Yorkshire Yoga Teacher Launches Virtual Yoga Studio

A Yorkshire Yoga Teacher has launched a virtual Yoga Studio that will help people feel healthy, well, and active during social distancing and beyond.

Hania Therapies Virtual Yoga Studio is the brainchild of Amy Manancourt who says she wants people to be able to practice Yoga any time anywhere.

“Yoga isn’t just about making shapes with your body – although it can be that if you want it to,” says Amy.
“It’s about looking after your health in the midst of real life – and real life tends to be busy; I want people to be able to access Yoga classes at a time and pace that suits them.”

Amy trained as a dancer at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and while she still loves dance in all its forms, her interest in the human body and passion for self-care has taken its place.

“My dance training taught me so much about the body; how it moves, and how different bodies move differently,” she explains.

“I address this in every class by explaining how you don’t have to be able to do it as I do it but how to help yourself achieve the same benefits.”

“I want to stress that this is for everybody regardless of age, gender, fitness, size; my classes are not exclusive and they don’t require lots of equipment – though I do recommend investing in a mat. The classes are gentle and caring, and whilst I am not in the studio with you, I am available to talk through personal queries outside of class via a members-only Facebook group.”

Amy had practiced Yoga for 10 years when in 2017 she discovered Yin Yoga and began training to be a teacher.
“I immediately fell in love with Yin Yoga,” she says.
“It’s a deep stretch with deep relaxation - it’s brilliant for reducing stress and tension and helping us to slow down both on and off the mat. It also challenges our perceptions of ‘no pain no gain’ which is an old-fashioned concept.”
She also teaches Hatha Yoga to build strength and flexibility, and Vinyasa Yoga a flowing movement with breath work for that helps boost the mood and increase mobility.

Amy initially undertook 50 hours of training over one week giving her a certificate in Yin Yoga Therapy, and in April 2018 she travelled to Rishikesh in India where she took a course of 200 hours training over four weeks gaining a certificate in Multi Style Yoga, specialising in Traditional Hatha Yoga.

She has taught at varying venues around Yorkshire, and, pre-lockdown, also offered one to one classes. She now brings all her experience to one place where everybody can access.

“One of my members described me as ‘the perfect mix of spirituality and Northerness,” says Amy. “I think that sums me and my studio up perfectly!”

Hania Therapies Virtual Yoga Studio offers classes that range from a 10-minute practice to a longer flow, enabling people to fit it in and around their daily activities and their personal requirements.

“It is okay to exercise self-care for 10 minutes,” she continues. “There are no rules as to how long Yoga should take, how it should look, and how it should make you feel; as our lives change so does our practice.”
The studio is regularly updated with new classes, each hosted by Amy.

“Yoga can help you gain more flexibility, tone and strengthen your body, manage hormones and sleep patterns, assist with weight management, and is ultimately beneficial to our mental health,” she concludes.
“Yoga is more than just exercising - it’s a way of life.”

To find out more about Hania Therapies Virtual Yoga Studio email Amy on amy.manancourt@live.co.uk or follow Hania Therapies on Facebook and Instagram.