Yoga is an amazing practice that is literally suited for anybody, no matter what age or ability. Its benefits have always been in existence and are timeless to all who practice.
Appreciation and take up of yoga boomed during the pandemic when most of us suddenly had a little more space in our days at home, and we were able to tune into the benefits of this practice and make it a more regular part of our daily and weekly routine. Remember all those home practices with your cat blocking the screen; your canine friend joining in your downward dog; your housemate earnestly working away on the other side of the shared living room as you tried not to distract with your Crow (that you were desperate to master before the end of the next lockdown!) It was a far cry from the Bikram class you used to run into on the way home from work, but there was something wonderful seeing so many people tune into Zoom, determined to take care of their wellbeing from the comfort of their own home during this global pandemic.
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These days, yoga is enjoyed in studios, gyms, outdoor spaces, community spaces, in nurseries, schools, colleges, hospital and care settings, at home and online; there are many different types and styles from dynamic versions like Ashtanga to more restorative practices like Yin. Yoga can be customised with modifications and adaptations to ensure every participant gets the most out of the practice. Wherever you are, whoever you are, you can enjoy a yoga practice!
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At Moving Waves we deliver a number of yoga workshops for children, community groups, corporate teams and care homes. Our care-home clients span from young people with disabilities, to people experiencing addiction, to the elderly and people with dementia. Working with this vast array of people is such a rewarding thing for all our facilitators – we always leave these workshops feeling a huge sense of joy(!) - but the biggest reward is knowing how much our participants love these sessions and feel the benefits too. Practising yoga supports participants’ physical and mental wellbeing. It offers a vital source of relaxation and helps participants experience a natural calm.
Our care home classes are completely bespoke and designed based on the needs of the client and participants, so no class looks the same. Sometimes, we will deliver a class on a yoga mat, offering seated, standing and supine poses and sequences; other times we will deliver a chair-based class. No matter the format or client group, participants can experience soothing breathing exercises to help calm the nervous system; static poses and moving flow sequences to strengthen the body; mobilisations to lubricate the joints; and meditation, mindfulness or visualisation to nourish that mind-body connection and cultivate a sense of peace.
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Yoga in a care home setting can be very important for the participants, because it offers a chance for vital physical activity, stimulation, and social interaction. Even if a participant experiences physical limitations, actively engaging in breathing exercises and visualisations can be very stimulating for the body and mind. Particularly in elderly care homes, there is a risk of users living very sedentary lives. Gentle, regular movement through a yoga practice can help to create space in the body, allowing positive changes to the skeletal system which is important for posture and the efficiency of our vital organs. The benefits go beyond the physical though as practising yoga can help improve mood, decrease feelings of depression, reduce agitation, improve energy and a sense of overall wellbeing. Mindfulness is also a powerful tool in supporting our emotional and mental wellbeing by allowing us to check in with ourselves and be reflective of where we are at with kindness and compassion.
We always love it when staff at the care homes or families visiting their relatives join in the practice too! It brings a really lovely buzz to the sessions and further demonstrates that yoga really is for everybody!
Our yoga classes, their themes and our care home clients are really broad, and we take pride in ensuring we get it right for our participants every time. We work somatically, so it’s all about the body, and exploring movement (no matter how small) with conscious breathing, but each class varies depending on who’s in it. Sometimes we work with participants who may have experienced trauma where we would be conscious not to over activate the nervous system. Or, a participant might be experiencing chronic stress so we ensure there are lots of rest points within the session. There may be a group who would benefit from a class dedicated to heart opening postures to help with tension, posture and circulation. For participants who are lonely or isolated we might work with touch to help calm the limbic system. This strategy is particularly pertinent for clients who experienced a lot of time alone during the pandemic, who had Covid-19, or continue to suffer with Long-Covid.
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At Moving Waves we offer classes that focus on Yoga for Long-Covid, taught by yoga teachers who undertook specialist training in yoga for Long-Covid, Burnout and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome led by Fiona Agombar. These classes offer:
“a wonderful, holistic approach to supporting people during their recovery from Covid-19. Every session is bespoke for the client and gives focus to rest and recovery through gentle movement and meditation that help soothe the body and nervous system”
The sessions can be delivered in 1-1 or group settings, and are available either in-person or online. The workshops are suitable for everyone, whether or not the participants have all experienced the effects of Covid or not. Packed with simple, effective practices and strategies that focus on nourishing the body and recovery, anyone can benefit from these classes. (You might find them particularly beneficial this time of year as it’s flu season and lots of people find their breathing and immune system can be affected!)
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It’s never too late to start yoga! So no matter what age you are reading this, you, your children, parents, friends, clients, carers – anyone you know – could start yoga today and reap the benefits of this wonderful practice. If you’re after a bespoke class delivered exclusively to your needs look no further than Moving Waves. And if you work within care home settings, consider a yoga workshop for your care home this winter, and help everyone stay as healthy as possible by allocating time for wellbeing during the colder seasons. Follow us on Instagram to find out more about us, or email us via info@movingwaves.org for more information about yoga for Long-Covid and care home bookings.
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