrecht for the first time. We took this picture with him in front of the Dom tower in that year! We’re very happy that he’s returning again. We find that his teaching is extraordinarily valuable, especially in times like the present when so many factors around us and inside us cause stress to our nervous system.
Join Garth this year for a workshop focused on soothing and balancing your nervous and immune systems through yoga. Whether you’re dealing with health conditions, feeling stressed or just need a reset, the practice of yoga has the potential to calm any chaos and restore physical and emotional balance.
Garth will guide you through yoga postures (asana) and breath work (pranayama) that promote calm and stability. You will learn practical techniques to reduce stress and enhance your overall well-being.
“Interestingly, disease implies an ‘absence of ease’ or an imbalance. An internal storm. A perfect breeding ground for fear, uncertainty and doubt, all of which seem to resonate in our current global climate. These traits are not limited to those of us with a “condition.” We don’t need to have a neurological disorder in order to benefit from participating in this workshop.”
Garth McLean
Who will benefit from this workshop?
The workshop is open to everyone, with a special focus on individuals with MS, Parkinson’s, Long Covid, neurological and movement challenges, as well as yoga teachers or teachers in training.
Yoga teachers are also encouraged to bring their students with challenges that are related to the nervous system.
Participants must be able to get to the floor, with or without help. Adaptations will be provided based on each individual’s ability and condition.
Is it mandatory to participate in the entire workshop?
Over the last few years, we have noticed that people are hesitant to commit to an entire workshop and prefer to pick and choose one or two sessions.
While it is highly recommended to attend the entire weekend for the best experience, it is not required. So there is an option to do a single session.
There are (at least!) three significant advantages to joining the entire workshop. Firstly, it allows Garth to better understand you, your condition and circumstances, so that he can offer tailored assistance. Secondly, the workshop is designed to progress gradually, maximizing the benefits of participation in multiple sessions. Thirdly, view it as a gift to yourself. Consistency and repetition are key in yoga practice, and by committing to the full weekend, you’re investing in your own well-being and growth.
For those concerned about fatigue, rest and relaxation opportunities are integrated into the program. Garth will also be attentive to signs of exhaustion and can provide support if needed.
Schedule
Friday 27 september
17:30–19:30
Orientation and Restorative Session
After a short orientation and introduction, we will engage in a restorative session designed to calm and quiet the nervous system and mind. This practice provides deep rest and recovery for both muscles and internal organs, often providing deeper relaxation than sleep.
By combining restorative asanas with pranayama (breath work), this session will help revitalize your body and mind, easing stress and aiding in recovery from fatigue.
Join to ease stress, calm your nerves, and rejuvenate your body and mind.
Saturday 28 september
10:30 – 13:00
General Asana Class
In this morning session, we will tailor a variety of asanas to meet the needs, abilities, and energy levels of all attendees. Garth will share his insights and experience with asanas that enhance mobility, strength, balance, rest, and function, particularly for those dealing with nervous system conditions and movement challenges.
Adaptations and support will be provided to suit each participant.
14:30 – 17:00
General Asana/Pranayama Class
In the afternoon session, we’ll delve deeper into yogasanas that promote healthy parasympathetic nervous system responses, aiding in rest and digestion. Based on participant feedback, comfortm and energy levels, we will refine our approach, choosing either a more calming or dynamic practice, and adapting the asanas to suit individual needs.
It is also possible to book both Saturday sessions as a separate event with a slight discount. Use the button below to book!
Sunday 29 september
10:00 – 14:00 (with break)
Asana Class: What’s Your Next Step?
BKS Iyengar always encouraged continuous learning and small steps toward improving health and well-being. Building on previous sessions and considering each individual’s current practice level, this empowering class will guide practitioners safely, one step at a time, to achieve their goals.
While aiming high is admirable, it is also important to respect where we are each day with awareness, compassion, and self-acceptance. Utilizing Iyengar’s inventive use of props, we will practice asanas that help remove barriers and create a transformative, rewarding experience.
Garth brings years of compassionate exploration and creative adaptation to encourage and empower students of all abilities, with or without physical challenges, to move beyond perceived limitations. His goal is to equip practitioners with practical tools to improve their health.
All are welcome, from seasoned practitioners to those with physical challenges. It is really helpful if you also have participated in at least one of the previous sessions on Friday or Saturday.
Participants with physical challenges must be able to transfer to and from the floor, with or without assistance.
Prices
| Friday Restorative Class | €45 |
| Saturday Single Class (morning or afternoon) | €55 |
| Saturday Full Day | €90 |
| Sunday | €80 |
| Entire workshop | €199 |
| Early bird discount (book & pay before 1 August) | €179 |
About Garth McLean
When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1996, I was experiencing frightening MS related symptoms and mobility restrictions. Filled with trepidation about an uncertain future, I felt isolated and very much alone. Along with prescribed medication, my doctor recommended I try yoga to help get and keep my MS in remission, my body functioning and my mind calm.
Thankfully, within a few days I found Iyengar Yoga. The in-person support of the teachers, and eventually BKS and Geeta Iyengar, helped me regain my bodily function and get me back on my feet. Through their compassionate guidance, supportive and inventive use of props to quieten my symptoms, I was able to get and keep my body moving again.
Once we arrive to ourselves and own our personal truth of where we are, we can then work to align the body, the peripheral nerves with the motor nerves, in such a fashion that the body is given the opportunity to realize its potential. BKS Iyengar opened up a door to possibility and gave me the tools to take action to move beyond my limitations with courage and caution.
As a person living with MS, a certified yoga therapist and a certified senior Iyengar Yoga teacher, I have seen and worked with a wide variety of people around the globe in all stages of MS, Parkinson’s, and with other neurological or movement restrictive conditions. If you, or someone you know, is facing neurological or mobility challenges and could benefit from yoga, I invite you to join me. Together we can investigate, share and explore ways to alleviate symptoms when required, brighten the future and enhance our lives!