What can I expect from one of Maureen’s Yoga classes?
All classes are very relaxed and informal but that doesn’t mean that the practice is not challenging. The classes are designed to allow people of all abilities to take part and in the true spirit of Yoga, classes are not competitive but everyone is encouraged to challenge their own personal limits to achieve growth within their own practice.
A typical class starts with a short relaxation and Pranayama (Breathing techniques) to prepare the body and mind for the class ahead. Breathing is the key to Yoga and attention is given to the breath throughout the practice.
Our posture work starts with Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) – warming up all the major muscle groups in the body and developing strength and flexibility in the spine.
Standing postures follow - poses which open the hips and chest and develop balancing skills.
We then move to seated postures – which include spinal twists, forward folds and backbends. These focus on developing rotational mobility in the spine, opening the hip joints and stretching the hamstrings (back of the thighs). Yoga is all about removing blockages, allowing energy to move freely around the body, so we spend some time in each pose to gently persuade the body to open up.
Towards the end of the class we move to inverted postures (shoulder and head-stands) which include some of the most beneficial postures in our Yoga practice – lifting energy levels, helping to bring the spine into perfect alignment, stimulating the endocrine system - to mention but a few of the many benefits.
All postures can be adapted for different levels of experience, from beginners to those with years of experience and for people with conditions that prevent the practice of specific postures.
We finish with relaxation, allowing the body to assimilate all the amazing benefits achieved throughout the practice.
We leave our Yoga class feeling energized and refreshed, with a sense that the whole body has been worked hard yet the mind is relaxed and calm.
