If there’s one theme that comes up again and again in conversations before and after yoga class, it’s stress. Busy jobs, family responsibilities, constant notifications on our phones, worries about the future, it can all feel a bit much sometimes, can’t it? I’ve worked with so many students who first came to yoga not because they wanted to touch their toes, but because they wanted to feel calmer inside. Over time, I’ve seen how simple yoga practices can gently soften anxiety, quieten racing...

One of the questions I’m asked most often, especially by beginners, is, “What kind of yoga mat should I buy?” It’s such a good question, because your mat really is your little island of calm. The right one can make your practice feel safer, more stable and more enjoyable, while the wrong one can leave you slipping, wobbling, or feeling uncomfortable. If you’re in the UK and feeling overwhelmed by all the options online, eco mats, travel mats, thick mats, thin mats, you’re definitely not...

Hello, lovely yogis, It’s Lisa here from Happy Mat Yoga in Sutton Coldfield. If life has been feeling a little too fast, noisy or overwhelming lately, you’re not alone. Many of the people who walk into my classes are juggling busy jobs, families, and long commutes around Birmingham, and they’re craving a space to exhale, soften and just be for a while. Yin Yoga has become one of my favourite ways to offer exactly that. Yin is a slower, more meditative style of yoga where poses are held for...