Jackie Sablich, locally-based journalist and new volunteer at Hornsey Vale, tells us why she’s looking forward to adult classes reopening at the Centre again.
For most of the past year, my young son has been quite content to be occupied by his father while I practise my weekly 7.30am yoga class online in our bedroom. Then, a few weeks ago, something changed. He thought “yoga” meant he was getting “yoghurt,” and he developed an absolute disdain for doors. Yoga at home became somewhat less peaceful.
I’m thankful, then, that I’ll soon be able to return to indoor yoga classes at the community centre. The decrease in Covid-19 hospital admissions and infection rates has prompted the government to move forward with phase 3 of its roadmap, which will allow for the return of adult sport and exercise classes indoors, among other activities.
I’ve been doing yoga weekly for about 10 years, and it has been a lifesaver for me in the last year. It’s an activity with many well-known benefits, from improving strength and flexibility to increasing heart health and helping with stress and anxiety. For the last 18 months, I have practised with Adriana Maldonado, whose expertise includes helping new mothers recover their strength after pregnancy and manage the physical strain that comes with having a young child.
Adriana teaches Vinyasa yoga
Adriana will return with “Bring Your Baby Yoga,” a 60-minute postnatal class which is suitable for babies that are not yet crawling, and “Vinyasa Yoga,” a class connecting movement and breath. She’s looking forward to teaching in person after months of online classes. “Yoga as a set of techniques and practices helps the individual to promote their mental and physical health, but the effect of a group class can boost the sense of friendliness, compassion, and belonging to a community,” she says.
Yoga teacher Marie-Flore will also return during term time with Hatha yoga classes, which offer a gentle, slow flow for mixed abilities.
“I am really looking forward to sharing once again the energy and togetherness of being with my students in the same room,” Marie-Flore says.
Both teachers will be taking Covid-19 precautions, including spacing out mats, providing hand sanitiser, opening the windows for good ventilation, and refraining from making any physical adjustments through touch, which are typical for yoga practice under normal circumstances.
A number of other classes and activities will return to the Centre from 17 May, including Zumba, a mix of low and high-intensity interval style, calorie-burning dance fitness, and adult Taekwon-do, fitness and self-defence rolled into one, led by Hornsey Vale stalwart Janitizio Pantera.
Janitizio’s association with Hornsey Vale goes back many years
Adriana says she is looking forward to connecting with her yoga community. “I believe my students will enjoy being part of social groups again, and that we will enjoy collectively supporting our mental health. I hope that offering physical classes will encourage people to return to exercise that they may have dropped because of lockdown.”
Class details:
Zumba with Sabrina Zigault, Sundays,11am-12pm. To book phone 07859911366 or email zigbrina@gmail.com
Pantera Taekwon-do, various days and times. See the Hornsey Vale timetable or email info@panteratkd.com
Yoga with Marie-Flore, Wednesdays, 6.30-7.30pm. Book: www.mariefloreyoga.co.uk
Rhythms of the Year Yoga, Saturdays, 11:15am-12:45pm. To book text 07847179233 or email marielle@londonyoga.org.uk. See: www.londonyoga.org.uk
Yoga with Adriana, Bring your baby class on Tuesdays at 10.45am, and Vinyasa yoga class also on Tuesdays at 7.30am and 9.30am. Book: Adriana.n8yoga@gmail.com; 07828549740.