Yoga at Arbeta – All you need to know!

We have free yoga classes at Arbeta every Thursday at 1pm. Here we talk to Abbie Robinson our instructor – you can find her on Instagram @declutterthemind.yoga to tell us what you can expect from her weekly sessions.

Do people need to have done yoga before or can you accommodate beginners?

Beginners are very welcome to come along! The movements, postures and my instructions are designed to help people connect to the sensations in their body and to explore their own personal range of motion. I purposely keep the pace of the class at a level where people can move with their breath in a mindful way.

What can people expect from your yoga classes at Arbeta?

The classes are designed to declutter the mind, strengthen the mind-body connection and develop mobility and flexibility. The movements have been chosen to counter the effects of sitting for long periods of time (aka sitting disease…) so we focus on opening the chest and hips, stretching the hamstrings and mobilising the spine in all directions. Breathing exercises are taught to calm the nervous system and counter the effects of stress on the body.

I begin each class with a short breathing exercise to clear the mind, focus our attention and calm the nervous system.

We warm up with gentle mobility exercises to loosen the body and slow down the busy mind. Then continue with a flow of movements based around the traditional sun salutations in Yoga which develop mobility and flexibility.

The class ends with lying down meditation (shavasana) and typically I guide everyone through a full body awareness scan to relax the muscles and fascia in the body. This tends to be everyone’s favourite part because it provides some blissful stillness and respite.

How does a lunch time yoga session benefit you, both mentally and physically?

A lunchtime Yoga session is one of the best gifts you can give to your mind and body! There is an overwhelming amount of research that proves the benefits of Yoga on people’s mental and physical health. One recent study found it was one of the most effective tools for stress management. Other mental benefits include increased focus and concentration, decreased anxiety and improved mood. Physical benefits of consistent practice include improved mobility, flexibility and strength. My 30 minute classes are designed to strengthen the mind-body connection and teach people how to use their breath to control their nervous system response. Just 30 minutes once a week of consistent practice can deliver the benefits mentioned above.

How did you become a yoga teacher?

I have a background in law/corporate governance and, before discovering Yoga, I was very disconnected from my body, suffered with back pain and spent a lot of my time overthinking and overanalysing everything. I started practising Yoga at home just before the first covid-19 lockdown to manage stress. After a few months of practicing every evening to unwind before bed, I was hooked so I started reading more about the history, philosophy and origins of the practice. After two years of practising Yoga it completely transformed my mind and body for the better so I felt compelled to teach and share the practice with others.

What is the best part about being a yoga teacher?

My favourite part about being a Yoga teacher is seeing people connect to their breath and body and learn how to use these (freely accessible) tools to calm their mind and focus their attention. This is what we’re doing on the mat while practising Yoga – we’re using the breath and body to control our nervous system and train our mind to stay focused. People often forget that Yoga is a form of meditation so you’re getting the same benefits of meditation (i.e. improved concentration, focus, self-awareness, tolerance etc.) while you’re practising Yoga on the mat.

Yoga at Arbeta is open all tenants and is every Thursday from 1pm for approx. 30 minutes.