Destress and find some calm with live streamed gentle hatha and mindful yoga. There is no need to be fit or flexible for these classes. For those of you who like more physically challenging classes, improve fitness, strength and flexibility with energetic and challenging vinyasa yoga. These classes are sequenced to also help provide relief from the symptoms of anxiety. Total beginners are welcome to join our online community. There is a weekly Zoom tutorial where you can learn or revisit the fundamentals of yoga and receive feedback and advice. Two virtual tea breaks take place on Zoom each week. Just bring your own cup of tea. And we have a Zoom yoga philosophy session each week where you can learn about and discuss yoga as a whole system for health, wellbeing and life. Passes for June are £29.99. They give unlimited access to live streamed classes 5 days a week in a private Facebook group. Recordings of live classes are saved in the group if you can't join a class live.

CarolynSmith, Author at Carolyn Smith Yoga

Q: How do you calm the mind in 3 minutes?

How do you calm the mind if you only have 3 minutes? One of the questions I was asked on BBC Radio Wales after being invited to speak about yoga and healthcare on 19 February. There is a growing evidence-base for the physical and mental health benefits of yoga. NICE Guidelines even suggest yoga for lower back pain. However, many people who could benefit are unable to access yoga due to the cost of classes. New funding is now being made available for yoga classes under the NHS Long Term Plan. It is great that yoga is starting to appear on the NHS agenda but, as always, the funding needs to get to the right places and not at the expense of other key areas including social care. If you'd like to listen to what I say about yoga and healthcare, go to just after 57 minutes on the link below. The recording will only be available for a month. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0002m65

Q: Time to Talk Day 2019

As we head towards Time to Talk Day on 7 February, it highlights yet again for me, the importance of talking about mental health. Things are changing slowly; there are well-known celebrities for example who talk publicly about their mental health difficulties. The reality sadly, for large numbers of people, is that stigma and fear are very real issues. Stigma continues to prevent many people from asking for help. Fear, not knowing what to say and worrying that talking about mental health may prompt someone to harm themselves, prevents other people from asking about how someone REALLY is. As I commented back in 2015 on World Suicide Prevention Day: “Suicide often follows a complex series of distressing events and circumstances, such as financial difficulties, relationship break down and chronic physical illness... But suicide is not inevitable and suicide prevention activities can help." For the full article click on the link below. http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/latest-news/world-suicide-prevention-day/ I believe that talking about mental health is one of the most powerful suicide prevention activities. Yes, there are other concerning issues relating to mental health support and treatment, particularly access to help at the time it is needed, but they are beyond the scope of this short article. Talking about mental health is something that everyone can get involved with. If you've ever doubted the power of talking, do check out the story about Jonny Benjamin in the link below. He was talked down from a bridge by a stranger. http://www.thestrangeronthebridge.com/#the-story