Samatva Yoga

Tag: balance

  • Samatva: The Balance at the Heart of Yoga, and Why I Chose This Name

    Samatva: The Balance at the Heart of Yoga, and Why I Chose This Name

    The setting of the Bhagavad Gita

    The story of the Bhagavad Gita takes place on a battlefield, Kurukshetra. The warrior Arjuna is about to fight, but he is overwhelmed by doubt and sadness and lets his bow fall. His charioteer is Krishna, who in that moment becomes his teacher. Their conversation is the Gita.

    The teaching of samatva

    In the second chapter, Krishna tells Arjuna to act with a steady mind, the same in success and in failure, and says that this evenness of mind is yoga: samatvam yoga uchyate (verse 2.48). Yoga here is not about difficult postures, but about inner balance.

    What samatva means in daily life

    It means staying calm when things change, doing our best without being ruled by the result, and meeting good days and hard days with the same kindness.

    Why it fits gentle yoga for older adults

    Ageing brings changes: a stiffer body, less strength, sometimes pain or loss. Samatva invites us to accept the body as it is today, without comparing ourselves to others or to who we were. That is exactly the spirit of the classes: no competition, just balance.

    Why I chose this name

    I chose the name Samatva because it describes what I hope people find in my classes. For me, yoga has never been about touching my toes or holding a perfect pose, but about coming back to balance – in the body, in the breath and in the mind – whatever kind of day it is. Samatva reminds me, and I hope my students too, to meet ourselves with patience and kindness, exactly as we are today.

    The Samatva Yoga logo carries the same idea. The face is inspired by Jagannath, a form of Krishna traditionally shown with large, round, wide-open eyes. I changed it on purpose: from an expression that feels restless, unaligned and almost mischievous to one that is more relaxed and centred. For me it shows the change that samatva describes – from inner chaos to balance.

  • Gentle Yoga for Stiff Joints and Aching Backs: How It Helps the Ageing Body

    Gentle Yoga for Stiff Joints and Aching Backs: How It Helps the Ageing Body

    What changes in the body as we age

    As we get older, muscles slowly lose strength and mass (sarcopenia), joints can become stiff or arthritic, bones may lose density (osteoporosis), and balance gets weaker, which raises the risk of falls.

    How gentle yoga helps

    Slow movement keeps joints mobile and helps circulate the fluid that nourishes cartilage. Holding positions builds muscle strength around the joints, and weight-bearing standing poses support the bones. Balance work trains the body’s sense of position, and calm breathing lowers stress, which can reduce how intensely pain is felt.

    Research suggests that yoga can modestly help with chronic low back pain and knee osteoarthritis, and can improve balance in older adults.

    Five chair-based exercises to try

    All of these can be done sitting on, or holding on to, a sturdy chair:

    • Seated cat-cow – mobility of the spine, eases back stiffness
    • Seated knee extensions – strengthens the thigh muscles that support the knees
    • Sit-to-stand from a chair – leg strength, independence in daily life
    • Heel raises holding the chair – calf strength and balance
    • Shoulder rolls and gentle neck stretches – relieves tension in the neck and shoulders

    Safety first

    Move slowly, never into pain, and breathe normally. People with osteoporosis should avoid deep forward bends and strong twists. If you have had a hip or knee replacement or a recent injury, check with your doctor or physiotherapist before you start.

    Come and try a class

    You don’t need to be flexible or sporty to start – just curious. Our gentle classes are built around chairs, support and a relaxed pace, so everyone can join in. Have a look at our classes or get in touch: we would love to welcome you.

    This article is for general information only and does not replace medical advice.