Yoga at Bodyworks
Have you always wanted to try Yoga? Or perhaps you have practised before and are looking for a new local class. In addition to the many Pilates classes running at Bodyworks, we are excited to announce that Yoga classes will be offered from 2023.
Originating in ancient India, Yoga is a mind and body practice, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practised for health and relaxation.
Yoga can be traced back to northern India over 5,000 years ago. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means “union” or “to join.” Indian monks spread their knowledge of yoga in the West during the late 1890s. Modern yoga teachings became widely popular in Western countries by the 1970s.
There are several types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice.
A regular yoga practice can promote endurance, strength, calmness, flexibility, and well-being.
The overall philosophy of yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit.
There are several branches of yoga, each branch represents a different focus and set of characteristics. The types of Yoga that we run at Bodyworks are Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga
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Meet Debby Fletcher
An accredited Stott Pilates Mat-work instructor, ‘Mbodies’ Reformer trainer, 200hr Yoga teacher, Nutritional therapist, Baby yoga & massage therapist with a diploma in mindfulness.
Influenced by teachers, peers, life experiences and environment, Debby aims to bring a unique sense of empowerment to each of her sessions.
Debby started her Yoga journey whilst she was studying dance at university and practised it in her spare time. Yoga became an important part of Debby’s life thereafter and has helped her navigate through traumatic times.
Using Yoga’s benefits of grounding, calming the mind and healing, it quickly became a way of life, emphasising what was important; humility, grace, kindness, breath, hope and change.
Debby went on to train for and complete a 200hr teacher ‘Vinyasa Yoga and Yoga For Stress’ course with Integrity Centre Yoga School based in London.
“Yoga allows clarity, for me to stop and live, breath by breath. It gives me control when I feel I have none. It can be a place of energy when I need uplifting; it provides me with self-love.”Debby has a passion for health & wellbeing and will welcome you, providing a safe space for both those new to yoga or those deepening their existing practice. Debby will inspire you by teaching in a way which provokes thought and brings new meaning to your practice, increasing your knowledge, ability and awareness.
Meet Joanne Metson
Jo qualified as a Pilates instructor in 2007, studying “Modern Pilates” with Northern Fitness and Education Ltd. Her interest in Pilates came from her background as a Holistic Therapist. She has always been interested in natural health and wellbeing, which closely aligns with the ethos of Pilates, being a dynamic form of mind-body exercise. She then went on to train in Reformer Pilates.
Jo started practising Yoga in 2014, initially to improve her flexibility, but ultimately she discovered that Yoga is so much more than the physical practice. Not only does it improve your flexibility and build strength and stamina, it is also a practice that is hugely beneficial in creating space and peace of mind. The various breathing practices help to improve lung capacity and provide a gateway into meditation.
Jo qualified as a multi-disciplined Yoga Teacher in 2020 with Same Star Yoga, teaching Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin Yoga. Both Pilates and Yoga are mindful forms of movement, designed to educate students about their bodies and to understand a bit about their physiology. As well as the physical benefits, both practices bring about a sense of relaxation and mental focus.
Vinyasa yoga is an approach to yoga in which you move from one pose directly into the next seamlessly using breath. There is a flow in a Vinyasa session and the pace and style will be determined by the instructor and can vary.
The steady cycle of inhales and exhales provides you with a calming, mental focal point. The continual movements, from one pose to another, gives you an added cardiovascular benefit creating internal heat. Increased strength and flexibility – whether slow or fast-paced, Vinyasa classes are a great workout for your body. The beauty of vinyasa is its suitable to adapt to different abilities, and the diversity of sequencing. Classes may be sequenced around a peak pose such as a backbend, or they might focus on a particular theme such as the chakras or an aspect of yoga philosophy.
The class may be dynamic and focus on strengthening postures, or it may be a slower flow with an emphasis on mobility and flexibility in the spine or the hips. Whether you’re looking for a deeper understanding of your yoga practice or just starting out, this style of yoga holds many benefits physically, mentally, and spiritually. At the end of the sequence, we adopt a restorative asana (pose) Savasana. Often seen as the key component of yoga, allowing the body to relax fully, and giving time to focus on the one thing that’s still moving, your breath.
Hatha yoga has more emphasis on posture and controlled breathing and working on your core strength too. With Hatha yoga the moves are slow and deliberate moving into different poses that will work on your strength and flexibility but also focussing on your mindfulness and relaxation. The poses are held for several breaths before you move on to the next one. Hatha may be more suitable for older students and people who struggle weight bearing on wrists or mobility issues. Classes incorporate pranayama practices, breathing techniques, to improve lung capacity and reduce stress. As well as meditation and relaxation to bring about a feeling of peace, clarity, and focus.
Yoga is suitable for all ages and abilities, with multiple benefits to your physical and mental health. A regular Yoga practice builds strength, improves posture, mobility and flexibility as well as improving mental clarity and calmness, relieving stress, and relaxing the mind. The list of benefits is endless! We would love to share this beautiful practice with you. Please get in touch and get booked on to one of our classes.