The Isle of Man Yoga Network is set to welcome London-based yoga teacher Laurent Roure to the island next month for a one-day workshop exploring ‘Somatic Yoga’.

The workshop, titled ‘The Breath That Moves Freely’, will take place at The Hub, the former Courthouse in Ramsey, on Saturday, September 26, from 10am to 4.30pm.

Somatic yoga is described as a restorative practice rooted in cognitive science and the body’s innate awareness.

Guest tutor, Laurent Roure explains that his approach to yoga has evolved over the years, shifting from a focus on alignment and achieving postures, to a more intuitive and attentive method that allows one to find calm through a deeper mind-body connection.

The practice encourages participants to develop a deeper awareness of movement, breathing and the connection between the mind and body.

IoM Yoga Network chairman Sue Woolley said the organisation was pleased to bring Roure to the island following his strong online following.

‘Laurent has a very strong following, so we are very pleased he is able to come over in person to the island,’ she said.

‘His approach is about listening to the body, sensing how movement arises, and allowing the breath and gravity to guide the experience.’

The workshop is open to students and teachers of all levels.

Sue continued, ‘We have invited him on the recommendation of local teacher Philippa Tomlinson, who has attended his classes and retreats whilst visiting London. Most of us will be new to somatic yoga, so this is a golden opportunity to find out what it is all about.

We hope people from all over the island will join us at the Ramsey Hub, which is a perfect space for a day like this.’

Ahead of his first visit to the island Laurent gave an outline of what people can expect on the day of the workshop.

Laurent said, ‘We spend a lot of time managing the breath, timing and controlling it, trying to make it do something. This day will move in the opposite direction.

‘We begin on the ground, with somatic movement: slow, enquiring, oriented toward sensation rather than shape. Gentle movements will connect us to the breathing structures and release them for a sense of freedom.’

‘As the body settles and the nervous system finds its footing, we will move into Vanda Scaravelli-inspired yoga, a practice that lets gravity and the breath lead, rather than effort and instruction.’

‘The focus of the day is the changing of seasons. As summer draws to a close, the body is ready to shift from the openness of the warmer months towards something more inward, more refined’

Tickets cost £50, or £40 for existing IoM Yoga Network members.

Those interested in attending can book through the IoM Yoga Network’s events page.

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