Yoga 2024 and beyond

Yoga 2024 and beyond

Yoga has been with us for thousands of years and has benefited many people throughout their lives. We all look at the yoga teacher in awe as they bend themselves into all sorts of body entangled positions, thinking to ourselves “that’s just impossible ” … well put your mind at rest, it’s not about what the yoga teacher can do, or the person in front of us can do, it’s about you as an individual and your yoga journey. What is my yoga journey I can hear you ask, your yoga journey can be small steps within your flexibility and fitness or to a full life change, the choice is yours. The journey can be a full forward bend, at the start only being able to touch as far as your knees and then over time and practice, being able to touch your toes. That journey being 30 centimetres (12 inches).

If I were to list the benefits of yoga, I would probably be here for the rest of the day and miss out many other benefits. Over the coming months I shall be writing a few articles on this page, if you would like me to cover anything that is close ? Covering many different mind, body and health issues and how yoga can help.

Below is a note from Elizebeth from Devizes who has attend my yoga classes for about 3 years.

“I feel I’m growing taller as I age, not shrinking as is the norm. As we age our discs in our spine flatten and our bodies lose muscle mass. For years I have spent long hours in front of a computer, which isn’t easy on the back. Then sixteen years ago I had an operation for cancer which resulted in my body becoming unbalanced and leaning slightly to one side as I tried to compensate for the loss of flexibility afterwards.

About eight years ago I began my yoga journey and since then I have become stronger and in my mind, taller.yoga has become part of my life and I look forward to my weekly classes, always finding time to fit them into my shift patterns. I love the flow of the movements and using my breath to work with my body. Stretching feels good. I take great joy in moving from upwards stretch into a full forward bend in our sun salutations, as I almost feel like my body is growing again. Later on in the practice, when we do the cobra or camel, I can feel my body reverting into its natural position and the muscles in my back release their tension.

Nowadays I am looking forward to walking tall as I age instead of what would have been the hunched back old lady I had started to become before I started my yoga practice.’’

At the Holistic Labyrinth yoga studio in Pewsey, we teach all different ability classes.

I also teach yoga at Wiltshire county council leisure centres, Pewsey, Marlborough and Devizes, please check their website for days and times.

45/47 North street, Pewsey

Please send enquiries or questions to Mark Woolfenden.email. mark.woolfenden@btinternet.com

Mobile 07525 623633