Altrincham Duck

I have been practising yoga since 2011 after a fall whilst out running left me with a bad knee injury. I was really active before that - running, rowing, playing netball and going to the gym but then following my fall, despite the NHS's best efforts (lots of physio, podiatry and finally surgery) I was in constant pain - struggling to drive, sit or sleep comfortably. The effect this had on my day to day life left me really frustrated and depressed.

Initially I went to yoga classes at my local gym and used a book and DVD at home. After a while I found a great teacher who I loved and started to attend her classes several times a week. From there I expanded into attending lots of workshops and classes across South Manchester with various different teachers. Since then I haven't looked back and I now can't imagine my life without daily yoga practice.

It's turned my mental outlook around completely and got me to a place where I'm pain free. I love yoga so much that in late 2013 I decided I wanted to train as a teacher so that I could share the benefits with other people. I'm convinced that regular yoga practice could potentially have helped me prevent my running injury. It's such a great addition to any runner's, cyclist's or other sporty person's regime. It's also great for managing stress levels - whether that's work or home life challenges!

I currently run two classes per week in Sale Moor that are really gentle sessions but I will be starting more soon. Mondays at 7:15pm and Wednesdays at 7:30pm. These are perfect for beginners and anyone wanting to return to yoga after a break. Injuries or health concerns shouldn't put people off trying yoga but just make sure you mention to the teacher when you book so they can advise you on modifications for the poses and ensure you are safe throughout the class.

I also run monthly workshops and offer private 1-2-1s for anyone who, for whatever reason, doesn't want to come to a public class or wants to deepen their practice with extra private sessions. I can also do corporate sessions for businesses who wish to offer yoga for their employees as part of wellness programmes or just to help them manage stressful jobs and workloads.

The benefits of yoga include:

Improved flexibility;

Increased muscle strength;

Improved posture;

Protecting your spine;

Regulating blood pressure;

Improved balance;

Relaxing your system;

Better sleep;

Improved digestion; and

Improved mood and generally making you happier!

Thanks for reading and please get in touch with any questions.