As our newest yoga studio is due to open in Mulgrave very soon, our studio manager Paige wanted to highlight the benefits that everyone can experience from practicing yoga.
Perhaps you’ve never done yoga before and think ‘I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible enough.’ Yes, yoga can help stretch your muscles, but this does not mean you have to be flexible to begin. Becoming more flexible over time is just one of the many benefits of yoga. The yoga space at Pinnacle Wellness is a safe and supportive environment with experienced teachers to support you in learning the fundamentals of yoga and building confidence on the mat.
Advantages of a regular yoga practice can vary for every individual, here is just a few major reasons why people enjoy the nurturing practice:
- Reduced stress– many poses such as ‘forward fold’ help activate the parasympathetic nervous system which helps to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and take us out of the ‘fight and flight’ mode and into ‘rest and digest’.
- Increased mental clarity- the meditative component of yoga can help declutter the mind
- Reduced anxiety – maintaining a slow deep breath throughout the practice encourages the nervous system to relax and passes stress on to the deeper muscles to support the organs.
- Weight loss– healthy stress placed on the organs results in increased metabolism, blood and nutrient nerve impulses increase and toxins are removed.
Because you are a unique individual person, your favourite yoga class style may vary to someone else’s. If you’re not sure which class may be best suited for, you’re energy levels, mood and personal preference than read below as it will help narrow down the options.
Hot Vinyasa
A strong practiced that is designed to awaken the yogi to their personal power within. Be expected to be guided through a flowing vinyasa sequence which emphasis on the connection between movement and breath.
The room is heated to not only intensify the practice, but also warm the muscles and connective tissue to help increase mobility, burn calories and encourage detoxification within the body; creating a cleaning practice.
Expect to feel rejuvenated after this class as students are taught to balance and nourish their energy both in the body and mind.
Not recommended for beginners as some basic knowledge of traditional yang poses is needed.
Yin and meditation
Yin is a slow-paced class with all floor-based postures held for 3-5 minutes each. The purpose of holding poses for longer period is to target the connective tissue, ligament and joints of the body. Probs such as blankets, bolsters and blocks are used to assist the body to find its most comfortable position.
Mindfulness techniques are weaved in through-out to make the class deeply a deeply nurturing experience.
The class concludes with meditation which activates the parasympathetic nervous system to help lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, lower stress and anxiety for an overall nurturing effect on the body.
Gentle Flow
A nourishing and nurturing flow class. Move mindfully at a slower pace as one pose smoothly transitions into the next. Great for increasing flexibility, creating core strength and decreasing stress.
This class is perfect for beginners and anyone that wants to gently move the body and calm the mind.
Yoga Basics
Great starting point for those new to yoga, students with basic experience or regular yogis wanting to touch up on their alignment. This class moves at a slower pace to break down the fundamentals of yoga to set out a beautiful foundation for your yoga journey. Throughout the class expect more guidance to support your practice to build confidence on the mat.
Power flow
If you’re looking for a challenge and to work up a sweat, then this is the class for you! This energising flow links movement with breath. Traditional poses held for longer which is great for building upper body strength whilst nurturing the cardiovascular system.
Provided in a safe environment to practice progressions on the mat to grow body awareness and calm the mind.
Restore
Surrender to the stillness to allow the muscles to soak up each stretch. This class is perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle, overworked and previous injuries as lots of props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks and straps to support the body in finding its most comfortable position. Feel revitalised as you take time to release any held tension in the physical body and reduce stress mentally and emotionally.
Yang and Yin
If you would like some energising flow and stillness, you can have the best of both worlds. The longer class time of 75 minutes allows you to immerse yourself for the first half through an energising flow, synchronising movement with breath. This leads to a much slower pace style of yoga; Yin, which you are guided through a range of floor-based postures. Poses are held for a longer period to place healthy stress on the body to allow the fascia to soak up the stretch. Mindfulness and meditation are weaved throughout the practice to help de- clutter the mind and find clarity.
Whatever your mood and energy levels are on any day, I look forward to seeing you in the studio soon for some much needed mat time.
Paige xx