You do not need to be flexible to start

The sentence our teachers hear most often from people who have never practised is that they are not flexible enough for yoga. It is a little like saying you are too dirty to take a bath.

Flexibility is not an entry requirement. Most people who walk into their first class cannot touch their toes, and many of our long-time members still cannot. What a class asks for is attention: noticing where you feel a stretch, breathing steadily and not forcing a shape. Our teachers would rather see a student with bent knees and a long, easy spine than one with straight legs straining for the floor.

That is what the props are for. Blocks bring the floor closer, straps lengthen the arms, and a folded blanket under the hips makes sitting cross-legged comfortable. Every class has them, and teachers offer them to everyone, so using one never marks you out.

Other worries come up too. Some people feel too old; our oldest regular is 71 and comes to the 6 am hatha class four days a week. Some worry about their weight, or about being the only man in the room; neither is unusual here. If you have a health condition or injury, check with your doctor first and tell your teacher before class, so they can suggest alternatives. Then book the free beginner class, take the back corner if you like, and see how it feels.