The benefits of yoga are varied and can be driven by what the student is looking to gain at a point in time. Some people may want to switch off for the duration of a class, others may want to build strength and balance whilst others may be looking to focus on particular parts of the body.
None of the intentions are wrong, and over time they will change as a student’s yoga practice evolves.
From our perspective, the most important thing is that people, of all ages, genders, fitness and levels of experience are finding time in their busy lives to join a yoga class – be it via a local yoga studio, watching yoga videos online or joining live streamed classes.
We believe that what makes yoga stand out is that it combines physical movement with mindfulness – being present in the moment.
Out of all the scientific experiments for yoga, the most “proven” studies are stress reduction. The most obvious benefit would be improved sleep. But there are many other symptoms of stress that can affect the body physically: Improvement to back and neck issues, improvement to the digestive system (as bundles of nerves centre around the abdominal area), and reduction of headaches to name a few.
Our and use similar yoga poses – though the time each pose is held varies. Yin poses are held for longer and allow students to go deeper into the stretch.
Whichever class you join, you will follow the same key principles:
Having enjoyed many sports, we have found that it is the combination of both physical activity with mindfulness that has made our own practice more enjoyable. Most people often start with the physical benefits in mind, but over time get to appreciate the broader health benefits of yoga.
