I’m often asked by students about the benefits of yoga and mindfulness. It seems we all know that it’s good for us but somehow there is some confusion about how it can be taken off the mat and into daily life. So I asked some of my students to write about their personal experiences and I will be posting them in our newsletter and on our website.

Below is Ashley’s account. Many thanks Ashley for taking time to share your experience with us.

Namaste
Aneta

∞

My name is Ashley I am a 60-year-old male, this November.

I have been coming to Yoga for about two years. I originally started because I wanted to do some regular exercise without the gymnasium testosterone environment, where muscles and pumping iron seem to be the main criteria.

I like to think of myself as being a typical male who likes to go to their local and enjoy a few beers and the football.

Not so long ago I found that I had great difficulty in bending down to tie-up my shoe laces without being out of breath, since attending Yoga classes I have achieved touching the floor with my legs straight, a breeze, with no breathlessness.

I am not perfect, I sometimes eat too much and my waistline suffers, but I have improved my personal fitness level, and because I attend Yoga classes at least twice a week I have found that my breathing has improved immensely.

My employer requires that I attend a Wellman clinic once a year, the results for my breathing are given as that of someone twenty years my junior, I wish that I could say it is all my own efforts, but realistically I have to give credit to my Yoga teacher Aneta.

She has helped me improve in many ways without placing any pressure on me, Yoga is a great way to improve your fitness, without compromising your normal lifestyle, and there is no religious context unless you choose it to be so.  I cannot praise the anetai yoga studio and its teachers. My teacher Aneta is very professional and inspires without preaching, she encourages without expectation. Her philosophy is go to your limit and no further, Yoga is something that encourages rather than forces, you are in control, but at the same time can gain confidence through a shared experience.

Everyone, both men and women that I share Yoga classes with can range from fit to unfit, no one feels excluded, and we all share a common experience, which is both personal and social.  No one will laugh if you fail to achieve, everyone will encourage because when you fail we all feel the experience, and it could be anyone of us.  Therefore the experience is shared and owned, whilst you are an individual, you are also me.

If you feel that you need to do something about your lifestyle, change direction, or just improve your fitness, give Yoga a go, after all what is there to lose?

Namaste

Ashley