Yoga for health@Eden and Bodmin Hospital

Well today saw the first in a string of taster sessions I will be running across Cornwall, teaching yoga and pranayama to people with mental health and learning disabilities. This is one of my passions, and so I wanted to share what I have learned with you all! Yoga is not just for the tanned, toned and beautiful, it is an ancient system that helps to stretch and tone muscles, increase flexibility and posture, and improve mental stability, clarity and ease.  


So, here are a few poses and techniques my students today have found enjoyable. I hope you do to....

Warm up

Sit comfortably.

As you inhale sit tall, lengthening through the spine.

As you exhale feel your shoulders and body relaxing.

Bring your hands out by your side, fingertips touching the ground.

As you inhale move your arms with your breath so that your fingertips touch above your head as your inhalation ends.

Then exhale, again moving your arms in time with your breath so that your fingertips reach the ground as your exhalation ends.

Continue this movement for a few breaths, bringing your awareness to the length of your breath.

Tree pose

Stand on your right foot and focus on a fixed point in front of you.

Lift the left leg, bending it and bringing the foot in towards your right thigh, calf or ankle. Keep your hips facing forwards and slowly lift your arms up. Repeat on the other leg.

Then try this in a circle. As you lift your arms hold the hand of the person next to you, helping to support each other in the pose.

Take a moment to recognise the difference it made to have somebody help to support you. 

Where do you breathe from?

Bring one hand to you chest and one to your belly.

Close your eyes and focus on your breathing, feeling your hands move as you breathe.

Which hand moves more – the one on your chest or your belly?

Keeping your hands where they are, now breathe only into your chest, trying to not let your belly move at all.

How does this feel? Is it comfortable?

Now breathe only into your belly, trying to keep your chest completely still?

How does this feel?

Most of us breathe in our chest, which means that we are not filling our lungs up completely with air. When we breathe deeply in to our lower belly it encourages the breathing to become slower, and allows us to bring more oxygen in to our lungs and remove more toxic carbon dioxide. This is more comfortable and healthy, and helps the body to feel more relaxed.

Our breathing is linked to our nervous system, and as we are faced with any type of perceived danger the nervous system goes in to fight or flight mode. This makes us breathe faster and more shallow, and can result in hyperventilating. Techniques like this help us to gain control of our breathing patterns, and to relax.

 
Give them a go, and look out for more to follow xxx