Newcastle’s Yoga instructor has the right moves

NEWCASTLE CBD – Listening and being in tune with your body.

Far from some new-age buzzwords, these two fundamentals are what local yoga instructor, Jade Duval de Villeneuve includes in each lesson.

In her words, yoga is about getting in touch with oneself.

And for the past four years, Jade has done just that, following her heart and pursuing a life goal of becoming a certified yoga instructor.

“This is my passion. I am studying online towards my certification.”

With something of an open market in Newcastle, Jade recently began hosting beginner yoga classes at Fort Amiel a few times a week.

She said the response from the public was overwhelming.

“The response was better than before and I had to add a second class. Finding a venue was difficult but Louis Eksteen (curator of Fort Amiel) gave us a space to use because it’s peaceful and quiet.”

While tranquillity rests at the core of yoga, Jade explained it was an exercise for anyone from intermediate to zero experience.

However, those with serious injuries should consult their doctor first.

“Anyone can do yoga, not only the fit and flexible. Classes are for beginners; to make you fit and flexible.”

During her school-going years, Jade described herself as not active, but fell in love with yoga and the benefits it provided the body.

And these benefits are bountiful.

“There’s weight loss, it helps you sleep, improves flexibility, increases muscle strength through your core, and is a relaxation at the end of a day.”

Certain poses also wring out the organs, in effect detoxifying the body.

Addressing the negative stigma some harbour towards yoga, in particular for its meditative sections, Jade explained her classes had no religious connotation and were purely physical.

Exercise and relaxation were the key to yoga in her books.

Jade’s classes generally begin with cardiovascular exercises to get the blood flowing, followed by light-hearted poses where questions and frivolity were encouraged.

“My overall goal is to have as diverse a range of people in the classes as possible. It makes life interesting to have different cultures together.”

For more details, contact Jade on 071 463 2783.