About Yoga

What is yoga?
Yoga was first developed around 5000 years ago in India. It’s a system for living which includes many different practices which promote mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. The word ‘yoga’ means ‘union’ and I like to think about this in Terms of connection. Yoga helps us to explore the connection between our bodies, our breath, our emotions and our mental and physical wellbeing and the wider world in which we live. All of this helps us to be healthier and happier.

Who is yoga for?
I believe passionately that yoga is for everyone, whether you’re young, old, super fit or not at all – yoga is for you! As well as deepening our connection to ourselves and improving our overall wellbeing, research shows that yoga has benefits for those with a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, back pain, insomnia, digestive disorders, arthritis, asthma, anxiety, depression and stress. Yoga can be adapted or extended to suit each individual and I teach in a way which enables everyone to find their own perfect balance between effort and ease within their practice. If you have any questions or worries before joining a class, just get in touch.

What will happen in a class?
My own yoga practice is influenced by a range of different yoga and movement approaches and this is reflected in my teaching. Classes start with a short breath awareness to settle us and ‘arrive’. We’ll then progress through a gentle flow of physical postures and sequences, designed to help us explore and experience the body, breath and mind in the here and now. Everything is taught in a progressive way, which means that you stop where you feel comfortable or you can extend further if you feel that would be good. This is how we ensure that classes suit a complete beginner, or someone with more yoga experience. Sometimes we include a meditation and we always end with a relaxation. You should leave feeling totally refreshed and relaxed!

What do I need to bring?
Bring a mat and come along in comfortable clothes that you can move around in and an extra layer and blanket to be warm during the relaxation.