Yoga classes will continue through the summer until August 18th, then there will be a two week break.

Classes will restart on the following days:

Tuesday 6 September in Primley Road

Thursday 8 September in Kennaway House

23.3 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health in 2014/15!

Stress, depression or anxiety  accounted for 9.9million of those days lost!Yoga in the Office can have a huge impact on staff stress levels by helping people to access an inner strength that allows them to face the sometimes-overwhelming fears, frustrations, and challenges of everyday life.

Minimum disruption to office routine Yoga in the Office is carried where people work – do get in touch if your workforce would like to benefit.

It’s International Yoga Day!

In Nepal the Prime Minister, Deputy PM, lawmakers and officials are all taking part in the celebrations… the same in India… Maybe Western government officials could follow this lead!

“The yoga I did with you this week was enlightening. I hadn’t realised how important it is to have the correct feet positioning. You explained it so clearly; it is helping my backache.”

This feedback from Tuesday’s class shows just how important the positioning of the feet are in yoga. In standing poses the feet are the base of the pose and if they are not correctly aligned then the pose will be out of alignment – and yes, if the feet are not working there will be repercussions in other parts of the body, in this case causing backache.

This lovely image shows all the parts of the feet that should be pressing the floor in Tadasana.

One to one classes are personalised, ensuring the pace, content and focus is suited to your exact needs. Whether you are a complete beginner or are already practicing and want a challenge the class will be tailored to suit you.

One to one classes are an ideal way to progress. I pay attention to alignment with adjustments given as necessary, careful planning ensures there is systematic progress from class to class and this will really help to develop and deepen your practice.

One to one classes are so convenient. They are held in your own home, they fit around your time commitments and all equipment is provided. You can either book a one off class or regular on-going classes

There’s lots of keen interest in chair yoga here in Sidmouth, people are enjoying a good stretch and some relaxation as well.

Here are some comments:

“A bit old now for floor yoga, this class is a wonderful find”

“I’m here to keep ME going, I find it very helpful”

“Am very happy with everything. Not only do we get a good work out, but also it is very calming. An hour well spent”

You can see more testimonials here

Have you ever wondered whether yoga really does make a difference if you have a condition like arthritis? Many people claim it does and that they feel so much better for going to classes and doing it regularly.

But what proof is there?

Well, an American study carried out last year by Johns Hopkins University confirmed a fantastic 20% improvement in pain, energy levels, mood and physical function for people with arthritis of the knee. 

Dr Susan Bartlett from Johns Hopkins said “Yoga may be especially well suited to people with arthritis because it combines physical activity with potent stress management and relaxation techniques, and focuses on respecting limitations that can change from day to day.”

Here’s the link to the study

1. Flexibility. Improving flexibility increases your range of motion. Athletic exercise results in the tightening of muscles and can lead to issues with surrounding muscles, tendons and tissues and potential injury. Yoga enhances the movement of joints and muscles crucial for overall structural soundness and performance.
2. Strength is vitally important. Yoga will work your overall body strength, including core strength, which is important to maintain proper athletic form. Yoga strengthens supportive but otherwise under-developed muscles creating a more balanced overall strength.
3. Mental Focus. Having good mental focus is incredibly important to being a good athlete. Learning the skills to breathe through discomfort and to push aside thoughts of doubt can help you whether you‘re racing or doing a hard workout.

FREE TASTER CLASS – Thursday 26 May at 7.30pm in Kennaway House. Please contact me if you need any more information

Whether you want to try an Iyengar yoga class or find out what Chair yoga involves your first class will be FREE.

There are so many styles of yoga now it can be difficult to know which to chose and it is so important to find the yoga class and style of yoga that suits you. So, before you commit to Iyengar classes, you can get a taste of what it involves by dropping in for one session at no cost.

Here’s a comment from Judith who had not done Iyengar yoga before: ” I hadn’t studied Iyengar before and wasn’t sure I would cope with the equipment, but Barbara won me over very quickly as I soon understood how it all helped to achieve better alignment and made the asanas more accessible.”

Classes are in Kennaway House and Primley Road see details here