Yoga – a group of ancient physical, mental and spiritual practices originating in India, designed to unite the body, mind and spirit.
Scruffy the Cephalopod.
Armed with enough equipment to cater for every conceivable calamity and a mind filled with all the mung bean and tree hugging jokes and tropes, I entered Scruffy Murphy’s right here in the heart of Brum for an enlightening experience. With Scruffy the Cephalopod – I came up with that while I was waiting – gloriously adorning the wall I made my way down into the basement, our Metal forefathers Ozzy and Lemmy watching over the proceedings, we were at home.
‘The cure is somewhere in the silence, but I’m crushed by the noise inside’
It was my first time doing any sort of yoga so I had no idea how the day would be for me.
Our tutors for the first ever yoga retreat were Helen Manente and Anna Fenton, both trained in the techniques and practices we would be participating in, and the playlist curated primarily by those of us in the room today. Thank you for including my choice, I really loved hearing it.
With our friends Adam and Kate from Heavy Metal Therapy in attendance, the focus on our well-being was sustained throughout.
Helen and Anna both are very aware of the historical and cultural importance of yogic beliefs, their knowledge is detailed and helps us to understand the subject further. There are three fundamental units, Pranayama is breathing, Asanas is the physical postures and Dhyana is the meditation, all functioning in unison to aid our balance and align our sensitivities. Here is a piece written by Anna that offers more background
What gladdened my heart the most, I feel, was the care and attention afforded to us all, regardless of our backgrounds, our abilities and our inadequacies. Both Helen and Anna have devised a safe space for a community already on the fringes by using an unlikely resource and tailoring it to suit us. Admittedly I found myself getting lost in the music for most of the day.
We began with the exercises and stretching, feeling the muscles tense and relax, and then lying down with the sound bath, with breaks in between we had a chance to rest our bodies. The warrior stance after lunch was a chance to re-assert our capabilities – together we all stood in our awesomeness. I am not too keen on phrases that have been
over-used and their meanings diminished, but I feel that this position is a ‘power move’ that captures the intention, positivity and productivity beautifully.
We realise that we are all fallible, we are all unique and none of us above the other. The core ideas of inclusion and consent and the flexibility and flow of the class and a touch of humour, had all been considered and adapted thoroughly.
What I learnt was that firstly, the enthusiasm for heavy music is fierce, it is unstoppable and it travels through us detonating our insides and giving us the will to live when all else fails.
Placing that in a calming setting gives it a softer edge, the intensity is there, but we feel a difference in tension and an elasticity in our minds. There is freedom; it is for us to galvanise and harness the power it brings. I also did not realise how tired I would feel afterwards, but it was absolutely a fulfilling day.
Our lives are complex, our emotions run riot on a daily basis, but to have a useful tool like yoga to try and unravel and unwind is a great option. For some of us going to the gym is not a resource we are happy with, this type of release is much slower, and the effects are just as resounding. The day finished with an ‘Om’ circle, channelling our efforts into the ether, knowing we had all done our very best.
Thank you to Anna and Helen for sharing the photos.
I’ll leave you with these words from ‘Be Still and Know’ by Machine Head,
‘And the sun will rise, dawn will break through the blackest night, distant in its glow, this shall pass be still and know’
Go now and live.
Azra Pathan
Yoga Metal Retreat at Scruffy Murphy’s, Birmingham, Saturday 14th March 2026.