How YOGA works for YOU...
RELIEVE THE STRESS IN YOUR BUSY LONDON LIFE
RECONNECT WITH YOUR BODY
IMPROVE POSTURE
CALM YOUR MIND, DISENTANGLE YOUR THOUGHTS
BUILD A STRONG, FLEXIBLE, HEALTHY BODY
EASE TIGHT, EXHAUSTED MUSCLES AFTER A WORK OUT
REHABILITATE AFTER INJURY
IRON OUT THE KINKS OF COMMUTING
The Practice
Yoga is a very well-rounded form of exercise made up primarily of postures (asana), which range from gentle to intense, and are held for a number of breaths or fluidly moved through and linked together in a sequence. It focusses on strength, flexibility and breathing, noticeably boosting physical and mental wellbeing, which makes it the perfect antidote to the stresses and bodily aches caused by daily commuting and working at a desk.
A typical class usually begins with breathing exercises or a short meditation. It then moves through standing poses, seated poses, and twists, followed by core work, backbends, inversions, and the final relaxation pose. Intensity can vary according to your needs, from a gentle, restorative practice for injury rehabilitation and relaxation, to a more challenging class, building endurance and vigorously working on upper body strength. Either way, it's a wonderful method of relieving stress, improving balance and core strength, building physical and mental confidence, and developing long, lean, athletic muscle tone.
Yoga promotes a strong, balanced body. Maintaining a good regular practice can reduce joint pain and mobility problems such as those caused by arthritis, as well as being beneficial for people with high blood pressure, back pain, depression and anxiety.
Your practice will help you set aside time for yourself, relax your thoughts, and develop a fitter, healthier body and mind - all in one work out!
You'll reconnect with your body and discover just how much it can do; it's always more than you think, so give it a try and you'll be impressing friends with a killer headstand in no time!
The Instructor
Claire trained in India under Carol Murphy of Green Lotus Yoga and is a Yoga Alliance UK registered teacher with strong technical training in Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara yoga. She is also a professional contemporary dancer with classical ballet training and has been performing with opera and contemporary dance companies since graduating in 2011.
She loves to teach Vinyasa classes focussing on breath and graceful flowing movement threads, whilst emphasising strengthening the whole body and maintaining good technique, including a strong core section and toning exercises for a tougher work out. Exercises taken from Claire's professional dance training, such as ballet barre techniques, can also be included.
She equally enjoys slowing down the practice with a gentler class, using her comprehensive anatomical understanding to instruct solid, safe technique which supports and strengthens the joints through beautiful alignment.
Claire likes to tailor classes to work with a student's needs and goals in order to bring about real change and progression in their practice and, above all, to make them stronger.