Yoga Gives
When preparing to open Yoga Matters in 2011 a personal objective of ours was to create an entity that would participate in community where charitable purposes are concerned. We are very conscious of our personal social responsibilities and that the essence of Yoga, even when you are running a business, is not all about how much money you can take in and we wanted to ensure we had a healthy mix of teaching for free and for charity as well as being sustainable as a business. Within a quarter of opening we ran our first charity class. About a year later we set up ‘Yoga Gives’ as our formal way of committing and announcing our commitment to making sure we continuously ‘give back’ to our practitioners, ‘give back’ to our wider community AND assist those who are assisting groups in society who are more in need where we ourselves are unable to donate our personal time volunteering to that endeavour other than by offering our Yoga services. We also make ourselves and our classes accessible to those practitioners who may be going through a financially stressful period of time so they don’t do without their much needed/essential Yoga classes. These circumstances are discussed with those practitioners privately and on individual basis. This is very personal and we usually know the practitioners as existing and committed to Bikram Yoga practitioners (this is an intensely private and confidential matter between us and the practitioners). We don’t take recommendations from others on this front and we do not offer one off ‘free taster’ sessions. We value our own years of experience in teaching Yoga and the time and money spent on gaining our qualifications in order that we can work in a ‘helping people’ profession. It is fact that there are still many out there who don’t consider teaching Yoga as ‘real work’ and that they don’t consider that our overheads and ‘dues’ must be priority for us. We are always ready and willing to challenge such assumptions and the ‘fantasy’ beliefs about what we do. We have been approached many times over the years by different organizations asking us to offer ‘blanket’ free or discounted Yoga classes within their particular sphere of activity and in this regard we are glad that we stepped up from the very beginning of our own community’s birth (2011) to take control of how WE deliver OUR free services to the community. We have to earn our living too and the business side needs to remain sustainable as we will not be able to keep our doors open for our very deserving dedicated Yogis if we are not ourselves sensible in our free offerings and so ‘Yoga Gives’ has been a gift in helping us manage our social responsibilities and our contributions to community.
We are very happy (our class schedule permitting) to offer our services to teach mass Yoga classes outside of the YM environment where we would turn up and teach groups in order for the charity to raise funds but with us giving our time and instruction for free where the charity/individual would undertake to do all the organizing and primary marketing of such an event.
Once a quarter we hold a charity class on a Friday evening towards the end of the month. Once a cause is selected permission is sought from the relevant organization for the charity class event. Practitioners will be given about a month’s notice before each event and information will be made available at the studio to heighten awareness of the cause. All class fees (made up of any drop in fees and credits held) are calculated at the end of the class. Any additional kind donations are always gratefully received, although they are not asked for, required or expected.
In the interests of transparency, anyone wishing to inspect the records are welcome to do so at any time. Monies are immediately sent to the charity and a receipt is displayed as soon as it received.
These classes are very rewarding for all concerned; practitioners can come to class, work hard, feel good and know that their class fee on the evening will be contributed by Darren & Trisha to organisations and groups dedicated to raising funds for worthy causes.
Additionally, these classes are ‘SILENT’; adding a new quality to your asana practice. Only persons with 10 x recent class experience under their belt may be in attendance in these classes. It doesn’t matter whether Bikram experience is at YM or elsewhere but at least one ‘normal’ class attendance must be had at YM and this attendance must be recent too. Please enquire in advance of the silent class if you are not sure about any of this. Whilst Yoga Gives regrets any wasted journeys please accept that there are no concessions on this point.
Yoga Matters will do its very best to fill these classes to maximise possible funds raised and therefore in this regard, please note:
- any concessions or guest passes are not valid during charity events; if a charity event occurs during a ‘challenge’; challengers will be asked to make up the difference between their discounted class fee and normal class fee for that night only
- the usual booking policy will absolutely be enforced i.e. if practitioner does not show up their class fee is forfeit (in this circumstances going to the charity)
- practitioners are asked to sign up at reception and pay in advance for these classes if they would like to participate in what promises to be a very synergistic class
Namaste Trisha & Darren
Why Silence?
“yogaścittavṛttinirodhaḥ” {Yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations} Patanjali
Observing silence as a spiritual practice is called ‘mauna’ in Sanskrit. The ultimate aim being to quieten the thought waves of the mind in preparation for meditation. Vak mauna is the renunciation of use of the organs of oral speech. The practice of vak mauna is to be treasured as an observance in our busy lives, giving us a much needed rest from this form of communication, helping us to become more introspective.
The easiest way to practice vak mauna would be to live in isolation with no people/external distractions but that would be too easy and I believe counterproductive to the point. As much as your practice of your steady ‘Standing Bow Pulling Pose’ in a ‘normal’ class helps you cultivate focus and concentration skills so that you could potentially hold your pose on a busy intersection during rush hour without falling down, a YM ‘silent class’ is the perfect surrounding for cultivating the practice of silence in the company of others; being with people and observing silence in the chattering world we live in is the real test. There is no danger of conflict arising; all who enter the studio for these special classes know what this entails and are voluntarily choosing to be with likeminded people. It is the ideal setting. Normally the practitioner would not be speaking during class anyway, although the teacher talks with barely a pause. In order for there to be communication when using the organs of speech there must also be a listener. The practitioner is actively listening to the external voice/guide for 90 minutes. In the ‘silent’ class they will be observing their own inner voice and its fluctuations; they are taking a step on the path of a more introspective practice, the beginning of the cessation of those fluctuations.
How the Silent Class Proceeds
You will find that practicing like this adds a whole new quality to your asana practice. This is an opportunity to realise your moving meditation.
If you are attending this you will have a minimum 10 class recent experience under your belt. You will already be aware of the logistics and etiquette in Yoga Matters which you will have signed up to when you first started. But for the silent class to run smoothly I would re-iterate some of them and add a few here:
Please:
- do not speak in the Yoga room
- go to the toilet before class starts
- take responsibility for pacing yourself as there will be no reminders during the session
- do not sit spread-eagled, slouch or lie flat on your back in the standing series
- do rest in one of the other 3 prescribed manners as you require
- unless you are resting always move into postures with everybody else
- always be mindful of those placed behind you and their visual needs
- do not fidget
- do not drink water before Eagle
- do not drink whilst others are working
- do not douse yourself in water
- do not leave before Savasana (if you do not feel able to complete the class the teacher cannot keep an eye on you if you leave the room; best to sit the class out in the safety of company)
Unfortunately it cannot be entirely without speech. During the class you may only hear the lead instructor say the word CHANGE, BEGIN or LIFT as an indicator to start or finish a pose. These words will only be employed where the instructor feels the student may not have the benefit of visual information as a trigger for movement.
The first few minutes may feel a little strange naturally as you may never have done this before; very quickly you will get into the flow of it. You will be surprised at how little instruction you will need.
The big balancing asanas do not end UNTIL YOU HEAR THE SPOKEN WORD. Therefore if the lead instructor wobbles or falls out of an asana it is not a cue to end yours :).
Unlike the ‘normal’ class experience the environment will not be ‘tweaked’ by the instructor who is leading the class; so please choose your spot in the room carefully. Please do not complain if you choose what is known to be a cooler spot. If there is sufficient space and you are not entirely happy with the spot you have chosen please move yourself discretely/efficiently between asanas, ensuring you do not completely obscure the view of the person behind you in your new position; remember they were there first. Do not draw others into your choice or engage with others in the room in this event.
Yoga Matters wants you to enjoy this experience. Please feel free to relax or read the books lying around the studio or meditate in the quiet time before the class starts.
PREVIOUS CHARITY CLASSES, BENEFICIARIES, AMOUNTS RAISED:
RUNNING TOTAL OF AMOUNT raised for charitable organisations so far: £4,524.05
25 ?
24 Lily’s gofundme (with Aston) April/May 2025 £3,840.00
23 British Red Cross Ukraine Crises Appeal March 2022 £656.50
22 Jersey Side By Side Bailiffs Ukraine Appeal March 2022 £656.50
21 Jersey Pain Support Charity October 2018 £339.58
20 Headway Jersey June 2017 £237.59
19 Jersey Trees for Life March 2017 £251.89
18 CRY (Care & Relief for Young) Jersey October 2016 £181.69
17 Jersey MS Therapy Centre July 2016 £181.90
16 Mind Jersey April 2016 £210.79
15 The Sanctuary Trust January 2016 £266.05
14 Jersey Womens Refuge September 2015 £230.10
13 Jersey Africa Project May 2015 £217.10
12 The Grace Trust February 2015 £325.08
11 Jersey Stroke Association November 2014 £235.90
10 Jersey Childrens Charity May 2014 £218.62
9 Samaritans Jersey February 2014 £235.12
8 Jersey Autism October 2013 £146
7 Vallatur Orphanage India July 2013 £192.57
6 Parkinsons Jersey April 2013 £255.82
5 Jersey Macmillan January 2013 £212.25
4 Jersey Ostomy Society October 2012 £183
3 Hope for John July 2012 £167
2 Jersey Childrens Charity March 2012 £80
1 Children In Need November 2011 £156