Yoga - Creating better health from within

Take time out from the stresses and strains of modern life with a 90-minute programme that will improve your physical fitness and recharge your mind, body and spirit.

Enjoy a friendly and relaxed yoga class catering for all ages, body types and abilities.

New weekly class starting Monday 6th September 2010

7.15 to 8.45

Swanwick Memorial Hall
Old Whittington
Chesterfield
S41 9JZ

Tuesday – 7.15 to 8.45pm

Beighton Sports and Leisure Club
52A High Street
Beighton
Sheffield
S20 1ED

These are drop in classes with no membership or booking needed

£5 per session

Please bring a smile and a mat or blanket and you will be made most welcome.

Each class has a theme to help increase your knowledge about yoga and demonstrate some of the therapeutic benefits of practicing yoga.  The theme may focus a particular area of the body, such as core strength and stability, strengthening the spine, releasing tension in the upper back, shoulders and neck; or a specific bodily system such as improving the function of digestion and elimination, the immune system, the nervous system; or a theme related to a topic such as embracing change, coping with stress, releasing fear and relaxation.  Each theme aims to provide the student with a greater understanding of some of the philosophy surrounding yoga and a comprehensive set of postures, breathing exercises, mudras and meditations that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine to help improve your health and well being.

What is Yoga?

The goal of yoga is to balance all of your physical systems with your mind, emotions and spirit so you can experience true well being.

Regular yoga practice helps to:

Relax and calm the mind, body and spirit

• Improve breath awareness

• Stretch and tone the whole body (including internal organs)

• Improve flexibility

• Aid circulation and improve nerve and blood supply to all the vital organs of the body

• Strengthen the spine and help to ease back pain

• Soothe the nervous system

• Improve digestive disorders

• Improve energy levels and relieve tiredness

• Improve stamina, fitness and concentration

• Rejuvenate, diminish tension and teach relaxation

• Increase awareness of the body

• Improve core strength and stability

• Improve balance (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual)

• Improve posture

• Assist in developing mental clarity and focus

• Calm and discipline the mind

• Improve concentration and counteract stress

• Give control over emotions

• Promote a positive happy attitude
  

The three most important elements of yoga are breathing (pranayama), posture (asana) and relaxation (savasana).  In yoga, the breath is equal to the energy of life and helps to control prana, the vital energy within us.  When we breathe properly, this energy or prana is able to flow freely around the body resulting in an increase of energy and vitality.  Breathing correctly is seen as an important link between our physical and mental well being.  It cleanses and strengthens the physical body and calms, steadies and clears the mind.  The link between the body and the breath is obvious.  The muscles need oxygen constantly in order to function effectively.  In yoga the postures used are tools to energize and invigorate.  Proper relaxation is the tool to seal the energy and provides a space for it to flow through your entire being.