If you’re thinking of trying a few classes, these are the most commonly asked questions!

What Style of Yoga do you teach?

A Slow Flow and a Gentle Flow, which combines accessible flowing movement and still yoga poses (asana), where you’re encouraged to move in a way that suits your body, as we’re all so different in terms of the way we move, the shape of our bones, muscle strength, stamina and physiology.

In Slow and Gentle Flow classes you’ll be encouraged to pay attention to how your body feels and there’s is a focus on breathing in harmony with your movement.  It's this ‘tuning in’ or somatic mindful movement that  helps you to decide how far to go into a posture, and to choose the variation or option that’s  offered to you in classes. It’s about exploring the best version of the pose for you so that the postures work for you, not the other way around!

How does a Slow and Gentle Flow compare to other Styles of Yoga?

There are similarities with contemporary Hatha Yoga (as taught in studios and gyms), which is a broad term for styles of yoga that are moderately active and it’s slower than Vinyasa Yoga which is a continuously flowing style where you’re constantly transitioning from one pose to the next. In a Slow Flow class  the flowing parts of the sequence prepare you for the still asana (postures) with and there’s time to find the variation or version of the pose that’s best suited to you. It’s less of a fitness based ‘yoga workout’ and more about developing mobility, flexibility, stability and strength in a gradual way through mindful movement and breath awareness. (More about yoga styles and terms in this blog)

Do I need to be flexible to come to your classes?

No! This is still such a misconception, caused in part by the fact that very flexible or hypermobile people are attracted to yoga and in part by yoga’s association with deep stretches and pretzel like poses. There is so much more to yoga than deep stretches and hypermobility.

Can I increase my flexibility with yoga?

The mobility of our joints is determined mainly by 2 factors : the first being the result of long term movement patterns or habits, either through activity or inactivity: Footballers for example, may develop very tight inner thighs while years of sitting on a chair may affect our ability to squat or sit cross legged on the floor. We can increase our flexibility marginally though repeated stretching movements which causes our nervous systems to recognise them as ‘safe’, so we feel less discomfort as we gradually increase some range of movement.

The second factor determining your flexibility is inherited, and is down to the shape of your bones. Human skeletal variety is huge: we are more different on the inside than on the outside. The shape of a ballet dancer’s hip socket is likely to be very different from a sprinters. (For more about flexibility read this blog).

What should I wear to a yoga class?

Comfortable clothes that you can move in and bare feet will prevent slipping on your mat. You’ll warm up quite quickly but you’ll probably sweat a lot less than in a fitness based class, although this depends on you!

So what would a classes include?

• Clear Instruction:

• Teaching instructions are always clear and I explain exactly how to move your body into each asana (pose) and use simple language for anything technical or anatomical. I do teach use Sanskrit terms to honor the traditions of yoga and I use the English translation each and every time.

• A Supportive, Step by Step, Accessible Approach to teaching Asana

• Working from the foundations there’s a progression to more challenging poses. Options and variations are given throughout and you’re encouraged to work with your level of energy on any given day. Props are often used to make asana (postures) work for your individual body and sometimes they’re used to make things more challenging!

• Deep relaxation

• Expect deep relaxation at the end of every class to rest, reset and revitalise. A guided Yoga nidra relaxation includes a body scan where attention is directed around the body, and in Restorative Yoga you’re supported by props in positions of comfort and ease. Both practices facilitate deep relaxation, restfulness and wellbeing. 

• Going beyond asana

• My classes include breathwork (pranayama), mindfulness and meditative practices woven into the fabric of the classes, as these are an integral part of yoga .

• The resting practice at the end of class (savasana) facilitates deep relaxation and wellbeing, soothing the nervous system and bringing you into a state of harmony or homeostasis.

• I often include movement science concepts when they’re a relevant part of a class theme.

Above all, yoga with me prioritises enjoyable movement, learning new skills and plenty of relaxation!

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For Class information and the timetable can be found here.