Yoga is an ancient practice with roots dating back over 5,000 years to India. At its core, the practice of yoga seeks to unite the mind, body & spirit. In Sanskrit the word “yoga” itself means union or ‘yoke’, & the practice unites the physical postures (asanas), controlled breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation, & ethical principles into a system of wellbeing that can radically change your life.
Yoga is so much more than the pretzel shapes you’ve probably seen on social media, inspirational quotes & burning incense – yoga is a holistic practice that can improve your physical, mental & emotional health.
Perhaps you’ve heard rumours of the benefits or seen friends jetting off on yoga retreats, maybe you tried a class at the gym or at work & you’re curious to try more. Whether you’re here to de-stress, build strength, improve flexibility, reconnect to your body or just find some peace in this busy city, you’ve come to the right place!
So what are the benefits of a regular yoga practice? *There are so many we’ve had to break it down into sections…
Physical Benefits:
- Improved Flexibility: Yoga involves a variety of poses that stretch & lengthen muscles, leading to increased flexibility & range of motion.
- Enhanced Strength: Many yoga poses help to build muscle strength, particularly in the core, arms, & legs.
- Better Posture: Yoga promotes body awareness & alignment, which can lead to improved posture & reduced strain on the spine & muscles.
- Balance & Stability: Yoga poses often involve balancing on one leg or holding positions that challenge stability, which can improve balance over time.
- Pain Relief: Yoga can help alleviate chronic pain conditions, such as lower back pain, arthritis, & migraines, by reducing muscle tension & improving joint mobility.
Mental Benefits:
- Stress Reduction: Yoga encourages relaxation through mindful breathing & meditation, reducing the production of stress hormones & promoting a sense of calm.
- Mental Clarity: Regular practice can enhance concentration, mental focus, & cognitive function, making it easier to stay present & make informed decisions.
- Emotional Well-Being: Yoga helps regulate emotions by promoting self-awareness & emotional resilience, reducing symptoms of anxiety & depression.
- Improved Sleep: Practising yoga can lead to better sleep patterns & deeper, more restful sleep, which is essential for overall well-being.
- Enhanced Mind-Body Connection: Yoga fosters a deeper connection between the mind & body, helping you become more attuned to physical sensations & emotions.
Emotional Benefits:
- Increased Self-Acceptance: Yoga encourages self-acceptance & self-compassion, promoting a positive self-image & reducing negative self-talk.
- Mindfulness & Presence: Yoga teaches you to stay in the present moment, reducing worry about the past or anxiety about the future.
- Stress Management: By providing a healthy outlet for stress, yoga can help you cope better with life’s challenges & reduce the impact of stress on your overall well-being.
- Enhanced Resilience: Regular practice can boost emotional resilience, helping you bounce back from setbacks & adversity with greater ease.
- Social Connection: Yoga classes often foster a sense of community & social support, which can contribute to emotional well-being.
Spiritual Benefits:
- Inner Peace: Yoga can provide a sense of inner peace, tranquillity, & a deeper connection to your spiritual or inner self.
- Increased Awareness: Through meditation & self-reflection, yoga can lead to heightened self-awareness & a greater sense of purpose.
- Connection to Something Greater: For some, yoga serves as a spiritual practice that connects them to a higher power or a sense of the divine.
Incorporating yoga into your daily or weekly routine can help you experience these benefits & the key is to maintain consistency & practice with an open mind & heart. Whether you’re seeking physical fitness, stress relief, or spiritual growth, yoga has the potential to deeply enrich your life.
Starting Your Yoga Journey
- Select the right class for you: Check out our class descriptions & see what resonates with you.
- Commit to consistency: The benefits of yoga become more apparent with regular practice. Aim for a few sessions each week to experience noticeable physical & mental changes.
- Listen to your body: Yoga is not a competitive practice. Pay attention to your body’s signals & avoid pushing yourself too hard. Modify poses as needed to match your current level of flexibility & strength.
Our introductory offers give you the freedom to try out different classes & teachers to see which styles suit your needs and what works best for you. Check out what the right option is for you with our unbeatable prices!
ALL LEVELS – BEGINNER FRIENDLY | These classes are all levels, beginners & more experienced yogis are welcome! |
Vinyasa Flow – Open Level | Switch off, tune in & find your flow in this popular Vinyasa practice focused on syncing movement to breath in a flow designed to build heat, endurance, flexibility & strength. Expect different options throughout the class to suit your practice & what you need, encouraging you to listen to your body, clear your mind & reconnect to your breathing. *Beginner friendly* |
Morning Flow | Start your day well by finding your flow in this energising Vinyasa class designed to wake up your body & prepare your mind for the day ahead. Focusing on linking your breath with movement to help boost your energy levels, lift your mood & leave you feeling cool, calm & collected. *Beginner friendly* |
Slow Flow | This slow-paced class, inspired by the teachings of TVK Desikachar, combines slow mindful flow with traditional Hatha Yoga postures. The gentle & meditative pace of this practice allows for more precision & quality of the breath, movement & alignment. Sessions may conclude with breath-work, philosophy or meditation. *Beginner friendly* |
Flow To Restore | Our Flow to Restore class will transport you from your busy life into a more relaxed & calming space. We’ll begin with a flowing sequence linking postures to breath & helping to release stress or tension whilst building strength & flexibility. The second half of the class promotes deep relaxation with longer held poses to help repair & restore the entire system. *Beginner friendly* |
Hatha | Hatha Yoga is a slower paced class with a strong emphasis on the breath, alignment & mindful movement which creates a more meditative space. Hatha is a Sanskrit word which can be broken down into two elements;‘Ha’ meaning sun, & ‘tha’ meaning moon. The practice of Hatha Yoga works to balance these two energies & leave you feeling more aligned, centred & balanced as a result. Each teacher will interpret this practice in their own personal style with their choice of asana (postures) & pranayama (breathwork). *Beginner friendly* |
Anusara Hatha | This flowing practice blends elements of traditional Hatha yoga & Vinyasa flow, combining pranayama (breathwork), yoga philosophy, mantras, mudras & creates space to explore & deepen your practice. Anusara is a Sanskrit term derived from the root words, anu meaning “with,” & sara meaning “flow”, it can be translated to “flowing with grace”. *Beginner friendly* |
Restorative Recharge | Need to recharge after a long day? Then this is the class for you! In this practice we’ll work on opening the body & quieting the mind through a blissful blend of restorative yoga, classic hatha with a touch of yin & pranayama (breathwork). Expect to leave feeling replenished, open & relaxed. *Beginner friendly* |
Forrest Flow | This class has all the benefits of a traditional Forrest Yoga class but with an added element of Vinyasa Flow. A fusion of these two styles will attend to all of your yogic needs in just one hour session! Forrest yoga is an uplifting & inspiring practice that will build flexibility & strength to help deepen the relationship with your authentic self. *Beginner friendly* |
Elemental Flow | Elemental flow is our signature vinyasa flow sequence based on elemental & chakra theory. The sequences are carefully designed to build to a peak or series of peak poses & to foster the energy of each individual element. The classes are open level with variations offered to suit individual needs. *Beginner friendly* |
Foundations | MoreYoga Foundations is more than just a beginners yoga class, this specifically designed session is also geared towards those wanting to return to their practice after pregnancy, go back to basics after time out or simply slow down the pace of a session while still incorporating some of the key foundations of a Vinyasa Flow class. Expect a slower teaching style with a sprinkling of philosophy about the history of yoga woven into the hour, a strong focus & clear explanation of these three foundational aspects of yoga, Ujjayi Breath = Conscious Breathing, B&has = Energy Locks in the body & Vinyasa Flow = Movement & Alignment with breath. *Beginner friendly* |
About Liz Joy Hardie
Liz is Head of Wellness at MoreYoga, a trained Holistic Wellbeing Coach and Senior Yoga Teacher specialising in Yoga Therapy for Stress & Anxiety. Liz came to teach Yoga after being signed off from work with a blood pressure condition brought on by stress & generalised anxiety disorder. She is an advocate for Mental Health Awareness and co-founded the MoreMind Programme to promote positive mental health and help fight the stigma that still exists around mental illness. Her writing and commentary has been featured in Stylist, Time Out, The Times, Women’s Health, The Telegraph, Huffpost and more.