Yoga bear

So after months of convincing by various people, I finally decided to try yoga. I was initially quite reserved because I have the flexibility of a steel rod and I don’t like making a fool out of myself, unless its planned foolery and I’m not a fan of hippie ohm type stuff. My friend’s wife is a yoga instructor and she is, excuse the Manchester turn of phrase, mad ‘fer’ it. She even ran a class for family and friends, on the beach, the day after her wedding in Malta last summer. I shied away from that too, although looking over quite eagerly.

So off I went to ‘Yoga and Sound,’ which includes an hour of yoga in a small class. At first apprehensive, I realised I had no need to be. It was a fun session with just two clients. Szilvia made it very relaxed and tailored to the level we were at. It was quite a gentle session. No headstands this week. We did a few downward dogs and warriors to get into it. As the weeks went on it got tougher. OK, I’ve only been three times, but definitely tougher. The last time my quads were burning and I could feel my core engaging more than the previous sessions. The last session I did with just Szilvia and Claude (her husband) and to see him blending into his mustard mat with his mustard jogging trousers was priceless. After the hour of yoga comes the sound bath. ‘Sound Bath? What is that?’ I hear you cry. Well to be honest it is the most relaxing, hypnotic experience I think I’ve ever had. You lie down under a blanket all cosy and Szilvia makes some lovely sounds using gongs and singing bowls. The first time I felt like I was in Tibet. The last time I felt like had a mouse in my trousers and didn’t say anything as not to ruin the ambience in the room but we won’t go into that right now. I find relaxation really tough and during that half an hour my mind drifts off into a trance like state and I arouse feeling refreshed. It’s great!

So what are the benefits of yoga? Well it improves flexibility, balance and strength and evidence suggest it can improves aches and pain, lower blood pressure and help with stress. Bingo!

Szilvia is away for a few weeks now but I think I’ll be continuing the classes. I may write future blog posts in a headstand!

🧳 UNPACKED

The Yoga Convert: This was The Gym Era when I finally gave in and tried yoga after months of people nagging me. I had the flexibility of a steel rod, hated hippie “ohm” stuff, and didn’t want to make a fool of myself. Turns out yoga was actually… great?

What Changed My Mind: Small class sizes at Yoga and Sound meant I wasn’t performing for an audience. Szilvia tailored it to our level – no forced headstands week one. Started gentle (downward dogs, warriors), got progressively tougher. By session three my quads were burning and my core was actually engaging.

The Sound Bath Revelation: Half an hour of gongs and singing bowls while lying under a blanket = the most hypnotic, relaxing thing I’d experienced. First time felt like Tibet. Last time felt like I had a mouse in my trousers (we don’t talk about that). My brain, which normally won’t shut up, actually went into a trance state.

The Benefits Were Real: Better flexibility, improved balance, core strength, stress relief. For someone who found relaxation nearly impossible, that sound bath forced my brain to actually switch off.

Starting Yoga as a Sceptic:

• Small classes beat big intimidating ones
• You don’t need to be flexible to start (that’s literally the point)
• Skip the “spiritual” stuff if it’s not your vibe – the physical benefits work regardless
• Progress happens fast when you’re starting from “steel rod” flexibility

Worth Knowing: If you’re a yoga skeptic like I was – try it anyway. Small classes with good instructors who don’t take themselves too seriously make all the difference. And sound baths are genuinely magical, mouse-in-trousers incidents aside.

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