Stretching

Stretch for a looser body

Two things in one hour: strengthening and stretching. First we work the deep muscles that stabilise the spine, then we stretch the shortened, tight ones. That order is deliberate, a loose muscle on its own holds nothing up.

What kind of class is this?

Sixty minutes on a mat, with slow, controlled movement. No jumping, no swinging, no racing heart rate. The strengthening part is made of small, precise exercises; in the stretching part we hold positions for longer.

How do I know if it suits me?

If you sit for eight hours a day, this class is the counterweight to exactly what happens to you meanwhile: the hip flexors shorten, the upper back weakens, the neck drifts forward.

It also suits people who train hard and want one session a week for recovery, and people restarting carefully after a long break.

If you have a specific spinal condition diagnosed by a doctor, discuss it with the instructor before the class.

Why is it worth trying?

• Strengthens the postural muscles around the spine
• Releases the tightness that comes from desk work
• Increases range of motion and improves posture
• Supports recovery between two hard sessions
• Suitable at any level, with no prior experience needed