December is often a busy month for some of us, what with the festive period. Winter and the dark nights can sometimes leave us feeling run down too.

Our last extended class of the year will be an afternoon combination of Yin and Restorative yoga to help you relax, restore and recharge the body.

Learn how to use yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques to work towards releasing tension that stress can create.

Through yoga postures we’ll use this two hour session to find calmness and stillness to boost our immune system and give our minds and bodies a little time out to relax and reset everything.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a very slow paced style of yoga with mainly floor based passive stretches which work deeply into the body. We hold poses between 2-5 minutes with the support of props such as bolsters, blocks and blankets. Yin helps to calm and balance the mind and body, it can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and at the same time it revitalises the body by allowing energy to flow freely especially to the organs. Yin helps to releases fascia, improves joint mobility and increases flexibility in the body. We work towards our edge in poses and can focus on sensations that we feel in the physical body.

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is different from yin yoga as we allow the body to be completely relaxed and comfortable. It is still floor based and props are used to fully support the body and they allow the person to surrender completely. We hold poses between 5-10 minutes. When we are in a pose without any strain we can work towards physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Restorative Yoga helps to combat the physical and mental effects of stress and is very healing to both the mind and the body.

The Afternoon

We will start off with calming and restoring breath work, move into a Yin practice that will target the various points of the body in which we often hold tension. We’ll be completely rested and relaxed in Restorative poses and finish off the class with a Yoga Nidra session also known as Yogic Sleep, a powerful relaxation, meditation technique.

The Venue

The Nigel Copping Building, Stanstead Abbotts is a great place for our extended classes. The hall is large, clean and bright, and is only a short walk from the small town which has a pub at either end.

It’s set in a lovely spot next to the River Lee if you fancy a walk before or after the class. Hoddesdon, Hertford and Ware are all just a five, ten and fifteen minute drive away repectively.