Recommended Resources

• | Print |
•  Email

Nutrition

https://www.facebook.com/change4life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrSm1vYaPHU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xKv9zSyPAI

https://www.facebook.com/insidePN?ref=ts&fref=ts

YOGA

https://www.facebook.com/yogajournal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWgACd17H40

Yoga for Pregnancy

https://wordery.com/pregnancy-health-yoga-tara-lee-9781848990814?currency=GBP&gtrck=ZE9ncnByODNiMndFSVRqd2tlWCtuTXUzYVRuYVZERFExZFlPYnFXNDJSaUpYRTVrUlNLcWJwakswaU5wRDRvbERqNExLb29Oam84MDlneHVNRlFNTkE9PQ&gclid=COqhrb297McCFSLkwgodcbIAaA

Books on Yoga

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-New-Book-Of-Yoga/dp/0091874610

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yoga-Bible-Definitive-Postures-Godsfield/dp/1841813680/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364913412&sr=1-1

Meditation Books

http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Beginners-Jack-Kornfield/dp/1591799422/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373057025&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+kornfield+meditation+for+beginners

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Swami-Satchidananda/dp/1938477073/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364913515&sr=1-1

Exercise in later life

http://www.laterlifetraining.co.uk/home-exercise-booklets-free-to-download/ (Home Exercise Booklets)

http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/e/exercise-older-people (Advice on activity)

http://www.moveitorloseit.co.uk/ (Dvds)

Photo Gallery

• | Print |
•  Email

Yoga Photos

In my yoga classes there are usually various ways to make the exercises shown below more or less difficult.  Options are given throughout.  However, my classes do include flowing sequences, such as sun salutation, so in my classes it is necessary to be able to get up and down to the floor in the time it takes to take one breath.

Above - we start each class by establishing the breath.	We then do a meditation technique, which changes monthly.

Above - Strengthens the hips & lower back.	Above - Increases hip and back flexibility.
Above - Strengthens the core & shoulders.	Above - massages the belly & extends the spine.
Above - strengthens the core.	Above - strengthens the core and upper body.
Above - strengthens the legs and hips.	Above - stretches the thighs and hips.
Above - stretches the arms and is relaxing.	Above - flexes the spine and is relaxing.
Above - we always finish in corpse pose.	Corpse pose relaxes the nervous system.

Frequently Asked Questions

• | Print |
•  Email

Q1. If I randomly turn up when you're in the middle of teaching a class will you be able to answer all of my questions?

A. No: I am sorry. Please contact me first via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Text or answerphone message: Mark Wrench 07973 970 093 and I will do my best to answer all of your questions. I also probably won't be able to answer your initial questions before, between or afer classes when I'm at the venue as I'll be too busy setting up, preparing for the next class or packing away etcetera.

Q2. How do I book?

A. Contact me via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send a text message or give me a call on 07973 970 093 and I will book you in, or add you to the waiting list for fully booked classes. Note: once you've attended once you don't need to book in for the same class again unless you go a month without attending: you'll be automatically booked in. If you try and book at very short notice, within a day or two, you may instead miss that week as I may be too busy teaching to respond right away. My system is to allow a few extra people to be 'in the squad' for a full class to factor in that not everyone will attend every week. This saves you time and helps give you the continuity rather than it being hit or miss whether you can get booked in or not. Once you're in you're in until you tell me that you no longer wish to attend or go a month without attending.

Q3. Do I need to let you know when I cannot attend?

A. No, not if it's just for a week or two as the class is a weekly group event and is going ahead regardless. Furthermore, I teach 19 classes per week with an average attendance of around 70-80% so if everyone contacted me to tell me that they are not coming then I'd end up with 100ish messages regarding this each week, which takes time to read/listen and reply to. On Mondays for example, I often don't even have time to listen to or read and reply to all of the messages until Tuesday or Wednesday. However, if it's more than a couple of weeks please let me know as I, and your fellow particpants, will be worried about you.  

Q4. Where are your classes held/what classes do you teach?

A. You can view the full class timetable here: https://www.exerciseclasseskidderminster.co.uk/index.php/class-timetable

Q5. How much do your classes cost?

A. Active Seniors classes are £6 pay-as-you-go or £47 for ten sessions with a 6-month use-by date. All other classes: tai chi, yoga and Pilates are £7 pay-as-you-go or £52 for ten sessions with a 6-month use-by date.

Q6. How do I pay?

A. You can pay on the day by cash, cheque or bank transfer; I can give you the BACS payment details on the day or on request. I no do take payments by card.

Q7. If paying for a block do I lose the session if I cannot attend?

A. No, blocks of ten are valid for 6 months. I can also freeze the sessions for an additional 6 months for any reason on request, such as if you were to have surgery. Additonally, you can get a refund at £4.70 or £5.20 per session remaining on your ten-session card for ANY reason should curcumstances or your mind change (within 6 months of the date of your first session on that card). Ten-session cards can also be used in other classes where space is available. Note, you cannot use an Active Seniors card to attend tai chi, yoga or Pilates. If you finish your card in 2 months or less you get an extra class free as an attendance bonus. If you finish a ten-session card in one month or less you get two classes free as attendance bonuses. 

Q8. What time should I arrive for my first session?

A. The first time you attend there is a PARQ form to fill out so if you could arrive ten or so minutes before the start time then that would be great. This form involves learning about medical conditions that may need to be taken into account. This is also where I gather emergency contact details.

Q9. What time should I arrive after my first session?

A. Arriving bang on the start time is late. I need to take payment or date your ten-session card before the class and you may need to find a space/get your equipment set up. Please arrive no later than 5 minutes before the start time. Although, I know that everyone is late once in a while so do join in if the class has already started (unless it's your first class or Gentle Yoga where we start with meditation/relaxation techniques) but please don't use the traffic excuse every week :-) allow for it instead, or be more creative with your excuses. You may be able to arrive more than 15 minutes before the start time for some classes but others have a class which finishes 15 minutes before the start of the next class.

Q10. What do I need to bring?

A. I provide all equipment, including mats, but it's a good idea to get your own mat at some point as it's more hygenic (not needed for Active Seniors or tai chi as we don't do floor exercises in those classes). I recommend that you bring a bottle of water also and maybe a warm jacket or blanket for yoga as there are times, such as corpse pose, where we are not moving.

Q11. What do I need to wear? 

A. Loose comfortable clothing; so long as you aren't restricting movement then that's fine, and no high heels. You can do yoga, tai chi or Pilates barefoot if your biomechanics and medical conditions allow, although most wear footwear for tai chi, or you can wear socks with grip on the bottom; please do not wear normal socks without also wearing shoes or trainers. 

Q12. Are there any floor exercises in Active Seniors or Tai Chi?

A. No

Q13. What is the content of the class?

A. Descriptons of what's involved in each class can be found here: https://www.exerciseclasseskidderminster.co.uk/index.php/class-descriptions If you have any further questions just ask.

Q14. Is yoga or tai chi spirtual or religious?

A. Traditionally yoga is spiritual, having its roots in Hinduism and tai chi has its roots in Taoism. However, as an athiest, I teach yoga and tai chi as exercise classes, exercise classes with many evidence-based physical, physiological and psychological benefits. I am an athiest, and because these classes are practical in nature, I myself cannot teach anything in yoga or tai chi that relates to spirituality or religion; if I did I would be being inauthentic. I would also be concerned about how teaching the class in a spiritual way may conflict with my participants' existing beliefs. Furthmore, some of the claimed benefits to working certain meridians or chakras may conflict with evidence-based medical advice. Some argue that my view is not open-minded, but I fail to see how a belief that the existence of chakras or energy meridians, for example, is unlikely, obsolete and unproven is narrow-minded, whilst a firm belief that they are real is open-minded. 

Q15. If you don't believe in the spiritual side of yoga or tai chi then how can you teach it?

A. Because it's damn good stuff with hundreds of benefits; way too many benefits to do justice to without writing a book. Yet, to name a few, both tai chi and yoga are shown to help bring about a relaxed state and reducing stress, which itself brings hundreds of benefits such as normalising blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, improving concentration and memory. Both class types can also improve flexiblity, balance and reduce joint pain... 

Welcome to Exercise Classes Kidderminster

• | Print |
•  Email

Welcome

You can view the class timetable here: http://www.exerciseclasseskidderminster.co.uk/index.php/class-timetable

email to equire here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Mark Wrench 07973 970 093

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL.

Best wishes

Mark

Request: please wear a subtle amount of perfume/deodorant when attending classes. I am allergic to some (especially those that can be smelt from some distance) and others attending may have asthma. Many thanks. Mark

Classes are running at three venues within the Wyre Forest District

Stourport Community Centre, Lower Lickhill Rd (War Memorial Park) Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 8RW	Holy Innocents' Community Hall, Stourport Rd (off the bottom of Sutton Park Rd) Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 6LA
Astley and Dunley Village Hall, Ridleys Cross, Astley, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 0RF

Thank you for taking the time to vist the website.  To help you decide which class is best for you, click on the 'Class Timetable' and 'Class Descriptions' pages.

To find out more, you can also contact me via: phone or email.

Enjoy the classes

Mark Wrench.    

Tel: 07973 970 093     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.