What to Expect:

 These classes combine a blend of Hatha and Yin; first warming the body in a gently-paced flow to loosen the stiffness of the morning, then pausing longer in some poses to explore its deepening release in the joint tissues and achieve the power of restoration - finding balance between body and mind. The flows will focus on alignment and posture, so that you can reconnect with your body’s natural way of being. You don’t need any experience - only an open mind. Our classes will take place in an outdoor scenic location overlooking the stunning Lagoa de Óbidos, weather permitting. Yoga mats will be provided, but bring a thick towel or blanket as well to use as a prop.

Benefits:

Improve flexibility and mobility

Yin yoga targets the connective tissues such as ligaments, cartilage and tendons. These take a longer time to stretch than muscles which is why we hold certain positions for a few minutes. It’s just as important as having flexible muscles so that we can lower the risk of injury when we do our favourite sports. Because of the range of positions yoga provides, we can improve mobility in the whole body.

Promote bone health

By stretching the connective tissues which are attached to our bones, we are applying light stress and pressure to the bone which stimulates the osteoblasts - cells that produce bone, and also as a defence response the bone will gradually produce extra layers of calcium. All this is a long-term benefit for when we start ageing or approach menopause and bones become brittle because the cells can no longer renew as efficiently. 

Reduce stress and anxiety

By taking things slow and moving with control and purpose, we can greatly improve our connection to the present moment. Noticing the breath with each movement physically helps us to relax. When you have the tools to direct your mind to a specific focus, the anxiety can feel like less of a burden. You focus only on what you are doing and feeling right in that moment, and not on what came before or what will come after. It’s also a useful principle in everyday life.

Heal yourself from the inside

Yoga is closely linked to the nervous system - the system that governs most of our body functions as well as movement. Through relaxation we can stimulate the vagus nerve; a nerve which controls breathing, digestion, heart rate, and immune system. By relaxing our minds, this nerve will send signals to each of those functions to perform at the most optimum level. A lot of illnesses indicate stress as the root cause.