No-one ever said practicing meditation and taking time to care for our all-round peace and wellbeing couldn't be fun – least of all Nickie Hanley, creator of
DiscoYoga. This highly qualified spiritual savant has a flair for getting down to something good spinning up, and has proven it over the last several years with the popularity of her unique mix of DJ beats, dance and yoga.
Have a (disco) ball at DiscoYoga.
With themed events held sporadically throughout the year, DiscoYoga provides the opportunity for participants to experience meditation in a distinctive and vibrant way, without losing the core objectives of enhancing physical and spiritual strength. The events are part yoga class, part dance party, come complete with live DJ and ambient lighting, and are focused on fun, freedom and inclusion.
DiscoYoga adds something different to traditional meditation.
Mightily impressed with these good goings-on, we decided to find out how the phenomenon of DiscoYoga came to be. "I was a dancer in my 20s and worked a lot in clubland," Ms Hanley told WeekendNotes. "This came with the temptation of drugs and alcohol and eventually it all became too much for me so I turned to meditation in my mid-30s, and eventually to yoga. I missed the music so much and the freedom of dancing that I decided to combine my new passion for yoga with dance and music… and DiscoYoga was born."
The events are led by highly qualified instructors.
And it's been growing ever since, with more and more people spreading the word after experiencing DiscoYoga for the first time and loving the funk out of it. "[The reaction DiscoYoga gets is] pure joy and happiness. You can see it on people's faces," said Ms Hanley, adding that her events are not restrictive on participants and have something to offer for everyone, from long-time stalwarts of traditional yoga to those who have never tried meditation before.
DiscoYoga is about fun and freedom.
She believes a feeling of liberation plays a big role in the success of DiscoYoga, in a number of different ways. "I invite the students to feel really free in the class, so if a rest is needed they take it, or they can dance instead, creating a sense of space and freedom… DiscoYoga is about dropping our stories and setting ourselves free in all aspects of the self, so this can appeal to anyone. I've had people who have never practiced before and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It's all up to you!"
For information about upcoming DiscoYoga events, see the
website or follow DiscoYoga on
Facebook.
