Hackney GP surgery to host free online yoga sessions during lockdown

A Dalston GP practice is to launch free online yoga and meditation sessions this week to help people stay on top of their mental and physical health during lockdown.

The team at Richmond Road Medical Centre hit upon the idea after the pandemic forced them to cancel their annual Healthy Mind event.

The 45-minute sessions, run by experts at Wild Thing Yoga, are open to all and will be broadcast live on Zoom and Instagram at 1pm every Wednesday, starting this week.

If you can’t make it, each class will be available to download for 24 hours afterwards.

Wild Thing Yoga describes the sessions as “creative, fun and passionate” and says they can help “sustain a healthy daily life, enhance mental health and guide us through the new normal”.

The classes are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Dr Gopal Mehta, a partner at the Richmond Road practice, said: “With all the pressures people are going through, we hope these sessions can really help.

“Many don’t have the chance to get out into open spaces right now. We hope this gives people a chance to try something different, that they can do at home, to really boost their physical wellbeing and mental health.

“Anyone who has internet access can join the sessions – whether in Hackney or worldwide.”

He added: “We’ll be getting on the yoga mat ourselves and encouraging everyone – patients, local residents, everyone anywhere – to join in online. It’s open to all!”

Links to the live sessions will be posted every Wednesday morning on richmondroadmedicalcentre.nhs.uk

You can also stay up to date by following the practice on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram