Yoga South London 0208 653 6374

Welcome to these pages for people interested in yoga classes in South London

Yoga Classes for all abilities by experienced British Wheel of Yoga Diploma Teacher.

• Weekly, open, drop-in, mixed ability yoga classes 
• Monday evenings - 7.45 to 9.15pm - Phoenix Centre, Westow St, Crystal Palace, (next to Sainsbury's), SE19 3AF
• Wednesday evenings - 7.30 to 9.00pm - Waterside Centre, Woodvale Avenue/Avenue Road, South Norwood, SE25 4DX (next to the main entrance to South Norwood lake)
• one-to-one, private, individual yoga lessons and tuition.
• Yoga classes for corporate and other groups. 
• Yoga Books - list of suggested yoga books, with links to Amazon for purchase.

Yoga

Yoga derives from the Sanskrit word yuj (yoke or to join), and is often translated as Union, implying union with the Divine (union of the individual consciousness with the Universal consciousness), and/or integrating body, mind and soul/spirit. Another interpretation of the word yoga is 'to attain what was previously unattainable' whether this be a physical action (eg. bending forward to touch our toes), or gaining a better understanding of a situation.

Anyone can practise yoga, independent of age, sex or ability. You can practise yoga virtually anywhere; you don't need any special equipment.

The benefits of a regular yoga practice include:

• Yoga can aid in reducing physical and emotional tension/stress
• Yoga improves concentration and awareness
• Yoga can help with insomnia/improve sleep quality
• Yoga builds strength, increases flexibility, and some forms improve stamina
• Yoga brings about a sense of peace/relaxation, helping one to remain calm in difficult circumstances
• Yoga improves breathing and can have a positive effect on respiratory function 

A typical yoga class will usually include some breathing (pranayama) practice, movements to stretch, warm and loosen up the body in preparation for working in various postures (asanas), visualisation +/or meditation, and a period of relaxation where the benefits of the practice are integrated.

Asanas (postures) work on every part of the body. They stretch and tone muscles, joints, the spine and skeleton, and help to keep the body supple. Asanas also work on your internal organs, glands and nerves. They release physical and mental tension and they can liberate additional resources of energy. Practice of pranayama (breath/energy control) revitalises the body and helps to make you feel calm and refreshed . It can assist in developing increased clarity, mental power and concentration. 

Yoga Teacher

Classes are taught by Julia Wheatley, who holds the British Wheel of Yoga Teaching Diploma, and has been teaching Yoga since 1989. She is also a trained nurse and aromatherapist.
She is currently teaching a mixture of classes.  

Julia also has experience of teaching yoga to prisoners on a drug rehabilitation programme, visually impaired people, and to school students at risk of exclusion.

This page was last updated December 2011