Ayesha Ali Yoga & Massage - Banbury

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Ayesha Ali Yoga & Massage - Banbury

Looking for something? Want to find inner peace, learn how to do the splits or just touch those toes? Find the class that makes your heart sing.

ayesha, she who lives ॐ
𖦹 Practices for life & liberation 𖦹
𓆗 soul-centred Dharma yoga
𓆸 massage & energy medicine
✡ vedic astrology
☾ moon circle gatherings for women Whatever the goal for your yoga practice, I can help.

My Vinyasa classes are upbeat, flowing and set to music to get your body moving and your heart beating. Drawing from different yoga traditions, graceful flowing movements are fused with alignment-focused cues and eclectic beats. With no guru or posture series to rely on, the Vinyasa system enables the teacher to develop and build classes intelligently with a specific purpose in mind.

If you're looking for a gentler way into yoga, try my restore classes - a combination of restorative and yin postures to leave you feeling refreshed and renewed.

Yoga is for everybody.

15/08/2025

Growing a human for the first time at 39 years old 🌱

I've been reflecting on societal norms and messages around motherhood these past months. I'm now 33 weeks pregnant 🤰 for the first time at 39.5 years old.

In so many ways, my yoga journey and my deepening relationship with the divine feminine has prepared me for this rite of passage. At 23, when on paper I would have been more likely to conceive naturally and have a healthy pregnancy and baby, I was overweight, searching frantically for meaning and purpose, and my my body was literally falling apart.

I returned from working in Cairo in December 2009, where I had been working for around 18 months. I moved home with my parents after 5 years of university and living overseas, and to keep myself occupied ran a half marathon and passed my driving test whilst I looked for work. I eventually managed to get a job and enrolled on a masters programme part-time. I thought I was finally on the road to whatever it was that would bring fulfilment. But, it took another ten years at least to realise this wasn't going to come from my work or indeed from anything outside of myself.

Fast forward 15 years to present day me, and I feel like I am so much better prepared for motherhood. Everyone is different,of course. We all walk our own paths. But, for me, 20 years of yoga practice has strengthened not only my body but my mind and my heart too.

I am so much more resilient to the pressures and challenges of life. Im more optimistic and hopeful, more joyful, kinder, more generous, and more compassionate. I still have a long way to go, and I'm far from perfect, and of course, no one is ever completely prepared to become a parent. But, this journey, this spiritual ripening that at least in part required the development of a healthy vessel, a body temple, has provided a holy place for this little one to grow.

She has already participated in hours of physical practice, hours of spiritual ceremony and ritual, mantra,and breathing practice. She has been with me as I've danced and sang, as I've cried and cuddled and laughed all in my devotion to Her.

Continued in comments

10/07/2025

🌕✨ *Full Moon in Sagittarius & Guru Pūrṇimā Blessings* ✨🌕

📅 **Tonight – Wednesday 10th July | 9:37pm UK time**

This evening’s **full moon** rises in the sign of **Sagittarius (Dhanu Rāśi)** — a fiery, expansive sign in Jyotish (Vedic astrology), ruled by **Jupiter (Guru)**, the planet of wisdom, truth and spiritual guidance.

Sagittarius energy invites us to reflect on:
🔭 What gives our life deeper meaning
🔥 Our spiritual path and personal truth
📚 The lessons we've received through experience and mentorship

This full moon is especially powerful because it coincides with **Guru Pūrṇimā** — the most sacred full moon of the year in the yogic and Vedic traditions.

**Guru Pūrṇimā** is a time to pause and honour the *teachers, guides, and wisdom-holders* who have illuminated our path — both external and internal. Whether it’s a yoga teacher, a mentor, a parent, a spiritual lineage, or your own inner voice, this is a night to remember and give thanks 🙏

—

🪷 **FREE Full Moon Ritual – Tonight at 9:30pm (UK)**
I’ll be holding a **free online ritual** at the time of the full moon — open to all.

📍Join me live on **Instagram**
💻 or via **Zoom** (*book your spot here https://bookwhen.com/templeofyogastudio/e/ev-sjdt-20250710213000*)

We’ll share:
✨ A short satsang (talk)
🌬 Gentle prāṇāyāma
📿 Mantra chanting
🌕 Reflection and stillness under the light of the full moon

No previous experience needed — just bring yourself, your breath, and maybe a candle or journal if you’d like to create a simple space at home.

—

Whether or not you can join live, I encourage you to take a quiet moment this evening:
🧘🏽‍♀️ Reflect on those who’ve guided you
🕯 Offer a prayer, mantra, or silent thank you
💫 And allow the moonlight to reconnect you with your path

With love and gratitude 🕊

\

25/06/2025

🌑✨ New Moon in Gemini | Jyotish Perspective ✨🌑
Wednesday 25th June | 11:31am UK Time

Today’s new moon occurs in the dual, airy sign of Gemini (Mithuna Rāśi) at 11:31am UK time. In Jyotish (Vedic astrology), this is a time when the Sun and Moon come together in the same sign, marking a potent moment of inward turning, reflection, and mental renewal.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury (Budha) – the planet of communication, intellect, curiosity and learning. With both luminaries aligned here, there is an invitation to recalibrate how we think, speak and connect – not only with others but within ourselves.

This is a powerful moment to:
🪷 Examine mental habits
🪷 Set intentions around learning, teaching or communication
🪷 Ground into stillness before the mind starts to move too fast

As always, new moons are subtle but immensely fertile spaces – beautiful times for quiet ritual, reflection and intention-setting.

🕯 At-Home New Moon Ritual
You might like to try this today, ideally close to the time of the new moon or before sunset:

Cleanse your space – light incense, sweep, open a window

Sit quietly, perhaps with a journal

Write down three things you’re ready to release from your thinking patterns or speech

Write down three intentions related to clarity, curiosity, or expression

Chant the mantra: “Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya” 108 times

Sit in meditation for 5–10 minutes

Let this be a soft beginning – no need to force or fix. Just offer your awareness.

📿 Join me LIVE on Instagram at 1pm
I’ll be offering a short Satsang (spiritual talk) on the jyotish meaning of this new moon, followed by:
🌀 Gentle prāṇāyāma
🔔 Mantra chanting
🧘🏽‍♀️ Meditation to anchor your intention

Whether you're a long-time practitioner or just moon-curious, you are so welcome to join.

See you at 1pm ✨

09/04/2025

uoıʇɐɯɹoɟsuɐɹ⊥

Q1 2021. Wow. Maybe the most intense 3 months of my life.

I found out in February on Eddie's birthday that I was 8 weeks pregnant. I'm pleased to say that I am now 15 weeks pregnant and feeling a lot better than I was a couple of weeks ago!

I spent the best part of 6 weeks in bed completely debilitated by exhaustion, low mood and nausea. I've never been so unwell in my life. Hats off to you ladies who have already been through all of this. You all handled it with so much grace I had absolutely no idea what to expect!

I was bleeding from weeks 4 to 12 and I had no choice but to surrender completely. When I thought I had a miscarriage at week 11, I cried and then I asked for the strength to bear whatever would come.

It's been a fascinating insight into my practice, how its changed me, and how far I have left to go. I know had I been facing this huge change in my life ten years ago I would have handled it very differently. Now I feel peaceful. Of course real human emotions come. Gripping onto plans. Gripping onto pieces of me I know I will need to say goodbye to. But, overall I feel at peace that a change is coming and that I will become a mother. A new identity that will mean I am no longer just me.

Motherhood to me is not something that will fit alongside the other hats I wear or have worn. I always knew how I would mother if I was to become a mother at all. For me it meant being home in the first 5 years, dropping them off and picking them up from school, family holidays and days walking in nature. For me it meant that Mother would become part of my core identity and I had to be ready to cut ties with anything that would prevent me from mothering in the way that I wanted to.

Fast forward to now I am still being asked to let go of things I hold dear. We cancelled a trip to NYC to practice with our teacher . I had to let go of deadlines on my PhD. I asked for help with classes and did the bare minimum at the studio. It wasn't easy. I resisted several times. But, in the end I knew what steps I needed to take to be aligned with this huge transformation which is taking place.

So, here we go. From maiden to mother. Age 39. 🌸

06/01/2025

Hi everyone, if you are based in Banbury or the surrounding area, please do follow the page for our new studio Temple of Yoga - Banbury. I will be focusing my attention on the studio page for a while so I might be a little quieter than usual over here :)

09/09/2024

ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏꜱᴇ ᴄᴏɴꜱɪꜱᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟꜱ ʜᴇʟᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ꜱᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴛᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴꜰᴏʟᴅᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜʟ ʙᴇɢɪɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ Qᴜᴀʟɪᴛɪᴇꜱ.

🌹When symbols show up all around us, it is time to take note.

🌹The rose has been growing in my consciousness over the past few years, but these past few months, she has taken on her own life. I took this photo earlier this week outside our new studio space. Three beautiful pink roses - the only flowers still in bloom anywhere in sight.

🌹This summer, I attended a workshop with the luminous Mara Freeman, where she introduced us to two key archetypes she works with - the grail and the rose. The rose, just like the lotus, grows out of the mud. She also has thorns to contend with. When her petals open and she comes to bloom, she entreats all those around her to vibrant colour, rich velvety petals, and that gorgeous smell.

🌹The rose is a symbol of flourishing, blossoming, or of fulfilling our spiritual destiny. Just like the lotus. She is our indigenous equivalent.

ɪɴ ꜱᴘɪʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴀʟᴄʜᴇᴍʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ᴘᴇᴛᴀʟꜱ ʀᴇᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴇ ᴄᴏɴꜱᴄɪᴏᴜꜱɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ʀᴏꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.

🌹The symbolism of the white and red roses also mirrors that of the divine masculine and feminine we find in yoga and ta**ra, the union between them being one way to understand 'liberation' or moksha.

🌹Lady rose has brought me into a world of magic and myth that exists on the land under our feet. Our islands are full of rich mystery traditions that are complex and deep rooted. I'm feeling called to incorporate more into my studies and teachings. Let's see what comes through 🌸❤️🌿🌹

21/08/2024

This month's newsletter is up. Feeling the earth beneath our feet 🌿 - https://mailchi.mp/8bb9c7784520/ayeshaaliyoganewclasses-12802462

20/08/2024

☀️Have you been struggling to find the energy to drive projects forward? ☀️

🦁 Whilst in Tropical astrology (western astrology) Leo season began almost a month ago, in the sidereal system used in vedic astrology, the sun moved into Leo only this weekend! Cancer season, which came before, is a more introspective time, with our attention focused on the home and family. Now, our attention is drawn more to the Self, and to its outward expression in the world around us.

🦁 There's actually a lot of energy in Leo right now with both Mercury in retrograde and Venus sitting together with the sun in Leo. These planets are not always easy friends, but from a yogic perspective, there is the opportunity to reveal and shine light on our patterns and tendencies relating to how we think and how we love. Understanding has the power to bring transformation.

🦁 We have the power, the fortitude, and the passion and dynamism of the Leoline energy behind us in our endeavors right now.

🦁 If you have unfinished projects in your life or have been waiting for the right moment to move things forward, now could be a great time.

🦁 Take a look at your chart and see which domain of your life is governed by Leo. Projects and activities related to this domain will likely be particularly successful.

♌

22/07/2024

Gu-rudispeller of darkness
Guru Brahmā
Guru Viṣṇu
Guru devo
Maheśvaraḥ
Guruḥ sākṣāt
Paraṁ Brahma
Tasmai śrī
Gurave namaḥ
Our creation is that guru (Brahma-the force of creation)
The duration of our lives is that guru (Vishnu-the force of preservation)
Our trials, tribulations, illnesses, calamities, and the death of the body is that guru (devo Maheshwara-the force of destruction or transformation)
There is a guru nearby (Guru Sakshat)
and a guru that is beyond the beyond (param Brahma)
I make my offering (tasmai) to the beautiful (shri) Remover of my darkness, my ignorance; (Guru) it is to you I bow and lay down my life.
I hear a lot about post-lineage yoga and going it alone now adays on the yoga scene. I went to my first yoga class in 2000, and a lot has changed since then! The Spice Girls were still together, no one was wearing £120 yoga leggings, and social media had'nt been invented yet! Today, teachers are changed as often as t-shirts and Guru has been replaced with superstar online teachers. As yoga has become more popular, something really fundamental has been lost. The relationship with the teacher.

There is a difference between teacher and Guru in the Indian tradition. A Guru is traditionally an enlightened master. One who is Self-realised and can share the way with others. Yogananda said 'the blind cannot lead the blind'. When we are fumbling in the dark, how can we shine a light for others? Or, indeed, for ourselves? As a teacher who is definitely not Self-realised this is something I challenge myself on often. And, I think it is healthy to do so. How can I live the values of yoga more fully? Where am I struggling? Where do I need support from a teacher or mentor?

A true Guru holds the mirror up for you to see yourself. He sees you completely, and in that seeing, you are given the grace to see yourself.

For all those who have in some way shone a light into the darkness on my path, I am eternally grateful.

To my dear dear Guru Dharmaji, thank you for showing the way. Always with kindness, a smile and deep love and understanding for us all ✨️

Jai

23/06/2024

The solstice sun has brought so much exciting energy with him this week ✨️

Do you feel it?

The Sun is still in the airy sign of Gemini and will stay there until 16 July when he moves into Cancer.

Gemini is the synthesiser of the star gang and brings a playful and curious energy into our lives. Whilst sometimes Gemini can be seen as unpredictable (it is an air sign after all) or two-faced, I prefer to think of it more as an energy that brings the ability to turn our hand ✋️ to anything. Think, those people in your life who seem to have a million strings to their bow and can get along with anyone!

In vedic astrology, we work with a more specific position of each planet to give us a more nuanced understanding of the energy of the moment. These placements are called nakshatras. On the solstice, the sun was in the nakshatra of Arda, which is ruled by Rudra, the most fierce and destructive form of Lord Shiva. In one story about him from the Vishnu Purana, he appears in the form of Ardhanari (half male and half female, shiva-shakti in one body, like the Gemini twins). The male part splits himself into eleven Rudras, some are fierce and some benign. The female part does the same, creating eleven shaktis to match the eleven Rudras. Like Gemini, there is a sense that the whole is made of many parts, all different in character, with different faces and different qualities. The transformation that fierce deities like Rudra offer comes through realising and integrating our shadows as part of the whole. Through this synthesising of self we achieve yoga or union.

We are being invited to expand our repertoire in life, to explore new things, and to lean into our relationships. Through new experiences and standing in the mirror of the other, we can shine light onto those parts of ourselves that have been left in darkness.

Solstice brings expression of energy into our lives until at least the winter solstice when a new cycle begins again.

Prepare for change! In the end we are all dancing to the beat of Rudras drum 🥁

15/06/2024

Bring in the light 🌸 Summer Solstice Rituals Circle today @ 4pm! - https://mailchi.mp/b4119f9af1ac/ayeshaaliyoganewclasses-12796974

08/04/2024

🌑 Solar eclipse in Pisces ✨️🪷

According to astronomical placement, this solar eclipse is taking place in Pisces. Whilst it is a total eclipse in the US, in most of the rest of the world, it is a partial eclipse peaking in the evening in the UK and Europe. This is the last new moon of the astrological calendar in the vedic system, and therefore, tomorrow begins the new year proper as the moon moves into Aries ♈️.

Not only is this the last moon of the current cycle, it is taking place in the very last nakshatra🌙 of Revati, which is ruled over by Pushan, the Cosmic Shepherd who guides souls to their final destination from earthly to heavenly realms.

This really is the theme of this eclipse, bridging between the earthly 🌎- the physical, and the heavenly- the spiritual. Pisces ♓️ is the sign of the mystical, the unseen, and the non-physical, whilst Virgo ♍️ , the other part of the 6-12 axis, is associated with the body, the physical and the known.

At this time, when the intuitive has been cast aside for scientific explanation and analysis, and body health is pursued in isolation from whole-istic perspectives, we are being invited to consider and heal our relationship with the unseen.

Many of us, especially women, have suppressed our womb wisdom, our intution, our gut feel🔻. We have exchanged embodied wisdom for intellect, artistic expression for analytical endeavours, and the mystical with the analytical.

As always, healing requires balance and integration. It's not about casting out the mind or the intellect altogether, but rather harnessing it and uniting it once again with the power of intuition and spirit 🪷

It's said that any practice you do during an eclipse is multiplied by 1,000 times. Why not take this time to connect with the spirit of Pisces. The dreamy intuitive who is connected with guru wisdom, divine consciousness itself. You can dance, sing, chant mantras, meditate, or allow your body to move spontaneously. Anything you feel brings you closer to your intuitive soul self ✨️

As we move into the new astrological year, how will you bring spirit into your life? How will you honour the divine spark that dwells within?

✨️✨️✨️

Address

West Bar Street
Banbury
OX169RZ

Website

http://www.ayeshaaliyoga.com/

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