When we hear the word yoga, it’s often associated with woodland retreats and complex poses, so it’s only natural to gravitate towards more familiar types of exercise. The truth is yoga is so much more than learning to wrap your leg around your head. It’s one of the best ways to introduce mindfulness into your daily routine and to practise activities like meditation, mantra and even breathwork. Overall, it’s great for your wellbeing with a tonne of physical benefits too. But don’t be alarmed – here at This Girl Can Classes you can try easy yoga for beginners! So even if you don’t know your cat-cow from your downward dog, you can rest assured that our yoga-inspired session focuses just as much on relaxation and meditation as it does improving strength, posture and flexibility. So, let’s dive into the benefits of our yoga-inspired stretch…

Strength & flexibility

The physical benefits of yoga are often celebrated, and with good reason. Yoga offers a range of intensity styles, and even the lowest intensity movements can help to increase your flexibility. Our yoga-inspired stretch engages a variety of muscles through slow and controlled movements, giving you the opportunity to deepen your stretch and improve your balance.

It’s important to incorporate strength and flexibility exercises in your fitness routine to increase muscle strength, maintain bone density, improve balance and reduce joint pain[1]. So why not give it a try at your nearest This Girl Can Classes session?

Mental health & wellbeing

Yoga has also been known to relieve stress. Our brains are constantly switched on, bouncing between the past and future, making it hard to live in the present. Engaging in breathwork can help you to focus on the present moment. In our classes you’ll be able to practise basic mindfulness to clear the mind. Together with a combination of simple yoga postures for beginners, our yoga-inspired stretch can help you put your thoughts and worries to the side and give your brain a well-deserved rest.

Sleep

Yoga has been shown to help benefit all age ranges and improve sleep. From children to the elderly, yoga provides numerous health and sleep benefits. Women in particular often have more difficulty sleeping than men, and studies have demonstrated that yoga can benefit many groups of women[2].

Having a good quality snooze each night is one of the best things we can do for our bodies. When we sleep, we’re allowing our bodies to repair and rebuild, setting you up for the day ahead. But that’s not all, a good night’s sleep does wonders for your overall health; it strengthens your immune system, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and lowers your risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease[3].

So, what’s not to like? Find a This Girl Can Class near you to experience the benefits of our yoga-inspired stretch and a range of other fun exercise styles for you to enjoy. Try it out, join the movement – ‘yoga-t’ nothing to lose!

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flexibility-exercises/how-to-improve-strength-flexibility/

[2] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-activity/yoga-and-sleep

[3] https://www.headspace.com/sleep/sleep-hygiene