A registered charity which this year has
brought yoga to more than 250 people in Yorkshire has been awarded
the 2009 BBC Power of Sport Award, supported by Sport
England.
Yorkshire Yoga, based in Knaresborough,
provides classes for all ages and abilities including antenatal
classes for pregnant mothers, ‘Golden Years Yoga’ for the over 65’s
and ‘Able and Enabled’ classes catering for people with physical
and learning disabilities.
The BBC Power of Sport award recognises real
projects that have made a difference in the community and the
Yorkshire Yoga project is a leading example of this.
Yorkshire Yoga is committed to bringing yoga
to the community and provides free or low cost classes for
disadvantaged people in the area. This includes classes for those
who are unemployed or work fewer than 17 hours a week such as mums
or carers.
Julia Ellison, a wheelchair user and dedicated
yoga student, has been attending Yorkshire Yoga’s Able and Enabled
classes for almost six years. The yoga centre has a
hoist to lift wheelchair users from their wheelchair onto the
floor, enabling them to take part in the exercises.
Julia said:
“Being on the floor to do exercises is
wonderful. You can stretch and exercise, with assistance,
parts of the body that otherwise would not get exercised. Some of
the helpers, along with Laura, are specially-trained in handling
disabled people in the correct way. It is their smiling friendly
faces that make a disabled person feel valued and respected.
This, along with the healthy exercise, can help with overall
‘well-being’ and help lift depression.”
In the last year, participation amongst people
with disabilities at Yorkshire Yoga has increased by 85%.
Harry Gration, BBC Look North’s sports
presenter, presented Yorkshire Yoga with the BBC Power of Sport
Award at their yoga centre last week.
Collecting the BBC Power of Sport Award, Laura
Bissell, Yorkshire Yoga’s founder and chairman, said:
“Over the last 5 years, we have worked hard to
bring the benefits of yoga to the whole community. Our
charitable aims are to provide classes for all ages, from antenatal
to baby yoga all the way to Golden Years Yoga for the over
65’s. More importantly, we aim to increase the participation
of our sport, not only amongst physically adept students in classes
like Hot Yoga and Ashtanga ‘Power Yoga’, but also with children and
adults who have physical or learning disabilities.”
David Holdsworth, Controller BBC English
Regions, added: "All of our Power of Sport award winners are making
a real difference through sport to the lives of people in their
communities. Finding and telling these fantastic stories back
to our audiences across England are at the heart of what the BBC is
here to do, so we're delighted to be part of these awards."
Sport England is supporting the BBC Power of
Sport Award. Jennie Price, Sport England’s Chief Executive,
said:
“This award celebrates the power of sport to
improve lives and enrich local communities. The Yorkshire Yoga
programme proves just what can be achieved when you have great
ideas backed by dedicated people.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
You can read a full profile of Yorkshire Yoga
by going to their case study page
For more information on the BBC Power of Sport
Awards, supported by Sport England, please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/8296653.stm
Yorkshire
Yoga
- Yorkshire Yoga is recognised by the national
governing body of yoga, the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY)
- The Yorkshire Yoga & Therapy Centre is the only
BWY-approved centre in the north offering teacher training and
continuing professional development to the region wide network of
BWY teachers.
- Yorkshire Yoga’s registered charity no. is 1124347
- Classes include: Yoga for Teens (Wii Fit Yoga Balance Challenge
for teenagers), Yoga for Teens with Learning Disabilities (same Wii
Fit Balance Challenge), Yoga for Lone Parents and Toddlers, Yoga
for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Able & Enabled Yoga for
wheelchair users, Thinnerpeace for people with weight problems and
Golden Years for the over 65s.
- Go to: http://www.yorkshireyoga.co.uk/
Sport England
Sport England invests National Lottery and
Exchequer funding in organisations and projects that will grow and
sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities
for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Sport England is committed to creating a
world-leading community sport system, and has set specific and
measurable targets to achieve by 2012/13:
- One million people doing more sport
- A 25% reduction in the number of 16- to 18-year-olds who drop
out of at least five key sports
- Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports
- A measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their
experience of sport
- A major contribution to the delivery of the five hour
sports offer for children and young people.