Okido Yoga: A Winter Solstice Practice

The winter solstice whilst marking the most yin time of year also represents the time of transitioning into the light. This can be seen as the seed of yang within yin. Nothing is completely Yin or yang as each contain the trace of the other. Winter Solstice is said to be a kind of magical time with the possibility for regeneration, rebirth!

Okido practice teaches us to  live in harmony with nature. My teacher Takao Nakazawa would remind us that life is like nature- a continuous  cycle of  change,  balance & stability.

Our practice in winter slows down as we turn within &  take stock of where we are in our lives & just  like the trees which have shed their leaves we let go of the things – thoughts, feelings, habits etc which no longer serve us.

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This class will celebrate the divine light within each of us & will include practices to encourage open heartedness, support our Kidney &  bladder meridians & organs, improve our circulation & support us through the winter months.

Practices will include: chanting, Do-in/ meridian massage, Okido corrective exercises, meditation & affirmations.

As a group we will also celebrate the seventh International Day of Yoga

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Okido Yoga originated in Japan and translates to the way of Oki Sensei.  Drawing from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese healing traditions as well as Classical Indian yoga- practices include yoga stretches or asanas, strengthening exercises, relaxation and  self-healing techniques.

Classes are designed to reduce anxiety & tension, gently strengthen the body & foster a sense of well-being & community.

You will need:  your yoga mat, any props you have such as blocks, blankets, a bolster, some soft pillows.

This online class will be recorded.

Lecturer: Julie Atkinson

Julie has more than three decades of yoga practice, study and experience, including teaching in Melbourne, Switzerland and the United States.  She began teaching Okido yoga in 1986, completed a Diploma of Yoga teacher training (International Yoga Teachers Association) in 1989 and a Diploma of Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies (Australian Shiatsu College) in 2008.  Julie is currently teaching yoga in Melbourne and online.

Julie’s yoga style is woven from her studies and practice. She is passionate about the benefits of Okido yoga and working with the seasons, the elements, the time of day and the times we are living in.

Prerequisites:
To attend this online class you will need:

• a reliable internet connection
• the ability to join a zoom meeting
• this class is open to non-teachers as well as teachers