Best Yoga Classes in Newbury

Yoga is practised in bare feet and please wear comfortable clothing; elasticated trousers or shorts, and a top that is not too baggy (or it may get in your way when you are bending over!) With a gas log fire on one wall the studio is nice and cosy, even in midwinter, and plenty of windows, French windows and ceiling fans keep the fresh air moving in the warmer months.

An emphatic YES! In fact it is often those who come to yoga with stiffer/tighter physiques that experience the most rapid and dramatic changes in their bodies. The whole philosophy of yoga underlines that it is the sensation you achieve in a posture that is important, not the aesthetics. We all have different bodies formed from of a combination of genetics, past activity levels and lifelong habits. Inevitably each part of a yoga session will seem easier for some and more challenging for others. A key element, however, is the completely non-competitive environment of a yoga class, which is the perfect place to start to work on improving your flexibility, building your stamina, helping you to combat stress, or any other trait you may currently see as insurmountable.

Yoga is an extraordinarily effective way of keeping you both flexible and strong. At its heart it is all about balance. True, some of the postures can be done relatively gently, raising physical awareness rather than heart rate, but every class will include some more challenging postures and vinyasa/sequenced poses that will most certainly get the heart pumping, improving cardiovascular health, endurance and fitness levels in general.

When it comes to food and digestion each individual is different and needs to find out what works for them. In general, it is not recommended to eat a large meal within 2 hours of a class. If you are hungry, then a light meal or snack at least an hour before is best.

Filtered tap water is always available during class from the studio's bathroom. However, it is not recommended that you drink large quantities either before or during a yoga class. Just an occasional sip should keep you hydrated in the most strenuous class, and you may feel uncomfortable if your stomach is too full.