I’m just as bendy at 82

“We start with ‘centring’,” says Adamson. “Bringing awareness to where you are in that moment in time, which immediately begins to reduce cortisol levels.”

Medical conditions or injuries are always taken into account. “Before the class begins, I ask people to tell me if they have any medical conditions or injuries,” Barbara explains. “Some exercises may not be suitable, so when we come round to that one, I will give an alternative pose.”  

And do you need any kit? Most classes that use blocks or straps will provide them, and as for clothes, don’t worry about splashing out on a new outfit. “Just wear something loose and comfortable,” advises Barbara. So what are the disciplines age-defying benefits? 

Yoga alleviates stress and promotes mental wellbeing 

“Yoga’s wonderful stretches release the chronic (and very ageing) tension that is held within the body,” explains Barbara. “By breathing deeply in every posture, you stimulate life-giving oxygen to every cell, as well as calming your mind and aiding deep relaxation. By concentrating on the balancing movements, you take your mind off its troubles, allowing you to feel peaceful.”

The body’s stress response, rooted in ancient survival instincts, involves the release of adrenaline to prepare for a fight-or-flight situation. In modern times, even though there are no imminent threats like sabre-toothed tigers, the body still reacts in the same way. And chronic exposure to stress without sufficient relaxation can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, reduced disease resistance, headaches, cancer and heart attacks. Releasing this tension through yoga stretches improves blood flow, can alleviate symptoms and increases a brain chemical called GABA, linked to better mood and less anxiety. 

Modern research, aided by data from MRIs and EEGs, is now helping us understand how yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices impact different emotional and mental states. Findings indicate that regular yoga and meditation can lead to changes in brain structure, such as the shrinking of the amygdala, which is considered the brain’s threat centre. 

Yoga can improve brain health and mental sharpness  

Yoga can also improve cognition. As tension decreases, individuals may experience improved clarity and focus. Harvard Medical School reports that regular yoga practice can improve cognitive skills like learning and memory by creating new connections in the brain. Studies reviewed by the journal Brain Plasticity in 2019 show that yoga practitioners have a thicker cerebral cortex and hippocampus, the brain region crucial for processing information and learning.

Yoga can help neurological disorders

According to research in the World Journal of Psychiatry, yoga can also alleviate some symptoms of Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. “Yoga may enhance blood flow to areas of the brain that promote the symptoms of early dementia and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease,” the report says. “Yoga can also improve the physical disability of [Alzheimer’s patients], such as walking, gait speed and balance.”

In people with multiple sclerosis, clinical trials suggested that those who practised yoga saw improvements in walking speed, fatigue, quality of life and symptoms of depression. And for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease, “yoga exercises can improve flexibility and balance… and promote muscle strength” as well as reducing symptoms like pain and anxiety.

Yoga can help with lung capacity  

Yoga incorporates breathing exercises that enhance lung capacity and regulate respiration. “There’s thought to be no way back from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” says Fiona Adamson. “But I’m working with people whose lung capacities have massively improved. Their breathing improves, they’re able to walk further and that in turn makes them feel a whole lot better.”