Denise Mehlman - Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Denise Mehlman - Iyengar Yoga Teacher Iyengar Yoga information, and classes in the local area. I am a teacher of Iyengar yoga Level 2 (Junior intermediate 2).

I have been teaching classes in Ongar, Essex since I qualified in 2012. Classes are held on Monday evenings 6-7pm beginners , 7.15-8.45pm at High Ongar village hall, Tuesday mornings 9.15-10.45am at Highwood village hall, 7.30-9pm at Great Canfield village hall, and Thursday 10-11.15am at High Ongar village hall. Yoga practice both relaxes and energises the body and mind and brings vitality, flexibility, strength, concentration, self-confidence and mental calm. Yoga is suitable for all types of people and all levels of fitness. Practicing yoga helps you overcome and prevent many stresses, strains, aches and pains. It promotes a firm foundation for health and well-being.

24/09/2025

Twists in yoga are not just about “turning the spine.” They carry deep physiological, therapeutic, and structural benefits that impact the whole torso.

🔹 Promote Spinal Health & Circulation
By bringing circulation to the spine and nourishing the organs, twists make the ribs more pliable—preparing the body for both forward and backward bends.

🔹 Increase Rotation & Create Space
The essence of a twist is rotation of the spine. The key is to grow tall on inhalation and then turn on exhalation. This upward extension creates space, allowing the vertebrae to rotate more freely and safely. Remember: turn from the tailbone up the spine—not just the hips.

🔹 Engage the Abdominal Organs
Twists create a squeezing and soaking action for the abdominal viscera. Sharper exhalations—like turning the navel and waist—enhance this internal massage effect, stimulating digestion and organ health.

🔹 Relieve Neck & Shoulder Issues
Postures like Ardha Matsyendrasana help release neck and shoulder tension while aligning the elbow joint. Pro tip: look opposite to the turn to deepen the twist and avoid compressing the neck.

🌿 In essence: Twists rejuvenate the spine, invigorate circulation, massage the organs, and restore balance to the torso—keeping the body supple, strong, and aligned.

In your next practice, turn not just the body—turn awareness inward.



🌍 https://www.bksiyengaryogashala.com/

16/09/2025

🌿 Why does yoga care so much about just… sitting up straight? 🌿

At first glance, Dandasana (Staff Pose) looks like nothing special. You’re just sitting on the floor with your legs stretched out, right?

But here’s the truth: this “simple seat” is one of the most important building blocks in yoga. It’s not about sitting still — it’s about learning the principles of alignment and awareness that carry into every single posture you practice.

✨ Here’s why Dandasana matters so much:
🔹 It builds spinal extension & alignment.
Instead of slouching, the spine rises tall, vertebra by vertebra. With each exhalation, the spine lengthens, the chest opens, and the posture becomes alive.

🔹 It stabilizes the pelvis & grounds you.
When the buttocks descend evenly, the pelvis anchors. This stability prevents your hips from shifting in twists, forward bends, and countless other poses.

🔹 It frees the breath.
By lifting the chest and diaphragm, the breath flows more easily. A light chest makes the legs feel light — suddenly, “sitting” is no longer heavy.

🔹 It wakes up the legs without strain.
The heels push forward, the thighs move back, the calves lengthen. Instead of locking the knees or compressing the joints, energy flows upward from the feet through the whole body.

🔹 It sharpens whole-body awareness.
Dandasana teaches that what happens in one part of the body affects the whole. This awareness becomes the foundation for more complex asanas, twists, and balances.

💡 Think of Dandasana as yoga’s measuring stick — the posture that reveals your habits, alignment, and awareness. It may look simple, but it’s where the body and mind begin to truly work together.

So the next time you sit up straight in Dandasana, remember:
➡️ You’re not just sitting.
➡️ You’re building the foundation for your entire practice.
➡️ You’re training posture, breath, and awareness to move as one.

✨ Your turn: What do you notice when you sit in Dandasana for a full minute? Does “just sitting” feel different? Share below 👇

🌍 https://www.bksiyengaryogashala.com/

05/09/2025

🎉 Iyengar Yoga Centre for Essex – 30th Anniversary Workshop! 🎉

We’re excited to welcome Jayne Orton for a special celebratory workshop:

📅 Saturday 13th September 2025
📍 Highwood Village Hall, CM1 3QG
💷 £65

Jayne is Director of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Birmingham, an advanced teacher, and long-time student of Guruji. This will be a fantastic opportunity for all general & intermediate practitioners to practise with her again here in Essex.

✨ Two sessions with a break for lunch (snacks & drinks provided).
📩 To book, email Sandra Hitchcock: sandra.hitchcock@outlook.com

Come celebrate 30 years of IYCE (1995–2025) with us! 🙏

New course starting Monday 8th September High Ongar Village Hall 🧘‍♂️
04/09/2025

New course starting Monday 8th September High Ongar Village Hall 🧘‍♂️

New course starting Tuesday September 9th Highwood Village Hall 🧘‍♂️
04/09/2025

New course starting Tuesday September 9th Highwood Village Hall 🧘‍♂️

29/08/2025

Here's our latest timetable for regular classes at High Ongar Village Hall! From yoga to art, dance to sewing—there’s something for everyone all week long. Ready to try something new? Check out the schedule and join us!

15/08/2025

📅 Save the Date!
We’re thrilled to announce that Birjoo Mehta will be joining us in Glasgow for the IY(UK) Convention 2026.
Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th May 2026
📍 Hilton Glasgow
A rare opportunity to study with one of the most senior Iyengar yoga teachers in the world.
Three days of practice, learning, and community – open to all members.
✨ Booking opens October 2025 – mark your calendar!
More info: iyengaryoga.org.uk/conventions

14/08/2025

Adho Mukha Svanasana: Don’t let the weight roll to the outer hands. Press the base joints of the index finger and thumb firmly to keep the internal rotation of the forearms (while externally rotating the upper arms).

Dwi pada viparita dandasana practice using a chair
10/08/2025

Dwi pada viparita dandasana practice using a chair

06/08/2025

“The ancient books have called Sirsasana the king of all asanas and the reasons are not hard to find. When we are born, normally the head comes out first and then the limb. The skull encases the brain, which controls the nervous system and the organs of sense. The brain is the seat of intelligence, knowledge, discrimination, wisdom and power. It is the seat of Brahman, the soul. A country cannot prosper without a proper king or constitutional head to guide it; so also the human body cannot prosper without a healthy brain.

Regular practice of Sirsasana makes healthy pure blood flow through the brain cells. This rejuvenates them so that thinking power increases and thoughts become clearer.“

BKS Iyengar
Light On Yoga

06/08/2025

Why do some stick with yoga for life, while others drift away?
Satkaar — the quiet force behind a lifelong yoga practice.
It's easy to start. But what sustains you for years?
Not just habit. Not just flexibility goals.
Faith. Devotion. Reverence.
When your practice becomes your first love, distractions fade.
You stop asking “Is it working?” and start experiencing transformation.
✨ Stay steady. Stay sacred.
Your mind learns stillness through your heart’s commitment.

🔁 Save this for the days you feel like skipping the mat.
📥 Share with a friend who’s walking the path.



🌍 https://www.bksiyengaryogashala.com/

28/10/2024

Huge appreciation to Jayne Orton for an amazing weekend, shining a bright light into the depths of Iyengar Yoga.
We look forward to seeing Jayne in Essex again next year! ✨🙏🏻✨

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I am a teacher of Iyengar yoga, Intermediate Junior level 2. I have been teaching classes in Ongar, Essex since I qualified in 2012. Classes are held on Monday evenings 7.15-8.45pm at High Ongar village hall, Tuesday mornings 9.15-10.45am at Highwood village hall, Tuesday evenings 7.30-9pm at Great Canfield village hall, and Wednesday mornings 10-11.15am at Zinc Arts Centre. Yoga practice both relaxes and energises the body and mind and brings vitality, flexibility, strength, concentration, self-confidence and mental calm. Yoga is suitable for all types of people and all levels of fitness. Practicing yoga helps you overcome and prevent many stresses, strains, aches and pains. It promotes a firm foundation for health and well-being.