Welcome to a 1 Day Retreat with the Open Shala

This retreat comes at a beautiful time of the year as the dark months are now over and we move into the warmth of the light.

Equinox gives us a beautiful opportunity to open up to our dreams and creative spirit - a fresh energy to inspire this new beginning.

It’s also a chance to drop into meditation and allow yourself to acknowledge what has had to shed to arrive here.

I hope to tailor a day that allows you to meet your aliveness as well as reflect and find stillness throughout the day

10 - 11.30AM YOGA ASANA - CREATIVE FLOW TO AWAKEN SHAKTI! (ENERGY)

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

12-2PM YIN YOGA, MEDITATION AND JOURNALLING PRACTICE

LUNCH

3-4PM NIDRA AND SOUND BATH

SUNDAY 24TH MARCH 2024

10AM - 4PM

LUNCH & REFRESHMENTS INCLUDED

KNOWL HILL, MAIDENEHAD

£75

WINTER YIN

TUESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2023

7-8.30PM

ONLINE

Join Emily for an evening to gently release tension from the body and a chance to pause and come back to yourself.

We wil follow the practice of Chinese medicine as we move through gentle postures connected to stimulating the water element in our body via the organs, the Urinary Bladder and Kidneys. The postures will be held in a restorative way for a duration for 2.5 to 5 minutes. This will give time for the connective tissues to gently release and time to sink into each posture with as much ease as possible.

The workshop is available to all levels of yoga wether you are brand new to the yin yoga practice or a season practitioner.

INVESTMENT £12.50

Welcome to our monthly Sister Circle…

Join us at the next women’s circle on Sunday the 19th of November from 4 pm to 6.30pm in bourne end.

think warm, relaxed vibes, a massive pot of tea brewing and sweet nibbles to munch on 🫖🍫

we'll be diving into all things heart-centered, sharing, singing, journaling, and heart-opening practices. 🌹

the theme is all about connecting to the divine within us and softening into this beautiful co-creation of sisterhood, heart to heart. ❣️

we can't wait to see you there, ready to dive into some heartwarming, soul-filling goodness.

loads of love

em and poll x

Welcome to your Deep Rest Sunday Evening…

In conjunction with the Autumn season we will start our practice by drawing inwards with Yin Yoga, Nidra and Meditation to set intentions moving forward with the new phase and season.

Yin Yoga is the passive, moon practice of yoga where you will be holding gentle seated poses and allowing the body to rest and release. We will move into a Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxation state guided by Emily that will allow you to begin to think about your affirmations and intentions moving forward. We will then take a small Sound Journey finished with a cuppa and some treats!

Open to all levels and abilities

SLIDING SCALE INVESTMENT

Please access your financial situation to make your investment accordingly

I cant wait to see you there,

Em xx

THE OH SHALA FESTIVAL AFTER PARTY IS HERE!!!

Join Emily Cobie and Luisa Bradshaw White to see in the September Equinox with a celebration of dance and sound!

Opening Cacao Ceremony, Kirtan, Food and Sangha, Ecstatic Dance and Sound Relaxation

Lets continue the celebration for gathering, connection and joy!!!

INVESTMENT £55

HANDSTANDS WITH HANNA

We are delighted to welcome back our handstand master, Hanna Schmitt to guide you through the practice of going upside down! Over the last 5 years, Hanna has fallen in love with handstands and trained and practiced with some world-class handstand teachers, which include Sainaa (London School of Handbalance), Yuval Ayalon and Miguel Sant'ana and now she wants to share her passion and knowledge.

SUNDAY 17th September 2023

The Wellness Barn, Marlow

BEGINNERS

Over the last 5 years, Hanna has trained and practised with some world-renowned handstand teachers and is a regular student of Sainaa @london_school_of_hand_balance_, Miguel Sant’ana and Yuval Ayalon.

The 2.5-hour 🤸🏿‍♂️ workshop will cover the basics of handstands, how to build strength and find balance, and tips and tricks on how to practise safely at home.

• Flexibility and Mobility exercises.

• Breakdown of drills and techniques.

• Explain the importance of being able to hold a straight handstand.

• Understand what it should feel like when you are actually in a handstand.

• Alignment drills on the floor to understand the positioning.

• Time on your hands.

• Informative booklet as a takeaway.

• The most important thing is to have fun!

• Q&A.

 Pre-requisites:

• No previous handstand experience is needed.

10am-12.30pm / £35

INTERMEDIATES

Over the last 5 years, Hanna has trained and practised with some world-renowned handstand teachers and is a regular student of Sainaa @london_school_of_hand_balance_, Miguel Sant’ana and Yuval Ayalon.

This 3-hour workshop is intended for students who have already spent some time practising handstands and have the confidence to kick up against the wall. PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE will be the theme of this workshop.

• Go through cartwheeling or falling out.

• Refinement of handstand alignment in a straight handstand.

• Free-standing kick-ups or entries.

• Dive into Tuck, Half-tuck, and Straddle handstand shapes.

• Teach how to spot safely and Partner work.

• More intensity and 1-2-1 time

• Informative booklet as a takeaway.

• Q&A

Pre-requisites:

• No freestanding handstand is needed.

• Kick up against the wall and hold for at least 30 seconds.

1.30-4.30pm / £50

YOU ARE WELCOME TO BOOK BOTH WORKSHOPS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE. PLEASE EMAIL EMILY@THEOPENSHALA.COM TO ENQUIRE

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us in June to sing sacred Mantra.

Join Hridaya (Dom Hatcher) and Emily Cobie and as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SUNDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2023

6.30-8.30PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, MILLARS EATERY @ COOPERS

DONATIONS BEGINNING FROM £15

ROCKET YOGA WITH VIX YOGA

I’m excited to offer this exceptional asana practitioner and student, Vicky Roberts to offer an introduction to Rocket Yoga

SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST

10AM - MIDDAY

£30

Vicky has tailored the class for the Open Shala to create a sequence for all levels. So if your interested in the physical postures of yoga this is definitely one not to miss!

The Rocket is the original “power yoga.” It was created in San Francisco by the late Larry Schultz, who was a disciple of Sri Pattabi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga. Larry’s vision was to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to the western practitioner. Rocket routines were designed in a more intelligent way, with an emphasis on opening the body naturally and working through the joints systematically.

The Rocket builds strength and stamina through its series of postures. It eliminates the hierarchy of classical Ashtanga practice by incorporating advanced postures like arm balances and inversions into the same practice as the primary series. A consistent practice molds a lean, toned physique, lengthening and stretching the overdeveloped muscles and strengthening those muscles that may have been neglected, fostering a more balanced body. The structured sequence cultivates strength, flexibility, and focus, while maintaining the evenness of breath, making the practice moving meditation. 

The Rocket incorporates the same core principles of the ancient Ashtanga practice: observing of the breath, incorporating of energy locks, and focusing the the gaze...classically stated as breath, bandhas, and drishti. It also uses the same postures as classical Ashtanga, the difference is the arrangement of the postures and the pace of the practice. 

“The Rocket has a very fast tempo, so it works on the cardiovascular system and gives you a sense of stamina and endurance...its non stop movement from the beginning to the end.”

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us in June to sing sacred Mantra.

Join Hridaya (Dom Hatcher) and Emily Cobie and as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SATURDAY 12th AUGUST 2023

6.30-8.30PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNING FROM £15

Embracing your Voice: A journey of Self Expression

I am honoured to welcome Alice McGuigan for an incredible dive into voice activation and therapy.

With Alice May

Embrace your voice through this journey of self-expression.

 Making sound through our bodies is one of the pathways to living from our hearts and expressing ourselves truthfully. It can be a powerful way of rekindling a sense of belonging through sound. In this workshop, Alice will share techniques, practices and songs to help you foster an authentic, therapeutic and playful relationship with your voice.

Includes:

-       Elemental Movement

-       Breathwork to prepare

-       Vocal toning and body tapping

-       Games and Improvisation

-       Drum over-toning

-       Group Singing

Singing together builds whole-hearted communities, releases oxytocin and increases our capacity for empathy. You do not need to be a singer to join in- come and explore the many benefits and joys of vocalisation together!

Alice McGuigan is an acoustic folk artist, embodiment facilitator and trainee voice, drama and movement therapist. Her work is inspired by myth, mystery and the poetry of pilgrimage. She has been facilitating spaces for embodied practices and creative expression since 2014. This includes the running of holistic events and founding of Earth Living Festival and Retreats. Alice is currently doing a diploma in Group Voice Arts Therapy with The British Association of Sound Therapy (BAST) and an MA in Drama and Movement Therapy at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her songs ‘Selkie’ and ‘Hold the Charge’ were released in 2023.  She is grateful for all the encouragement, wisdom and skills that have been shared with her over the years. 

Instagram and Facebook: @alicemayuk

Spotify: Alice May

SATURDAY 15th JULY 2023

10AM-12PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

INVESTMENT £30

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us in June to sing sacred Mantra.

Join Hridaya (Dom Hatcher) and Emily Cobie and as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SUNDAY 9th JULY 2023

6.30-8.30PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNING FROM £15

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us in June to sing sacred Mantra.

Join Hridaya (Dom Hatcher) and as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SUNDAY 4th JUNE 2023

6.30-8.30PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNING FROM £15

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us in May to sing sacred Mantra

Join Dom Hatcher and Ahisha Das as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SATURDAY 6th MAY 2023

7-9PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNNING FROM £15

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join Dom Hatcher and Emily Cobie as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SPECIAL GUEST VANISHA WILL BE JOINING!!!

SATURDAY 1ST APRIL 2023

7-9PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNNING FROM £15

Gorgeous Sisters 💋🌹

Join us for ceremonial cacao 🍫🍵 meditation, kirtan singing, shares and goddess vibes 🌹🪷🌿💃✨🌺🌝

3pm - 5.30pm in Knowl Hill Sunday 26th March.

Donations from £18 😘 (what you feel you can pay).

Emily & Polly 🫶💋

JOIN OUR SISTER WATSAPP GROUP FOR UPDATES CLICK HERE

HOW TO BOOK

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PAYMENT BELOW

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join us to welcome in the March Full Moon!

Join Dom Hatcher and Emily Cobie as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

SATURDAY 4TH MARCH 2023

7-9PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNNING FROM £15

Gorgeous Sisters 💋🌹

Join us for ceremonial cacao 🍫🍵 meditation, kirtan singing, shares and goddess vibes 🌹🪷🌿💃✨🌺🌝

6.00pm - 8.30pm in Knowl Hill Saturday 25th February.

Donations from £15 😘 (what you feel you can pay).

Emily & Polly 🫶💋

HOW TO BOOK

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PAYMENT BELOW

I am delighted to be able to bring back our ever popular 1 day retreats!

STEP INTO SPRING WITH THE OPEN SHALA

Sunday 19th February 2023

10am - 4pm

Knowl Hill

£75 investment

(if you have any financial issues please contact 07917 644369 for payment plans)

Three Yoga Workshops

Vegan Lunch

Vegan treats and refreshments

Beautiful Location

WORKSHOP 1

Morning uplift Hatha Flow with Emily

WORKSHOP 2

Breath Work with Benny

Workshop 3

Ying and Gong Bath with Charlie

I personally love the day retreats as its a real chance to disconnect from our busy lives for one day and fully immerse ourselves in our wellbeing and mindful practices. All retreats are open level and we will always accommodate your needs. We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join Dom Hatcher and Emily Cobie as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

PLUS

SATURDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2023

7-9PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNNING FROM £15

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT

PLEASE EMAIL EMILY@THEOPENSHALA.COM TO JOIN WAITING LIST

Gorgeous Sisters 💋🌹

Join us for ceremonial cacao 🍫🍵 meditation, kirtan singing, shares and goddess vibes 🌹🪷🌿💃✨🌺🌝

6.30pm - 8.30pm in Knowl Hill Saturday 21st January.

Donations from £10 😘 (what you feel you can pay).

Emily & Polly 🫶💋

HOW TO BOOK

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PAYMENT VIA BACS

MISS E M COBIE

AC: 01271030

SC: 110375

REFRENCE: GODDESS SURNAME

If you would like to pay cash please watsapp Emily on 07917 644369

ONCE YOU HAVE PAID PLEASE WATSAPP EMILY ON 07917644369 FOR FINAL DETAILS

Welcome to an Evening of Kirtan with the Oh Shala Festival!!

Join Dom Hatcher and Emily Cobie as we chant and sing mantras together! No experience necessary! Singing is inherent within everyone who has the ability to make sound, and you don’t need to be a trained singer to give your full devotion!

Kirtan is a call and response chanting practice born and raised by India’s bhakti traditions, with Bhakti referring to devotion and love, and many of the chants focused upon the devotion and love towards a deity or the divine.

So bring your voice, instruments and friends and lets chant together :)

PLUS

We are honoured to have Lisa Marie, Bhakti Devotee and Kirtan Leader joining us from Berlin.

SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY

6.30-8.30PM

FREE TEA PROVIDED & CACAO £4

MARLOW, THE WELLNESS BARN

DONATIONS BEGINNNING FROM £15

WELCOME TO THE ASHTANGA IMMERSION WITH EMILY

Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is made up of 6 sequences. Primary series, also known as Yoga Chikitsa, is the first sequence which focuses on building stability and grounding.Ashtanga Yoga is based on the Tristana method - made up of the Asana (postures) Breath and Drishti (focus) to help gain mind-body awareness.

Emily will share knowledge from her teachers and own self study to offer an in depth look at the sequence and philosophy of Ashtanga

2.30 - 4.15pm Ashtanga Primary Series

4.15-4.45pm Tea & Treats

4.45-5.30pm Learning prayer and Pranayama

INVESTMENT £40

OPEN TO ALL LEVELS AND ABILITIES HOWEVER AN UNDERSTANDING OF SUN SALUTATION IS ADVISED

Welcome to your relaxation evening to celebrate the New Moon.

SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER

5-6.30PM

KNOWL HILL, MAIDENHEAD

The New Moon marks the beginnings of a new lunar cycle and the end of another. In conjunction with the Autumn season we will start our practice by drawing inwards with Yin Yoga and Nidra and moving into Sound and Meditation to set intentions moving forward with the new phase or the moon cycle and season.

Yin Yoga is the passive, moon practice of yoga where you will be holding gentle seated poses and allowing the body to rest and release. We will move into a Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxation state guided by Emily that will allow you to begin to think about your affirmations and intentions moving forward. We will then take a small Sound Journey finished with a cuppa and some treats!

Open to all levels and abilities

SLIDING SCALE INVESTMENT

Please access your financial situation to make your investment accordingly

I cant wait to see you there,

Em xx

THE OPEN SHALA PRESENTS…

Join Dom & Friends for an evening to chant and sing outside by the Thames River in a beautiful private location.

Kirtan is the joining of the community to sing in Sanskrit words, prayer or intention. The practice will be in a call and response style, giving you time to understand the words and chant away. No need to have any experience in singing or chanting, only an open mind and heart.

Kirtan has the power to be profoundly healing with time to meditate, sing and dance together.

Donations from £5 to join. 

Full location in Bourne End will be given with booking confirmation. 

We can't wait to see you there xx