It's Stress Awareness Month this April and we've been exploring the benefits of yoga on the body and mind with City Lit students Jayne Quigley and Angela Tulloch.
Q&A with Jayne Quigley and Angela Tulloch
Q: Tell us about your time at City Lit
A: Jayne: I began studying courses at City Lit a long time ago as I love the atmosphere, and the standard of teaching is very high. There is a huge, eclectic range of courses on offer with something to suit everyone. Most recently, I study Gentle Yoga at City Lit’s London campus, having practised yoga on and off for several years.
A: Angela: I also study Gentle Yoga at City Lit. City Lit is the perfect college for me because it has such a wide variety of courses and I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with other students.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself
A: Jayne: I retired 10 years ago following a long career as a nurse and have regularly participated in various courses since. To me, it’s important to keep as active as possible both mentally and physically, which is why I find the courses available at City Lit so beneficial - especially yoga.
A: Angela: Following the passing of my mother, I found that yoga really helped with the grieving process. My mental health suffers if I’m inactive, so I use movement and yoga as a tool to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Health Benefits of Yoga
Q: What would you say are the benefits of yoga?
A: Jayne: I find the weekly sessions extremely beneficial both physically and mentally. Yoga definitely relieves stress and improves overall mental well-being - I can feel the positive benefits on my body and mind when I practice yoga regularly. I now aim to incorporate yoga into my daily routine to maximise its positive benefits.
A: Angela: Yoga has had a huge impact on my overall wellbeing - it helps my body to become stronger and more flexible as well as giving my mind peace through meditation. I recall working through a movement during class and it allowed me to cry - yoga is so powerful because it helps to rebalance the body as well as the mind.
Related course: Managing stress and increasing emotional resilience
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
A: Jayne: People may feel that yoga is too strenuous or they’re not fit enough to take part, which is why it’s so important to find the right teacher who can inspire you and make you feel safe. My teacher at City Lit, Biljana, is very aware of the ageing body and its potential restrictions which is a huge benefit. As the course is led as part of a small group, Biljana is able to support and encourage us all individually which really instils confidence and improves our practice.
A: Angela: Yoga has encouraged me to focus on and live a balanced lifestyle - I also love that it’s such as ageless practice which has no upper age limit. Before practising yoga, I wasn’t aware of how stress would impact my breathing and the tension in my body. Yoga has really helped to correct that, and now I can use simple movements to alleviate the physical effects of stress on my body.
Enjoy Yoga at City Lit
We offer yoga classes at all levels, allowing you to improve your core strength, posture & flexibility. Our experienced tutors will help you discover breathing exercises designed to reduce stress & tension.
