Synchronise your mind and body in perfect harmony

UNLESS I am out of breath, my heart is pounding and I have worked up a sweat, I do not feel as if I have exercised.

So I never imagined that yoga, which appeared to be simply about contorting one's body into strange poses, followed by lying on a mat and relaxing, would be for me.

That was before I learned about the many benefits of the practice.

Regular yoga sessions are said to increase strength and flexibility, improve focus, promote feelings of wellbeing and peace of mind — and can help you to get in shape.

Celebrities including Madonna and Sting have endorsed a particularly rigorous form of yoga known as ashtanga — or power — yoga, which is said to be ideal for people who are fit or want to become so. The practice was founded in India by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, who died last month at the age of 93.

Ashtanga yoga involves a challenging physical routine that synchronises breath, strong postures, flowing movement and a focused mind.

And, if it was good enough for Madonna, I thought it must be worth a try.

I decided to attend the Thursday evening class at the Mint Methodist Church in Exeter run by Angelina Lambourn.

Angelina said: "Ashtanga vinyasa yoga is great for developing flexibility and strength physically, but these are really the byproducts of the practice.

"It needs to be performed with controlled breathing and concentration to achieve the ultimate goal of stilling the mind.

"Ashtanga yoga has a reputation for being vigorous and strong, but really all the postures can be modified to benefit the individual in the spirit of keeping yoga a perfect balance between the strong and soft.

"It is very sad that the yoga teacher Sri K Pattabhi Jois, who founded the ashtanga vinyasa system and gave it to the world, died at his home in Mysore, India, last month.

"Ashtanga practitioners are indebted to him for giving us this life-changing practice."

Before I went to the class, one of my colleagues told me I would need plenty of energy.

However, I was feeling tired so exercise was the last thing I felt like doing. But by the end of the hour-and-a-half class, I was feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Although I was a beginner and everyone else in the class had been practising yoga for years, I did not feel out of place. Yoga is widely seen as something people can practise at their own pace, and there was no pressure to perfect any of the postures.

One of the most important aspects of practising yoga is the breath — known as ujjayi breath.

Another important aspect is the postures. Angelina guided us through sun salutes, standing, sitting and inverted postures and finishing poses.

These included downward dog, upward dog, the triangle, the warrior, lotus poses, the bridge, the wheel, the staff pose, the corpse pose, the sunrise pose and the child's pose.

I enjoyed the class so much that I am even considering taking part in Angelina's beginners' class, which she plans to start running at the Mint Methodist Church in August.

Challenging system of yoga

Ashtanga yoga is based on a system of yoga taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India.

It often appeals to people who are fit or want to become so because it is a challenging physical routine. But the poses can be modified to suit all ages, abilities and levels of flexibility.

When practising yoga, it is best to wear layers, which can be stripped down to lightweight, comfortable clothing to allow free movement.

Participants are advised to turn up 15 minutes before the start of the class and to refrain from eating two to three hours before the class.

There are early-morning, not-for-profit, self-practice ashtanga yoga sessions at the Mint Methodist Church, Exeter, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7.15am to 8.40am. Anyone with experience of ashtanga vinyasa is welcome. It costs £2 a session.

Angelina Lambourn will run a beginners' class at the Mint Methodist Church every Thursday from August 6 at 6pm.

For more details, call Angelina on 07941 673835.