Steve Carter walked into award winning Beckenham club, Breeze in (January), not knowing quite what the place was all about. Steve had heard about yoga and wondered why it is so popular and what it could do for him. On entering the club he was welcomed by one of the club’s owners, Claire Dunphy, who gave him a tour. Claire explained to Steve that many are unaware of the endless benefits of regular yoga practice and many believe that it is simply a means of stretching and relaxation. In fact, the practice of Yoga not only works the physical body by keeping it fit while strengthening and elongating the muscles, it also helps the nervous and circulatory systems by purifying and balancing them.
Claire told Steve that as a result of regular practice, many benefits will occur. This includes greater endurance, flexibility, deeper breathing, and an overall improvement in mood and emotional and physical well-being.
The traditions of yoga provide powerful physical results and are intended to serve as a foundation for a more healthy and balanced state of well-being. The practice of Asanas (postures), promotes flexibility of muscles and strength in the bones, and tissues. It also massages the organs, brings balance to different internal and glandular functions and promotes the flow of vital energy (known as Prana).
Asanas are techniques that promote awareness, concentration, and relaxation throughout the entire physical body. As the practice becomes more regular, there are significant results. Such results include good mental and physical health through stretching, massage and stimulation of the energy channels of the internal organs.
Scientific studies have shown that the practice of Yoga has curative abilities and can prevent disease by promoting energy and health. That is why more and more professionals have started using Yoga techniques in patients with different symptoms such as psycho-somatic stresses and many physical diseases.
Our bodies have a tendency to build up and accumulate poisins, like uric acid and calcium crystals, just to mention a few. The accumulation of these poisons manifests in diseases and makes our bodies stiff. A regular Yoga practice can cleanse the tissues through muscle stretching and massaging of internal organs. This brings the waste back into circulation so that the lungs, intestines, kidneys and skin are able to remove toxins in a natural way.
So, on hearing all this, Steve thought it made perfect sense to give it a go! Breeze specializes in many forms of Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and Meditation. He told Claire that he turns 50 in 2011, and is committed to being in great health both physically and mentally as he approaches this milestone. Steve said that he had struggled with his weight all his life and really doesn’t enjoy the gym, although he has worked hard at it in order to keep on top of things – even though it has been a real chore! Claire suggested he starts with Hot Yoga. This is carried out in a specially designed studio at Breeze, heated to 42 degrees. The purpose of this is that the heat encourages flexibility so participants get much deeper into the poses than they would ever have anticipated. At this point, Steve said “but I’m not flexible, so I may not be able to do it”. Claire explained that that’s the very reason people get in the hot room to practice – and it really works! Another concern many men have is that the class will be full of loads of “stretchy, bendy people” and that they may feel out of place. In fact, in the hot classes at Breeze you will often find more men than women and there are genuinely ALL levels of fitness and ability in there. Claire assured Steve that because Breeze is new to the area, there are always a good handful of total beginners in classes, so he would not feel out of place at all.
Steve now says “It’s true, I was very self conscious before the class started and felt a bit out of place. But 5 minutes into the class I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn’t really notice anyone else. There were a lot of the poses I couldn’t do, but with gentle encouragement and practice I can hold most of them now and even some without turning purple. The key is not to worry about what others are doing and what they might think, but to try and stretch yourself a little bit further than the last time. And breathe!!! I took a huge step forward when I stopped holding my breath in mid pose and just breathed. Such a simple thing, but it made a massive difference.
With regards to weight loss; it has changed my approach totally. Weight loss should be quite simple: you exercise and eat and drink healthily. My problem was that I have never been able to balance all three at the same time and never lost any weight however hard I flogged myself at the gym. A very welcome and unexpected side effect of practicing Yoga is that I am more self-disciplined than I was before. I wasn’t expecting anything else other than a good workout and poo poo’d the idea it might have a positive effect on my mental well-being too, but it has. I am convinced that I am losing weight not only because of the exercise (and you do - and you sweat – a lot!!!) but also because I now have much better self control over what I eat and drink.
Weight loss is one huge benefit of practicing Yoga, but the best thing is that all the aches and pains in my joints I used to suffer from have gone. Being overweight badly affects your hips, knees and ankles and I used to get pain in all three. Especially my right hip, which was so bad sometimes I couldn’t sleep at night. My doctor told me there was nothing I could do, because the damage was done. However, he did say that I might find some relief if I strengthened the joint with exercise. I couldn’t face the gym anymore, but remembered that the only class I enjoyed at a week spent at a health farm about a year ago was a Yoga taster class. I looked around for a while, but didn’t really fancy the conventional classes in community centres and school halls. By chance, I found hot Yoga at Breeze and after just 3 months not only did the discomfort ease, it went away altogether. I can’t recommend taking up Yoga at Breeze highly enough, it’s a great place and everyone is really friendly and encouraging. I’ve honestly never felt better”.
Steve was initially concerned about whether he would have to commit to paying for an annual membership, as would be the case in a regular gym, when he didn’t know whether it was really for him. Claire told him that at Breeze it was not necessary to become a member, and that he could simply “drop in” for classes whenever he chose to. That was enough to whet Steve’s appetite, so he took the plunge and joined his first Hot Yoga session at Breeze.
Steve has just turned 49. He has lost a whopping one and a half stone, is feeling more balanced and is experiencing more mental clarity and focus than ever before. Not only that but he genuinely enjoys and looks forward to the sessions. Steve is well on his way to reaching his goal of being at his very best, both physically and mentally when he reaches 50!
