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If you've heard about the many benefits of yoga but wondered if it's really for you, now may be the time to try a free class and find out! There is no need to be fit or flexible and it doesn't matter what age, shape or size you are. All that's required is a willingness to give it a go and some comfortable clothing that enables freedom of movement. Yoga mats are provided at my classes.
There are many reasons why people take up yoga, these include the desire to stretch, tone up, lose weight, develop strength, stamina and flexibility; improve posture and remedy conditions such as scoliosis, or to relieve arthritis (the list goes on). Yoga affects the entire being and as such also has psychological effects, and when practised regularly is an effective aid in alleviating depression and anxiety and helping to release unhelpful patterns of behaviour and old habits. Stress related problems such as IBS, muscular tension and headaches may also be alleviated by the practice of yoga. The immediate effects at the end of a single yoga session are a sense of calm and well-being and depending on the type of class and time of day, a feeling of revitalisation, or in the evening, relaxation and readiness for a good night's sleep (yoga may help insomnia too!)
As we age we tend to lose condition and stiffness begins to creep into the joints including the spine and hips. Yet there is no need to simply accept this and resign ourselves to physical decline! Yoga maintains (and helps to regain) flexibility and mobility in the joints and suppleness and strength in the muscles. An ancient Chinese saying states that the youthfulness and longevity of the body is determined by the degree of flexibility in the spine. Research indicates that the body of the most elderly person can still develop muscle if exercise is taken - even if exercise does not commences until later life. Click on this link to see an article about an amazing 83 year old woman who is living testimony to the benefits of yoga Strength and fitness at 83 that most 23 year olds would envy
Yoga also teaches us to breathe correctly which is essential to good health (see my previous post 'Breathing for Beginners'). According to the yogic perspective the length of one's life is determined by a pre-set number of breaths - yoga helps us to deepen and slow down the breathing so we can savour each and every one of them and thereby make them (and us) last a little longer!
If none of the above is enough to get you along to a yoga class then see the 'Fuzz Speech' video in my earlier post entitled 'All the convincing you'll need to never skip another yoga class'.
Come along and try a class with nothing to lose - you'll be very welcome and it could be the start of something amazing... :)
