The ancient wisdom of yoga, particularly through gentle yoga classes, combined with scientifically proven mindfulness meditation, offers a powerful approach to enhancing health and wellbeing.
We've welcomed many new yogis recently, so we're expanding our Gentle Yoga Classes to accommodate everyone.
Monday 1.30pm Extra gentle
Thursday 10am Regular gentle yoga
We begin with a few moments of stillness to catch our breath and set aside the rest of the day and the outside world. Our classes feature gentle warm-ups that lead towards a peak pose, which is offered in stages to ensure that everyone can participate at their comfort level. We conclude with a mindfulness meditation, allowing you to leave the class smiling, feeling both relaxed and invigorated.
Classes are £10 each or £40 per month, with concessions available.
Email yoga4health@yahoo.com to book a place or call 07393 344 847.
Photo by Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash
One of my long-standing yoga students was feeling poorly and hurt her knee. She requested some gentle, seated movement to aid her recovery, so I created a series of Gentle Yoga Classes tailored for her needs.
We start with a 5-minute pause to find stillness and check how we feel in the moment. After that, we engage in a series of seated warm-ups that prepare our bodies for movement, focusing on the neck, shoulders, arms, and spine. We even move our lower legs and ankles while seated, and open the front of the hips without leaving the chair.
Following the warm-ups, we explore a range of poses based on a theme, such as easing or preventing sciatica, gentle rotations to mobilize our spine, or releasing shoulder tightness. Each week offers something different, while the warm-ups typically follow a consistent pattern. The movements are slow and careful, gradually becoming more demanding as we progress. Since they are offered in stages, you can work at a level that suits you best. I always adjust the class based on who is present and their individual abilities. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much you can achieve in a chair.
We conclude with a mindfulness meditation, which tends to be everyone’s favorite part. I guide you to relax your whole body while giving your mind a focused task, preventing it from disrupting our physical rest. Our minds can create all sorts of challenges! Yet, they can also be our most powerful ally when directed positively.
Join us in person or on Zoom; this class is very accessible, even for those who thought they would never participate in a yoga class. There are now three extra gentle classes because of their popularity, each one truly beneficial for your health and wellbeing.
Email yoga4health@yahoo.com to book a place or find out more.
Photo by Vincent Botta on Unsplash
Relaxation has always been the aim of my gentle yoga classes, and while building strength and flexibility is a wonderful bonus, my focus remains on promoting health and wellbeing. As a result, the classes have always emphasized a gentle approach.
However, I recognize that due to illness or injury, some individuals may find certain aspects of the gentle yoga classes challenging—such as bearing weight on the wrists during all-fours or stepping in and out of lunges. To address this, I'm developing a version of the classes that avoids these triggers, making the practice more accessible for everyone.
You'll still experience a sense of relaxation and energy at the end of each session, all while fostering a healthy body and a peaceful mind through mindfulness meditation.
Gentle Yoga Classes
Experience a calming session with five minutes of relaxation, followed by about 50 minutes of movement, and concluding with 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation. In these classes, we incorporate seated poses on the floor for short periods to enhance your health and wellbeing. We also utilize all-four positions, like down dog, to build upper body strength effectively. The flow of movement is slow, synchronizing with your breath as we stretch up to the ceiling, transition into forward bends, lunges, all fours, and back again.
Extra Gentle Yoga
Maintaining the same structure, we start with five minutes of relaxation, followed by 50 minutes of movement, and finish with 15 minutes of relaxation meditation lying on the floor. In this class, a chair is used for seated poses to ensure comfort and support. Small weights can be incorporated to build upper body strength without the need to lift your body weight. You only need to get up and down once per class! Forward bends are supported by a chair, and balances are assisted by either a chair or wall, promoting a gentle yet effective practice.
In my book, mental health comes first. Without mental health, you are unlikely to maintain physical health in the long run. Conversely, strong mental health can help us navigate any illness.
Most of us have habits that turn out to be negative. For example, there is substantial evidence that stress is very harmful to your health, yet we often believe that stress is unavoidable. Is it? While pressures may be unavoidable, your reaction to stress can certainly be transformed. Stress causes illness, FULL STOP. Fortunately, there are many ways to enhance our awareness of our own stress responses and approach things differently. As we practice mindfulness meditation and our awareness expands, we become more effective guides to what promotes our health and wellbeing.
Utilize the tools available to increase relaxation. While relaxation may not sound powerful, it is the opposite of stress. We can boost our 'rest and digest' biology, which in turn improves our immune system, digestion, cell reproduction, and mental focus. Gentle yoga classes can also be a fantastic way to foster this relaxation.
Can it really be that simple?
Yes and no. Yes, you will likely feel more relaxed and happier after a mindful yoga class or guided meditation session. However, overcoming major life challenges such as addictions, difficult relationships, or longstanding anxiety will take time.
But remember, an avalanche starts with just a few flakes of snow...
When you are run by repeated worries, rushing between deadlines, feeding yourself bad news and junk food, angry at the world, or struggling to make ends meet, we often feel we have little choice. We merely react. However, engaging in Gentle Yoga Classes and practicing Mindfulness Meditation can significantly enhance our Health and Wellbeing. As we grow our self-awareness, we make conscious what was previously unconscious, allowing us more choice and the ability to respond thoughtfully. I am on this journey, and so can you. You just need the right tools.
As well as addressing the negative aspects of our lives, we also enhance our positive choices, which is crucial for our health and wellbeing. It may sound simple, but it's essential. There are times when we choose to forego rest and recreation, especially when under pressure, but this is precisely when we need self-care the most! Engaging in gentle yoga classes and practicing mindfulness meditation can help us learn to love ourselves through our difficulties. We realize that we can best serve those we love by prioritizing our own care, taking a rest when necessary, and saying no if we feel overloaded. We all deserve the time to uplift ourselves with the things we love. Remember, everyone around you will feel better when you feel better!