NEW CLUBS FOR GIRLS START TOMORROW
We have two new girls only sports opportunities starting this week at CCHS.
These sessions take place after school and are free of charge.
Come along with some friends and give them a try!
To book a space, just scan the QR code on the attached poster or speak to Paul (Active Schools Coordinator) in the PE department.
In just one week (21 June) over 1,000 yoga enthusiasts will be namaste-ing at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow as part of a World Yoga Day event with renowned PYPT practitioner, Sadhvi Devaditi.
Tickets for the event – believed to be the biggest of its kind – are being snapped up quickly with over 900 already reserved, and organisers are encouraging others to secure their spot now and join the movement. The clincher: tickets are completely free!
This year’s event promises to be the biggest and most dynamic yet, with a live international broadcast from the Emirates Arena.
The event is a major part of Scotland’s contribution to World Yoga Day, recognised globally on 21 June.
In the lead-up to the big day, the city is embracing yoga like never before. Free yoga classes will be offered to offices, schools, and community groups across Glasgow and Edinburgh from 16 to 23 June, helping people of all backgrounds experience the physical and mental health benefits of yoga.
This special event is hosted by the Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, and Patanjali Yog Peeth (UK) Trust, with support from Glasgow Indians Association
The events are designed to introduce people to yoga, celebrate the community spirit of new and experienced yogis across Glasgow, and supports the bringing together of from across Glasgow to celebrate the benefit of yoga.
Sunita Poddar, Chairperson of the Patanjali Yog Peeth (Scotland) Trust, said: “Yoga is for everyone – it transcends age, background, and ability.
“At PYPT, we are committed to promoting holistic health and wellbeing by reconnecting communities with the ancient wisdom of yoga. Our aim is to inspire positive change, both physically and mentally, and empower individuals to take control of their own wellbeing.
“This celebration at the Emirates Arena is a chance to come together and experience the transformative power of yoga – we welcome everyone to be part of this special day.”
Sunita Poddar is the founder and chief executive of Glasgow-based care home group, Oakminster Healthcare. Part of her mission to root her businesses and approach to person-centred resident care in health and wellbeing will see the team of care home wellbeing enablers trained to deliver low-impact yoga sessions for residents across the five care homes in Govan, Kinning Park, Pollokshields, St George’s Cross and Knightswood.
The PYPT Yoga Event is free, but registration is essential via Eventbrite.
To enquire about free yoga events for schools, offices or community spaces email: admin@pypt.org.uk
ALL HAPPENING at MADELVIC HOUSE THIS WEEK:
New year new Yoga class for 2025!
These classes are run by expert Yogini Stephanie Knight for beginners and those with some experience.
There are two classes:
Mondays 1-2.15 Chair Yoga for those who would need to sit down and use the prop of a chair to do the poses.
Mondays 2.30-3.34 Beginners’ Yoga for those who can manage standing and using a mat on the floor for the poses.
Recommended donation per class: £3-5 depending on your ability to pay.
This contributes towards the costs of running the class which we are keeping as low as possible by bringing in external funding.
Please remember we receive no government or council funding to run our activities at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Did you know that we have a secret weapon right under our nose? One that can help us calm our nervous system; helping us to feel grounded, centered and connected to ourselves.
And what is this secret weapon I hear you ask…? Well, it’s the simple act of breathing mindfully.
Join me, Jules. on Monday mornings here at PCHP and together we’ll explore different breath practices that help not only improve our quality of breath but also help us relax and re-charge ready for the week ahead.
10-10.30am – Breathwork, seated warm-up and guided meditation
10.45-11.30am – Yoga Practice
*** Women Only ***
Want to know more? Get in touch with us via email: hello@pchp.org.uk
Three-minute bouts of yoga have been found to significantly lower blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of diabetes, a study from Glasgow Caledonian University has revealed.
The research carried out by a team of physiotherapists, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde team member, Alex Colvin, investigated the effects of breaking up sedentary behaviour with short bouts of yoga and tai-chi on glycaemic control, concentration, and wellbeing in healthy individuals.
The study, which involved 15 adults aged 26-28, found that the effects of short bouts of yoga to break up the working day significantly lowers glucose levels to reduce the risk of diabetes without compromising concentration or wellbeing.
However, tai-chi did not provide the same significant effect on glucose levels but allowed better maintenance of concentration and wellbeing. The research concluded that these interventions provide effective ways to combat the harmful effects of prolonged sitting while maintaining concentration and wellbeing.
Alex, also lead author of the study, said: “Through this research, I want to make people aware that you can break up your sedentary time with things that are good for your mental and physical wellbeing, and to reduce the risk of diabetes.
“There has been a lot of research into the benefits of yoga and tai-chi, which show favourable effects, but this is the first research that I am aware of that investigates the use of shorter three-minute bouts to break up a working day and shows results that this can help to reduce the risk of diabetes.
“This is also good news for employers who dislike the use of physical activity to break up sedentary time because they have this misplaced perception that it will negatively impact on production, as we have found it’s quite the opposite. We measured concentration and wellbeing throughout the study. Although there wasn’t a change with yoga and tai-chi, at least it didn’t get any worse, which disproves that doing these types of things is bad for worker productivity.”
Alex graduated with a Masters in Physiotherapy in 2020 from Glasgow Caledonian and became an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde specialist physiotherapist. He began the research during his studies with fellow students Lynne Murray and Jillian Noble, under the supervision of Professor Sebastien Chastin, but results were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study, entitled Effects of Breaking Up Sedentary Behavior With Short Bouts of Yoga and Tai-Chi on Glycemia, Concentration, and Well-Being, was published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, which is part of the Human Kinetics Journals.
Alex explained more about the methods used in the two-year study: “We took finger-prick glucose readings every half an hour throughout a seven-hour working day and standardised the participants’ diet as much as we could, along with that we broke up the sedentary time and the groups with either three minutes of yoga or tai-chi, or just sitting for the whole time and measuring their glucose.
“Although the study involved a small number of 15 mostly healthy adults aged between 26-28, it doesn’t change the fact that the glucose levels were still lowered. By using this group it might even be more beneficial to people who are prediabetic and the results might even be more significant.”
Professor of Health Behaviour Dynamics Sebastien Chastin, from the University’s School of Health and Life Sciences’ Research Centre for Health (ReaCH), highlighted the benefits of this research study.
He said: “Clearly we all spend far too much time sitting in the office or working from home. This shows that short bouts of yoga that can be done anytime during the day and it has the impact we expected that it can be turned into one of the interventions or reduce the risk of diabetes.
“What’s also really important about this research is that it demonstrates that it doesn’t reduce the productivity of workers. That’s always the worry of the bosses. Allowing them to have that time shows that it actually doesn’t reduce productivity at all, if anything it probably increases productivity so there’s not just a health incentive for the workers to do it but also for the employers to support that and implement it.”
Looking for an alternative Friday night out?
The Bongo Club are hosting an evening of yoga, dance and music with Dee McQueen Yoga – Breath & Movement.
Join them for DUSK, where you can experience a new wellness movement. Move your body through a glorious yoga practice to a DJ, reclaim the dancefloor, and still be home in time to pop your feet up on the sofa and get up early the next day. Or if you’re really feeling it, you could continue to party the night away!
Friday 16th June
7pm
The Bongo Club | 66 Cowgate | Edinburgh
Find out all about it on The Bongo Club website. 
New year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. January can feel gloomy enough without adding the pressure of ‘don’t do this’ and ‘you must do that’ to the mix.
Instead, Meadowlark Yoga is here to show you there is another way to harness the power of the fresh start without it feeling like a burden.
Meadowlark Yoga founder Karen Kirkness says: “Reframing our resolutions as an intention can be a great way to lighten the expectation and instead create opportunity.”
For many, it is a question of motivation – mainly, we aren’t really sure how to get any – but perhaps it is just a case of re-evaluating what it is we want to achieve and why.
“We often refer to the act of rolling out our mats and doing yoga as “practice”. The term reminds us that we are always in the process of learning, and that we will never reach an end goal or final posture. We are teaching ourselves that we approach this beautiful practice without expectation or ambition; we are just here to witness the experience – mindfulness, meditation and contentment. Indeed, yoga practice extends off the mat into our daily lives where we learn to apply the teachings to our ethical, moral and social lives.” – Karen Kirkness
Merging the ideas of ‘intention’ with the concept of ‘practice’ is a way to gently move into the New Year, without harsh agendas or prohibitive lists, just a soft opportunity to explore a new learning experience and a healthy habit.
“There’s no bad time to start a yoga practice but if you need that added momentum to get up off the sofa, step away from the Christmas leftovers and onto your yoga mat, there can be no time like January. You don’t need fancy gear or expensive equipment, just a yoga mat and some comfy clothes. Show up, roll out your mat and we’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
Meadowlark Yoga’s 6 Week Vinyasa Beginners Courses have seen hundreds of students move from their first time on the mat, into a regular, steady yoga practice. In these foundational courses students learn about breath, movement & alignment along with a sprinkling of the philosophy that goes behind the practice. After 6 weeks participants will be ready to join any yoga class or continue a home practice of their own.
Vinyasa Beginners Course:
Tuesday 19:45-20:45 – starting 4th January 2022
Thursday 19:45-20:450 – starting 6th January 2022
Sunday 12:30-13:30 – starting 9th January 2022
Kirkness: “We invite you to join us in the New Year, here at Meadowlark Yoga to foster healthy habits, mindful movement and a lifelong practice, just for you.”
For more information, visit: https://www.meadowlarkyoga.com
Adult Education resuming a limited face to face programme – with a few courses starting at Leith Community Centre from 8th November for a 5 week term.
All precautions will be taken with distancing, mask wearing, sanitising and ventilation to Keep students and tutors safe. So the class can get on with being fun, informal and informative!
Courses available are:
| Activity | LVL | Start date | Day | Time |
| Art(PR): Drawing & Painting – All – (8/11) – LCC12311N | ALL | 08/11/2021 | Monday | 10:00 – 12:00 |
| Yoga: Gentle – All – (9/11) – LCC65852N | ALL | 09/11/2021 | Tuesday | 17:30 – 19:00 |
| Russian – Beginner – (9/11) – LCC55512N | BEG | 09/11/2021 | Tuesday | 15:00 – 17:00 |
| Russian – Post Beginner – (9/11) – LCC55752N | PBG | 09/11/2021 | Tuesday | 18:00 – 20:00 |
| Writing Creative: Life Writing – All – (9/11) – LCC64652N | ALL | 09/11/2021 | Tuesday | 18:30 – 20:30 |
| Art(PR): Drawing & Painting – All – (10/11) – LCC12313N | ALL | 10/11/2021 | Wednesday | 10:00 – 12:00 |
| Yoga – All – (10/11) – LCC65753N | ALL | 10/11/2021 | Wednesday | 17:30 – 19:00 |
| Art(PR): Drawing & Painting – All – (10/11) – LCC12353N | ALL | 10/11/2021 | Wednesday | 18:00 – 20:00 |
| Discover: Archaeology Today – All – (11/11) – LCC32614N | ALL | 11/11/2021 | Thursday | 15:00 – 17:00 |
| Art(PR): Drawing & Painting – All – (12/11) – LCC12315N | ALL | 12/11/2021 | Friday | 10:00 – 12:00 |
| Dressmaking – Beginner – (12/11) – LCC33515N | BEG | 12/11/2021 | Friday | 14:00 – 16:00 |
| Jewellery: Silver – Intermediate – (11/11) – NCC45914N | INT | 11/11/2021 | Thursday | 11:00 – 13:00 |
| Jewellery: Silver – Intermediate – (11/11) – NCC45924N | INT | 11/11/2021 | Thursday | 14:00 – 16:00 |
You can book on our website: www.joininedinburgh.org – the courses will be available to view and book from today – Thursday morning.
Telephone enrolments will be available for 2 days on Thursday 21st October and Friday 22nd October this week from 10:00 – 16:00 by calling (0131) 469 3003 or (0131) 469 3005.
Courses will be charged at £41.25 for the standard fee and £16.50 for benefits, senior citizens and students.
Fiona Henderson
There’s lots on at The Academy – youth clubs for young people, football for women, yoga, walking football … all at no or low cost.
We are looking forward to welcoming you!
