Yoga without limits

Participant Rosemary practising chair yoga (supplied).

Local not-for-profit organisation Windarring is helping to support Gisborne and Kyneton residents through accessible yoga and meditation sessions.

The sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays to support people with a disability to improve their core strength, flexibility, and balance.

Experienced local yoga instructor Jahne Hope-Williams runs the sessions and works with participants to adapt each movement to suit their needs in a safe and supportive environment.

For participants in a wheelchair or who require a mobility aid, Ms Hope-Williams has adapted their yoga and meditation practice to be seated, which they call chair yoga.

Ms Hope-Williams said while yoga and meditation adaptations are different for everyone, all participants are working to increase their strength and concentration.

“We can all do yoga, not all the same, but we can all do it,” she said. “Just because [someone] is sitting doesn’t mean [they] can’t do anything, [they] can.”

“In our sessions, we have been working on helping participants become longer and stronger. We are building concentration, enabling participants to better focus on tasks throughout the day.

“Due to the improved concentration, we have progressed from basic yoga practices to more difficult meditation and breathing exercises.”

Yoga sessions are held in Kyneton on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, with yoga and meditation sessions in Gisborne on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 10.30am.

Details: 5422 7001.