Yoga

  The origins of the philosophy and practice of yoga go back 5000 years to India and are linked to meditative practices of religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. In the UK today, yoga is viewed primarily as a form of exercise and relaxation, which usually involves performing a number of postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.

Why? 

  Yoga makes you feel really good! Whether you do it in your lunch break, after work, on a Saturday morning or on a week–long retreat in Thailand, you’ll probably find it difficult to say that yoga didn’t make you feel that little bit better about yourself and probably the world in general! You don’t necessarily have to pursue the spiritual or religious path of yoga, nor do you need to spend time trying to find union with thedivine consciousness to take part. Yoga is open to everyone.The postures used in yoga are suitable for all levels of ability and can be tailored to beginners and those with a limited range of movement.Being flexible is certainly not a requirement for starting yoga and you won’t be asked to perform a headstand on arrival at your firstclass, but it’s more than likely that once you start, your flexibility and strength will improve – so why not give it a go? And who knows – soon you might discover that a headstand really is the most comfortable position in which to settle down in front of your favourite soap!

To get started

 Find a local yoga class in your area and speak to the teacher about which session is most suitable for you. There are a number of different styles and forms of yoga. In the UK the most frequently taught form is Hatha Yoga that combines postures, breathing and meditation but within Hatha there can be a huge range in style and intensity of the classes – some will be low–impact and some will be very demanding indeed

When? 

  Yoga classes go on throughout the year and most are on a ‘drop–in’ basis, so you can turn up to the class as it suits you and pay for only the classes that you attend (booking may be necessary at busier classes). However, some yoga classes will be run in courses over a certain number of weeks on specific dates, usually consisting of

one session per week. To participate in these courses will require a booking and payment before the term starts.

Equipment 

  Wear clothes that are comfortable such as a t–shirt and shorts or leggings that do not restrict your movement when stretching. It is recommended that you do yoga in bare feet. Classes will usually provide mats and blocks, however you may decide to buy your own yoga mat which will cost anything from £15 upwards

Cost

 Classes usually last an hour to an hour and a half, and range in price from being completely free at some community facilities to £10 or more per session. There are usually savings to be made if you buy a block of ten or so classes at a time.