19 May 2023

The Profound Impact of Yoga Studio Communities: A Reflection on Health and Connection

As the fast paced technological world seems increasingly eager to connect us only digitally, the value of genuine human connection has become increasingly significant. I’d like to share with you a reflection on the role I believe a Yogalife plays in the lives of its community.

Mental Well-being: It’s not long before you feel part of the fabric of this studio and each time you walk through those doors you’re filled with a the sense of belonging and acceptance. It is a place where people gather, sharing experiences and finding solace amidst the demands of daily life. Studies published in the Journal of Psychology and Aging outlines positive correlation between regular social interactions and decreased rates of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Holistic Health: Yogalife offers a truly holistic approach to wellness. Regular practice, guided by skilled instructors, will improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall fitness. However, it’s the method of this guidance that makes it so valuable in our lives. Yogalife nurtures a supportive environment that fosters growth & exploration, it encourages development & challenge, but also acceptance.

Immune Resilience: Deepening our understanding of the mind-body connection, we discover that hot yoga has a great potential to strengthen the immune system. By reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and nurturing overall well-being, yoga practice positively influences immune function. One interesting article I quote during our teacher training course comes from the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, and highlights the significant correlation between social support, prevalent within the yoga studio community, and an enhanced immune response.

Meaningful Connections: Yogalife offers an opportunity to develop deep, meaningful connections. The yoga becomes a catalyst for forging bonds between our students as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth together. At every class you can encounter like-minded souls from diverse backgrounds, united by a common interest in health, wellness, and personal development. These connections extend beyond the confines of the yoga mat, becoming a network of support & friendship that will enrich your life.

 

My personal take on the studio is that people come to the studio to strengthen their body, maybe to help heal an injury or even to learn more about the tradition of yoga, but they stay to be part of the community. The profoundly special part of Yogalife isn’t the heat, mood-lit room and beautifully designed furnishings, its the people who roll out their mat.

 

I feel truly grateful for being part of this family.

 

Peace

 

Stu

1 November 2022

Hello November

While it’s a little warmer than we would normally expect at this time of year, the Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are falling, pumpkins are everywhere and the cold darker nights make a hot yoga studio even more inviting.

The yoga practice teaches us that each season has an energetic direction and quality that can be clearly seen throughout nature. Theres a system of yoga that encourages us to balance our lifestyle and behaviours to align with the the energies in season, and in doing so we feel more connected to our lives on a day-to-day basis.

The Autumn is filled with change and movement and in our culture it seems as though everyone is racing towards the year end trying desperately to hold things together and finish off those last few important tasks. This can take its toll on our wellbeing so it’s important to remember it is our responsibility to manage our physical and mental health to avoid burn-out, anxiety and stress related illnesses.

Looking after yourself isn’t a luxury, its a necessity.

Before you take the appropriate actions to create greater balance, you must first become aware of what you need. Stress is complex and its causes are diverse, however Dr Andrew Huberman says that we can categorise stresses into 2 streams. He says “one type of stress is when you’re too activated, alert, and agitated. This is what we usually experience when we’re in physical pain or emotionally bothered. Then, there’s another side of stress, wherein you’re feeling another shutdown or when you’re feeling exhausted and you can’t get mobilized and alert enough. This is the stress that gives us the feeling of fatigue.” 

Both categories of stress are managed in different ways so it’s important to know what you are feeling. One stress management technique comes directly from the yoga practice, we call it pranayama, the rest of the world calls it breathing exercises. By changing the way you breathe you can learn to control your heart rate, your nervous system response and therefore your mind.

Heres a simple tool for you to explore.

When you inhale more vigorously or longer, you’re speeding up your heart rate. When you exhale, the diaphragm moves up, signalling the brain to tell the heart that it needs to slow. This knowledge is not enough – you must practice the techniques to build a stronger relationship with the stress signals and your response to them. Then at will, you can shift your state of being.

Another great tip is to try a different style of yoga. If you are feeling hyped up, then try a Restorative Flow or Yin class. If you feel low on energy or have been picking up the seasonal coughs and bugs then trying something more physically challenging such as a Vinyasa Flow, Power or HIIT yoga is a must!

You know a change is going to be good for you, but your monkey mind plays its tricks and tells you that you won’t like it or that you can’t do it. So, lets get that money put back in its place! Our team are basically super humans trained in mind-zoology. They will make you feel at ease, support you, challenge you, motivate you and most importantly help you recognise that you CAN do anything at Yogalife. If you are feeling nervous about a class or sitting on the fence about booking – then drop me an email (stuart@yogalifeuk.com) and I’ll give you a pep talk or even better I’ll get on the mat with you because this month I’m making big shifts in my yoga too. I practice daily but its always on my own in a kind of indulgent “I have the keys to a yoga studio” kind of way. I know I’m missing out on that Yogalife vibe and being on the mat next to you all instead of at the front. So, I’ll be more than happy to  be your yoga buddy this November – just holla!

Here’s my recommendations for November classes:

Calming classes

Mondays & Wednesdays 19:30-20:30 Yin Yoga with Rachel

Thursdays 19:30 Nourishing Yoga with Emma

Uplifting Classes

Mondays 6:45-7:30 HIIT Yoga with Gareth

Thursdays 18:00-19:00 Power Yoga with Jules

Sundays 10:15-11:15 Shake It Up with Jen