My Journey to Yoga - by Phil Aston

I did not take to yoga easily, in fact after my first class my intention was not to go again!

Following a visit to a well-man clinic I was told I had very high blood pressure and that medication was the best course of action. It was my wife Sue who suggested Yoga might help me.

Apart from the blood pressure issue, I also had painful knees, a back that went into spasm at will and a tendency for panic attacks.

Sue was very determined that I should try yoga again so I did eventually sign up for a full term. I needed some way of measuring whether yoga worked or not, with my competitive nature in full flow I decided that being able to touch my toes would be my measure. I chose this as touching my toes was something I had never been able to do.

During that first term I struggled to touch my toes, trying very hard each week.

Then after week six, I stopped trying and my hands softly landed next to my feet. I had learned the connection between the breath, mind and body.

As the months passed by I became more and more interested in yoga trying different schools of yoga and immersing myself in personal practice. During this time my blood pressure dropped back to normal and the pain in my knees subsided as did the pain in my back. I also began to recognise the triggers that caused my panic and anxiety and was able to apply yoga to help in this area.

I was always consciously aware that there very few men in the classes I went to and realising how beneficial yoga was to me decided to train to become a yoga teacher hoping this would encourage more men to try it.

I also remembered all the things that had nearly put me off trying yoga and wanted to encourage more people to try yoga and help them realise how yoga can help on a practical level. I believe we take on more if we have meaning behind the instructions. So although I use many of the Sanskrit terms, I also give the English translation and more importantly what the benefits are behind the different yoga postures or techniques.

I also teach with a lot of humour, it is very hard to remain tense if you are laughing or having fun.

I trained with the British Wheel of Yoga initially where I gained my teaching diploma. My teaching style now encompasses many different styles of yoga from Vinyasa flow to yin yoga.

My yoga classes are suitable for everyone, I use yoga in every aspect of my life from my Physical to mental well being. A key part of my teaching style is to try and help others develop a personal yoga practice, not simply doing the same routine every day but putting together yoga practices depending on what you have planned for that day or for how you are feeling.

The title of this website is play on words. It is my aim to try and make yoga work for you.

Please call me if you have any questions relating to my yoga weekends, yoga classes or holidays in Cornwall.

01736 719342

Qualifications

A full yoga teaching diploma with the British Wheel of Yoga.
Advanced Instructor Level 3 certificate' with the 'Register of Exercise Professionals