GEGAC’s Healthy Lifestyles Worker Rani Stokell and Bernardita Ashlin at our free Monday yoga classes last week.
For Bernardita Ashlin, it was the arthritis in her knee.
For others, it’s the need for a good nights’ sleep. Or to soothe anxiety. Or to ease that back pain.
All sorts of people do yoga, and they do it for all sorts of different reasons.
Did you know the practice of yoga is more than 5,000 years old?
And just like Aboriginal culture, anything that has had thousands of years to percolate its wisdom usually ends up pretty deadly!
Rani Stokell, one of our Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Healthy Lifestyles Workers at GEGAC, offers free yoga classes for community and staff every Monday at 11am and 1pm, at Dala Yooro.
Rani, who has studied, practiced and taught yoga for many years, said she had seen yoga have real and immediate benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels, especially those who had never done yoga before.
“In the yoga classes we do at GEGAC we tailor the exercises to work for you, wherever you are at mentally and physically, and whatever your goals are,” she said “Everyone is different. And that’s good!”
“If you just think you’d like to feel a little fitter, and maybe a little healthier and happier, I encourage you to come along on Mondays and give yoga a try!”
One day last week Bernardita was the only person who stopped by for the class, and Rani said she is really hoping that a few more people can take advantage of the free sessions.
But Bernardita is a great example of why many people find yoga an important part of their health and wellbeing plans.
“I have this arthritis in my left knee,” Bernardita said. “I’ve tried everything, acupuncture, physio, lots of things. The only thing that worked was yoga. I’m not very flexible, but I’ve found that coming to the classes regularly has made a huge difference to how I feel.”
“And the relaxation techniques I’ve learned in yoga I now use at home, to help me fall asleep.”
The sessions with Rani are free, open to all ages and abilities, and everyone is made to feel welcome!
If you’re interested, fill in the form below and we’ll send you some info!