Welcome to AMALAwellness Newsletter!
The team at AMALAwellness are thrilled to launch the first edition of our newsletter, dedicated to the world of wellness and community in Teesside. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, our mission is to promote physical, mental and social well-being through the practices of Gentle Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi, and Chair Yoga and Exercise.
In this newsletter, we aim to share inspiring student stories, health tips, and updates about our events and classes.
Class spotlight – High Grange House
Residents of High Grange House in Billingham look forward to Thursday afternoons. This weekly AMALAwellness chair exercise class gives residents the chance to move, stretch and improve their balance and flexibility. But above all, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with eachother and chat over a cuppa after class!
After a successful pilot, AMALAwellness has collaborated with Thirteen group and with funding from The People’s Postcode Lottery and our ‘Pay it Forward’ Scheme, to keep this class running.
This class has flourished, starting off initially with 3 participants and now with 9 attending regularly!
There’s a cosy sense of community here, with different members chipping in to help set up and to make drinks – it’s a real team effort!
Although residents are living with a range of long-term health conditions, chair exercise really is for everyone & week-in-week-out we work hard to build strength & increase flexibility.
New classes online and in Ingleby Barwick
Gentle Yoga at Ingleby Barwick Community Centre
Our new class, ran by Philip, offers a chance to learn Gentle Yoga. The class is usually £24.00 for a 4 week block and we are offering the 1st session as a free taster session. This is so you can try it out before committing to a block and see if it is for you.
Philip is a keen, dedicated and experienced Yoga Teacher. The class has started out well, with 4-6 regular practitioners attending weekly. There is more space, if you would like to come along. To read more about the class at Ingleby Barwick click here.
Fully Funded Online Zoom Yoga on Sunday Evenings
Our Zoom Chair Yoga class is on Sunday Evenings and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. It is taught by the lovely Madeleine, who is experienced in developing Accessible Yoga classes for all abilities. Registering is essential, to learn more about this class and to register click here.
AMALAwellness – #peoplenotprofit
Our Pay It Forward Scheme
When you come to a class, course or event with AMALAwellness, not only are you working on your own wellbeing, you Pay It Forward to help others access Yoga, Meditation and Chair Based Yoga and Exercise in the local community too!
When you attend classes, you are helping us to fund initiatives with charities and organisations.
This allows us to offer support to those who need it most and may not be able to access these much needed services across Teesside.
Pay it forward with a Coffee!
AMALAwellness is a
Not-For-Profit organisation.
We keep things as open and accessible as possible – so all can enjoy Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Exercise, Mindfulness and the positivity it brings to life.
Sometimes, people wish to donate to us. This allows us to keep having a further community reach. If you would like to donate, you can ‘buy us a coffee’. All funds go back into communities across Teesside – meaning we can support more people,
setting up new projects and classes in areas of Teesside.
If you would like to donate, please click the link below.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amalawellness
Marching On – Strengthening the Glutes
Always consult with a doctor of health physician before embarking on a new exercise regime. Especially if you are living with a long term health condition. Please note – Nothing on this website is to be taken as medical advice, recommendation or as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concern about your wellbeing, always seek the advice of a doctor, physiotherapist or mental health expert and take a professional guide with you for activities.
Modern-life means that many of us are spending more and more time sitting down. When we sit, the glute muscles in the bottom are stretched and the hip muscles are contracted. Eventually this “switches off” the glutes and other muscles in the hips and lower back work hard to compensate.
Why are the glutes so important? The glute muscles enable us to move from seated to standing and to climb stairs. They are responsible for the everyday, functional activities we all need – walking up a front door step, getting up to put the kettle on and using the loo!
Marching, balancing on one leg and everyone’s favourite Sit-to-Stands are all fantastic ways to build strength in your glutes at home and during your AMALAwelless chair exercise class.
Try these simple exercises to work the glutes while the kettle boils!
- March – stand tall & engage core. Lift knees high & pump opposite arms. Keep the feet flat.
- One-leg balance – using a chair or the kitchen counter for support to begin, lift one leg off the floor & hold for 10 seconds. Keep supporting knee soft & foot flexed.
- Sit-to-stand – sit on the front third of your chair, draw feet back a little. Push into feet, lean forward & pump arms to stand up. Sit down by bringing the hips back and bending the knees.
Thank you for reading our newsletter!
If there is anything you would like including in future editions, feel free to contact the team on info@amalateesside.com
– Aimee and Deborah
very interesting and informative. Thank you