SIMPLE SET UP Beginning and practicing yoga requires very little equipment. A thin mat that allows you to not slip on the floor is useful, and loose or stretchy clothing makes it easier to move for one pose to another.
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Beginners classes are recommended if you’ve never done yoga before as this is where students learn the correct alignment, which in turn teaches you how to avoid injury. Every city and most towns have someone teaching yoga. Check out your local community centres. You can find yoga in studios, churches, and gyms. Some classes are offered seasonally in parks or on the beach or even at a native bird sanctuary, such as Wellington’s Zealandia.
Yoga is where Judi goes to experience a clear mind. as well as being an exercise that gently and gradually strengthens and stretches the muscles, also has an emotional and psychological benefit. ‘I feel better after being at a yoga session, even if I’m tired and I’m thinking, do I really want to do this. Yesterday I went, and I was not in a great mood. I was feeling a bit scratchy and fractious, but by the time I’d done an hour’s yoga I felt like the world was a better place. It really is blissful.’ STYLE WISE
Judi has done a number of different yoga styles over the last 25 years. Her first classes that she did with the Buddhist Centre were in Iyengar, a style which focuses on aligning the body. Locally, she does Vinyasa classes, which are designed around salutes to the sun – gentle
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DIABETES WELLNESS | Autumn 2025
repetitive full body exercises designed to wake up the body. Sometimes, Judi goes to Yin. ‘It can be described as merely holding a gentle posture for 5–6 minutes. But actually it’s pretty challenging as the mind wants to take over and get you to get up and get jobs done. At Yin, you learn to calm.’ But possibly where Judi finds most enjoyment is experiencing a clear mind. Thinking about anything else is not something Judi says she can do while in a yoga class. Whereas with other activities it’s often possible to fit in shopping list additions and concerns, everyday worries have to take a break for an hour or so. ‘I find yoga is great for just focusing on the here and now and being in the present.’
Costs can vary from koha (donation) to $20+. There are a few different styles of yoga out there: Iyengar, Vinyasa, Hatha, Anusara, Kundalini, Bikram, Ashtanga, Yin, and more. Yoga can be designed for those who are pregnant, adapted for those who have injuries, and adjusted to suit people who are more confined to a chair. Youtube and social media platforms host many practitioners who offer free classes and advice on yoga. ‘Yoga with Adriene’ is popular. For those with limited mobility, ‘scotteeisfat’ is an inspiring teacher whose posts guide and explain how any shape of body can still do and benefit from yoga. You can find him on Instagram, X, and Threads.
