Voice of London

Words and photography: Stephany Malcolm | Subbing Kate Reichardt

Winter is upon us, and that means all the joys… and the stress that comes along with it. London is filled with people enjoying bright lights and festive events, but shorter days and busier nights can mean not enough time to focus on looking after yourself.

The Voice of London visited Panna, a dedicated yoga teacher, mentor and healer with over 30 years experience. She showed us a simple four-step yoga exercise, to reduce stress and increase relaxation, that you can do at work or even on the tube home.

Take a look through our gallery, and find out how to do a simple exercise for stress-management.

All photographs taken and edited by Stephany Malcolm

5 Minutes. 5 questions…

We sat down with Panna over a cup of (herbal) tea to ask her five questions that only yoga teacher in London would understand.

Q:  Imagine you’re running late to a yoga class, do you run or walk to the tube?
A: It’s better to walk isn’t it?

 

Q: Where is the most unusual place in London that you can find peace?
A: The grounds of Hampton court are peaceful, very lovely. But my own garden is pretty good.

 

Q: Apart from yoga classes, where can you find spiritual people?
 A: When you go to monastery’s, you find spiritual people. You don’t need to do yoga with them, you can just sit there in peace, and you feel like you’re in another world. Even to sit in a quite church, you can find peace at any time of the day, you don’t have to be religious at all.

Q: Are the majority of your students young or more mature?
A: It’s very mixed. Some are very young, some are more mature. It depends which classes I do.

 

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about yoga?
A: That you have to be extremely flexible. In yoga you work to your own body’s limits, not anybody else’s.

 

Q: Should they teach yoga in schools around London, do you think that would benefit children growing up in a big city?
A: Definitely, it grounds the children. Grounds them and helps them focus on their study. It helps them become well settled and well-rounded adults.

 

No time? Listen to this special compilation of Piano and Cello Duets by Mark Cosmo and Sacred Mind. Each successive song will help you relax and heal.

 

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