NEWS ROOM

Recent Research released by the Institute for Global Change highlights a concerning trend: hospital admissions in England for conditions linked to obesity have doubled over the past six years, imposing an annual cost of £98 billion. Disturbingly, the Body Positive movement is now under the spotlight for potentially perpetuating the message that obesity is healthy.

Diana O’Reilly, Chair of the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), emphasizes the importance of addressing the obesity epidemic while highlighting the delicate balance between promoting body positivity and advocating a healthy lifestyle:

“Embracing body positivity is about celebrating diversity and challenging unrealistic beauty standards, yet it shouldn’t inadvertently become a guise for promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, particularly by social media influencers. This sends the wrong message to impressionable minds, suggesting that poor eating habits are acceptable.

Recognizing obesity as a multifaceted challenge, it’s crucial to understand that there is no quick-fix pill. Rather than relying on superficial weight loss solutions, it’s essential to delve into the complex roots of the issue, addressing factors such as stress, emotional eating, and depression. There is substantial research indicating that yoga can play a pivotal role in mitigating these underlying causes.

Yoga can be a transformative tool, as it encourages mindfulness and empowers people to make better-informed choices which can lead to positive lifestyle change. It can reinforce that body positivity and a healthy lifestyle can co-exist.”

The recent ITV investigation into puppy yoga suggests that these classes prioritise commercial appeal over animal welfare and BWY Chair Diana O’Reilly argues that this also isn’t in keeping with the true principles of yoga.

While animals, including puppies, are recognised for their ability to calm the central nervous system and provide a sense of joy, their presence in yoga classes can shift the focus from self-reflection to external entertainment.

Yoga is an ancient discipline that cultivates mindfulness, concentration and deep introspection. Ahimsa, or non-violence, is one of its founding principles. It is therefore important to consider the welfare and comfort of puppies while ensuring that students’ own needs are met. Young puppies can be overwhelmed by too much interaction and likewise, the allure of interacting with them can distract from the goal of yoga – to foster inner awareness.

We encourage yoga communities and animal welfare organisations to come together and explore alternative ways to incorporate animal interactions responsibly. It’s about striking a balance between promoting animal and human wellbeing.

Chair of BWY, Di O’Reilly comments:

The British Wheel of Yoga believes that yoga should be accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of their age, ability or background. While it’s true that yoga has become more popular and mainstream in recent years, we do not believe that it is elitist or exclusive.

There is definitely a need for high-quality training in the yoga industry to ensure that yoga respects its history and philosophy and, so that yoga becomes a support for mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing rather than a narrow fitness regime. To this end, we are working collaboratively with other yoga organisations and schools to assure quality Yoga Teacher Training so that it adheres more closely to its cultural roots.

Recent research from British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed an 84% heightened risk of death for people who can’t balance on one leg for at least 10 seconds. Recognising that balance is a key issue for people over the age of 65, British Wheel of Yoga introduced its Gentle Years Yoga Teacher Training programme to provide vulnerable groups with accessible and safe yoga practices to improve balance and help prevent falls.

Chair of BWY, Di O’Reilly comments:

A huge part of our BWY Gentle Years Yoga teacher training centres around fall prevention, with balances increasingly important to foster healthy bones in the long-term. As we age, balance is a challenge, but it does need to be addressed so that we can lead more active lives. Playing with balance is endless and one of the best ways to strengthen the connection between our brain and muscles through our central nervous system.

With an ageing population, falls are the biggest and most costly challenge facing our NHS today, with over 216,000 people receiving emergency treatment in 2021 alone and some 7,000 deaths recorded every year (NOMIS). The causes are mainly linked to poor balance and muscle wastage.

BWY Gentle Years Yoga specialist, Eve Douglas, has put together her top five tips to help improve balance and prevent falls:

• Tip 1: mountain pose – having a good stable posture when standing – with feet firmly on the floor, equalising the distribution of weight through both sides of the body and developing keen skills of proprioception, are key to staying strong and upright.
• Tip 2: standing on one leg – such as stork posture or modified tree pose – when weight is transferred on to one foot, enhancing balance and optimising muscle strength, helping to protect bones and joints from injury.
• Tip 3: mindful walking – stepping, moving and weight-shifting whilst focussing on an object of concentration – a ‘drishti’ point – has a direct effect on the visual and vestibular systems – and is excellent for improving confidence and balance.
• Tip 4: chair posture – either from standing or sitting – increases muscle strength in the legs and ability to move from sitting to standing with ease.
• Tip 5: any joint mobilising movements – such as the joint-freeing Pawanmuktasana sequence – to maintain flexibility and dexterity.

For further information on BWY Gentle Years Yoga programme visit: ***https://www.bwy.org.uk/gentleyearsyoga/***