Blog: “I would recommend yoga to other disabled people”
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2016 we’re taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people. This week it’s Y for yoga, and Shane from London discusses the therapeutic and fitness benefits of yoga.
Shane’s blog:
I’m a 26-year-old from North London and I’ve being going to yoga sessions for around six years.
I attend a weekly yoga class at Special Yoga Foundation in Kensal Rise. I start with some chanting and then complete some standing poses, followed by sitting and lying positions on a mat.
I find it difficult to sit on the mat with crossed legs, so I use one or two blocks and this helps me to sit with a straight spine and to open my chest, so that I can breathe better. I have learnt lots of different poses over the years and I am able to move my body in various ways.
I have got speech and language difficulties and I get very anxious on occasion, but going to yoga makes me feel very relaxed. I often leave class with a smile on my face.
Although I really enjoy yoga, I sometimes go swimming and play football. I have tried other types of physical activities in the past which I have enjoyed, but with yoga I am able to relax and express myself more.
Yoga is very therapeutic, and considering my speech and language challenges I feel my speech improves and I am able to get words out more clearly after an enjoyable lesson. Yoga helps me feel confident and relaxed, and my concentration improves.
In my opinion, sport and fitness is very important. It keeps you fit and, depending on your disability, the determination and hard work involved can help you to succeed.
I would recommend yoga to other disabled people as it has given me more confidence in my ability to talk with other people. I wish I could attend yoga more often.
