The success of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.
T.K.V DESIKACHAR
Direct benefits of yoga:
The physical aspect of most Western yoga practice improves strength, endurance and flexibility, whilst the connection to the breath and present moment awareness makes the practice a moving meditation. Along with savasana (relaxation at end of class), this provides a welcome pause from the chaos of our modern lives, with much research indicating its positive effect on mental health.
Yoga classes
Slow Flow Yoga
- Wednesday 8.45-9.45am
- Stoke D'Abernon Village Hall
- A steady-paced flowing vinyasa yoga class with a little more space to sink into the postures and connect with the breath, through sun salutations and variations
- £15 drop-in
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
- Sundays 10am–11am
- Online via Zoom
- A dynamic vinyasa flow yoga class synchronising breath to movement through sun salutations variations with options for more challenging postures
- £8 drop-in
- Private Yoga Classes
- 1 hour
- If you’ve never done yoga before or would like some extra attention to help enhance your practice then private classes are a great option
- 1:1 £50
- Duets £30 per person
- Trios £20 per person
So much more than movement
‘Yoga‘ means to yoke or unite. Ancient yoga texts include The Yoga Sutras which describe ‘how to do yoga’. It may surprise you to know that these texts have very little mention of the physical postures that many of us are familiar with. Instead, they focus on the ways in which we participate in life, how we should interact with the world and living beings around us, and how we manage our own emotions, expectations and perceptions. Meditation, breathwork and self-reflection are key to achieving the ultimate goal of union of mind and body.
One of the most popular types of modern day western yoga is Hatha, a branch of yoga which embraces the physical aspect of this ancient tradition as a way to prepare the body and mind for meditation and improved mental state. Vinyasa flow yoga is a type of Hatha yoga which has a flowing sequence that links the ‘asanas’ (postures) to the pattern of breath, making the practice a moving meditation.
By paying attention to our thoughts and perceptions during our yoga practice ‘on the mat’, we can often see patterns in our self-talk and behaviour. We can then choose to use this understanding to inform and maybe alter how we live our lives in our time ‘off the mat’. Improving our self awareness can only improve happiness and contentment and that of those around us.
