What are the benefits of Yoga?

• Yoga can help manage anxiety and depression.

   Yoga poses/stretches, meditation and breathing exercises can help activate our happy hormones and the parasympathetic nervous system. This can help with stress management.

• Yoga improves emotional regulation. 

  Another positive benefit of Yoga is the ability to come into the present moment. Focusing on the mind and body is a learnt skill that can help to hack the nervous system to improve health and well-being. Tending to our mental, emotional and physical health promotes relaxation.

• Yoga can create feelings of peace, acceptance and belonging.

  When we quieten our minds for long enough you’ll find a sense of peace that is always available. Yoga helps to bring this awareness forth. This can also improve our quality of life and perspective.

• Yoga boosts self-esteem. 

  By practicing and overcoming challenges, yoga can give students a sense of achievement.

• Yoga encourages mindfulness. 

  Throughout any yoga class we infuse a grounding practice. When we ground, we bring our senses back into the present moment.

• Yoga enhances concentration and memory. 

  Yoga uses different types of movements that require students to focus and work on their memorization skills.

• Yoga develops strength, flexibility and balance. 

  Yoga has a large focus on movements and stretches, which help strengthen the body, help improve flexibility and build balance. This can also help reduce chance of injury.

• Yoga promotes bone and joint health.

  Simple and accessible movements help keep muscles active and strong. This helps to support the joints and bones.

• Yoga teaches self-control.

  With practice and time, yoga can reduce challenging emotions by providing a physical outlet for students to express themselves. While practicing yoga, we encourage students to pause and reflect. This awareness gives you a chance to choose how to react. This is a difficult skill for most of us but when nurtured consistently, the benefits prevail.

• Yoga builds body and mind awareness.

  Yoga has a variety of fun poses and focuses on calming the mind and moving the body. Naturally body and mind awareness are strengthened and improved. Improvement in body awareness is also great of spatial awareness.

•  Yoga is fun and available to every body!

  Yoga connects you with a supportive community. There are many teaching styles in Yoga. It’s not all about stretching - it’s about finding your balance of movement and stillness.

What is Yoga?

The definition of the sanskrit word "yoga" means "to join" or "to yoke" or "to unite". Yoga is a tool to help reconnect the mind, body and spirt. The word "yoga" isn't defined as the beautiful poses we make in class. The poses are actually called "asana". If we look at Yoga holistically, it's a part of a deeper practice. In our Yoga practice we bring our attention to breath (breathwork or panayama), we create movement and poses (asana), and we invite awareness and pockets of mindfulness (meditation). The skills learnt in Yoga is something that can be implemented and encouraged on and off the mat. Yoga is an ancient practice with many techniques and skills involved. As the world continues to evolve, studies of the positive benefits of Yoga continue to grow. With modifications, creativity and consideration, Yoga is an enjoyable practice that is available to all bodies and ages.

Which Yoga is best?

Yoga is not a “one size fits all”. There are so many different types of Yoga class styles. I recommend trying different classes until you find what you enjoy best. Keep in mind that your style will change as you progress in your practice. Remember that Yoga is for every body, and there’s a class style to suit your needs and intentions. You don't need experience or training. You don't need to be an expert or at the peak of physical fitness. You don't need to be flexible or strong. You don't need to be a certain age or specific gender. Mixed emotions are totally normal! To practice Yoga you just need to show up for yourself - The Yoga teacher will guide you through the rest. Click the box below to read more on my class styles.

Will yoga help me lose weight?

You may find that Yoga is an internal practice, and unique to your intentions. There is growing research that shows yoga is very helpful in managing stress, improving your moods, cultivates mindful living and eating, and creates a community of support, all of which can help with weight loss and maintenance. A vinyasa style yoga class can also help you burn calories, as well as increase your muscle mass and tone.

Will yoga help back pain?

A gentle Yoga practice is ideal for maintaining back strength and flexibility. It's also one of the more effective tools for helping reduce lower back pain, the most common source of pain and disability among adults.

Is Yoga safe during pregnancy?

Research suggests that prenatal yoga is safe and can have many benefits for pregnant women and their babies. Prenatal yoga can: Improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, and can help prepare a woman’s body for labour! Poses can be modified to suit your growing baby. If you have any safety concerns it’s always best to consult with your healthcare professional.

How Yoga helps mental health

Yoga is a low-impact exercise, and has been shown to lower stress hormones in our bodies while simultaneously increasing beneficial brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These feel-good chemicals help decrease anxiety and improve mood. Yoga is a holistic practice and has shown to be a valuable tool in improving mental health. The combination of movement, breath work, and stillness helps to organise yourself internally.

Are you curious about something else? I would love to help answer your questions about Yoga. Don’t be shy, no question is bad question.