Skip to main content

Weekend workshop with Garth McLean 2025: Adapting to the Needs of the Nervous System

Friday, 20 June '25   6pm – 8pm BST
Queens Hotel & Spa Bournemouth, The Queens Hotel Meyrick Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth, BH1 3DL
20 spaces available
Weekend workshop with Garth McLean 2025: Adapting to the Needs of the Nervous System

Course dates

  • Fri, 20 Jun '25   6pm – 8pm BST - done
  • Sat, 21 Jun '25   10am – 4:30pm BST - done
  • Sun, 22 Jun '25   10am – 2pm BST - done

Details

About the workshop

NOTE: This is a full weekend workshop suitable for all levels (https://dhiy.org/iyengar-class-levels). Attending the whole weekend is strongly recommended.

We all have a nervous system. Sometimes we may face a challenge that is nervous system related.
In this workshop we will seek to soothe and balance the nervous and immune systems to calm any chaos and restore a sense of balance, physically and emotionally, according to the individual's needs and ability.
Health is simply a by-product of proper yoga practice.
Through iconic alignment of asana (physical postures) and pranayama (breath work) we can fortify stability and mobility to keep mobile and endure what may not be able to be cured.

Garth offers his years of experience steeped in compassionate exploration and incorporating a
creative, adaptive approach to encourage, elevate and empower students of all levels of ability
with and without physical challenges to go beyond any perceived limitations of the body and
mind. Garth’s goal is to help provide all practitioners with tangible, practical tools to further
enhance your health.

All are welcome. Seasoned practitioners as well as those with physical challenges are welcome.
Those with physical challenges must be able to transfer to and from the floor, with or without
assistance.

Special interest for persons with MS, Parkinson's, Long Covid, neurological and movement
challenges, and teachers of yoga. Adaptations offered according to the individual’s ability and
condition. As the weekend is cumulative, attending the entire weekend is strongly recommended
though not a pre-requisite.

Accessibility Notice: Parking and Equipment

If you are driving to the venue and are a blue badge holder, please contact the venue to reserve a parking space in advance, as they do not have dedicated accessible parking bays, and the parking is liable to fill up quickly during the summer months. You can contact the hotel here: https://www.queenshotelbournemouth.com/contact.

Equipment is not available at the venue; if you would like to attend but do not have equipment or would be unable to bring it, or if you have any other concerns or questions, please contact our student bookings coordinator for assistance: events@dhiy.org

Friday 6–8pm: Orientation and Restorative Session

After a brief orientation and introduction, we will embark on a restorative session to observe and experience how a restorative approach has the potential
to quieten and calm the nervous system and mind.
A restorative practice can offer the practitioner rest, recovery and recuperation for the muscles and internal organs of the body.
This can often provide a deeper rest for the body and mind than sleep.
When asanas are done in preparation for and in combination with pranayama (breath work), a restorative practice can revitalize and aid in physical and mental recovery from any fatigue that may be present.
Look to a restorative and pranayama practice to help ease stress, calm the nerves, rejuvenate the body and mind.

Saturday 10am-12:30pm: General Asana Class

Taking into consideration the needs, ability and level of those in attendance, we will explore a range of asanas to enhance mobility, strength and balance.
Steeped in Iyengar Yoga, Garth will keenly draw upon his insight and experience to scale the practice to benefit and empower each individual.
Garth’s approach can be especially potent for the persons dealing with nervous system conditions and related challenges.

Saturday 2pm-4:30pm - General Asana/Pranayama Class

In the afternoon session, we will continue our exploration to support healthy parasympathetic nervous system responses that correlate to rest and digest for the practitioner.
Further guidance and refinement will be offered based on participant feedback, comfort and energy levels, to move forward with either a quieting or dynamic approach while tailoring the asanas to suit individual needs.

Sunday 10am-2pm (with break) - General to Intermediate Asana

BKS Iyengar always encouraged his students to keep on learning, regardless of the level of practice, and to take a step towards improving and refining one’s practice.
Building upon the previous sessions and taking into consideration where one is in their practice, in this empowering class, practitioners will be safely guided, one step at a time, to proceed towards finding pathways to realize goals that might otherwise seem inaccessible.
Of course, it’s great to aim high, but it is also vital to respect where we are on any given day with awareness, compassion and self-acceptance.
Through the Iyengars’ inventive use of props we can practice asanas to remove barriers and discover a transformative, rewarding experience one step at a time.
Attendance in a previous session is highly recommended to attend Sunday.

About the teacher

Recognized internationally for working with persons with neurological and movement challenges, Garth McLean’s journey with Iyengar Yoga emphasizes accessibility, inclusion and adaptive practice when required.
Steeped in the tradition of Iyengar Yoga, Garth brings years of experience (Introductory to Advanced) coupled with compassionate exploration and creative adaptation to empower students of all levels of ability to move beyond perceived limitations.

Garth is a senior level Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher “CIYT” (Level 3 – Intermediate Sr III), a Certified Yoga Therapist and Approved Professional Development Provider with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT), and a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) with Yoga Alliance. Garth studies annually with the Iyengar family in Pune, India since 2000.

He is a published author of Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis, A Practical Guide for People with MS and Yoga Teachers, (Singing Dragon Books, London 2020). Based in Los Angeles, Garth offers public classes and specialty courses, locally and internationally. Since the onset of the pandemic safety restrictions, Garth offers classes and workshops online.

Instructions

Arrival Time

Please aim to arrive around 15 minutes before the start of the workshop each day to secure your place in the room, set up your mat, and stow your other belongings.

Breaks

We will break for an hour around 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. During this time you are welcome to bring a light lunch to eat.

Complimentary tea, coffee & biscuits will be provided.

Membership Discount

DHIY members save 20% on the cost of our workshops with the "DHIY Member" ticket option.
To find out more about joining our Member Group Click Here.

Hardship Discounts

If you are currently experiencing financial hardship, you can request a hardship discount by Clicking Here. Hardship discounts are offered at the discretion of the DHIY committee, and provided as a unique discount code.

If you are currently unable to participate fully in a workshop but would still like to observe, you can request a discount code by Clicking Here. Observer rates are offered at the discretion of both the DHIY committee and the visiting teacher; the teacher may wish to contact you to discuss participation options.

If requesting a discount, please do not book your place before receiving a final response to your request, as discounts cannot be applied retroactively.

Cancellations

Cancellations earlier than two weeks before the event will be refunded, less a £3 administration fee.

Refunds will not be given for cancellations within 2 weeks of the event.

Attendee Requirements

All attendees should have a minimum of one year of Iyengar yoga experience.

Equipment

You will need to bring the following equipment with you:

  • Mat
  • Belt
  • 2 bricks
  • 4/5 foam blocks
  • 1/2 blankets
  • A bolster if you have one
  • A yoga chair

Note - if you have difficulty with equipment, please email events@dhiy.org and we'll see if we can help out. We will have some extra equipment available for this workshop, but please do let us know in advance if you need assistance, to make sure there's enough to go around.

Contact Us

If you have any further questions or queries please email Tobias at events@dhiy.org

Tickets

Cost

Standard - Whole Weekend

Course ticket - for all 3 dates.
£125.00

DHIY Member - Whole Weekend

Course ticket - for all 3 dates.
For active DHIY members only. If you are not a DHIY member and you purchase this ticket, a £3 admin fee will be required as well as the cost of the difference for the standard ticket to secure your attendance. For details of how to become a DHIY member, please see here: https://dhiy.org/join
£100.00

Standard - Single Day

If booking on just the Friday, please use discount code GARTHFRIDAY for 60% off the ticket price, or for just the Sunday please use discount code GARTHSUNDAY for 20% off the ticket price.
£62.50

DHIY Member - Single Day

If booking on just the Friday, please use discount code GARTHFRIDAY for 60% off the ticket price, or for just the Sunday please use discount code GARTHSUNDAY for 20% off the ticket price.For active DHIY members only. If you are not a DHIY member and you purchase this ticket, a £3 admin fee will be required as well as the cost of the difference for the standard ticket to secure your attendance. For details of how to become a DHIY member, please see here: https://dhiy.org/join
£50.00

Location

Queens Hotel & Spa Bournemouth
The Queens Hotel Meyrick Road
East Cliff, Bournemouth
BH1 3DL

Website

https://www.queenshotelbournemouth.com/

Parking and Transportation

Parking at or near this venue is limited, particularly during the summer months and it is unlikely you will get a free space; public transport links are excellent and are recommended where possible.

Parking directly at the venue is possible, but is very limited; and is on a "first come, first served" basis. It is free for attendees if you register your car on arrival. https://www.queenshotelbournemouth.com/concierge#parking. Check-out time is at 11am, so finding a space before that is less likely.

Attendees are able to pull up to the hotel entrance to drop off their equipment if necessary.

Parking on the adjacent Gervis Road is £10 during the day for the full day, and free between the hours of 5pm and 9am: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/parking/find-a-car-park/gervis-road-on-street-parking

Parking on East Overcliff Drive is more expensive for a single day, but a 3 day pass is available if you pre-book: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/parking/find-a-car-park/east-overcliff-drive-on-street-parking

The neighbouring hotels Bournemouth Carlton and East Cliff hotel offer a secure car park available to anyone, at a cost of £20/day.

The nearest train station is Bournemouth Station which is a 15 minute walk or 6 minute bus journey to/from the location.

Several key bus services stop along the nearby Bath Road, including the m1 and m2: https://www.morebus.co.uk/explore?marker=Lansdowne%2C+Bath+Road+%28SW-bound%29&center=50.721205%2C-1.867779&type=stop&id=1290BOB20412

Storage

Attendees are able to leave their equipment in the room, however the doors do not lock and are thus open to the hotel - anything left in the room is at the owner's risk.

Additional Facilities

The venue has the following facilities available:

  • Accessible Toilets
  • Respite Area

Coffee Lounge

There is a coffee lounge where attendees may purchase additional hot drinks throughout the day.

Amenities

  • Toilets
  • Parking