Try a yoga class and then try another and another until you find one that's just right. There are several styles of yoga to choose from so it's very likley that you'll find one that suits you. You don't have to be strong or flexible to do yoga. Simply start practising yoga and over time your body will become stronger and more flexible. You'll also feel more confident , focused and better able to deal with stress and strain of daily life. Yoga is the 'science of wellbeing', and as such, all yoga styles create a feeling of ease and relaxation. Each variation or style of yoga may then focus on a different aspect of yoga postures, breathing techniques or mindfulness. Each teacher will also be unique in their approach, personality and possibly creativity depending on where and who they've trained with.

The following is an excerpt from the Guardian's helpful article on the different styles of yoga.

"... to get the most benefit and the most enjoyment, you need to find a yoga style and a teacher that suits you. For example, if you're already doing lots of strength training your best choice is likely to be a yoga style that focuses more on flexibility... Perhaps try yin or hatha yoga. Those who have ...arthritis might want to try Iyengar yoga, or one-to-one sessions with a teacher where you will be able to focus on alignment and your unique needs. If you are drawn to experience the spiritual side, you could try jivamukti. And for those who are relatively healthy and want a challenge, ashtanga vinyasa or vinyasa flow might be a good choice."

Yoga poses when performed slowly and mindfully can help prevent knee problems as well as help you strengthen and improve flexibility.

Strengthening the vastus medialis, a muscle that's on the inner side of the knee, helps to keep the knee healthy and correctly aligned. Physiotherapists recommend exercises that strengthen this neglected muscle as a key consideration in the rehabilitation of knees. The yoga warrior poses help to improve your body awarenes and alignment of the knees in relation to your ankles, hips and shoulders. Gentle squat (goddess pose) and bound angle pose (seated butterfly) are hip openers which also help to counteract a lot of sitting but also help to realign the hips in relation to the knees.

Here are some links to some great tips on how to strengthen your knees:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-therapy-for-your-knees1

https://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/fitness/8-yoga-moves-to-strengthen-knees

http://www.yinyoga.com/newsletter7_yinyoga_knees.php

https://www.artofliving.org/uk-en/yoga-knees

http://www.gaiam.com/discover/571/article/4-yoga-mistakes-can-cause-knee-pain/

Find out about: Yoga in Kettering, Corby, Cranford, Gedding, Northamptonshire

Close your eyes.

Focus on your breath.

Feel the sensation of air coming in through your nose and out through your nose.

With each breath out, focus the mind on a postive word e.g. strength, health, confidence.

The sun salutation is probably the most well known yoga sequence for good reason. It stretches all the major muscle groups of the body and by helping to deepen the breath it helps to clear and relax the mind.

Just ten minutes of the sun salutation sequence is a great way to start the day. It's also a great way to warm up the body at the start of a longer yoga session. The flowing 'vinyasa' style of movements provide a wonderful way to stretch, de-stress and relax.

Find out how to do the yoga sun sequence here.

The key to building balance, coordination, and preventing injury from falling as we age is in mastering transitions and developing power. We've recently had a fantastic afternoon of fun, movement and yoga at our 'Winter Boost' yoga workshop. The playful yoga practice focused on boosting the immune system as well as finding harmony through balancing and strengthening poses.

Great balance requires agility, speed, coordination and power which are all vital skills for peak athletic performance and for daily living, especially if walking over any slippery ice in the winter.

According to the University of Miami and Yoga Journal there are several scientifically proven yoga poses that can help build better balance when done as a slowly flowing sequence of movements. Here's a list of 10 of those yoga poses:

1. Mountain Pose

2. Chair Pose

3. Tree Pose

4. Hand to Big Toe Pose

5. Eagle Pose

6. Crescent Lunge

7. Four Limb Staff Pose

8. Downward Dog

9. Twisting Lunge

10. Half Camel Pose

Read more about yoga poses that are scientifically proven to help you build better balance by clicking here.

Register your interest for future yoga workshops by clicking here.

Contact us about yoga classes in Kettering if you'd like to learn how to de-stress, strengthen your body and calm your mind.

Yoga classes are fun and non-competitive.

Beginners and all levels are welcome.

Yoga classes are pay as you go, £6 per adult.

WEDNESDAYS 7pm - 8pm

St Michaels Church

Garfield Street (corner of Roundhill Road)

Kettering NN15 6BG

SUNDAYS 7pm - 8:30pm

Cranford Village Hall

Grafton Road, Cranford

Near Kettering NN14 4JE