Returning to Maria's lovely studio in Midgham, near Reading/Basingstoke for a general level workshop featuring rope work and backbends.

Yoga Karunta (or Yogāṇga Karuṇṭaka) is a lesser-known but fascinating aspect of Iyengar Yoga that uses ropes and wall props to assist in performing asanas. The name itself has roots in Sanskrit, where "Karunta" means puppet or marionette, symbolizing the way a practitioner might feel supported by the ropes, moving as if guided by invisible strings.

In Yoga Karunta, practitioners use ropes anchored to the wall to:

• Enhance alignment: The ropes offer support in poses, allowing for better precision and ease, especially in challenging postures like inversions or backbends.
• Increase traction: The ropes help elongate the spine, making it beneficial for students dealing with stiffness or discomfort in their back.
• Aid in deeper stretches: They allow students to experience deeper, safer stretches without straining, especially in standing poses or forward bends.
• Relieve body weight: In poses like Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog), the ropes take on some body weight, easing the muscles and joints and promoting a feeling of lightness.

Yoga Karunta is also helpful in therapeutic classes, assisting people with limited mobility, injury recovery, or those who seek to explore poses with a greater range of motion. It's a common component in Iyengar Yoga studios equipped with rope walls.

If you haven't tried it, why not join Rachel on Saturday 26th October and discover the benefits for yourself? Places are available - click on the link below to book. Open to all levels of practice from 1 year or more Iyengar yoga. Trainee teachers also welcome. Book via this link here.