A Halifax-based yoga teacher has launched a new campaign to encourage more people to give yoga a try. Adele Wills, owner of Adeles Yoga, introduced the ‘Keeping it Real’ campaign this month to bust myths traditionally associated with the practice of yoga, as well as celebrate the many benefits it can bring.

Adele’s Yoga : Keeping it Real

One myth that the campaign seeks to tackle is that yoga is only suitable for the fit and flexible. By showcasing the real people that practice yoga, the campaign hopes to show that yoga can be done by all shapes, sizes and abilities, encouraging more people to give it a go as a result.

Adele Wills said:

“So often, the yoga we see in the media just isn’t true to real life. Usually, you’ll see a stick-thin girl with their legs wrapped behind their head. The pose she’s doing probably makes your muscles ache just looking at her. With these types of images all over the media, is there any wonder so many of us feel that yoga isn’t for us?

But that’s not even close to what real yoga is – and it’s certainly not exclusively for people that look like they’ve just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Real yoga is for everybody and every body. It welcomes us, just as we are – wobbly bits, bad days and all. Through my ‘Keeping It Real’ campaign, I really want to break down those barriers and encourage more people to give yoga a try.”

The campaign also strives to bust myths about what yoga actually is and how it can be easily incorporated into everyday life. To support this, Adele will release weekly ‘Mindful Minute’ videos on her YouTube channel. These 60 second self-care practices can be done anywhere, anytime.

Adele said:

“When I first talk to people about yoga, they assume it is just complex poses and strange chanting. Of course, you can choose to bring that into your practice if that works for you, but real yoga is actually much simpler than that. Yoga is mindfulness, yoga is three deep breaths, yoga is self-care. In fact, anything you do with attention to how you feel is yoga.

My ‘Mindful Minute’ videos have been designed as a quick wellbeing boost to help deal with the stresses that we all experience as real people. I really hope people will give them a watch to see that yoga really is for everybody and doesn’t just happen on the mat.”

Alongside the videos, Adele will also be offering a series of free taster sessions over the next few months where new students can come along, find out more about yoga and give the basics a try alongside others who might be new to yoga too.

To find out more about upcoming taster sessions, watch yoga videos or learn more about the campaign, visit: www.adelesyoga.com/keeping-it-real