January is often a time for self reflection. A time to think about what you have or haven’t achieved in the past year, and what you hope to achieve in the next. When the new year also happens to be a new decade your focus can often become more intense and more determined, so we decided to offer a FREE Yoga session to anyone who registered for the class this month. We wanted to reach out to as broad a range of people as possible and offer them a chance to experience the benefits of yoga.
Why we chose January to offer our Free Yoga Session
We all know that many gyms, studios and fitness trainers and centres are preparing to open their doors to the massive influx of students looking to start their new year’s resolutions in earnest. After all, January is often focused on health – perhaps because the excess of Christmas and New Year has added a few pounds to the scales, or perhaps physically and mentally it was a stressful time.
Even as students were arriving at our free yoga session, they were not shy in admitting our class was one of several they had been trying over recent days – which is absolutely the right thing to do. There are so many different forms of yoga and so many different benefits you can gain from the different disciplines. Understanding and experiencing these differences will not only find out whether yoga is the right thing for you, but whether the class you are attending is the right type of yoga for you too.
Our yoga class is focused on mindful yoga, so students who come to us are often looking for a place where they can find balance, harmony and energy renewal amidst the hectic bustle of everyday pressures and deadlines. A place where they can empty their minds, work their bodies and leave feeling amazing inside and out.
Some students don’t even realise that is what they were looking for until they experience mindful yoga for the first time!
What was the response like to our Free Yoga Sesssion?
We have to confess, we were blown away! More than 50 people registered for the event, and we had to restrict the class to just 23. Who knows? We may be able to run another free class later in the year! So if you fancy joining us, let us know!
What did we do during our Free Yoga Session?
Our free yoga session was run in exactly the same way a regular Yoga For All class would run. We didn’t run a specially devised class. We wanted the students to experience an authentic class, so we ensured the class ran at it’s regular time (which was important for a number of people who realised it was just going to be too tight trying to make the class after work). And we ran it in the same venue, so students would get a feel for the room and whether they would feel comfortable not only during the class, but leaving and returning safely to their cars for their homeward journey.
Emma’s class starts with a period of relaxation, to enable you to let the cares of the day slip away. You then practice breathing exercises designed to help you breathe more fully and easily. The class then follows a series of yoga poses that take you through every part of the body, followed by a calming breathing exercise and then lying down for yoga nidra relaxation.
A huge thank you!
We just wanted to send out a huge thank you to all the students who attended and sent messages and emails of thanks for Emma’s time and generosity. We truly appreciate it.
We hope to see some of you again soon!
What are the benefits of yoga?
According the the American Osteopathic Association the benefits on our body are:
- increased flexibility.
- increased muscle strength and tone.
- improved respiration, energy and vitality.
- maintaining a balanced metabolism.
- weight reduction.
- cardio and circulatory health.
- improved athletic performance.
- protection from injury.
But that’s not all. The benefits on our mind are that it:
- can relieve stress
- can reduce anxiety
- can help improve quality of life
- can help reduce the risk of depression
- can help improve sleep
- can help reduce migraines
- can help with anger
How can I practice yoga?
The benefits of yoga are achieved through the regular practice of yoga.
Emma has devised a 30 day habit-setting programme of 5 A Day Yoga where for 30 days you practice just 5 minutes of yoga a day. If you complete the programme you can then adapt it to suit, for example increasing it two videos a day – it is entirely up to you.
The programme is completely free. There is no sign up required. Why not give it a try? You can view the introduction video below or visit the programme here.
Senior Yoga Teacher Emma, teaches yoga classes, pregnancy yoga, mum and baby yoga and even teaches yoga to students wishing to become instructors themselves, in and around the Somerset, Bath, Radstock and Midsomer Norton area.
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