The practice of yoga can be dated back 5000 years and yet despite its age, it could not be more relevant today.

Stress is a global epidemic, we now have road rage, plane rage and even christmas shopping rage. We are bombarded by adverts telling us what we cannot live without and reinforcements that the only way to be happy is to win the lottery. We work long hours, eat on the go, congratulate ourselves for doing twenty things at once. How many times have you driven somewhere and wondered how you got there? or realised you'eaten a plate of food without tasting any of it? or perhaps not been able to get to sleep because your mind is racing?.

Yoga teaches us to become present, to quieten the mind.

For most people yoga begins in the form of physical practice, and indeed in classes the majority of the time is spent in postures (asanas). You will be encouraged to become aware of your breath, to use the breath to complement movement and to work with the breath to strengthen and lengthen the body. Yoga isn't about contorting the body into impossible poses, it's about listening to the body and respecting its limitations and postures can be adapted to suit individual needs. 

Classes also include time for breathing techniques (pranayama). By controlling the breath we can begin to control our mind and emotions. If you've ever noticed how the breath becomes shallow and rapid when we are upset or how it becomes slow and deep when we are relaxed, then it also should make sense that when we purposely slow and deepen the breath we can experienced a relaxed state.

Relaxation is just as important for mental and physical health as exercise and should not be overlooked or seen as a luxury. It is most definately essential and therefore relaxation forms part of all the classes and can be used as an opportunity to use your own affirmation to make possitive changes in your life.

Most of all yoga is something to enjoy, so come along and give it a try, like me you just might think its the best decision you ever made.