Namaste – Cheltenham care home brings yoga to residents

Team members at a Cheltenham care home have been working at full stretch to encourage residents to take part in a novel new activity to improve health and wellbeing. 

Residents at Care UK’s Sandfields, on St George’s Road, enjoy getting flexible during the home’s weekly seated yoga sessions.

 

The sessions, which are run by yoga instructor Sarah Vallance, from ‘Accessible Yoga by Sarah’, are designed to be accessible to all, and combine stretching and strengthening postures with deep breathing and relaxation. The initiative has been a hit among residents, including Michael Clarke, who commented: “I find it very helpful; it is good for my state of mind. I had not tried yoga before I came to Sandfields, but I thoroughly enjoy it and the movement is so important. Generally, I feel a bit tired afterwards, but it is a comfortable tiredness. I always feel like I have done something worthwhile.”

Malaika Charles, Home Manager at Sandfields, said: “We introduced seated yoga for the first time last year, before lockdown started – and we were thrilled when Sarah offered to resume the sessions using our home’s cinema now that it’s safe to do so, it’s proved a real hit with residents.

“We always encourage residents to try new things, and seated yoga was the perfect opportunity for everyone to try a new hobby. It’s accessible, meaning the majority of residents can get involved should they wish to, and it comes with all of the benefits associated with gentle physical exercise, which is key for older people, especially those living with dementia.

“Residents have loved showcasing their progress. We’re looking forward to learning more new poses as we go – it’s definitely never too late to try something new.”

Sandfields is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, dementia, nursing and short-term respite care. The home, which features 90 en-suite bedrooms, has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, bar, hairdressing salon and café.

For more information on Sandfields, please contact Laura Sayburn, Customer Relations Manager, by emailing: laura.sayburn@careuk.com or calling 01242 801 867.

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/sandfields.