EST

2018

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A new place for yoga in Camborne

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We wanted to create something new in Camborne where people could come and meet and bend, so they don't break.

our philospohy

about yoga and what to bring to a class

ANITA TEMPEST-KEEPING

I remember my first yoga class with much affection; it was my first dose of peacefulness and an absolute knowledge that I was where I was supposed to be. I knew in those 90 minutes that I was going to become a yoga teacher. In 2010 I studied for my foundation diploma certificate in yogic studies with the British Wheel of Yoga, this course gave me my first understanding and respect for eastern knowledge and philosophy. During 2012-2013 I spent a year traveling the world where I visited ashrams of Yoga and experienced the yogic way of life, I took part in karma yoga (the yoga of selfless action) and started on my dharma path. This led to my choice to travel to India to train as a teacher of the Sivananda tradition in the Himalayas. Whilst there I was welcomed into the Sivananda school and given the spiritual name Karuna, which means universal compassion. Later, I traveled to Austria to enhance my teaching skills and train to teach Yoga for pregnancy. I also practice Vipassana meditation.

GEMMA VIVIAN

Yogi, sun/moon worshiper, adventure seeker, ocean lover.

Gemma completed her yoga teacher training in September 2023 in Portugal, with Marta Diaz (founder of Om & Flow).

Gemma has been practicing both the physical and philosophical aspects of yoga for over 10 years and enjoys balancing invigorating movement with relaxation and mindful play.

Gemma is also a registered Dietitian, with a passion for all things health and wellbeing.

MEDITATION

& BREATHING

class recordings

A gift to you from ekam

AUDIO ONLY

Yoga – Explained

The word ‘yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit word yuj, yoga epitomises a collective connection with the universal consciousness or spirit, or more simply put, union.

Yoga sometimes interweaves other philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but it is not essential to study those philosophies in order to be able to practice or study yoga. It is also not necessary to surrender your own religious beliefs to practice yoga.

Yoga is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago.

The father of classical ashtanga (not to be confused with Sri. Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanga yoga) is said to be Patañjali, an Indian sage who wrote the Yoga Sutra in 200 AD.

The Sutra is a collection of 196 aphorisms that serve as a philosophical guide for anyone who wants to practice yoga. It outlines the 8 limbs of yoga; the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dyani (meditation) and Samadhi (enlightenment, or bliss). These scriptures provide a framework for spiritual growth and awareness over the physical and mental body.

Traditionally, when we practice yoga, we gradually immerse ourselves in all eight limbs of the Sutra. We slowly refine and adjust, and become of our behaviour in the outer world and consequently focus inwardly until we reach Samadhi (a challenging yet beautiful task that essentially promotes you to be the best version of yourself!)

 Yoga VS. Fitness

Usually, fitness classes are strictly cardiovascular, based on strength, endurance and/or flexibility. Patañjali’s eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga.

Yoga focuses on aspects of those, but the core beliefs of yoga are a little different. We aim to connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath.

Consciously linking the mind, body and breath helps us direct our attention inward. Essentially a yoga practice is a form of meditation through movement.

Through practising, we learn to see our habitual thought patterns and eventually learn to stop labelling, judging or trying to change them. This means we naturally become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment.

The awareness we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or goal that needs to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga; and in return, so will your mind.

I’m Not Flexible – Can I Do Yoga?

Despite what Instagram may have shown you, yoga isn’t all about throwing your self in to the splits and headstands. It’s about being conscious and in tune with your bodies’ capabilities on a daily basis.

Many people think they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that’s a little like thinking you need to know how to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons! You will of course become more flexible the more you practice; this new found agility will be balanced by strength, co-ordination and enhanced cardiovascular health as well as a sense of physical confidence.

Come to your mat as you are, however you are feeling, on any particular day. There is really no wrong time to practice yoga.

What Do I Need For My First Studio Class?

The Essentials:

your body, an open mind and of course, a bit of harmless curiosity is all that’s necessary.

In yoga we get physical. We twist, turn upside down (sometimes), and bend forward and backwards, so it’s important to refrain from eating anything too heavy about 1 hour before a class. If you’ve not digested your meal fully, it will make itself known to you in ways that aren’t comfortable.

If you are someone with a fast digestive system and are afraid you may get hungry or feel weak before class, feel free to have a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts or juice about 30 minutes to an hour beforehand. It is always important to find what works best for you.

The Outfit:

It’s super helpful to be comfortable; think shorts or leggings and a t-shirt - ideally not too baggy; doing a downward facing dog in an oversized shirt can get pretty annoying as it can easily cover your eyes/nose, restricting your sight and scent (in yoga we breathe through our nose, meaning you’ll need your lovely nostrils to get all the air they can get). And you won’t need any special shoes or socks to practice, as you’ll be barefoot!

music to move to

Studio Etiquette

Etiquette

So it’s your first time going to yoga class, and you fear you’ll feel out of place. And sure, walking into a yoga class for the first time can feel intimidating, especially if you're not sure what to expect.

One way to help calm your pre-class worries is to learn a thing or two about yoga etiquette, and the general ins and outs of a typical studio ahead of time. Glance through these tips, and then enjoy the full yoga experience! You’ll be set to go like you’ve been yoga-ing for years.

Arrive Early

Usually, arriving a good 10 minutes before class starts is appropriate. Give yourself enough time to arrive at the studio, hang up your coat, take off your shoes and socks, and turn off your mobile phone. You’ll need to sign in and pay for class, which often involves a bit of paperwork if you're new to the studio. You’ll also want to give yourself a few extra minutes to lay out your mat, gather props, and bring your breath to an even and steady pace. After all, it's pretty challenging to get centered if you're racing in just as class is getting started, and there’s little worse than being the cause of a disruption when everyone has just begun to relax. Usually, arriving a good fifteen minutes before class starts is appropriate (not too much more, as sometimes the teachers need prep time, or a prior class may still be going on in the studio). What should you do if you ARE late and class has begun? Anything over 10min is usually unsafe for you to start. Most teachers don’t mind if you slip in silently and take a place in the back. No one should be too uptight. It is yoga, after all.

Turn off Your Electronics

Phones, wrist watches, iPads—anything that dings, rings or buzzes—should be turned off.  Want to know what can get all eyes on you in a yoga class faster than a no-handed headstand? Phones, wrist watches, iPads—anything that dings, rings, or buzzes please switch all devises off or on plane mode before class starts. Even that dangly necklace that your kids made for you that jingles as you move shouldn’t make its way into the practice space. Leave anything that makes noise but doesn't breathe outside of the studio. Not only do you not want to distract others, but you want to be totally present in class without the outside world demanding your attention.

Use a Tissue

If eye pillows are available for use in shavasana (final relaxation), there are most likely tissues for your use as well. Place the tissue between your eyes and the pillow to protect those peepers and keep things sanitary.

Be Aware of the Space You Take
Though the teacher often moves around the room and does demonstrations from various places in the studio, be aware of where you’re placing your mat so you don’t sit yourself directly in front of someone else. It is common courtesy to stagger yourself so that the person behind you has a clear view of the teacher.

Um…Don’t Smell-up the Room
I’m not suggesting you be concerned with body odour—actually quite the opposite. Be concerned about perfumes. Often, those in that yoga class with you are on the natural path, and the smell of commercial lotions and perfumes make some people sick (literally). Try to go au naturel, or if you really would like to smell better without being offensive, drop a dab of essential oil onto your wrists. Please NO aerosols in the studio, changing room or loo.

Don’t Chat with the Person Next to You
Sure, make friends with your yoga neighbours because, after all, yoga is all about “uniting,” right? Often the yoga studio is a prime gathering space for like-minded folks, but keep the chatting in the coatroom. Once you enter the studio, it’s time to turn inward, so don’t be offended if that uniting you were yearning for isn’t happening when you’re on your mat. Many students relish practice as a time to turn inward and become centred, and the time in the studio before, during, and after class is to some a sacred time to ¨stay on your mat.¨ Plus chatting during class can be distracting when challenging poses are being taught and people need to stay focused. 

Ask Questions Mindfully

You might wonder if it’s okay to ask the instructor a question during class. This really depends upon the teacher. Generally YES we encourage mindful questions, if you’re in a setting where the teacher is the only one speaking, respect that atmosphere in a way that still allows you to get the most out of class. If you have a question that needs answering, by all means ask it, but aim to get the attention of your teacher discreetly so that they come over to your mat, and you can ask them one-on-one. 

Head Faces the Front at the End (top of your mat)
During the last pose of the class, shavasana, some people spin around so that their feet are facing away from the teacher and their head is pointing toward her. Though many people don’t take this position on the mat, at EKAM & in many parts of the world, it is widely done to show respect for the teacher.

Clean Up
EKAM has spray bottles available to clean off the mats at the end. Spritz (usually a mixture of a few drops of lemon grass & tee tree oil diluted in water). ¾ Spritz over mat, then wipe the mat down post-practice (especially if the mat you were using isn't your own). Put away all props neatly and where you found them. The few extra seconds it takes each student to stack the blocks so they don’t tip, roll the mats so they are even, and fold the blankets saves lots of time for the instructor.

Practice Ahimsa

Being gentle in voice, movement, actions, thought, and attitude respects those who come to yoga for a safe, uplifting, truthful environment. Practicing non-violence (ahimsa in Sanskrit) at the studio means coming into the space in a peaceful way. Gossip, angry complaining, and negative attitudes are best left for the gatherings around the water cooler at work. Instead, being gentle in voice, movement, actions, thought, and attitude respects those who come to yoga for a safe, uplifting, truthful environment. Hopefully, this gentle way of approaching and being will dissipate negativity not only during yoga class but at the water cooler and other areas of life as well.

Your Response Is Noted
 Often, at the close of class, the teacher will bow their heads and say “namaste” to the class. If it moves you to do so, you would respond with “namaste” back. You may notice the other students around you saying it as well. Namaste is your teacher’s way of saying they honour the divinity in you. Your saying it back says you honour the divinity in them too.

Take What You Learned with You
Hopefully, your focus in class has little to do with etiquette and rules and much more to do with gaining a better understanding of both the practice and yourself. Most likely, you’ll feel a great sense of invigoration, peace, relaxation, and inspiration after class. If this is the case, there isn’t a better way to show gratitude to the teacher and honour the practice than to spread this sense of peace to others throughout your day. 

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Data Protection & GDPR/UKDPA

Data Protection & GDPR/UKDPA

This is the Data Protection Policy of ekam studio.

Introduction

ekam studio is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses the personal data including, in particular, the data of our teachers, suppliers, actual and potential clients/customers of our services. This policy applies to the personal data of all such persons.

Data Protection Principles

ekam studio processes personal data in accordance with the following data protection principles:

ekam studio processes personal data lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner.

ekam studio collects personal data only for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes.

ekam studio processes personal data only where it is adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purposes of processing.

ekam studio keeps accurate personal data and takes all reasonable steps to ensure that inaccurate personal data is rectified or deleted without delay.

ekam studio keeps personal data only for the period necessary for processing.

ekam studio adopts appropriate measures to make sure that personal data is secure, and protected.

The Legal Basis on Which We Hold Personal Data

We hold personal data under the following permitted reasons under GDPR/UKDPA - so one or more of these reasons will apply to your data:

(a) Consent: the individual has given clear consent for ekam studio to process their personal data for a specific purpose, for example: the client has input their details via the booking system to attend our studio/make use of our services; emailed us to join our mailing list; signed up to our newsletter; teaches or offers services to clients at ekam studio

(b) Contract: the processing is necessary for a membership contract ekam studio has with the individual, or because they have asked you to take specific steps before entering into a contract.

(c) Legal obligation: the processing is necessary for ekam studio to comply with the law (not including contractual obligations).

(d) Vital interests: the processing is necessary to protect someone’s life, for example, next of kin data / emergency contact data in case of emergency.

Individual responsibilities

Clients

Individuals are responsible for helping ekam studio keep their personal data up to date. Individuals should let ekam studio know if data provided to ekam studio changes, for example if an individual moves house or changes bank details.

Teachers and Directors

ekam studio Teachers and Directors may have access to the personal data of other individuals / clients in the course of their work at the Studio. Where this is the case, ekam studio relies on the individual Teacher to help meet its data protection obligations for clients, as outlined below.

ekam studio Directors, Teachers and individuals who have access to personal data are required:

• to access only data that they have authority to access and only for authorised purposes;

• not to disclose data except to individuals (whether inside or outside ekam studio) who have appropriate authorisation;

• to keep data secure

• not to remove personal data, or devices containing or that can be used without adopting appropriate security measures (such as encryption or password protection) to secure the data and the device;

• not to store personal data on local drives or on personal devices that are used for work purposes; and

• to report data breaches of which they become aware to Anna Pascoe, Director, ekam studio, immediately. hello@ekamstudio.co.uk

Failing to observe these requirements may lead to dismissal of the Teacher from ekam studio schedule.