Pleasure Yourself With Chocolate Yoga
New Classes From Yogabeats
This New Year, Yoga Elder David Sye is introducing Chocolate Yoga to his hugely successful Yogabeats formula.
Yogabeats is known for its pioneering use of music – fusing dance and hip hop beats with dynamic asana sequences, micro-movements and a ton of hilarity.
Chocolate Yoga utilises meditation, breathing techniques, soft music – and of course consumption of the finest cocoa -and can be incorporated into any Yogabeats session or used as a group bonding or team building workshop.
The Yogabeats founder comments: ‘Chocolate Yoga came into being when I noticed the exquisite sensations I experienced if I slowed down the consumption of a simple square of dark chocolate – it took me to a peak experience of internal joy.’
Eating sweet stuff while or after practising Yoga may seem counter intuitive (and too good to be true) but Sye’s rationale, that the experience of pleasure is good for us – psychologically and physically – and should never be shrouded in guilt, will have many breathing a sigh of relief.
Many people think to be a true Yogi you must lead a life of austerity and renunciation. But Sye is the first to admit that ‘humans are hard wired for pleasure, whether it be from sex or food’. So we are in fact denying our true nature and introducing shame – a negative emotion which is damaging on all fronts – by abstaining from these enjoyments.
Meanwhile, scientific studies continue to claim that chocolate is good for us and can in fact be labelled a ‘super food’. Recent US research showed that chocolate with a high cocoa content (e.g. dark or raw) contains more antioxidents and polyphenols than many ‘super-fruits’.
Sye adds: ‘Via the sensations of pleasure we are guided, by the body itself, towards our own survival and growth – and the consequence of this is that we “feel” happy and content, literally. Life recognises that which is friendly towards itself.’
That’s not to say attendees can bolt down three bars during, or after, class. Its all about moderation and mindfulness in all of our lifestyle choices.
‘Yoga teaches us to achieve balance in life and gives us the means to really appreciate our experiences. It is the common cycle of over-indulgence, self loathing and fear that is really damaging.’ Sye explains.
‘So many of us seem to enjoy hanging out with all these negative emotions – what we need to get our heads around is that true happiness comes from within. Chocolate Yoga teaches us to start loving ourselves and life, one delicious (and healthy) piece at a time.’
Image thanks to Ben Knight
For further information, images, case studies & interview requests please contact Ali Gunning aliPRetc@gmail.com +44(0)7855 402 837