Stretch Yourself Fit

by Neil Stacey

A generator is droning in the background, I’m cursing because my pen has stopped working, and the Arts London News photographer is merrily snapping away.

In normal circumstances you wouldn’t think there was anything relaxing about this scenario, and yet there’s a contented, relaxed vibe in the room.

Welcome to the soothing world of  the Universitu of the Arst London's (UAL) Yoga Society.

Bend and Stretch

At tonight’s class the willing participants, both men and women – dispel any myth that yoga is primarily for females.

What’s more, they’re all happily shaping their bodies into positions that I could only dream of achieving.

Yoga derives from the word ‘yoke’, which means ‘union’ in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated.

This union is what occurs between the mind, body and spirit during yoga.

And while most people associate the spiritual self with religion, this is a common misconception.

Healthy body and mind

Many people also think that yoga is just stretching, and while stretching is certainly involved –and suppleness is definitely an advantage – yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility.

If that sounds all a bit too grand for you and doesn’t appeal, you may change your mind when you consider the numerous benefits of yoga – flexibility, strength, muscle tone, pain prevention, better breathing, mental calmness, and stress reduction.

"Yoga helps with the stress of university and is a good way of exercising.

"Afterwards you feel centred and happy. It’s good for body and mind,” says Anna-Maria Ivstedt, a BA Graphic Illustration student at the LCC and president of the society.

Ivstedt – an experienced yoga practitioner – started the society two years ago.

She said: “There was a club running before I set up the society but most people didn’t know it existed. Hopefully now we’ve put it on the map.”

With 117 members, it’s fair to say she’s achieved that.

Growing numbers

The interest in the society has expanded so much that the regular Monday session has now expanded to a Tuesday evening as well, and a meditation class has been introduced before the Monday yoga session.

Squatting, pushing, rolling, crouching, bending, hyper-extending, stretching, shaking, releasing – expect an avalanche of words to describe the classes, expertly overseen by instructor Julian Hawkins, the former photography tutor at LCC who has been teaching yoga classes since 2005, and has 29 years of yoga experience.

“I was getting very stressed both mentally and physically and that’s what drew me into yoga in the first place,” said Hawkins.

“I needed to do something physical just to relieve the strain and for me it works. It gets me through the general rigours of the day. It really helps a lot.”

Participants can expect to bend their bodies into such positions as the ‘downward dog’, the ‘earth pose’, ‘tiger stretches’ and ‘churning the milk.’

All are beginner-friendly, so don’t worry if you can’t "breathe evenly and smoothly" yet or don’t know anything about the "psychic gesture of knowledge."

After just a few sessions Hawkins will turn you into a yogi or yogini – a follower of the yoga philsophy.

Give it a try

So whether you’re a bit stressed or you just fancy trying something different, yoga could offer a solution.

It’s fun and could be a belated first step towards your New Year’s resolution to become more healthy.

Anyone interested in joining the society, or wanting more information, can contact them on ual.yoga@googlemail.com, visit the website www.suarts.org/yoga or visit their Facebook page at UAL Yoga.