"Yoga" means to join Body, Mind and Spirit

Yoga is a means of balancing and harmonising the body, mind, breath and emotions. Yoga presents us all with a proven method for coping with the inevitable ups and downs of life.

Benefits from a regular yoga practise are well documented and supported by western scientific research. Yoga focusses on increasing strength and flexibility in our bodies, improving our capacity to breathe well, calming our minds and easing mental tension.

Strength: Many yoga asanas involve bearing weight, particularly in the legs and arms.  These help to improve muscle strength and bone density, warding off osteoporosis.  Ability to manage stress and cope with a range of emotions - yoga includes a variety of practices, such as breath control, deep relaxation, concentration and an approach to yourself and others that help to cope with day to day stress.

Flexibility: Yoga asanas or postures encourage muscles to lengthen, allowing a greater range of movement.  Joints are also nourished with fluid through the yoga movements.  

Practicing yoga can help to:

• release your mind,

• let your body rest,

• give you energy,

• let you feel strong and flexible,

• allow deep relaxation,

• relieve aches and pains,

• release deep emotions,

• let your mind be still,

• allow better concentration.

With all these benefits, and many more, how can you resist?  Yoga is suitable for people of all ages, all abilities and from all walks of life.  Yoga practice can be intelligently adapted to suit people with a range of conditions.  Yoga can be beneficial during pregnancy and for new mothers, for older people, for those with stress, chronic pain and long term illness.