Both classes are open to yoga teachers, body and energy workers and intermediate students. These classes are intended to give support to what can be a lonely and isolating field of work.
Join a community of space holders, where you, as the therapist, can be nurtured and understood by others with a similar purpose in life.
Expect 60 minutes of rope work, going deeper into the organic body, followed by 15 minutes of immersion into ananda (bliss body) savasana.
My belief is that authentic teaching knowledge comes from immersing oneself in bodily experience so that knowledge of what one is teaching is felt on a cellular level.
Expect 15 minutes of connective chat, 60 minutes of rope work, going deeper into the organic body, followed by 15 minutes of immersion into ananda (bliss body) savasana.
Because of the unique nature that working with ropes has on the spine, these sessions support the work of chiropractors and osteopaths. The studio is always open as a support group for mental health and the prevention of injury.
From developing this practice over the years, I have evolved the static rope practice to also include a more free flowing practice on the wall. Students get the benefit of both: the static ‘technical alignment’ principles I have learnt through years of a practice rooted in Iyengar, as well as the more free and flowing practice.
You are also working with a wall, a great feedback tool of alignment. Alignment means to understand the sacred geometry and sense of direction in each pose. The ropes inform the body by imprinting or leaving an impression of direction.
Throughout the day, the body compresses, causing the organs and glands to become congested. In yoga we are looking to decompress the body, from which the spine and all systems benefit. Precise geometry is alignment, as without this the levers and fulcrums cannot be used effectively.
The ropes work by using gravity as a natural form of resistance, opening the body much further than it would in a regular practice. They act as an assistant giving hands on adjustments, feedback and points of reference to help the student to let go and trust, or resist against.
The Yoga Wall can allow a beginner to experience the benefits of inversions without the risk of compression or help an experienced practitioner find deeper layers in familiar poses.
The magnetic pull of gravity can also be used for traction. Working with traction helps create space in joints, re-hydrate compressed discs and release compressed nerves. The spine can be safely be mobilized in every direction – flexion, extension, rotation, side flexion.
Students can expect a deepening of Mula and uddiyana bandha.
The classes, as well as the manual, are designed with lesson plans in mind - on a 6 week rotation (as laid out above) so that the positioning and length changing of ropes is kept to a minimum to reduce both noise and faff.
Anchored at the pelvis to to open and strengthen flexor and extensor chains
Anchored at the wrist to open and strengthen lateral, flexor and extensor chains in cemetrical positions
Anchored at the wrist to work on asymmetrical poses
The loop strap has two anchor points to the wall verses single ropes with one anchor point
Using a chair, rope and wall to support alignment
75 min - 120 min sessions to experience restoration through rebalancing the nervous system
With a small group of up to 8 students in Ellie's fully equipped home rope studio, Ellie holds restorative sessions in underfloor heated bliss, using essential oils to restore you every 6 weeks.
You hold poses for longer, allowing the deeper fascia or connective tissue to stretch, rather than just the muscles and ligaments.
With a series of squeezing and soaking organs and glands, Ellie props your body with ropes, bolsters and sand bags in positions that stimulate the para-sympathetic nervous system. Allowing you to experience deep mental and physical relaxation while your organs soak in oxygen rich blood.
There is lot of being upside down, which is where the magic happens in the nervous system as it being inverted stimulates the ‘rest and heal' mode. In this mode the heart rests, brain waves slow and blood pressure is stabilized. Allowing the digestive organs to assimilate nutrients as blood is drawn to the gut to aid this process.
The Rope Wall was originally designed by BKS Iyengar in the form of ropes attached to wall hooks to assist students in various yoga poses. The Great Yoga Wall ™ is a more sophisticated version with a system of adjustable straps and more comfortable pelvic swings to accommodate every height and body type.
The Yoga Wall safely allows a beginner to experiencing the benefits of inversions within their first lesson, avoiding compression and accessing extension. Giving participants of all abilities a sense of freedom in their spine from being suspended at the pelvis, which in turn translates to the mind as a sense of calm and stillness.
Experienced practitioners can find new ways to access different muscle groups in familiar poses.
Used therapeutically the ropes help individuals heal from injuries, especially from arthritis and degenerative disc disease.
What to Expect
Ellie can take up to 6 students in her home studio. The photo gallery is intended to show case EVERYTHING that can be done with ropes. However only the very basic hanging postures are practiced in the beginning. If you are a teacher or a more practiced student, Ellie runs & self development courses, where more challenging postures with ropes are explored.
If you suffer with back pain, it is best to come with a diagnosis and book an introduction session, so that I can take extra time over back protection techniques with you. I may ask you to skip or modify poses which can trigger back pain, or give you an alternative.
I will show you on how to avoid compression in yoga poses. Many back sufferers have invested in their own sling for daily home use to manage their pain, saying that nothing has given them better relief.
I had the honour of being trained privately by Drew Stallcop, who had trained teachers at 'The Great Yoga Wall' in Brussels. Drew was covering all my classes and clients in the studio while I was on maternity leave in 2013-14. Drew told me about the wall and we set up a basic station in the studio to use for 1:1's. We had a client with scoliosis at the time and Drew would show me how hanging from the wall helped his spine straighten out. It was amazing to see the difference in his spine after hanging and doing all the variations like twisting and side stretching. It worked like magic!
Drew taught me The "Spinal Rejuvenation Series", developed by Purna Yoga ™ co-founder and Yoga Master, Aadil Palkhivala. It incorporates flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation all while the spine is in traction. I have come to rename this as 'Spinal Traction Series' which breaks down into the four actions of the spine. Since learning from Drew, I have further developed these practices, for example pulling on a rope when twisting. After using the 'Spinal rejuvenation series' with clients, I could see the ropes had scalability and I decided to install a full rope wall for the class environment. I drew upon my Iyengar knowledge of using straps and played around with techniques. There was so much you could do! My students loved both the intensity and freedom it gave them. Many over came fears about going upside down, it's very similar to abseiling.
I now offer a weekly teachers and body workers rope class. Weather it's for your own practice, to teach privates or if you are looking to install a wall in your space for rope classes of your own, I can help give you the confidence to start.
Open to teachers and advanced practitioners.