DO YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE?

It is a bit of a myth, that you have to be flexible to do Yoga. In fact being less flexible means that you have something to work with. Some people may be drawn to Yoga because they are more flexible, but equally being too flexible can be something that you need to be aware of and manage. Some people can be ‘hypermobile’ which means that they may need to engage their muscles more, so they don’t ‘hang-out’ in their joints. Flexible or not Yoga is not about being a certain body type and I teach Yoga that is more accessible and welcome any-body to my classes.

AM I TOO OLD ?

Yoga is not age dependant. In fact it is possible to start Yoga at any age and experience the benefits of the practice. Certain styles of Yoga will be more appropriate for different stages of life, as our bodies change, so do our needs. Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Slow Flow are all accessible forms of Yoga that would be suitable for older bodies. My mum comes to my online classes and she is in her seventies.

WHAT DO I NEED TO WEAR ?

I would suggest that you wear clothes that are comfortable and can move in. You do not need to have fancy leggings or an expensive Yoga mat! For Yin + Restorative Yoga you can wear layers, even socks, as you do not heat the body through movement.

IS YOGA SPIRITUAL?

Yoga is deeply rooted in spirituality and goes beyond the desire to lengthen hamstrings and attain the ‘body beautiful’; although many might be drawn to it for that reason! Yoga helps to cultivate self-enquiry and can help with our mental and emotional wellbeing; as well as our relationships with others.

Hatha Yoga (which is perhaps the branch most influential in the West) is an eight limbed path and Asana (the physical postures) is just one aspect of the practice. The other ‘limbs’ are Pranayama (breath control), Niyama (internal disciplines), Yama (external disciplines), Pratayahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration) Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (enlightenment)

Yoga is a spiritual path. The practice of yoga is a philosophy or way of life; but has roots in both Hinduism + Buddhism.

I AM PREGNANT, CAN I DO YOGA?

Yes you can practice Yoga when you are pregnant. It is however recommended that you do not do so in the first trimester. You can continue to practice Yoga for the rest of your pregnancy but should avoid certain postures such as deep twists and backbends and will become more restricted over time in certain postures. You may want to consider Pregnancy Yoga when you reach a certain stage in your pregnancy; which will be specifically tailored to support you in the later stages of gestation. Yin yoga can be practiced whilst pregnant, but it should be more supportive to avoid over stretching.

I HAVE AN INJURY / CONDITION, CAN I DO YOGA?

It all depends on what the injury or condition is and how long you have had it. I would suggest that you let me know if you have anything to discuss; so that I can understand how to best support you. This may involve not practicing for a while or adapting the practice to work for you. Feel free to contact me with any other specific questions.