VINIYOGA

with john o'dwyer

There are many reasons people come to yoga - to improve flexibility and fitness; strengthen the body; manage stress levels; or for rehabilitation following an injury. Our practice follows the principles of Viniyoga which focuses on aligning the breath with movement, bringing the body back into a natural balance.

'The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic system, which is often identified with the fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic, which is identified with what's been called the relaxation response.  When you do yoga - the deep breathing, the stretching, the movements that release muscle tension, the relaxed focus on being present in your body - you initiate a process that turns the fight-or-flight system off and the relaxation response on.  That has a dramatic effect on the body.  The heartbeat slows, respiration decreases, blood pressure decreases.  The body seizes this chance to turn on the healing mechanisms.'  ~Richard Faulds