Sitting and relaxing with a clear mind is on the agenda of a popular Lanarkshire group who have won the approval of their local MSP.
YoGlasgow! deliver therapeutic yoga classes in Coatbridge every Friday morning, which include chair yoga sessions.
Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor popped along to get first-hand experience of the group's work at the town's indoor bowling club.
Mick Gallagher, director and yoga teacher, told Lanarkshire Live : "Every Friday for more than seven months we have been delivering free chair yoga in Coatbridge.
"The sessions have been funded by the Cliftonville and Coatdyke community group and we are very grateful for their support.
"The class is fun, friendly and wheelchair/walk-in accessible. Chair yoga takes the benefits of yoga to a whole new level, offering the chance of self care in a group setting to those who may never have considered a mat-based yoga class.
"With simple breathing practices, guided exercise in a chair and relaxation at the end, these classes have proven to be a big hit in Coatbridge, with up to 21 in attendance weekly.
"They support people with individual health situations ranging from post cancer and heart attack recovery, Parkinson's, stress and anxiety, and, for some, simply reducing isolation, especially post-COVID.
"We at YoGlasgow! firmly believe that sessions such as these will play, and already are playing, a major role in redefining health care provision in Scotland.
"Post lockdown the world as we knew it has changed forever. Access to GPs and other health professionals has considerably reduced, so we believe that community based self-care is not only the way forward, but inevitable.
"Scotland can lead the way on this but such services need funding. Group sessions prove to be very cost effective as well as socially significant.
"The current free chair yoga sessions in Coatbridge are only funded until the end of this year and are in danger of shutting down if more financial support isn't secured."
Mick and his team were "hugely appreciative" of Fulton MacGregor MSP's visit - and the politician was quick to praise the group and its services.
Mr MacGregor told us : "I really enjoyed the session with YoGlasgow! and the chair yoga is a great idea.
"I am very interested in the organisation's mission to take chair yoga city wide in conjunction with the Scottish Government and will support this aim."
YoGlasgow's Coatbridge sessions run every Friday in the indoor bowling club on Quarry Street at 10am.
To find out more information about the organisation and its work, visit here.
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