The National Marine Aquarium (NMA) has announced Yoga at the Aquarium for 2021, with apractitioner leading two monthly sessions in front of the aquarium’s amazing Eddystone Exhibit.
The Ocean and other blue spaces are proved to increase relaxation, calm and improve your mood.
The Aquarium provides a majestic backdrop of ocean animals from the British coasts including local sharks and rays viewed through the largest single panel in the UK, making it perfect addition to an Ashtanga Yoga session.
From January 2021 the sessions will take place every first and third Tuesday of the month. Karen Jones from Ashtanga Yoga Plymouth, usually runs ‘Yoga at the Aquarium’ classes, will return with yoga classes involving a dynamic and energetic form of yoga in which postures are linked in a flowing sequence that in time becomes a ‘meditation in motion’.
The benefits of Ashtanga Yoga include improved flexibility, posture, increased strength of bones and joints, muscle tone, reduced body fat, diminished stress and anxiety and an improved quality of sleep.
The National Marine Aquarium (NMA), which is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, is the largest aquarium in the UK housing over 4000 creatures, with money and donations going towards local and national conservation initiatives.
Karen Jones from Ashtanga Yoga Plymouth, said:
“I’m really happy to be collaborating with the National Marine Aquarium again and returning to the aquarium to enjoy all the endless benefits to both mental and physical health of this very traditional and innately wise practice. The backdrop and setting of the aquarium are perfect for yoga – the tranquillity helps encourage a calm and deep state of concentration”.
Helen Gowans, Public and Community Engagement Manager at the National Marine Aquarium, said:
“Spending time by the Ocean is synonymous for many with relaxation and feeling calm and peaceful, and research has proven it is good for people’s wellbeing and physical and mental health. With this is mind and the start of a New Year looming, it makes perfect sense for the aquarium to host Karen and her yoga sessions.”
“It has been proven that just staring at the Ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state which de-stimulates the brain, slowing us down and allowing us to relax and feel more engaged. The colour blue, the ebbs and flows, and the smell of the Ocean breeze has been found to contribute to a soothed state, which has never been more vital than at the moment during lockdown.
“Additionally, our own research has shown that watching fish in aquarium settings can have a restorative effect, so this event really is a win-win for our mental and physical wellbeing”.
In line with government guidance, the aquarium has reduced the number of available spaces and markers will be set out to ensure social distancing.
Session Dates:
January: 5th, 19th
February: 2nd , 16th
March: 2nd , 16th
April: 6th , 20th
May: 4th , 18th
June: 1st , 15th
July: 6th , 20th
August: 3rd , 17th
September: 7th , 21st
October: 5th , 19th
November: 2nd , 16th
December: 7th
Available to book here: www.national-aquarium.co.uk/events/yoga-at-the-aquarium
