Yoga at the Aquarium’ Facebook Live
30th April 2020
National Marine Aquarium to host Ashtanga Yoga online on 5th May at 6pm
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. Whilst the National Marine Aquarium is closed during lockdown, the team have been running some free, fun and creative activities online, as well as weekly relaxation sessions. Every Saturday the team releases an ‘Aquarium Relax’ video to chill out and watch the animals.
As part of the aquarium’s Facebook Live relaxation sessions, on 5th May at 6pm, the NMA will be hosting a free Ashtanga Yoga session. Karen Jones from Ashtanga Yoga Plymouth, who -pre lockdown- ran a monthly ‘Yoga at the Aquarium’ class, will be leading the online session for the first time. The yoga class is billed as an ‘Introduction to Ashtanga’, a dynamic form of yoga, involving movement and flow in time with the breath; it will be a taster session with information and poses to try and enjoy at home during lockdown.
In comparison to some other kinds of practice, Ashtanga Yoga is an energetic form of yoga in which postures are linked in a flowing sequence, a kind of ‘meditation in motion’. During the session, which will be accessible for all - people can relax, unwind and destress in front of the magnificent backdrop of the aquarium’s Atlantic Ocean exhibit, the UK's largest exhibit full of stunning sharks and rays. 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.
Karen Jones from Ashtanga Yoga Plymouth, said:
“I’m really happy to be collaborating with the National Marine Aquarium again. Putting on this class during this difficult time will hopefully help those stuck at home discover or continue 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 is 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 it makes perfect sense for the aquarium to host Karen and her yoga session on 5th May. We hope people will get involved at home by logging into our Facebook page and enjoy a great class, with a unique backdrop.
“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”.
To access the NMA’s free Facebook Live sessions go to: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMarineAquarium/