What is Yoga?

Yoga is breath

Yoga is balance

Yoga is harmony

Yoga is movement

Yoga is stillness

Yoga is an evenness of mind

A peace that is ever the same

From the Upanishads -
an ancient Sanskrit text

Yoga was first developed in India several thousand years ago by highly evolved sages, or Rishis, as a means of gaining knowledge of oneself and one's relationship with the world around. The word yoga in Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language) means union. It implies perfect harmony of body, mind and spirit.

There are many different forms of yoga. The most accessible method for the Western student is Hatha yoga, which takes the physical body as its starting point. It consists of purposefully directed bodily movements and postures – asana. These direct life force into all parts of the body - each muscle, joint, gland and nerve fibre, making the body a conscious and obedient instrument.

At the physical level, yoga can give relief from countless ailments. The practice of the postures strengthens the body and creates a feeling of well-being.

Yoga sharpens the intellect, aids concentration, steadies the emotions and encourages a caring concern for others.

The practice of breathing techniques calms the mind.

Yoga philosophy sets life in perspective.

Yoga brings awareness and the ability to be still and through meditation inner peace may be found.

Yoga is a practical philosophy involving every aspect of a persons being. It promotes the evolution of the individual through self-discipline and self-awareness.

Anyone, irrespective of age, health, circumstances of life and religion can practise yoga.

This article was written by Janet Anthony our Yoga instructor

Classes are at our Centre weekly

Mondays at 17.45-18.45

and Thursdays 17.30-18.30

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BBQ PASTA

Grill or stirfry some lean streaky bacon & cook some peas with the pasta.  Cool the pasta & peas, add your home made pesto and serve as a side to your BBQ!

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Traditional Pesto Sauce

Pesto can stand on its own as a sauce, or you can use just a spoonful to add extra flavor to a number of other Italian dishes - especially stews, soups, and sauces.


Ingredients:
2 bunches fresh basil
1/2 bulb garlic
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
grated parmesan (optional)


Preparation:
1 - Clean and roughly chop the basil. Peel and roughly chop the garlic.
2 - In a food processor,(or by hand, as I do) pulse the basil, garlic, and nuts until well chopped and blended. Pour in the oil and blend until relatively smooth. Do not store - pesto should be made fresh for each use.


Freshness is essential - While dried herbs can be substituted in some recipes, only the freshest herbs will suffice in a pesto. Additionally, fresh herbs are the most aromatic, and a plate of steaming pasta with pesto should fill your house with a savory aroma!


Enjoy this traditional Italian Pesto recipe!

Want More?  We can give you a combination of food and fitness advice, call in or call 01639 841 714.

June Recipe

STRAWBERRY SHORTBREAD'S


Part 1: Shortbread's

Ingredients
125g/4oz butter
55g/2oz caster sugar
180g/6oz plain flour

Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

Beat the butter and the sugar together until pale.

Stir in the flour to get a smooth paste. Turn on to a work surface and gently roll out until the paste is 1cm/½in thick.

Cut into rounds & put on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until pale golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Part 2: Putting them together

Ingredients

200ml creme fraiche

75ml double cream

2-3 tbsp icing sugar, plus extra to dust

8 shortbread's

200g strawberries, hulled and quartered

100g blueberries whole

few mint sprigs, leaves only, roughly shredded, plus a few sprigs to finish

Put the creme fraiche, double cream and 2 tbsp icing sugar into a bowl.  Beat lightly until smooth and just thick, taking care not to over-whisk.  Taste and add a little more icing sugar, if you like.

Place a shortbread on each serving plate.  Spoon a large dollop of the creamy mixture on top.  Scatter the strawberries and mint over the cream.

Dust the remaining shortbread's with icing sugar and rest them on top of the strawberries.  Place a few blueberries around the plate & add a mint sprig to each dessert and serve.

This is a credit to and an adaption of a Gordon Ramsey recipe.

YOGA CLASS AT Y HWB

Due to popular demand we have an additional Yoga class at the HWB
Monday-Open 5:45-6:45pm
Thursday-Open 5:30-6:30pm.

£3.50 per person, £2.50 concessions*, or FREE with Y HWB monthly membership.

For more information about this class or any of our other services,
please call 01639 841714.

*Concessionary rates apply to persons over 60 years, people with a disability,
unemployed, employment training scheme, university students (NUS card),
persons on the Prince's Trust programme.

May Recipe

CHICKEN CARBONARA

Serves 4

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 boneless chicken breasts with skin on
• 450g dried spaghetti
• 175g smoked pancetta, ham, parma ham, or streaky bacon, fat removed & cut into strips
• 2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks
• 100ml double cream
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 100g aged Grana Padano, finely grated
• 50g butter

1. Bring a pan of well-salted water to the boil. Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Season the chicken and add to the pan skin-side down. Cook for 6 minutes each side or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and leave to cool.

2. Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water for 12 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile, remove the skin from the chicken and cut the meat into small pieces. Put the remaining oil into the frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the pancetta and cook for 3-4 minutes, until lightly golden, then remove from the heat.

3. Lightly beat the eggs, egg yolks, cream and lemon zest together in a small bowl. Drain the spaghetti, tip back into the pan and add the pancetta, chicken, egg and cream mixture, two-thirds of the grated Grana Padano cheese, the butter and some freshly ground black pepper. Toss together well but do not return to the heat. The residual heat from the spaghetti will be sufficient to cook the eggs but still keep them smooth and creamy. Serve with the remaining grated cheese sprinkled on top.

This recipe is an adaption from Delicious magazine. 

Reader recipes welcome!  Please contact 01639 841714

Power Plate shifts weight. Fact.

A research project presented to the European Congress on Obesity on 8th May 2009 found that the Power Plate helps users lose twice as much weight and shed twice as much dangerous belly fat as traditional workouts.

After a year Power Plate users had lost 11 per cent of their body weight compared with 6.9 per cent for the conventional exercise group. All of that in just 10 minutes a day.

At Y HWB the Power Plate is very popular vibration technology with customers of all ages and is sited in its own room, so you can wobble in private!

Once you've mastered the basics (induction) instructors on site can show you advanced techniques to get the most out of the Power Plate routines.

For more information please give us a call, you can also read more about the Power Plate by clicking the link to the official website below and other stories of interest.

Power on A Plate
Madonna Looks Amazing
 

Our Power Plate use is included in your monthly membership, along with the Fitness Suite and Classes, currently from £10.00 per month or £2.00 per session.

*At peak times inductions and use of the power plate may need to be booked in advance.  Please check with duty staff or give us a call on 01639 841714.

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