In a city where yoga never sleeps, sun salutations are a staple part of Brighton living. From hot yoga studios to leafy, green parks, there are plenty of tranquil places to practice yoga.

The name ‘yoga’ comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘union’. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but much of today’s yoga can be traced back to Patanjali who gathered and wrote down the foundations of yogic practice around 200BC in India. Since then it has been practised and developed in the East through the teachings of many great yogis, and in recent decades has found a very firm foothold in the West.

The benefits of yoga are widespread and include physical improvements, such as promoting a supple spine and regulating blood flow to organs, tissues and glands, as well as affecting the mind to bring calmness and clarity. Pranayama – work on the breath – is also an essential part of all forms of yoga.

You might like to see yoga as an intelligent method to move the vital lifeforce energy around the body, or just as an all-round enjoyable way to take time out for yourself. Either way, Brighton offers many styles to choose from. Do your research well though, according to your personal requirements and level of fitness. High-impact ashtanga yoga may not be just what the doctor ordered, while a dose of gentle hatha yoga may be much more what you are looking for. Some classes, like kundalini yoga, offer a more spiritual approach, or you may be interested in detoxing with bikram yoga. Iyengar yoga puts strict emphasis on form and alignment, and uses traditional hatha yoga techniques in new manners and sequences. Whatever the name or the approach, all yoga has the same aim – to calm the mind, strengthen the body and unite the soul.

Tips
• Find a yoga practice that appeals to you and commit to it for a few weeks
• Yoga isn’t competitive, so take your time and let your body go to where it feels comfortable
• Take a bottle of water along with you

Yoga promotes balance and, under professional guidance, can help to alleviate backache, constipation, headaches and high blood pressure. It promotes relaxation so is an excellent tonic to alleviate stress.

Recommendations
Bikram Brighton – yoga in a heated room - £30 for first month unlimited.
01273 721944
Kundalini Yoga with Ishwara – 07980 928386
Brighton Natural Health Centre – 27 Regent Street - 01273 600010