Joanna Johnston

Please see below for background on each of the Workshops offered on the following dates:

18-19 September 2010 Ayurveda and Yoga – Bristol City Yoga

Saturday 2nd October 2010: Introduction to Ayurvedic health and healing- Bristol
Ayurveda Clinic

Saturday 20th November 2010: Ayurvedic Cooking & Nutition Workshop- Bristol Ayurveda Clinic

8th-9th January 2011 Practical Ayurveda: Diet, Cooking, Body Care - Bristol City Yoga

Saturday 15th January 2011: Ayurvedic
BodyCare- Bristol Ayurveda Clinic

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Private workshops can also be arranged on request for 2-6 people.

The ‘Experience Ayurveda’ weekends, hosted by Bristol City Yoga are £150 per weekend, £280 for 2 weekends, or £420 for all 3 weekends. Please click here for more information on the Bristol City Yoga Workshops.

Bristol Ayurveda Clinic Workshops are £60 each, £115 for two or £170 for three workshops when booked and paid for at the same time.

Introduction to Ayurvedic health & healing

Ayurveda offers a complete tool box to maintain health and promote healing when we are out of balance. Ayurvedic theory may appear complex, but the principles upon which it is based are beautifully simple. This one-day workshop offers a thorough introduction to Ayurveda, and is a good precursor to one of the more practical workshops (Cooking, Beauty and Body Care, Ayurveda and Yoga). It covers:

* The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic theory- the 5 element theory (The Panchamahabhutas)
* The three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha (Ayurvedic psychosomatic type) including what dosha are you?
* The three pillars of life- Prana, Tejas and Ojas
* Daily and Seasonal Routines for Optimal Health (Focus on Winter health)
* Common Ayurvedic herbs, spices and making simple Ayurvedic home remedies for common ailments.

Includes comprehensive handout, samples of detox herbs to take home and try, delicious Ayurvedic lunch, and herbal teas.
Ayurvedic Nutrition & Cooking Workshop

Eating the right food is at the heart of Ayurvedic health and healing reflected in the following Ayurvedic verse: “Wholesome food is one of the causes of growth of living beings & unwholesome food for the growth of diseases.” (Charaka Samhita). However, Ayurvedic cooking is about principles not rules so you can be creative. The workshop draws on both Ayurvedic and Yogic principles – food is medicine, so what is best for you? Food is organic and locally sourced/ grown where possible.

* Prepare and sample delicious vegetarian dishes to balance and energise, including one pot meals for busy lifestyles, ghee, chutneys, chappatis and healthy puddings.
* Includes dosha questionnaire to assess your Ayurvedic psychosomatic constitution (including tailored dietary recommendations).
* You’ll learn how proper digestive health (agni) is at the heart of Ayurveda health. Most of us have undigested toxins (ama) in our bodies, the cause of much physical and mental imbalance. A detox diet to get rid of Ama will be outlined, as well as simple ways to ensure food is fully digested.
* You will learn about key Ayurvedic concepts relating to food such as why seasonal food is favoured, why Ayurveda favours cooked food, balancing the 6 tastes, and healthy food combining based on Ayurvedic principles.

Includes handout, recipes, delicious lunch, herbal teas and jar of chutney to take home. Samples of spices, such as hing (asafoetida) and fresh curry leaves are also available to take home and experiment with. Please bring a clean jam jar with lid and an apron.
Ayurvedic Bodycare Workshop

Ayurveda sees outer beauty and healthy bodies as a reflection of inner health and peace. However, Ayurveda also advises how healthy eating and lifestyle habits to allow inner beauty to radiate. This one day workshop focuses on how to tailor Ayurvedic wisdom to help you feel and look your best. There is a practical emphasis throughout. The Workshop includes:

* Dosha questionnaire to assess your Ayurvedic psychosomatic constitution (inc. your skin type)
* The Ayurvedic daily routine- cleansing the 5 senses- including how to use a neti pot and tongue scraper
* Daily self- massage of the body with tailored oils for yourbody type
* Making skin products (Cleansing scrub and face masks) tailored to your dosha out of ingredients good enough to eat!
* Relaxation session

Includes handout, a tongue scraper, herbal teas, and a light Ayurvedic lunch cleanse your system. Please bring two clean, empty cosmetic jars to take home the products you make.
Ayurveda and Yoga Workshop- Coming soon!

By uniting the sister sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga, one can move away from the increasing trend for ‘one size fit’s all’ yoga, back to its individually tailored approach to maintaining balance in body and mind. This workshop covers:

* Ayurvedic and Yogic philosophy compared and contrasted
* Ayurvedic perspective on Yoga poses and concept of Ayurvedic Yoga therapy
* Assessing doshic imbalances in yourself and others
* Personalising yoga asanas and pranayama- according to your doshic type
* Adapting yoga according to seasons/ through lifetime/ for particular conditions eg: pregnancy, digestive complaints, insomnia
* Ayurvedic and Yogic detoxification (Panchakarma and Shatkarma)

Includes comprehensive handout, delicious Ayurvedic lunch, and herbal teas.
Ayurveda Pre-conception & Pregnancy Care- Coming soon!

* Preparing mother and father to be for 3 months prior to conception
* Nourishing your unborn baby with herbs, diet advice and healthy recipes
* Yoga in Pregnancy and birth- inlcuding practical session
* Self massage in pregnancy
* Preparing oils to use througout pregnancy and during labour- take home a sample bottle of each

Includes comprehensive handout, delicious Ayurvedic lunch, and herbal teas.
To book any of the above workshops:

Please send a cheque for the full amount, made payable to Joanna Johnston, to 7 Richmond Avenue, Bristol, BS6 5ET. For the Bristol City Yoga workshops please pay the venue directly. Payments are fully refundable up to one month before each workshop. Refunds thereafter depend on me being able to fill your place. Please specify which workshop the payment is for and if you need a receipt. Confirmation details will be sent upon receipt of payent. Concessions are available. Please send me details of your request.

If you don’t live nearby Bristol, very reasonable nearby accommodation can be arranged with The Full Moon Backpacker’s hostel or the Bristol YHA on the waterfront.
Workshop feedback:

“I didn’t know much about Ayurveda beforehand so I’ve learnt a lot. I’d like to apply the Ayurvedic principles to my life a lot more- starting with knowing what to eat and when to feel more balanced.”

“I think the Ayurvedic concept of finding the ‘right balance’ is a tough one for us westerners. We are far more accepting of the idea of ‘rules’ – there are so many faddy crazy diets that most women have tried at one time or another that the idea of ‘rules’ is probably quite familiar! After the workshop, I’ve realised it is much more subtle and also challenging to think of principles, rather than rules to find balance. But better overall I’m sure!”