Class 1: Non-violence

Thank you for fantastic class Sandra. The alignment clues you gave were perfect and kind to body. I felt a good asana practice along with being mindful of Ahimsa the entire time. Great job. Love, blessings and namaste,

Many thanks, Sandra. Your classes are always so well thought out, quiet and deep. And what a wonderful class this was to demonstrate the concept of ahimsa. It all starts right there, doesn't it? After all this time, I wonder how I missed that postures like cobra and locust start from the legs? Thank you for that! Peace and blessings.

@Caitlin: Splitting a class up in two parts breaks up the buildup of the class and you will not get as much of the benefits and balance that you will get doing the full class. When your body needs to build up strength and stamina, it is better to start with more gentle classes first and gradually build up instead of "breaking down" classes that seem too much right now. If that doesn't work for you, you can keep doing the class, but try resting more in between (in Child's pose for example), slowing down with the Vinyasa flows and generally not moving in too deep in the poses so you will be able to do the full class. This way, you are not over exerting your body and you will build up energy more quickly. Good luck! love, Sandra

thank you so much and enjoy!

Enjoyed the class on Gratitude so much that I thought I'd try the rest in the series from the beginning. Thanks so much.

Very calm and peaceful, thank you Sandra x

I'm embarrassed to say this but I managed to hurt myself in this class! I really thought I was respecting my boundaries and being incredibly mindful and aware, but coming out of the quad stretch lying on the front my lower back screamed and I couldn't do the rest of the back bends - I lay on my back doing very very gentle movements and joined back in with the lying poses. Now I'm trying to maintain the ahimsa by not beating myself up for over doing it! Up till that point I was really enjoying the class, and I'm looking forward to the next one xx

@Bren: thank you so much for your feedback. I am honored to have taught your first class and am looking forward to hearing from you as you take more classes! love, Sandra

I am really enjoying this class. I am returning to Yoga after a while away and find I don't have the stamina for 45 minute classes---so am wondering if, in the spirit of Ahimsa, it is alright to do half of the class and the other half at a later time (in the evening or next morning)? Of course I will end each time with Savasana...would that be an acceptable way to make this series more accessible to me?

Great class, Sandra. Thank you!

Really lovely, grounding, balanced practice with you, Sandra ~ Thank You.

Hi! I Loved it!! Today I did it!! Thank you so much!!! :)

Thank you Sandra, really enjoyed this class and the focus on respect. Look forward to the others in this series. :-)

Thank you, Sandra! Really enjoyed this class and looking forward to practicing others in this series. Thank you for sharing it with us! Namaste

Thank you!

You are such a great teacher ! Clear, calm and precise instructions. Thank you Sandra.

Thank you Sandra... love your classes. You're always so great with making sure we respect our bodies and don't cause injury.

Thank you so much Sandra. "Are your respectful of your talents and your qualities?" that one hit the spot ;-)) It is great to come back to a slow flow and back to the basis; my body greatly enjoyed that. It opened space inside. Thank you, wonderful class. Namaste

Good to slow down and respect each muscle, our bone structure, and out limitations with movement. I enjoyed the quietness and awareness of this practice

Thank you. This practice and your explanation throughout has made me to understand about self respect Sumathi Balakrishnan

A wonderful class. Gracias

Sandra, thanks for this class, your clear explanations and the focus you give. I feel deeply relaxed yet I have gone through all asanas. Thanks a lot.

Thank you Sandra. Feeling very centred and happy.

Thank you so much for this practice! Until now it seems I have never fully understood how important it is to respect my own boundaries. I think it also has to do with all of the books in which the authors write that there are no boundaries only those our mind sets for us. And that might be absolutely true but this yoga practice today taught me that it takes time to cross those boundaries and to spread the wings to new experiences and new challenges. Thank you, Sandra, that you not only show us the poses but that you also teach us important "things" for our lives.

Wonderful, Thank you

Wonderful, Thank you

Thank you Beautiful class sending gratitude and love from Venezuela

Really enjoyed it. Didn't realise it was a long lesson. So did half before going to work and the rest after! Even then was good. Thanks. I hope to continue after September!

This class was so good. My legs feel fantastic, as well as my heart. Thank you.

I enjoy your classes on so many levels and this was nice to pair with the ujjayi class from this month's focus. Namaste.

Thank you Sandra. I've been following the you tube videos for a year following hospitalisation for a month last year, I decided to take a subscription as a Christmas present to myself. This is the first class I was drawn to and your delivery has given me a wholly different and healthier experience to my practice. I'm really looking forward to completing the full program. With thanks.

Thank you so much for this class! I needed to remember to respect myself into change! I am looking forward to the next class!

After 4 month without practicing, this class was perfect for me. Thanks Sandra for sharing with us-

Lovely class, thank you :)

this first class of begginers series scared me at the start but i think the next week or the week after im gonna practice it with more convinience!

Thank you Sandra. I found this quite challenging as I seem to avoid leg series (!) because of a painful knee. Anyway I really enjoyed it. Question: I found the savasana pulled on my low back and I wasnt sure why .. I couldnt wait to bend my knees up.? Any thoughts.? Thank you x

Good to go back to a beginner's mind - Thank-you A great class for anyone wanting to go back to basics. I really liked your connection of Respect to being the foundation of positive growth/change. Thank-you.

Dear Sandra, I love your classes, thanks a lot! Namaste

After an extended (injury-caused) break from yoga, this was just the perfect, perfect way back in. I loved it. Thank you so much, Sandra – heavenly is the only word. :-) Namaste.

I love the focus on respect and how you kept gently reinforcing that throughout the practice. Between your wonderful guidance and my doing the whole class using today's pranayama, the Ujjayi breath, I feel lovely! Thank you very much, Sandra.

i love your classes!

So lovely practice <3 Thank you, Sandra

Wonderful class! And You are wonderful teacher! Namaste _/\_

Sandra, my legs feel delicious after this steady energizing practice. I especially liked your words about softness and relaxation alongside the strength and effort, a great lesson for yoga and probably life in general! Thank you.

A wonderfully peaceful practice. Thank-you Sandra for this wonderful gift :)

Thank you, much appreciated.

Lovely gentle class. Just right for me today. Thanks Sandra! X

Thank you Sandra, I really enjoyed the class. Felt I need to be more respectful to my right knee which is a bit unstable after a smaller injury a couple of years ago. I feel prepared for the day!

Dear Sandra thank you, that was truly amazing. It is wonderful how you Meade us aware of respecting our bodies by noting the good and our limitations. I have a new found respect for my yoga practice.

Really beautiful practice. I am having knee issues so the reminders about respect were very much appreciated along with your very clear instructions so lovingly given. Namaste

Thanks Sandra, very intense and good :)

Such a beautiful practice. Thank you.

That was a wonderful practise, thank you Sandra. It is amazing how you reminded us to respect ourselves at just the right time every time!

Very good. As you said better for beginners, but if you really think about each movement it's for everybody. T.Y. F

My soul thanks you deeply. Namaste and many blessings for what you have given me in your teaching.

Thank you, a lovely class. :)

I loved this class. Ahimsha is a great value to practice on and off the mat.

It feels SO GOOD to do this after my coming back of my run. Thanks again, Namaste

Finally I found a nice class that I could complete and that wasnt to challenging for me.. The pace was good, and very gentle but still a strenghening practice, which I liked.. Thank you.. I hope you will do more Yoga classes/ programms like this on Ekhardt Yoga ;-) Feeling centred & calm now.. Namaste, Angelina

I have only been doing yoga for a couple of weeks. I found this class wonderful, and it was a nice progresssion from my previous classes with Andrew Wrenn. I am excited to progress through these ten classes. Thank you, Sandra :)

Beautiful Sandra. Thank you soooo much.

that was fantastic! thank you

I felt very nice; thank you

Great class, thanks

Thank you very much! Beautiful class, in me becoming more aware of having respect for my body. It’s really great because I connected much more with what is happening through the asana.’s?

BEAUTIFUL MOMENT WITH YOU, YOU ARE SO KIND AND YOU HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF TEACHING AND MAKING US FEEL GOOD! NAMASTE

Thank you really enjoyed this class :)

Best practice I've had in awhile; thank you Sandra! Your pacing was perfect. I only had to stop the video once for a ten-breath rest. Blessings to you! :)

Feels good. Well explained!

my body and mind thank you so much Sandra. I now have more energy and awareness of my strenghts with respect for my limitations today!! Namaste Ber

Thank you Sandra for a great practice. I'm more flexible my 2nd time practicing! I have been practicing hip openers, yoga for the psoas and back strength. Great videos, thank you.

Thank you Sandra, great class. I found it challenging and energising.

What a lovely, peaceful, well paced practice. I feel so content in my skin now. Thank you.

Just lovely ... Thank you

This class left me moved and in the end I started to cry! This was an amazing yoga experience and I thank you so much for this video.

I really enjoyed this class. The "with respect theme" non-violence theme really helped me to focus. Thank you.

I took a few months off from my yoga practice after suffering a concussion last fall. Before my injury I had maintained an advanced practice for several years. When I returned to the mat, I was frustrated by my loss of flexibility and strength, yet I kept pushing myself to choose more intermediate and advanced classes. Today I decided to explore the eight limbs of yoga program, and it was just what I needed. Sandra, your kind and gentle instruction and frequent repetition of the word "respect" reminded me of what my practice has been missing: a connection between my mind and body and the patience to be with wherever my practice is in the moment. Thank you for reminding me that ahimsa is just as important on the mat as it is in the rest of the world. Namaste ?

Thank you! Wonderful class...

Thank you, Sandra. Have been practicing with Ekhart for a number of years and was nice to come back to this and the reminder to respect how we practice.

Great inspiring lesson! Thanks!

you are a great teacher! I love your lessons and I am feeling so good!

fantastic

Thank you for this wonderfully thoughtful class!

Nice!

Hi Sandra, This was for me a first stap back into the real yoga for me. I lost my way a bit in the immense offering of yoga on the internet. The clear and peaceful guidance I loved. Thank you so much.?

Delightful. Thank you, Sandra, for this peaceful offering.

Dear Sandra, One among the many, many things I love about your classes is that I can do them with eyes closed. I am thus within my inner body and within my breath. I am. Every single one of your instructions is so precise and mindful. I come from a background that was more orientated in pushing through, without any clear alignment description. Practicing with you reconnects me with my body, teaches me to respect what is healthily present and provides healing. I thank you for the great work you do. What a blessing to have you as my teacher. Namaste.

Gosh, I loved this class soooo much. Thank you Sandra, such amazing words and message. I think i'm going to love this program deeply Namaste xx

Lovely class, gentle pace, thank you Sandra

Wow! With respect ,i bow to you Sandra for this wonderful class and great guidance in the posture. Namaste!