Benefits of Yoga – Taster Session

On 4th January I will be holding a Yoga Taster Session.  This is being held locally in the Dance Studio at Mulberrys, Astra Zeneca, Alderley Edge.

This session is suitable for those with an interest in yoga and will provide an opportunity for people to try a class.

No previous experience is required as full instruction and guidance will be provided throughout the session.

The cost to attend this Taster Session is £6.50 with all proceeds going to Cancer Research.

Bookings can be made by telephoning me on 01625 585595.

Benefits

You may have heard at some time that yoga is good for you but would like to know a little more about the specific benefits and what you can expect from attending a regular yoga class.

Physical Benefits

Flexibility: Stretching your body in a variety of yoga postures will help it become more flexible and gain a greater range of movement in muscles and joints.   Over time, you can expect to gain flexibility in your hamstrings, back, shoulders, and hips.

Strength: Whilst performing the yoga postures you will gain strength from supporting the weight of your own body, for example balancing on one leg.  In addition, you will be moving slowly in and out of some postures, which also increases strength.

Muscle tone:  In the process of getting stronger, you can expect to increase your muscle tone. Yoga is wonderful at shaping long, lean muscles.

Pain Prevention: Improving your strength and flexibility can help prevent some types of back pain. Tightness and compression caused by sitting at a desk or driving can also be helped through yoga. Yoga can improve the alignment of your spine and posture, which helps prevent many other types of pain.

Better Breathing: People don’t generally give much thought to their breathing and many of us breath very shallowly. Yoga breathing exercises teach us how to use our lungs more effectively which has a beneficial effect on the whole body.  Certain types of breathing can calm the nervous system or remove toxins, which is of benefit both physically and mentally.

Mental Benefits

Stress Reduction: Yoga is good for relieving stress. Chronic stress makes the body churn out too much cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.  Ultimately, this cortisol nudges the abdomen into opening its fat depots and storing more fat than it would otherwise.  Due to the concentration required, your  troubles will seem to melt away during the time you are doing yoga. The emphasis in yoga is on being in the present moment. You will learn how not to dwell on past events or anticipate the future, which can also help relieve stress. You will leave yoga classes feeling calmer and more relaxed than when you started which will help reduce your cortisol levels and maybe your waistline.

Calmness:  Concentrating intensely on the yoga postures, and what your body is doing, has a calming effect on the mind.  Yoga also introduces you to meditation techniques, e.g. watching your breathe, which helps to calm the mind.

Body Awareness: Yoga will give you an increased awareness of your own body as you are often required to make small, subtle movements to improve your alignment. It will not only help you detect when your hamstring is tight but can also help you at home to stop eating when you feel full.   This can lead to improved posture, greater self-confidence and weight loss.