Halloween is here, the clocks have gone back and the evenings are drawing in. If your body is asking for a bit more rest than it did in summer, gentle yoga is a lovely way to answer it.
We asked Kerrie Roberts from YogaBird, who teaches yoga at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre in Estover, for two of her favourite poses for this time of year. The pumpkin joined in too. 🎃
Why slow down in autumn?
Autumn is nature’s wind-down. Shorter days and darker evenings can leave you feeling tired, stiff or a bit flat, so it’s a natural time to swap the go-go-go for something gentler. Slower yoga gives you space to stretch, breathe and switch off.
Pose 1: seated twist
A seated twist gently stretches the spine and helps ease tension through the back. It feels lovely after a day at a desk or hunched over your phone (we’ve all been there).
- Sit tall on your mat, cross one leg over the other and plant that foot on the floor.
- Breathe in and lengthen up through your spine.
- Breathe out and gently turn towards your bent knee, resting a hand on it and looking over your shoulder.
- Stay for a few slow breaths, come back to the centre, then swap sides.
Tip: if your back rounds, sit on a folded blanket or cushion. The twist comes from growing tall, not from forcing it round.
Pose 2: butterfly pose with hands at heart
Butterfly pose (also called bound angle pose, or baddha konasana) gently opens the hips. With your hands together at your heart, it’s a grounding, calming shape to settle into and just breathe.
- Sit tall and bring the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to the sides.
- Bring your palms together in front of your chest.
- Close your eyes if that feels comfortable, and take five slow breaths.
Tip: if your knees are a long way off the floor, pop a cushion under each one.
Go gently with both poses and stop if anything hurts. If you’re pregnant, recovering from an injury or have a health condition, check with your GP first or ask your yoga teacher for an adapted version.
Do I need to be flexible to do yoga?
Not at all. YogaBird is yoga for people who think they can’t “do” yoga. Kerrie’s classes are relaxed, welcoming and mixed ability, suitable for beginners and ideal if you’re coming back to yoga after a break. There’s chair yoga too, if getting down to the floor isn’t for you. Pumpkin optional. 🧡
YogaBird classes in Estover, Plymouth
- Tuesday: 09:30, 17:30, 18:45 and 19:30
- Thursday: 09:30 chair yoga, and 18:00
- Friday: 09:30
Classes take place in the community space in Unit 4 at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre, Lynher House, Bush Park, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7RG, near Derriford, with free on-site parking. Here’s how to find us.
Booking in advance is essential. Book a YogaBird class, save with a block booking of 6 classes for £36, or see every class on our Yoga in Plymouth page.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find beginner yoga classes in Plymouth?
YogaBird with Kerrie runs beginner-friendly, mixed-ability yoga classes at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre in Estover on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Is there chair yoga in Plymouth?
Yes. Kerrie teaches a chair yoga class at 09:30 on Thursdays at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre in Estover.
What are good yoga poses for autumn?
Slow, grounding poses suit autumn well. A gentle seated twist eases tension through the back, and butterfly pose gently opens the hips and helps you settle and breathe.
Do I need to be flexible to start yoga?
No. YogaBird classes are designed for people who think they can’t do yoga, with options for every body, including chair yoga.
Does Kerrie work for Plymouth Wellbeing Centre?
No. Like everyone at the centre, Kerrie is self-employed and runs YogaBird as her own separate business, using the centre’s community space for her classes.
More classes at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre
As well as YogaBird, our community space hosts Saturday morning flow, monthly yin yoga and more. See all our yoga classes or the full Classes and groups timetable.
All therapists/practitioners at Plymouth Wellbeing Centre are self-employed and operate their businesses as separate entities. They are responsible for their own insurance, training, qualifications, and for the health, safety & wellbeing of every client/individual who visits them at the centre. Each practitioner is responsible for holding and maintaining any professional or regulatory registration and or licences required for the services they provide, and for complying with all relevant legislation. Responsibility for any treatment before, during or after rests with the individual practitioner – not with Plymouth Wellbeing Centre.