What is yoga groove?
Working the dance floor as a Dj is no different to working the studio floor as a yoga teacher. To be effective, both require a deep understanding of what inspires people to move and why. “Reading the crowd” and intuiting energy fluctuations are key. Eric’s teaching revolves around inspiring people that maybe stuck in a groove - often unconscious negative patterns that block “prana” or creative life-force energy. Discovering the joy within movement and breath is essential in establishing a self practice - the benefits of which can then spill into daily life.
Owing to his earlier years of playing representative rugby, he has tremendous empathy with beginners that are inflexible and apprehensive. He welcomes everybody to class and bubbles with enthusiasm and humor. If Eric had a second pair of hands, he would DJ too, but instead he creates unique mixes from constantly evolving playlists, ranging from global electronica to ambient drones. He plays live instruments in class too, including the didgeridoo (“snake-thing” pictured above), harmonium and percussion.
Music Policy
Eric pledges not to play “pop” music in class. He would prefer leaving that genre to TV, radio, grocery stores and weddings (although he does make very occasional exceptions when it’s someone’s birthday). What you will hear is the cutting edge of underground (ethnic) electronica. He methodically tags all his music in their respective key and takes great thought in sequencing tracks to evoke certain moods and themes. His “playlist” forms the basis of his “lesson plan”, so there is a sense that we are all guided and inspired by the music.
Every class is vibrantly different, encouraging self acceptance and self healing.
He has a deep scientific understanding of the body, through a background of 12 years in personal training and bodywork, which lead him to the fertility of yoga. Eric has been teaching yoga in London, England since 2002, and in 2007 moved to the San Francisco Bay area.
Coming Soon...
Yoga and Wine Tasting Weekend Retreat
22-24 June 2012 - Summer Solstice
Click here for an affordable weekend getaway!
Photographs from the Spring Equinox Retreat 2012 click here
New Regular Sunday morning class at Embrace Yoga in Terra Linda!
10.45am-12.15pm All Levels
Pranams...
Heartfelt thanks to my primary yoga teacher Shiva Rea, who has inspired me to liberate the natural flow of spontaneous intelligence within my practice. I offer oceans of gratitude to my “spiritual” teacher Osho and his sannyasin Vereesh, whom continue to guide me into the harmonization of inner and outer world, melting all rigid boundaries. I thank my friend, Gee Tee from the Humaniversity staff, whom artfully displays the skill of djing music in a deeply healing and therapeutic manner. I am also indebted for the tabla/harmonium teaching I receive from Geoffrey Gordon. Thank you to Silvia Nakkach from Vox Mundi who provides endless inspiration in Classical Indian Druphad (Classical Indian vocal). All the gifted professors at the Integral Counselling Psychology Master’s programme at the Californian Institute for Integral Studies.
© Eric Monkhouse 2004
“I’m not young enough to know everything”
J.M. Barrie
“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”
Maya Angelou
“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”
Rumi
