There’s nothing that you need to do before you try your first class.

During the class just listen to your body, follow the instructions and you’ll be fine☺ Japanese Yoga uses the power of the breath and movements of the body to bring relaxation and focus into your body. You don’t need to have experienced yoga or any other exercise to give it a try.

Japanese Yoga is best described as ‘like acupuncture without the needles’. You’ll find the yoga dynamic and easy to follow where the postures are broken down into movements designed to bring balance to the body making your practice more effective. It also changes depending on the season and whether you do it in the night or day. You’ll feel the energy of the meridians and notice how it flows and works within your body. I love Japanese Yoga and can’t wait for you to try it!

You only need a mat – and if you don’t have a mat, you can try putting a thick towel over carpet.

Comfortable clothes you can move freely in

Eating just before Japanese Yoga can make you feel uncomfortable. Here are some simple guidelines to make sure you get the most out of your class. With even the lightest meal, such as fruit or nuts, allow at least one hour before class.

For larger meals with vegetables and grains, allow two hours before class. For heavy meals with meat, allow three to four hours before class.

Japanese Yoga isn’t done in a heated room, so you can stick to your normal healthy level of water consumption. The foods we eat and how thoroughly we chew also supports us with our fluid intake.

Remember that cramping is a sign your pH level is off kilter. You could be dehydrated or lack enough good quality sea salt in your diet. – as with everything in life, balance is the key.

To get the most out of Japanese Yoga, you might like to make it part of your weekly routine. With just one or two classes a week you will start to notice a change, start to move a little easier and sleep a little better.

Japanese Yoga is different to other exercise – the changes you make will be with you for life. You’ll build on your practice each time you come, building core and body strength with flexibility and focus.

Be patient with yourself and the changes – it usually takes at least 3 -4 classes to get the hang of it and sometimes several weeks to feel the benefits. But it’s worth it!

The Japanese Yoga that’s practiced in the morning is different to yoga you do at lunchtime, or at night. Just as we change our yoga to suit the seasons, we also change it to suit the time of day.

Morning yoga is more dynamic with a faster pace. You’ll find there’s less emphasis on stretching and more on moving to build strength, vitality and stamina. Morning yoga is great for sports training, increasing metabolism rates and assisting in weight loss. Japanese Yoga is a great start to any day and will help you power through the whole day – even that mid-afternoon slump. As we progress through the day the movements become more focused. Night yoga is done at a much slower pace where relaxation and flexibility can be your main focus. It is all about de-stressing and helping the body unwind for a good night’s sleep.

A wise lady once said ‘Saying you’re too inflexible for Japanese Yoga is like saying you’re too dirty to take a shower’.

In other words, the more inflexible you are the more it’s recommended to try Japanese Yoga!

Inflexibility can lead to long term side effects, such as neck and shoulder pain, lower back, digestive, hip and knee problems.

Japanese Yoga will help you get those stiff joints moving again to relieve the over-tight, overworked feeling in your muscles.

Japanese Yoga is surprisingly simple, easy to learn and well worth the effort.