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Mindfulness | Yoga & Health Benefits
Practising yoga has many benefits for both your mental and physical health.
30 Minute Yoga Session
Join Sarah for a 30-minute yoga session; a great way to kickstart your day, or slow down at the end of a busy working day.
40 Minute Pilates Session
Get your blood pumping with Sarah Beatty (Alpha Gym Manager) whilst she takes you on a 40-minute Pilates workout.
Our recommendations for yoga online
Now you’ve finally got some precious time at home to relax or discover a new hobby, have you ever considered taking up yoga? Or perhaps you’re a regular yogi and you’re missing your daily dose of Yin and Yang.
Like many other yogis we’re turning to the web for a yoga fix. The problem is, there are thousands of channels out there on social media, and the web, so which one is right for us?
To make for a much simpler searching experience, we’ve put together our Top 6 free online yoga classes. CSSC members can cut out the hassle, and springboard off our recommendations to save time and get right into their yoga, without the inconvenience of searching.
Alo Yoga
Alo yoga is great because it isn’t just one instructor, they change it up which means you’ll never get bored of the same voice. Alo yoga is very inclusive and has classes for all abilities, using young, old, male, female, and even children to help guide you to mindfulness.
Cosmic kids yoga
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specifically for children aged 3+.
Let them get lost in interactive adventures which build strength, balance and confidence – and get kids interested in yoga and mindfulness early!
Looking for something with a bit more commitment?
If you’re missing the structure of your yoga classes or want to join a paid for subscription, CSSC members can access a discounted subscription with Yogaia!
Sarah Beth Yoga
Sarah Beth has ten years of experience teaching millions of yogis around the world. She is here to help you stretch, tone, de-stress and peel back the layers to becoming your best self through yoga.
Yoga with Adriene
Adriene is an actress, writer and international yoga teacher. She has an online community of over 6 million subscribers and regularly updates her online classes, which range from beginners to intermediate. With her wit and charm, and of course her dog Benji, she is a firm favourite with CSSC staff. Most of us have enjoyed her 30-day yoga challenges.
Yoga with Kassandra
Kassandra is a popular Youtuber, with nearly 600 thousand subscribers. Her videos cater for beginners, regulars and more advanced yogis alike. We love Kassandra’s channel because there’s a fast range of options to pick from, to suit any of our members.
Yoga with Tim
Yogis flock to Tim’s classes to experience his soulful, open-minded and inspiring approach to yoga. His sense of humour makes his teaching fun.
Below are a few of the main ways yoga can help with your overall health
Builds muscle strength
As a bodyweight exercise yoga builds muscle, just like your traditional gym routine. When you build strength through yoga you balance that strength with flexibility.
Developing muscle helps protect us from conditions such as arthritis and back pain.
Creates a healthy lifestyle
Move more, eat less – that’s the saying of many diets. Yoga can help, regular practice gets you moving and burns calories.
Decreased stress
Yoga has been shown to decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. When used alone or with other methods of alleviating stress, ie. Meditation, yoga can be a powerful way to manage stress levels by increasing serotonin levels and making you happier.
Good for bone health
It’s well documented that weight bearing exercise strengthens bones, which helps prevent osteoporosis. As a weight bearing exercise yoga is no different from running or walking, but it won’t damage your cartilage or stress the joints.
Improves heart health
Studies show that yoga may help improve heart health and reduce several risk factors for heart disease. Incorporating yoga into a healthy lifestyle could help slow the progression of heart disease. You may also benefit from yoga if you have high blood pressure.
Improves your flexibility and balance
This is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga. Flexibility and balance come with time, stick with it and you will see results.
Lowers blood sugar
Yoga lowers blood sugar and LDL cholesterol and boosts HFL “good” cholesterol. It has been found that people with diabetes who practice yoga, lower their blood sugar in several ways, by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, encouraging weight loss, which in turn decreases the risk of diabetic complications.
Reduces anxiety
Yoga can reduce symptoms of anxiety as it emphasises the importance of being present in the moment and finding a sense of peace.