I'm the stiffest person alive. Can I really do yoga?

Yes. Stiffness is why you do yoga, not a barrier. I use props (blocks, straps, bolsters) to meet you where you are. You won't be asked to touch your toes. You'll be asked to move gently and breathe.

I'm a bloke. Will I be the only man in class?

Probably not. About 30% of our students are men. And the ratio improves every year as more men realise yoga isn't a spa treatment — it's functional movement.

Do I have to be quiet, meditate, or "be zen"?

No. You can be as grumpy as you like. You don't have to meditate if it's not your thing. Some students do the movement and skip the final relaxation. I don't police your inner state.

What if I'm too old to start?

Our oldest regular student is 78. My father built this studio at 80. You're not too old. You might need more modifications, but that's what I'm here for.

I have a knee replacement / hip replacement / old shoulder injury. Is yoga safe for me?

Usually yes, but check with your surgeon or physio first for specific restrictions. Many post-surgery students use yoga to maintain range of motion and prevent stiffness. I modify around limitations.

Will I be pressured to sign up for a course or membership?

No. You can drop in to individual classes. No pressure, no upselling. Pay as you go if you want.

I've never exercised in my life. Is this safe for me?

Yoga is one of the lowest-impact forms of movement. If you can walk, you can do yoga. We start where you are. If you have health concerns (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions), just let me know beforehand.

Yoga for Beginners

Stiff? Sceptical? You're in the Right Place

No preaching, no crystals, no perfect poses. Just practical movement for real bodies that want to work better.

Best For

✓Complete beginners (zero experience)
✓Men (especially if you think yoga is "for women")
✓"I can't touch my toes" — stiff, inflexible people
✓"Is it going to be weird?" — sceptics
✓Older adults and over-50s

What to Expect

Everything modified for your body. I focus on function — can you tie your shoes? Get out of the car? Sleep without shoulder pain? That's what we're working on.

Weekly class to start

Recommended Classes

View Timetable

Yoga Isn't Just for Flexible People in Lycra

You can't touch your toes. Your hamstrings are tighter than guitar strings. You've never meditated and you're definitely not about to start. You think yoga is for women, for hippies, for people with time to "find themselves."

But you do want to tie your shoes without groaning. Get out of the car without your back seizing. Sleep without neck pain. Move like you did ten years ago.

That's what yoga is actually for. Not enlightenment. Not Instagram poses. Function. Your body working the way it's supposed to.

The Science

What Yoga Is Really For (Hint: Not Flexibility)

Yoga isn't about touching your toes. It's about teaching your nervous system to release the chronic tension that makes you stiff.

Most people think flexibility is genetic — some people are bendy, others aren't. Wrong. Stiffness is neurological more than structural. Your brain controls muscle tone. When muscles stay contracted chronically (from stress, desk work, old injuries), the brain forgets how to release them. Yoga uses movement with awareness to retrain the nervous system, breath to signal safety (so muscles can release), and supported holds to give your brain time to adapt. You don't force flexibility. You create the conditions for your nervous system to let go.

I don't care what the pose looks like. I care whether you can get your socks on without pain. Whether you can reverse the car without straining your neck. Whether you can sit on the floor and get up again. Whether you can sleep without your shoulder screaming. These are the metrics that matter. Yoga is just the toolkit.

Classes That Help

Find the Right Class

Hatha Yoga

The foundation — slow, steady, functional

·Clear instructions and lots of modifications
·Builds strength and mobility at your pace
·No prior experience needed

Yin Yoga

Surprisingly good for stiff people

·Long-held, supported poses — no athleticism required
·Releases deep connective tissue
·Deeply restorative

Gong Bath & Sound Healing

For curious sceptics

·You lie down, the sound does the work
·Zero skill, zero flexibility required
·No woo-woo — just physics

The Yoga Den Difference

What Makes The Yoga Den Different

No Judgement, No Perfect Poses

Every pose is modified for your body. Blocks, bolsters, blankets — I bring the floor to you. Health forms mean I know your limitations before you walk in.

Science-Backed, Not Woo-Woo

No preaching, no crystals. I explain the neuroscience: nervous system regulation, vagal tone, somatic release. The gong doesn't 'heal' you — it creates conditions for your nervous system to rest.

A Sanctuary, Not a Gym

A garden studio, max 10 students, birdsong and wind chimes. Built by hand at the end of a Wallington garden. Not a franchise, not a brand. Just a space to breathe.

The Evidence

The Research (For Sceptics Who Want Data)

1.Chronic low back pain: NICE guidelines (UK) recommend yoga as first-line treatment — gold standard clinical endorsement
2.Flexibility and function: Research shows yoga improves range of motion, balance, and strength in older adults, reducing fall risk and improving daily function
3.Comparable to physiotherapy: Some studies show yoga produces similar outcomes to physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions, at lower cost
4.Nervous system regulation: Systematic reviews confirm yoga reduces stress hormones, improves heart rate variability, and shifts autonomic balance toward rest and recovery
5.NHS integration: Yoga programmes are now delivered through NHS trusts for back pain, anxiety, stress, and chronic conditions

If you have acute injuries, joint replacements, or medical conditions, check with your GP before starting any new exercise.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Move Better?

No preaching. No judgement. Just practical movement for real bodies.

Book Your First Class Email Me

Turn up stiff. I'll work with it. Bring your scepticism. I can handle it.

Yoga Isn't Just for Flexible People in Lycra

But you do want to tie your shoes without groaning. Get out of the car without your back seizing. Sleep without neck pain. Move like you did ten years ago.

That's what yoga is actually for. Not enlightenment. Not Instagram poses. Function. Your body working the way it's supposed to.

What Yoga Is Really For (Hint: Not Flexibility)

Yoga isn't about touching your toes. It's about teaching your nervous system to release the chronic tension that makes you stiff.

What Makes The Yoga Den Different

No Judgement, No Perfect Poses

Every pose is modified for your body. Blocks, bolsters, blankets — I bring the floor to you. Health forms mean I know your limitations before you walk in.

Science-Backed, Not Woo-Woo

No preaching, no crystals. I explain the neuroscience: nervous system regulation, vagal tone, somatic release. The gong doesn't 'heal' you — it creates conditions for your nervous system to rest.

A Sanctuary, Not a Gym

A garden studio, max 10 students, birdsong and wind chimes. Built by hand at the end of a Wallington garden. Not a franchise, not a brand. Just a space to breathe.

The Research (For Sceptics Who Want Data)

1.Chronic low back pain: NICE guidelines (UK) recommend yoga as first-line treatment — gold standard clinical endorsement

2.Flexibility and function: Research shows yoga improves range of motion, balance, and strength in older adults, reducing fall risk and improving daily function

3.Comparable to physiotherapy: Some studies show yoga produces similar outcomes to physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions, at lower cost

4.Nervous system regulation: Systematic reviews confirm yoga reduces stress hormones, improves heart rate variability, and shifts autonomic balance toward rest and recovery

5.NHS integration: Yoga programmes are now delivered through NHS trusts for back pain, anxiety, stress, and chronic conditions

If you have acute injuries, joint replacements, or medical conditions, check with your GP before starting any new exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions