YOGA
Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing. The main components of yoga are postures (a series of movements designed to increase strength and flexibility) and breathing.
WHY YOGA?
Yoga has been proven to enhance your overall wellbeing:
• correcting bad posture and easing repetitive strain;
• boosting immunity;
• reducing pain and muscle tension;
• calming the nervous system;
• preventing back pain and joint stiffness;
• strengthening key muscle groups;
• increasing flexibility and joint range of motion; and
• reducing stress, helping to manage depression and anxiety
Yoga is accessible to everyone; all ages, all bodies, all states of health. You do not need to be a flexible or calm person to start practicing yoga and all of the postures can and should be adapted so that they work for you and your body.
ABOUT ME
I’m Emma, a Yoga Instructor (and Office Worker) passionate about alleviating pain and calming the mind through movement.
I began practicing yoga regularly about 10 years ago due to sporting injuries (mainly a dodgy knee!), and back pain associated with long busy hours at a corporate office job.
Whilst I initially sought out yoga to ease physical pain, it has also had a positive impact on my mental health, helping me to deal with the stress and anxiety that we all experience in our day to day lives.
Keen to share the benefits of yoga with others, I decided to train as a teacher. I am certified and insured by Yoga Alliance Professionals.
I like to teach relaxed fun classes, moving slowly through poses to build strength, whilst connecting the breath with that movement, to calm the mind.
GETTING STARTED
What you’ll need:
A mat (not essential just stops you from slipping whilst holding the postures), any comfortable clothing and a water bottle.
What to expect:
These first three ‘introduction to yoga’ sessions are around 15 minutes long, they include a full body practice breaking down some of the most common standing postures, and two targeted practices: one to release tension in the shoulders and one to strengthen core muscles.
How often should I practice:
A physical practice 2-3 times a week is ideal. You may wish to practice in the morning to start the day on the right foot, lunchtime to recharge your batteries or after work to unwind. You may also like to add in a short yoga practice before or after your existing workouts to warm up/ down, great for injury prevention.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BREATHING IN YOGA
The word ‘yoga’ literally translates to mean ‘to unite or to combine’. Yoga ‘unites’ the body and the mind by ‘combining’ movement with the breath. Without the breath, yoga would not be yoga and would just be like any other form of exercise.
Before we can combine our breath with our physical postures it is first important that we know how to breathe properly – in a way that helps our body to function optimally – the way our bodies are designed to breathe, but we’re never formally taught how.
If you’ve not previously been aware of your breath, it is likely your breathing pattern has some issues e.g. over breathing, chest breathing or holding your breath - all of which can lead to a shortage of oxygen and energy, and prevent our organs and muscles from functioning at their best.
Once we have trained ourselves to breathe optimally and can effectively control our breath and combine it with our movement – the magic happens – due to a shift in control within the brain - the mind becomes quiet and calm.